In the earlier days of enterprise mobility, Mobile Device Management software was developed to manage a host of mobile devices across an organisation, both inside and outside the premises, and across regions and borders. MDM manages all your mobile devices across platforms, such as iOS, MacOS, Android, Windows and the Internet of Things, providing enhanced control and visibility.
Our xCase for the Surface Go is built with mobility and ruggedness in mind. The Surface Go Rugged Case provides superior durability and protection, keeping your tablet safe out in the field or in the classroom. Shock absorbing material and a standard Snap mount protect the Surface Go throughout the day’s spills, bumps, and drops.
One of the most important operating systems that at one time underpinned many enterprise mobility deployments is about to enter the last phase of its life. So how do you go about dealing with Microsoft Windows CE OS End of Life ?
Long before iOS and Android Microsoft announced Windows CE in 1996. The OS was designed to operate satisfactorily on the small memory capacities of palm sized devices at the time. Although recognised by many as targeted at hand held computers many platforms ended up using derivatives of CE.
In the enterprise mobility market Windows CE, Windows Mobile, and Pocket PC are often used interchangeably this is in no doubt in part due to their common origin. This practice is not entirely accurate. You can read more about the history of Windows “CE” here. and Windows “Mobile” here.
A roll call of key Windows CE based devices used in the enterprise would generate a blog post of epic length. These are three of our favourite devices that were sold in large quantities all across the world into a variety of application areas including Manufacturing T&L and Retail,
A faltering mobile OS business hurt Microsoft for many years, although popular in the enterprise due to high adoption market appropriate hardware and plentiful development tools. Versions of the OS for phones had been losing market share since 2007.
These EoL dates have been trailed by Microsoft for some time.
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 went EoL in June of 2018
June 2019 – Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld
January 2020 – Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5
For many users this will be something to discuss with their software vendor. The coming Microsoft Windows CE OS end of life may make little difference if the devices are working and no major system upgrades are planned. However patch support will cease and as hardware itself becomes EoL and developer resource dries up it will be time to move on to something else. What that is very much depends on your circumstances, there is no one sized fits all approach. In a straight swap the main options for many sites are clearly Android a traditional rugged tablet on Windows 10 or a Microsoft Surface. Some may consider iOS but it has its drawbacks when it comes to device management.
Don’t let the Microsoft Windows CE OS End of Life get the better of your operation. Call us to discuss how we can help you weigh up the options and plan for the future.
We are planning on two major additions to our MobileDemand Rugged Windows 10 Tablet portfolio before the end of 2017. The first one adds a new feature packed 10″ device to the range including removable high capacity battery, 4G comms and a high definition screen. Rugged PC Review were given an early peek to do a T1150 rugged tablet review in advance of public availability at the end of October.
Fitness for the task is key with T1150. 4G Integral 2D and Intel RealSense 3D scanning are all options. Along with standard fit 2 cameras Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
T1150 Rugged Tablet Review Excerpt:
“First impression matters, and the xTablet T1150 certainly makes a very good one. Here, the good/better/best certainly applies. The T1550 is a true rugged design and certainly trust-inspiring, It looks and feels like a serious tool for the job, a rugged tablet that was designed from the ground up to handle the bumps and grind and drops that come with work in the field.
There are hefty bumpers on all four corners, the kind that aren’t just a design element but clearly afford true real-word protection. There are all the doors, compartments, locks, hooks, loops and attachment and mounting points and details that one expects from a rugged tablet. There’s nothing wrong with the gleaming etherial sleekness of premium consumer tablets, but those are detriments out there on the job where the rubber meets the road. With the the xTablet T1150, form follows function, not fashion sense.
Despite being in the same 10-inch display class as the standard Apple iPad, the T1150 is a considerably larger and heftier device. Some of that extra heft and size is due to a good deal of built-in protection, another to the presence of ports and integrated functionality. The display’s 16:10 aspect ratio is pleasant to our eyes, between the iPad’s squarish 4:3 and the narrow (or wide, depending on whether you use them in landscape or portrait mode) 16:9 aspect ratio favored by many non-Apple tablets.
While consumer smartphones and tablets increasingly have displays taking up the entire front of a device, that makes them damage-prone and such displays really aren’t very practical. So the T1150 has a nice margin around the actual display that’s large enough to a) allow for a flush front glass surface for easy touch operation, and b) allows for easy holding of the tablet without blocking part of the LCD. The actual LCD is recessed just a bit from the housing bezel, just enough for a fairly thick screen protector”
To learn more read the Review or take a look at the xTablet_T1150_Specs or get in touch with us to arrange a webinar or meeting about the T1150.
2019 update: Check out our latest 3D camera dimensioning tools here
With the demands and uses for mobile computers growing, manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve their products and beat their competitors. In this blog we will take a quick look at how the latest Intel RealSense 3D camera technology is making it’s way into tablets. Keep a lookout for our second post that will cover the uses of tablets with 3D cameras.
Firstly, let’s take a look at what an Intel RealSense™ 3D camera is. RealSense camera technology uses a standard 2D camera for regular photo and video, along with an infrared camera and an infrared laser projector. The infrared components allow RealSense technology to determine the distance between objects, separating objects from the background layers behind them and overall allowing for largely improved object, facial and gesture recognition over standard cameras.
At the point of writing this blog there are 3 different versions of Realsense 3D cameras, the F200, SR300 and the R200.
SR300 – The replacement for the F200, second generation Realsense technology allowed the camera to implement an infrared laser projector system, Fast VGA infrared camera, and a 2MP colour camera. Used in close range front facing applications, great for face tracking, motion detection and close depth detection. Listing the technical improvements over the first gen camera would take a while so in summary:
R200 – Intel RealSense™ Camera R200 is a long range peripheral 3D camera. While front facing technology can be applied into mobile devices, we are more likely to see it featured in a rear facing specification. This is the unit that most tablets will feature due to it offering more real world uses. This camera opens up the potential of 3D technology to a whole new industry, using the same fundamental Realsense technology as above it brings new tools to developers and users that can save time, automate processes and create detailed visuals like never before.
In our second blog we will take a look at the application for this camera, such as manufacturing plants road maintenance and in the medical field.
We feel this technology can play a big part in the real world, automating processes, giving more accurate readings and increasing overall workflow.
Tim Edwards
Product Specialist
To learn more about the R200 Intel Realsense 3D Camera in Tablets take a look at the T8650 and T1150 or get in touch with us to arrange a webinar or meeting.
Rugged PC Review carried out an xTablet T1550 Rugged Tablet Review when the device took over from the previous T1500 model.
Affordable flexibility is the key with T1550. Integral 1D or 2D scanning GPS and NFC are all options. Along with 2 cameras Wi-Fi and Bluetooth a serial port is also a standard feature something not very common on devices at this market level.
Excerpt:
While the xTablet T1550’s processor and memory make concessions in the interest of affordable pricing, the tablet’s display definitely does not. Measuring a roomy 10.1 inches diagonally — it’s very noticeably larger than the 8-inch screen of the smaller xTablet T8540 — it offers WXGA resolution. That’s 1280 x 800 pixel in 16:10 wide-format — 30% more pixel that the 1024 x 768 XGA format that was commonly used in rugged tablets (even ones with larger screen sizes) for many years, and is still being used today.
On a 10.1-inch tablet screen, that translates into 149 dots per inch (dpi), which is not very high by today’s standards, but still more than adequate. The xTablet T1550 uses 10-point projected capacitive multi-touch for effortless tapping, panning, pinching and zooming. We can’t think of many crucial operations that require more than just a couple of fingers, but Microsoft wants ten, and so ten it is.
The display is of the IPS (in-plane switching) variety that makes for perfect viewing from all angles. We cannot overemphasize how important a wide viewing angle is for a satisfying, non-disruptive viewing experience. Older and lesser display technologies are prone to often dramatic color and contrast shifts when viewed from different angles, something that we don’t consider acceptable anymore. The xTablet T1550’s IPS display is totally immune to such shifts, which makes it a pleasure to use. And outdoors the display feels brighter than its listed 320 nits luminance rating.
To learn more read the review take a look at the specs or get in touch with us to arrange a webinar or meeting about the T1550.
The latest version of the Microsoft Surface Pro gets a mild update to keep it among the best Windows hybrid PCs on the market. Reviews have been positive and most geek magazines have ended up recommending it.
Our rugged case has been approved by Microsoft and now supports this latest version of the Microsoft Surface Pro. More of our clients are using their Surface in the field for what have always been rugged laptop applications. Pressure on cycle times and site labour costs all add to the having the right mobile computing system is critical to productivity.
To learn more read the review or get in touch to arrange a webinar or meeting about using our rugged Case for the New Microsoft Surface Pro.
Rugged PC Review had taken a look at the classic Flex 10 3 years ago and decided to do a new xTablet Flex 10A rugged tablet review and put the new Cherry Trail version through its paces.
The New Flex 10A has been a real hit since it’s launch earlier this year. Users like the traditional MobileDemand ruggedness and ease of use features, Windows 10 Home or Pro OS, accessories such as the detachable keyboard and of course great value for money.
Excerpt:
It’s important to understand MobileDemand’s philosophical approach to the Flex line. In essence, the difference between the company’s higher end xTablets and the Flex models is that the former are designed and built as cohesive, fully integrated rugged tablets with significant performance and capabilities, whereas the Flex line makes a ruggedized package available at the lowest possible price.
For the Flex models, MobileDemand is sourcing generic tablets that meet the company’s features and performance goals. MobileDemand then custom-designs protective rubber boots with thick bumpers to securely cushion and cradle the tablets, and that assembly then goes into a sturdy, also custom-designed polycarbonate backplate. The picture below shows that the Flex approach goes well beyond what any third party aftermarket case can offer.
Unlike the weird waver-thin accessory keyboards offered for many consumer tablets, MobileDemand’s Flex 10A keyboard is a true keyboard with full keyboard functionality, good key travel, and excellent tactile feedback. It also has a very sturdy hinge that allows for a very solid connection to the tablet. Combined with the easel, it makes for full and complete laptop functionality, should that be required.
To learn more read the review take a look at the specs or get in touch with us to arrange a webinar or meeting about the Flex 10A.
MADP refers to an inclusive group of products and services that allow mobile applications for the Enterprise to be developed. Think of MADP as different from the traditional app development tools. Enterprise Mobility generates unique challenges that are different from those faced in the development of consumer mobile solutions.
MEAP has been around for a while and can usually be characterised as an interface with existing back end systems to enable data and applications on mobile devices. Whilst popular they were often a jumbled set of “parts” for developers to cobble together with custom code, leading to time-consuming and costly development projects. Headaches teams undertaking B2B enterprise grade app development could do without. In contrast the MADP helps to build a set of common features and services that can be leveraged in mission critical apps for integration to multiple platforms in a “we need it yesterday” business environment.
Our partner MobileFrame has been recognized in Gartner’s 2017 Magic Quadrant for Mobile Application Development Platforms MADP
We have been working with MobileFrame for 10 years providing clients with mobile apps tailored to their unique workflow. MobileFrame is a leading code-free mobile application development platform that includes everything a company needs to ensure that their mobility projects run smoothly. With MobileFrame technology, companies can give their field force the apps they need on the devices they love. Even the most complex applications can be written once and simultaneously deployed to any iOS, Android and Windows based device.
In their sum up Gartner says that, “if you don’t already use a MADP, evaluate and deploy one as a cornerstone product supporting your mobile development strategy, especially if your organization is starting to develop and deploy mobile apps at high volume (for example, more than six apps per year).”
“We’re proud to maintain and build upon a strong and loyal customer base committed to supporting us in identifying areas of core strength and further growth. Our client testimonials speak to MobileFrame’s ability to deliver better time to market and ease of use through our platform”, said Lonny Oswalt, Chief Executive Officer, MobileFrame.
Read the entire MobileFrame Press Release about this prestigious award.
To receive a complimentary copy of the Gartner Magic Quadrant click here.
To learn more get in touch with us to arrange a webinar or meeting about MobileFrame MADP.
A software house develops an application for a 7″ tablet computer. The users want a cheap reliable tablet and a tablet is sourced. The problem lies in the word “cheap”. A cheap tablet can still be somewhat reliable depending on use and with the hundreds of budget tablets flooding the market there will be some.
A cheap tablet means a consumer grade tablet, and with consumer grade items means a limited product life span. Technology is quickly progressing in the tablet and smartphone markets. Upgraded processors are regularly released and internal parts like cameras, NFC, storage, speakers frequently upgraded.
Manufacturers of consumer devices make no commitment to the lifespan of a product. Take for iPhone 6 & 6s for example. Images and specs of the iPhone 7 were leaked soon after the 6 was released. A manufacturer will deem the product a viable option in the consumer marketplace until competition means the unit will need to upgraded or replaced. This could be a 1 year cycle, sometime more, sometimes less.
Enterprise grade mobile devices look at this issue from the other side. Devices are built for a purpose be it warehouse scanning, field service or another vertical. Maintenance contracts can be bought for the units extending their lifespan, plus spares will be available for several years afterwards.
Whereas consumer units are usually on break and replace pair, enterprise units are based on a break fix repair. And that cycle is getting shorter and shorter.
Touching on the software briefly, if a device is changed it is possible the software will need to be altered. Customers are less likely to remain loyal should they need to buy a new tablet each year to continue using the software.
Selecting a cheap tablet has its advantages for cost, there are better alternatives to ensure long term solutions.
To learn more get in touch with us to arrange a webinar or meeting about your project. The key point being, do not recycle – fix it!
