October 2022

Librestream and ECOM Instruments partner to deliver new standard of rugged augmented reality for critical field workforces
Librestream, the #1-rated workforce transformation platform for the industrial deskless workforce, announced today a new partnership with ECOM Instruments, a Pepperl+Fuchs brand, to provide energy workers in the field with industrial-grade smart glasses, ruggedized smartphones, remote access, and real-time support. Librestream and ECOM Instruments are introducing a joint solution that integrates Onsight Connect, the smart glasses Visor-Ex®, and Smart-Ex® smartphones, enabling customers to achieve a new level of on-site collaboration. [See Librestream media release] -- Posted Monday, October 31, 2022

RuggON fully rugged tablet checks all the boxes for T3RRA terrain management software
RuggON, an international maker of ruggedized mobile solutions, and T3RRA, an international developer of easy-to-use, powerful terrain-management software, recently joined forces to provide the agricultural community with a total software-digital system compatible with the state-of-the-art John Deere technology and equipment that farmers use. While other manufacturers' tablets could satisfy much of T3RRA's needs, only the RuggOn PX501 included a serial port capable of handling the fast communication being sent and received by users of their software on equipment in the field. [See RuggON media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 27, 2022

Durabook adds 12th Gen Intel processor and more to its 11-inch R11L fully rugged tablet
Durabook, the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, today announced significant updates to its R11L device, offering a competitively-priced 11" fully rugged tablet featuring the latest 12th Gen Intel® processor and architectural innovations to elevate the user experience. [See Durabook media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 27, 2022

Winmate announces new marine and Zone 2 IPCs
Winmate Inc., a manufacturer and provider of reliable industrial computer products, unveiled the ITMH100-EX-6L and I330EAC-ITW-6L highly-scalable fanless industrial computers. The ITMH100-EX-6L industrial box PC and I330EAC-ITW-6L embedded box PCs are internationally certified for safe use with Class I Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D, T5, IECEx/ATEX Zone 2 certifications and DNVGL and IEC 60945, respectively. They can be used for data acquisition, processing, and visualization as data gateway or data monitoring in hazardous areas, such as natural gas, marine, renewable energy, etc. [See Winmate news] -- Posted Thursday, October 27, 2022

EU ministers give final approval to one-size-fits-all charging port
The Council of the EU today gave its final approval to the common charger directive. This means that in 2024, a USB-C port will become mandatory for a whole range of electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and headphones. It will no longer be necessary to buy a different charger every time you purchase a new mobile phone or similar device: all of them can be recharged using the same charger. [See EU Council media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2022

OSS to deliver ruggedized compute solution for Embark's commercial autonomous truck deployment
One Stop Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSS), a leader in AI Transportable solutions at the edge, has secured two new autonomous truck program wins with Embark Trucks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMBK), a leading developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry. The two wins include one for OSS' Centauri rugged PCIe storage expansion system and another for OSS' next-generation optimized autonomous truck 3U SDS rugged accelerated computing server, 3U SDS-AT. [See One Stop Systems media release] -- Posted Monday, October 24, 2022

Self Service Innovation Summit Dec 14-16, 2022
The Self Service Innovation Summit 2022 will take place December 14-16 in Hollywood, Florida. Outdoor- and indoor-wayfinding kiosks that provide up-to-date info 24 hours a day have become an integral part of retail shopping and tourism centers. Wayfinding has also become a standard feature of public kiosks. Panelists discuss the pros and and cons of wayfinding technology and how to get the most from the investments. [Registration info] -- Posted Friday, October 21, 2022

OnLogic: USB Type-C and USB 3.1/3.2 explained
Computing solutions developer OnLogic doesn't only have an excellent, quick, and very informative website, but also one of the best and most helpful blogs in the tech industry. A recent blog entry that caught our attention is an explanation of USB form factors and generations, the different USB types and standards, visual and data transfer differences, power capabilities, and more. [Read USB Type-C and USB 3.1/3.2 explained] -- Posted Friday, October 21, 2022

Avalue's Virtual Creative Center now open
Avalue Technology's Virtual Creative Center is now open. In it, new and existing customers can view a variety of Avalue's Healthcare and Medical Solutions, Smart Manufacturing Solutions, and Smart Retail Solutions, "walk" through an exhibit area, call up videos explaining the technologies, and download documents. -- Posted Friday, October 21, 2022

Iridium announces record Q3 2022 results
Global satellite communications company Iridium, which provides voice and data service anywhere on earth, reported financial results for Q3 2022 and updated its full-year 2022 outlook. Q3 2022 revenue was $184.1 million, up 14% from Q3 2021. Q3 2022 net income was $2.1 million, as compared to a net los of $2.1 million for Q3 2021. Iridium’s subscriber base was 1.973 million, compared to 1.875 million a year ago. Iridium CEO Matt Desch said that "we have continued to see strong momentum across all commercial business lines. Based upon these trends we are increasing our full-year outlook for service revenue growth and OEBITDA, and we expect 2022 will be another record year." [See Iridium Q2 2022 financials] -- Posted Friday, October 21, 2022

Bittium Tough Mobile™ 2 smartphones to a large Swedish authority
Bittium announced that has delivered secure Bittium Tough Mobile™ 2 smartphones to Tutus, a Swedish expert in certified network encryption solutions. The delivery is a continuation for the previous cooperation, that led into a development of a high-level security mobile solution, which combines Bittium's secure Bittium Tough Mobile 2 smartphone platform and Tutus' encryption solution approved by the Swedish government. [See Bittium media release] -- Posted Friday, October 21, 2022

Getac Video Solutions and Getac North America integrate into one Getac targeting enterprise class solutions programs for law enforcement and public safety
Getac Technology Corporation, a leading provider of rugged solutions today announced the integration of the two subsidiaries, Getac Video Solutions Inc. and Getac Inc. (Getac North America). This alliance creates a powerhouse of highly accomplished backgrounds in technology infrastructure deployments. Additionally, a unique understanding of user experience for developing innovative custom mobile solutions is accessible now to a broader range of law enforcement and public safety agencies including those serving small and midsize jurisdictions. [See Getac media release] -- Posted Monday, October 17, 2022

Review: Teguar TSD-45 Series Waterproof Displays
With their TSD-45 Series, Teguar Computers offers a line of waterproof industrial-grade monitors specially designed for use in maritime or any other environments that require full sealing and maximum resistance to water, salt water, abrasive chemicals as well as high-pressure hose-downs. RuggedPCReview.com tested, analyzed and described the Series and their application potential in detail. [See full review of the Teguar TSD-45 Series of waterproof displays] -- Posted Friday, October 14, 2022

Winmate launches ARM-powered industrial panel computers
Most industrial panel PCs run Windows on Intel chips, but with Android having such a dominant position in smartphones and small tablets, it was just a matter of time before Android showed up on panel computers as well. Winmate's new ELT line of ARM- and NXP-based Android panel computers comes in sizes from 4.3 inches up to 15.6 inches, and is intended for use in all sorts of industrial IoT applications. See Revolutionize Workflow with Winmate Industrial Computer] -- Posted Thursday, October 13, 2022

Cincoze announces new open frame display module CO-100 Series
Rugged embedded computer brand Cincoze has launched the CO-100 Series of open frame display modules with robust features and exclusive adjustable design for easy fitting into different enclosures in industrial applications such as machine automation and kiosks. The debut CO-W121C, a 21.5" 16:9 FHD procap display module is the latest addition to the CO-100 series, further expanding the variety of sizes, display ratios, and touch methods to meet a broader range of market needs. [See Cincoze media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 13, 2022

VDC Research on market for rugged notebooks and 2-in1s
Rugged market research and consulting firm VDC Research issued key findings and an executive summary on the market for fully and semi rugged notebooks and 2-in-1 computers. [Read Executive Brief] -- Posted Thursday, October 13, 2022

Motorola Solutions unveils mobile field-based innovations at IACP 2022
Motorola Solutions announced new public safety technology advancements that support a mobile-first approach to preparing officers with the information they need to make the best and safest decisions. These include a first-of-its-kind public safety application for Apple CarPlay to transform field operations, as well as the integration of video footage from emergency response drones and robots into CommandCentral Aware. Bringing video and information from a variety of field devices onto a single pane of glass in the command center gives agencies the awareness and information they need to carry out their missions more safely and efficiently. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 13, 2022

Handheld launches Real Time Kinematic (RTK) options for rugged Android handhelds and tablets
Handheld Group, a Swedish manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, today announced the addition of real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning capabilities to three Handheld rugged devices. RTK is used to enhance the precision of position data derived from satellite-based positioning systems. RTK is now available on the newly launched Algiz RT10 rugged tablet and the Nautiz X81 rugged handheld, as well as the hugely popular Nautiz X6 rugged phablet. [See Handheld media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 13, 2022

First look: Dell's new Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet
Almost exactly three years after Dell released the Latitude 7220 rugged tablet, the company launched its Latitude 7230 successor. Looking very much the same, although really a new design, the 7230 will likely bring a substantial boost in performance, jumping from the 8th all the way to the 12th gen of Intel Core processors. RuggedPCReview took a first look at the new machine, shows what's new and what isn't, and highlights all the features. [See description, analysis and specs of the Dell Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet] -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Download Getac Rugged Value Proposition Whitepaper
What makes a device “rugged”? With a growing need for reliable mobile computing, PC and tablet vendors have seized the opportunity to cash in by releasing modified versions of mainstream laptops as cheaper alternatives. This will inevitably lead to disappointment, devices that fail in the field, or potentially disastrous situations in mission-critical deployments. This white paper sheds light on why rugged manufacturing matters, the difference between “knock-off” and professional-grade ruggedness, and how ruggedness lowers the overall cost of ownership. [Download the Getac Rugged Value Proposition Whitepaper] -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2022

New Dell Latitude Rugged Extreme: Work without boundaries
From factories to ambulances, deserts to the Arctic, professionals working in harsh edge environments turn to Dell Latitude Rugged for peace of mind. The new Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet is no exception — it's the latest in a line of trusted devices for workers in some of today's most challenging environments. This premium tablet is built for outstanding field performance and productivity, delivering critical reliability, all while withstanding extreme surroundings. [See Dell media release -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2022

JLT Mobile Computers selected by leading European switchgear company
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer of reliable computing solutions for demanding environments, has proved critical to helping A/S Løgstrup-Steel conquer downtime issues in the warehouse, thanks to modern computer hardware and more robust and reliable plant-wide network connectivity. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Honeywell Technology provides Tractor Supply with industry-leading end-to-end team member and customer experiences
Honeywell announced that Tractor Supply Company , the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, has deployed Honeywell technology to streamline operations for their Team Members and offer customers a convenient, end-to-end omnichannel experience. By arming its store Team Members with Honeywell's CT40XP mobile computer and Operational Intelligence Professional cloud-based software across its more than 2,000 stores, Tractor Supply has increased adoption and productivity, and empowered them to spend more time building relationships with customers — a signature marquee for the small box rural lifestyle retailer. [See Honeywell media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Polywell Computers announces extended temperature range mini-PCs
Polywell Computers, which has always been aiming at reasonable pricing and an optimal price/quality ratio, announced the availability of the extended temperature range industrial-class Polywell Nano-U8FL2C6 mini PC with pricing that will please enterprise purchasers and system integrators. [See Polywell media release] -- Posted Monday, October 10, 2022

RuggON introduces the powerful LUNA 3 8-inch fully rugged tablet
RuggON, an international maker of ruggedized mobile solutions, today introduced its latest fully rugged tablet, the 8-inch LUNA 3. Featuring an eco-friendly design, it is the most powerful yet highly efficient model in its class. With Windows 10 IoT Enterprise SAC operating system, the LUNA 3 is an ideal solution for warehouse and logistic operations, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and law enforcement, specifically traffic officers and motorcycle police. [See RuggON media release] -- Posted Wednesday, October 5, 2022

General Micro Systems (GMS) introduces lightweight, rugged X9 Spider Wearable mobile computer with eight I/O legs and optional AI GPGPU
General Micro Systems launched its battery-powered "X9 Spider Wearable" S1502-MP mobile computer intended for dismounted soldiers and Marines who need on-the-move high-performance processing, communications, video, database access and AI. Designed to offer the most compute power and I/O in the smallest, lightest weight battery-powered package, X9 Spider Wearable can drive up to four on-body displays; connect to wireless LANs and personal area networks (PANs); uplink to mounted assets like vehicles or command posts; store up to 20TB of onboard data, and connect to high-rate body sensors while processing on-board AI algorithms such as image/facial recognition, target tracking or sensor fusion. [See GMS media release] -- Posted Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Trimble's new agriculture displays provide next-generation performance and connectivity for in-field operations
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) introduced today its next-generation displays for precision agriculture applications — the Trimble® GFX-1060™ and GFX-1260™ displays. Trimble's portfolio of innovative displays enables farmers to complete in-field operations quickly and efficiently while also mapping and monitoring field information in real time with precision. With a range of functionality and price points, farmers can select the guidance solution that best fits their farming needs. [See Trimble media release] -- Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Hytera releases smart 4G body camera with Push-to-Talk feature
Hytera Communications (SZSE: 002583), a leading global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions, has recently released SC580 Smart 4G Body Camera and further expanded its body-worn camera series. Weighing only 177g, this new body camera packs advanced video features into a slim and rugged body. It streams videos, audio, and photos from the field to the command center over private LTE networks, cellular networks or WLAN. [See Hytera media release] -- Posted Monday, October 3, 2022

Blog: Was Intel 11th generation the milestone we thought it was?
Intel's 11th generation of Core processors, codenamed "Tiger Lake," seemed a performance, economy and innovation milestone for mobile computing, and most Tier 1 vendors of rugged laptop and tablet PCs released 11th gen high end, high performance products. But progress never stops. The first 12th gen "Alder Lake" products are already here and, and Intel already talks about the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th generation. Did Tiger Lake live up to expectations? And what is next? [Read Was Intel 11th generation the milestone we thought it was?] -- Posted Monday, October 3, 2022

What happened in rugged computing 10 years ago: Oct. 2012
In October 2012, Trimble introduced the Yuma 2 tablet with a Pixel Qi display. Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8 that was supposed to work seamlessly with Windows 8 PCs, Microsoft Surface and the Xbox 360. Intermec opened Intermec Beijing Technology and launched the next gen CK3 rugged handheld. We wondered how suitable Windows RT might be for vertical markets (not very). Motorola Solutions had quarterly sales of US$2.15 billion, bought Psion, and announced the HC1 headset computer. Honeywell launched the elegant Dolphin 70e Black. Datalogic turned 40 and planned for 2014 revenues of US$680-700 million. Harris launched the InTouch RPC-200 rugged Android phone, Handheld the Algiz 10X, TabletKiosk the eo a7400 tablet, and GammaTech the Durabook T10L2 medical tablet. [See October 2012 RuggedPCReview archive] -- Posted Monday, October 3, 2022