News Week of November 26, 2006

Vista to spur tablet PC sales

While the global corporate launch of Windows Vista has largely centred on convincing enterprises to split with their hard-earned cash and upgrade their current desktops, manufacturers are also hoping that it will help boost the still dormant sales of a less successful technology: the Tablet PC.

Previous incarnations of the Tablet PC -- which uses a pen-like stylus to input information directly on screen -- have used their own custom version of Windows as an operating system, but Vista is designed to run unchanged on conventional PCs, notebooks and tablets.

That could provide the opportunity for tablets to be more widely adopted, especially if businesses choose to initially deploy Vista on new hardware rather than upgrading existing desktops, a strategy recommended by many analysts. "Enterprises should start to introduce the OS on new hardware, rather than upgrading existing XP systems with a large migration project," Forrester analyst Simon Yates wrote in an advisory to enterprise customers. (Source: Angus Kidman , IT Wire)
Posted Friday, December 1, 2006 by ChrisD
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TabletKiosk eo v7110 UMPC Review


(view large image)

Admist much fanfare, Spring 2006 saw the birth of the UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC) computing platform. The Samsung Q1 made its debut as the "first" UMPC to hit the market. Hot on Samsung's heels though was TabletKiosk busting a snappy roll out of the eo v7110 UMPC. During all the initial UMPC hype, orders for this first eo UMPC model threw TabletKiosk into a precarious position of meeting supply with an unpredictably high demand. (A good problem to have). To add to the challenge, there were a couple of minor technical glitches is the first eo batch that challenged TabletKiosk even further. However in taking great care of their customers (anxiously awaiting their orders), In the end, TabletKiosk over delivered and was able to move orders faster than promised. The UMPC hardware frenzy had officially begun.

We had the opportunity to work the TabletKiosk eo v7110 for a couple of days. Our review is based on somewhat limited time constraints, however we integrated our eo v7110 UMPC review unit into real world use to get a feel for what this "value-oriented" model from TabletKiosk's eo series has to offer.  (Source: Barry J. Doyle, TabletPCReviewSpot.com)
Posted Friday, December 1, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 2.66 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

Scriptnetics and EZClaim Work Together to Expand the Easy-to-use Medical Billing Software Market

  NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, 12/01/2006 - Scriptnetics, Inc. (formerly BrunMed, Inc.) and EZClaim® today announced they are partnering together to develop upgraded and easy to use medical claims billing and management software for larger clinics and hospital systems.
    
  For EZClaim this partnership will allow the expansion of their already extensive customer base for medical practice management software into the larger clinics and hospital arena. For Scriptnetics the new software will be licensed and incorporated into the Medscribbler® EMR, electronic medical record software product, to provide a completely integrated medical record and practice management system.

"We think there is a natural partnership with EZClaim, the brand synonymous with easy-to-use medical billing software," said Michael Milne, CEO of Scriptnetics. "Being able to use familiar billing software with top notch support integrated into Medscribbler, which is just as easy to use for the medical provider, expands the market reach for both of us and will deliver to medical offices, clinics and hospitals the business value medical software users have been waiting years for."

"We are thrilled to be working with Scriptnetics to enable our existing large customer base and our new customers to have a new EZClaim product that can grow with them as their own medical businesses expand," said Al Nagy, EZClaim's CEO. "Scriptnetics with their computer programming skill and medical software knowledge will allow us to expand our potential market. Together we will provide medical billing software that can meet users challenges in meeting changing insurance and government requirements. Keeping ease of use at the forefront is a focus for both companies."  (Source: Press Release)

Who framed Jessica Rabbit?

Chances are, there's only one clip from the whole 30-45-minute podcast that you would ever be interested in. Can you skip to it?

An easy question to answer: "Sure! - all you need is a piece of software called One Note."

One Note started out as a reporter's notepad. John Markoff wanted a notepad which not only held his scribbles, but tied them to the audio. He wanted to be able to put his pen on the word "hacker" and hear the conversation that was going on when he wrote it. And if you have a Tablet PC, you can indeed do just that: scribble on the pad, and record the audio, and they are linked together. (Source: Guy Kewney, Newswireless.net, The Register)

HP IQ770 "Crossfire" 19-inch touchscreen Media PC revealed!

Get Ready for Vista

The two versions for business are Windows Vista Business, designed for organizations of all sizes; and Windows Vista Enterprise, addressing the needs of large global organizations, and those with highly complex IT infrastructures. The Business OS offers the new “Windows Aero” user interface that provides a “professional-looking” transparent glass design with subtle effects like dynamic reflections of smooth animations, Windows Flip, and Flip 3D desktop navigation features. Search functions are integrated throughout the OS, and there are new ways to organize files. Windows Tablet PC technology also provides built-in handwriting recognition, and enables interaction with the PC with a digital pen or fingertip instead of a keyboard.  (Source: Marketnews.ca Daily)
Posted Thursday, November 30, 2006 by ChrisD
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Tech Toys 2006, Part 4: Computers and Computer Accessories

Notebook Computers and Tablet PCs
Portable computers are now available in a variety of form factors, sizes, and capabilities, but the market can be broken down pretty easily: These days, the larger and heavier systems, called desktop replacements, tend to be less expensive than their smaller and lighter contemporaries, but they offer more expansion space. And whereas the Tablet PC form factor never really took off, a variety of notebook computers now offer pen input options and come in convertible notebook and slate form factors. There are plenty of excellent choices.  (Source: Paul Thurrott, Connected Home Media)

All The News Fit For Bits: Times Tests Digital Reader, Makes Desktops Look Like Print

Stories appear in columns and blocks sized to fit on a computer screen for readability. Readers can resize the text, choose different fonts, highlight key parts and make notes on the content at the bottom of each page. A search function allows users to find content by keywords. Or they can navigate through multiple stories using arrow directional keys on their keyboard. On a tablet PC, they can scroll from article to article using the joystick or touch-screen functions. The articles are also "printer ready."   (Source: MediaPost Publications)
Posted Thursday, November 30, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 2.84 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

The TabletPc2.com 2006 List for Santa

This years list includes Tablet PCs, Ultra Mobile PCs and more than 150 products from over 60 vendors.

There are Tablet PCs, Ultra Mobile PCs - UMPC's, MP3 and DVD players. Home theatre Controllers, Speakers in Audio and Entertainment, Headsets, Digital Cameras and Printers. Digital Media, Everything Bluetooth innovations, i Pods, Bags and Cases, Storage, Software, Accessories and more.

We've done our best to seek out and find the newest, most useful and most interesting collection of products and gifts to make your holiday shopping as simple as the click of a Mouse....

(Source: Linda A. Epstein, TabletPC2.com)

Surviving a "Near Death" Experience: How to Save Your Tablet PC After a Spill

It's a common tradition. We are all guilty at some time or another of having liquids or drinks next to our mobile computers. Although the unique marriage of coffee and a portable computer seem to be an inseparable pair (been to Starbucks recently?), there is some risk involved. Accidents certainly happen, and the results of a liquid meeting with the insides of a notebook or Tablet PC can be ugly!

The Panasonic CF-18 Tablet PC can handle it, but yours probably can't!

If you are one of the lucky few to have a Panasonic ToughBook CF-18, then please disregard the rest of this article. However if you are one of the other 99.9% of mobile computer owners and have a machine that doesn't get along with liquids very well, we have some steps that you can take to save your investment when an accident happens.(Source: Barry J. Doyle. TabletPCReviewSpot.com)

Mobile Computers on the Increase in US Homes, According to MetaFacts 2006 Home PC Brand Profile Report

Comparing Installed Bases of Major PC Brands Yields Interesting Results - Half of Apple Home Users Now Notebooks, While Dell is Nearing the Half-Way Mark

Homes are embracing notebook computers, with nearly 52 million as the home’s primary computers, according to analysis released in the 2006 Home PC Brand Profile Report from MetaFacts, Inc. These 51.8 million notebooks are 30.2% of US primary home computers. Not all brands are equal when it comes to mobilizing their customers. In Apple households, over half (52%) of the personal computers are notebooks. In HP/Compaq households, just under one in six (16.1%) are notebook computers, while 46.1% of Dell PCs at home are notebooks. Dell continues to lead in sheer numbers with just over 24 million Dell notebooks in U.S. households, a 46.1% share of the home notebook PC market.

The Home PC Brand Profile Report is one of a series of summary reports on specific topics based on the results of MetaFacts’ 2006 Technology User Profile (TUP) study, which reveal the changing patterns of technology adoption and use in American households and businesses. The Home PC Brand Profile Report includes findings on PC types in homes, year purchased, age/gender of users, where home computers are used (respondents reported using them outside the home from cybercafés to copy shops), PC activities, Internet use, shopping and buying behavior, purchasing channels, printer use and more. The results are reported for all home PCs users in total, as well as separately by major PC brand (Apple, Dell, Gateway/eMachines, HP/Compaq, and other brands).

Newer computer models are now in almost half of homes, with 49.3% purchased since 2004. More than two-thirds of Apple and half of Dell and HP/Compaq primary home computers are less than 2 ½ years old. “A substantial number of home computers are considered new enough that it's likely to cause resistance for home consumers to replace their PCs,” said Dan Ness, principal at MetaFacts. “This will have implications for releases of new applications and operating systems like Microsoft Vista.”

Among other findings in the Home PC Brand Profile Report are age and gender of home PC users. Nearly half (46%) of Apple's base is age 55 and older, almost double the share of average home PC users (25.2%). “Apple can claim long-time loyalists, but its future among the young technoliterati is an interesting dynamic,” said Ness. “Gateway has the lead among the 18-24 year olds,” he continued, “with a higher-than-average share of US home’s primary PC users falling into this age group.”

In addition to the Home PC Brand Profile Report, MetaFacts has recently produced the Workplace PC Brand Profile Report, which focuses on PCs used in the Workplace, and the Mobile PC Profile Report, which profiles notebook and tablet PC use.   (Source: Press Release)

Odessa, Texas Goes Online with INKforce Code Enforcement Software

A suite of automated government software tools, INKforce streamlines code enforcement, a rigid paperwork and time-intensive government compliance process. The solution enables city officers and authorized administrators to schedule, track, and monitor the life cycle of code inspections directly from the field using a tablet PC, a wireless connection, and a Web browser.

With INKforce, code enforcement officers can access schedules and directions, property and complaint histories, and city and county ordinance specifications, and they can secure signatures and issue compliance notices on the spot (or automatically initiate a certified mailing to the property owner). Odessa's INKforce system will include enhanced software that adds improved efficiency for code enforcement officers. Inspectors won?t need to memorize city codes; instead they will use a built-in search feature to view codes on the screen.

"INKforce is truly an end-to-end solution. We've added more functionality to make the job easier for city employees too," said Hector Perez, associate in CGA's Data Technologies and Development Division.  (Source: Geospacial Solutions)
Posted Tuesday, November 28, 2006 by ChrisD
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Xplore Teams Up With Progressive Gaming International to Offer Wireless Gaming

Xplore Technologies Corp. (TSX:XPL), an innovative leader in the rugged PC industry, teams up with Progressive Gaming International Corporation (PGIC), a leading provider of technologies used in the gaming industry, to offer customers wireless gaming capabilities.

    Xplore's iX104 rugged Tablet PC is used in conjunction with software provided by PGIC that allows clients to wager on individual outcomes within a sporting event such as, "will the next play be a pass or a rush?"

    It is further intended that this solution will eventually be allowed to extend to other areas of the casino, whether at the casino bar, restaurant and even poolside.

    "We wanted to provide a solution for gaming enthusiasts who wanted the ability to wager and track their bets during games and events from anywhere in a casino where allowed by regulations. We needed to find a hardware product that was flexible and rugged enough to be handled by everyday patrons but also had to function well with our software. After some comprehensive research, the Xplore iX104 Tablet PC seemed the most logical choice," stated Brandon Knowles, Vice President of Gaming Technology at Progressive Gaming International.

    According to Mark Holleran, President and CEO for Xplore, "We are excited to be partnering with PGIC to offer this leading-edge technological advancement to the gaming industry and public."

    The complete application is in final stages of the regulatory approval process at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. PGIC hopes to be able to offer similar applications throughout the global gaming industry.  (Source: Press Release)

FrogPad User Review

I should begin by saying that the FrogPad is the sort of product that I really want to like.  It is a perfect example of an innovative concept that has been developed, manufactured and is being marketed by a small group of entrepreneurs, presumably at no small financial risk to themselves.  For this reason, one would hope that no serious review of this product would be undertaken lightly.  The following review is probably a good bit longer than one might expect for two reasons:
 
1)  The developers of the FrogPad deserve a thorough review, and… 
2)  As a Human Interface Device (HID), the design of the FrogPad is both complex and potentially controversial; to appreciate it requires some discussion!

The following review is based on my experience with my personal “BlackFrog500” right-hand USB keyboard (Image from the FrogPad website).  (Source: Steve S., Gotta Be Mobile)

Tablet PC Form Automation Software from Field2Base Increases Productivity and Eliminates Paper from Field Data Collection Processes

Field2Base Inc., announced today the general availability of Version 4.0 of its Forms2Base software offering. Forms2Base Pro along with its free, restricted use sister product, Forms2Base Lite, offer clients a simple yet powerful method of automating paper forms commonly used for field data collection purposes. While designed specifically for use on Tablet PCs, Forms2Base will also run on laptops and desktops running the Windows XP operating system.

By providing an easy to use, intuitive interface companies choosing to deploy Forms2Base can mimic their existing field data collection processes but capture all data in an electronic format that can be communicated to the home office and integrated to back office data systems. Forms2Base also includes advanced features such as barcode data input to forms, adding digital photos to any form, dropdown pick lists and built in form routing capabilities. “The real power of Forms2Base is its ease of use.” says Kyle O’Brien, CEO of Field2Base. “Forms2Base customers keep their existing look and feel of paper forms which eliminates re-training while automating field paper.”

Forms2Base includes a Form Designer module for designing forms with regions for handwriting recognition, calculations, photos, signature capture, numeric input and others. Forms2Base is a component of a full product suite of form automation and mobile workforce products offered by Field2Base. Customers choosing the Forms2Base solution can always upgrade to other mobile workforce offerings from Field2Base as their operations and needs change.  (Source: Press Release)

New features in MaxiVista v3

The best thing first: All new features have been implemented without bloating the program. We carefully reviewed and optimized the engine 'under the hood' and MaxiVista is still as compact and efficient as always.

Enhanced clipboard synchronization

MaxiVista now also synchronizes formatted text, bitmaps and files (Windows XP/Vista only) between the computer's clipboards:

Exchanging data between PCs never has been as easy.

Improved Remote Control

The Viewer program can now operate as a Windows service which allows you to log onto a locked secondary PC:

You can also send CTRL-ALT-DEL to the secondary PC.

New displaying options

MaxiVista supports latest widescreen resolutions and ultra high virtual resolutions (up to 4,800x2,400 pixels) with new zoom/shrink-to-fit auto-panning modes and a freely resizable viewer program in window mode:

Up to 50% performance boost

New Intel-optimized compression algorithms and the network parameter optimizer increase the performance of the extended screen playback up to 50%:

Wallpaper background pictures are now cached on the secondary PC for increased performance and to reduce network load. If using the JPEG compression method, MaxiVista recognizes areas of sharp contrast such as text areas and displays it without any JPG artefacts.

MaxiVista goes Vista

MaxiVista does now also work on Windows Vista and Windows XP/2003 x64 operating systems. Please note, that Windows Vista is only supported in classic display mode with XPDM drivers (more info) with only one additional screen.

Additional improvements

• MaxiVista now remembers the last used mode (extended screen vs. remote control vs. mirroring)
• Deactivation of extended screen can now be configured when secondary PC is being locked (screenshot)
• Screensaver synchronization between the computers
• Detailed network parameters settings to tweak performance (screenshot)
• Customizable hotkeys for all major options (screenshot)
• Plus numerous internal optimzations...   (Source: Press Release)

ASUS R2H & R1F now available in Australia

I think this post will create some real excitement Downunder. Not only has Australia officially announced the release of the ASUS R2H Ultra Mobile PC, and the R1F Convertible Tablet, via Tegatech Australia, but the specs look pretty good too.

Given the maturity of the IT market in Australia and New Zealand it comes as no surprise that ASUS has held nothing back. The package Downunder includes all the usual International specifications but also the Bluetooth Keyboard and an External DVD RW. Interestingly it is one hundred dollars cheaper than the TabletKiosk i7210 so it will be interesting to see how this affects overall UMPC takeup. It looks as though it will ship with the smaller battery here, no sign of he "big battery" my friends in USA have blogged about.   (Source: Hugo Ortega , Uber Tablet Blog)
Posted Monday, November 27, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.11 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (1)

Just Install Diskeeper and Let It Rip! - Diskeeper 2007 is Now Available

Diskeeper® 2007 has been released, and what best describes this new version?  Beta tester Michael Ratledge (an IT security pro) said it best - "Just install it and let 'er rip!" Diskeeper 2007 does what an automatic defragmenter should do; it defragments files on-the-fly without any impact on the system. Powered by new background processing technology called InvisiTasking®, Diskeeper is the only defragmenter that can truly deliver transparent operations.  Whether running a mission critical 24/7 enterprise server or a small to medium business network, Diskeeper 2007 intelligently uses only unused system resources (if and when they are available) to increase system performance. InvisiTasking goes far beyond the limitations of I/O and CPU throttling. There's simply no comparison.

InvisiTasking was coined from “invisible” and “multitasking” and is a technology which truly allows any system maintenance task to run invisibly in the background.  The ground breaking InvisiTasking technology marks the beginning of a new era for Diskeeper and automatic defragmentation.  In the same way that manual defragmentation evolved into scheduled defragmentation, it has now evolved into true automatic defragmentation with InvisiTasking.

InvisiTasking allows Diskeeper 2007 to eliminate fragmentation on the fly, in real time, so that fragmentation never has a chance to interfere with the system.  InvisiTasking does this automatically, without the need for any input from the user – regardless of the size of the network.  Diskeeper 2007 is simple for the user as there is no longer a need to turn off their defragmenter, schedule at "off" hours, or manually defrag.  There is no need to figure out "settings" or what "type" of defragmentation is best for the system. Diskeeper does it intelligently and dynamically determining what the system needs for peak file system performance.

New Functionality of Diskeeper 2007 Includes:

New real-time defragmentation automatically and transparently handles fragmentation as it occurs providing maximum system performance at all times.

• I-FAAST™ 2.0 (Intelligent File Access Acceleration Sequencing Technology) dramatically increases file access by up to 80% above and beyond the improvement of defragmentation alone.
• Terabyte Volume Engine™ 2.0 – Powerful defragmentation for high capacity & high traffic servers with disk volumes containing hundreds of thousands to millions of files (e.g. NAS, RAID, and SAN). Also allows unobtrusive, thorough free space consolidation on busy 24/7 servers.
• Automatic online directory consolidation boosts anti-virus scans and back-up speed. Every system will benefit from Diskeeper 2007. A site-wide Diskeeper installation will improve performance and reliability on all systems.

Diskeeper 2007 is now available for sale and can be purchased through your favorite reseller.  More information on Diskeeper 2007 is available at http://www.diskeeper.com. (Source: Press Release)

Panasonic CF-18 ToughBook Tablet PC Review

With a moniker like "ToughBook", a design to military standard MIL-STD-810F, and a price tag considerably above technically comparable Tablet PCs models, outstanding build quality and features are a consumer expectation. In this regard, The Panasonic CF-18 doesn't disappoint. Like its full-sized notebook model siblings, the CF-18 is built rock-solid to withstand use in extreme environments and is graced with internal components and industry standard features.



(Source: Barry J. Doyle, TabletPCReviewSpot.com)
Posted Monday, November 27, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.05 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

5 Tablet PC Holiday Shopping Tips

Shopping for a new Tablet PC for yourself or someone else this holiday season? Shopping online for just about anything this holiday season? Well there's some simple common sense tips that can help keep you safe and satisfied with your online purchase.

1. Make your purchase online and pick then pick the item up at a local store: Using this technique can often garner you a lower price. speedier service (no waiting in line), and the ability to exchange the product locally if you get stuck with a lemon. Just make sure you consider the sales tax when calculating if it's a better deal or not.  (Source: Scott Bellefeuille , TabletPCReviewSpot.com)

Apple Mac Tablet PC With Docking Station In 07

Apple Apple researchers have built a full working prototype of a Mac tablet PC and three Companies in Taiwan are now costing a product for a potential launch in mid 2007.

Sources in Taiwan have said that the focus has been more on the home and the education environment than the enterprise marketplace. Several months ago I was told that Apple was exploring a neat new device that is basically a touch screen that links to various source devices including a brand new media centre that Apple is planning to launch next year. (Source: David Richards, SmartHouse)
Posted Monday, November 27, 2006 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.10 (Rate it) 1 Lowest 2 3 4 5 Highest Comments (0)

Windows Vista Secrets for Tablet PC?

Tim Sneath has been posting a wonderful series of "Windows Vista Secrets".  (The ability to start Quick Launch items with the [Win+<n>] keys has changed my life -- thanks Tim!)

I have my own set of tips for Windows Vista -- some secret, some not -- that apply mainly to laptop and Tablet PCs, so I thought I'd share.  (Source: Tablet PC Team Blog)