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News Week of October 29, 2006Using a Mini Slim Keyboard with a Tablet PC Review While buying a Tablet PC, hand writing recognition wasn't my first priority, yet I was disappointed by Microsoft's hand writing recognition software, even when writing nice clean type letters. For some reason it insisted that a round circle is any letter but an 'O'. What bothered me more was the lack of keyboard shortcuts, any simple action like CTRL+S save that was done in half a sec, took several clicks and ten times longer. Not to mention those actions in hidden sub menus and worst of all, how do you perform actions that require a combination of key and pen at the same time? Wacom being a veteran player in the tablet market already has its pro Intuos III line fitted with 10 programmable keys, but Tablet PC makers haven't caught up yet. Even if they did, it would be hard to fit them in. More so, even 10 keys are often not enough considering the vast amount of actions in today's applications. Buying the mini slim keyboard So I started to look out for solutions like programmable keys but found almost none, then I realized what's better to replace a keyboard than a keyboard? Searching online for the smallest keyboard I found one at Brando.com.hk, this is not the first time I have bought there thanks to their reasonable pricing ($22) and super fast super low international shipping ($3). 25$ & 7 days later I got this in the mail (view large image) (Source: Gilo, TabletPCReviewSpot.com) Selling ‘grab and go’ appeal The UMPC is being pushed by the likes of Intel and Microsoft, and there is reportedly a market for up to 7.8 million units being sold by 2011, according to analysts at In-Stat. However, much will depend on manufacturers solving connectivity issues, vendors offering competitive packages and the emergence of new wireless technologies that will give users access to data regardless of their location. Much will also depend on resellers. But if the figures are to be believed, a concerted effort could see device makers selling 200,000 units in 2007. That said, UMPCs have not quite got off to the start that those pushing the device might have expected. Earlier in the year demonstrations of Samsung’s offering, the Q1, made the wrong kind of waves at a news conference in Seoul, where reports from the Korea Times suggested senior executives had problems operating the device. Those paying a premium for UMPCs will be expecting better. (Source: Mark Dye, CRN, Computing, UK) Police Laptop Rides a Harley Asus R2H Ultra Mobile PC Hardware Inkshow This week I received a new UMPC! The new unit is an Asus R2H Ultra Mobile PC with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. I've been busy playing, I mean working, with if for the last couple of days, and let me tell you it's been fun. This is my first chance to use this form factor, and so far it has been a great experience. For me, the integrated GPS unit was the standout for buying this unit. In fact, the first day I came home from work with it, I fired up Streets and Trips 2006 and had my own in car navigation system! In this first InkShow, I go over the features and buttons on the outside of the unit and a quick look at the launcher that loads up at startup. Expect more InkShows in the next couple of weeks on some of the included utilities and software installed on the R2H. Quick first thoughts: (Source: Matt Faulkner, GottaBeMobile) Fancypants UMPCs by Crispin Jones for PBJ PBJ is a company that specializes in all types of tablet computers. Designer Crispin Jones was commisioned to reinvent the most boring part of all technology... the plastic box that holds the sexy electronic components. With a goal of bringing classic craft designs to the technology scene Mr. Jones has created a pleasing case modeled after the Japanese suzuribako boxes used to store writings implements. Beyond the stylistic reasons for the deep decorative lines; the texture carved into the surface provides a no slip hold for fingers. (Source: Dan McAlister, popgadget) Take Note Of—And Notes On—These Tablet PCs All tablets come with a stylus pen that can be stored in the chassis when it's not in use. The Toshiba Portégé M400-S4032's pen actually ejects automatically from a slot near the screen when the screen is flipped into a tablet—very Bond like. The Fujitsu Lifebook T4210's stylus feels and works just like a ball point pen. Tablets come with special bundled software, too. Both the Fujitsu Lifebook and the Portégé come with Microsoft OneNote 2003, which allows you to drag and drop pictures and add handwritten and audio notes. And teachers will appreciate the Toshiba Portégé M400-S4032 and Gateway M285-E, which come with classroom-friendly apps like Microsoft's Education and Experience Packs. If you want to use your tablet for work and play, make sure its multimedia capability and display are up to scratch. The Portégé, Lifebook, and M285-E all have built-in optical drives—so you won't have to bother with an external one. The M285-E actually has a dual-layer DVD burner that will come in handy whether you're creating a disc of home movies or PowerPoint presentations. Its 14-inch widescreen gives you a bigger picture, too, but it also adds heft, so the system isn't as easy to carry as the Lifebook or the Portégé, which have 12-inch screens that are great for watching movies on the go. The Lifebook also features an "outdoor" display, which ensures the screen image is visible even in bright daylight. (Source: Shirley Del Valle, PC Magazine) iRobot Sentinel The iRobot PackBot Tactical Mobile Robot has been effectively used in both Afghanistan and Iraq to perform reconnaissance and bomb disposal missions. These PackBot robots posses little or no on-board autonomy and are directly controlled by a remote human operator. The operator continuously monitors a live video and telemetry stream from the robot and continuously issues drive commands to the robot, much like a remote-controlled car. This is the standard mode of operation for today’s fielded mobile robots. Future generations of mobile robot systems will include multiple, coordinated mobile robots-- each with increased on-board autonomy --enabling them to operate for extended periods of time outofcontact with any human operator. (Source: iRobot Website) FranklinCovey Releases PlanPlus Online PlanPlus Online features a familiar FranklinCovey interface, a powerful search tool, the FranklinCovey weekly planning tool, and an email center. The application is accessible from anywhere, allowing users to enter and retrieve information on the go and utilizes the strongest encryption products available. It was developed in partnership with COMPLETExRM and EBSuite.com. The integrated contact management capabilities within PlanPlus Online allow customers to easily track leads, organizations, contacts, tasks and sales opportunities and integrate action items with their daily task list and schedule. A simple sales process is included with the application, along with the ability to track client or opportunity history, view the activity of other team members and create detailed reports. PlanPlus Online is collaborative and scaleable for individual and small, medium or large business use. “We are excited to present an online application that features the same components our customers enjoy using on their desktop, laptops, and tablet PCs,” says Jeff Anderson, Vice President of Product Management for FranklinCovey. “This application will provide mobile professionals and work groups with access to all of their planning and contact management needs anytime, anywhere. We are confident that PlanPlus Online will enable increased productivity for these professionals as they implement FranklinCovey’s proven planning principles.” The PlanPlus Online home view features a simple tab system that allows instant access to key information. Users can utilize drag and drop functionality for quick changes to tasks and within the Quick Prioritize tool to prioritize their daily task list. The powerful search engine can retrieve critical information from the database in seconds by searching clients, organizations, sales opportunities, notes, tasks and emails at once. PlanPlus Online also includes the same weekly planning tool found in FranklinCovey’s award-winning software offerings, PlanPlus for Microsoft® Outlook® and PlanPlus for Windows® XP. This tool allows users to review their Mission Statement, Values, Goals, and Weekly Compass and drag and drop items from these forms onto their schedule or task list. Users can also have their existing IMAP or POP3 email account delivered to their PlanPlus Online portal. By doing so, users can send, receive, and manage email within PlanPlus Online. FranklinCovey also offers PlanPlus for Microsoft Outlook and PlanPlus for Windows XP software for customers who wish to incorporate the planning system on their desktop, laptop or tablet PC. COMPLETExRM provides dynamic productivity solutions within vertical markets by combining Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Business Process Management (BPM) technology on a Web-services platform (www.completexrm.com). EBSuite.com is a leading global provider of customizable, on-demand Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions (www.ebsuite.com). Pricing and Availability PlanPlus Online is available in 89 FranklinCovey retail stores, www.planplusonline.com, or by calling 800-819-1812. Suggested retail price for PlanPlus Online is $25 per month. A one-month introductory subscription is available for $9.95 and a three-month subscription is available for $39.95. Quantity discounts are also available. HP helps Ferryway go wireless: $60,000 grant brings new computers, digital cameras Asus R2H: Detailed Review The Verdict: The Good: Clean design, great bundle of hardware & software, GPS, Extended battery & Finger Print Reader Wacom’s Doug Little talks about the present and future of tablet technology Question: Wacom has a long respected history when it comes to tablet interfaces for the personal computer. Obviously to stay at the forefront of the field, you have to not only provide options and support to current consumers, but track and predict trends and adjust to the current and future markets. Without getting into trade secrets, where do you see the tablet industry expanding within the next five years and what has to happen on the developer side to realize the full potential of the tablet interface? What do you see as the primary factors in Wacom's continued respected standing in the industry? Doug: Many Software developers have a tendency to see the pen as an opportunity for new kinds of tool support for such things as ink mark-up, annotation, paint, and photo editing. As pen input proliferates into the market, software vendors see the pen as a user interface methodology. This evolution expands the thinking beyond tools to consider more generally what the pen can bring to the experience of using software and operating system(s). We already see signs of this in Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Vista operating system, which has added “Flicks” and TIP (Tablet PC input panel) icons wherever text input occurs. On the Apple side, we see this with applications like “Motion.” which has implemented pen gestures to allow users to quickly access shortcuts and modify application modalities. Another example would be Microsoft’s ribbon user interface in Office 2007, which plays extremely well to pen display and pen tablet users who are used to absolute positioning. (Source: Michael Lafferty, GameZone) Realtors hope the Web will be a friend, not foe Jim Liptak, a broker associate with Country Real Estate in Paso Robles, said the real estate industry is no different than any other business affected by the growth of the Internet. "Fortunately, most Realtors in the past seven to 10 years have become much more tech-oriented," said Liptak, who carries a tablet PC. "We’re always cutting-edge and frontline. It’s an ongoing evolution. The consumers want more information, and it’s up to us to be able to provide it to them." Liptak added: "You either adapt or change, or you get stuck in Jurassic Park. If you get stuck in Jurassic Park, not too many people get out of there, not alive anyway." (Source: Julie Lynem, San Luis Obispo Tribune) OnTheRun with Tablet PCs #31- the Vista show It's show # 31 and Marc Orchant and James Kendrick love Vista on their Tablet PCs but there are some gotchas lurking if you are not careful. James loves Internet Explorer 7 on his UMPC and tells us how to get the ability to use the TIP in web forms back. Marc shares a method to get Hotmail Plus email into Outlook without all those pesky notifications. Marc's wife has a new 20" iMac and Marc wants to put Vista on it. Is the Aero Glass UI in Vista worth the overhead? Find out what the Inking Duo have to say about that. Congratulations to the five finalists in the GottaBeMobile essay contest to win a Motion LS800 Tablet PC. Fellow geek Matt Miller is one of those finalists- big shout out to Matt (aka palmsolo)! James is impressed when Mickey Segal pulls an LS800 out of his sports jacket pocket in Boston. Asus is getting everyone excited with their two new entries- the R2H UMPC and the R1F 13.3" Tablet PC (OnlyUMPC has a good review of the R2H). Marc is impressed with the Mac Office Project Center- why can't we have the same thing on the Windows side? Neither inker likes the Business Contact Manager for Outlook but it could be a lack of dedication to make it work. James and Kevin Tofel are celebrating over 3 million visitors to jkOnTheRun and James leaks some information about a big giveaway coming up. (Source: jkOnTheRun) Vista could prompt Dell to launch tablet PC Blog postings at GottaBeMobile and eWeek Channel Insider indicate that Dell reps are putting information out into the market that a tablet PC is on the cards. Dell is famously resistant to moving into the tablet PC market. Rumours of an imminent launch using the 2005 edition of Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet software surfaced online in 2004 but products did not materialise (Source: Bobby Pickering, vnunet.com , WhatPC?) |
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Sentinel is an applied research project to develop technologies to allow a single operator to control and coordinate multiple semi-autonomous mobile robots. The Sentinel project is funded by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Tank-Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC).
