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Tablet PC News Archive

April 2006

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April 3, 2006

"Paper isn't a big part of my day"
money.cnn.com

Paper is no longer a big part of my day. I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a meeting and want to jot things down, I bring my Tablet PC. It's fully synchronized with my office machine so I have all the files I need. It also has a note-taking piece of software called OneNote, so all my notes are in digital form.

Bill Gates with tablet pc

The one low-tech piece of equipment still in my office is my whiteboard. I always have nice color pens, and it's great for brainstorming when I'm with other people, and even sometimes by myself. The whiteboards in some Microsoft offices have the ability to capture an image and send it up to the computer, almost like a huge Tablet PC. I don't have that right now, but probably I'll get a digital whiteboard in the next year. Today, if there's something up there that's brilliant, I just get out my pen and my Tablet PC and recreate it.

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Medis Technologies Ltd. Announces Technological Breakthroughs ...
Business Wire

Medis Technologies Ltd. today announced that recent breakthroughs in its fuel cell technology enable it to achieve new heights in the level of power and performance life from its proprietary fuel cells. It has already successfully tested prototype demonstrators of external power chargers for Notebook computers capable of providing over 15 watts and up to12 volts of steady power over a period of 12 hours from a single fueling. This is a new platform with higher capabilities of power that allow the Company to address additional markets requiring even greater power than its present Power Pack product. Such new markets include laptops, Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) products, as well as in-home and in-office VoIP power-up systems and stationery power for home use. This is a significant leap forward in power capability over its present disposable consumer Power Pack product for cell phones and other hand held devices which provides 1.3 watts and up to 5.6 volts and its military tablet Power Pack which provides 8 watts and 5 volts.

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UMPC Announcments
Geekzone

I thought I'd write up what we've heard so far with regards to UMPC devices being released.  So far we have the following announcments (as of about... um now).

  • Samsung Q1(Pre-order here) for UK£799.95
  • Asus R2H (available June?)
  • TabletKiosk v7110 (Pre-order here or here in Australia/NZ) From $AU1499
  • Founder MiniNote (Korea only)

Rumors:

  • Dell (Second Gen UMPC)
  • Fujitsu-Seimens

We've also heard Toshiba give an informal "not currently on the drawing board"...

It would be good to see a main stream PC or tablet shop give it the nod...

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Honey, I shrunk the computer
FCW.com

Computer makers have been trying for years to put more functions into smaller OQOpackages with mixed results. The model 01+ from OQO, however, represents a real breakthrough in portable computer technology. It’s not much bigger than an average personal digital assistant, but it runs a full version of Microsoft Windows XP.

In addition, you can order it with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and use the model 01+ as a miniature tablet PC.

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April 4, 2006

MOC1 Solutions Revs the Auto Service Industry with Motion Tablet ...
Business Wire

Solutions(TM), an automotive industry service provider, is up-and-running on Motion Computing(R) tablet PCs with its point-of-service software, Wireless Service Advisor(TM). Wireless Service Advisor lets an automotive dealer's service team complete service write-up processes electronically and wirelessly.

MOC1 has implemented its software on Motion(TM) tablet PCs in dealerships across the United States and has secured more than 100 new dealer installs for 2006. Current customers have reported revenue per billable hour increasing up to an estimated 40 percent. Car dealerships previously used pen and paper on clipboards for all service appointment documentation.

The Wireless Service Advisor software is pen-and-ink enabled, and is optimized for use on a tablet PC. Information recorded at the point-of-service is transmitted to the dealership's back-end server, where it is processed. Reports then are sent back to the tablet, providing the service team with access to timely up-sell opportunities including recall information and scheduled maintenance. If a customer requests further information about available services, the service team can play a multimedia demonstration on the tablet.

"Wireless Service Advisor on the Motion tablet is a necessary tool for dealer consultants to give a much higher level of service during a full inspection," said Dave Waco, president of MOC1 Solutions. "They're giving a customer their undivided attention, answering questions and providing maintenance recommendations."

MOC1 selected the Motion Computing tablet PC because of its light weight, durability and its proprietary View Anywhere(R) display, because so much automotive work is completed outdoors. The Motion FlexDock helps workers quickly move from the office to the customer's car.

"MOC1's software extends the benefits of ultra-mobile computing to the automotive industry; dealerships and service teams will experience greater efficiencies and productivity," said Ralph Spagnola, Motion Computing's senior vice president of sales. "The Motion tablet PCs will help these professionals to focus on customer care, not paperwork."

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Executives sliding over to Acer's innovative Tablet PC
AME Info, United Arab Emirates

Acer, one of the world's top branded PC vendors, has today announced the Middle East launch of its highly versatile and innovative new sliding-track mechanism Tablet PC, addressing the traditional durability and data security issues raised by tablet users. Acer c200 tablet pc

With its hybrid tablet-notebook design, the TravelMate Convertible 200 (TMC-200) claims to have answered customer concerns over the wear-and-tear suffered by screens mounted and connected to the CPU via a rotating 'spindle' mount.

'The [TMC-200] is fast becoming a favourite of European and American senior executives due to its innovative format for intensive note-taking environments coupled with a versatile functionality that is suited to the office, lab or even factory floor situations,' says Krishna Murthy, General Manager, Acer Computer Middle East.

Recognising that the tablet PC market is a popular format for a business executive's busy, 'in-transit' lifestyle, Acer have a built-in biometric fingerprint reader conveniently integrated into the sliding LCD display. With this feature it takes only seconds to lock and secure the tablet with the authorised user's unique stamp, which is highly useful should the portable machine be lost, misplaced or stolen.

'As tablets are preferred by senior company executives and often carry privileged, organisational and confidential information pertaining to either one's company or personal life, the fingerprint recognition is a feature that offers quick and simple peace of mind protection to the authorised end-users,' concluded Murthy.

Other key features of the TM-C200 include a second battery pack for up to 8.5 hours of use, a DVD double-layer drive enabling up to 8.5 GB to be burned onto a single disk, three USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth, as well as a 4-in-1 media card reader that easily support digital camera and camcorders.

Acer suggest that the TMC-200 Tablet PC designs will include Acer's unique 'Empowering Technologies' suite - an extremely simplified operating platform for managing all the PC functions in what Acer claim 'Three Clicks' of the mouse.

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School for the Blind offers Tablet PC pilot
Nashville City Paper

While several of Nashville’s schools are upgrading on-campus computer laboratories with state-of-the-art technology, the Tennessee School for the Blind (TSB) is forging ahead with plans of its own.

The TSB is piloting a Tablet Personal Computer project for its legally blind high school students, according to Bill Shenck, adaptive technology coordinator.

Unlike students who are completely blind, legally blind children may be able to notice obstructions while walking or have some sense of form or light perception.

“The whole idea for offering technology is to make our students as independent as possible. It will be less work if they can actually write on the PC instead of having to use machines to convert their notes into Braille text,” Shenck said.

While students who are completely visually impaired use Braille readers and Jaws, a special speech software, their “legally blind” counterparts use Jaws along with programs like Zoom Text, which can magnify regular font up to 16 times the standard size.

According to Shenck, students who are able to read magnified print are the “target audience” for the pilot Tablet PC project.

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Generation i
University of Colorado The Campus Press

The college community has become a major consumer of any type of portable music player. Sure, there have long been Sony Walkmans and portable CD players, but recently the rapid growth of iPod-mania has invaded the industry.

On Thursday, March 9, Microsoft unveiled information on their newest secret project, the Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs). The device will be released sometime in April 2006. The UMPC is a cross between a palm pilot and a laptop computer. The processor runs the Tablet PC edition of the Windows XP operating system. It features a 7-inch touch screen and weighs less than two pounds.

One innovation of the UMPC is the TouchPack software that provides screen operation by the touch of the finger. Also provided is DialKeys, an onscreen typing mechanism controlled by use of your thumbs. Users have the option of inputting handwritten information with the stylus.

Microsoft UMPCs will include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Wireless capabilities. The processor will have a 30-60 gigabyte hard drive and two USB ports. However, it only has a three-hour battery life, compared to the up to five-hour average of a laptop computer.

The machines are based on the Microsoft Tablet PC that was launched in 2002. Jack Schofield from the Guardian Unlimited reported that the Tablet failed to succeed because it focused on specialized businesses, therefore never reaching a mass audience. The design of the Origami was developed from the screen components of the company’s portable DVD players.
“It is a cross between PDAs (Personal Data Assistants) and Tablet PCs: they have much slower processors, and exist in between two technologies,” said Matt Sanders, the PC Tech at the Boulder Circuit City.

According to Schofield, there are already other, more sophisticated UMPCs on the market. He mentioned Motion Computing’s LS800 Tablet PC and DualCor’s cPC. The LS800 Tablet PC is a compact hand-held computer with a sleek design and Microsoft XP functionality

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The Analogness of Mayberry Memories
American Libraries Online

Some hardware prognosticators are calling 2006 the year of the Tablet PC. More computer than a Palm or Blackberry and lighter than most laptops, the Tablet is a fully powered PC with the added benefit of a writing stylus and several supported applications that enable handwritten text and drawings. My library loans Tablets to patrons as part of its laptop-lending program, and I have been a Tablet devotee for almost three years. I am now on my second model, the IBM Thinkpad Tablet. I have even handwritten parts of columns using its text-conversion capabilities.

Bill Gates has a lot riding on the Tablet and has made predictions even wilder than the ones I used to make about e-books. Nevertheless, the Tablet is cool technology. I should be getting them for free, given the amount of buzz marketing in which I have engaged in airports, at work, and at conferences.

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April 5, 2006

Fujitsu UMPC sports fold-out keyboard
Mobilemag.com

Fujitsu UMPCs

I thought that Microsoft's Origami project – now better known as UMPCs or ultra-mobile PCs – was designed to fill the gap between PDAs and tablet PCs, so a touchscreen was an absolute must. However, for those of us who are used to have a QWERTY keyboard before us may find the innovation a little off-putting at first. That is why Fujitsu has dreamed up a CD-sized UMPC concept that sports a fold-out keyboard.

Showcased at a Japanese design exhibition at Triennale di Milano, the Fujitsu UMPC has a form factor that is much more laptop-like, with the keyboard folding out to the side. I'm immediately reminded of the Game Boy Advance SP, and based on the specs, this Fujitsu UMPC isn't going to be much larger than Nintendo's handheld gamer.

In related news, Fujitsu is also demonstrating a "flexible-use PC" that is completely wireless. There are three components – keyboard, display and computer – that can act relatively independently, meaning you can grab the display and use it as a tablet PC while still wirelessly connected to the computer itself.

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Time for Tablets drawing near
Reseller News

Tablet PC evangelist Craig Pringle says the future is bright for his favourite computer design.

Pringle, a senior technology consultant with Gen-i, was recently awarded with Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) status for his continued work with Tablet PCs.

Pringle admits that Tablet PCs have had a slow start and that some of the negative legacy from the first Tablet PCs remains. But changes in both software and hardware have made the Tablets more accessible as well as reliable.

Software developments such as Tablet-specific plugins for programs like Microsoft Outlook and Word, along with Tablet-only applications, are all driving the technology forward. The forthcoming release of some versions of Windows Vista will see the first complete Tablet-compliant operating system.

Pringle says there are advances in hardware as well as new software. “In addition to the operating system support, I expect to see a rapid increase in the number of Tablet PC-suitable applications that are either specifically designed for the hardware or have in-built support for it. This trend will further drive adoption rates in the business market and also in the consumer market.”

New Zealand software development company Ambient Design is also pushing the popularity of the Tablet PC. Their newly developed software, ArtRage 2, will be offered to schools around New Zealand for $1, as opposed to the retail price of $20. Though the software will fit most platforms and operating systems, its features work best on Tablet PCs.

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Notebook or Tablet PC for your Practice? Go for the Tablet!
blogs.msdn.com/healthblog

When Tablet PCs first came on the market, there was a hefty premium for using digital ink.  Today, a Tablet can be had for little more than $100 above the price of a quality notebook.  For this, you'll get a 3rd or 4th generation slate or convertible model Tablet PC that will do everything you'd want from a robust, highly mobile business notebook.  Plus it will give you the option of using digital ink, pen navigation, and a form factor that works very well for busy clinicians.  Oh, I did I mention you can do some really cool (and fun) stuff too?

Yesterday, I met with Tara Prakriya, a senior manager and software architect in our Windows group.  You may already know that when Windows Vista becomes available, the Tablet SKU is a standard feature of the operating system.  Although a graphics upgrade would be needed to run "glass" on your Tablet, most of the machines on the market today (with at least 512 megs of RAM) will run Vista.  Of course, all will run Windows XP.  I expect several manufacturers will come forward with Vista-ready Tablets around launch time.

In the meantime, there's plenty to do with your Tablet today.  The form factor (in "open face" or slate mode) lends itself to quickly referring to information on your machine, your local network or on the web.  Tara recommends configuring the power switch to put your machine in standby mode so you can bring it to life quickly when you need it, and save battery power when you don't.

With a Tablet, you can speedily capture thoughts and ideas in Windows Journal without being restricted and find those thoughts later because ink is searchable.  You can use the snipping tool to quickly gab a piece of any application such as a lab report or x-ray, annotate it, and send it on or save it.  Besides all the cool features that come with the OS, here are a few of the fun extras you should also try. 

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April 6, 2006

Tablet PC Talk OQO Model 01+ Review
tabletpctalk.com

The OQO Model 01+ is the next generation of the original OQO which I first saw at CES in 2004. Well since 2004, the OQO has only had some minor improvements. They have increased the ram to 512MB and now support USB 2.0. Also, they now offer the option for users to purchase the Tablet PC OS for the OQO. Here's my review of the OQO Model 01+ with Windows XP, Tablet PC Edition after using it for the past month:

OQO Tablet PC

Performance

The additional ram in the OQO Model 01+ runs more smoothly. I can see a significant difference when loading Office applications especially when running more than one application at a time. Also, the additional ram is a real requirement for the Tablet PC OS since it uses more ram for the Tablet Input Panel and the inking functionality. Even though the OQO has a 1 GHz Transmeta CPU, it performs slower than the Intel Pentium M CPUs at the same clock speed. Further OQO has to throttle back the clock speed of the Transmeta CPU to approximately 300 MHz (according to their utility) due to heat dissipation and power consumption.

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Group Practices Go Mobile with MicroMD® Xpres Suite
PR Web

With the MicroMD Xpres Suite, physicians who use MicroMD (the award-winning practice management software from Microsys Computing, Inc.) in their offices can securely input and obtain information anywhere served by a Wi-Fi network and thereby boost their productivity. The Xpres Suite includes three optional components: MicroMD PocketXpres™, which offers essential features of MicroMD on any pocket PC device compatible with Windows Mobile® 2003 (or higher); MicroMD TabletXpres™, a portable MicroMD solution for tablet PCs; and MicroMD PatientXpres™, which gives patients real-time, secure and controlled access to their health information. “Many of our medical group customers are now adding the Xpres Suite for mobile computing,” said Ajit Kumar, Ph.D., founder and president, Microsys.

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April 7, 2006

Tablet Pc 2 REVIEW

Fujitsu Lifebook P1510D

* Editors Choice Convertible Tablet PC *

It's no secret that I'm a devoted slate style Tablet PC user,  so it may be a surprise to some of you that after all of these years I now have an Editors choice convertible as well as a slate.    The bottom line is that the Fujitsu P1510D fills a need in my life that the other convertible Tablet PCs have not.

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jkOnTheRun Audio Edition #14- TabletKiosk eo UMPC video review
jkontherun

I can't remember the last time a genre of mobile device created quite the buzz that the Origami/ UMPC has generated.  Show #14 is a video overview of the TabletKiosk eo v7110 UMPC, generously provided by the good folks at TabletKiosk.  I only had the device for a couple of days but wanted to give a thorough overview of the hardware, software, and potential of the UMPC using the eo and a video review seemed the best way to do that.

eo

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Question:  Why did we not post the link to the TabletKiosk eo Manual?

Our goal at UMPCS. COM is to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information available.  

One look at the first page was all it took to see that the manual was not current so we saw no reason to draw attention to it. 

Driving readers to our site with information we know is inaccurate is not the way we choose to do business.  That said, we would never knowingly or intentionally post information we know is false, incorrect or misleading.

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Delivering online assistance to the needy
innovations report

Video telephony allows immediate contact with people at home, enables them to continue living at home and relieves pressure on care-providers by reducing physical journeys. It was first tested in Europe in the early 1990s using analogue cable. Though costly and bulky, these pioneering systems were shown to be helpful for elderly people who also liked using them.

Under the project IST@HOME, researchers developed an affordable and usable video-telephony system that built on work done in a series of European Union-funded projects to design home and care-provision systems for elderly people. It comprises a small movable camera, a set-top box for a TV and a handheld service pad. Together, these components enable users to see, talk to or seek assistance from professional carers in real time, over the Internet.

“Our focus was on visual communications and user acceptance,” says Simon Robinson, the project’s coordinator. “We wanted to go beyond the state-of-the-art for systems in the home environment. Our goal was to allow users to communicate from any room in the house and to talk to service staff via a TV set rather than a desktop PC.”

The project partners, funded under the European Commission’s IST programme, installed the complete system in some 600 homes in Germany, Belgium, Spain and Portugal and tested it for six months. They also produced portable video-communications devices which can be carried from room to room. The size of an A4 sheet of paper, these devices are standard tablet PCs with a video camera.

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April 10, 2006

OnTheRun with Tablet PCs #19
jkontherun

Marc Orchant and James Kendrick talk about the Tablet PC news of the week in this episode of OnTheRun with Tablet PCs.  TEO 3.0 is in beta!  Video JKonthe run reviews and screencasts have erupted in the Tabletscape and we point out a few of the most recent ones.  Marc tells us why the Gateway M280 is a very nice Tablet PC and James talks about the TabletKiosk eo UMPC.  Is a new ThinkPad Tablet PC coming?  Loren Heiny puts the Tablet OS on an iMac, really.  Marc explains why he is not impressed with the OQO he is using– will a UMPC fill his needs?

Notes of interest from the show:

  • TEO 3.0 beta
  • Video review of Office 2007 on the Tablet PC
  • Video review of the TabletKiosk eo V7110 UMPC
  • TabletKiosk web site
  • OQO
  • Video review of the Gateway M280
  • Video review of the Motion LS800
  • Tablet Edition on an iMac

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Toshiba Tablets make laptop keyboards only part of the story
bostonherald.com

     
But if you want something really interesting, there are not a lot of options Toshiba Tablet PCoutside the Apple world. Unless you shed keyboard-dependency and try a Tablet PC.

A Tablet is a notebook that lets you use either a keyboard or a big touch screen with a stylus for input. They all run Microsoft XP Tablet PC Edition.

     

With a Tablet you can do a bunch of things that aren’t otherwise possible. But the basic abilities are that you can save handwritten notes or larger pictures as images or write in a script the computer recognizes and converts into traditional characters.

Tobisha’s Portege series is among the most popular, and after a week with one it was easy to see why.
     
I found myself using the machine in settings into which I would normally not take a computer. At a daily story meeting at the Herald, I wrote on the Portege instead of on paper.

I took notes during a conversation with a colleague. You can write text as if on paper and call it up later. Or you can write on top of Microsoft Word documents - a huge benefit when marking something up for review.

Even more than with most notebooks, a tablet depends on high-quality construction. The reason is the center hinge that controls whether the screen is in its upright mode, for when the keyboard is in use, or its flat mode, when it also becomes a writing surface.

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Tablet Kiosk EO V7110 Pictures and Video
tabletpctalk.com

Here's some picture of Tablet Kiosk's EO V7110 Ultra Mobile PC I saw last night at the Orange County Mobile Users Group. It runs Windows XP, Tablet PC Edition and uses a touch screen as well as a Via C7m CPU. The base configuration is 256MB of ram and 30GB 2.5" hard drive. At the time you order the EO you can customize the amount of ram from 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and hard disk up to 160GB. The ram and hard disk is not user upgradeable. Watch the EO V7110 in Action!

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Running the Tablet PC OS on an iMac
tabletpcblogs.com

Tpablet os on Imac

Yep, this post is being written on an iMac.

I successfully installed the Tablet PC OS this morning using Apple's Boot Camp and the Tablet PC OS from my MSDN subscription. I'm using a Wacom Graphire3 Tablet for the digitizer.

For the most part the Tablet OS is running as expected, although as you can tell from the drawing above that I created on the iMac, I am running into some issues. For instance, the ink is not being smoothed out as it is being drawn. Normally ink on a Tablet PC is much smoother than this. I think this is a driver issue. Similarly, the Tablet Input Panel (TIP) does not appear when hovering over editable fields. I can bring up the TIP using the TIP button in the task bar, however, and the handwriting recognition appears to be working just fine. I'm guessing I don't have everything installed correctly and that's why the TIP isn't appearing on hover.

Update: Silly me. To fix the problems I was having with the pen and the TIP I simply needed to install the Wacom Tablet PC driver. Now the ink is smooth and the TIP pops up as expected when the cursor hovers over an edit field.

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Microsoft presents key solutions at IT expo
Gulf Times

The Microsoft stand will also include demonstrations of new solutions for consumers, including Windows XP Media Center Edition PCs, Tablet PCs and Xbox. Visitors to the show can also get a free update for their PC or laptop computer at the Microsoft stand, as part of the “Tune Up Your PC Campaign” Microsoft technicians will be on hand to tune up visitors’ PCs and laptops

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Portable (Sort Of) Synthetic Vision
AVweb

Mercury Computer Systems normally makes imaging equipment for military andVistaNAv for Tablet PC medical applications but there are a lot of pilots in the company and, well, you know the rest of the story. The Massachusetts company showed off its Vista Nav synthetic vision system, which, at about $4,000 for the complete system (weather's an option), the company is hoping will be an affordably more capable alternative to high-end GPS systems. The system shows a database-derived real-time depiction of terrain and ground features (including runway markings) on a tablet PC. The clear color display shows a variety of moving map views that include terrain and there's a target point on the screen that shows the aircraft's projected position nine seconds in advance. Charts and approach plates are also included in the database, along with text versions of airport data. The device will also provide vector headings for ATC-commanded course deviations and then pick up the original route after the controller-inspired fun is over. The tablet is the only part you can see. The heart of the system is the navigation unit that is normally installed under the seat and contains the GPS, solid-state gyros and a barometric pressure sensor to provide all the position, attitude and altitude data. Don't worry about a big wiring headache. The navigation unit sends a wireless signal to the tablet.

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Delivering online assistance to the needy
PressZoom

Video telephony allows immediate contact with people at home, enables them to continue living at home and relieves pressure on care-providers by reducing physical journeys. It was first tested in Europe in the early 1990s using analogue cable. Though costly and bulky, these pioneering systems were shown to be helpful for elderly people who also liked using them.

Under the project IST@HOME, researchers developed an affordable and usable video-telephony system that built on work done in a series of European Union-funded projects to design home and care-provision systems for elderly people. It comprises a small movable camera, a set-top box for a TV and a handheld service pad. Together, these components enable users to see, talk to or seek assistance from professional carers in real time, over the Internet.

“Our focus was on visual communications and user acceptance,” says Simon Robinson, the project’s coordinator. “We wanted to go beyond the state-of-the-art for systems in the home environment. Our goal was to allow users to communicate from any room in the house and to talk to service staff via a TV set rather than a desktop PC.”

The project partners, funded under the European Commission’s IST programme, installed the complete system in some 600 homes in Germany, Belgium, Spain and Portugal and tested it for six months. They also produced portable video-communications devices which can be carried from room to room. The size of an A4 sheet of paper, these devices are standard tablet PCs with a video camera.

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Motion draws up local channel strategy
ARNnet, Australia

Mobile computing and wireless communications vendor, Motion Computing, has recruited Brett Gross as its new regional manager as part of plans to establish a local foothold.

Gross will be responsible for marketing, business development and channel management in Australia and New Zealand.

He previously spent three years as a business development executive for Panasonic.

Gross plans to expand Motion's reseller and distributor numbers. The company currently has one national distributor in Australia - DH Technology.

"I want distribution partners that understand the whole concept of the tablet PC and how it fits into a value proposition for a customer," he said.

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April 11, 2006

Toshiba Adds New Tablet PC
Designtechnica

Toshiba today unveiled a new Tablet PC geared towards consumers who want the “functionality of a notebook computer with the benefits of digital pen-based input and control”. The new Protege M405-S8003 is priced at $1,999.99 and should be available now.

The Protege M405-S8003, said Toshiba, weighs approximately 4.5 pounds, has a 12.1” XGA display and sports an Intel Core Duo processor T2400. Features of this tablet PC include a spill resistant keyboard, an integrated biometric fingerprint reader, integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, a six-cell battery for up to five hours of computing time, 1GB of DDR2 533MHz SDRAM, a 100GB hard drive, a 5-in-1 media card reader and a multi-format, double layer DVD drive

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Toshiba and Lenovo increase presence in retail stores
TG Daily

Toshiba today announced a new tablet PC that will be sold through retail outlets in the US. The Portege M405-S8003 will be available in only one configuration, but carries a substantially lower price than comparable tablet PCs currently offered on Toshiba's website. Also, Lenovo announced to make Thinkpad notebooks available at BestBuy.

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Toshiba Portégé M400-S933 -Review
PCMAG

The Toshiba Portégé M400-S933 ($1,699) appeals to users looking for a laptop that has tablet capabilities and a built-in optical drive. The good news is that even with this built-in drive and increased improved processing power, this Portégé is practically the same weight as its predecessor, the M205-S809 .

The M400 uses a 1.67-GHz Intel Core Solo T1300 processor. (The Core Duo processor will be available on this system in a few months.) This CPU is Tablet PCpowerful enough to run Microsoft Office applications, play DVDs, and even do some editing in Adobe Photoshop CS2. If you do more, I recommend upgrading the system memory to 1GB. Luckily, the M400 has excellent heat management in place, so the base of the tablet remains cool.

The tests we usually run on our laptops, SYSmark 2004 SE and MobileMark 2005, are incompatible with the Tablet version of Microsoft Windows XP. But as I ran several processing-intensive programs, it became clear that this system is a very capable one. I didn't test the battery life—again, the tests wouldn't run, but Toshiba claims it should last about four hours, and from what I've seen and the size of the battery, that looks accurate. (Tablet guru Michael Miller toted this Toshiba around for a week, so for more hands-on, real-world testing, read his thoughts and opinions.)

For laptop users looking to branch out into a tablet, the Portégé M400-S933 is a good deal. It costs significantly less than the Fujitsu T4020D ($2,149) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet ($1,899), and it comes with a built-in optical drive.

To see how the Toshiba Portégé M400-S933 measures up to similar machines, check out our tablet PC comparison chart.

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TabletGear Giving Away a TabletKiosk UMPC
PR Web

TabletGear.com, LLC announced today that they are giving a way a brand new TabletKiosk eo UMPC v7110 256/30 to one lucky user that registers at tabletgearTabletGear.com by June 1, 2006. The giveaway is designed to celebrate the launch of their new web site dedicated to Tablet PC users and enthusiasts. The website http://www.tabletgear.com, will include news, information, and forums of interest to Tablet PC users, developers, and vendors. TabletGear.com will later include software, accessories, and hardware relevant to Tablet PC users. TabletGear.com also plans to offer distribution and payment processing services for smaller software vendors, and shareware authors.

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Realty Executives of Nevada Partners with VREO for Company-wide Paperless Initiative
RisMedia.com

Realty Executives of Nevada, one of the one hundred largest real estate brokerage companies in America, and VREO, Inc.), creators of Real Estate Dashboard™ electronic signature software for Tablet PCs, have partnered to eliminate the mountain of paper that looms over real estate transactions.

”We want to be completely paperless by the end of 2006,” says Realty Executives of Nevada Broker/Owner Jeff Moore. “The growing popularity of Tablet PCs has opened up an incredible opportunity to manage and sign documents in a way that is easy for both agents and consumers. VREO’s Real Estate Dashboard™ is the premiere software application for Tablets, so they were the natural choice to help us drive this initiative.”

VREO will conduct quarterly Real Estate Dashboard™ training events at Realty Executives facilities as well as weekly online training sessions to support the initiative. VREO will make its flagship REDtablet PC available to Realty Executives agents, but its Real Estate Dashboard™ software will run on any Tablet PC

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The New LS800 Extended Battery
Gottabemobile.com

I just received the new extended battery prototype for the Motion Computing LS800. It isn’t quite what I talked about in the video review, but it is still very nice. In fact, I think I like this solution much better..

  • It adds about 1 inch to the width of the LS800. With the regular battery in, the width measures 6.5”. With the extended battery, it measures 7.5”.
  • It is a flat battery
  • 5.5 – 6 hours of battery life in normal usage
  • This prototype does not have the rubberized coating on it like the regular battery has. I’m not sure if the production version will have a rubberized coating. I think I actually prefer the non-rubberized coating – the rubber on the standard battery does get scratched off pretty easily.
  • The tablet w / extended battery will fit in the existing bump case, but it takes bit of work to make the velcro ends meet up and it definitely isn’t an ideal solution. To make it fit snuggly, you would need a piece of double sided velcro. To address this solution, Motion is coming out with an updated bump case to fully support the extended battery.
  • Due to the extra 1” of width, there is a very nice wide grip when holding it in portrait mode.
  • The extended battery will be priced at $189.99 and will be available for ordering on May 5 through Motion Computing and their resellers

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April 12, 2006

Samsung Q1 gets $1,200 price tag in Korea
engadget

Q1 UMPC

We've seen the official price for the TabletKiosk eo ($900). Now another UMPC has gotten its first official price, and it's an even further cry from the original "about $500" price point once expected for these devices. The Korean version of the Samsung Q1, expected to go on sale next month, will go for close to W2 million, or roughly $2,000 W1,199,000 (about $1,250). Sure, the Korean version comes bundled with a DMB TV receiver, USB keyboard, auto adapter and other accessories, but considering that just about every phone, PMP or electric toothbrush sold in Korea seems to include DMB, and you can get a full-fledged tablet PC for well under $2,000, we really have to wonder who Samsung's targeting with this (other than, of course, the usual coterie of fans who will pick up anything promoted by a team of spokesmodels).

Update: As pointed out by several people, the Korean price will actually be W1,199,000 (about $1,250), not W2,000,000 (about $2,000), as reported. Not exactly a huge bargain, but certainly better than the price we originally reported. We've updated the headline and post above. Thanks to everyone who caught this.

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Dimension 5 Solutions Using Mi-Co’s Software Platform to Build Tablet PC Applications for the AEC Industry
dBusinessNews Triangle

Dimension 5 Solutions, a software and services provider focusing on the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry, and Mi-Co, the mobile information and data capture company, announced today the signing of a strategic integration alliance and development agreement. Under the structure of this alliance, Dimension 5 will use the Mi-Forms Software Development System to expand the Encompass product line by providing digital ink and Tablet PC data capture applications to their customers.

 

Using the Mi-Forms Software System, Dimension 5 Solutions will now extend their offerings and fully support the Tablet PC for mobile data capture with Mi-Co’s forms automation and handwriting recognition software. This extension of functionality will allow customers to collect data digitally at the source of creation through the use of their standard forms and processes. Once collected, information can automatically be sent to the client’s project management database from any location.

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Fujitsu Shows Off The New Loox P70S Tablet PC!
Digital Lifestyle Magazine

Until UMPCs become openly available, Tablet PCs are the most portable form of a powerful computer. They are smaller than laptops, while still retaining almost the same amount of power, and a touchscreen is often thrown in for size. To put it simply, this genre of electronics has a lot to offer the consumer. Fujitsu has recently unveiled the Loox P70S, a very nice entrant in to the Tablet PC market. In terms of features and design, this computer is brilliant, but it may be a bit pricey for the average consumer

Fujitsu Tablet PC

The central component of any Tablet PC is the display, in this case being a touchscreen. You’ll be getting the standard 8.9” size if you choose to invest in the P70S. On the technical side of things, an Intel Pentium M753 with a speed of 1.2 GHz will be running the show. That’s not too shabby for a Tablet PC, and neither is the included 512MB of RAM. The HDD is a bit small at 30GB, but most users won’t be using this as a main computer anyway. This baby has 2 USB ports, an SD memory card slot, and of course wireless connectivity via 802.11a/b/g. One of the best parts is that the P70S comes with an external DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. A lot of Tablet PCs don’t come with a similar product, thus leaving the consumer the job to pick one up. Here, you’ll be able to run games and such right form the get go!

This Tablet PC will set you back about $1,940. It’s not exactly a super-bargain, and some consumers will be turned off. Unfortunately it costs a lot of money to make these ultra-small computers, and the consumers have to pay for this convenience. If you can afford it, you’ll find yourself at the receiving end of the better Tablet PC packages out there. You’ll be able to watch movies and play games right away, which is a huge plus. The only thing is that you probably won’t be able to store too much data, as the 30 GB just doesn’t cut it for a computer user these days. In case you do run a bit low, your good friend Mr. SD Card is always available to help you out (if you purchase him). A solid machine that represents all that is good about Tablet PCs.

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Toshiba Portege M400 Tablet PC w/ Core Duo - Our Full Review
Tablet PC Reviews

There is some great news for Tablet PC users. Strap on your rocket boots because the new Toshiba Portege M400 with Intel Core Duo technology is sure to take you for a flight. This zippy lightweight makes a near perfect debut as the first Tablet PC featuring a dual core CPU to hit the market. To add extra appeal, Toshiba designed this machine with the traveling pro in mind adding biometric security, hard drive shock protection and extended battery options. Top it off with a very good user experience and good build quality and you have a good sense of what you're in for if you plan to acquire the "latest and greatest" in Tablet PC convertibles.

Toshiba Tablet PC

Final Thoughts

The Toshiba Portege M400 is one of the most advanced Tablet PCs on the market today. We love the Core Duo processor option and the biometric security. The weight and build quality makes for a great portable travel companion. We would have liked to see Toshiba offer dedicated graphics as an option for those users who actually want to play games beyond Solitaire, but Toshiba left us hi and dry in that regard. Overall, we would recommend the M400 as yet another fantastic contender in the "thin and light" convertible Tablet PC category.

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April 13, 2006

The Origami with keys
T3 - UK

Averated

We’ve seen several more ultra-mobile PCs since the first “Origami” device was announced, but none of them have had their own keyboards – until now.

The Averatec AHI, due for launch this autumn, features a 5-inch screen that slides up to reveal – in true T-Mobile Sidekick II fashion – a QWERTY keyboard. None of this tapping on the screen to write an email stuff here.

The screen is still touch sensitive, however, so you don’t need to pop out the keyboard all the time – just when you want to write something substantial.

Other touted specs include a 30GB hard drive, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity and 512MB of RAM, and it’ll all come in a box that weighs 700g and measures 186 x 90 x 33mm. A price range of £350 to £625 is also suggested, making this quite a bit cheaper than Samsung’s Q1.

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TabletPCPost surpasses 200,000 downloads
tuxreports

tablet pc post

Today was one more of those milestone days for TabletPCPost.

After a mere two years, TabletPCPost passed 200,000 downloads today. Simply amazing.

Thanks everyone for making their apps available on TabletPCPost. Hats off, in particular, to Josh Einstein and his wonderful TEO product, which as of this moment has the largest number of downloads at 18,499.

I'm looking forward to the next TabletPCPost milestone. How about 500,000 downloads by the end of 2007? That would be something else.

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Record Time
Fast Company

Dr. George A. Saleh is not scared of new technology, new techniques, or the waves of new information that pour daily from the world of medicine. "I have retaught myself five times since I finished school," says the 56-year-old gynecologist in North Kansas City, Missouri. "I now do advanced laparoscopic procedures that didn't even exist 15 years ago."

So Saleh seemed the perfect candidate for a digital, paperless medical office--a system that allows all records and charting to be done on computer. He took out a loan and bought the necessary hardware and software. And last summer, with his staff of three, he switched everything over to the new system. Patient information was entered on a screen instead of on a form attached to a clipboard; Saleh took notes and made orders using a sleek black tablet PC.

Using digital medical records allows Saleh to file claims electronically, and quickly; he gets paid by insurance companies in 10 to 14 days instead of one to two months. In an emergency, Saleh can access patient charts from home at night; he can view office records from the hospital. The charts themselves cannot be misfiled, misplaced, or left on the wrong counter--they're safe on servers in a Cerner data center designed to survive the most powerful tornado.

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May launch date set for Q1 ultra mobile PC
Digit Magazine

Samsung is planning to put its Q1 ultra mobile PC on sale worldwide in May, the company said Thursday.

The computer is based on the Origami platform developed by Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp and was one of the stars of the Cebit trade show in Germany Samsunglast month, where it and the Origami platform were unveiled.

The Q1 will first go on sale in Samsung's home market of South Korea. It will be available from May 1 and will cost 1,199,000 won (US$1,264), said Anthony Lee, a spokesman for Samsung in Seoul. That's roughly in line with the €1,000 (US$1,214) price tag that Samsung quoted at Cebit and above Microsoft's predicted $500 to $1,000 price range for ultra mobile PCs.

It will also go on sale in May in the U.S., Europe, CIS and China at prices yet to be announced, said Lee.

Origami machines run a tablet version of the Windows XP operating system and are intended to fit in the market between laptop PCs and PDAs (personal digital assistants). Samsung's Q1, for example, has a 7-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor and is about half the size of an average laptop PC and lighter. It measures 22.7 centimeters by 13.9 cm by 2.6 cm and weighs 779 grams

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A new era?
Virginia Tech Collegiate Times Online Edition

The College of Engineering has taken the unprecedented step of requiring incoming freshmen to purchase a tablet PC as part of its technology requirement. For Nik Bauman, a former member of the college's Student Technology Committee, however, the change is an ominous one.

“I've never actually heard a student bring up (the idea) that tablets would be a good idea,” the junior computer science major said.

A tablet personal computer - in its “convertible” model - is a laptop with a screen that swivels and folds down, allowing users to write on the screen, annotate papers, sketch diagrams and take notes with a special pen, while still maintaining all the abilities of a typical laptop. The slimmer “slate” model allows for electronic note-taking but lacks a keyboard, instead attaching to a PC through a USB or wireless connection.

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Screens, Tablets, email: but is Bill happy at his work?
Guardian Unlimited

As for Tablet PCs, Gates is one of the format's biggest supporters. The Tablet PC is synchronised with the desktop machine so Gates can take it to meetings, where writing on the screen is socially more acceptable than typing. It also means his meeting notes - taken using OneNote software - are digital.

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April 17, 2006

Announcing the I Love UMPC Contest
origamiproject.net

So, wipe off that drool and grab a keyboard – we’ve got a really cool contest for you! With a little work and creativity, you could be one of five winners to get your very own Samsung Q1 and Slingbox device. How awesome is that? Q1 UMPC + SlingboxTen runners-up will get an authentic origamiproject.com t-shirt. Ok, I admit it's less exciting but hey at least you know you were close to winning the big prize.

We’ve read through the forums and are thrilled at all the great suggestions you’ve given us for how you think a UMPC would be useful to you. Now’s your chance to write up your suggestions in more detail AND get a chance to win this great combo courtesy of Samsung and Sling Media. Click on I Love UMPC Contest for all the details.

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Motion Drops Price on LS1600 Tablet PC and Ram
MotionComputing

Motion Price drop

$2,199$1,999 MSRP
(save $200)
Centrino LV 758 (1.5GHz)


Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition 

Intel® Centrino® Mobile Technology
- Intel Pentium® M Processor LV 758 (1.5GHz)
Motion Ram price drop
- Integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG

512MB RAM
(upgradeable to 1.5GB max)
30GB HDD (60GB Option)

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Overcoming limits with technology: Tablet PC review
Geekzone, New Zealand 

Showing that technology is created to help us overcome our limits, David Wallace has posted a Tablet PC review. David used the Sahara Pen Slate to write the Tablet PC - a lifekludger view post.

David is an IT Coordinator, but he was actually a mechanic before being involved in a car accident that left him with a disability (C4 quadriplegic). His blog tells us about solving problems and getting the most out of life.

And that's why this Tablet PC review is something everyone interested in technology should read.

Via the UberTablet blog.

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TabletKiosk more visible
Whatisnew.com

TabletKiosk gaining visibility

Microsoft updated its UMPC site. It now includes TabletKiosk. Cool

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TellMe Speech Assistant

Whatisnew.com

When I was updating links, I noticed that Todd Landstad has posted TellMe Speech Assistant on Guy Barker's Accessibility and the Tablet PC site. Todd and Guy are both on the Microsoft Mobile PC team. Guy helped work on "The Tablet Guy" and if you were at MEDC last year you may have met Todd.

TellMe Speech Assistant is a program for the Tablet PC written by Todd Landstad. Todd is a software engineer with years of experience with Tablet PC development. He developed the TellMe Speech Assistant as an aid for people for people who have problems speaking. TellMe can make it quick and easy for some people to have phrases they often use spoken by the default voice on the Tablet PC. For instructions on how to use the TellMe Speech Assistant, click TellMe Instructions. (Herbi.org)

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Inking in Internet Explorer
Whatisnew.com

What can you do without four days of sleep? Loren can become distracted long enough from his regular work to get ink in IE.

Loren shows everyone a Camtasia screen capture showing a form being completed in ink within an IE browser. In his post, he explains the code is not ready for general release but the concept is definitely shown in the movie.

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April 18, 2006

TabletKiosk eo Video Review
gottabemobile

My kids like calling it “the Origami” and “the Oreo”, my son says it feels just like a PSP or Gameboy, others refer to it as a UMPC or Ultra Mobile PC – whatever it is we name it, it is obvious that Microsoft and Intel have isolated a real “personal” niche. TabletKiosks eo is our real first look at this new form factor and the “Origami experience”. Please use this video review and my “initial thoughts” post as a total review on the TabletKiosk eo and the Origami experience.

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Gaming on the Go with the Microsoft Tablet PC GameSDK
devx.com

Games, such as Arcs of Fire, that use the unique characteristics of pen input are a great niche for game developers to target. Larry O'Brien explains why.  

Enter the Microsoft Tablet PC GameSDK

Which brings us to the