News Week of June 22, 2008

HP TouchSmart IQ506

Hewlett-Packard's redesigned TouchSmart PC solves at least one of the problems of the original. The new look stays much truer to that of a traditional all-in-one, leaving behind last year's clunky hinged design (that we admit we kind of liked). The $1,499 TouchSmart PC IQ506 also shares an issue with the original model, in that it's not as fast as it should be for its price. In the post-iPhone era, we also find the TouchSmart's touch functionality less charming than we did last year. We don't recommend this new TouchSmart as a traditional deskbound computer, but it does work as a walk-up kiosk/entertainment center, and it has a respectable number of features to help with the task. (Source: Rich Brown, CNet)
Posted Friday, June 27, 2008 by ChrisD
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More from the Gates interview

Most of the things we've done � betting on empowerment, betting on the magic of software, the basic thrust of who we are and what we do, hiring smart people, funding long-term research � all those things have worked out spectacularly well. And even the ones that haven't worked out, I'm the kind of person that says, "Well, they will." The Tablet [PC] is only being used by millions, not tens of millions. Well, I claim that's a matter of time. Speech interface, visual interface are still very niche-oriented activities, but during the next decade we're investing heavily in those, because we believe they'll become mainstream. So we tend to stick to things longer than other people do.  (Source: The Seattle Times)
Posted Friday, June 27, 2008 by ChrisD
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I Met With Motion Computing Today, and Left Totally In Awe

While in Austin, I had the privilege of meeting with Motion Computing and was totally blown away with what they had to show me. As in the past, Motion has again set the bar for innovation and design. Beyond telling you that, though, I've been sworn to secrecy. Suffice it to say, I think you'll be impressed, too.  (Source: Rob Bushway, GottaBeMobile)

Hurried doctor visits may leave patients feeling forgetful � take notes as a patient and bring a Tablet PC if you own one

There is something you can do as a patient, take notes and ask a question if you do not understand. Something that I have done, and yes people have chucked over this one, is that I reverse the technology roles. We all hear talk about physicians using Tablet PCs, but hey it works for the patient too. I open up my Tablet PC and start writing down what the doctor tells me, so I have my notes too. What�s good for the doctor is also good for the patient, especially when it comes to important treatment plans and you don�t want to forget what instructions you were given, so if you own a Tablet PC, take it with you on your next visit and take some notes. BD (Source: Barbara Duck, The Medical Quack Blog)
Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008 by ChrisD
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Panasonic Unveils Toughbook CF-U1 Rugged UMPC

In response to the increasing demand for full-function handheld PCs for mobile field workers, Panasonic today announced the release of the Toughbook CF-U1. It is the first UMPC to integrate the new Intel Atom processor in a rugged handheld computer for use in the field. 

Remote workers are now able to connect to information and applications in real time, improving organizational efficiency, information accuracy, and enabling field-based decision-making.  The CF-U1 rugged UMPC has features previously only available on a full size Toughbook PC, but now in an ultra-mobile form factor.  (Source: Tiffany Boggs, TabletPCReview.com)

Case Study: Motion Computing Employs RFID In Slate Tablet PCs To Benefit Medical Industry

Motion Computing, headquartered in Austin, Texas, produces slate tablet PCs for mobile professionals in industries including healthcare, government, and field force automation. Motion is a mobile computing and wireless communications leader, combining world-class innovation and industry experience so individuals can use computing technology in new ways and places. The company's enhanced line of tablet PCs and accessories are designed to increase productivity for on-the-go users while providing computing security, power and versatility.

Operations Data

• Established in 2001, Motion is a company driven to innovate and applies that culture to the markets it serves which include: Healthcare, Enterprise Mobility (includes Field Sales & Service, Retail, and Hospitality), Education, Manufacturing, and Government.
• Motion has three award-winning tablet PC form factors and offers related peripherals, software, and other services to provide complete, wireless computing solutions for mobile professionals.
• Motion was the first tablet PC developer to incorporate an integrated RFID reader.
• Motion's tablet PCs are recognized as tools that are designed for the way people work and are focused on integrating world-class technology that is application and mobility driven. Motion's customers experience tangible, measurable advances in productivity, without compromising their work styles to accommodate a machine.
• With more than 1,400 resellers in 24 countries, Motion has built a collaborative ecosystem of strong reseller partners and industry-leading software and hardware vendors to help its customers find the right combination of products and services to support specific mobile computing needs. Its distributor and value-added reseller partners include: Seneca Data, TechData, Synntex, CDW, McKesson and Cerner Corporation.
• Motion is the only company that focuses 100 percent on slate PCs, and continues to be the world leader in the category as reported by IDC in their 2007-2011 Tablet Forecast.

(Source: RFID Solutions Online)

Alcatel-Lucent Awarded $512M in Microsoft Patent Case

The jury found that the software maker infringed on an Alcatel patent that covers how software users select a calendar date from a menu in certain programs, including Microsoft Outlook and Windows Mobile.

The jury also awarded Alcatel-Lucent $10.4 million from Microsoft after finding the software maker infringed on an patent related to the use of a stylus on a tablet computer.  (Source: Rob Adams, NewsOXY.com)

Kohjinsha SX Series: For When Your Mini-Notebook Obsession Grows Up

While Asus has brought mini-notebooks to US shores, for the best stuff you've still got to import. The Kohjinsha SX Series is a 2.8lb laptop with a few interesting quirks. Powered by an Atom processor, the 8.9-inch Vista system can convert to tablet with the rotation of the convertible touchscreen. And to make sure you can teleconference in either mode, the system features two cameras to capture those dazzling whites. The 1GB of RAM will need a boost, but the 60GB hard drive, internal DVD writer and expandable multicard reader do a lot to make up for it (and if only we could take advantage of that 1seg tuner...). Buy it now for $1,199.00.   (Source: Gizmodo)
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by ChrisD
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PhatWare Announces PenOffice 3.0 Beta Availability

Upgraded software has been completely redesigned to offer new feel and look, compatibility with Windows Vista, Office 2007and many new collaboration features.

Mountain View, CA (PRWEB) June 25, 2008 -- PhatWare Corporation, a leading provider of software products and professional services for mobile and desktop computers, announces today the beta availability of PenOffice 3.0, a suite of handwriting recognition and collaboration software for Microsoft Windows-based computers and Tablet PCs.

PenOffice has found wide acceptance worldwide among OEMs and end users due to its highly accurate handwriting recognition, easy-to-use user interface, and extended set of pen-based collaboration features. The new version of the application recognizes handwriting in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Spanish, and is designed for use with Windows-based desktop, portable, tablet, and ultra-mobile PCs. PenOffice also incorporates features that allow users to add handwritten notes to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, embed control gestures into writing, create handwritten notes, utilize fill-screen drawings, and much more.

While previous versions of PenOffice were available in two editions, English and Multilingual, Version 3.0 includes recognition engines for all supported languages, providing beta testers with access to the complete feature-set.

The top five new features in PenOffice 3.0 include:
1.   Fresh new UI look and feel, with the software entirely redesigned.
2.   Support for Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint markup.
3.   New PenOffice Configuration Manager, which allows users to create custom configurations for handwriting recognition functionality.
4.   New handwriting recognition engine with integrated statistical analyzer, auto-corrector and support for additional languages.
5.   New PenCommander scripting engine and Visual PenCommander IDE. PenCommander allows users to use short handwritten commands that can control a Microsoft Windows-based computer or Tablet PC in almost limitless ways, such as editing documents, inserting often-repeated text into documents, and launching applications.

The beta software is available immediately to consumers for beta testing, and PhatWare welcomes user participation and feedback.

"Our customers have long anticipated the new version of PenOffice which is compatible with Windows Vista and Office 2007 and features improved usability and performance," said PhatWare President Stan Miasnikov. "We are looking forward to the excellent user feedback we will receive during PenOffice 3.0's beta testing phase, a key component to our development process."

PenOffice 3.0 supports Windows XP or later and can work with any pointing input device devices, such as graphic tablet, interactive while board, touch screen monitor, Tablet PC, online digital pen, and even standard computer mouse. To participate in the PenOffice 3.0 Beta Program, visit www.phatware.com/pobeta and follow the instructions on the website. The final release of PenOffice 3.0 is expected at the end of Q3 2008.   (Source: Press release)

Gates' big send-off

As long as I'm here, I'm still sending a lot of e-mail and in a lot of meetings, and so the real change in terms of people having an opportunity to step up and do things, to some degree it's after July 1 when my involvement is only a very specific involvement on particular projects as opposed to the overall strategy thing.

Everybody likes to pick the current competitive battles that we're in, and kind of think, OK, those are the big things. For me, I'd pick like tablet or interactive TV that are, according to me--but I've been over-optimistic before--on the verge of big, big impact. So, I've been sending a lot of mail to the tablet and interactive TV team, sort of sending the mail I would have sent three months from now, now, just giving them encouragement. Because, you know, all the big successes, whether it's Office integration or Windows, it takes a long time for those things to get established.

We thought it would be a good idea for me to go to the Windows 7 group and go see the work, and I was thrilled. Steven Sinofsky took me around, showed me what they're doing.   (Source: Ina Fried, CNet News.com)

ESO SOLUTIONS CHOOSES RITEPEN FOR  ESO PRO(TM) EPCR SUITE

ritePen 3.0 Integrated with ESO Pro ePCR Suite to Provide EMS and Fire Personnel with Seamless Data Input into Medical Documents 

Sunnyvale, Calif., June 24, 2008 - RitescriptR, a division of Evernote Corporation, and ESO Solutions, Inc. today announced that the two companies have entered into a licensing agreement in which Ritescript's ritePenR 3.0 handwriting recognition and intelligent desktop navigation software will be integrated with ESO Solutions' ESO Pro(TM) ePCR Suite to provide users with seamless text input and workflow control in a mobile environment.
 
ESO Solutions provides medic-friendly, cost-effective electronic patient care reporting (ePCR) software and billing services for EMS and Fire organizations nationwide.
The ESO Pro ePCR Suite is an intuitive, NEMSIS Gold application that helps emergency medical responders capture necessary patient data during emergency visits via pen-based notebook computers. The application also includes a robust quality management module, extensive ad hoc reporting functionality, interface capabilities, validation and tracking tools, and more. "Our customers demand enhanced input options on mobile devices that support complex and critical workflow during emergency situations," said John Dadey, president and CEO of ESO Solutions. "Full integration of ritePen with our application, including customization for specific medical data types and workflow control, will significantly boost recognition accuracy and the productivity of emergency response teams using the ESO Pro ePCR Suite."

Using ESO Pro Mobile on rugged pen-based notebooks in the field allows emergency responders to quickly capture patient vitals, medications, cardiac arrest treatments, electronic signatures, and other critical call data. ritePen 3.0 further enhances their ability to perform mission critical work, delivering easy text entry and medical terminology recognition as well as  workflow control via handwritten shortcuts.

"I have tested the ritePen software with various other applications, and I believe that this is certainly a positive move for ESO," said Billy Craft, battalion chief for the City of Carrollton Fire Department. "Embedding this technology into the ePCR program is an excellent way to increase functionality of the software by providing an additional method for users to enter data."

"This agreement with ESO Solutions demonstrates our commitment to the healthcare market," said Leonid Kitainik, general manager for Ritescript. "With growing numbers of medical workers relying upon mobile applications, we are excited to partner with a prominent player in EMS patient care to provide intuitive and instant data input via ritePen 3.0 in emergency
situations."

Users of ESO Solutions' ePCR Suite will have access to Ritescript's ritePen 3.0 with ESO's next software release, slated for summer 2008.  (Source: Press Release)

Use and abuse your Tablet PC for notetaking

Tablet PC�s have recently come into the news as the next generation of computers, because Windows 7 will be supporting multi-touch features, so everyone�s getting into a bit of a tizzy about it. But over the last few years, with the help of technology, written notes are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Sure, there are some subjects which using pen and paper more useful, and using a tablet device isn�t always to everyone�s taste.

Microsoft Office OneNote is one of the most used notetaking products, simply because it�s part of most versions of the Office suite. As far as I can tell, it�s just like the rest of the Office applications - bulky, confusing, there�s far too much stuff on screen, there�s an option/setting for everything, but also it seems to have the most power behind it. You can record audio notes, record video notes, add details to Outlook meetings, it also has great interoperability with the other Office applications, share your screen with others in a Live Meeting type style, write with ink or with text. (Source: Zack Whittaker, ZDNet)

Affiliated Foods Midwest Chooses MobileDemand Tablet PC to Help Reduce Cost of Goods Substantially in Retail Industry

Affiliated Foods Midwest, a member-owned grocery cooperative headquartered in Norfolk, Neb., recently partnered with rugged Tablet PC manufacturer MobileDemand to help simplify its order entry process and streamline operations - a move that helped significantly decrease the cost of goods sold for participating retailers.

The 850 independent grocers that make up AFM previously used small screen handheld computers for their order entry process. This forced them to download data to a desktop computer to review, optimize and finally place the order. The co-op recognized that this was a time-consuming and inefficient process and presented an opportunity to switch to a new full screen, rugged mobile computing system.

With the industry's highest processor performance, MobileDemand's xTablet gave AFM the ability to develop an enhanced functionality software application for the Tablet PC, thus enabling back-office server functionality and decision making at the point of order entry on the retail floor. With the database stored on the Tablet PC, the application allows department managers to make critical ordering decisions instantly as they are reviewing the store shelves, completely eliminating the need for a second process for managers to download data from a handheld unit to the back-office server and then review allowances and other key data on the ordering server.

"As a full screen computer, the MobileDemand xTablet Tablet PC can run any off-the-shelf software written for the standard full Windows environment," said Matt Miller, president of MobileDemand. "This significantly reduces the time and costs for software development and system integration, which meant it was relatively simple for AFM to develop and port their back-end server application for use on the xTablet Tablet PC."

This implementation has had a significant impact on how retailers ordered goods for their stores.

"Since the tablet is a full-function computer, we're able to process the information when the order is being taken," said Vic Ching, owner of Lanning's Food Center in Plainview, Minn. and Chief Information Officer for AFM. "It basically gives us the freedom to roam within the Retail space and process the information in a much more efficient manner. It consolidates multiple steps into one, and it gives our retailers the information in a timely manner so they can make the right ordering decision."
   The ruggedness of the xTablet also played a key role in this deployment. Designed for durability, the Tablet PC's lightweight magnesium alloy will withstand the harshest environments. From dust, water and rain to extreme temperatures or repeated drops, the Tablet PC meets all military grade ruggedness standards.

"Since our retailers are all independently owned, we don't sell them the xTablet, but lease it to them," said Ching. "Therefore we needed to make sure the Tablet PC had a long lifespan within the field to be able to recoup the initial purchase cost."

Today, AFM has approximately 500 retailers utilizing the tablet, with some retailers using multiple tablets because of the size of their operation. Along with streamlining the order entry process, AFM retailers have also seen their percentage allowances increase by as much as 1 percent. This decrease in cost of goods sold flows directly to the retailers' bottom line.   

"The tablet has really proven itself," said Ching. "The retailers have truly embraced this device's ruggedness and versatility, and have been selling it amongst themselves."

AFM has been so pleased with the xTablet Tablet PCs that officials are developing additional applications for the device to be used in the future.

For pictures, videos and more information about this implementation, visit www.RuggedTabletPC.com to read the full case study and watch the case study video.

MobileDemand offers rugged Tablet PCs for a variety of vertical industries that provide a lower total cost of ownership over non-rugged computers; supported by actual customer experience and factual independent research. MobileDemand elevates itself by uniquely offering the combination of a total complement of mounts and accessories, flexibility built into their systems, superior and personalized customer service, and customer focused engineering - all to help customers best satisfy their mobile computing needs. Additional information is available on the Internet at the MobileDemand web-site.

MobileDemand, xTablet, and xView are registered trademarks or trademarks of MobileDemand, LC. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks of their respective owners.   (Source: Press Release)