I contacted Mike Stinson of Motion Computing to learn more and he shared the following with me in an interview just a couple of hours ago:
The reduction in work force is 15 - 20%, comprising of about 40 employees.
The cuts are coming from three different areas in the company: 1) Reduction of inside sales to utilizing 100% of channel partners, 2) removal of a duplication of effort between Motion and their manufacturing partners (Compal and Pegatron) , 3) admin and marketing. The biggest cuts are coming from #1 and #2 above.
For photographers and graphic artists, this scenario captures the allure of the Wacom Cintiq 12WX, a combined tablet interface and LCD from the company that’s name has become synonymous with “graphics tablet.” Sure, tablet PCs can offer a lot of the 12WX’s flexibility; hence their popularity with artists and other creatives. But for hard-core graphics work, portable machines rarely match the processing power (or obviously, the file storage capabilities) of a well-speced desktop. To this end, as a tablet that offers the same functionality afforded by the Wacom’s professional-grade Intuos models merged with a thin and light 1280x800 LCD display, the Cintiq brings the feel of direct-on-the-image editing to any computer with a VGA output. (Source: David Rasnake , Digital Camera Review)
Posted Friday, March 28, 2008 by ChrisD Rating: 3Comments ()
EverNote is aiming to be your second brain. A place that you can store all sorts of snippets of data from web clippings to scanned info, to pictures, to voice recordings. Remember, it is still in beta, and all the functionality I’d like to see isn’t there yet. For example, viewing ink in the Mac version isn’t included yet, but at the moment, I’ll accept that. There will be a free version of the new EverNote and also a Premium version. What’s nice, is that you aren’t going to be limited to the number of devices you can use EverNote with.
Here’s just one example of how well this works for me. I’m able to record a voice note on my Sprint Mogul and then upload that to the web. When I get back to my desktop or my Tablet PC, the note is there, either accessed through the web version or the client on my Mac or my Tablet PC when I next open either.
Tablet PC owners have been familiar with EverNote for quite some time and it is an excellent Ink application. I’ve used it in the past but relied on OneNote as my main note taking and data collection tool. While comparisons between the two seem inevitable, the good folks at EverNote are saying that they don't see this as necessarily a competing product. (Source: Warner Crocker, GottaBeMobile)
Our tablet PC demo program, started almost four years ago, has shipped tablets to hundreds of customers across the United States. We are excited to add some new tablet PCs to the lineup.
• Motion Computing F5 Field Tablet PC • Fujitsu P1620 Convertible Tablet PC • Fujitsu T4220 Convertible Tablet PC
Also, our Tablet PC Rental program has become very popular so we have expanded the benefits of this program as well. If you rent a tablet for two or four weeks, you can apply half of the rental amount to the purchase of a tablet PC. The two week rental is $160 + shipping and the four week rental is $320 _ shipping.
As always, we give you permission to load any software that you want to test on the tablet. We have the following units as part of our program as well: Motion C5, Sahara i440D, eo7110, Fujitsu T2010, Motion LE1700, Fujitsu U810, Amtek T770 and Lenovo X61.
After suing Dell and Motion Computing for allegedly infringing on two of its patents for portable computers with touch-screen technology, Typhoon, and licensing partner and co-plaintiff Nova Mobility Systems, said Tuesday they are targeting three more potential infringers: Xplore Technologies, Electrovaya, and Sand Dune Ventures, which makes tablet PCs under the brand TabletKiosk.
Typhoon specifically cites Xplore's iX104C series of tablet PCs, Electrovaya's Scribbler SC4000 tablet, and four of TabletKiosk's ruggedized tablets. Typhoon, a Seattle-based firm that creates and acquires patents, has only licensed its patents on portable touch-screen computers to Nova Mobility. The two companies have asked the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas for unspecified damages and an injunction on the sales of the computers Typhoon says are in violation of its patents. (Source: Erica Ogg, CNet News.com)
The number of keyboard models available on the market is simply astounding. They differ in size, design, ergonomics and, of course, price. However, their functionality is very similar, if not identical, which makes the choice of the right device mostly a matter of personal aesthetic preferences. But what if you are using a portable device that can be hardly paired up with a standard keyboard, no matter how small it is? The only efficient solution in this case would be a virtual keyboard that can be customized to your needs. If you are seeking one with advanced functionality, an affordable price and excellent usability, Comfort On-Screen Keyboard should be your software of choice.
Comfort Software Group proudly announces the release of Comfort On-Screen Keyboard, a powerful on-screen keyboard application for a wide range of users. The software displays a unique virtual keyboard on the screen and enables you to use the mouse cursor or the touch screen to type text in any available language. The rich functionality and ergonomics of Comfort On-Screen Keyboard will be especially appreciated by the owners of ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs), tablet PCs and e-kiosk creators, as it provides an easy way or facilitating user input and making it more efficient.
Comfort On-Screen Keyboard supports all the keys found on regular keyboards, but also possesses a number of distinct advantages. Support of mouse gestures simplifies the input of capital letters, spaces and enables you to delete the last character with a single stroke of the mouse cursor. The auto-repeat function repeats the input of a character when the key is pressed and held down. The virtual keyboard displays shortcuts and icons of popular application right on its keys, so you won't have any problems finding the right hotkey. This is more, when you switch to any language installed in the system, the keyboard will immediately display its characters on the keys, which provides you with a plethora of virtual keyboards to choose from. Flexibility and a multitude of customization options are some of the greatest advantages of Comfort On-Screen Keyboard - you can specify the position of keys on the keyboard and their number, keyboard dimensions, the interface color and even the skin to be used. The software comes with a number of templates, so you can choose the one that best matches your mood, desktop background or device type.
The bottom line is simple - you are very unlikely to find a more functional, elegant and useful on-screen keyboard tool anywhere else. Get it, install it on your home PC, your UMPC, corporate tablet PC or even an e-kiosk, tailor it to you needs and enjoy fast and hassle-free multi-language input! (Source: Press Release)
Posted Wednesday, March 26, 2008 by ChrisD Rating: n/aComments ()
TechRadar is a big fan of Asus’ Eee PC, so we welcome today’s news that the second generation is set to feature the new 8.9-inch touchscreen display and, possibly, full GPS support.
The new version Eee with an 8.9-inch screen, in 8GB or 12GB models with the latest 1.3 model camera, is set to release before the end of April and the touchscreen version should follow at a later date this year. (Source: Tech Radar)
Sure, there's always a tradeoff between sheer rugged durability and processing power, but folks who need solid computing power in extreme conditions will be happy to know Panasonic has just upgraded its Toughbook 19 convertible tablet PC with Core 2 Duo processors and expanded memory capability, along with an optional integrated 2 megapixel camera. And, yes, the Toughbook 19 is still tested using the MIL-STD-810F methodology for extreme conditions and resistance to dust, moisture, vibration, humidity, shocks and drops, altitude, and temperature extremes.
"Panasonic has always been at the forefront of engineering and building mobile solutions that incorporate enhancements in processing power while advancing durability, screen brightness, battery life and embedded wireless technologies" said Panasonic director of product management Kyp Walls, in a statement. "Panasonic engineers tackle reliability from the inside out and we manufacture and real-world test to ensure that our technology can withstand the conditions our customers face every day—and over the long term."
Rugged notebook and tablet computers are always a favorite with tech geeks no matter if they enjoy gaming or ultraportable notebooks. There is something about a computer you could throw through a car window and let bounce down the road, while continuing to function that warms our hearts. The DRS ARMOR C12 Convertible 12.1” Notebook is one of these military grade notebooks, which is designed to hold up to almost all rugged device standards. Read on to see how well the DRS ARMOR holds up against our testing. (Souce: Kevin, TabletPCReview.com)
Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008 by ChrisD Rating: n/aComments ()
Why were first-generation UMPC devices seen at trade shows and on gadget enthusiast blogs but rarely at airports (i.e., people actually using the devices)? Some were simply too expensive (the OQO PC and Samsung Q1 Ultra). Others, like the General Dynamics MR-1 discussed below, had a limited market to begin with. More generally, however, they were also slow and, for their size, disproportionately thick. For anyone considering one of these devices, these last two factors would tip the scale against a purchase.
I will focus on the last point. I submit that the design is inherently flawed. Thickness, no matter how compact, does not translate into mass appeal or even limited appeal. (Tiny keyboards don't help the cause either.) (Source: Brooke Crothers, Crave CNet)
Over at CeBIT in Germany, Gigabyte has just unveiled their new M700 UMPC.
Like so many other mini-tablets before it, the Gigabyte M700 UMPC gets outfitted with a seven-inch (touchscreen?) display, but it pushes the processing envelope a little further by running a full build of Windows Vista Home Premium. This is achieved through the 1.2GHz Via C7-M processor and 2GB of memory standard. The seven-inch screen has a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. (Source: Monica Tele, High Tech Lounge)
Posted Monday, March 24, 2008 by ChrisD Rating: 5Comments ()
I am a long-time fan of AirMagnet's Laptop and Handheld Analyzers, generally acknowledged to be among the most successful commercial Wi-Fi diagnostic tools on the market. But I have carried AirMagnet on site surveys and trouble-shooting calls long enough to know that balancing a notebook on your palm or knee can be inconvenient, even risky. On the other hand, lengthy PDA-based excursions are limited by storage, battery life, and eyesight. For on-the-move tasks where a notebook would prove clumsy and a PDA too limited, AirMagnet has teamed with OQO to deliver a handy alternative: AirMagnet's Ultra Mobile Solution. (Source: Lisa Phifer , Wi Fi Planet)
Posted Monday, March 24, 2008 by ChrisD Rating: 5Comments ()
Axiotron aims to fill some of the gaps in Apple's lineup with the ModBook, a 13-inch MacBook reworked into a slate-style tablet PC. It's a clever bit of engineering, taking the guts of a MacBook and removing the lid, omitting the keyboard and trackpad, replacing the display with a Wacom-enabled LCD and digitizer, and adding a scratch-resistant magnesium shell to the top.
Editors' rating: 7.2 out of 10, very good (Source: Dan Ackerman and Matthew Elliott, CNet.com, San Jose Mercury News)
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