September 13, 2006

Babson Profs Win HP Grant For Teaching With Tablet PCs
Babson College Athletics News

Babson College Professors David Kopcso and William Rybolt have been awarded the Hewlett Packard Technology for Teaching Grant for their project: Transforming Teaching and Learning with Tablet PCs.

The project will evaluate the educational effectiveness of using Tablet PCs which are laptop computers whose screens allow hand-written entries to be captured in real time.  Two sections of Babson College’s required MBA-level quantitative methods course are being used as a test bed to assess the impact of Tablet PCs.  In one section students as well as the professor will be using Tablet PCs while in the other only laptops will be used.  In the Tablet PC section, the instructor will use the wireless Tablet PC as an alternative to writing on the blackboard.  In both sections, the instructor will obtain real time feedback from students in response to questions via the Internet, and results will be displayed on the instructor's PC.  The instructor can then use these results to redress unclear or confusing issues or redirect the dynamics of the classroom.

Panasonic Introduces Three New Business-Rugged Toughbook Notebooks
Business Wire

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, the leading provider of durable, reliable wireless mobile PCs, today introduced three new business-rugged Panasonic(R) Toughbook(R) notebook computers: The ultraportable CF-W5, tablet alternative CF-T5, and the thin-and-light desktop replacement CF-Y5.

Toughbook T5: A Tablet PC Alternative with Extremely Long Battery Life

Unique to the Panasonic Toughbook T5 is a 12.1 inch touch-screen LCD as well as a durable frame with a sleek, compact design and an ergonomic hand strap. Equipped with an ultra-low voltage processor, the T5 offers increased battery capability which translates into more than ten hours of life while weighing only 3.5 pounds. These features, combined with the touch screen and the included image rotation software, make the T5 ideal for use offsite and in the office.

Cool new Tablet PC app
ZDNet

Thanks to Warner over at GottaBeMobile.com for the tip on this. Graphite is a drawing program that allows you to generate Visio-style diagrams using digital ink. I use Visio a lot in my work and, frankly, it's not a very Tablet PC-friendly application. Graphite looks like a great way to augment Visio with and ink-friendly environment for capturing ideas quickly.

September 14, 2006

Tablet PC Time
pcmike.com

It's a good thing my wife dfoesn't read my blogs because I'd be in big trouble confessing this to you.

I bought another computer. This one is a new Fujitsu T4210 Tablet PC. I've had Tablet PCs before and been impressed. But never enough to make them my main mobile companion. But as I've read and browsed various Tablet PC portals I've been noticing new features and software and bit the bullet again.

Bill Gates has repeatedly said that he believes the Tablet PC is one of the key platforms that personal computing will gravitate around and that Microsoft is commited to making tablets more versatile and popular. I still haven't seen him match that cheerleading with real marketing but I can say that tablets make a lot of sense. They are very fast. The model I have is a convertible, meaning it has a regular keyboard or, if I flip the screen around, can be used with a stylus to transofm my handwriting into digital ink, much like a pad of paper.

In early June, Microsoft announced it would drop the "Save As PDF" and "Save As XPS" features from Office 2007, the application bundle upgrade slated to ship late this year to enterprises and in early 2007 to others. Then, Microsoft cited legal pressure from Adobe, a partner and rival, as the reason for dumping the functionality.

Handango Announces the 2006 Handango Champion Awards Winners
PR Newswire

Handango, the leading provider of mobile content, announced the winners of the Handango Champion Awards at the sixth annual Handango Partner Summit.

At the awards ceremony, Handango also recognized seven content providers with "Developer of the Year" awards for outstanding software development, committed customer care and innovation. The winners of the Developer of the Year awards are:

* Tablet PC: Agilix Labs, Inc 

Next Gadget for Rewarding One-self
Geekzone

So far, my heart is leaning towards TabletKiosk eo i7210. Why? Wel.. it has added plus for being a full-blown OS running Windows XP Tablet PC with TouchPak, which allow me to run Outlook in full, and the "assurance" of having all my files and media with me while on the move. It is relatively small and looks pretty cool. And pair it with Vodem, I can basically get my daily email catch up and messaging anytime, anywhere. Though it will mean I need to implement a way to "hide" Vodem, but I got a brilliant idea, velcro will be my friend and using the USB cable to connect the two together while act as the antenna for HSDPA connection. SWEET!

ictQATAR ushers in e-Schoolbag
Peninsula On-line

doha • ictQATAR, the Supreme Council of Information and Communication, yesterday announced the start of the first phase of its ‘eSchoolbag' project which is being carried out at Al Wakra Independent School for Girls.

Initially, 200 seventh-grade students from the school will receive Tablet PCs to be used inside the classrooms where they can learn independently at a more creative level to gain an understanding of the subject matters and to continue interacting with their respective teachers from home.

The ‘eSchoolbag' package will provide each student with a Tablet PC that allows for digital inking technology like note-taking, sharing and editing information electronically.

Dell May Give Its Notebooks Some Tough Love
Channel Insider

Dell thinks some of its customers want notebooks that are a little tougher.

United Physicians to Enhance Patient Safety and Reduce Reduce Prescription Drug Costs with e-Prescribing
PR Newswire

With e-prescribing, United Physicians members will use a wireless tablet or desktop computer to write and electronically transmit prescriptions instantly to pharmacies. Handwritten prescriptions -- which can be misread or illegible -- are eliminated with e-prescribing. Doctors using e-prescribing receive alerts to patient drug allergies, drug interactions and therapeutic duplication. They can access insurance plan eligibility and formulary compliance, authorize renewals and refills, and easily track a patient's medication history. A doctor can perform these e- prescribing functions while seeing a patient or away from the office. "Using e-prescribing has improved our office workflow by significantly reducing phone calls to and from pharmacies related to prescriptions," said United Physicians member and pilot participant Gary Langnas, D.O., of Oakland Medical Group. "The features related to patient safety, such as drug interactions and formulary information, are very helpful."

September 15, 2006

CEDIA 2006: HomeLogic Controlling Everything From UMPC, Motorola Q
Gizmodo.com

HomeLogic has finally found a suitable task for ultra mobile PCs (UMPC), those solutions looking for a problem that have been pretty much useless up until now. Why not run the all-encompassing HomeLogic OneHome home control software on a UMPC? Heck, the Samsung Q1 shown here can do everything the HomeLogic's own touchscreen does, plus kinda do PC-ish stuff, too.

2technology: Origami

The first generation of UMPCs will run Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, but future models will run a version of yet-to-be-released operating system Windows Vista. They will feature a 7-inch touch-screen display and a 30-60 gigabyte hard disk drive. Some models may include built-in GPS, webcams, fingerprint readers and TV tuners. WiFi connectivity is likely to be a must.

There is speculation mobile phone network operators may also choose to support the sale of UMPCs with built-in cellular connections and may end up subsidising the cost of the devices. It will be possible to attach a standard keyboard via a USB port or, wirelessly, using Bluetooth.

Erasing chalkboards via high tech
Providence Journal

In at least one local school, the days of the traditional chalkboard are numbered.

This month, courtesy of Hewlett-Packard, Washington Oak Elementary School started using tablet PCs in five of its classroom. Picture a laptop computer without the keyboard; students and teachers write on the screen with a stylus, and an image of what's written is projected on an overhead screen.

Hewlett-Packard, the software and computer giant, annually awards high-technology equipment to schools under its "HP Technology for Teaching" initiative.

This year, Washington Oak was one of 130 public schools nationwide to share $4.5 million worth of equipment. It was awarded a $35,000 package that, besides the tablet PCs, included a multimedia projector, digital camera printer/scanner/copier and software.

For lessons yesterday, students in Deborah Kolling's third-grade class used the PC tablet, which lay on a small table in the center of the classroom.

Students individually completed various English exercises on the tablet, picking out punctuation, spelling and grammatical errors in a group of sentences and editing them. Kolling wrote the sentences in blue script, while the students made the corrections in red.

Once the lesson is done, the students get a printed copy, in their own handwriting, which gives them a sense of shared ownership in the completed product and helps the learning process, Kolling said.

"It's more engaging for them," said Kolling, a teacher for 28 years, 18 in Coventry. "The children will have a copy that is more personal. They are already invested here."

Student Kyle Willett, 8, appeared fascinated. When Kolling asked if Samantha Falkowski had found all the errors, Kyle jumped out of his seat and skipped over to the PC tablet to flag something his classmate missed.

September 18, 2006

Review : Toshiba Tecra M7-S7331 Tablet PC
TabletPC2.com Exclusive

Always on the cutting edge the Toshiba Tecra M7 is the worlds first 14.1 TFT WGA+ Screen with Tablet PC Support.    While a 14.1 inch screen isn't meant to be carried around all day,  it does offer users the ability to watch movies and work on intricate graphics with out eye strain 

Real time with the TabletKiosk eo i7210
gottabemobile.com

The TabletKiosk eo i7210 Ultra-Mobile PC returns in a real life run through!

Okay, so I have had this unit for a week or so now, and had a chance to spend some time using it.  What I decided to do for this InkShow was a quick and real run through using some screen recordings to show you what is actually on this thing.

I spend a few minutes looking at the installed apps and utilities, and giving some general commentary on hwat seems to work for me and what doesn’t.  So if you are curious about the TabletKiosk Ultra-Mobile PC, or just about Ultra-Mobile PC's in general, check out this InkShow for a real world few minutes with a unit.

• Watch the InkShow (22:55 minutes, 110mb, .wmv streaming or direct download.).
• Visit the TabletKiosk website for more on the eo i7210

"Award Winning" InScribe 2007

Free Text Entry Program for Your UMPC and Tablet PC

More Origami devices coming soon
PC Advisor

Asus will begin selling its first UMPC (ultramobile PC), the R2H, worldwide by the end of this month, while Samsung is readying one that eschews Intel microprocessors in favour of Via chips.

Asus's UMPC is designed with all the functions of a laptop, including a folding typing pad, as well as other devices, such as a GPS (global positioning system) so it can sit on the dashboard of a user's car to map the way home.

The R2H runs Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition OS on a 900MHz Intel Celeron M

Although the suggested retail price of the R2H bound for the Taiwan market is TW$36,800 (about £600), it will come in different configurations users can choose from, so prices will be flexible. Asus will offer models with different-sized hard drives, ranging from 20GB to 60GB in capacity. The standard edition will come with just a two-cell battery, for about two hours of use before needing a recharge. Users will be able to select a four-cell battery as well, at an added cost.

The device is Windows Vista-compatible.

The company also launched a tablet PC, the R1F, and expects to produce a total of 3,000 units of the two devices each month, said Benson Lin, head of sales in the Asia Pacific for Asus, at a news conference in Taipei.

Samsung is readying an UMPC with a 7in screen that uses a 1.0GHz Via C7 microprocessor, but hasn't set a launch date.

The device, called the Q1B, will come with 40GB of storage space, WLAN and Bluetooth, and will weigh 3.7kg, according to Samsung's website.

The Q1B will come with a better battery than the R2H, a three-cell battery offering up to five hours of life before needing a recharge. Samsung is offering an upgrade to a six-cell battery at an additional charge.

Ink Analysis and Input Supplement for the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Development Kit 1.7
SysAdmin.it

The Ink Analysis and Input Supplement for Windows XP Tablet PC Platform SDK adds two new components to the Tablet PC development kit:

The Ink Analysis APIs combine ink classification and layout analysis with powerful handwriting recognition technology, enabling you to create applications that understand and respond to ink in ways that are unique to Windows Tablet and Touch Technology.

September 19, 2006

FranklinCovey Releases PlanPlus(TM) 4.0 for Microsoft(R) Outlook(R FranklinCovey Makes Microsoft Outlook Project Friendly
Business Wire

today announced the release of PlanPlus(TM) 4.0 for Microsoft(R) Outlook(R), an upgrade to the company's planning and information management application for desktop, notebook and Tablet PC users running Microsoft Outlook.

PlanPlus 4.0 for Microsoft Outlook, which enhances Outlook by seamlessly integrating the proven planning methods from FranklinCovey within the Outlook application, has multiple new features, including a new Project Manager, a new user interface, new Palm(R) applications and new Windows(R) Mobile(R) applications. The software was created in collaboration with Agilix(R), FranklinCovey's development partner.

Tablet PC users will continue to have digital ink support for taking notes in their own handwriting within the PowerNotes note taking and note management module.

-- Tablet PC device required to utilize some digital ink and pen input features in PowerNotes

Asustek announces availability of R2H UMPCs and R1H tablet PCs
DigiTimes

Asustek Computer on September 18 announced the availability of its two tablet PCs, including a 7-inch tough-screen Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), the R2H. Another model is a 13-inch tablet PC, which is being built based on Intel's Core2 Duo platform, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

According to market sources, the R2H is priced at higher than US$1,000 per unit, in contrast to a unit price of about US$500 targeted by Microsoft, which has been pushing for a UMPC standard with Intel.

Targeting the in-car segment, Asustek aims to ship a combined total of 3,000 units of the R2H UMPCs and the R1H tablet PCs a month, Benson Lin, president for Asia-Pacific at Asustek, was quoted by the Commercial Times as saying.

September 20, 2006

Toshiba updates notebook drivers for Vista RC1
jkonthrun

No updates for the M200 Tablet PC series, but Toshiba now has Vista RC1 drivers for the:

If you have one of these models running Vista RC1, you'll want to take a look at Toshiba's support page . There are updated drivers for Bluetooth, hardware buttons, the touchpad, fingerprint reader, Intel chipset and more.

Secrets about keyboards
The Tide

Research is being conducted that would replace the keyboard with a means of using voice or handwriting for input. Current technologies based on these types of input are inaccurate because people pronounce and write words very differently, making it difficult for a computer to recognise the same input from different users. However, advances in this field have led to systems that can recognise a small number of words spoken by a variety of people. In addition, software has been developed that can be taught to recognise an individual's handwriting. The Tablet PC, a modern notebook form of laptop has adopted this technology.


HP enhances business notebook portfolio with latest dual-core
AME Info

HP Compaq 4400 series - This versatile series is ultra-light, power-packed, adaptable to the way users work and configurable as either a notebook PC or a convertible tablet PC. As a Tablet PC, the tc4400 is a full-function notebook with the added convenience of handwriting input.

All of these HP notebooks with Intel's new Core 2 Duo chip are now available.

Professors and laptops vie for students' attention
Princeton University The Daily Princetonian

    Just as the ringing of cell phones in class was once the distracting bane of most professors' existence, instant messages cropping up on screens is the modern day equivalent. Stories of varied reactions abound — everything from Dayanik's friendly acknowledgement of the situation to one professor slamming a laptop screen on a student's fingers.

     Merrill, the student in Dayanik's class, uses a tablet PC to take notes in class to save paper, and though her father has contacted her through instant messenger programs a couple of times in class, she personally does not find laptop use too distracting.

September 21, 2006

Installing Windows Vista RC1 on a Toshiba Portege M400 Tablet PC
Whatisnew.com

I've been using Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) and Office 2007 for two weeks now. All-in-all a good experience.

I first installed RC1 on a Toshiba Portege M400 Tablet PC. The install process on the M400 had certainly improved over the previous builds. I still needed to have the  RAID driver for the hard drive on a USB key to load during the install process, but that is easily solved. Here are some steps that may be helpful to those you considering testing RC1. Before you begin, make sure you have your existing data backed up. I recommend using a separate hard drive, and not your primary drive with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

A Laptop at Every Desk
BusinessWeek

MAINE AT THE FOREFRONT.   The competition is especially heated in the U.S., where a growing number of districts are adopting so-called one-to-one learning initiatives aimed at equipping every student with an in-class computer, be it a laptop, tablet PC, or a comparable device. The more computers per student, the better pupils' attendance, enthusiasm, and test scores, administrators and teachers say.

Excuse Me, Doc. Mind if I Step On Your Tablet PC ?
New York Times

Those who are not fans of tablet PC's, and those who just haven't tried them, may want to take a look at the Panasonic Toughbook CF-T5. This ultraslim machine masquerades as a small, sturdy laptop, but turn it 90 degrees and it becomes a booklike tablet computer.

When you're done typing, simply flip a switch and the on-screen images turn sideways. Then, tap on the touch screen until you need to use the keyboard again. There is a hand strap on the back of the laptop to help keep it steady.

The 12.1-inch T5 is unique among tablets in that it has no complex hinge to flip the screen around. It is made for harsh environments like work sites and hospitals. The T5, which will cost $1,899 when it appears in stores next month, includes a 60-gigabyte hard drive, an Intel Core Solo U1400 processor, Wi-Fi and cellular wireless connectivity, which requires a subscription to a data plan.

It is said that you can step on this laptop without fear of cracking the screen or breaking the innards. Try it the next time you see a friend who owns one.

Ilium Software's "InScribe" InkShow
gottabemobile.com

Yes, we are talking about Ilium Software's, InScribe on screen keyboard.  Warner posted about this last week and I was interested enough to go and get the (FREE) download and load it up.  It was easy to learn, seemed to function well, and with but one exception (you'll see in the InkShow) was all positive for me.

Like any new tool, you need to spend some time with it to get proficient, but all in all I liked it a lot.  Check out the show to see the features, pluses and minuses of this little app!

September 22, 2006

LG to Launch New Tablet PC Model - LG C1
tabletpcreview.com

LG / "Lifes Good" Electronics is the world's largest producer of CDMA handsets, DVD players, optical storage devices , air conditioners, canister vacuum cleaners and micro ovens. Now it appears that a wonderful Tablet PC from the company that produces the T1 Express Dual Ultra Slim Notebook is well on its way to the fast growing list of Tablet PC product offerings.

"samsung 0900" on our sister site NotebookReview.com has somehow got hold of some first images of the LG "C1" model Tablet PC. Although we don't have confirmed specs at this time, we do know that the C1 is to feature the Intel Core Duo processor, NVIDIA graphics , and (as you can see in the photos) a slim and sexy chassis similar to the LG T1 notebook. The C1 also has a slot for a SIM card to enable wireless connectivity through your cell phone provider. Enjoy the pics below...

Babson MBAs test new high-tech gear
MetroWest Daily News

W ELLESLEY -- A Babson College professor with a grant from Hewlett-Packard Co. is testing two new technologies geared toward making school easier for working MBA students.

About 15 students of 43 in the class agreed to try the Tablet PCs. Another section of the class, which has 41 students, is the control group for the experiment and doesn't use the Tablet PCs.          

"I'm the only one I know of recording the lectures. With the Camcasia software, I can capture what I'm doing on the (Tablet PC) screen, talk over it, and then there's a little video that shows students how to do something with" Excel, Microsoft's spreadsheet program, Kopcso said. "Technology is really changing the way we teach."

Intel Security and Mobility Videos
PC Magazine

PCMagCast is pleased to present two videos sponsored by Intel which were broadcast during our Virtual Tradeshow on Security & Mobility, August 23-24, 2006. Now these videos are available for viewing directly in your browser. (To download the videos to your hard drive, right click on the video links.)

Intel, Mobility, and Your Business

Find out how Intel's technologies, from Core Duo to Centrino, are helping mobilize the latest generation of notebooks. In this video presentation, you'll learn about Intel's mobile architecture and find out how laptops and tablet PCs can help transform your workforce.

(28 minutes, 65MB Windows Media file)

VXI BlueParrott TalkPro Bluetooth Wireless Headsets B1000-GTX and B150-GTX Certified by Nuance Communications for Use with Dragon NaturallySpeaking Speech Recognition Software
Business Wire

BlueParrott TalkPro B150-GTX: Includes a monaural Bluetooth headset, recharging accessory, and AC and auto charging cords. Range up to 33 feet. This model is best recommended for customers who use a Bluetooth enabled PC, laptop, Tablet PC or are using commercially available Bluetooth dongle accessory devices to add Bluetooth functionality to their PC.

September 25, 2006

TabletKiosk Demo Days

A roadshow for Tablet PC and UMPC enthusiasts

The TabletKiosk team is joining forces with Apex Software to sponsor four roadshows held in conjunction with the Apex CE Training Seminars.

The TabletKiosk Demo Days Roadshow is open to all UMPC enthusiasts, Windows® XP Tablet Edition fans and TabletKiosk customers. Please join us for these hands-on seminars where you will have the opportunity to see and try out the full line of TabletKiosk products, chat with members of the TabletKiosk team and meet some of your fellow Tablet PC and UMPC enthusiasts. In addition, all attendees will have the opportunity to win a $300 gift certificate to the TabletKiosk.com web store.

If you are interested in attending the TabletKiosk Demo Days, but the scheduled locations are not convenient for you, we want your feedback.  Please e-mail our event team with your suggestions for future locations as well as any questions you might have. As we plan our future roadshows, we will take all suggested locations into consideration

OnTheRun with Tablet PCs #29- with pure audio
jkontherun.com

Fujitsu and Softex Deliver a Single Solution for Biometric Authentication and Password Management
Yahoo! News

The pairing of the PalmSecure sensor and the OmniPass software builds on the existing relationship between the two companies. Softex also supplies the software used for the fingerprint sensors in Fujitsu laptops and tablet PCs.

Tablet computers make great note-takers
Detroit Free Press

Of all the personal technology advances we've seen over the past five years, the Tablet PC serves as a great example about how important marketing is in the world consumer tech. For the Tablet PC -- truly one of the most innovative and useful products I've seen -- is virtually unknown to the public. These machines, which are powered by a specially tweaked Windows XP operating system, allow users to scribble notes on a screen with a pen-like stylus, turning handwriting or block printing into what's called digital ink.

Some Tablets are slate models only. There's no keyboard, just the screen. You write on them like those old Etch-a-Sketches. Others, like the new Fujitsu Lifebook T4210 (starting at $1,729), are called convertibles.

I've been using Tablet PCs on and off for the last two years. This T4210 model, powered by the latest Intel Core Duo processors, is the fastest, most intuitive and useful one I've yet to use.

But before I tell you how handy these portable little devices are, back to my main point: Microsoft and the various computer makers that produce Tablet PCs have done a lousy job in marketing them.

To be fair, Tablets are selling fairly well in what are known as vertical markets, among niche interest groups like students (great for note-taking and recording lectures), medical professionals (for keeping track of patient records) and salespeople (for forms and order-taking).

For the past week, I've left my handy reporter's notebook in a desk drawer. Instead, I've brought my Fujitsu tablet with me and used it for note taking. It weighs around four pounds and, with a 12-inch screen folded atop the keyboard in slate mode, it's about an inch-and-a-half thick and the length and width of those paper yellow legal pads my colleagues take to our meetings at the office.

At my desk, I flip up the screen and use it as a laptop.

The Tablet PC does everything a regular computer does. It has a complete Windows XP operating system. The big difference is you can also use that electronic stylus to run many programs, taking notes by hand or tapping on the individual letters of an on-screen keyboard representation to type.

Handwriting can be converted to type with just a tap of the stylus, though, obviously, the neater you write or print, the more accurate will be the conversion into type.

I seldom convert handwritten notes on the Tablet. I bought a $39 add-on to Outlook that lets me use digital ink to enter calendar, to-do, journal and contact info. But a $99 program called PlanPlus from Franklin Covey puts the equivalent of a Franklin Planner on my Tablet. I've fallen in love with this application.

Windows Vista: An impressive package with 'rough edges'
Jakarta Post

For a more natural interface, Vista includes speech recognition and synthesis engine plus handwriting recognition software brought from Microsoft's Tablet PC platform. This means not only will Vista be compatible with Tablet PCs, but you can use an off-the-shelf tablet/digitizer if you want to.

RCS students to receive Tablet PCs in October
Rogersville Review

Wireless technology is in place, teachers have been trained and students at Rogersville City School should receive their Tablet PCs by the third week in October, according to Brandy Shelton, technology coordinator.
Shelton updated Rogersville City School Board members on the progress of the computer project at the board’s September 19 meeting.

She said teachers have been receiving training on the computers since the start of the school year. Approximately 200 students in the sixth through eighth grades will receive the Gateway Tablet PCs.

September 26, 2006

TabletPc2.com Review

Mobile Demand xTablet T8600

Active Ink Software Launches New Software Development Kit for the Tablet PC Platform
PR Web

Active Ink Software, Inc., a Microsoft Premier Tablet PC Partner announced the general availability of the Active Ink Software Development Kit (SDK) for integrating custom forms into 3rd party applications.

"The ability to include custom forms quickly and present them to users in a powerful way just got a lot easier," said Allan Warren, Head of Development for Active Ink Software Inc. "Developers can now concentrate on the business rules of their application instead of the intricacies of collecting data on a Tablet PC."

The Active Ink SDK is a programming tool that allows software developers to incorporate the Active Ink Client into their application by including a DLL that can be distributed as a runtime client license. The SDK allows you to customize and control the client assembly by modifying the user interface with your own custom menus, buttons and toolbars. The SDK notifies the third party application when the user takes specific actions allowing the developer to implement business rules.

The Active Ink SDK works in conjunction with Active Ink Form Designer, a form-building application that enables end users and developers to build electronic forms for the Tablet PC platform.

Active Ink Software's Blog

Largest Kentucky Healthcare System Selects PatientKeeper
Yahoo! News

Only PatientKeeper is designed to support a physician throughout the entire day, across all settings of care. PatientKeeper's applications allow physicians to access their patients' electronic records, write prescriptions, enter charges for services, document patient encounters, and securely send messages to other caregivers -- all in a single, integrated environment. PatientKeeper supports any tablet or PC running a Web browser as well as Palm OS® and Windows Mobile® devices.

September 27, 2006

Toshiba Introduces New Tablet PC, Gaming Notebook
Geekzone

Toshiba has announced a series of new notebooks with devices covering business and entertainment segments.

The Satellite R25-S3513 (pictured) is a convertible notebook for the retail market with an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5200 (1.60GHz, 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB). The notebook allows users to work with a traditional keyboard or rotate and fold the screen down for use as a Tablet PC with digital pen-based input and control. A digitizer pen is included to handwrite notes, draw, edit copy or write e-mail or input data while standing, sitting or reclining.

The 14.1-inch Tablet PC display roughly simulates the writing area of a standard 8.5- by 11-inch sheet of paper. It also an iLINK IEEE-1394, RGB output, RJ-11 modem, RJ-45 LAN, Wi-Fi, headphone, microphone and four USB 2.0 ports. The product has an estimated price of US$1,499.99 in the U.S.

Starting at 5.95 pounds, the Satellite R25-S3513 features a 14.1-inch diagonal widescreen WXGA+ LCD display and the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 operating system. Other features found in the Satellite R25-S3513 Tablet PC include a DVD SuperMulti Double Layer drive, 100GB high-capacity 5400 rpm Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive and 5-in-1 bridge media adapter for easy file sharing and download.

This model is deemed "Windows Vista Premium Ready", ensuring consumers will be able to upgrade to Windows Vista while taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by Windows XP today.

September 28, 2006

Motion Computing Reveals Mobile Clinical Assistant Plans
IRISHDEV.com

Motion Computing, a leader in ultra-mobile computing and wireless communications, today disclosed plans at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) to extend its family of award-winning tablet PC products with a mobile clinical assistant, a new computing category created to advance the effectiveness of nurses, physicians and other clinicians.  Motion’s product will be based on Intel Corporation’s mobile clinical assistant platform design. 

“Motion is the first company to collaborate with Intel on the new mobile clinical assistant category,” said Motion CEO Scott Eckert.  “We chose to innovate in this category because it closely aligns with our tablet PC and healthcare industry expertise.  It is all about technology integration and ease of use, with relevant and innovative features, software and design elements chosen to help nurses and clinicians deliver patient care more safely and efficiently.”

“Intel is excited to be working with Motion to bring the mobile clinical assistant to the healthcare market segment and to address the unmet needs of nurses and physicians,” said Burns. “We share a common vision for innovative, ground-breaking platforms and how technology can transform healthcare.”

Motion will launch and ship its first mobile clinical assistant product in the first half of 2007.  Product specifications will be available at that time.

Intel Designs Mobile Platform to Help Enhance Patient Safety, Ease Nurse and Physician Workloads
Business Wire

Motion Computing and Intel Collaborate

Motion Computing, the leading slate tablet PC provider worldwide, will be the primary original equipment manufacturer to introduce first-generation products based on the Intel mobile clinical assistant platform in the first half of next year. Motion is focused on designing tablet PCs for specific vertical industries including healthcare, field sales and service and government; healthcare makes up almost half of its business and is the company’s primary focus.

“Motion is excited to be the first to collaborate with Intel on the creation of this new category,” said Scott Eckert, Motion Computing chief executive officer. “We have long been a provider of mobility products into healthcare and look forward to extending the use of integrated mobile technologies to nurses with our mobile clinical assistant.”

To help prepare the market for products based on the mobile clinical assistant platform, Intel and leading industry suppliers, such as electronic medical records software vendors, will collaborate to further develop products and refine applications in addition to conducting ethnographic research in hospitals around the world.

Microsoft Home pushes boundaries of the future
Seattle Post Intelligencer

The current version is notable in part for its lack of desktop computers -- the machines on which the company originally built its business. Instead, there's a touch-sensitive Tablet PC in the play area, a big-screen Media Center PC in the living room, and a backlit control panel in the entryway wall.

Marine recruiters go high-speed
Marines.com

The Marine Corps Recruiting Command began the initial distribution of more than 3,200 new Tablet PC style laptop computers primed to aid recruiting process.

The purpose of the Tablet PCs is not to replace the systematic recruiting process that has made recruiters successful for the past 33 years. The Tablet PC is a tool to enhance systematic recruiting by speeding up the enlistment process of applicants.

“These Tablet PCs will enhance the success of our Marine recruiters,” said Brig. Gen. Richard T. Tryon, commanding general, MCRC. “The systems will help recruiters with speed of execution.”

The Tablet PC is a laptop computer with a rotating screen and a stylus pen that enables recruiters to capture digital signatures. The computer has a special feature where the screen folds down and upright so that the keyboard or mouse doesn’t have to be used, which allows the Tablet PC to operate entirely with the stylus pen.

“These Tablet PCs will replace a lot of the pen and paper methods currently used by recruiters,” said Sgt. Charles J. Fackler, data network specialist, MCRC. “The tablets will offer an automated enlistment package, the capability to fill out security forms, the ability to show advertisements anywhere, as well as the opportunity to check where a recruit is during their training.”

Another impressive feature of the Tablet PC that will aid recruiters is the insertion of a cellular data card. The cellular data cards work much like a cell phone; they enable the user to access the Internet anywhere in their coverage area.

“The Tablet PC will give recruiters the capability to expose media in a broadband environment rather than having to pull out a pencil and schedule an appointment,” Tryon said. “Every recruiter will also have access to the Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System with these PCs.”

The Tablet PCs are the first step of automating the recruiting process. Two short-term goals the command has planned to further this initiative are the development of an automated Marine Corps Opportunities Book, as well as automation of the recruiting volumes.

The overall goal for the Tablet PCs is to automate systematic recruiting to the greatest extent, said Capt. Brian L. Fancher, chief technology officer and information systems management officer for MCRC.

The addition of the Tablet PC to the recruiting arsenal will better arm recruiters for continued success in the year’s to come.

Sierra Wireless supports Intel UMPC platform with 3G embedded modules and professional services
Canada NewsWire

Collaborative design provides original equipment manufacturers with a proven 3G engine for devices utilizing the Intel Ultra Mobile PC platform

Sierra Wireless today announced support for Intel Corporation's 3G-enabled Ultra Mobile PC platform, shown today at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. Sierra Wireless collaborated with Intel to incorporate Sierra Wireless WWAN modules into the UMPC platform architecture, which is designed to provide integrated wireless 3G connections for ultra-mobile devices (typically defined as small form-factor Tablet PCs). With wide area wireless embedded modules from Sierra Wireless integrated into the UMPC platform, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs) can take advantage of proven, reliable 3G connectivity solutions to simplify product development and expedite time-to-market.

"Sierra Wireless is pleased to collaborate with Intel to provide seamless 3G-enabled connectivity options for the UMPC platform," said Trent Punnett, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Development for Sierra Wireless. "Bringing high-quality 3G connections to Ultra Mobile PC devices allows for true on-the-go applications. We believe this will lead to the development of many innovative mobile devices, and we look forward to working with our OEM customers to bring these leading edge products to market."

Babson MBAs test new high-tech gear
Wellesley Townsman

A Babson College professor with a grant from Hewlett-Packard Co. is testing two new technologies geared toward making school easier for working MBA students.

David Kopcso, a mathematics and information technology professor at the Wellesley business school, received 20 HP Tablet PCs for use in his data and decision-making class.

"Tablet PCs are like a regular laptop but you can fold the screen down flat and write on it," Kopcso said, who received the PCs as part of HP's "Technology for Teaching" grant. "The tablet allows me to write directly on it, what would be overhead transparencies, and capture them electronically."

About 15 students of 43 in the class agreed to try the Tablet PCs. Another section of the class, which has 41 students, is the control group for the experiment and doesn't use the Tablet PCs.

September 29, 2006

Tegatech signs exclusive Samsung tablet deal
CRN Australia - Australia

Tegatech signs exclusive Samsung tablet deal Byron Connolly, CRN Tablet PC specialist distributor Tegatech has signed as exclusive agreement to distribute Samsung's Q1 Ultra Mobile PC to Australian resellers.

The Q1 UMPCs were part of an initiative announced by Microsoft in March to develop lighweight, small form-factor ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs) Several OEMs such as Founder Electronics and Samsung jumped on Microsoft?s ?Origami? project, developing small UMPCs that feature a 7-inch screen and let users choose between a touch stylus, QWERTY or traditional keyboard.

Hugo Ortega, CEO at Tegatech told CRN that the ultra mobile PCs such as the Samsung Q1 cost less than half the price of traditional tablet PC products that have been available in the marketplace.
Samsung has removed the WACOM 'active digitiser' screen and replaced it with a generic touch screen, effectively helping to reduce the cost down to $1699 (retail).

He said that traditional larger Tablet PCs could cost up to $4500 (retail).
For the past 18 months, Tegatech has been focusing solely on this market and touts itself as the only Tablet PC-specific distributor in Australia and New Zealand.

It also signed an agreement to distribute Fujitsu's Tablet range and is an agent for Raon Digital's Vega ultra mobile product.
Tegatech would also be stocking forthcoming ultra mobile products manufactured by ASUS and Motion Computing, Ortega said.

ASUS would be releasing an R1 convertible Tablet and RH1 UMPC in October, he said.

Microsoft has developed software for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 and a few editions of Vista that incorporate the Tablet PC Windows software.

InterVideo Home Theater Bundled with ASUS R2H Ultra Mobile PC ffor Complete Mobile Digital Entertainment Experience
Business Wire

InterVideo®, Inc  announced today that ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (TSE:2357), (ASUS), the worldwide leader in notebook computers, is bundling InterVideo® Home Theater with its new ASUS R2H series product, the 7” Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC). InterVideo Home Theater provides a total solution for multimedia entertainment from watching TV to viewing photos, listening to music and watching DVDs.

“Enjoying multimedia content on the go is a huge growth area,” said Steve Ro, CEO of InterVideo. “Ultra-mobile PCs are great for mobile entertainment. Our Home Theater software and the ASUS R2H UMPC are an unbeatable combination, delivering powerful, convenient computing and complete, easy-to-use mobile entertainment.”

The ASUS R2H series combines the power of Windows XP with mobile-ready technologies that make it easy to access and use software on the go. InterVideo Home Theater’s simple user interface makes navigation easy. Support for externally connected devices such as TV tuners or DVD drives, expands the range of entertainment options available to users.

About InterVideo Home Theater

InterVideo Home Theater is a complete entertainment center featuring a simplified interface suitable for tablet or media center (10 foot) applications. The software is available for in Gold and Platinum editions for consumers as well as custom configurations for hardware OEMs. For more information, visit www.intervideo.com.

MedAppz iSuite for Health Information Management
Medgadget.com

MedAppz specializes in integrated health-care information management. Their application suite allows for patient appointment scheduling and EHR management, all without papers or dedicated hardware....

With iConsult, our unique evidence-based support for patient evaluation, diagnosis and management built right into the MedAppz iSuite, you can make better-informed diagnosis and educate your patient on the spot.

With our handwriting recognition tools, you can jot patient notes right on the screen of your tablet PC and MedAppz iSuite will transcribe your handwriting and store it as a permanent part of your patient record.