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News Week of March 18, 2007Motion LE1700 Tablet PC specs found on FCC GottaBeMobile.com reader robphy has done some sleuthing and found the specs for Motion Computing’s newest Tablet PC, the LE1700, via the FCC site. Pictures from FCC below. Great work, robphy. If these specs are true, Motion has again set the bar in a number areas: In addition, according to these FCC specs, they are offering a dual mode touch / active digtizer feature, what Motion is apparently calling WriteTouch. If these specs hold true when announcment time comes, Motion clearly listened to customer feedback when designing the LE1700. I’d expect this slate tablet pc to be quite popular. No official word on an announcement date. Stay tuned…. (Source: Rob Bushway, GottaBeMobile.com) Tablet PC Gives Lawyer the Write Stuff More important is the ability to store the notes electronically. With OneNote, you don't save your notes. Instead they're automatically stored, leaving you with the option to file them electronically when you're ready to do so. You can even shut down your computer while notes have not been moved to a client file without risk of losing them. Opportunities to use the tablet's unique features present themselves in a variety of ways. Recently, I took a PDF of a survey and wrote on it with different colors to identify the potential drainage routes and easements that the city and adjacent owners had discussed. After highlighting the relevant properties with different colors and creating a legend to tie everything together, I e-mailed the marked up survey to the client, who could then better understand the situation immediately. Tablets have come a long way, but there is room for improvement. I'm waiting for the day when a tablet pen will have the ability to scan. Until then, I'll continue to enjoy the "How did you do that?!" remarks that come when I use my tablet. (Source: Lincoln Miller, Law.com) Regents approve change in policy Anonymous donor gives Seton $500000 The adviser repeated his client's wish for anonymity. At no time did he mention the family's name or even say if any members ever attended Seton. "I started my soft-sell pitch and he stopped me," Ledford said, "and slid the envelope across the table." A $300,000 portion of the gift will pay for a laptop computer or a Tablet PC and training for every faculty member. Each classroom will be equipped with a Smart Board or a Tablet PC for use as computerized white boards. (Source: Cliff Radel, Cincinnati Enquirer) Minuscule computers present a big problem for interface designers For computing in general, and especially for ultra-mobile PCs, Karwowski said he's amazed the industry still uses keyboards for input. The thumb-typing necessitated by the shrunken-down keyboards is tiring and can lead to discomfort and injuries, he said. The challenges are not limited to hardware design; ultra-mobile PCs, for the most part, run a full version of Microsoft's Windows operating system. That's a problem, said Mark Rolston, senior vice president of creative at Frog Design, a Palo Alto, California, design group whose past projects include early models of Apple Inc.'s computers. "Windows is a fine interface for that general-purpose, desk-centric, sitting-throne-position environment," Rolston said. But mobile computing is what he calls "high context" — the device needs to perform a very specific task, based on where the user is (in the car, for example) and what she's doing (like trying to find the mall). (Source: The Associated Press, International Herald Tribune) PhatPad 4.1 Software Review For those of you who like to take handwritten notes or doodle on your Tablet PC, PhatWare has answered your requests. They recently released PhatPad 4.1 for Tablet and Pocket PCs, which lets users draw pictures, jot text notes or put a mixture of pictures and typed text on a virtual scratch pad. It takes no time to download the software and in minutes you can be scribbling away. The updated version offers many new features like vertical and horizontal auto scrolling, a customizable toolbar and it supports Windows Vista. (Source: Tiffany Boggs, TabletPCReview.com) Fujitsu-Siemens highlights education and healthcare sector during 'Mobility Tour' Lenovo ThinkPad X60 (63638mm) Review The overall design aims for ease-of-use when in tablet mode and it offers a number of quick-access navigation controls to facilitate this. The 12.1in screen, which runs at 1024 x 768, automatically rotates the perspective when shifting between modes, but a screen rotate button is not far away if it needs to be done manually. There's also an escape key for tablet mode, as well as directional controls and an enter button. One handy feature that this tablet is missing is a dedicated CTRL+ALT+DEL button for quick access to the task manager in tablet mode. The screen was responsive to the supplied stylus when hand writing and navigating Windows XP Professional. The Lenovo X60 Tablet is as tiny as the notebook version, fitting easily in one arm, and was comfortable to carry around. Weighing 2.1kg it's not too heavy, but could be too much if lugged around for a long period of time. The chassis gets warm, but doesn't get unbearably hot by any means, so it should remain fairly comfortable to carry. (Source: Jesse Sutton, PC World) Lenovo ThinkPad X60T laptop review We like this machine, but will anyone buy it? Lenovo’s ThinkPad X60T is perhaps the best tablet PC currently on the market. It marries the best aspects of a laptop and a pen-based device, offering an improved sensory experience interacting with the tablet. It is better built than any competing system, the keyboard is very comfortable considering its size, and the choice of XGA or SXGA+ MultiTouch displays allows you to save money if necessary. If you can do without a built-in optical drive, the ThinkPad X60T delivers a best-in-class balance of comfort, performance, battery life, and portability. Plus, it ships as standard with Lenovo’s class-leading system and data management tools. Definitely one we would recommend. (Source: Christian Harris, Techworld) Promising Ultra-Mobile PCs Founded in 2000, San Francisco startup OQO was the first to load a full Microsoft (MSFT) Windows operating system onto a handheld device. OQO's first commercial version of the product won accolades at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2004, and a successor was cited by Guinness World Records as the smallest, fully loaded, personal computer. And while it didn't catch on widely with users, OQO kept plugging away and recently released a second generation of the ultra-mobile PC. It's too early to quantify demand for this emerging family of computers, says NPD analyst Stephen Baker. But some of the biggest names in consumer electronics—including Sony (SNE), Samsung, and Asus—are following OQO's lead. (Source: Ian Sager, Business Week) The Current State of Microsoft's UMPC Platform Despite the initial hype, the first generation UMPCs didn't quite make the splash in the marketplace that Microsoft had once hoped for. Samsung says that its UMPC sales have failed to meet expectations and that it sold less than 100,000 of its Q1 during 2006 -- the company hopes to sell 300,000 units in 2007. There are a number of key reasons why the platform has floundered thus far: high price of entry, high system weight, meager system/video performance and poor battery life. Until these issues are addressed, sales may never take off for the platform. Samsung is addressing three of the four above issues with its Q1 Ultra. Samsung has managed to lower the weight of its UMPC from 1.7 pounds for the Q1 to 1.5 pounds for the Q1 Ultra. The Q1 offers an 800MHz Core 2-based processor and Intel's 965 chipset to boost overall system performance. And lastly, battery life has been boosted from roughly 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours (6 hours with the extended battery pack). (Source: Brandon Hill, Daily Tech) TabletKiosk Launches eo TufTab™ and Sahara TufTab™ New Semi-Ruggedized Solutions for Mobile Computing TabletKiosk™, a leader in mobile computing solutions, today announced its entrance into the rugged Tablet PC market with the introduction of the eo TufTab™ v7112XT and Sahara TufTab™ i310XT. TabletKiosk developed the TufTab line for professionals who require more rugged and secure solutions for their As TabletKiosk’s first Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) designed to endure physical stress and withstand harsher Powered by a 1.2GHz VIA C7-M® ULV processor and preloaded with a choice of Microsoft Windows Vista™ Business, Windows® XP Tablet Edition or SUSE Linux, the eo TufTab™ v7112XT was designed to deliver a productive and efficient mobile computing experience. "VIA is excited to have the rugged TabletKiosk eo TufTab v7112XT join the elite group of ultra-mobile devices eo TufTab™ v7112XT Fast Facts: Sahara TufTab™ i310XT The Sahara TufTab™ i310XT, was designed to meet the needs of mobile enterprise users who employ wireless applications to operate and track business applications. By combining a semi-rugged design with the full functionality of Windows® XP Professional and the convenience of touch screen input, mobile workers can easily input data at maximum speed and processing efficiency wherever their work takes them. The Sahara TufTab™ i310XT features a 12.8” wide-angle touch screen, 802.11 b/g wireless LAN, Bluetooth® Sahara TufTab™ i310XT Fast Facts: Pricing and Availability eo TufTab™ v7112XT and Sahara TufTab™ i310XT will begin shipping in mid April, 2007. For additional details, pricing and pre-order information, please visit www.TabletKiosk.com. (Source: Press Release) PenCommander receives the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo I wanted to let you know PhatWare’s popular PenCommander 2.0 application has successfully completed certification testing at VeriTest for the Microsoft “Certified for Windows Vista” logo program. The "Certified for Windows Vista" logo is a compatibility designation for applications and devices that have passed a rigorous testing program on computers that are running Windows Vista. The technical requirements for this designation target four core areas: reliability, security, compatibility with Windows Vista and future operating systems, and installation and removal. PenCommander for Tablet PC features a new powerful technology which allows you to use your pen to call up commands that can control your computer in almost limitless ways, such as editing documents, inserting often-repeated text into documents, and launching applications. (Source: Press Release) Video: Asus T83 UMPC on the CeBIT Floor Science on a winner Dr Morgan developed Pattern Plotter, a video analysis tool that allows coaches to quickly call up replays of specified events and correlating data such as player positions on the ground. He started working on Pattern Plotter in 2000 while at the Victorian Institute of Sport, and today it is used by sports institutes, academies and national teams throughout Australia, along with AFL and A League soccer clubs. Pattern Plotter relies on an observer sitting in the stands, recording ball movements on a Tablet PC, which are later matched to the video replay. Dr Morgan is now working to integrate Pattern Plotter with player performance data. (Source: The Sidney Morning Herald) Irish e-Learning specialist ThirdForce plc wins BP contract With the broader product range however comes an increasingly costly and complex training requirement for BP Retail UK’s existing and new staff. To date this training had been delivered off-site as BP Retail UK had no means of deploying e-learning directly on-site to 4000 staff at hundreds of forecourt sites throughout the UK. ThirdForce plc is responding to this challenge by supplying BP Retail UK with a complete outsourced solution - delivered using the ThirdForce El-Box, a portable, touch-screen PC-tablet pre-loaded with dedicated e-learning training and requiring no IT skills. The ThirdForce solution also includes implementation, learner support, making it accessible to all levels of ability and crucially, allowing access to learning in almost any workplace environment. (Source: FinFacts Ireland) AMtek T200 ‘iTablet’ With a name like “iTablet” and a glistening white colour scheme, it’s obvious which company AMtek is trying to provoke comparisons to with its latest Tablet PC. It’s an old - and unimpressive - routine, and frankly they don’t really need the name; it’s an attractive unit in its own right. Anyway, associations aside, AMtek’s latest runs XP not Vista and, according to their site at least, has an odd mix of decent and bland features. Case in point: size is great, with the whole thing being only a little larger than the 12.1-inch display, just 0.94-inch thick and less than 3.3lbs on the scales. Shame it’s an XGA, 1024 x 768 panel, rather than a higher-res SXGA+ one as seen on some competitors. Reported battery life is fair too, at four hours, but you might be spending a lot of that time waiting for it to churn along since it apparently only supports a maximum of 1GB RAM. Processor choices of Pentium Ms ranging from 1.0GHz to 1.5GHz are par for the course, but the base 40GB hard-drive is a tad stingy. (Source: SlashGear) Unconventional Computers "Isn't that an anomaly in today's world?" said Gail Levy, the company's director of marketing. "It's more important for us to have a customer for long term, rather than spit 'em out, get another one, spit 'em out, get another one. We really pride ourselves on the quality," Smekal said. The good rapport came in handy when TabletKiosk asked the tablet PC and UMPC blogging community for help after a burglary occurred at its warehouse in February. "The amount of product that they took you couldn't have put it into a car, a van ... it was literally pallet loads of equipment," Smekal said. Two hundred items worth nearly $500,000 was taken. (Source: Justina Ly, Daily Breeze) Fujitsu First to Offer Solid State Drives in Its Pen-Enabled LifeBook Notebooks for Optimal Performance and Data Protection SUNNYVALE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 19, 2007 -- Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation today introduced the first pen-enabled notebooks with solid state drives (SSDs). The LifeBook® P1610 and LifeBook B6210 ultra-portables will offer an option for an SSD, an advanced NAND flash-based replacement for traditional hard disk drives. Fujitsu also introduced a rugged case for added durability and reliability. The rugged-enhanced notebooks, designed for optimal portability and data protection, are ideal for medium-sized and large organizations within vertical markets, including healthcare, aviation, and field service, which require a light and compact, but highly durable mobile computer. The 2.2-pound LifeBook P1610 convertible touch screen notebook and 3.2-pound LifeBook B6210 touch screen notebook are now offered with two flash-based SSD configurations, 16 GB or 32 GB. SSDs offer lower power consumption, added ruggedness, high reliability, and improved performance. In addition to providing significantly more durability and data protection than traditional hard disk drives, there are no moving parts to fail or heads to crash. SSDs are noise free, generate virtually no heat and weigh half as much as traditional notebook hard drives. SSDs also offer faster performance and quicker boot-up time because data access is virtually instantaneous. Unlike traditional hard disk drives there is no need to spin the platters up to speed, no seek time, and no rotational latency. SSDs also read two times faster and write up to 60% faster than other hard drives. In addition to the added durability all of this translates to a much faster experience and longer battery life. The LifeBook P1610 notebook and its predecessor, the LifeBook P1510 notebook, can be further fortified in tablet mode with an optional 3/4-inch thick flexible Santoprene case. The case, which provides access to all ports, offers additional protection against accidental drops, bumps and the rigors of a day on the road. "On-your-feet workers need to protect their tools without interfering with the product's usability or adding significant cost," said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems. "By offering SSDs along with rugged cases, Fujitsu provides a superior solution for environments where rough handling of notebooks is inherent in the workplace." The LifeBook P1610 convertible notebook, a light-weight powerhouse packed with full PC functionality and an 8.9-inch indoor/outdoor touch screen, is designed for on-the-go mobile professionals who require the flexibility of a tablet for note-taking or navigating through forms-based applications, along with the traditional keyboard input of a notebook computer. The LifeBook B6210 notebook, popular in fast-paced, forms-intensive workplaces, is equipped with a bright 12.1-inch XGA display offering the flexibility of touch screen input and the productivity of a notebook computer. Price and Availability The SSD for the LifeBook P1610 and B6210 notebooks will be offered with 16GB and 32GB storage capacities and available to corporate customers and agencies on a project-basis. Contact computers@us.fujitsu.com or 1-800-831-3183 for pricing and availability. The rugged tablet case for the LifeBook P1610 and LifeBook P1510 notebooks, priced at $139(1), is available through the Fujitsu direct sales force, website and channel partners. Service and Support The Fujitsu LifeBook P1610 and B6210 notebooks are backed by a one- or three-year International Limited Warranty for U.S. and Canadian customers. The International Limited Warranty(2) includes technical support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week(3), and unlimited online chat support. In addition, Fujitsu offers other warranty plans designed to meet the unique needs of mobile users. See http://us.fujitsu.com/computers for further information. |
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