September 1, 2004

September 2, 2004

Tablet PCs used for wine ordering in Vegas
dsbpi.blogspot.com

DSBPI was in Las Vegas and used an amazing Tablet PC application at the restaurant Aureole (at Mandalay Bay) which excited us about the potential for this technology.

Aureole has over 9,000 bottles of wine in its 42-foot high, glass enclosed wine cellar. When we asked for a wine list, we received a tablet PC connected wirelessly to a local network and running a piece of custom software that was both incredibly easy to use and perhaps the only way to effectively capture the breadth of the collection. We were able to search wines by type (red, white, Pinot, Merlot, etc.) country/region, food pairings, featured wines, producer name and so forth. The tool also has a streaming video feed from the wine cellar itself where you can watch the attendant rappel down the glass tower ala Mission Impossible with your bottle in hand.

Everyone at our table was in love with the HP device (very light, excellent handwriting recognition when searching for instance "Sea Smoke Pinot Noir") and those previously skeptical of the Tablet PC concept ("When would I use it?") were brainstorming new application

B&W LAUNCHES REVOLUTIONARY NEW BRAND
Home Toys

The B&W Group has announced the introduction of i-Command™, a new brand that is expected to profoundly influence the future of custom audio-video and whole-house system design and implementation

The heart of the i-Command system is the i-Node™ device—no larger than a deck of playing cards—which attaches to the RS-232 port found on most components which the consumer desires to operate with a one-touch control system. This can be done via an i-Command touch panel or other available wireless PDAs, tablet-PCs, laptop, desktop PCs, or any wired or wireless product that provides a Web-browser window. Motorized devices or components such as some VCRs or cable boxes without an RS-232 port can utilize the ir-Node™, an infrared module which sends the infrared equivalent of a serial RS-232 command to each component in the system.

Add-On i-Command Devices Additional i-Command products include a wireless (touch screen) Tablet—a fully featured Tablet PC pre-configured with a full-screen application optimized for home theater and distributed audio control.

The i-Command System will be introduced to specialty retailers and custom installers at the 2004 CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana, Booth #421, main convention center.

Model: Suggested Retail Prices:
Tablet $3,000.00

Build an Adaptive Enterprise!
AME Info

When most customers enter an auto showroom, they go straight to models of interest. With wireless HP Tablet PC in hand, the Fiat salesperson can join the customer and, while creating the initial rapport, gather information to serve the customer.

Behind the scenes for Fiat Link is a solution developed by HP Services: a three-tier, Linux-based infrastructure that includes a customer relationship management (CRM) system, powered by an Oracle9i Real Application Clusters database on HP Integrity servers equipped with 64-bit Intel® Itanium® 2 processors.

Just about all the information that a customer and dealer need is instantly available through the HP Tablet PC, including a car's features and options in colors, upholstery and accessories, which Fiat Link displays in photos. The system presents special offers and extended warranties, press reviews, and comparative data on other models from Fiat and its competitors.

Computer Q&A: Tablet PC innovative but lacking in power
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Will Windows XP Tablet PC Edition become the next great product to join the dinosaurs? I hope not. This excellent version of Windows XP lets you handwrite or draw directly on your screen without a keyboard. It uses audio input to record your meetings while you write; and when teamed with tools like Microsoft's OneNote software, Tablet PC can help you organize your thoughts, documents, and actions like never before.

This month, Microsoft is releasing an improved version of Tablet PC. It now integrates with Microsoft Office, so you can annotate your Word Documents, create written notes, charts and graphs in Excel, and use "ink" in your PowerPoint presentations.

With the new capabilities of Windows XP Service Pack 2 built in, and a redesigned input panel, the Tablet PC product catalog is growing with applications from the likes of Franklin-Covey and Brown University, each taking advantage of the pen and ink interface to go a step beyond normal computing.

It also lets you handwrite your e-mails in Outlook, instead of making you type, thereby introducing e-mail as a tool for an entire new class of users who didn't want to learn how to type (and those who don't want to take the time).

I finally wiped the drool off my mouth and asked John Nagle from CompUSA why the specs of the Tablet PC devices are so poor compared with standard Windows XP devices. He told me that full functionality of Tablet PC requires special sensors to be embedded in the monitor; so power consumption of the Tablet PC monitors is tremendously heavy. To compensate for the power drain of the monitors, PC manufacturers try to conserve power in other places, such as using slower processors and less memory. Otherwise, your battery would run out in no time.

Tablet technology integrated at DSU
Madison Daily Leader

This fall marks the beginning of a mandatory program at DSU in which students with 64 credits or fewer (freshmen and sophomores) are being required to rent a Tablet PC.

Tablet PCs, the latest innovation in computer technology, were piloted on campus last year. Although initially they can be mistaken for a laptop, Tablet features make the technology unique. The screens can be turned around and folded down, and a stylus allows the user to browse through programs or make hand-written notes right on a computer document.

Juniors will be required to rent the Tablets in the fall of 2005 and seniors in the fall of 2006. Students pay $275 per semester to rent the Tablets and will have an option to purchase them at the end of three years.

Tom Halverson, dean of the College of Business and Information Systems, said 125 students have opted to rent the Tablets even though they weren't required to do so. When added to the freshman and sophomore classes, the demand seems to have exceeded expectations.

Chief Information Officer David Zolnowsky said that 800 M275 Tablets were ordered through Gateway this summer. Of that order, he said, 799 have been reserved; there are still 20 needed at the Mundt Library, 20 at the Center of Excellence and 60 for faculty.

All 100- and 200-level courses have been adjusted to incorporate the Tablet functionality, Farrell said. Aside from juniors and seniors, those excluded from the mandate include part-time students, and those students who have close to 64 credits but are taking no 100- or 200-level courses.

Review: Microsoft's OneNote Organizes Data
Forbes 

You can type, sure, but with a drawing pad or Tablet PC you can also write in script, draw with assorted pens and highlight in an assortment of pleasing pastels. You can insert sections between notes and drop whole hunks of data anywhere.

Unlike a regular notebook, you can reconfigure your data entirely - to move a page of lists from, say, the "People I Hate" section to the "People I'm Considering Giving Another Chance" tab.

Microsoft is aiming OneNote at office workers in creative industries who use Tablet PCs that run its special edition of Windows XP. That's a good move and a bad move: good because OneNote on a tablet approximates a digital notebook even more closely; bad because not many users have tablets.

Every breath you take
Sydney Morning Herald

You can now catalogue what you see, who you meet and how you feel, day by day. Jack Schofield reports on the emerging social phenomenon of "life caching".

Today, as never before, you can capture your life and share it with your friends and family.

Camera phones, media players with built-in microphones, portable storage and blogging software enable you to record whatever happens, while cheap hard drives mean you can keep it forever.

All this adds up to what a website called trendwatching.com believes is an emerging trend called "life caching".

A tablet PC running OneNote software and Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC edition is one way to do this. You can take handwritten notes on screen using a stylus and synchronise them with a recording taken using a built-in microphone. Photos can be uploaded from a digital camera and pasted in later. A tablet PC is too cumbersome for capturing life on the move, but the same sort of facilities could soon reach personal organisers and smart phones.

First Look :   The Sahara Pen Tablet i213
Tablet PC 2 Exclusive

September 3, 2004

Toshiba plans to rejuvenate tablet PC market
Computer Business Review

A lack of applications has also been blamed by Toshiba competitor Acer Inc. for poor tablet PC sales, while features such as handwriting recognition, the use of digital ink to capture handwriting as images inside documents, as well as voice annotation and voice recognition, are seen to push up the price.

"We need to reduce costs," said Nishida, adding that Tokyo, Japan-based Toshiba is working with Microsoft on plans to increase the acceptance of tablet PCs next year. The introduction of Windows XP Tablet PC 2005 Edition will help, he said, while revealing that Toshiba has plans to take use of Organic LED displays to remove the need for a backlight and reduce power consumption.

Nishida was less forthcoming on how Toshiba and Microsoft will reduce the cost of tablet PCs and boost user adoption, particularly on whether the company would remove some of the nice-to-have functionality such as voice recognition from the devices. "Maybe, maybe not," he said.

Nishida said he expects the corporate take-up of tablets to remain restricted to specific application areas and vertical industries, such as healthcare, real estate and insurance.

Meanwhile, it seems Microsoft might have helped Toshiba in more ways than one to enhance the handwriting recognition technology on its tablet PCs. "If our tablet PC can recognize Bill Gates' handwriting, it can recognize everything," Nishida said.

Sutter Health to Reduce Clinical Data Collection Costs Using Mi-Co -Co Software
Market Wire

Major Hospital Implements Mi-Forms on Tablet PCs to Reduce Paperwork and Increase Time Spent With Patients

Mi-Co announced today that Sutter Health, a network of 28 acute care hospitals in northern California with over 41,000 employees, has licensed Mi-Forms software system to increase the efficiency of the hospital's mobile data collection. Mi-Forms will be implemented initially at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco on Tablet PCs to streamline the collection of clinical data for their cardiology department.

"The system conforms to the way our time-constrained professionals work," says Dr. Richard Shaw, Director of Research, Quality and Education for the Sutter Pacific Heart Centers of Sutter Health. "We've simply replaced pen and paper with digital ink and Tablet PCs. With this change, we're now in a position to collect an entire spectrum of data and deposit the data simultaneously in a clinical system or a national registry. At the Medical Center we can now even send images of forms to our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System saving a number of steps in that process. It's like zapping your paper form right into the database."

Instead of writing data on paper and later entering that data again using a keyboard and data entry screen, care-givers now just write the data on the screen of the Tablet PC using "digital ink" on an electronic form. The Mi-Forms solution provides state of the art recognition and verification technology to convert handwritten information into digital information.

Sling this Buzz over your shoulder Buzz Sling-Bag
tabletpcbuzz

The Buzz is a new one-strap, "sling-bag" for laptops and tablets, designed of course by Tom Bihn. This may not be completely true, but to me it seems targeted towards students and anyone else who has need for an "easy access" bag, without the bulk of the briefcase or full backpack styles. It comes in 4 color combos - Black/Gray/Crimson, Black/Gray/Spruce, Black/Gray/Plum, and just your basic solid Black/Black. Alright, enough with the talking... in a review of a product like this, a picture is worth a thousand of words -

September 7, 2004

 

CDW-G and Toshiba Help Transform Teaching and Learning at Hinsdale School District 86
Business Wire

Illinois High School District Transitions from Desktop Computers to Toshiba Tablet PCs

CDW Government, Inc, a leading provider of brand-name technology products and services to governments and educators, and Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a leading supplier of mobile computing products, today announced an agreement with Hinsdale Township High School District 86 in Hinsdale, Illinois, to transform the way teachers and students benefit from technology. The school district will be supplying more than 300 of its faculty with Toshiba Portege(R) M200 Tablet PCs as replacements for desktop computers, and also will be providing 250 tablets for daily student use in selected courses.

"Our district is not looking to design the school building of the future; we are working to design quality instruction of the future," said Dr. James R. Polzin, assistant superintendent of Hinsdale Township High School District 86. "We believe the introduction of Tablet PCs, rather than the continued use of desktop or notebook computers, facilitates greater interaction between student and teacher, between student and student and, most importantly, between student and the content they are studying. Tablet PCs provide teachers with a dynamic tool to create real communities of learners in their classrooms."

Wanting to develop a partnership based on a long-term vision of superior education for the district's high school students, Hinsdale looked to CDW-G and Toshiba to recommend and supply the right technology.

"The school administration wanted to create an environment where technology enriches the educational process and selected Toshiba Tablet PCs," said Chris Rother, CDW-G vice president for education and state and local sales. "However, there was a pressing need to get these units into the hands of teachers so they could be trained on the Tablet's unique capabilities before school ended and teachers left for the summer. Because of CDW-G's long-standing relationship with the school district and our reputation for responding to customer needs with a sense of urgency, Hinsdale chose CDW-G to recommend, acquire, custom configure, image and deliver 500 Tablet PCs. Hinsdale School District saw the future of education. CDW-G and Toshiba helped make it a reality."

Making it a great fit for computing in the classroom, Toshiba's award-winning Portege M200 Tablet PC is a convertible form factor that delivers breakthrough performance with a rich feature-set including the powerful Intel(R) Centrino(TM) mobile technology and built-in wireless connectivity. The lightweight and easily portable Tablet PC, combined with a hi-density, hi-resolution 12.1" SXGA+ screen for enhanced full-screen viewing, effortlessly allows for a more collaborative environment between teacher and student in the classroom.

A few classes at Hinsdale Central have already started using Toshiba Tablet PCs. Richard Kick, math and programming teacher, has deployed the new technology to his advanced algebra class and Java programming students. "Because Tablet PCs enable students to work collaboratively, I see them revolutionizing the classroom environment," he said. "The students are much more engaged in the learning process. In fact, I had one student in my algebra class who is not exactly strong in math tell me that Tablets made algebra fun!"

The Toshiba Tablet PC rollout is part of Hinsdale's long-term plan to get the right technology to every student in its district. Starting with the initial 250 units to be shared by students, the district hopes to expand the program so that each high school student has his or her own Tablet.

Xplore Deploys Rugged iX104 Tablet PCs to Hydro One
Yahoo News

Xplore Technologies® Corp. (TSX: XPL - News) announced today its iX104(TM) rugged Tablet PC system was selected by Hydro One, the largest electricity delivery company in Ontario, Canada, for use in the majority of its mobile field applications including data collection and forestry management. The units were purchased through Filbitron Systems Group, an Xplore systems integration partner based in Ontario.

According to John Dobie, Senior Supervisor of Technical Services for Hydro One, the Xplore tablets are deployed where standard commercial grade laptops are unable to withstand the demands of the environment and a rugged and portable PC was the ideal solution.

"The iX104's ability to withstand the rough conditions we work in, the viewability of the AllVue(TM) enhanced screens, and the integrated GPS capabilities were prime considerations of ours," Dobie said. "Furthermore, with the hardware capabilities of the Xplore tablet, we were able to develop specific applications for our needs. The Xplore computers will be used system-wide for most of our rugged mobile computing needs in Hydro One Provincial Lines and Forestry."

Currently, Hydro One has 125 tablets in use with close to 300 additional units being deployed, and 200 more on order. "We have seen a marked decrease in data errors since operations previously handled with paper and pencil have been replaced with tablet-based applications," stated Dobie. "We looked at the numbers and found the return on our investment in terms of product lifespan and user productivity was undeniable."

Epson's Wireless Projectors Provide Closer Link Between Teachers and Students, Improve Interaction and Classroom Collaboration
Business Wire

The technology leadership teams of two Hinsdale Township High Schools (located in the suburbs of Chicago) were standing at a crossroads as they tried to determine which technology would best suit their computing needs for the future. They were torn between replacing classroom computers with combinations of desktop PCs and TV monitors and a more progressive setup consisting of tablet PCs and multimedia projectors. Whichever technology solution was selected, it would need to improve interaction between students and teachers and become the springboard for launching the schools' new team learning and problem solving concepts.

Realizing they could not provide adequate, traditional lab space to accommodate faculty and students, members of both teams soon agreed on a new classroom model based on wireless technology that would give teachers and students one-to-one access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The combined functionality of Epson PowerLite wireless multimedia projectors along with tablet PCs was essential for the transition.

In order to integrate the most advanced and flexible projection technology, the Hinsdale District 86 technology teams decided to install Epson's 3-LCD PowerLite projectors with 802.11 wireless technology in every classroom over the next three years. Teachers and students will use tablet PCs to extract data and images from various media sources like the Internet, DVDs, video and cable TV so they can embellish upon basic lesson plans and make them more interesting and effective. The projectors can deliver vibrant colors and detailed imagery into a classroom environment as never before so it can be inspected, manipulated, filed or discarded with the help of their tablet PC. Students are engaged through technology as they learn to capture, project and share diagrams, photographs, presentation slides, and even their own handwritten notes made with a digital pen.

"One of the most exciting advantages of the Epson projector and tablet PC combo is the way they have redefined student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships," said Tim Hohman, director of technology, Hinsdale District 86. "A math teacher can challenge students with a complex trigonometry problem and, in turn students can show classmates their solution by controlling the projector wirelessly from their tablet PC."

"We've come a long way from when our staff would roll desktop computers through the hallways to classrooms on old cafeteria tables," said Polzin. "The winning combination of wireless multimedia projectors and tablet PCs will encourage more institutions to invest in technology that supports a collaborative learning process and enriches the learning experience for all students."

Microsoft launches SP2 competition
CPILive.net

In a bid to raise awareness towards the benefits of Microsoft’s downloadable Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft South Gulf is offering the chance to win a range of prizes including high tech devices and software.

The online Windows XP SP2 competition is open to all residents of the South Gulf region (Oman, Pakistan, UAE and Yemen) and is to run for eight weeks, starting from August 30.

Each week, a new set of questions on SP2 will be posted on the website, www.microsoft.com/middleeast/win. The winning answers will automatically be entered into the weekly draw to win one of the three prizes each week. Among the prizes on offer during the competition will be products from sponsors Acer, HP, Intel, Western Digital and Microsoft software and games. A final draw will be held at the end of the competition, to win an Acer Tablet PC

Pilot program puts computers in classes
Cavalierdaily.com

Collaboration of Microsoft, University brings Tablet PCs to three courses, Ayers says machines will better teaching

Third-year College student Catherine Neale said she could not have completed her classes without it. Professors say it can change the way students learn. And beginning this fall, 400 students will be able to judge for themselves the benefits and drawbacks of using Tablet PCs in their courses.

A pilot program in the University's College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, it will allow students in biochemistry, psychology and statistics courses to use new Tablet PC hardware, equipped with learning applications specifically tailored to their courses.

Weighing just over two pounds, Tablet PCs are notebook-sized personal computers that allow the user to create, store and transmit handwritten notes and voice input. They allow wireless Internet access and have keyboard and CD attachments.

College Dean Edward L. Ayers, who has a reputation for incorporating technology into coursework, said Tablet PCs have the potential to improve teaching at the University.

"The tablet puts the new technology in the hand of the student as well as the professor," Ayers said. "Instead of just having students sit and watch, it's a tool they can use in the classroom and beyond."

Neale said the handwriting software was especially useful to her last year, when she tore a ligament in her arm and took notes on the tablet with her lefthand.

"It could actually translate my left-handed scrawl into text," Neale said. "I took all my notes on it and completed my papers on it. I wouldn't have been able to complete my classes last year without use of the tablet."

The ABCs of back-to-school electronics
Seattle Post Intelligencer

For back-to-school shoppers, a new alphabet reigns, and it starts with E for electronics. With camera cell phones and the Apple iPod music player topping student wish lists, some of the hottest gadgets have little to do with pen or paper, much less studying.

Any models with built-in Wi-Fi are grabbing sales, analysts say, but some of the most popular include the Dell Inspiron 700M, the Apple iBook, and the Averatec C3500 Convertible, which combines a laptop and tablet PC with a display that swivels and folds down so notes can be scribbled directly onto the screen like an old-fashioned notepad.

More than anything, students are clamoring for things that will enhance their lifestyle, if not their grades.

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Pack
Microsoft

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 MUI Pack provides multilingual user interface capabilities for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. When it is installed on the English version of the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system, users or administrators can switch the user interface (including menus, dialog boxes, Help files, and tutorials) from one language to any of the 20 supported languages.

The package supports the following languages: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

• Supported Operating Systems: TabletPC

• Prerequisites: Before installing Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 MUI Pack, you must first install the English version of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 and also install Windows XP MUI Pack.

September 8, 2004

Tablet PC Platform SDK AddendumThis addendum
microsoft

extends the Microsoft® Tablet PC Platform SDK. It includes details about the OleInk control and the extensibility features of Microsoft Windows® Journal.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: TabletPC

Software
Microsoft Visual Studio 6 SP5 (from Windows Platform SDK or Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0

Hardware
8 MB of hard drive space for a complete installation.
A pointing device for input; mouse, an external tablet or a Tablet PC with an HID digitizer.

Laptops, new designs challenging traditional desktop computer arrangement
Forbes 

An icon of American computing is fading into the background.

The traditional desktop isn't completely disappearing. It still accounts for about 70 percent of shipments. But computer buyers increasingly see it as just one option instead of the default purchase.

"The trend is moving dramatically away from pure desktops to portability as a part of the design of next-generation computers," said Tim Bajarin of industry advisory firm Creative Strategies, who offered the forecast of parity in 2007.

Businesses also have a variety of options. Microsoft Corp. has worked with manufacturers to develop the so-called Tablet PC, a hybrid of a notebook computer and a writing slate.

Still, many of the newest computer designs cost much more than traditional desktops. The cheapest version of Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Compaq-brand Tablet starts at $1,649, while a desktop with the same memory and a faster processor costs $319

Tablets and bullets
Cnet

Microsoft has struggled to find a receptive audience for its Tablet PC format, but maybe that's because it overlooked a potentially lucrative market: assassins.

At least that's the way it works in the movies, specifically current crime thriller "Collateral," in which Tom Cruise plays a hired gun who relies on a Hewlett-Packard TC1100 Tablet PC to meticulously organize an evening of hits.

We wonder why someone in that profession wouldn't choose HP's "rugged" device, but the decision to go Tablet makes perfect sense. Don't you just hate trying to type when you've got a pistol in your hand?

Neither HP nor Microsoft's marketing--umm, collateral--mentions one of the biggest product placements yet for the Tablet PC format.

September 9, 2004

Microsoft puts passwords at your fingertip
WindowsForDevices

Throw away your password cheat sheets and sticky notes on the monitor. Microsoft has introduced its first hardware products with fingerprint recognition technology -- a standalone reader and a keyboard/mouse combo with integral reader that replace passwords with the user’s fingerprint. 


Both the standalone "Fingerprint Reader" and the "Optical Desktop" keyboard/mouse combo use standard USB connections. A software package called DigitalPersona Password Manager builds and maintains a database that maps fingerprints to passwords. DigitalPersona runs on any Windows XP configuration, including Home Edition, Professional, Media Center Edition, or Tablet PC Edition. Presumably, it will also run on XP Embedded, the componentized version of Windows XP.

Mountain States Health Alliance to Install Wireless Infrastructure from Johnson Controls
Yahoo News

Mountain States Health Alliance, the largest regional health care system in northeast Tennessee, has signed an agreement with Johnson Controls, Inc., the global leader in facility management and control, for the first system-wide installation of a single wireless distribution technology in the health care industry.

Mountain States Health Alliance plans to use the system to support an electronic clinical documentation system that will allow medical orders, notes and prescriptions to be entered into a patient's medical record, at the bedside, through handheld devices such as PDAs and tablet PC's. All the medical professionals participating in the patient's care then can access that information. In addition the system records and double-checks the administration of medications.

Under the $2.4 million contract with Johnson Controls, installation of the InnerWireless System will begin at the Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn., the flagship hospital, this fall and then will be implemented throughout the system over the next 13 months. At Johnson City Medical Center, the wireless system will be installed in the new intensive care unit that will compliment the articulating arm service columns within each room. These columns will hold all patient monitoring equipment and data connections so that a patient's bed can be moved around the room for treatments, testing or family interaction.

The Tablet PC Takes Its Place in the Classroom
NYTimes

One factor that favors educators is that students seem to like tablets, especially the pen-based interface that takes the place of a mouse and keyboard.

"That was undoubtedly the best and coolest part," said John Stanton, a senior last year at Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pa., who took part in a pilot program to test the devices.

Mr. Stanton, 18, was on the school's debate team, and he used a tablet PC to take notes and prepare responses during debates. He said the tablet kept pace with swift handwriting and was useful because he could quickly call up his writings from earlier rounds.

Administrators at Cathedral Prep had initially considered laptops, but switched to tablet PC's after early testing by staff members. "We did not want to get caught up with the novelty of this thing," said the Rev. Scott W. Jabo, headmaster at Cathedral Prep. "The more we were using it, we saw a lot of practical uses."

Cathedral Prep issued tablet PC's to 160 ninth graders when they started classes this month, with the goal of eliminating paper notebooks and centralizing study materials on a device linked to the school's wireless network. The device chosen by the school, a model from Acer, has a 10-inch screen and weighs about three pounds. Like most consumer tablets, it includes a standard keyboard and can function as a laptop when the screen is repositioned.

Beyond using them for taking notes and reading, some schools have developed detailed plans to integrate tablet PC's into their curriculums. At the Benjamin School, a private day school in North Palm Beach, Fla., eighth graders tested the devices last year in history and English, while teachers had their own units so they could explore ways to integrate them in all subjects.

This year all ninth graders at the school, about 100 students, will be using their own tablets, a model from Gateway with a 14-inch screen, in all of their classes. The school has a new campus with a wireless network; students and teachers will have access to collaborative software, interactive whiteboards at the front of the class and classroom management tools, as well as the Internet and personal file-storage space.

September 10, 2004

New real estate software hits dashboards
Inman.com

At Real Estate Connect in July, I came away with more than 50 pages of handwritten notes. When I go home, I have to manually enter my notes into my computer. Consequently, I was intrigued as I watched VREO Software's Marc Davison take notes during the sessions. Instead of taking notes by hand, Marc was writing on a tablet PC. Since I'm in the market for a new computer, I asked Marc to demonstrate how his system works.

Marc explained he had a tablet computer programmed with R.E.D. software. (R.E.D. stands for "Real Estate Dashboard.") A Tablet PC is a powerful notebook computer that also doubles as a PDA. Since I'm constantly in meetings, I love the idea of taking handwritten notes on a Tablet PC and having the computer automatically convert those notes into a text document. The new "tablets" have "handwriting" recognition features. For people who are slow typists, you can do all tablet functions without using a keyboard.

I'm also tired of constantly having to sync my PDA and my computer. With a Tablet PC, your computer and PDA are the same machine. Tablet PCs also have built-in support for wireless networking so you can use them in your office or in the field. They are Windows XP-compatible, but require special software to meet the specific needs of the real estate industry.

Enter Criterion's "Real Estate Dashboard" or "R.E.D." for short. Much like a GPS system in your car, this powerful software can help you effectively navigate the real estate landscape. "R.E.D." aims to increase productivity in a variety of ways. First, the mobility features allow you to communicate wirelessly from any place at anytime. This system also allows you to integrate your cell phone and your Internet into one, making it simple to check e-mails, call clients back, and fax forms all from your Tablet PC

Here are just a few ways a Tablet PC with R.E.D. can give you a competitive advantage.

1. Technologically sophisticated

An easy way to show you have technology savvy is to show up with a Tablet PC. Since these computers are still relatively rare, your clients will be curious about how they work. Rather than trying to persuade the client to work with you, show the client how the CRM and Transaction Management functions work. Demonstrating these tools puts you light years ahead of the competition that shows up with a pen and paper.

2. Time is money

Imagine entering all listing information, disclosures and other required documents into your computer as you walk through the property with the seller rather than when you return to your office. This literally cuts your listing process time in half. If you have an assistant, this system allows this person to work on lead generation rather than concentrating on paperwork.

3. "Handwritten notes"

I'm great about responding to e-mail, but do a poor job of tracking down the stationery and envelope to send a handwritten note. The Tablet PC lets you send your own "handwritten note" in e-mail. Even though it's electronic, it still has a personal touch.

4. Get the edge in hot markets

Have you ever been in a multiple-offer situation where the first one who gets back to the seller wins? With a portable printer and your Tablet PC, you can e-mail the counter to your buyers, have them e-mail you back their signed acceptance, and you win!

This complete "real estate solution" is priced at $3,500 and includes: a Tablet PC from Toshiba or Motion Computing, the R.E.D. software, an HP mobile inkjet printer, a PCMIA wireless modem expansion card for wireless Web access through Sprint or T-Mobile; a case for the computer, and a printer. If you already own a Tablet PC, you can obtain an individual license for R.E.D. software for $495 plus a one-year subscription commitment at $20 per month.

Take a Note--Or Lots of Them
PC World 

Whether on sticky notes, napkins, memo pads, or random pieces of paper, everybody takes notes--usually without the assistance of a computer. EverNote, a promising new application demonstrated at the DemoMobile show here, aims to change that.

Due for release in a public beta test next month, EverNote lets you type quick notes to yourself. But its notes can contain a lot more than plain text. It's easy, for example, to grab images or bits and pieces of Web pages or Microsoft Office documents and paste them into a note for later reference.

What's most unique about the program is the way it displays the notes you've taken--in a scrolling, chronological list that reminded me of a Weblog. (Another Demo attendee compared it accurately, if infelicitously, to an infinite roll of toilet paper.)

When used on a Tablet PC, EverNote permits the use of handwriting and digital ink as well as typed notes. However, it's not dependent on the handwriting recognition in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

"Our recognizer works in a fusion mode with Microsoft's, and gets better results," says Pachikov, whose career includes work on the recognition technologies in Microsoft's Tablet PC software and Apple's gone-but-not-forgotten Newton PDA.

USDA Monitoring Mad Cow Disease With Mi-Co Technology
whatisnew.com

Mi-Co announced today that Mi-Forms software for mobile data capture is currently being implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture to assist in monitoring to assist in monitoring the potential spread of mad cow disease).

“These applications are the types that turn a general hardware device, in this case a Tablet PC, into a vertical or specific solution device. Digital ink applications on Tablet PCs can be an excellent fit for organizations needing to capture data while in a true mobile state. There are devices that are smaller, and more easily carried than tablets, but the devices with a smaller form factor can make ink input quite cumbersome.

“Working with the USDA has been a rewarding experience because of the importance of this work to all of us,” said Carolee Nail, Vice President of Operations at Mi-Co. “The USDA was looking for ways to increase the quality of the data that was collected and after using the Mi-Forms system on 25 Tablet PCs and doing a thorough evaluation, they are ready to roll out 100 more.”

Fast Forward Fetish
PlanetOut

Feeling butch? The Panasonic Toughbook 18DH ($3,275, www.toughonline.com) can take a serious beating, thanks to its magnesium-alloy case. The dust-resistant screen, keyboard and touchpad make it hard to muss this laptop's rugged good looks. And its butchness is totally authentic, since this line of laptops is favored by policemen and firefighters. It's flexible, too: The screen can swivel around to lie flat, letting you read off the screen even when the laptop's closed up, and the machine can run regular Windows XP or the Tablet Edition, which lets you write directly on the screen with a stylus. Globe-trotters will dig the power supply, which can plug right into any kind of voltage. In short, the Toughbook is one mean machine: You can strap it to the back of your motorcycle and not worry about it clashing with your leathers.

Robotics business trekking forward
Rocky Mount

The prototype robot is low to the ground and moves about as fast as a person walks, Parrish said. It's built to go over stuff, not for speed, he said, but it's still strong enough to tow his 2,200-pound truck an inch at a time on level ground.

Parrish said he built his Explorbot from off-the-shelf parts. He wired a Tablet PC to a laptop stand just like the one in his office, attached a high-powered Web camera and mounted the whole thing on four knobby wheels powered with strong batteries. He controls the robot with a laptop and a wireless networking card.

September 11, 2004

A Tablet a Day Keeps Old Docs in Play
Mobile Health Data

Retired physicians in Bend, Ore., are using Tablet PCs over a wireless local area network to access and record patient data as they volunteer at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades, a free clinic for people who cannot afford health care insurance.

"Our situation is pretty unique," says Doug Ritchie, I.T. director at the clinic and a retired information systems executive. "Volunteers in Medicine is a business model based on retired clinicians. So the median age of a clinician in our facility is somewhere around 68."

Most of the physicians have very few computer skills, but they do have the time to learn about computers, and they want to learn--to look up information on the Internet for their hobbies as well as for practicing medicine, Ritchie says. "We have a physician who started practicing in 1954 and just celebrated his 50th year in practice. He's using a Tablet PC with patients."

About 25 physicians staff the clinic, which opened in March and has logged 1,400 visits with nearly 700 patients. The physicians share five Tablet PCs--from Toshiba

September 13, 2004

Motion Computing Offers Bluetooth Wireless Mobile Keyboard Packed ...
Business Wire With Innovative Features; New Keyboard Even Better for Field Sales, Service and Healthcare
press release

Motion Computing(R) today bolstered its line of innovative mobile computing peripherals with the announcement a full-featured Bluetooth(R) wireless mobile keyboard.Ideally suited to be used with Motion's award-winning M1400 Tablet PC, the Motion Wireless Mobile Keyboard is one of the first Bluetooth mobile keyboards on the market. It eliminates the need for a separate mouse by providing an integrated roller-ball pointing device, mouse click buttons, Internet and multimedia hot keys and scroll keys. Its ergonomic design is optimal for ultramobile users who are standing or sitting, and features a standard 19mm key pitch.

While it can be used up to 33 feet away from Motion's M1400 Tablet PC, the Wireless Mobile Keyboard fits inside the new Motion Field Case and frees mobile professionals of any wires or cables. The Motion Field Case is designed for users who require a rugged carrying case for both a tablet PC and a keyboard. The Motion Field Case has an easel stand with a keyboard placement zone that delivers a more mobile experience than a notebook PC.

"Motion's Wireless Mobile Keyboard is our latest tablet PC innovation, and will make the M1400 an even more valuable tool for many ultramobile professionals," said Peter Hunt, Motion's vice president of value-added software and peripherals. "From healthcare professionals using a Motion tablet mounted on a hospital cart to real estate agents going 'cord free' in the field with a field case -- Motion is committed to delivering superior wireless products to the vertical industries it serves."

Computer Q&A: Tablet PC innovative but lacking in power
Pittsburgh Post Gazette,

Will Windows XP Tablet PC Edition become the next great product to join the dinosaurs? I hope not. This excellent version of Windows XP lets you handwrite or draw directly on your screen without a keyboard. It uses audio input to record your meetings while you write; and when teamed with tools like Microsoft's OneNote software, Tablet PC can help you organize your thoughts, documents, and actions like never before.

This month, Microsoft is releasing an improved version of Tablet PC. It now integrates with Microsoft Office, so you can annotate your Word Documents, create written notes, charts and graphs in Excel, and use "ink" in your PowerPoint presentations.

With the new capabilities of Windows XP Service Pack 2 built in, and a redesigned input panel, the Tablet PC product catalog is growing with applications from the likes of Franklin-Covey and Brown University, each taking advantage of the pen and ink interface to go a step beyond normal computing.

It also lets you handwrite your e-mails in Outlook, instead of making you type, thereby introducing e-mail as a tool for an entire new class of users who didn't want to learn how to type (and those who don't want to take the time).

Software gives medical workers constant updates
Salt Lake Tribune

The doctor and his entourage of student surgeons make rounds with a tablet PC connected wirelessly to the hospital's wireless network and high-speed Internet systems. For each patient, records pop up on the screen with up-to-date data gathered from nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, X-ray, MRI and CT scans - and more.
    The TheraDoc software also makes recommendations on medication uses and dosage levels - warning doctors about possible drug interactions and allergic reactions. Links to the latest medical research are also seamlessly tied in, accessible with the click of a mouse.

September 14, 2004

Mobile media specializes
Everett Herald,

Evernote 1.0: Capture, organize and locate notes, handwritten or typed, URLs, Web page excerpts, drawings and more on your computer, Tablet PC, PDA or smart phone and view them anytime, anywhere. Using EverNote Corp.'s Internet-connected servers, your "notes" are automatically and securely synched across all your devices. Key to the product are handwriting recognition technologies the founders have licensed to others. Currently supports Microsoft Windows, with Palm OS promised for November. Company founder Stepan Pachikov says the product is free through July and that he won't charge until it supports all platforms. www.evernote.com.

Transmeta Ships New Chip With Antivirus Technology
PC World

Transmeta Ships New Chip With Antivirus Technology Newest Efficeon processor also offers higher frequency using less power.

Manek Dubash, Techworld.com Monday, September 13, 2004

Transmeta has begun shipping its second generation Efficeon processors, the TM8800 series.

Transmeta says its Efficeon TM8800 processor is optimized for a wide range of computing applications and new types of devices such as notebooks, ultrapersonal computers (UPCs), tablet PCs, blade PCs and servers, cluster workstations, and fanless media centers.

Bluetooth Keyboard for Tablet PC and mobile devices
Geekzone, New Zealand

The Motion Wireless Mobile Keyboard is one of the first Bluetooth mobile keyboards on the market. It eliminates the need for a separate mouse by providing an integrated roller-ball pointing device, mouse click buttons, Internet and multimedia hot keys and scroll keys. Its design is suitable for ultramobile users who are standing or sitting, and features a standard 19mm key pitch.

Heart Hospital Embraces Digital Future
Information Week

The network environment, which includes both wired and secure wireless infrastructures, also can support wireless tablet PCs and all of the hospital's clinical applications, says Vishal Wanchoo, a VP of GE Healthcare, which was the prime medical and IT contractor for the hospital.

Securing computer files
Marin Independent-Journal

Unlike the Home edition of Windows XP, the Windows XP Professional and Tablet PC editions do include built-in solutions. They use AES with a 256-bit key (in Service Pack 1 or newer, according to Microsoft), and are simple to use. Users can encrypt individual files or designate folders whose contents will be automatically encrypted. To use the folder feature, right-click on a folder, choose Properties, then click on Advanced. Select the option called Encrypt Contents to Secure Data, then click on OK and Apply.

September 15, 2004

Tech-savvy students grab their Tablets
canada.com

Anne Fitzgerald Catholic elementary, are among eight across Canada that were awarded $35,000 grants under the HP Technology for Teaching initiative for Canadian K-12 schools.

STORY Tech-savvy students grab their Tablets School gets $35,000 grant for new laptops

EDMONTON -- Mother Teresa school is blessed in many ways.

The new elementary school, at 9008 105A Ave., has bright open spaces bristling with energetic teachers and students.

But now it can boast of having cutting-edge technology. It and another Edmonton school, Anne Fitzgerald Catholic elementary, are among eight across Canada that were awarded $35,000 grants under the HP Technology for Teaching initiative for Canadian K-12 schools.

The other schools are St. Augustine's Catholic high school in Markham, Ont.; L'ecole secondaire publique l'Heritage in Cornwall, Ont.; Grand Manan community school and Rexton elementary school in New Brunswick; Sister McNamara school in Manitoba, and Ecole Enfant-Soleil in Quebec.

Each school had to submit a proposal on how they would use new technology.

"I had some reservations at first," said Mother Teresa principal Charolette Player, who admits to not being as tech-savvy as her staff. "But after seeing our staff's proposal I fully supported it."

The grant consists of five hand-held Tablet PCs with special Microsoft software and a wireless network. Each tablet also comes with a wireless projector allowing teachers to project computer images anywhere in class with no cords.

The HP-made tablets are basically lap- top computers, the size of a fat notebook, that use a special pen-like stylus instead of a mouse. They recognize and automatically save anyone's onscreen hand-writing but can also convert notes to editable text and allow documents, drawings or pictures to be "marked" or commented on much like real paper.

"Our staff was so excited when the tablets came in last week, we all scribbled words on them to see how they worked," said Player.

Although the technology is intended to help teachers, it hasn't taken long for Mother Teresa's tech-savvy students to get their hands on the Tablets.

Learn how Tablet PC differs from XP Home and Pro
Tech Republic

Takeaway: Find out just what features XP Tablet PC Edition has before you buy a Tablet PC.

The first time I took my new Tablet PC out in public, after the "Ooohs" and "Ahhhs," the first question I was asked was, "Does it run on XP Home or Pro?" I said, "Er, neither. It runs XP Tablet PC Edition." The response to that was, "Well, is it more like Home or Pro?" Good question—especially for those considering buying a Tablet who have grown used to and fond of one edition or the other.

If XP Pro is a superset of Home, the Tablet PC (TPC) Edition can be seen as a superset of Pro. In other words, it includes all the features of Pro, plus more. It comes preinstalled on Tablet PCs that are made by many different hardware vendors. (I used a Toshiba Portege 3505 to write this article). You can't purchase the operating system separately from the hardware, although the TPC OS has been made available to MSDN subscribers on CD.

It's important for Tablet users and those considering the purchase of a Tablet to understand how the TPC Edition of XP differs from Home and Pro, and how it's the same. Most of the literature I see about the Tablet PC focuses on the hardware—convertible vs. slate, digitizer technology, battery life, and ergonomics. This article will focus on the software and its "extra" features, especially those that are critical to the enterprise user.

First look at the TPC OS
The first thing you'll notice that's different when you look at the Tablet PC screen is the Input Panel, which is displayed by default but can be toggled on and off using the icon on the Windows taskbar just next to the Start button. As shown in Figure A , the panel is normally docked at the bottom of the screen (the Tablet PC in the screenshot is being used in portrait mode) and has two tabs that let you switch between input methods:

• Onscreen keyboard: You can use the stylus to "hunt and peck" one key at a time to input data.
• Writing pad: You can use the stylus to write or print the data you want to input into an application or onscreen field.

Software to manage and inspect Asbestos's containing material
Geekzone,

Hazmat Inspector allows the firms to inspect and manage asbestos containing material for an unlimited number of buildings and clients at the same time forming the core of a client asbestos management plan. One of the largest costs to any environmental service or property management firm is the initial inspection process, follow up surveillances and day-to-day management of asbestos containing material data for their clients. Hazmat Inspector eliminates the need for redundant data entry and paper forms. It provides central program and data access allowing critical data to be securely shared in real time by 3rd party vendors or clients instantly, anywhere anytime using desktop PC, Tablet PC, Palm or Pocket PC mobile wireless handheld devices. Basebridge will actually brand the service so it looks like a service offered by the environmental service or property management firm.

Windows ghettoblaster mod
engadget 

This isn't the first time we've seen ghetto blaster modding, but we have to say the beauty of its sheer obsessive-compulsiveness brings a tear to even our cynical eye. Take one 80s-style Hitachi TRK-8200HR boombox, add the Fujitsu Stylistic 1200 Tablet PC, run some Windows 98, and jimmy the software to mimic the blaster's controls. The result lets you blast Run-DMC and take e-notes on the reactions of passersby.

CIBC Investor's Edge launches online market challenge promoted ...
CNW Telbec

CIBC Investor's Edge online brokerage, in association with AOL Canada Inc., today announced the launch of the CIBC Investor's Edge Market Challenge(*). The contest provides experienced and novice investors with a risk-free opportunity to hone their skills by buying and selling $100,000 worth of stocks using virtual money. A total of $25,000 in prizes will be awarded during four rounds of competition, including a $10,000 grand prize.

Each entrant receives $100,000 in fantasy money each round. 3 "Round Prizes" awarded each round for entrants with 3 highest value portfolios. Round Prizes range from HP iPAQ Pocket PC (ARV $359) to HP tablet PC (ARV $2,499). One Grand Prize of $10,000 cash to Round Prize winner with highest value portfolio during Challenge. Chances of winning depend on each entrant's skill level and market performance of each entrant's selected holdings.

New Capabilities Let Remote Workers be as Present as Office Colleagues
Real Market

As an example, Nortel Networks is delivering a suite of office tools accessible via the end-user's computer, regardless of whether it is a desktop, laptop, tablet PC or handheld PC. Using user-friendly icons, a person can immediately contact a colleague to share information and access applications via the most effective means. This could enable a nurse providing patient care to contact a doctor immediately for a needed prognosis without having to waste valuable time calling office, mobile and home telephone numbers. With Nortel Networks solution, the nurse could quickly share pertinent medical information, prescriptions and X-rays with the doctor, ultimately providing better patient care.

September 16, 2004

VIA Announces New Processor Naming Convention
LinuxElectrons

VIA Technologies , Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced a new VIA processor naming convention to strengthen the various VIA processor brands and simplify the target market segmentation for VIA processors. The announcement introduces the VIA C7-Series of processors based on the C5J Esther core that will be available in the first half of 2005. The VIA C7 processor will target low power desktop PCs and Personal Electronics systems such as PVRs and IP set top boxes, while the VIA C7-M processor will target mainstream slim and light notebook and Tablet PCs with its market leading power efficiency and advanced PowerSaver 4.0 technology.

Watch out for HP products on the TV
The Inquirer

HP making connections with consumers through TV product placements

The HP Compaq Tablet PC TC1100 can be seen on TV shows such as Eve, Las Vegas, Clubhouse, CSI: Miami; The O.C. and 24.

Eighteen U.S. network and cable television shows, ranging from dramas to reality shows, will feature HP products throughout their fall 2004 and spring 2005 seasons. The latest HP notebook PCs, handhelds, tablets, digital cameras, printers and projectors are among the products in the spotlight.

The Apprentice 2 (premiered September 9) - Media Center PCs; digital projectors; iPAQ 4300 series; zt3000 notebook PCs; flat panel monitors; TC1100 Tablet PCs; Photosmart r707 digital cameras and 245 printers; Deskjet printers; ScanJet 4670 scanners

CSI: Miami (premiered September 6) - Photosmart 945 and r707 digital cameras; iPAQ 5000 series; Scanjet scanners; TC1100 Tablet PCs; Media Center notebook PCs

Taking business apps on the road
Computerworld Australia

Marshfield Clinic is pilot-testing a deployment that gives doctors wireless access to object-oriented patient-care and clinical applications via Fujitsu wireless PC tablets running Microsoft XP Tablet Edition. Object broker middleware provides connectivity between the tablet-based applications and an array of back-end servers and databases.

Application design also factored heavily into the wireless project at Marshfield Clinic. Years ago, the clinic designed physician applications with minimal keystrokes - an ease-of-use factor it needed to take into account for the wireless application, says Carl Christensen, CIO at the clinic.

So when using their wireless PC tablets, Marshfield Clinic doctors typically select from drop-down lists that have been carefully arranged to be simple to find and follow. The tablets also feature enlarged toolbar buttons and support for an "active stylus" that lets the doctors enter handwritten messages, annotations, instructions and signatures.

September 17, 2004

Sneak Review du Tablet PC NEC Versa Pro VY11F/GL-R 
tabletpccorner

(translated from french clik link above for for photos)

We thus will cut out this discovery in two parts:
- a first named part Sneak Review of Tablet PC NEC Poured Pro Vy11f/gl-r : description of this new Tablet PC with some photographs and vidéos for better appreciating it.
- one second named part "Interview of NEC Japan" where we will approach, in English, vision of NEC of the market of Tablet PC and how they design their products.

The NEC Versa Pro Vy11f/gl-r was to be the worthy successor of the NEC Versa Pro T400 and with this intention, the engineers from NEC worked like a navvy to make a major technological demonstration of it.
* It is