April 2020

The new Datalogic Memor 20 combines the Enterprise PDA strength with the user friendliness of a Smartphone
Datalogic launches the Memor™ 20 PDA to empower users in retail, field services, logistic environments, and healthcare with a device that combines the best features of a smartphone with the highest standards of enterprise level devices. The Memor 20 offers a large 5.7" full HD touch screen and a dual IP65 & IP67 protection in a smartphone form factor design. It delivers everything workers need to ensure utmost efficiency whether inside a store, a warehouse, a hospital, or outside in the field. The embedded Datalogic 2D ultra-slim imager — with Datalogic patented "Green Spot" technology for good-read confirmation, speeds up any kind of barcode reading. [See Datalogic media release] -- Posted Thursday, April 30, 2020

Digitimes predicts massive surge in tablet sales for Q2/2020
Thanks to a recovery in the China supply chain's capacity and educational tablet orders deferred from the first quarter DigiTimes forecasts tablet shipments to increase 45.5% in Q2 2020 compared to Q1 2020, and also 10% on year. In Q1 2020, Apple remained the largest tablet brand worldwide, followed by Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, and Microsoft. Over 3/4 of global tablet shipments were of tablets with displays larger than 10 inches. -- Posted Thursday, April 30, 2020

JLT Mobile Computers widens its rugged range with near-indestructible barcode scanners for use in manufacturing and logistics
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading supplier of reliable computers for demanding environments, announces the addition of a family of ultra-rugged barcode scanners for use with its mobile vehicle-mount computers and tablets. JLT customers in manufacturing, warehousing and other logistics industries whose productivity relies on high-quality scanners as well as outstanding service and support now benefit from a single point of contact for all these needs. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Zebra Technologies announces first-quarter results
Zebra Technologies announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. GAAP net sales were US$1,052 million in the first quarter of 2020 compared to US$1,066 million in the first quarter of 2019. Net income for the first quarter of 2020 was US$89 million, compared to net income of $115 million for the first quarter of 2019. "The year started off strong for Zebra, yet late in the first quarter, COVID-19 developed into a global pandemic and we experienced global supply chain disruptions, as well as weaker-than-expected demand in China. As a result, we missed our first quarter sales and profitability outlook,” said Anders Gustafsson, Chief Executive Officer of Zebra Technologies. The company expects second-quarter 2020 net sales to decrease approximately 11% to 17% from the second quarter of 2019 due to an anticipated recessionary global environment from COVID-19. [See Zebra Zebra First-Quarter 2020 Results] -- Posted Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Garmin TeamX unveils the 7-inch format aera 760 portable aviation GPS
Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), announced the aera® 760, a premium aviation portable that is purpose-built for the pilot and the cockpit. The aera 760 boasts a 7-inch bright, sunlight readable touchscreen display complete with comprehensive chart options in a compact and dedicated portable GPS. Additional features of the aera 760 include the option to load instrument approach procedures, arrivals and departures, approach chart overlay on the map, Garmin Connext® wireless connectivity, as well as the option to integrate it with select Garmin avionics. [See Garmin media release] -- Posted Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Durabook expands in-vehicle docking solutions with PMT
Durabook the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, announces two new vehicle docks and cradles with its partner Precision Mounting Technologies (PMT). The vehicle docks are designed for the S14I semi-rugged laptop and U11 fully rugged tablet. These new docking solutions are designed for forklifts, logistics, and emergency response vehicles with mobile technology requirements. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Lung ventilators use Teguar medical computers to treat COVID-19 patients
Teguar reports that In Turkey, organizations are teaming up to manufacture 5,000 ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients. The lung ventilators use Teguar’s TM-5040-15P Medical All-in-One PC to display patient vitals and control the breathing apparatus. The TM-5040-15P is ideal for the lung ventilator because it has a 4:3 screen ratio and can run the Linux operating system. The system’s software was already developed when the medical device manufacturer came to Teguar. So, Teguar worked to find the right computer hardware fit. [See Lung ventilators use Teguar medical computers to treat COVID-19 patients] -- Posted Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Full review: Winmate M133WK Rugged Tablet PC
Sometimes a small screen and just enough performance is all it takes. Other times you need a big screen and all the performance you can get. An that's what Winmate's M133WK Rugged Tablet PC is all about. The M133 platform has been around for a few years, but Winmate keeps updating it and adding new models. Powered by an Intel 8th generation Core processor, very fast PCIe NVMe storage, and a bright, excellent display, the M133WK delivers, and then some. [See full review of the Winmate M133WK Rugged Tablet PC] -- Posted Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Getac unveils A140 G2, the 14" fully rugged tablet with industry-leading processing power
Getac announced the launch of its A140 G2 fully rugged tablet. The new device builds on the proven track record of Getac's popular A140 G1, offering professionals across a wide range of industries a powerful yet versatile tablet that excels in demanding work environments. The A140 G2 delivers extraordinary processing power and responsiveness with no performance drop-off, even when running large numbers of applications simultaneously. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Touchscreen cleaning and computer cleaning amidst Coronavirus outbreak
With so much misinformation out there on how to best keep things clean and how to go about disinfecting the gear we use at work, it's always good when true experts weigh in. Teguar Computers, a a leading provider of cutting-edge industrial and medical computer solutions, explains in detail how to disinfect phones, tablets and personal computers — preparation, techniques, frequency, and chemical/cleaning solutions. [See Teguar's How to Disinfect Phones, Tablets and Personal Computers] -- Posted Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Kyocera launches ultra-rugged, washable DuraXV Extreme flip phone with Verizon Wireless
Kyocera International Inc. announced the launch of its latest military-grade rugged device — the DuraXV Extreme flip phone, available with Verizon. Built for dependable communication in rough working conditions, Kyocera's new ultra-rugged powerhouse provides military standard 810G and IP68 waterproof+ protection, making it ideal for construction, government and healthcare. The compact, easy-to-use feature phone is drop proof up to five feet onto concrete, dust proof, and certified Non-incendive Class I Div 2 for protection in hazardous environments. It can be washed using a mild dish cleaner and disinfected using alcohol (70% solution) or cleaning wipes. [See Kyocera media release] -- Posted Monday, April 20, 2020

Zebra: Sanitize for safety
At a time where safety precautions are paramount, leaders in the mobile computing industry have been addressing these new challenges in every way possible. Zebra CEO Anders Gustafsson issued a special message (see here), there's now a COVID-19 Heros page, and Zebra also created a special Sanitize for Safety section on how to properly disinfect their mobile computers, tablets, scanners and printers. For each of dozens of products there are specific guidelines, approved cleaning agents, step by step cleaning instructions, as well as cautions. [See Zebra Sanitize for Safety section] -- Posted Thursday, April 16, 2020

Getac issues rugged mobile computer decontamination document
Quickly adapting to a new reality of cleaning and disinfection standards, Getac published a document outlining recommended mobile computer decontamination procedures. These are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend general guidelines for cleaning surfaces and considered best practices for the prevention of Coronavirus and other viral respiratory illnesses in office, community, and home settings. [See Getac Rugged Mobile Computer decontamination] -- Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2020

faytech releases 27-inch capacitive touch devices
For those who like a lot of touch display real estate, faytech has introduced a lineup of 27-inch capacitive and optically bonded touch devices. Weighing around 17 pounds depending on configuration, the IP65-protected line is available as just a monitor or as all-in-ones running either Android or Windows. These 27" monitors and PCs are designed as interactive solution for digital signage, classrooms, meeting rooms, industrial automation, shopping malls, hotels, etc. [See faytech release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Full review: Getac UX10 fully rugged high-performance Windows tablet
With the addition of the fully rugged 10-inch UX10, Getac now has a comprehensive lineup of tablet computers designed for even the harshest working conditions. RuggedPCReview.com examined the 10.1-inch Getac UX10, which perfectly hits the sweet spot for many applications: it has a display larger than those of even the biggest smartphones, but still small enough to go anywhere. With its selection of 8th generation Intel Core processors, the UX10 is plenty powerful enough for any application, yet it also runs a long time on a single charge. It can be used as a tablet or as a 2-in-1 hybrid, and a highly modular design with three expansion areas allows easy customization for virtually any type of deployment. [See full review of the Getac UX10] -- Posted Monday, April 13, 2020

Full review: Teguar TD-45-22 Industrial Monitor
Industrial monitors are different. They are built from the ground up to withstand the perils of industrial environments. RuggedPCReview analyzed Teguar Computers' TD-45 line of industrial monitors that includes ten models with display sizes from 7 to 22 inches. We also did a detailed review of the TD-45-22, the largest of the line. We came away impressed with the design, solid build, functionality, and overall quality of the line. [See full review of the Teguar TD-45-22 industrial monitor ] -- Posted Monday, April 13, 2020

Winmate announces mobility solution for military applications
Winmate has announced their latest ultimate mobility solution for military applications in the form of 8.4-inch, 10.4-inch and 13.3-inch ultra-rugged tablet computers with the latest processing and data storage technologies. These powerful computing platforms with their rugged mobile housing are designed for use in extreme conditions and meet specific defense department defined specifications. [See Winmate newsletter on latest rugged tablets] -- Posted Friday, April 10, 2020

Panasonic: 5 ways mobile technology in oil and gas increases efficiencies
In CIOReview, GE’s Oil & Gas CIO discusses how technology is reshaping the sector, but admits that the “oil and gas industry has often lagged behind other industrial sectors in adopting” technologies like big data, cloud, RFID, and the Internet of Things. This puts the sector in a great position to be able to leverage the value of mobility to increase efficiencies and reduce costs. [See 5 ways mobile technology in oil and gas increases efficiencies] -- Posted Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Datalogic antimicrobial devices help safeguarding healthcare professionals and patients
In a globalized society, reducing the risk of catching an infectious disease through increased hand hygiene has never been more important. Infectious diseases typically spread through contaminated droplets in the air and on surfaces. This is why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) in its guidelines for safeguarding health-care professionals and patients. [See Datalogic media release] -- Posted Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Medical tablets and medical cart computers for healthcare applications
In another timely blog post, DT Research highlighted the many uses ruggedized and specialized tablet computers and medical cart computers have in today's world. These range from registration and check-ins, to bedside medication administration, to use on medical carts, and a long list of other applications. [See DT Research Medical tablets and medical cart computers for healthcare applications] -- Posted Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Juniper Systems: Cleaning your rugged mobile devices
At this time, one cannot be too careful about keeping working environments and equipment meticulously clean and disinfected. Whether field devices are shared among co-workers or used by the same person daily, it’s always important to take time for cleaning to keep you and your co-workers safe. The always informative Juniper Systems blog explains the best methods and materials to clean their handheld rugged devices. [See Cleaning your rugged mobile devices] -- Posted Thursday, April 2, 2020

Zebra Study: Number of field service providers operating predictively will double by 2025
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced study findings that reveal field service providers in the telecommunications and technical industries globally will increase the use of mobile technologies to optimize and transform workflows in the field. [See Zebra media release] -- Posted Thursday, April 2, 2020