October 2011

At Nokia World in London, the beleaguered phone maker introduced its first two Windows Phone 7.5-based products. The basic Nokia Lumia 710 and the fancy Lumia 800 both have 3.7-inch displays, a 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 CPU, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and 512MB of RAM. The Lumia 800 is less than a quarter inch thick, has an AMOLED display, an 8mp camera with Carl Zeiss optics and HD video, and 16GB of storage. The Lumia 710 has a 5mp camera and 8GB of storage. Both phones have turn-by-turn navigation and will be available in the US early 2012. No contract pricing is US$595 for the Lumia 800 and US$380 for the Lumia 710.

Juniper Systems to manufacture Tesla handheld for Topcon Positioning Systems
Juniper Systems announced a partnership with Topcon Positioning Systems, where Juniper Systems will manufacture the IP67-sealed, rugged Topcon Tesla, based on Juniper's Mesa handheld, as the newest data collector in Topcon's full lineup of rugged handheld computers and solutions for the survey industry. Three different Tesla models are available: the Standard, Geo, and Geo 3G. All models include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Geo and Geo 3G add a 3.2MP camera and GPS receiver, and the Geo 3G tops it off with an integrated 3G data modem, network approved by AT&T. -- Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2011 by chb

Aceeca to retire Palm-based handheld, switch to multi-OS version
Aceeca reports that after a production life of almost ten years the MEZ1000, essentially a ruggedized implementation of the original Palm, is nearing end-of-life. This means Aceeca will phase in their new MEZ1500 which replaces the MEZ1000. The MEZ1500 offers both Garnet and WinCE operating systems, with various Linux options along with Android coming in future months. -- Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by chb

Review: Advantech PCM-C3500 RISC-based SBC
While Intel-based CISC processors have pretty much dominated the desktop over the past couple of decades, the CISC vs. RISC debate is not dead and it's heating up again as ARM-powered tablets and smartphones are increasingly taking center stage. RISC processors with their low cost and minuscule power requirements can also play an important role in embedded systems. RuggedPCReview.com is taking a detailed look at Advantech's new ARM-based PCM-C3500 Series of single board computers that can run Windows CE, Linux and even Android. [See review and discussion of the Advantech PCM-C3500 Series] -- Posted Friday, October 21, 2011 by chb

Review: BAP Precision S-Series rugged handheld
Despite consumer smartphones increasingly being used in applications that were once the exclusive domain of purpose-designed ruggedized handheld terminals, there are still numerous deployments where environmental conditions, potential abuse, IT security requirements, etc., make a traditional ruggedized PDA-style mobile computer a better choice. The Windows Mobile-based BAP Precision S-Series, offered by Florida-based F4 Tech, is such a device. [See review of the BAP Precision S-Series] -- Posted Monday, October 17, 2011 by chb

Casio IT-300: rugged Windows Mobile handheld with capacitive multi-touch
Leave it to Casio Business Solutions to introduce one elegant, innovative industrial PDA after the other without ever letting anyone know. They did it again with the Casio IT-300, a unique new implementation of the industrial handheld, and the first we know of with capacitive multi-touch. The 7.6-ounce T300 runs Windows Embedded Handheld on a 624MHz Marvell PXA320 processor, has a 3.7-inch full-VGA screen, a CMOS 1D/2D imager, a 10-hour battery, IP54 sealing, and enough ruggedness to survive 5-foot drops. [See description and specs of the Casio IT-300] -- Posted Friday, October 7, 2011 by chb

Intermec named a 2011 Tech Innovator by UBM Channel's CRN
Intermec announced that it has been recognized for its innovation in the AIDC industry with a 2011 Tech Innovator award from CRN in the handhelds category for its ultra-rugged mobile computer, the Intermec CK71. CRN's 9th annual Tech Innovator listing celebrates vendors that have introduced new products or solutions to drive advances in the technology channel. [See press release] -- Posted Friday, October 7, 2011 by chb

Full review: Winmate 3.7" Rugged Handheld
There are still jobs where consumer-style smartphones, even sturdier ones, just won't do. That's why Taiwanese industrial computer manufacturer Winmate introduced their own industrial strength and size handheld that's simply called the Winmate 3.7" Rugged Handheld Device, also listed as the R03TACH. RuggedPCReview.com did a detailed analysis of the OMAP 3530/Windows CE 6.0 powered, IP67-sealed rugged, eminently practical device with a full VGA 3.7-inch touch screen and the ability to also run Android. [See full review of the Winmate 3.7" Rugged Handheld] -- Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 by chb