August 2017

Datalogic reports record quarter and half-year
While Datalogic has been very quiet about its lineup of rugged handhelds, overall the Italian-based company seems to be doing very well. Revenues for their Q1 were €157.8 million (US$187 million) up 7.7% compared to Q1 last year, and revenues for the first half of 2017 rose to €299.3 million (US$355 million), up 6.2% compared to the first half of 2016. [See Datalogic press release] -- Posted Thursday, August 31, 2017

Bradford Airport logistics increases productivity, improves overall operations with Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), the market leader in rugged mobile computers, barcode scanners and barcode printers enhanced with software and services to enable real-time enterprise visibility, announced that Bradford Airport Logistics selected Zebra's TC70 touch computer to optimize its delivery process, increase worker productivity and improve customer satisfaction. Based in Houston, Texas, Bradford manages airport centralized receiving and distribution logistics centers globally. [See Zebra press release] -- Posted Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Logic Supply launches GPU-capable, small form factor industrial PC ideal for image processing applications
Over the last few years, graphics performance has become an increasingly important feature among industrial, embedded and IoT hardware users for use in vision systems, VR and advanced workstation applications. So the folks at Logic Supply created their new MC850 small form factor industrial computer. The MC850 supports full height PCIe cards and thus can accommodate a wide range of networking, I/O and GPU expansion options, including the latest 10-Series GPUs from NVIDIA. There's an integrated 300W power supply, a variety of industrial I/O for connectivity to both modern and legacy systems, and numerous CPU options all the way up to a quad-core Intel Kaby Lake Core i7-7700T. Starting at US$974. [See the Logic Supply MC850 product page] -- Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Handheld Group case study: Timber buyers increase accuracy, efficiency and profits with rugged handhelds
Technology has changed the way we do business today, but the overriding goal remains the same: be profitable. That's why smart people in the timber industry are always looking for an edge — technological or otherwise. Thanks to ultra-rugged portable handhelds, jobs that used to be time- and labor-intensive can now be done with drastically improved efficiency. And that translates to the bottom line. Dalton Smith, a buyer with Thomas Timber in Arkansas, USA, is using the Nautiz X8 rugged handheld data collector from Handheld Group, along with industry-specific software, to cruise timber plots faster and calculate bids more accurately. [Read "Timber buyers increase accuracy, efficiency and profits with rugged handhelds"] -- Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Juniper Systems blog: Android AOSP: What You Need to Know
Android has long been suffering from version fragmentation, making devices and apps less compatible and upgradeable than they could/should be. Adding to the confusion is the presence of both Android AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and Android GMS (Google Mobile Services) devices. Juniper Systems' always informative GetRugged blog explained the difference between Android AOSP and Android GMS in an informative post written by Sarah Merrell. [See Android AOSP: What You Need to Know] -- Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2017

NYPD replacing 36,000 smartphones
After the New York Post published an article about the New York Police Department scrapping 36,000 Microsoft Windows Mobile 8.1-based Nokia Lumina 830 and Lumina 640XL smartphones, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Information & Technology Jessica Tisch issued a fiery response, saying that at the time the Windows Mobile platform was most effective at achieving their goals. As is, Microsoft no longer supports Windows Mobile 8.1, and the NYPD is replacing the Nokia phones with Apple iPhones. [See NY Post article and NYPD response] -- Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Dell releases updated rugged tablet: state-of-the-art, lighter, sharper, more secure, and much faster
Talk about timing. A mere couple of weeks after we published our long term review of Dell's original Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet, Dell released its successor, the Latitude Rugged Extreme Tablet. The new model is much more powerful than the original and yet can last considerably longer between charges thanks to higher capacity batteries. Its much sharper display will be well received, as will be the addition of a USB 3.1 Type-C port, and the noticeably lighter weight. And a new kickstand makes the tablet an even better 2-in-1 solution. [See Dell press release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Dell 7212 Rugged Extreme tablet] -- Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Review: ARBOR ARES-1970/1970-E modular high-performance rugged industrial controllers
Fanless embedded controllers are compact computers designed to handle a vast range of tasks behind the scenes. RuggedPCReview.com analyzed ARBOR Technology's modular ARES-1970 Series of rugged high-performance industrial controllers that come in various sizes to provide all required functionality in a package no larger than it needs to be. [See review of the ARBOR ARES-1970/1970-E/1970] -- Posted Monday, August 28, 2017

New squad car cameras allow remote viewing of police activity
Flossmoor, Illinois, police officials will soon be able to monitor traffic stops and other activity on camera, and in real time. Flossmoor has had cameras in its police cars since 2001, but the current squad car video recording program is outdated and will be replaced by new Getac squad car camera systems. “With unlimited storage, we are able to outfit each patrol vehicle with four cameras providing 360-degree coverage around the patrol car,” Deputy Chief Tod Kamleiter said. [See article] -- Posted Friday, August 25, 2017

MobileDemand first with rugged case for new Surface Pro
MobileDemand announced they are the first rugged case for the new Microsoft Surface Pro in the Designed for Surface program. Matt Miller, President and Founder of MobileDemand, said the company was the first to pass all testing requirements for the new Microsoft Surface Pro in the "Designed for Surface Program." There are several levels of testing done by the third party test agency in order to pass that includes fit and function, thermal and the 4 foot drop testing according to MIL-STD 810G. [See Surface Pro Rugged Bundle] -- Posted Wednesday, August 23, 2017

MyScript introduces Cloud Sync for Nebo App
MyScript, a pioneer in handwriting recognition and digital ink management technology has launched cloud sync for its notetaking app, Nebo. Until now, Nebo users could only save MyScript Interactive Ink notes within the app on their device. With the new cloud sync feature, users can quickly and easily upload and save their Nebo files to the cloud for later editing or use on other devices. By leveraging the power of the cloud and MyScript Interactive Ink technology, Nebo makes handwritten digital document creation both seamless and highly productive. -- Posted Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Xplore Receives new $2.7M Android rugged tablet order from top telecommunications provider to support workforce expansion within construction division
Xplore Technologies Corp (NASDAQ: XPLR) announced that one of the largest broadband and wireless telecommunications companies in the United States has ordered $2.7 million worth of Android-powered "mobile office" bundles to support the growth of its field-based workforce. Starting in late August, thousands of Construction division technicians will be equipped with quality- engineered Xplore XSLATE D10 fully rugged Android tablet PCs, which feature a 10.1" sunlight-readable multi-touch display, 4GB RAM, and a 64GB SSD that's powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop and an Intel® Atom E3845 Quad Core Processor. Xplore Platinum Partner SHI International Corp. will configure and implement the mobility solutions for project. [See Xplore press release] -- Posted Tuesday, August 22, 2017

What RuggedPCReview editors do on field testing trips
Having drinks with mermaids on sunken ship wrecks, that's what. In August, the RuggedPCReview editorial crew motored down to South Florida with a truck full of scuba gear, underwater cameras, underwater metal detectors, and dive computers that are IP69-sealed (if that existed) and run years on a single battery. The rugged adventurers explored eight shipwrecks, braved rain and choppy waters, but ran from swarming mosquitos in the Everglades. -- Posted Sunday, August 20, 2017

Getac video solution sees increasing success
DigiTimes reports that Getac has successfully tapped into the police and law enforcement equipment market in the US with its Getac video solution (GVS) products. The company originally expected the solution to contribute 3% of its ruggedized IPC revenues by the end of 2017, but now estimates the percentage to reach 3-5% with increasing orders. The company also has set goals for its revenues to grow by a double-digit percentage every year for the next five years. -- Posted Thursday, August 17, 2017

Long term review: Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet
Dell has relatively quietly established itself as a major provider of rugged laptops, convertibles and tablets. RuggedPCReview has had the opportunity to have a Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet in the office and for everyday use on the desk, on the road, and in the field. The tough Dell tablet turned out to be a pleasant, competent and totally trouble-free companion and productivity tool. [See long-term test and review of the Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet] -- Posted Tuesday, August 15, 2017

DT Research: Why the military needs purpose-built tech from trusted solution providers
In a recent blog entry, DT Research explains why when it comes to military computing, rugged tablets provide the best bet for successfully achieving a variety of goals, including protecting data and troops deployed in response to in-theater conflicts. The military does not need the added threat of dropped communication and not being able to reliably access detailed plans. [read DT Research blog -- Posted Tuesday, August 15, 2017

An inside look at R&D: Panasonic Toughbook put to the test
Makers of rugged mobile computers test their products in accordance with various ruggedness testing procedures described in documents such as the MIL-STD-810G. Most of the time, testing is done by specialized third party testing labs, but market leaders generally also do their own testing in their own labs. Panasonic just issued a blog post and video that covers how Panasonic ensures that its mobile devices live up to the promise of rugged reliability. [See An inside look at R&D: Panasonic Toughbook put to the test] -- Posted Monday, August 14, 2017

Xplore Technologies reports profitable first quarter results
Xplore Technologies announced revenues of US$20.0 million for Q1 of their fiscal year 2018, reflecting increased sales of rugged tablets as well as resolution of previously disclosed supply chain constraints (up from US$16.5 million for Q1 2017). Q1 2018 showed a net profit of US$239k compared to a net loss of US$1.7 million in Q1 2017. For fiscal 2018, Xplore continues to anticipate revenue to range between $75 million and $85 million and also anticipates multiple profitable quarters and positive cash flow for the full fiscal year 2018. [See Xplore press release] -- Posted Thursday, August 10, 2017

New ARBOR COM Express Compact Module with Single-chip Intel® Core i7-7600U Processor
ARBOR Technology, a leading provider of embedded computing solutions, is expanding its successful line of modules with the introduction of a 7th generation Intel® Core™ processor platform (formerly codename ”Kaby Lake-U”), the EmETXe-i90U0, a Type 6 compact module. The single-chip processors feature a low power consumption of just 15W TDP. Built on Intel’s new 14nm process technology, the 7th generation Intel® Core™ processor is designed to provide excellent graphics and performance. [See EmETXe-i90U0 product page] -- Posted Thursday, August 10, 2017

Xplore rugged tablets driving data collection efforts for net zero deforestation project in Colombia
Xplore Technologies. (NASDAQ: XPLR) announced that its XSLATE D10 Android rugged tablets are being used as the primary data collection platform for the Net Zero Deforestation Project currently underway in the rainforests of Caquetá, Colombia. The project, a joint-effort between the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and The Nature Conservancy local office, aims to map and analyze the spatial and demographical implications of the deforestation process occurring in the region. [See Xplore press release] -- Posted Tuesday, August 8, 2017

DT Research and Phase II deliver rugged tablets for Mobile IT for defense teams
DT Research, a leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, announced that along with Phase II in booth T13 (RTO Consulting), they will showcase rugged tablets for mobile IT at the AFCEA Technet show in Augusta GA from August 8th to 10th. [See DT Research press release] -- Posted Tuesday, August 8, 2017

IDC: tablet market declines in Q2/2017
IDC reports that worldwide shipments for tablets declined 3.4% year over year in 2Q17, reaching 37.9 million. The decline included detachable tablets. "There's been a resetting of expectations for detachables as competing convertible notebooks offered a convincing and familiar computing experience for many," said Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers. Of market leaders, Apple sold 11.4 million tablets for the quarter, up 14.7% over Q2/2016. Samsung stayed at 6 million. [See IDC release] -- Posted Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Motorola Solutions reports Q2 2017 financial results
Motorola Solutions reported sales of US$1.497 billion for Q2, 2017, up 5% from US$1.430 billion a year ago. GAAP operating income for Q2 2017 was US$257 million, up 15% from US$224 for Q2 2016. [See Motorola Solutions press release] -- Posted Thursday, August 3, 2017

Trimble reports Q2 2017 financial results
Trimble reported sales of US$661.9 million for Q2, 2017, up 9% from US$609.6 million a year ago. GAAP operating income for Q2 2017 was US$62.6 million, up 55% from US$40.5 for Q2 2016. [See Trimble press release] -- Posted Thursday, August 3, 2017

Datalogic announces new Healthcare Memor X3 HC Mobile Computer
Datalogic, a global leader in automatic data capture and industrial automation markets, announces the availability of the Memor X3 HC mobile computer. This device is the direct result of Datalogic working closely with healthcare professional to assure their needs are met in demanding healthcare applications. The Memor X3 HC device is fabricated using tough chemical resistant materials that maintain the integrity of the housing even after repeated cleaning with the strong disinfectanting healthcare solutions. [See Datalogic press release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Datalogic Memor X3 HC] -- Posted Thursday, August 3, 2017

Group Mobile launches website dedicated to Getac rugged mobile computing products
Group Mobile, a rapidly expanding premier provider of innovative, full-service mobile technology solutions today announces the launch of a new microsite dedicated to Getac rugged devices and accessories. Getac's business includes rugged notebooks, rugged tablets and rugged handheld and mobile video system devices for military, police, fire, utility, insurance and field-service customers. The ShopGetac.com microsite will provide Getac and Group Mobile customers with a faster and more flexible way to shop for Getac rugged devices and accessories online. [See Group Mobile press release] -- Posted Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Adlink Technology sees rising revenue
It's always good to know where all the players in the rugged computing industry rank in terms of overall revenue, and that includes embedded systems and industrial PC makers. Taiwan-based industrial PC (IPC) maker Adlink Technology is one of them, and, according to DigiTimes, they just announced consolidated revenues of US$169.7 million for the first half of 2017, up 13.87% on year. 38% of that revenue came from the Americas. -- Posted Tuesday, August 1, 2017