May 3, 2004

New Tablet PC Software Download Site Opens
Emediawire

TabletPCPost.com went live today after a successful month-long beta trial. Now Tablet PC users havea central location to preview and download software designed specifically for their Tablet PCs.

Dedicated to increasing awareness of Tablet PCs, TabletPCPost provides a comprehensive catalog of entertainment, general business, education, and industry-specific Tablet PC applications. Website visitors can also participate actively by posting comments about their own experiences and voting for their favorite products.

"Agilix sees TabletPCPost as a tremendous asset to the burgeoning Tablet PC Community and is happy to add a (free) downloadable 30-day trial version of Agilix GoBinder. TabletPCPost, and its categorized listings, provides Agilix with another outlet to promote and track the popularity of GoBinder in the education market," said Brad Baldwin, Agilix Vice President of Marketing.

Tablet users are responding enthusiastically too. "Many Tablet enthusiasts monitor the site for new downloads constantly,” says Lora Heiny, Managing Editor of TabletPCPost. "They particularly enjoy the RSS feeds that enable them to track in real-time the New Releases as well as the Top Downloads. 11:23 am

Gadgets galore on show at CeBIT techfest
Australian IT

GADGET lovers will be drawn to CeBIT in Sydney today like bees to honey.

The Australian version of the internationally renowned mega-show in Hannover, Germany, will have the latest and greatest communications technology.

Wacom will seek to drum up interest in its tablet technology by launching the first desktop computers loaded with the Windows XP PC Tablet operating system, only available for walkabout-type tablet PCs since late 2002.

Going to the desktop will give other users the benefits of the tablet system, such as handwriting recognition, Wacom Australia-New Zealand business representative David Spencer says.

"Doctors will be able to write on x-rays on their imaging systems," he says. "Previously they had to append notes."

Wacom's pen technology allows a stylus to be used as a mouse. Its high-end offerings in the Cintiq range allow drawing directly on the screen. Wacom, whose entry-level equipment starts at $139, will introduce a 15in interactive screen for $1500 and a 17in model for $2000; an 18in version is also on the cards for about $3500. 11:17 am

Vertical Focus: Pharmaceutical Firms Find a Spoonful of CRM Helps ...
Destination CRM 

Dale Hagemeyer, principal research analyst of the CRM practice at Gartner, says pharmaceutical companies should "put the icing on their sales force automation cake," with tablet PCs to make it easier for reps to take tailored messages to doctors. Siebel Systems, which analysts agree leads the way in the pharmaceutical CRM market, has partnered with Microsoft, Pharmetica, Proscape, and Accenture to provide interactive multimedia content on tablet PCs in which the messaging changes as reps go through the presentation. And as with most tablet PC programs, the information reps collect doesn't need to be reentered into the system. What's more, firms can--and do--use that information to improve marketing and sales efforts.

ALi Announces New USB 2.0 Camera Controller
Designtechnica

Attributed with power efficient and small package design, ALi's USB 2.0 AV camera controller eliminates the inconvenience of requiring additional power converter when transferring images between video camera or DSC and mobile computing devices like PDA, Notebook PC and Tablet PC. In addition, ALi's USB 2.0 AV camera controller enables mobile computing devices such as Tablet PC to capture high-resolution images without any adverse effect to its battery life. In the future, as more and more multimedia application requires real time operation through mobile devices like 3G cellular phones, more and more OEM and ODM manufacturers will benefit from the design flexibility, cost effective and high quality features offered by ALi's USB 2.0 AV camera controller  11:09 am

AuthenTec's Fingerprint Sensor Adds Security Capabilities to the New Motion Computing M1400 Tablet PC
Business Wire

Integrated TruePrint(R) Technology Allows Users to Protect Critical Data and Access Password-Protected Web Sites Conveniently with a Simple Swipe of a Finger

AuthenTec, Inc., the leading semiconductor provider of fingerprint sensors to the global market, today announced the availability of its TruePrint technology on the new Motion Computing M1400 Tablet PC, which features a built-in fingerprint sensor, the AES2501, from AuthenTec. Optimized for the everyday computing needs of mobile professionals, the biometric feature enhances security and convenience by eliminating the need for multiple passwords and PINs, and instead, requires only a single swipe of a finger.

To ensure an accurate and reliable access to networks, applications, and Web sites, AuthenTec's patented TruePrint technology operates by reading a registered user's fingerprint where it originates below the surface of the skin. TruePrint provides the clearest, most accurate fingerprint images in the industry. The M1400 Tablet PC, based on Intel Centrino(TM) mobile technology, is Motion's new flagship product and is packed robust features that work together to create a sophisticated yet convenient user experience. Now available, the tablet PC is priced from $1,999.

"AuthenTec is the first company to bring affordable fingerprint biometric technology to the consumer," said Steve Mansfield, vice president of marketing at AuthenTec. "Continued demand for feature and capability-rich PCs like Motion Computing's M1400 Tablet PC has manufacturers seeking user-friendly ways in which to better protect these devices. AuthenTec provides the answer with the market's top-selling and lowest-cost fingerprint authentication solution."

"AuthenTec's fingerprint sensor gives M1400 users a convenient, secure way to manage access to sensitive data and the tablet PC hardware itself through global password management and data encryption," said Elizabeth Clark, director of product management at Motion Computing. "AuthenTec's technology makes the M1400 a valuable tool for all mobile users in healthcare, education, government, and field service and sales who need a reliable way to log on or protect key documents and network resources." 11:03 am

New community website offers Tablet PC app downloads
WindowsForDevices

TabletPCPost.com, a central location where Tablet PC users can preview and download software designed specifically for their Tablet PCs, launched this week after a successful month-long beta trial. The new site is "dedicated to increasing awareness of Tablet PCs," according to managing editor Lora Heiny.

Heiny says TabletPCPost provides a comprehensive catalog of entertainment, general business, education, and industry-specific Tablet PC applications. Website visitors can also participate actively by posting comments about their own experiences and voting for their favorite products. 10:43 am

iAnywhere’s Palm, Pocket PC applications also now can run on Windows
SDTimes.com

Current licensees of iAnywhere Solutions Inc.’s M-Business Anywhere mobile platform can upgrade to version 5.5, released in mid-April, and deploy their Palm OS and Pocket PC applications unchanged to desktops, laptops and tablet PCs running Windows, the company said.

the company had been getting requests from developers, particularly in government, looking to deploy their M-Business applications to Microsoft’s relatively new Windows XP Tablet and other Windows-based machines. “If you think about a company trying to mobilize Siebel, [clients] are using it at their desk and maybe on a Pocket PC device. Now some people want offline access on their laptops when they are not connected to the network.” 10:38 am

May 4, 2004

Microsoft, HP Unveil New PC Designs
Extreme Tech 

In addition, Microsoft executives are expected to announce that they are working with hardware providers to add touchscreen capabilities to the Tablet PC.  10:55 am

Microsoft airs Windows Home Concept
ComputerWeekly

The Windows Home Concept also includes a Home Tablet PC that will come with a docking station and can synchronise with the Home Centre PC.

The vision for the Home Tablet PC is similar to that of the Smart Display, the wireless PC displays that Microsoft pulled the plug on in December, only a year after the first Smart Displays shipped.

"The Home Tablet PC is a more compelling scenario," said Sullivan. "There is a notion that the ability to take my content with me and it still be usable when I am away from my home network is an important feature."

"This is not a product announcement; it is a demonstration of a concept," he said. "Over the next 12 to 18 months you will see many of the technologies that we are showing here shipping in PCs. The full end-to-end scenario of the concept, we're thinking is kind of a 2006 scenario." 10:52 am

Promising Upgrade for Tablets
PC World

Ever since Windows XP Tablet PC Edition debuted in November 2002, Microsoft has insisted that handwriting recognition is not the centerpiece of the operating system's pen-based features. But tweaks to improve the handwriting recognition are the most visible changes in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 (code-named Lonestar)--the first major revision of the operating system. Overall, it seems to be a good revision, especially as a free upgrade for current Tablet PC owners.  10:50 am

Microsoft, HP planning joint effort to stretch the reach of Technology
Seattle Times,

Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard have a history on the desktop, not the kitchen counter.  But the two computer-industry giants have begun collaborating in the home-entertainment world and are developing computers and other devices for the kitchen and the living room.

The companies are expected to announce the partnership today at Microsoft's annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, which runs through Friday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. 

Another idea is customizing a Tablet PC to be mounted on a wall in the kitchen. There, it would display a grocery list, a cooking show or a calendar of each family member's activities. The tablet could be taken down from the wall and act as a portable computer or television. 10:47 am

Attention Business Editors:
CNW Telbec

Microsoft Canada expanded its commitment to innovation today by unveiling a multi-level program to drive Canadian
innovation throughout its life stages. CAN>WIN: Advancing Innovation will advance the training of teachers and students in primary and secondary
schools, advance groundbreaking research at Canadian universities and advance capital to emerging software development companies.

University of Waterloo -- To develop a mathematical recognition engine for the Tablet PC, enabling mathematicians to enter and compute complex formulas using pen-based input. The University is also developing complex online learning labs for university students which the students can learn anywhere they have web access. A further outreach of the online courses is to develop an online course for high school students so they can assess their skill base before entering university to see if they are ready to meet the expectations of university education.  10:41 am

Microsoft to demonstrate home PC of tomorrow
ZDNet.com

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates plans on Tuesday to show his idea of the home PC of the future--a vision he will be trying to convince computer makers to get behind.

Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard have come up with a concept PC that builds on the company's current Media Center entertainment idea and goes a few steps further. The Media Center PC of the future has a remote control with a built-in LCD screen for programming recordings. The PC, known as the Windows Home Concept, also supports Internet telephony, dual high-definition TV tuners, biometric security, and a built-in cable modem.

Gates will show off the device as he kicks off the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC), a week-long gathering for those who build devices based on or connecting to the Windows operating system.

In addition to the souped-up Media Center, Gates is also expected to show off a home version of a tablet PC. Microsoft will tout the device as a communications hub for busy families to quickly send schedule updates to others who may need to be reached on another PC, cell phone or other device.  10:35 pm

May 5, 2004

Gates Promises Longhorn Beta In 2005 Despite Security Concerns
CRN

Microsoft has recommitted to releasing Longhorn, its next-generation Windows client and server, into beta testing in 2005 even though its chairman acknowledged that security concerns threaten his dream of enabling seamless connectivity and Web services.

At the company's annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference 2004 in Seattle, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates demonstrated an updated alpha and SDK of the Longhorn client, as well as potential Universal Plug and Play (UpnP) technology that could connect various Windows network-attached devices. Microsoft called the alpha a developer's preview. The first developer preview was released last fall.

Microsoft showed advanced 3-D and streaming media capabilities of the Longhorn GUI and "superfetch" technology that offers better handling of virtual memory. It also demonstrated a new File Transfer Wizard and a smart USB cable that can rapidly enable the migration of all files from one PC to another using a single monitor. As another plus for OEMs, Microsoft will integrate into Longhorn an image-based setup and Windows Pre-Installation Environment (PE) 9:49 am

Dolphin Portable Chemical Inventory Tool Enables Compliance, savings
Business Wire

Dolphin Software Inc., the trusted source for chemical management and compliance solutions, today announced the availability of its Portable Inventory Assistant (PIA), a unique chemical management tool enabling assured compliance, reduced administrative burden and corporate cost savings.

The portable digital tool works seamlessly with Dolphin's Comply Plus Web, the company's acclaimed Web-based customized chemical management solution. The products are key components in Dolphin's Compliance-Side Total Chemical Management (CSTCM) service for complete, corporate-wide chemical management.

Dore said that the Portable Inventory Assistant is ideal for many types of businesses, from manufacturers, production facilities and institutions that store countless containers of chemicals (including for maintenance and repair purposes), to pharmaceutical companies that have thousands of small-quantity lab bottles.

The mobile inventory system uses a scanning gun hooked to a tablet PC loaded with the PIA software, Dore explained. The PIA can store data through the UPC scanner, an attached keyboard, handwriting (using a digital pen), or by touch-typing on the on-screen keyboard.  9:46 am

WinHEC 2004: Allchin Touts Windows Roadmap, Experience Computing
Windows & Net Magazine

During his keynote address at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2004 in Seattle Tuesday, Microsoft Group Vice President Jim Allchin updated attendees on the company's client and server product plans for the next two years. Allchin also declared the coming product waves to be part of what Microsoft calls "the experience economy," where only those products that think through end-to-end experiences will be wildly successful. Allchin called out non-tech industry companies such as Starbucks as innovators of the experience economy.

On the client side, 2004 will be a big year. First, Microsoft plans a Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) release in late summer that will focus on what Allchin calls "safety" features, primarily security updates that will make the underlying system more resilient and reliable. XP SP2 will beget three major new client releases, XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 (codenamed Lonestar), XP Media Center Edition 2005 (codenamed Symphony), and XP 64-Bit Edition for 64-bit Extended Systems, the latter of which targets AMD-64 and upcoming Intel-based x86-64 systems. Microsoft will also ship Windows CE 5.0 and new versions of the Smartphone and Pocket PC operating systems in 2004, Allchin said. Additionally, the company is planning a "media experiences wave" this year that will include a major new version of Windows Media Player that supports "Janus" subscription-content synchronization with portable devices, a major revamp of MSN Music, Portable Media Centers from a variety of third party hardware makers, and Windows Media Center support for Media Center Extenders, set-top boxes that will remotely access Media Center Content. 9:42 am

Riding High
Independent

British eventing star Leslie Law reveals howthe Tablet PC is helping his business stay in the game

Recently, he's been putting his HP Tablet PC TC1100 through its paces. "The Tablet has huge benefits," he explains, "Not least its mobility. The Microsoft OneNote program has let us set up folders for each horse and that allows us to go out into the stables and put the records straight on to the Tablet: fitness programs, feeding programs, veterinary programs and more. It all goes straight into the horse's folder. Before it was a matter or making notes in a diary and transferring it to a computer ? well, you know what it's like when you give someone a message, by the time it gets to the fourth person it's quite distorted. So already this system is looking like a huge benefit and removes a lot of scope for errors. Saves a lot of time, too."

He was impressed at how quickly he got used to the Tablet. "It took a little adjustment, but within a matter of hours you use the screen pen as easily as you would an ordinary pen."

And the possibility of linking a digital camera to the Tablet simplifies things further. "If I see a horse for sale, that I think someone might like, I can take a picture, load that into the PC and send it on an email very easily. That really helps, a client has a visual image of the horse and that will help them to decide whether to come and view it, or even buy it." It's time for Leslie to get back to training. He pauses, and sums up his thoughts about Tablets:

"Computers are an increasingly central part of all our lives. The Tablet just seems the neatest, most mobile version, and there's lots more you can do with it." 9:36 am

May 6, 2004

Mobile Showcase whets wireless appetite
InfoWorld, CA

Tablet PC innovations were also demonstrated by vendors Motion Computing, Electrovaya, and ViewSonic. Motion Computing showed off its Motion M1400 Tablet PC, a slate-style tablet targeted at vertical industries such as healthcare, field sales, government, and education. The M1400 features a wide viewing angle, 160 to 170 degrees, on a 12.1-inch display. The system also touts advanced audio capabilities, with a dual microphone array that can cancel echo and background noise, according to Elizabeth Clark, marketing manager at Motion Computing.

Electrovaya, meanwhile, demonstrated its Scribbler SC2000 Tablet PC that features extended battery life through the company's proprietary lithium ion SuperPolymer rechargeable battery technology. This specialized battery can power the Tablet all day, up to 16 hours, according to Electrovaya officials.

ViewSonic showed its V1250S, a convertible tablet PC that includes integrated 802.11g and b wireless. The 802.11g wireless standard can support wireless networking with transfer speeds nearly five times faster than 802.11b, according to ViewSonic officials.

Targeting control of large-scale mobile computing deployments, NetMotion Wireless at the show launched a new version of its Mobility XE  mobility management software. Mobility XE is designed to address the problems of connection reliability, data access, and management in enterprise wireless deployments.

New features in XE include server pooling for improved scalability, load balancing and automated failover, a centralized Mobility Management Console that enables Web-based access to full management functionality, according to NetMotion officials.

Microsoft, HP Unveil Windows Home Center Prototype For Connected Home
CRN

Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard teamed up at this week's WinHEC 2004 to demonstrate the Windows Home Concept, a system with a linked communications PC, intelligent remote device and Tablet PC.

At the core of the system is a 50-inch plasma display/digital TV powered by a Windows Home Center PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004. The PC integrates all cell and landline telephone services, e-mail, address book, instant messaging and home entertainment center services into one box.

Medtronic Introduces LIFENET BLUE Wireless Patient Data Transmission Product Enhancement
TMCnet

Bluetooth(R) technology gives pre-hospital EMS teams uninterrupted focus on patient care

Medtronic announced today its global introduction of a new patient data transmission product upgrade for the LIFEPAK(R) 12 defibrillator/monitor called LIFENET(R) BLUE. Equipped with Bluetooth(R) SIG technology, LIFENET BLUE allows emergency medical service (EMS) teams to wirelessly transfer patient data from a LIFEPAK(R) 12 to a tablet PC running LIFENET(R) EMS ePCR (electronic patient care report) to provide a complete pre-hospital patient record. Additionally, LIFENET Blue provides EMS teams the ability to wirelessly transmit patient data from a LIFEPAK 12 defibrillator/monitor via a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to a remote LIFENET RS Receiving Station in a hospital emergency department.

Microsoft unveils Windows Upgrades for Mobile PCs
Extreme Tech

Microsoft Corp. gave a behind-the-scenes peek Wednesday at technologies the software company is looking to include in future versions of Windows designed for mobile PCs.

Darin Fish, business development manager within Microsoft's Mobile Platforms Division, described the disclosure as a "work in progress." Fish said "no final decision" has been made whether there will be a mobile version of Longhorn, Microsoft's next-generation operating system, or whether the technology will simply be part of the company's Tablet Edition OS.

Fish hinted, however, that the capabilities of the tablet and notebook PC would converge, however. In 2004 and 2005, for example, so-called "pen and ink" (also called "electronic ink") technologies would become prevalent in both notebook and tablet PCs.

Microsoft will ship Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 this summer; previously, the software was known as Tablet Edition 2004, but the software giant retitled the release in a bid to emulate the "auto year 2005" system used by car manufacturers. The software will sense the presence of a stylus, converting ink to text on the fly. A new 1.7 SDK will also help developers, and the software will be tied more closely to OneNote and Office.

Many of the enhancements seem tied to a powerful toolbar, which Fish had docked on the left-hand side of the screen. Screenshots of prototype code used the toolbar to display stock quotes, upcoming appointments, battery life, and other data in small but readable illustrations.

Technologies that could appear in future versions of Windows and the Tablet PC edition include:

• Power management. Here, Microsoft intends to improve the UI, Fish said. Minimizing the power consumed by a tablet is useful, he said, but users would also like to know exactly how much power is being used, how much is left, and how long it would take to refill a PC or tablet with a full battery charge.

  Connection and collaboration. In an office meeting, for example, users should be able to quickly set up an ad-hoc network to share files, chat, or other tasks. Presentations should be able to be "projected" directly to other users. "I see lots of laptops here," Fish said. "Why couldn't I project this presentation directly to your laptops, or wirelessly to this big screen?"

• Device and file synchronization.
• Ink file names. Users should be able to name a file with "inked" text, or identify a file with a star or some other proprietary notation, Fish said.

• Improvements in handwriting recognition.

Microsoft plans laptop tune-up with Longhorn
ZDNet.com

As for the company's tablet PC operating system, one of the biggest changes being considered is the ability of the software to learn the handwriting of a particular user. To date, Microsoft's recognition software has focused on deciphering ink input by comparing it with the millions of samples in its library.

The issue has been a subject of heated internal debate for years, with Chief Software Architect Bill Gates among those pushing for an engine that could adapt to individuals.

The company also wants to expand its support for ink beyond text files, allowing file names, for example, to consist entirely of an ink image. The pen is also likely to get an expanded role in Longhorn. A feature known as "Flick" would allow the pen to deliver complex commands based on various gestures as opposed to just being used to move the cursor on the screen.

Secrets to Cup success
FOX Sports

"You're always looking for the edge," says Sharks assistant coach Tim Hunter.

Since the last week of the season, each Sharks coach has used a PC tablet — basically, a mini TV screen — that enables the live video feed to be marked so it can be reviewed immediately. These tablets enable players to see, on the bench between shifts, plays isolating a missed check, positional mistake or opposing power-play tendency. The Sharks are the only team in the NHL to use these tools on the bench; the other nine teams who use them do so in the dressing room between periods. Saving time with instantaneous video replay gives the Sharks the advantage of being able to change on the fly.

May 6, 2004

Mobile Showcase whets wireless appetite
InfoWorld, CA

Tablet PC innovations were also demonstrated by vendors Motion Computing, Electrovaya, and ViewSonic. Motion Computing showed off its Motion M1400 Tablet PC, a slate-style tablet targeted at vertical industries such as healthcare, field sales, government, and education. The M1400 features a wide viewing angle, 160 to 170 degrees, on a 12.1-inch display. The system also touts advanced audio capabilities, with a dual microphone array that can cancel echo and background noise, according to Elizabeth Clark, marketing manager at Motion Computing.

Electrovaya, meanwhile, demonstrated its Scribbler SC2000 Tablet PC that features extended battery life through the company's proprietary lithium ion SuperPolymer rechargeable battery technology. This specialized battery can power the Tablet all day, up to 16 hours, according to Electrovaya officials.

ViewSonic showed its V1250S, a convertible tablet PC that includes integrated 802.11g and b wireless. The 802.11g wireless standard can support wireless networking with transfer speeds nearly five times faster than 802.11b, according to ViewSonic officials.

Targeting control of large-scale mobile computing deployments, NetMotion Wireless at the show launched a new version of its Mobility XE  mobility management software. Mobility XE is designed to address the problems of connection reliability, data access, and management in enterprise wireless deployments.

New features in XE include server pooling for improved scalability, load balancing and automated failover, a centralized Mobility Management Console that enables Web-based access to full management functionality, according to NetMotion officials.

Microsoft, HP Unveil Windows Home Center Prototype For Connected Home
CRN

Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard teamed up at this week's WinHEC 2004 to demonstrate the Windows Home Concept, a system with a linked communications PC, intelligent remote device and Tablet PC.

At the core of the system is a 50-inch plasma display/digital TV powered by a Windows Home Center PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004. The PC integrates all cell and landline telephone services, e-mail, address book, instant messaging and home entertainment center services into one box.

Medtronic Introduces LIFENET BLUE Wireless Patient Data Transmission Product Enhancement
TMCnet

Bluetooth(R) technology gives pre-hospital EMS teams uninterrupted focus on patient care

Medtronic announced today its global introduction of a new patient data transmission product upgrade for the LIFEPAK(R) 12 defibrillator/monitor called LIFENET(R) BLUE. Equipped with Bluetooth(R) SIG technology, LIFENET BLUE allows emergency medical service (EMS) teams to wirelessly transfer patient data from a LIFEPAK(R) 12 to a tablet PC running LIFENET(R) EMS ePCR (electronic patient care report) to provide a complete pre-hospital patient record. Additionally, LIFENET Blue provides EMS teams the ability to wirelessly transmit patient data from a LIFEPAK 12 defibrillator/monitor via a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to a remote LIFENET RS Receiving Station in a hospital emergency department.

Microsoft unveils Windows Upgrades for Mobile PCs
Extreme Tech

Microsoft Corp. gave a behind-the-scenes peek Wednesday at technologies the software company is looking to include in future versions of Windows designed for mobile PCs.

Darin Fish, business development manager within Microsoft's Mobile Platforms Division, described the disclosure as a "work in progress." Fish said "no final decision" has been made whether there will be a mobile version of Longhorn, Microsoft's next-generation operating system, or whether the technology will simply be part of the company's Tablet Edition OS.

Fish hinted, however, that the capabilities of the tablet and notebook PC would converge, however. In 2004 and 2005, for example, so-called "pen and ink" (also called "electronic ink") technologies would become prevalent in both notebook and tablet PCs.

Microsoft will ship Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 this summer; previously, the software was known as Tablet Edition 2004, but the software giant retitled the release in a bid to emulate the "auto year 2005" system used by car manufacturers. The software will sense the presence of a stylus, converting ink to text on the fly. A new 1.7 SDK will also help developers, and the software will be tied more closely to OneNote and Office.

Many of the enhancements seem tied to a powerful toolbar, which Fish had docked on the left-hand side of the screen. Screenshots of prototype code used the toolbar to display stock quotes, upcoming appointments, battery life, and other data in small but readable illustrations.

Technologies that could appear in future versions of Windows and the Tablet PC edition include:

• Power management. Here, Microsoft intends to improve the UI, Fish said. Minimizing the power consumed by a tablet is useful, he said, but users would also like to know exactly how much power is being used, how much is left, and how long it would take to refill a PC or tablet with a full battery charge.

  Connection and collaboration. In an office meeting, for example, users should be able to quickly set up an ad-hoc network to share files, chat, or other tasks. Presentations should be able to be "projected" directly to other users. "I see lots of laptops here," Fish said. "Why couldn't I project this presentation directly to your laptops, or wirelessly to this big screen?"

• Device and file synchronization.
• Ink file names. Users should be able to name a file with "inked" text, or identify a file with a star or some other proprietary notation, Fish said.

• Improvements in handwriting recognition.

Microsoft plans laptop tune-up with Longhorn
ZDNet.com

As for the company's tablet PC operating system, one of the biggest changes being considered is the ability of the software to learn the handwriting of a particular user. To date, Microsoft's recognition software has focused on deciphering ink input by comparing it with the millions of samples in its library.

The issue has been a subject of heated internal debate for years, with Chief Software Architect Bill Gates among those pushing for an engine that could adapt to individuals.

The company also wants to expand its support for ink beyond text files, allowing file names, for example, to consist entirely of an ink image. The pen is also likely to get an expanded role in Longhorn. A feature known as "Flick" would allow the pen to deliver complex commands based on various gestures as opposed to just being used to move the cursor on the screen.

Secrets to Cup success
FOX Sports

"You're always looking for the edge," says Sharks assistant coach Tim Hunter.

Since the last week of the season, each Sharks coach has used a PC tablet — basically, a mini TV screen — that enables the live video feed to be marked so it can be reviewed immediately. These tablets enable players to see, on the bench between shifts, plays isolating a missed check, positional mistake or opposing power-play tendency. The Sharks are the only team in the NHL to use these tools on the bench; the other nine teams who use them do so in the dressing room between periods. Saving time with instantaneous video replay gives the Sharks the advantage of being able to change on the fly.

May 7, 2004

WinHEC 2004 Show Report and Photo Gallery
winsupersite.com

Here are some stories and photos from the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2004

"The Mobile Platforms Division [at Microsoft] was formerly the Tablet PC Division," said Darin Fish, the Business Development Manager for the Mobile Platforms Division. "We reorganized so we could have a greater focus on the mobile PC, not just the Tablet PC. What we found working on the Tablet PC is that much of the platform work we were doing was benefiting all mobile PCs. The challenge was getting [that technology] to all mobile PCs. We're still the same group, and we have one team focused on mobile PC fundamentals, and one that's very focused on pen and ink."

Microsoft creates the underlying platform that runs Tablet PCs and other mobile PCs, and the company is predictably planning a series of updates that will dramatically improve that platform for users. Late this summer, Microsoft will ship Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 (code-named Lonestar), a free update for all Tablet PC users that adds a dramatically enhanced Text Input Panel (TIP), with context-sensitive handwriting recognition and other new features.

Its Longhorn-era plans, however, are far more exciting. Though Microsoft hasn't yet determined which of these features will be included in the base Longhorn product line, and which will only be available on Tablet PCs and notebook computers, the list is dizzying. The company will beef up the product's fundamental features, such as power management, multi-monitor support, and the like. But it will also be working on a slew of new functionality, including:

Auxiliary Displays. Next-generation mobile devices will include small external displays on their covers that will let users view personal information management (PIM) data at a glance, without having to open or turn on the device.

Device and File Synchronization. Using Longhorn's integrated Synchronization control panel, users will be able to synchronize data between their PC and Tablet PC, notebook computer, PDA, portable audio devices, and other portable devices.

Communication and Collaboration. Longhorn will make it easy for users to quickly set-up ad-hoc wireless networks for file sharing, and discover people who are connected near you. It will also provide a way to connect with wireless projectors, with one-to-one and one-to-many support for wireless connections between PCs whose users wish to collaborate in real time.

Mobility Center. Microsoft is planning an Activity Center called Mobility Center for Longhorn that will include all of the mobility tuning features in the OS, all in a central location.

Location Awareness. Though the details of how the system will accomplish this are currently in flux, Microsoft plans to add location awareness to PCs with Longhorn, so that your system will behave and look differently when you're at home, at work, at school, or at other locations.

Pen/Shell integration. Longhorn will natively support ink files names: Click on an icon's name with the stylus, and just write the file name normally in your own handwriting. A simple wizard will let you supply examples of your handwriting so that the handwriting recognition engine only compares created file names against your writing, and not the millions of samples the engine currently uses.

Snipper and Flick utilities. A a new pen gestures feature (codenamed Flick) will allow you to perform certain actions with a Tablet PC stylus that aren't writing or control selection activities. For example, you could set up gestures for copy, paste, back, forward, undo, and delete activities. Another pen utility, codenamed Snipper, will bring the Microsoft Snipping Utility Powertoy into the base OS.\

Pen Optimized Skin. For a new generation of small, 5-inch to 8-inch, Tablet PC devices that will begin shipping this year, Microsoft is developing a dashboard page that will provide access to PIM information that users need, all in a single, handy page. The Pen Optimized Skin presents time and calendar information, links to recently accessed documents and applications, the 7 most recent unread email messages, the most recent uncompleted tasks, and the links to your most often used applications. This skin is designed to sit on top of, and generally replace, the basic Windows user interface on devices whose screens are too small for a desktop UI.

Fujitsu spruces up tablet PC line with ST5000
eChannelLine,

Fujitsu Canada says the new indoor/outdoor display on its Stylistic ST5000 tablet PC makes an attractive alternative to rival TFT displays.

The 10.4-inch indoor/outdoor screen on the ST5000 is one of the best on the market today for outdoor use, according to Tamara Keserovic, marketing manager for Fujitsu Canada in Mississauga, Ont. By employing special reflective front-light technology, text and graphics can be clearly seen in a wide variety of light environments. Under direct sunlight, the display gets even brighter rather than becoming washed out. In low light conditions, the display�s front light can be adjusted to enhance its view, she explained.

WinHEC 2004: Microsoft Merges Tablet PC Future into Wider Mobile Computing Vision
www.winnetmag.com

Say what you will about the Tablet PC, but Microsoft isn't giving up, and upcoming versions of this often-misunderstood technology will meld with other mobile computing devices and, ultimately, become a mainstream product. That's the new plan at Microsoft, anyway: Once seen as a laptop alternative, Tablet PCs will soon give way to a range of mobile PCs that meet all customers needs, a sharp departure from the niche products PC makers released until recently.

"The Mobile Platforms Division [at Microsoft] was formerly the Tablet PC Division," said Darin Fish, the Business Development Manager for the Mobile Platforms Division. "We reorganized so we could have a greater focus on the mobile PC, not just the Tablet PC. What we found working on the Tablet PC is that much of the platform work we were doing was benefiting all mobile PCs. The challenge was getting [that technology] to all mobile PCs. We're still the same group, and we have one team focused on mobile PC fundamentals, and one that's very focused on pen and ink."

Microsoft Unveils Future Of Tablet PC
eWeek 

Microsoft on Wednesday gave WinHEC attendees a behind-the-scenes peek at future technologies the company is preparing for mobile PCs.

Darin Fish, business development manager in Microsoft Corp.'s mobile platforms division, described the disclosure as a "work in progress." Furthermore, Fish said no final decision has been made whether there will be a mobile version of Longhorn, Microsoft's next-generation operating system, or whether the technology will simply be part of the company's Tablet Edition OS.

Still, Fish suggested that the capabilities of the tablet and notebook PC would converge. He predicted that during 2004 and 2005 so-called "pen and ink" technologies (also called "electronic ink") would become prevalent in both notebook and tablet systems.

Tablet PC Demo Days
microsoft

Go beyond the notebook with the Tablet PC. The Tablet PC is the evolution of the notebook PC that lets you use your notebook in new places and new ways—at work, on the road, and at home. Experience the new Toshiba Portégé M205 Tablet PC.

Visit a retailer near you to see a Tablet PC demo (from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM unless otherwise noted), and try one out for yourself. If you can't make one of the dates below, check this page again later. We'll be adding new dates through June. You can also review the hardware demo online.  Click here to find a retailer in your area.

JumpingMinds FractionPractice Version 1.00 Released

JumpingMinds FractionPractice Version 1.00 is now available for download.

FractionPractice is a Tablet PC software application that makes practicing fraction skills fun and easy. Solve problems naturally--just as you would on paper. As you handwrite solutions to automatically generated problems, FractionPractice recognizes your work and provides instant feedback

May 10, 2004

Criterion's REDTablet Mobile Real Estate Solution Showcased at Intel Launch Event
TMCnet

REDTablet(TM) Mega-Producer John Pinto Demonstrates Why Tablet PC is Perfect Mobile Technology Tool for Real Estate Professionals

For real estate mega-producer John Pinto, mobile technology is all about increasing productivity and providing clients with the service they need, any time day or night and from almost anywhere he happens to be at the moment. His new Tablet PC - and the instant access to his clients and tools and information it provides - has transformed the way he does business. He expects the Tablet PC will boost his business this year by 30 to 35 percent over 2003.

Gateway Notebooks Pump Up the Performance With Latest Intel Pentium M Processor
Yahoo News

For customers who want a notebook PC that is powerful, flexible and portable enough to handle all their computing needs in a range of environments, Gateway updates its Gateway® 450 and Gateway M275 notebook PC lines with new Intel® Pentium® M processors.

Designed for businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and students, the award-winning Gateway 450 and M275 notebook lines are now offered in select configurations that include new Intel Pentium M processors (previously codenamed "Dothan"). The Gateway 450 is a mid-range performance notebook popular with businesses and institutions, and offers an optional built-in biometrics fingerprint sensor that can be used in lieu of passwords for identity authentication. The Gateway M275 is a mainstream convertible notebook that transforms into a Tablet PC by rotating the display on a hinge, then folding it on top of the keyboard for pen-based computing.

Win a Toshiba Portege M200 convertible tablet PC
Mortgage Introducer

"Mortgage Introducer is currently running a series of articles called 'Mortgage events that shook the world'. Write in with your thoughts and you could win this fantastic prize.

The last issue covered was the establishment of the MCCB. What are your thoughts of this event? Has your business been affected? How do you think this event shaped the industry we have today? Mortgage Introducer is interested in your experience of the event. So, why not write to us and let us know?

Each month the letter or e-mail judged to be the best, will win a fantastic Toshiba Portege M200 convertible tablet PC, courtesy of BM Solutions. The Toshiba Portege M200 delivers breakthrough performance with a rich feature-set, including Intel Centrino mobile technology, wireless connectivity and a hi-density, hi-resolution SXGA+ screen in a tablet, making it the most compelling and intuitive business productivity tool.

So, get writing today. Send your letters to: Rob Griffiths, Mortgage Introducer, 5th Floor, 36-41 Holywell Lane, London EC2A 3SF.

OR alternatively e-mail your thoughts to:  rob.griffiths@charterhouse-communications.co.uk"

Toshiba Notebook PCs to Support New Intel Pentium M Processors ; Technology to Offer Business Customers More Choices for Improved Mobile Computing Performance
Business Wire

The Digital Products Division (DPD) of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. (TAIS) today announced the company's support of the new Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processors 735, 745 and 755 -- key components of Intel(R) Centrino(TM) mobile technology. Toshiba plans to offer the new processors in current business Tecra(R) and Portege(R) and upcoming SMB and consumer Satellite(R) notebook PCs providing increased mobile performance from today's existing models.

"Toshiba embraces Intel's efforts to enhance the benefits that mobile and wireless technology delivers to the end user," said Taro Hiyama, vice president of marketing, Toshiba DPD. "By constantly improving upon its technology, Intel complements Toshiba's commitment to provide its customers the best mobile computing has to offer."

Toshiba's Tecra M2, Tecra M2V and Portege M200 tablet PC will be the current business notebooks available with the new processors. The Tecra brand is a build-to-order line designed to have a long product life-cycle and provide a stable image to lower cost of ownership for IT professionals. The Portege M200 tablet PC will also come equipped with the latest Intel chips that will enhance its existing features and promote improved mobility through Wi-Fi(TM) wireless connectivity(a). Toshiba's tablet PC is designed to deliver the flexibility and mobility of a notebook PC with the convenience of tablet PC functionality.

Gartner: Regional PC sales surges in first quarter
Cnet Asia

Mirroring recent buying trends, labtop and tablet PC sales again outpaced the growth of desktops. According to Gartner, regional notebook shipments grew 47 percent while desktops witnessed an 11 percent increase.

Short Takes: WinHEC 2004 Special Edition
iT News, Australia

Microsoft verifies, updates XP Reloaded plans
Various Microsoft representatives verified last week that "XP Reloaded" will be a marketing campaign aimed at rejuvenating consumer excitement in Windows XP, a product that has evolved dramatically since its initial release in October 2001. Set to run from October to December 2004, XP Reloaded will focus on new XP versions such as Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, as well as various product updates that will ship in late summer/early fall, including XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and the next major version of Windows Media Center, and add-on products like Portable Media Centers and Media Center Extenders. What's changed is that Microsoft originally planned to have separate marketing campaigns for XP SP2 and XP Reloaded; now SP2 will be marketed as part of the XP Reloaded campaign.

"Lonestar:" Next Version of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
microsoft expert zone

The next generation of Window XP Tablet PC Edition is almost here. Beta testers are working with the new version, codenamed "Lonestar," right now. It will be available as a free upgrade if you already have a Tablet PC in the second half of 2004. If you buy a new Tablet PC then, it will come pre-installed.

I've been trying out Lonestar on my Acer TravelMate C111 and am thrilled with several improvements the Tablet PC team has made. In this column, I'll cover the new Tablet PC Input Panel (TIP), improved word and case recognition, and how the new software improves the whole ink to text experience.

You'll immediately notice the completely-redesigned Tablet PC Input Panel (TIP). The TIP is a Tablet PC user's primary tool for entering ASCII text with a pen instead of a keyboard. The new TIP provides major improvements in text correction and control. In the original TIP, you had to correct handwriting after the text appeared in your document or in the separate text preview window. With the new TIP, your recognized handwriting appears directly below your handwriting in the same viewing pane, making it easy to quickly correct characters before converting them into text. In the earlier version, users had to rewrite entire words to correctly convert then to text. Now you can just scratch out a letter or a number and write it directly into the TIP. This is both very convenient and just plain cool. As shown in Figure 1, this feature lets you see the recognition engine in action.

LG enters Canadian notebook market
eChannelLine

LG has been in the OEM notebook business since 1997, and makes several Tier One brands, but these are its first branded products in this area. It is announcing four brands. The LM, featuring the LM 40 and LM 50 are their premium brands, while the LS, with the LS 40 and LS 50, are for their value market. The LT line, featuring the LT20, is a tablet PC. And the LU line, with the LU 20, is an ultra-compact.

MindManager X5 ProSoftware tutorial
Australian Personal Computer,

If you think a mind map is just a brainstorming tool, you’ll be amazed at what MindManager X5 Pro can do.

Computing's Future on Display at Microsoft Conference
TechNewsWorld 

The Troy prototype, developed by HP in conjunction with Microsoft, comes with a console that sits between the keyboard and screen, offering controls such as a volume knob, media playback buttons and a built-in cradle for a hand-held device, such as a Pocket PC.

That prototype is a follow-up to Athens, a concept PC that Microsoft and HP showed at WinHEC last year. Although neither concept is expected to come to market as a complete package, the companies expect elements of both to be incorporated into future hardware designs.

Another prototype from Microsoft and HP was demonstrated on stage during Gates' speech.

It incorporated a Media Center PC in the living room, a Tablet PC in the kitchen and a high-tech remote control with a microphone for making phone calls.

Programmed for Success
Washington Post

Wilson's expanding technological inventory includes a computer database he designed and multidimensional scouting reports that come to life with video. Wilson conducts team meetings around an interactive SMART Board that uses streaming video and a telestrator and allows him to move player templates with his finger. In addition to a "bench monitor," which he employed in Washington, Wilson carries a tablet PC during games to capture statistics in real time.

Wilson said the Sharks spent a six-figure sum upgrading their technology this year. It includes streaming video software for himself, two assistants and a video coordinator, software that Hunter said can run up to $20,000. Wilson and his assistants sometimes splice inspirational movie clips -- a coliseum scene from "Gladiator" was one example this season -- into customized video, sometimes cut for individual players. He uses his growing database to "break the game into our own numbers and come up with some stuff that basically supports my own crazy theories about winning,"

May 11, 2004

Acer TravelMate C300: TMC303XMi
whatisnew.com

OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition
Processor: Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735; 1.70GHz, 2MB L2 cache

Display Size: 14.1" XGA display (1024x768) with integtrated Wacom digitizer

Graphics: Intel® Extreme Graphics 2

Memory: 1GB (512/512)

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Chat Today at 3:00 PM Pacific TIme

"Join the Tablet PC product team this afteroon, May 11, at 3:00pm Pacific time.  The mobility of Tablet PC is combined with ink and speech tools to let you take your PC too many more places and use it in many new ways. You bring the questions, we will supply the experts

Trouble in Tablet Land?
microsoft watch

Where will the Tablet PC go tomorrow? It's time for Microsoft marketing to provide some solid direction.

When Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates launched the Tablet PC back on November 7, 2002, he touted the technology as "a whole new way of experiencing the personal computer." The Tablet was more than a PDA. It was better than a notebook. It was the mobile form factor of the future, destined to spawn an entirely new class of apps — like Microsoft's own ePeriodicals, for one. (By the way, whatever happened to ePeriodicals?)

SION Power Debuts First-Ever Lithium Sulfur Battery at Windows Hardware Engineering Conference; New Battery Powers an HP TC1000 Tablet PC for the Entire Day on a Single Charge
Internet Telephony Magazine

At Microsoft Corp.'s annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, SION Power Corp. (www.sionpower.com) made history by demonstrating the first-ever lithium sulfur (Li-S), very high-specific energy rechargeable battery as a power source for a notebook personal computer. Located in the Microsoft Small Business Partners Pavilion, the SION battery reliably powered an HP TC1000 Tablet PC for the entire day on a single charge.

This revolutionary new battery, employing patented technology, will enable notebook and tablet PC products to achieve an eight-hour runtime on a single charge, while weighing less than current battery technologies. This power level is twice what can be currently found in other rechargeable batteries.

Microsoft readies XP SP2 giveaway
ZDNet.com

Microsoft says it will give away Service Pack 2 for Windows XP but is remaining coy about the exact nature of "XP Reloaded."

SP2 will be labeled on the box as having "advanced security technologies," highlighting its set of updates to the firewall, antivirus and network protection mechanisms of the Windows operating system. Although Microsoft says that some of these changes will cause problems with around one in 10 existing applications, the company is not planning a certification program and is not maintaining a public list of troublesome software. Tablet PCs are also being addressed by SP2's inclusion of Lonestar--more formally known as XP Tablet PC Edition 2005--which adds more stylus input options and Office integration

Motion Computing Named to Red Herring Top 100; Award Recognizes `Best and Brightest' Private Tech Companies
Business Wire

Motion Computing(R), a leader in mobile computing products for healthcare, field sales and service, government and other vertical markets, today announced its inclusion in the Red Herring 100.

The Red Herring 100 award has a tradition of identifying new and innovative technology companies and entrepreneurs. "At the Red Herring, we scour the industry to identify the best and brightest technology companies that are transforming the current markets or creating new ones," said Alex Vieux, publisher of the Red Herring. "The Red Herring 100 is our annual list of our most promising private companies. Like Google, eBay, Salesforce.com and other previous Red Herring alumni, these 100 have the potential to become the next titans of industry."

The Red Herring 100 recognition is Motion's sixth major award in 2004 and follows on the heels of a coveted PC Magazine Editors' Choice award for its Motion M1400 Tablet PC design innovations. The company is rapidly expanding its efficient, build-to-order business model internationally and has consistently grown market share to become a top-tier player in the global tablet PC market.

Education Is A Focus For Success With Realtor Conventions
Realty Times, TX

As predicted by founder Jack Peckham, the Real Estate Cyberspace Society's third annual convention drew record crowds the week of April 18th-24th. Attendance in Washington D.C. for the NAR mid-year is also setting a record, says Steve Cook, spokesperson for the NAR.

Innovation Showcase, a section of the trade show run by RealComm, which features the newest and most innovative hardware with applications for the real estate industry. There, Realtors who are interested in learning how to operate a new digital camera, for example, or a new tablet PC, can see which brands and models are most suited for their purposes.

M1400 leaves little to desire
Washington Times

Austin, Texas-based Motion Computing Inc., released its Motion M1400 Tablet PC, price $1,999, and it's something you should look at, from a number of angles.

First of all, the new model boasts improved display technology, sound technology and power management. According to the firm, each M1400 is equipped with high-speed wireless connectivity using an integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 BG 802.11 card. Units boast between 256MB and 2GB of 333MHz DDR memory, an enhanced 12.1-inch display, hard-drive options of 20GB, 40GB or 60GB, integrated Bluetooth, integrated Ethernet, a built-in fingerprint reader, as well as a combination USB mobile keyboard, desktop stand and hardtop cover, all in one. There's not much lacking here.

May 12, 2004

Rundgren's Bridgewater Hall date
Manchester Evening News, UK 

Rundgren will be performing songs taken from his recently released and critically acclaimed 18th solo album, Liars, as well as tracks from his 35 years in the music business.

The current line-up of Todd Rundgren and The Liars features the same musicians who performed on Rundgren's 1997 bossa nova album With A Twist; former Utopia bass guitarist Kasim Sulton, Jesse Gress (guitar), John Ferenzik (keyboards) and the Tube's Prairie Prince (drums).

Rundgren recently told Uncut magazine that "every member of the band will be playing through a tablet PC, in his own high-intensity LED chamber, in a set that looks something like a bombed-out cathedral."

Acer to Pre-Load MindManager X5 Pro Software, Acer and Mindjet ...
PR Newswire

Mindjet today announced a
marketing partnership with Acer America Corporation to pre-load trial versions
of MindManager X5 Pro software onto Acer TravelMate Tablet PCs.  MindManager
X5 Pro enables users to quickly create structured notes that can be
immediately published as Microsoft Office documents.  Mindjet's latest
software supports rapid planning and decision making; using XML, XSL, and Web
Services technologies to give business professionals immediate access to a
valuable mix of information types.

"Acer Tablet PCs, loaded with MindManager X5 Pro software, give mobile
workers the ability to interact with enterprise data and online information
they require to make informed line-of-business decisions," said Joe Dylewski,
ISV partner manager for Acer America Corporation.  "With MindManager loaded
onto their Acer Tablet PCs, users can now use either a pen or keyboard to
access the full power of enterprise data."

Pen-enabled MindManager X5 Pro software helps users quickly capture,
organize and share the unstructured information typical of meetings and
brainstorming sessions.  Users then take advantage of the software's XML
technology to push this information into enterprise databases, scheduling
applications, and knowledge-management systems.

Tablet PC Could Quietly Vanish
eWeek 

The question is whether the Tablet PC and Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition OS are being subsumed back into the notebook PC, a product the Tablet once broke away from. If they are, observers wonder, is there a need for a dedicated Tablet operating system?

So far, the only answers have been forthcoming from hardware makers, many of which have moved to "convertible notebooks," which combine a keyboard and a touchscreen. These devices run the Tablet PC OS.

However, for the slate hardware platforms, the outlook with customers is somewhat muddy. Slate PCs still play an important role in vertical enterprises, such as health care, vendors say, but "knowledge workers" have asked for a keyboard to complement the pen input.

Entrepreneurs at MIT
Boston Globe

THE MASSACHUSETTS Institute of Technology has long been a generator of ideas for businesses that have fueled the national and state economies. The latest batch of innovative thinking will be on display tonight when winners of the this year's MIT $50K Entrepreneurship Competition are announced. All 427 students who took part in the contest will have learned valuable lessons in practical technology.

The competition, open to anyone on campus, frequently draws MIT engineering students, who team up with their counterparts at the MIT Sloan School of Management. When the competition began 15 years ago, the award was $10,000, given so that students could afford to take out a patent. Now the winner gets $30,000 and two runners-up receive $10,000.

The real awards come from venture capitalists. Of the 1,300 entries since 1990, 83 have resulted in the creation of companies. The most prominent is Akamai Technologies of Cambridge, which operates a global network to speed business data across the Internet. A finalist -- but not the winner -- in 1998, the project became a company that is worth almost $1.5 billion.

This year's entries include the Active Joint Brace, to improve mobility of people with muscle injuries; Smartpaper, to help students model concepts on a tablet PC; and Rive Technologies, which aims to produce clean gasoline from feedstocks. Even if many proposals never achieve commercial viability, the competition gives students experience at the intersection of business and technology that they do not usually get within the university.

Family practice sings praises of Nightingale software
ITBusiness.ca

It didn’t take long for Dr. Hanson Lo to become hooked. A few days was all it took, really, he admits. And now, says Lo of his foray into electronic medical records (EMR), there’s no going back.

"If you asked me to go back to the paper route I would hate that," says Lo.

Lo, who moved his Whitby, Ont.-based family practice to a new location a few months ago, says it was at that time he decided to go paperless and make some big changes in the way he and his staff of five worked.

After evaluating a few vendors, Lo decided to go with Nightingale Informatix Corp.’s ASP-based patient access for MDs software, which his clinic runs on both desktop PCs and one Toshiba Portégé 3500 Tablet PC.

"I think it’s fantastic," he says of the application. "Once you record in the system, it’s stored offsite and any doctor can access it anywhere in the world. It’s such a beautiful convenience. If you have a group practice where you share patient records it’s almost a must; it will make continuity of care so much easier."

May 13, 2004

Learning To Think In Ink
Whatisnew.com

Good news. There is a 3:1 ratio of developers to end users. Frank Gocinski led the Tablet PC Developer tour in the afternoon. Developers arrived to a personable, driven presentation allowing great exchanges between presenter and audience. Plenty of jokes. (A big positive for Layne. LOL) Relaxed atmosphere. Perfect opportunity to learn to think in ink... digital ink that is.

As the presentation moved forward more developers arrived just as Frank talked about the increase in interest in developing for Tablet PCs. With Windows XP Service Pack 2 there are currently 2500+ beta testers and 70,000 developers.

Momentum is definitely increasing.

Next, he reviewed the Tablet PC Vision:

2003 - Tablet PCs were a new type of notebook PC
2004 / 2005 - Tablet is a feature of notebooks
2006+ - There will be a Mobile PC for every customer need  12:02 pm

BOE HYDIS, Motion Computing Pact Yields First 12.1-Inch Slate Tablet PC with Wide Viewing Angle
motioncomputing

BOE HYDIS and Motion Computing today announced the availability of Viewiz, BOE HYDIS’ Advanced Fringe Field Switching (AFFS) display panel, on Motion’s new M1400 Tablet PC.

The new Viewiz wide-view screen enhances presentation sharing and real-time tablet PC collaboration with an almost unlimited viewing angle (160 to 180 degrees) that works in both portrait and landscape display modes . Because the display is brighter, clearer and can be seen straight-on and at varying angles, it improves the user experience while walking, standing or sitting, and especially when viewing the tablet PC on a flat surface.

Motion’s 12.1-inch XGA TFT display – widely acclaimed because its dimensions approximate those of a sheet of paper – is even better on the M1400 because of the Viewiz AFFS screen technology.

In addition to its remarkably wide viewing angle, the Viewiz AFFS display panel brings to the Motion M1400 Tablet PC:

Intel Launches Powerful New Pentium M Processors, Cancels Next-Generation Pentium 4
Connected Home Online

This week, Intel significantly boosted the performance of the Intel Centrino mobile microprocessor products with the introduction of new Intel Pentium M processors that feature faster clock speeds and system buses and larger cache sizes. The company also announced that it's canceling the development of two next-generation desktop-based microprocessors so it can concentrate on more powerful dual-core microprocessors. Both announcements are a boon for PC users because Intel pledges to keep up its recent pace of innovation and speed the development of its processors and related chipsets.

The new Pentium M designs, which are code-named Dothan, will ship this week in a variety of notebook computers and Tablet PCs. The Dothan family currently includes three new processors, all of which feature a smaller 90nm process (compared with the earlier-generation Pentium M chips' 130nm process), resulting in smaller sizes, less power consumption, less heat, and lower costs. However, because the new chips use the same socket design that the earlier-generation chips used, PC makers can immediately integrate the Dothan CPUs into their existing mobile computers.

The Dothan processors are also the first products to use Intel's new chip-naming conventions. The Pentium M processor 735, for example, runs at 1.7GHz and costs $294 per chip (in quantity). The other two models include the Pentium M processor 745, which runs at 1.8GHz and costs $423, and the high-end Pentium M processor 755, which runs at 2GHz and costs $637. The number 7 in these product names denotes the Dothan generation of chips, whereas the latter two numbers specify relative performance. The Pentium M processor 755, for example, has higher-level performance than the Pentium M processor 735.  9:56 am

Rise of the e-classroom
Independent

Computers are a growing part of everyday life, so naturally they are increasingly used in schools. Beyond that less-than-earth-shattering statement, however, lies a complicated and fluid picture, with vast differences in provision across the schools landscape, and a continuing debate about how best they should be used.

Some state schools, for example, have access to as many as 1,000 laptops, while others still conduct some lessons on blackboards. Some teachers have gone totally electronic, while others cling to their belief in "chalk and talk".

Another innovation creeping into some schools are tablet PCs: screens carried around the room by a teacher. Anything the teacher or a student writes on the screen is simultaneously displayed on the board at the front for all to see.

This all costs money, of course. Schools will never have enough to do everything they want to in IT, but the Government continues to increase spending on schools generally and ring-fence certain amounts for spending on computers.

A longer-term aim is for every pupil in the country to have access to his or her own PC or laptop out of school hours, by 2006. 9:51 am

Windows XP Reloaded muddies the SP2 waters
ZDNet.com.au

The exact composition of the XP Reloaded deal will be revealed in due course, but it will presumably need to at least encompass the SP2 bundle, which looks like this: security enhancements, in the areas of network protection, email/Web security, execution protection and OS maintenance; an upgrade to XP Tablet PC Edition (code-named Lonestar); Windows Media Player 9 Series; a Bluetooth update; Movie Maker 2.1; a new wireless networking client and DirectX 9.0b. Some of the security enhancements will break some existing applications, but Microsoft says it won't be running a logo programme to mark those that are tested to work with the new operating system -- if you're worried that this may matter, you should be testing as much as possible as soon as possible.

Lonestar, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 to give it its official name, will introduce an automatically resizing in-place Tablet Input Panel (TIP) that follows the stylus around the Tablet PC's screen. You will also be able to convert handwriting to text on the fly, and will get better integration with Office 2003 and OneNote.  9:49 am