November 2023
CIO Bulletin names Winmate as one of the 50 most innovative companies of 2023 
Winmate was named one of the 50 most innovative companies of 2023 by CIO Bulletin based on the company's commitment to innovation, customer service, and product development that has helped it establish itself as a leader in the rugged computing industry. CIO Bulletin specifically highlighted Winmate's "developing intelligent systems that advance industrial automation and global enterprise communications." [See CIO Bulletin names Winmate as one of the 50 most innovative companies of 2023 ] -- Posted Thursday, November 30, 2023
Handheld wins 67 MSEK order from Makin
Handheld Group a leading manufacturer of rugged mobile computers and part of MilDef Group, has signed an agreement for the delivery of rugged tablets in the Algiz RT10 series to Makin, an international supplier of machine control. The agreement extends over five years and the total order value amounts to 67 MSEK. Handheld's Algiz RT10 is a rugged 10-inch Android tablet designed to work in harsh conditions. Under the agreement, the devices will serve as a key component of the customer's machine control system and workflow tools. [See Handheld media release] -- Posted Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Kyocera launches unlocked DuraSport 5G with UScellular
Kyocera and UScellular launched the unlocked version of DuraSport 5G, a rugged MIL-STD-810H 5G Android 13 device in a sleek, slim form factor. Engineered to withstand drops, dirt, water immersion and the elements, Kyocera DuraSport 5G can be washed and sanitized to eliminate grit and grime from outdoor adventures or busy day-to-day activities. Priced at $579 with UScellular, the DuraSport 5G is available free of charge for new and current customers during the holiday season, with rugged features built in to help both small and medium-sized businesses, and consumers alike. [See Kyocera media release] -- Posted Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Durabook announces Windows 11 secured-core PCs in its mobile rugged computing portfolio
In collaboration with Microsoft, Durabook today announced the availability of Windows 11 Secured-core PCs for its mobile rugged computing portfolio. The Durabook S15 Rugged Laptop and U11 Rugged Tablet with advanced Windows 11 security are immediately available to protect sensitive data for professionals on the move. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Thursday, November 16, 2023
Panasonic enhances TOUGHBOOK 55 laptop: faster, more versatile, and ready for any challenge
Panasonic announced a significant update to its popular 14-inch TOUGHBOOK 55 semi-rugged laptop. The new Mk3 version switches from Intel 11th gen processors to U- and P-Series 13th gen "Raptor Lake" chips, gets faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a new AI-optimized microphone array, a switch to fast PCIe NVMe for 2nd drives and more. We hope we'll be able to bring you benchmark results soon! [See Panasonic media release] -- Posted Thursday, November 16, 2023
Getac partners with Authenticom
Getac technology Corporation, a leading producer of rugged technology and innovative solutions, announced a partnership to integrate Getac's Aftersales Platform with Authenticom's DealerVault platform to better connect the customer buying process and aftersales journey, enhancing the customer experience and increasing revenues for dealerships. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Thursday, November 16, 2023
Havis launches innovative rugged charging holder for Zebra TC22 & TC27 mobile computers
Havis, a leading provider of rugged mobile solutions, is thrilled to introduce the DS-ZEB-600 Series Rugged Charging Holders, purpose-built for Zebra Technologies' TC22 and TC27 mobile computers. Engineered to excel in today's dynamic work environments, these cutting-edge charging solutions meet the unique demands of these devices. [See Havis media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Zebra Technologies' new healthcare-grade mobile computers elevate patient care
Zebra Technologies Corporation today unveiled its Android™-based HC20 and HC50, a new series of rugged handheld mobile computers for healthcare professionals. They are designed specifically to meet the needs of healthcare workers with features to improve operational efficiency for clinical and non-clinical staff. The HC20 and HC50 are both lighter and significantly thinner than previous Zebra offerings and expand Zebra's extensive portfolio of healthcare solutions with purpose-built features to elevate the quality of care and the patient experience. [See Zebra media release -- Posted Thursday, November 9, 2023
Case Study: Computers in Marine Exploration: RuggON LUNA 3
Mobile rugged computers play an important role in marine research and exploration. They are used in challenging environments to provide dive support, documentation, multimedia storage, editing, communication and more. Small size and low weight matter, as does outstanding ruggedness. On a recent expedition to Honduras, the RuggedPCReview team brought along a compact rugged Windows-based RuggON LUNA3 tablet computer as part of their gear. Read about the review trip and the team's experiences with the rugged tablet. [Read Case Study: Computers in Marine Exploration: RuggON LUNA3] -- Posted Wednesday, November 8, 2023
CipherLab launches RK26 rugged mobile computer
CypherLab, a global leader in scanning, mobile computing, and business process design, is excited to announce the latest addition to its product lineup: the RK26 Rugged Mobile Computer. This rugged device, which supports Wi-Fi 6, has officially launched and is designed to meet the diverse needs of mobile workers across various industries, setting a new standard for efficiency and precision. [See Cipherlab media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Handheld Rugged Informer Blog: Can new open GNSS systems compete with the traditional ones?
Traditionally, GNSS systems were proprietary, meaning you were locked into one manufacturer’s system. Brands like Leica Geosystems, Trimble, and Topcon have been market leaders for years. However, with the rapid growth of mobile phones, new players have entered the market, offering GNSS solutions based on the open Android system. Are these new GNSS systems as accurate as the old ones? [See Handheld Rugged Informer Blog: Can new open GNSS systems compete with the traditional ones?] -- Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Estone Technology Tech Blog on waterproof Panel PCs that withstand high temps and moisture
Interesting entry at the Estone Technology Tech Blog: They point out that technology has come such a long way that it has become standard for many electronic devices we’re accustomed to using to have some sort of water resistance — from watches and phones to tablets and other touch screens. In specific industrial applications where the environment’s temperatures can range from hot to freezing, or moist to dehydrating, it makes sense for touch panel PCs to be able to withstand such factors. And then the blog entry describes what all to look out for. [See Waterproof Panel PCs that withstand high temps and moisture] -- Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Trimble and Skydio integrate technologies to deliver insights to construction, utilities and state transportation agencies
Skydio, the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight technology, today announced a strategic collaboration with Trimble creating an integrated workflow of accurate data capture, data visualization, and data analytics addressing the needs of critical infrastructure industries in their surveying, mapping, and inspections. [See Skydio media release] -- Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2023
VDC: Rugged smartphone market to eclipse 4M units by 2026
VDC says that following two years of strong investment, demand for rugged handheld computers has stalled significantly in 2023 with vendor revenues contracting by double digits. Persistent headwinds will continue through much of 2024 as distributors work through excess capacity and enterprise customers postpone investments. [Get the executive brief of The Global Market for Rugged Handheld Computers & Smartphones for Line-of-Business Applications] -- Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2023
MobileDemand elevates rugged tablet computing with the launch of the Intel 13th generation Core powered xTablet T1175
MobileDemand, MobileDemand, provider of rugged tablets, cases, and mobile all-in-one computing solutions for enterprise productivity, today announced the launch of the xTablet T1175, the company's highest performing, and most versatile, rugged tablet to-date. The feature-rich rugged tablet offers the latest technological advancements plus the highest levels of performance and protection for frontline workers who rely on rugged devices to streamline mission-critical tasks and workflows, improving productivity and workflow efficiency in the most demanding industries. [See MobileDemand media release] -- Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Motorola Solutions announces Q3 2023 financials
Motorola Solutions reported Q3 2023 sales of US$2.556 billion, up 8% from US$2.373 billion Q3 2022. GAAP operating earnings for Q3 2023 were US$639 million versus US$373 million Q3 2022. For full-year 2023, Motorola Solutions now expects revenue in the range of $9.930 billion to $9.945 billion. "Q3 was another strong quarter, with record third-quarter revenue, earnings and cash flow," said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions. [See Motorola Solutions Q3 2023 financials] -- Posted Friday, November 3, 2023
Juniper Systems introduces the next-generation Geode GNS3 GNSS Receiver
Juniper Systems is excited to announce its Geode GNS3M GNSS Receiver will now support RTK Fixed position capability. The Geode GNS3 allows users to easily collect real-time GNSS data with sub-meter, sub-foot, decimeter, and now centimeter accuracy options. With the addition of the Hemisphere GNSS Athena RTK Engine, Geode users will have access to the full spectrum of professional-grade mapping accuracies. This scalable platform allows users to purchase the level of accuracy they need now while having the option to increase accuracy in the future. [See blog post about the next-gen Geode GNS3 GNSS Receiver -- Posted Thursday, November 2, 2023
Trimble announces Q3 2023 financials
Trimble reported record revenue of US$957.3 million in Q3 of 2023 compared to US$884.9 million in Q3 of 2022, up 8% year over year. GAP net income for Q3 2023 was US$74.9 million compared to US$85.8 million for Q3 2022. For the full-year 2023, Trimble now expects to report GAAP revenue between $3,757 million and $3,797. "Record annualized recurring revenue of $1.94 billion and record gross margin of 65.0% in this third quarter demonstrate progression of the Connect & Scale strategy," said Rob Painter, Trimble's president and CEO. "In an increasingly difficult macroeconomic environment, we continue to simplify and focus our business to execute to our full potential." [See Trimble press release] -- Posted Thursday, November 2, 2023
GelSight unveils new GelSight Mobile Shock Protected Edition
GelSight, a pioneer in tactile intelligence technology, today announced the debut of GelSight Mobile Shock Protected Edition, a new, ruggedized version of the GelSight Mobile system, designed to perform in the most demanding environments, from production lines to the field. GelSight Mobile Shock Protected Edition delivers the same high resolution 3D surface capabilities as GelSight Mobile in a more robust — and vivid — design. [See GelSight media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 1, 2023
What happend in rugged computing 15 years ago: November 2008
In November 2008, Fujitsu unveiled its elegant Esprimo Mobile Clinical Assistant tablet, while Panasonic announced their own Mobile Clinical Assistant, the Toughbook H1. Fujitsu also updated two of their convertible notebooks, the P-Series and the U810 Lifebooks. Intermec had very strong sales and earnings, outpacing analyst expectations (why is that so important, and now they're part of Honeywell anyway). Motorola demonstrated its super-fast 4G LTE network, while Fortune Magazine declared WiMax one of the year's top flops). RuggedPCReview examined the totally unique Xilinx Virtex 5 FPGA-based Black Diamond SwitchBack rugged UMPC, the interesting DAP CE8640B UMPC, and also the ultra-rugged DRS ARMOR X10 tablet. [See what happened in rugged computing 15 years ago in November 2008] -- Posted Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Rugged PC Review
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"Over the many years that we have been testing and reviewing rugged mobile computers, and in our professional careers prior, we have noticed that there is very little standardization and that potential clients are often confused where and what to buy," said Dr. Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, Editor-in-Chief of RuggedPCReview.com and former CIO of the New York State Dormitory Authority. "We hope that our new service will answer many questions and provide all the answers a client needs to make an informed decision."