October 1 , 2004
Tablet PC 2 Product of the Month
Tablet Pc 2 exclusive
Besides the fact that this is the first case I have seen labeled "Tablet PC Compatible" what makes this one stand out from the pack........... Just about everything.
Gates stumps in Silicon Valley
CNET News.com
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates kicked off a whirlwind day in the Bay Area on Friday, talking to college students about a range of topics, from open-source software to malaria to the next Xbox.
Asked about Microsoft's biggest contribution, Gates said it is the creation of the software industry that came with the PC. But he also said the Tablet PC--a pet project of his--is pretty neat, too, as will be the next version of the Xbox.
Microsoft's Gates says computing 'falls short'
Investor's Business Daily
The computing problems to be solved in the next two decades will be more exciting than those that already have been solved, according to Microsoft's Bill Gates.
The chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft (MSFT), the world's largest software firm, specifically pointed to expected innovations in computing reliability and ease of use.
"Computing today still falls short of what it should be," Gates said during a speech Friday at the University of California at Berkeley.
As for more immediate technologies, Gates added getting mass adoption for the tablet PC and making the Xbox the top-selling gaming system would be significant achievements for the company he co-founded in 1975.
"I still believe in the idea of the paperless office," he said to a crowd of several hundred engineering students.
Multimedia Games to Premiere Advanced Casino Floor Management Technologies at Las Vegas G2E Tradeshow
Business Wire
Multimedia Games, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGAM) will preview Casino Commander(TM), its new proprietary casino floor management system, at the fourth annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 5-7. Reflecting its theme "The Future of Gaming NOW", Multimedia Games ("Multimedia") will also be showcasing its industry-leading central determinant gaming technology, multiple gaming platforms, and the MGAMe(TM) back-office system, highlighting the Company's ability to adapt games and technology to new jurisdictional requirements and customer preferences
Casino Commander: Casino Commander provides casino customers a flexible game platform that dramatically increases an operator's control of game selection and configuration, game faces, denominations, payouts, promotions, and other management and marketing features. As with other Multimedia offerings, these technology solutions allow games to be downloaded from a central determinant system controlled from a variety of locations, including a tablet PC on the gaming floor.
Mobile Tech a Hit with Groups
Mobile Health Data
Family Healthcare represents the growing ranks of group practice-based doctors and nurses that depend on mobile technology to improve patient care and streamline their practice of medicine. Caregivers are using tools including PDAs, laptops, Tablet PCs and smart phones to access patient data and medical reference information, and capture charges.
For example, group practice-based doctors are increasingly likely to encounter wireless local area networks in hospitals with which they are affiliated. Also, in Health Data Management magazine's 2004 CIO Survey, respondents said Tablet PCs and PDAs were the mobile hardware most likely to have the greatest impact on health care.
Oswego County OB/GYN implemented an electronic medical records system and a wireless LAN from Greenway Medical Technologies, Carrollton, Texas, in March 2003. The practice also purchased Tablet PCs and laptops from Dell Computer Corp., Round Rock, Texas, which physicians and nurses use.
Uva uses a pen-based Tablet PC when examining obstetrics patients to record fetal heart rate, whether the patient is having contractions, fetal movement and position of the baby. The system also enables doctors to review all lab work "just by tapping the screen," he says.
That's an improvement over the previous method, which required physicians to thumb through paper records and notes in each patient's chart at each prenatal visit. And the Tablet PCs can move among exam rooms because they send and receive data wirelessly.
Workers relish time balance
Reseller News
AS a working mother with a young son, Elizabeth Kirby, mid-market business manager at Microsoft New Zealand, values being able to balance her time between work and family.
“I feel empowered by being able to decide how I spend my time. It is one of the reasons I am able to retain my enthusiasm for working at Microsoft,” she says.
Kirby does not believe she would feel comfortable working for a company that does not encourage a healthy work/life balance.
Microsoft has equipped Kirby with a tablet PC, smartphone, a wireless area network and a broadband connection at home.
“I have a fully equipped home office but am not bound to it and can sit on the couch and clear my emails after my son has been put to bed — that is very powerful,” says Kirby.
Clear guidelines at Microsoft ensure that there is no mistrust of employees or among colleagues, says Kirby, adding that with the trust Microsoft places in her, comes a sense of responsibility on her part.
Selling past the trust barrier
Reseller News
NETWORK Pro must know something about selling remote working solutions - it is in the process of fulfilling one of the largest tablet PC orders in the country to date.
The company cannot reveal who the client is as yet, but director Ron van Twuiver says the deal involves 57 tablets to an organisation with field workers that need to have remote access to its network.
October 4 , 2004
Motion Computing Enhances Healthcare Productivity Software for for Award-Winning Tablet PC Line
Business Wire
Motion Computing(R) today announced the second version of Motion Medical Pak, a suite of applications designed to increase healthcare productivity and take advantage of Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.
The new Medical Pak augments the operating system's dictionary with more than 212,000 words, enabling fast, accurate recognition of healthcare industry-specific words handwritten directly within the Tablet Input Panel (TIP).
Medical Pak also includes applications from industry leaders Gold Standard Multimedia, Elsevier and Standard Register (NYSE:SR), and is designed for Microsoft Office 2003 and Motion's award-winning tablet PCs. These personal productivity applications complement the growing number of healthcare-specific software programs developed by Motion's independent software vendor partners and value-added resellers.
"The newest version of Motion's Medical Pak offers the potential for increased productivity at the point care, by enabling healthcare providers to quickly navigate applications using the tablet's intuitive pen-based functionality," said Bill Keay, enterprise mobility specialist for Microsoft Healthcare and Life Sciences. "With improved handwriting recognition and familiar, easy-to-use technology from Microsoft, this offering will drive efficiencies within the healthcare community and ultimately improve the quality of patient care."
"Using the new input panel on my Motion tablet is easy, fast and gives me the ability to use the pen in many applications," said Brian McCardel, MD, chief of orthopedics and board member, Sparrow Health System. "With the combination of the new word list and the enhancements in the TIP included in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, my handwriting recognition has greatly improved. I can quickly do my clinical data entry without a keyboard."
Xplore Raises the Bar for Performance and Durability with New New Centrino(R) Tablet PC Line-Up
PR Newswire
Xplore Technologies(R) Corp. (TSX:XPL), a leading international provider of rugged wireless tablet PC systems, today announced the release of its family of iX104C(2)(TM) Tablet PCs. The iX104C(2) line up are the first in the rugged tablet PC market with the latest Intel(R) Centrino (733) mobile technology, AllVue(TM) enhanced display, advanced wireless LAN certifications, up to 4 multi-model wireless devices and patent pending auto-sensing Dual Mode technologies. The iX104C(2) family includes Tablet PC (C(2)), Dual Mode TPC (C(2)D), and AllVue TPC (C(2)V) versions.
Deputy Commissioner Titus Britt, Information System Support for the City of Cleveland, Department of Public Safety adds, "For our needs, the iXC(2) system is currently the best option on the market to meet or exceed the needs of our Police Officers. This tablet will allow us to equip our officers with the latest processing and wireless capabilities and handle the high level of stress and extreme use common among police officers". The entire iX104C(2) line is designed, warranted, and third party tested to US Military environmental standards (MIL-STD 810F). With over 30 unique design elements, iXC(2) tablets can operate under severe conditions such as extreme hot and cold temperatures, exposure to dust, moisture, intense vibrations, and four foot drops to concrete
"In researching the rugged mobile computing market segment over the past 3 years, we see a clear trend towards the evaluation of more durable, reliable mobile computers such as Xplore's iX104 Tablet PC over similar business class devices by an increasing number of enterprise mobility customers
Bluffton High links up with laptop distributor
Hilton Head Island Packet, SC
Bluffton High School has joined with a new Philadelphia-based company that offers parents a rent-to-own program to purchase laptop computers that are compatible with the school's system.
Parents can purchase two different models of Toshiba computers through the program and can pay for the machines in cash or make 42 monthly payments, after which they own the computer.
The higher-end model, the Toshiba M200 Tablet PC, costs $2,156, or $2,506 with insurance. Monthly payments are $74.95, which is $3,147 after 42 months.
Hogg said he's not aware of any other companies that offer computer, imaging and financing packages for schools.
Bill 2.0: 5-Year Performance Review
Microsoft Certified Professional
One long-time hot-button is alternative input, including speech recognition and pen computing. Here Gates is either ahead of his time or overly optimistic. Take the Tablet PC, which debuted in November 2002. The following March, at the Mobility Developers Conference, Gates called the Tablet PC "an explosive form factor, because things like annotation and reading, note taking, haven't really been possible," and spoke of vendors selling out of their units.
But the Tablet PC has yet to capture the public's imagination. Analyst DeMichillie says it's a "product that probably would have been killed had it not been for Bill's personal advocacy."
October 5 , 2004
Records Exec: Tablet PCs It Is
Mobile Health Data
Not too long ago, group practice clients of InteGreat--a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based vendor of electronic records systems--were a little leery of using Tablet PCs because of concerns with the then new hardware's size, weight and lack of a track record in health care, according to David Koeller, president of InteGreat. But what a difference a year makes.
"Every client we have is deploying Tablet PCs," Koeller said during an interview at the Medical Group Management Association's 2004 Annual Conference, Oct. 3-6 in San Francisco. "Tablet PCs have moved very quickly from an untested technology to the hardware of choice for physicians."
"Doctors overwhelmingly prefer Tablet PCs because they enable the same workflow they're used to--a paper chart on a clipboard is the same dimensions as a Tablet PC." The new generation of Tablet PCs also is lighter and easier to use, and wireless connectivity has become cheaper, faster and more stable in the past few years, he added. "Physicians aren't voicing too many concerns anymore about whether Tablet PCs will work in a health care setting because they very quickly have proven they do."
Getac's New Slate TabletPC Steps into Rugged World, Aptly
PrimeZone
Getac Inc., the leading pioneer of rugged portable computers, today announce their next generation of TabletPCs, the MobileForce CA27. The MobileForce CA27 is a rough and rugged powerful slate TabletPC
Water, dust, and dirt proof, the lightweight MobileForce CA27 slate-type TabletPC provides a reliable device that meets the military's tough 810F standard (Mil-STD 810F), which requires computing devices survive, among other extreme conditions, a minimum of a 3 foot drop impact on hardened surfaces such as concrete and steel plating. This is an important capability since real-world applications of any TabletPC are in the field, warehouse or conditions where applications are rough and risk of falling from a table or desktop is common.
"While other manufacturers are realizing a need to move in this direction, we're already there," stated Joseph Huang, General Manager of Getac, Inc. "The environments that TabletPCs witness require addressing harsh applications from which they will actually be operating in. That means users of our systems don't have to wait for hardware improvements.
" With a 10.4 in. XGA TFT LCD digitizer screen (optional sunlight readable display), this tablet device includes a 1.1 GHz Pentium M processor with MS Windows(r) XP Tablet Edition operating system and fully compatible with Intel Centrino wireless technology.
Essential to ease of use for TabletPCs, touch keys are built in just below the display for unencumbered switching of on an off, monitor controls (volume, battery status, brightness adjustment), wireless keyboard port, F1, F2 and F3 function keys and a speaker. The MobileForce CA27 can easily be set up in a vehicle (i.e. police cruiser or fire truck) with an optional vehicle docking station and an optional wireless keyboard (water, dirt and dust proof), effortlessly switching to and from a TabletPC or standard laptop computer. It can also be used as a desktop/laptop computer with the docking station making it ideal for going to/from a field environment to a vehicle or office.
LG sets new benchmark in computer display technology
AME Info
The company has also launched its stylistic LG tablet LCD monitor equipped with an electromagnetic digitizer that makes it possible to write directly on the screen with an accompanying digital pen. The tablet monitor incorporates all the functions of a desktop PC; data inputted on to the monitor is automatically stored in the PC, giving customers complete flexibility. The LG tablet can recognise sensitive inputs and parametres, like colour can be controlled by the pressure input on the electronic pen. Ergonomically designed, the tablet monitor has dual interface, true colour support, and auto image scaling capabilities.
'The new tablet monitor illustrates our commitment to delivering products that bring true mobility to customers.
New Medical Pak Put in Motion
Mobile Health Data
Motion Computing has released a new version of its Motion Medical Pak, a productivity suite designed to enhance workflow and improve the ability of Tablet PCs to recognize text entered via a writing stylus.
The second version of Medical Pak is designed to work with the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. It augments the operating system's dictionary with more than 212,000 health care-specific terms to help Tablet PCs recognize and translate terms used by clinicians who frequently reference medical and pharmacological information and fill out health care forms.
Product Review: ViewSonic's Tablet PCs Do The Write Thing
CRN
Even though more manufacturers are entering the tablet PC arena, ViewSonic has been in the market from the very beginning. The company's newest tablet PC is the V1250S, a fully functional convertible tablet PC with an incorporated keyboard. The V1250S is a sister product to ViewSonic's first line of tablets, the V1100, which was strictly a slate product without an integrated keyboard. These specifications represent a major improvement over the V1100 tablet. The V1100 is based on an 866MHz Pentium III processor with 256 Mbytes of memory, which is expandable to 768 Mbytes. It includes a 20-Gbyte hard drive and has a 10.4-inch TFT display. These two tablets offer many opportunities for solution providers that develop tablet PC-specific applications or sell into specific vertical markets. The health-care industry, for instance, was an early adopter of the tablet PC, and the device has become a must-have for many health-care officials. In some health-care institutions, the tablet PC is no longer a luxury device but a necessity for doctors and nurses who need to quickly access medical information.
Both tablets include integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi LAN connectivity. The wireless feature presents ample opportunities for solution providers to sell the tablet into educational markets, since many school districts and universities are exploring the tablet PC market. Some high schools and colleges have banned the dissection of animals in class and are turning their students to the Web as an alternative means of completing science lab requirements. These tablets are providing a means to accomplish that goal.
CRN Test Center engineers found the V1250S performed admirably, and the stylus worked well, too. Many smart devices that use a stylus require extensive precision to execute a specific command, but that was not the case with the V1250S.
iMedica Gives Clinics Vital Edge During Vioxx Recall
Yahoo News
iMedica, the physician's choice for electronic medical records (EMR), today announced that its PhysicianSuite(TM) system has given doctors and clinics an important edge when they need to notify patients during drug recalls such as yesterday's withdrawal of Vioxx(TM). By integrating all patient charting and prescription records and providing access to them through an easy-to-use interface, PhysicianSuite allows doctors and clinics to generate a list of all affected patients taking a certain drug within minutes, and to notify them within hours.
In addition to storing all charted patient information and speeding clinical workflows through centralized access to that information, PhysicianSuite provides real-time feedback to physicians through wireless tablet PCs as they attend patients and write orders and prescriptions. Doctors can chart findings directly into PhysicianSuite using a tablet PC, and the system automatically alerts them to potential drug interactions or other possible medical errors.
October 6 , 2004
Fujitsu Puts New Spin on Convertible LifeBook T Series Tablet PC
Fujitsu
Fujitsu Computer Systems today demonstrated its
expertise in tablet computing with the introduction of its second-generation convertible, the LifeBook® T4000 Tablet PC. Among its most notable enhancements is an integrated modular bay, which can accommodate a Multi-Format DVD Writer, second battery or weight saver. Other updates include a new display with a 180-degree viewing angle, a faster processor, dual microphones with noise cancellation, Bluetooth® wireless technology and advanced security features.
The LifeBook T4000 Tablet PC is ideal for mobile workers who must rely on their system throughout the entire workday. The system can deliver up to 8.5 hours(1) of battery life -- an entire workday -- with both batteries installed. It also features dual microphones with noise cancellation for doctors who dictate.
Healthcare workers can also benefit from the advanced security features that come standard on each system. The LifeBook T4000 Tablet PC includes a dedicated SmartCard slot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
The Fujitsu LifeBook T4000 Tablet PC features an Intel® Pentium® M 725 or 745 processor ( 1.6-1.8 GHz) and comes with the Intel® 855GM chipset and Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG (802.11b/g) Network Connection. This combination of technologies delivers excellent performance and battery life
Shipping October 21, 2004 Click to order
Centrino surfaces in rugged tablet PCs
ZDNet.com
Xplore Technologies Corp. on Tuesday unveiled a new family of rugged tablet PCs based on Intel's Centrino mobile technology.
The iX104C(2) line includes Tablet PC, Dual Mode TPC, and AllVue TPC versions. All models are stocked with a 1.1GHz ultra-low-voltage Pentium M 733 processor, 855GME chipset, 400MHz system bus, 2MB of L2 cache, and Intel Pro Wireless 802.11b/g radio.
Based on Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, the iX104C(2) tablets use an active stylus for navigation and data entry. The Dual Mode model iX104C(2)D also supports finger-touch operation and features auto-sensing technology for on-the-fly switching between the two input methods. The AllVue model iX104C(2)V employs special LCD technology that promises to increase screen readability in all lighting conditions
Quatech Adds New Mobile Connectivity Products; GPS Receivers and Bluetooth Adapters Extend Industry-leading Mobile Connectivity Line
TMCnet
Quatech Inc., a world-class manufacturer of data connectivity products, introduced two new product lines to its industry-leading line of mobile connectivity products: Bluetooth Adapters and Global Position System (GPS) Receivers. Both lines reflect the reliable, high-quality products Quatech has earned a reputation for providing.
Quatech's line of GPS Receivers, available with Bluetooth, USB or CompactFlash interface, is designed to GPS-enable Laptop, Notebook, Tablet and Handheld PCs. The high-power GPS receiver combines proven technologies that allow computers to receive highly accurate positioning data for reliable tracking capabilities.
Scouring The Planet For Brainiacs
BusinessWeek
Step inside the labs of Microsoft's advanced technology center outside Beijing for a lesson in 21st century innovation.
Among the 72 innovations that have already ended up in Microsoft products is the "digital ink" used in software for tablet PCs. Others will eventually reach the market years down the road in everything from electronic-game players to industrial-design software.
Just as important, the global innovation supermarket lowers entry barriers for dynamic new players. A good example of the new breed of technology networker is Austin (Tex.)-based Motion Computing Inc. With just 110 employees, Motion is the No. 3 seller of slate style tablet PCs, a market that research firm IDC predicts will near $7 billion in three years. Motion shipped 25,000 of the $2,000 machines last year, mainly to health-care and financial-service companies in the U.S. and 14 other nations. Motion's latest M1400 PC, which allows users to write directly on the screen, display articles as they appear in a magazine, and transmit documents wirelessly, is loaded with cutting-edge applications sourced from outside suppliers. The 12-inch pen-based screen, which can be viewed in bright sunlight and while tilted at a 160-degree angle, was developed by Korea's Boe Hydis, the world's leading supplier of tablet PC displays. The machines are made in China by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Compal Electronics Inc. "This business model lets us bring core technologies from around the world to market faster than our competitors," says CEO Scott Eckert.
October 7 , 2004
Fujitsu tablet gets modular
ZDNet.com
Fujitsu Computer Systems on Tuesday introduced its second-generation convertible tablet PC, the LifeBook T4000, featuring an integrated modular bay that can accommodate various options.
The new tablet is available with an Intel Pentium M 725 or 745 processor, up to 2GB of RAM, a 40GB or 80GB hard drive, and an improved 12.1-inch XGA display that Fujitsu said delivers a 180-degree viewing angle. Other standard features include a modem and Ethernet adapter, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG 802.11b/g, two USB 2.0 ports, and Type II and Secure Digital slots. For users who need to perform a lot of dictation, the tablet offers dual microphones with noise-cancellation technology.
The T4000's modular bay is compatible with several optional components, including a DVD-ROM drive, DVD/CD-RW combo drive, multi-format DVD burner, and second battery. With the latter, the tablet can run for up to 8.5 hours, Fujitsu claimed. Other options for the tablet include a Bluetooth radio and a port replicator.
FranklinCovey Releases PlanPlus(TM) 3.0 for Microsoft(R) Outlook
PR Newswire
FranklinCovey(R) (NYSE: FC) and Agilix Labs(TM), Inc. announce the release of PlanPlus(TM) 3.0 for Microsoft(R) Outlook(R), an upgrade to the companies' planning and information management application for desktop, notebook, and Tablet PC users running Microsoft Outlook.
Tablet PC users will have digital ink support for taking notes in their own handwriting within the PowerNotes notetaking and note management module.
imagine LAN Introduces Sync-Along(TM) Software for USB Flash Drives
Emediawire
imagine LAN, Inc., a leading provider of software applications for flash drives to vendors, corporate customers and individual users, today announced the introduction of Sync-Along v1.0 – a file synchronization application for USB flash drives and other portable storage devices (iPod®, portable media center devices, mini hard drives, and more).
Sync-Along software installs directly to a USB flash drive (or other portable storage device) and allows users to easily synchronize files (documents, pictures, music, video, etc.) between two or more PCs. “There's been a significant increase multi-PC households as consumers add new desktops, notebooks and even Tablet PCs to the home.”
Simpson lags in technology
The Simpsonian
Across the nation, college students are enticed with the ring of a BlackBerry, tunes from an iPod, or the hum of a new laptop. However, Simpson remains silent while the war of campus electronics rages around it.
As more students chose alternatives to college education, institutions try new strategies to increase enrollment. At private and public universities throughout America, officials started to bank on technology "giveaways" to get their numbers up.
In 1998, Winona State University in Winona, Minn., started a pilot laptop program. Six years later, all 8,236 students on campus are equipped with their choice of an Apple iBook G4 or a Gateway M275 Tablet PC. The computers are changed every two years to update programs and students can install software specific to their major. In addition, students receive a bag, damage coverage, insurance and on-site repair.
Amicore Boasts New Electronic Medical Records System
Ziff Davis
The next-generation system from Amicore—founded in 2001 by Microsoft Corp., IBM and Pfizer Inc.—employs Microsoft's .Net tools, is designed specifically for the Tablet PC, and combines functions for both practice and clinical management into one database. The current rollout is for the clinical side, with the practice side coming early next year.
October 8 , 2004
Medical Applications For Tablet PC
WebProNews
Motion Computing's second version of Motion Medical Pak, a suite of applications designed to increase healthcare productivity and take advantage of Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 has been announced.
The new Medical Pak augments the operating system's dictionary with more than 212,000 words, enabling fast, accurate recognition of healthcare industry-specific words handwritten directly within the Tablet Input Panel (TIP).
Medical Pak also includes applications from industry leaders Gold Standard Multimedia, Elsevier and Standard Register, and is designed for Microsoft Office 2003 and Motion's award-winning tablet PCs.
Transmeta Unveils New Efficeon
InternetNews.com
Transmeta is setting up its next-generation Efficeon processors to run roughly at double the speed and half the wattage of its current designs.
At the Fall Processor Forum in Silicon Valley this week, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker demonstrated two new 90-nanometer TM8800 (Efficeon) chips -- 1.6 GHz and 2.0 GHz -- that only use 3 watts of power. Previous versions like the 0.13-micron Efficeon TM8600 reached speeds of 1.0 GHz at a maximum power of 7 watts.
The Transmeta Efficeon processor, in particular, targets the low-end blade and high-end workstation market, as well as mobile, wireless and embedded devices. It is slated for a wide range of environments, including thin-and-light notebook computers, mainstream notebooks, tablet PCs, BladePCs, cluster workstations and fanless media centers.
Burntsand helps Amicore develop integrated clinical and practice management solution
Yahoo News
Burntsand Inc., a North American business consulting and technology services company, today announced the company has played a key role in a high-profile development effort designed to revolutionize today's medical practice.
Built especially for use with the mobile Tablet PC, Amicore Integrated Management allows clinicians to capture and retrieve clinical, financial and patient-related data at the point of care or anywhere with an Internet connection. This new software utilizes a unique "hybrid" ASP delivery model - a combination of a hosted solution with a maintenance-free server appliance in the physician's office - so medical practices don't need an elaborate technology infrastructure or technical staff to use the software.
October 11 , 2004
Third Parties Fill 'Longhorn' Void
Ziff Davis
With Microsoft Corp.'s recent announcements that it will
separate WinFS
from the next major release of Windows and the release of Visual Studio 2005, not due for another six months, developers are looking to third-party vendors for certain functionality support now.
NetAdvantage 2004 Volume 3 is a complete tool set for developing user interfaces for Windows Forms, ASP.Net, Tablet PC and COM (Component Object Model), Guida said. The product also will feature a new calculation called the CalcEngine and XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) rendering support for WebGrid.
New and Notable Product Design
Design News
Baracoda BaracodaPencil. Hopefully, this flexible, new handheld scanner that doubles as a stylus for a PDA or tablet PC means the grocery store won't run out of our favorite chocolate chip cookies anymore. The device communicates with a Bluetooth terminal on a PC, PDA, LAN, or cell phone
Creating a home office with Staples CEO
Boston.com
since as the chief executive of the nation's top office-supply chain, Staples Inc., it could be argued that Sargent is the reigning King of the Home Office.
''This room reflects who I am and where I've been," Sargent said. ''Plus, all the art my wife doesn't like ends up in here."
The only phone in the room is an original 1940s black tabletop phone with a rotary dial. But don't think that Sargent is a Luddite. He had Staples installers set up a wireless network in his home so he could easily connect to the Internet regardless of whether he was using his laptop, tablet PC, or home computer.
October 12 , 2004
Coming tomorrow: Tablet Pc 2's Photos from Microsoft's Digital Entertainment Anywhere Launch
Media Center PCs go to the head of the class
MSNBC
Microsoft officially unveiled today the second part of its massive push to be the center of your home entertainment universe. The big news here is the 2005 edition of its Media Center OS, but the software giant has a few other tricks up its sleeve as well.
Microsoft also is announcing improvements to its Tablet PC operating system. I can’t for the life of me understand what this has to do with all these Media PC announcements but I thought it was my duty to mention it.
Windows Media Center 2005 is actually a portfolio of software and supporting hardware products that turn your computer into a kind of TiVo -- and a whole lot more.
The big deal with the 2005 edition is that Microsoft went full out to improve the quality over both its older OS and those offered by TiVo and other competitors. Microsoft hired some of the best experts in the video industry to improve recording and playback quality in the new OS. Their plan was to add things like 3D-comb filters, improve scaling and de-interlacing as well as provide lifelike and accurate colors for all sources and outputs. All this adds up to video you can stand to watch on an expensive, high definition television monitor.
Plus, in addition to much, much better looking TV recordings – the new OS now handles HDTV signals -- at least those that get broadcast over the air. For now, forget about HDTV from cable/satellite services.
Microsoft and Industry Partners Deliver on Digital Entertainment Anywhere Vision With Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
PR Newswire
Today at the Digital Entertainment Anywhere launch event, held in the center of the entertainment industry, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates publicly unveiled Windows(R) XP Media Center Edition 2005, bringing consumers the best in home entertainment with the power and convenience of a Windows XP-based PC. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is the core of Microsoft's vision for Digital Entertainment Anywhere
Throughout the next several months, Microsoft is enabling U.S. consumers to experience new Windows XP home technologies firsthand at the Windows on Wheels tour, which will visit a number of cities nationwide, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Windows on Wheels is a portable, translucent experience center in which consumers can test-drive the hottest new Windows XP digital entertainment products for use in the home and on the go, including Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Media Center Extender, Portable Media Centers and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, in a home environment. Tour information can be found at http://www.windows-experience.com .
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Energy Blue Theme Pack
microsoft
It's time to give your Tablet PC a new look. Install the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Energy Blue Theme Pack and see the difference. New colors, new effects and a new wallpaper will give your Tablet a fresh, updated appearance.
Campaign for Environmental Awareness begins TODAY
Elon University
Win prizes and help Elon raise the level of awareness about conservation on campus by participating in the Campaign for Environmental Awareness, which begins at noon.
NEC VersaPro Tablet PC Features Atheros Super AG(TM) Technology
Yahoo News
Atheros Chipset Provides High-Performance Wireless Capability in World's Thinnest and Lightest Tablet PC
Atheros Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHR - News), a leading developer of advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced its AR5004X chipset featuring Super AG(TM) technology has been embedded into the new NEC VersaPro VY11F/GL-R Tablet PC. Consumers who want the ability to take their ultra lightweight tablet PC anywhere in the home or office and still stay connected to the Internet, network resources or email will be able to take advantage of a wireless option employing Atheros' high-performance 802.11a/b/g technology
The NEC VersaPro VY11F/GL-R, which begins shipping in the Japan market on September 30, is the world's thinnest and lightest tablet PC. It measures only 11 millimeters (less than one-half inch) in total thickness and weighs a mere 899 grams (less than two pounds). Users can easily handwrite notes using the tablet's pen on top of the VersaPro's liquid-crystal display (LCD) protected glass. The wireless-equipped tablet PC can transmit notes to co-workers instantly and can also be used to highlight key points in a presentation during business meetings. Atheros' wireless technology helps to unwire the VersaPro in the enterprise.
Additional features of the NEC VersaPro VY11F/GL-R tablet PC include an Intel® Pentium® M processor, an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset, Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, 20 gigabyte (GB) hard drive and a 10.4-inch TFT XGA display.
Traditional notebook evolves as mobility becomes the norm
ITWeb
The overarching goal of business in the IT world is the adoption of a digital, paperless office. Tablet PCs represent yet another step toward that goal and according to Axiz, the Acer C300 series is a significant step forward as it offers full-size convertibility in a stylishly slim, lightweight unit. Available immediately for R19 999 including VAT, the Acer TM C300 series represents an evolution of the traditional notebook.
"Coupled with the efficiency and convenience of electronic ink and character recognition for daily work, the TM C300 gives users the best of both worlds, notebook convenience when in the office and tablet functionality away from your desk."
The TM C300 is the first Tablet PC to feature a large 14.1-inch XGA (1 024 x 768) TFT LCD screen, supporting up to 16.7 million colours to give presentations even greater impact. The rotating screen can quickly transform into a writing surface which is ideal for taking notes, annotating documents or completing online forms. Additionally, it features one of most advanced character recognition engines available for scanning, searching and indexing handwritten documents.
By bringing handwriting recognition features of ordinary tablets to an even larger audience, the TM C300 lets users experience the sudden surge in efficiency from the use of electronic ink in any office document, allowing them to revise, edit, and repurpose handwritten notes after writing them on the computer screen with the stylus while on the move.
Hosted Microsoft Exchange Server as an option for mobile professionals
Geekzone
James Kendrick, blogger from jkOnTheRun covers the benefits a hosted Microsoft Exchange Server solution brings to the mobile professional. The article covers all the various gains plus how to capitalize using a service with mobile devices like Tablet PCs and Pocket PC.
All the good vibrations
The Age
We're pretty sure that sales people and professionals in particular would find it infinitely more satisfying to scribble on a tablet PC, which allows you to do many more interesting things with an electronic document than can ever be done with a sheet of paper.
A summary of Tablet PC developer resources
tabulapc
Developers interested in the Tablet PC platform have an increasing number of resources available to them these days. From official Microsoft articles, to blog posts, and third-party content - the amount of information is slowly growing. It's about time too! The tablet has been around for two years, and only now are the developer resources finally becoming pretty decent. But better late than never, I guess.
This page will contain links to interesting and hopefully useful bits of information for people wanting to try some ink development.
Turn Your Tablet PC Into A PhotoCopy Machine
whatisnew
The fun of using a new product like the Tablet PC is coming up with new ways of doing things. Here is one idea that may alter the way you think about making photocopies of books, newspaper clippings, sheet music, recipes, genealogy documents, and other printed documents.
In this article I'll show you how to use a digital camera and your Journal-enabled Tablet PC to photograph printed documents and "import" them into Journal as electronic collections that you can markup, highlight, or clip (using the Microsoft Snipping utility).
Click for Photos from the Digital Entertainment Anywhere Launch
Including the new Fujitsu Lifebook T4000 Tablet PC !
Watch the demo
October 13 , 2004
Tri-Band GSM/3G WCDMA Scanning Receiver
3G
InSite™ Wireless Test System
PCTEL’s RF Solutions Group will also demonstrate its new release of the InSite™ Wireless Test System, which features a complete indoor measurement solution. The added indoor support includes a Tablet PC, a new battery pack, and a carrying pouch, making InSite a compact and easy-to-use indoor site survey tool.
Fujitsu drives modular bay into T Series of Tablet PCs
eChannelLine
Fujitsu Computer Systems will soon start spinning the wheels on the next rev of its convertible Tablet PC, which will be the first to take on a number of different disc drives.
"The second-generation tablet replaces our thin and light devicem that was targeted at vertical markets and didn't house a modular bay," said Paul Moore, director of mobile product marketing at Sunnyvale Calif.-based Fujitsu Computer Systems. "Now the market is really ready for a convertible tablet."
Moore said the key vertical markets that the previous line of tablets were designed for include healthcare, insurance companies and field force automation. "The people who are now going to a convertible are the ones that have a 50/50 need for a tablet and a notebook. If they have a 100 per cent tablet need, then they are staying with the slate," Moore said. "The potential is there now to open up more vertical markets for resellers, but also horizontal markets because now you have a full-blown notebook that is lightweight and has the added functionality of a tablet."
The major enhancement found in the LifeBook T4000 Tablet PC is the integrated modular bay, which can accommodate either a CD-ROM, Multi-Format DVD Writer or a second battery. Other improvements include a new display with a 180-degree viewing angle, a faster processor and Bluetooth wireless technology.
Weighing 4.7 pounds with the modular bay, the T4000 can deliver up to 5 hours of battery life with a standard battery or up to 8.5 hours by inserting a second battery.
October 14 , 2004
GiveMePower Mobility Solutions Featured in New Microsoft Tablet PC White Paper
Business Wire
GiveMePower(R) Corporation (OTCBB:GMPW), a leading innovator of collaborative computer-aided design and digital blueprint management solutions, announces being featured in a new Microsoft(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:MSFT) white paper "Business Opportunities For Developing and Supporting Tablet PC-based Solutions". The whitepaper outlines how GiveMePower's PowerCAD(R) software is increasing the company's business opportunities by providing real-world solutions to a growing mobile workforce using Tablet PCs and Microsoft's Windows(R) XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system.
"Businesses need mobility solutions that truly improve the way they work," said Bill Walton, president and CEO of GiveMePower. "Our new PowerCAD solutions for Tablet PC computing are delivering productivity gains of up to 1,000% in construction, engineering, manufacturing and real-estate settings. The Tablet PC is perfect for conveying information in a visually appealing, convenient form which integrates with how people actually work, instead of making people adapt to the computer."
Fujitsu Siemens Computers introduces LIFEBOOK T 4010, the ultimate meeting tool
ITWeb
Fujitsu Siemens Computers has introduced the world's first convertible notebook with a modular bay that weighs less than 2kg. The ultra-portable LIFEBOOK T4010 allows meetings to be held virtually anywhere.
With a second battery, it can operate without recharging for up to 8.5 hours. Simply turn the display, and the notebook is transformed into a tablet PC. Taking notes by hand not only eliminates keyboard noise, but also means that the display no longer acts as a physical barrier to communication. The unique screen technology, meanwhile, gives it an extra-wide viewing angle, meaning several colleagues can follow the proceedings at once.
The wealth of capabilities offered by the LIFEBOOK T4010 and its Microsoft Windows Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system can truly save time. The customary labour-intensive handling of notes and minutes following meetings, for example, can be largely done away with: the handwriting recognition program simply converts these into normal word processor text. The LIFEBOOK T4010 can also be used as a projector and replace the traditional meeting flip chart
Starbucks serves up in-store digital music service
ComputerWeekly.com
The company will install its Hear Music media bars at 45 of coffee houses in Seattle and Austin by the end of November
The Hear Music media bars will feature the necessary hardware and software, provided by Hewlett-Packard, for customers to search Starbucks' digital song library, choose and listen to tracks and burn them to a CD. CDs whose song lists are compiled by customers will cost $8.99 (£4.99) for the first seven tracks and $0.99 per additional track.
Its library has some 150,000 songs. The HP equipment powering the media bars includes tablet PCs, workstations, printers and networking wares. Customers operate the service via touch-screen-equipped tablet PCs and headphones.
Specifically, each Starbucks location will have several HP Tablet PC TC1100s with headphones and without keyboards: customers will use a stylus to interact with the machines' user interface via a touch-screen monitor. The PCs will feature a core custom-made application which will let the user search for music, listen to tracks and burn CDs.
Let's get hardcore on hardware development
The Malaysia Star
Last July, the company provided 320 units of its GMT-100 Tablet PCs for teachers and students in three schools under the Smart School Computing Tablet PC Project initiated by MDC and the Education Ministry.
Take this tablet
When it comes to venturing into hardware development, Azhar is putting his company where his mouth is: GMT is expected to unveil its latest Tablet PC model sometime this month.
“We decided to venture into the Tablet PC rather than notebook market, since Tablet PCs are still a relatively new type of product – this allows us to begin at a similar level as that of our foreign competitors.
The GMT-ACE Tablet PC is the world’s first Tablet PC to have a 1GHz VIA Ezra C3-M EBGA processor, he claimed. It was jointly developed by GMT and Singapore's i-Mobile Pte Ltd, which provided the VIA processor and motherboard.
INTEL THIRD-QUARTER REVENUE $8.5 BILLION
Hardware Zone
Intel extended its mobile leadership with record microprocessor shipments and the introduction of seven new processors spanning the mobility, value and desktop replacement notebook market segments. Four new low-voltage and ultra-low-voltage Pentium® M processors and Celeron® M processors enable highly mobile sub-notebook, mini-notebook and tablet PCs weighing less than three pounds
October 15 , 2004
Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack
Microsoft
Microsoft® Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack adds international handwriting recognizers to a Tablet PC or other personal computer.
Overview
Installing Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack enables you to convert handwriting from digital ink to typed text in multiple languages on the same Tablet PC. For example, if German and French recognizers are installed on a Tablet PC, ink that is written in German or French can be converted into typed text with greater accuracy.
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack includes handwriting recognition support for Spanish and Italian and also updated versions of the handwriting recognizers that shipped in the original Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC MUI & Recognizer Pack. Speech recognition engines are not included in this pack.
The following language handwriting recognizers are included in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack: Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), U.S. English, U.K. English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
