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Xplore Technologies Corp. and Intel Corporation have announced that the fastest rugged tablet available today, the Windows®-powered XSLATE R12, is gaining another significant boost in speed, power and storage capacity as Xplore becomes the first rugged tablet manufacturer to integrate Intel® PCIe Solid State Drives (SSD) into its portfolio.

The performance-accelerating Intel PCIe SSDs are now shipping as a standard feature on all XSLATE R12 Intel Core® Series i7 models, including a new 1TB configuration option. The new drives deliver over 2X improvement in disk performance, and when combined with the i7 vPro processor, a 48% improvement in overall system performance*.

“Xplore is deeply committed to bringing the latest technology and innovation to our rugged mobile customers, and that is demonstrated once again with our new enhancements to the XSLATE R12,” explained John Graff, vice president of marketing at Xplore. “Our long-standing technology collaboration with Intel is delivering improved productivity and performance to applications that require significant data storage and/or data processing, especially those used by manufacturers, utilities, first responders and field service organisations.”

 

Some of the mobile workers who will immediately benefit from the Intel PCIe SSD-equipped XSLATE R12 include those who:

• Opt not to store data in the cloud, either due to security concerns or application design, and instead need to store locally on the rugged tablet;
• Frequently rely on data- and graphics-intensive applications, such as those used to generate 3D CAD drawings or GIS location intelligence; or
• Have historically been forced to delete files to make room for the large amount of inspection, investigation or quality control photos and videos captured in a day’s work.

“The Xplore XSLATE R12 with an Intel Core i7-7600U processor and an Intel 600p Series PCIe-based SSD is, by far, the fastest rugged tablet we have ever tested,” noted Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, editor, RuggedPCReview.com. “It's amazing how Xplore's proactive adoption of leading edge technology is boosting rugged tablet performance to levels thought impossible just a short time ago."

*According to Passmark testing conducted in July 2017.

 

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Check out our own Hands On Review of the XSLATE R12 here 

 

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We return to our ever popular hardware review series as Kris Oldland runs the rule over the newly beefed-up XSLATE R12 from Xplore Technologies...

What the manufacturers say...

Think you need a desktop, laptop, and rugged tablet to excel at the tasks you complete in the office, in-vehicle, and in the field? You don’t...anymore. You just need the highly mobile, extremely flexible and always resilient Xplore XSLATE® R12 tablet PC.

The transformational 2 in 1 device gives you all the high performance capabilities and complete computing functions you need in a single platform.

You’ll have the right connectivity and ergonomics for a quick transition from the field to a full desktop computing experience – and the most conveniently stored Companion Keyboard on the market. It's fast to deploy when you want a notebook, and even easier to store when you don't. This makes the XSLATE R12 rugged tablet much more evolved than traditional detachable tablets, improving upon its own award-winning R12-series predecessor.

First impressions...

OK I'll open with full and honest disclosure.

When Xplore acquired Motion and took on their product range some time ago now, the device I was most keen to see harness the benefit of two expert teams of rugged R&D specialists was the R12. It was always my favourite of the old Motion line up, looking as close at the time as a consumer unit a rugged device could get and packing a decent punch in terms of power.

Similarly, I'd always liked the aesthetics of the Xplore range, and their heritage as an ultra-rugged manufacturer meant that their devices were as tough as you could get. 'When the Xplore team start chipping in with the next gen R12 it'll be a pretty impressive machine' was one of my first thoughts when I heard about the acquisition.

So needless to say when the demo unit arrived here at Field Service News Towers expectations were high.

Would the new XSLATE R12 live up to those admittedly high expectations, or would it be a missed trick?

 

In terms of first impressions it is in fact exactly what I envisioned it to be.

The heritage of the original Motion R12 is still there, it's a sleek looking tablet by any standards, yet it now undeniably looks like an Xplore tablet at the same time. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it is instantly recognisable as such even from the front where there are no obvious logos or markings.

Xplore's claims for this tablet is that it is a 'transformational 2-1 device' and i'm not 100% sure if that is accurate (more on that later) but what they are referring to here is the fact that the tablet has a rather lovely optional attachment to the back that not only acts as a kick stand but also houses and charges a decent size (about 4/5 the size of standard) bluetooth keyboard which even has a track pad within it.

Of course a tablet on a kickstand, using a keyboard and trackpad doesn't mean this is still necessarily going to deliver a laptop experience - as anyone who has used either an Android tablet or iPad in such as way will attest, there is more to using a laptop than setup - namely the ability to run 'proper' applications - which of course all depends on the processors.

The Microsoft Surface was arguably the first device that could genuinely claim to have finally cracked the 'tablet that could replace a laptop' category, although the Panasonic ToughBook20 (another device i'm a fan of) does things the other way around (i.e. a laptop with a screen that can be detached and act as a tablet) but essentially offers a different take on the same concept in a fully rugged form factor.

 

So perhaps the first question we need to ask is how does the XSLATE R12 stack up when it comes to CPU?

Processing power

In fact it does pretty darn well.

One of the key points raised in the XSLATE R12's marketing blurb is that the device comes in a number of flavours in terms of processors.

In fact there are four options:

• Intel® Core™ i7 vPro™ 7600U up to 3.9 GHz, 4 MB SmartCache
• Intel® Core™ i7-7500U up to 3.5 GHz, 4 MB SmartCache
• Intel® Core™ i5-6200U up to 2.8 GHz, 3MB SmartCache
• Intel® Celeron® 3865U 1.8 GHz, 2MB SmartCache

Now, if we are to compare this to the Panasonic ToughBook20 - which is perhaps the easiest device for comparison, the Celeron configuration is less powerful, the Core i5 is pretty much on a par (albeit with a smaller cache) but the two Core i7 configurations are both superior in terms of processing power.

 

Indeed, at the top end with the i7 vPro configuration, the XSLATE R12 even sits well alongside the top end of consumer devices including the Microsoft Surface 4. From a hands on perspective I used the XSLATE R12 for a number of my day to day tasks many of which require fairly demanding applications such as video, audio and image editing and the tablet accounted for itself well, with no issues and similar response levels as the MacBook Pro I generally use when I'm on the road.

Operating system

The XSLATE R12 is available primarily on Windows 10 64 bit which is to be expected given the fact that Microsoft put out an end of life announcement for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 in the last quarter of 2016.

The good news is that whilst they may have taken their time to get there and made a few mistakes along the way, almost all of Windows 8 for example felt rushed and ill thought out (hence the quick reworking that became Windows 8.1), Windows 10 is a genuinely intuitive and powerful OS.

Of course, being on a Window's system in the field may be helpful for the many, many organisations that are using such systems in the office as well in terms of mobile device management and cyber-security etc. Also for those who have yet to migrate to Windows 10 the XSLATE R12 does come with downgrade options to either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 which will be available until October this year.

The Ins & Outs

Data input options: Bluetooth Keyboard

Let's start off with the area that Xplore themselves have highlighted as a key USP for the XSLATE R12, namely the way they have approached the 2-in-1 category. My initial thoughts on this, as alluded to above, is that just adding a kickstand and a bluetooth keyboard doesn't necessarily mean that we are getting a true laptop experience.

However, perhaps the biggest obstacle for a tablet to replace a laptop is the processing power and as we have seen above the processing power of the XSLATE R12 is certainly in the laptop replacing category. In the terms of being considered a 2-in-1, the approach taken by Xplore (i.e. integrating a kickstand that can also act as a holder and charger for the bluetooth keyboard) is a innovative and slick approach to the form factor.

 

The keyboard itself connected through the bluetooth easily, quickly and with no issues at all and was of a decent enough size to be more than comfortable for typing anything of length and the trackpad was also equally responsive and a useful inclusion. Indeed the experience of using the XSLATE R12 with the keyboard is very much that of using a laptop, also from my experience using the device, the lack of the physical connection between the screen and the keyboard actually lends itself to more flexible, and thus more comfortable use.

Finally, it should be highlighted that the entire kickstand mechanism including the keyboard is able to be detached very easily (it is attached magnetically) at which point the XSLATE R12 becomes a powerful tablet. It is certainly a heavy duty device weighing in at fairly hefty 2.9 lbs. To put that into context that is almost twice as heavy as the 12.9 inch iPad Pro - a good comparable device in terms of screen size. However, perhaps a more even comparison would be with the Dell Latitude Rugged 12 as consumer devices are of course lighter than their rugged counterparts and in this instance the XSLATE R12 is indeed around 20% lighter of the two.

Date input options: Pen input: 

As you would expect of a professional grade 2-in-1 device the XSLATE R12 comes with a pen stylus for written input. The tablet has a neat built-in holder for the pen, which would be very familiar to anyone who has ever used a Samsung Galaxy Note tablet or smart phone, and the stylus itself has a similar level of variance in stroke pressure to that of a Wacom stylus and comes with a standard, but still highly useful, button that can be set up for a number of uses (personally I find it useful as a right mouse click replacement.)

Data input options: Cameras

The camera options for the XSLATE R12 are sufficient if not groundbreaking.

There are two cameras on the device a front facing camera which has become an absolute necessity for field service work as the concept of remote assistance via video calls becomes a very standard approach amongst field service organisations. Given the primary function of this front camera the 2.0 Megapixel spec is more than sufficient - anything more than that would just get wasted in compression codecs used for video streaming - particularly over 3G internet signals.

On the rear of the tablet there is an 8 Megapixel camera which also has a LED flash.

Whilst of course this is adequate for most of the tasks required of it - which are for documentation purposes rather than taking award winning landscapes, in dark corners (where field assets can often reside) capturing clear photographs was slightly less straightforward.

However, this is a minor gripe, and for the most part the rear camera fared well in our test scenarios.

Data input: additional options

The tablet is also capable of including additional data input options which come in the form of Xplore's proprietary add-on system called slate mate.

Additional options for the XSLATE R12 include a 13.56 MHz HF RFID with reader with write capability and a Barcode reader that works with both 1D and 2D barcodes. Both of these inclusions are optional extras.

I/Os:

In terms of it's inputs the XSLATE R12 is not particularly rich in options that come as standard. There is only 1 USB port (which is USB 3.0) although there is a HDMI port. I flagged this up as a benefit when reviewing the XSLATE R12's sister device the XSLATE B10 as it is certainly something useful for those working in telco/pay TV sector - which I understand is where the original request for inclusion of HDMI in came from.

However, the XSLATE B10 comes with an extra USB port making it less of a trade off.

For the R12, especially given that it seems to be aiming for a wider market - trying to step into not just field workers but the wider arena of enterprise mobility perhaps, then I felt that perhaps this bit of real estate on the tablet could have been better served as a second USB.

The team at Xplore I am sure would argue that the XSLATE R12's docking station is designed to overcome exactly this issue offering not only an additional four USB ports but a whole plethora of other I/Os (including another HDMI port plus also an ethernet port and a serial port both of which are only available on the tablet itself as additional upgrades which incorporate a slightly clumsy sounding dongle based solution.

 

Indeed, on reflection I guess they would have a point.

Realistically, given the fact that the keyboard is bluetooth and the screen is touch sensitive, then the requirements for a second USB port in the field may be fairly limited, and the docking station really does open the R12 up into desktop level experiences and for many organisations could be a hugely beneficial addition. However, if i'm being hyper critical I still think if given the choice between an additional USB port or a HDMI port many field workers would opt for the former. Perhaps a choice between the two could be integrated into future iterations of the device?

In terms of connectivity, the XSLATE has space for a SIM card to provide mobile internet coverage, and comes with three internal options for configuration of LTE networks depending on region and requirements - which is of course an essential inclusion for field workers. This is acts as a compliment to the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 Wi-Fi which picked up good speeds on our wireless network.

For storage there is a MicroSD slot to expand the XSLATE R12's internal capacity which ranges from 64GB up to 512GB.

Finally, the XSLATE R12 has a standard 3mm audio jack plus 2 integrated speakers and 3 microphones (2 front facing and one rear facing). The XSLATE R12 also features RealTek noise reduction which worked very well when we made a test call from outdoors in what was a very windy environment.

Battery Life:

It is slowly become a bit of a moot point in the world of industry level devices at least to discuss battery life and for the XSLATE R12 that is almost certainly the case. Essentially, the device is capable of running forever via hot swappable batteries - which can be purchased as additional accessories.

Even for those who don't have a second battery the stated life time of the device is over 9 hours. However, it should be mentioned that we found this to be slightly lower (closer to 6 or 7) and looking at the fine print Xplore do state that 9+ hours is based upon the Core i5 configuration.

However, we also found that in our tests batteries were charging close to full within a little over 2 hours - which again is pretty much in line with Xplore's stated claim of 2.5 hours.

Ruggedity:

I mentioned earlier in the review that the XSLATE R12 seems to be aimed at a slightly different market to where Xplore have played in traditionally. Indeed, I recall Mark Holleran, COO of Xplore telling me that he saw the Motion range more in the semi-rugged space compared to the original Xplore tablets and when the XSLATE R12 was launched John Graff, VP of marketing at Xplore was quoted as saying “No one sits still anymore at work”.

Which is very much true, but is this an indication that the XSLATE R12 is not being targeted only at field workers, but at the wider (and much bigger) market of mobile workers, i.e. those who are essentially based primarily in an office but work on the road as much as they do at HQ?

 

Maybe I am reading between the lines here but the rugged specs for the XSLATE R12 would appear to back up this assumption.

Whilst the device is certainly robust - the fact that it is tested to MIL-STD-810G standards means it is capable of taking more than it's fair share of knocks and drops, it's relatively low IP rating of IP54 means that this is not a device particularly suited to the outdoor life.

For reference a rating of IP54 means that the device is neither protected against dust ingress nor anything more than splash proof. In a world where many top-end consumer smartphones are now rated IP67 or even as is the case with Samsung's last three flagship devices IP68 (meaning completely closed off to dust ingress and submergible in water for up to 30 minutes) it is a surprise that the XSLATE R12 scores so lowly in this regard.

Yet, whilst the XSLATE wouldn't be too happy getting dropped in a muddy puddle, on the flip side it's screen brightness rating of 800 NITS means you would be able to see the screen clearly even in bright sun if you did take it outside - so just be careful where you put it down.

Finally, the XSLATE R12 is also C1D2 certified for hazardous locations, an important inclusion for those working in such environments.

Conclusion:

There is so much good to write about the XSLATE R12. It is comfortable as both a laptop and a tablet which makes it a good option for those companies whose engineers are currently still using multiple devices.

It has plenty of power for more CPU intensive tasks such as CAD based design work and for a rugged 12inch tablet it is a sleek looking and not to cumbersome to carry around, and as mentioned it is certainly capable of surviving a fair few knocks and drops.

However, there is a certain element of Jeckyl and Hyde in the XSLATE R12 that I just can't get my head around.

It's low IP rating certainly surprised me when I looked through the specs and based on it's rating of IP54 I certainly wouldn't recommend it to an organisation whose engineers work outdoors on anything near even a semi-regular basis. In the world today our field engineer's mobility tools are critical to his role, and no matter how good those tools are, they are useless if they are broken.

I'm sure that the team at Xplore would quite rightly point out the fact that they offer other tablets which are "fully rugged" as they term it - such as the XSLATE B10 which is IP67 rated for field technicians working in such environments, but what confuses me is that the XSLATE B10 has a significantly lower (although admittedly perfectly acceptable) screen brightness compared to the XSLATE R12 - so in very bright sunlight the XSLATE R12 would be easier to view than it's more rugged cousin the XSLATE B10.

But as mentioned the XSLATE R12 isn't really suited to outdoor environments where it could get dusty or wet - so why bother giving it a NIT rating of 800 in the first place? It is this kind of lack of connection in reasoning that makes me think that even the R&D team at Xplore may not truly know exactly which vertical this device is aimed at.

However, this doesn't mean that the XSLATE R12 is not an excellent tablet and could be a perfect tool for some field technicians. The inclusion of HDMI as mentioned does make it an excellent choice for field service technicians working in the installation and maintenance of PayTV systems for example and of course such indoor environments would mean less exposure to wet or dusty environments - so for telcos the XSLATE R12 could be a great choice.

 

Indeed, with the application of this same logic the XSLATE R12 would be a good fit any sector whose field workers were largely based either within homes or offices.

Although, again when we look at these sectors we need to ask whether consumer devices within rugged casing may be suitable alternatives and similarly whether simpler tablets can be deployed in cases where the impressive processing power of the XSLATE R12 is simply going to waste?

The XSLATE R12 is undoubtedly a very, very good device and if your field service company is one of the many whose engineers are currently using both a tablet and a laptop then this could certainly be a device worth exploring. In this regard it certainly could potentially find a much bigger home outside of field service in the hands of the general mobile worker.

However, if your field service engineers do work in more challenging environments than homes and offices then regardless of the XSLATE R12's many impressive facets, you are probably best looking at alternatives such as the XSLATE B10 or the Panasonic Toughbook20.

 

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Hewlett Packard isn’t a name that jumps to the top of the list when thinking of hardware providers within the field service sector. Neither for that matter do Windows Phones in general. So when the HP Elite x3 was launched in October last year not too many folks in the market (including ourselves) paid a huge amount of attention.

However, having got a look at the device at Field Service USA, Kris Oldland, Field Service News Editor-in-Chief, realises that we may have just overlooked the very future of computing for our industry...

I’m very much a firm believer in holding my hands up when I get things wrong - and boy did I get this wrong.

When HP launched the Elite x3 I pretty much automatically dismissed it primarily on the basis that a) it wasn’t truly rugged so not a fit for heavy duty outdoor based field work and that b) it was only available running Windows 10 Mobile - which although a perfectly valid OS, the lack of Android options suggested that there would be better comparable options out there for field service organisations.

However, by not paying enough attention, I overlooked what could very well be the first device we see that can completely redefine computing and mobility in our sector.

 

Big words, I know, but bear with me on this.

The thing is that whilst we talk about mobility revolutions, really and truly the smart phone or it’s big brother the tablet hasn’t (nor will it ever) fully replace the laptop. There are just always times when a field service engineer will be better off with a keyboard. Admittedly, pure play tablet manufacturers like rugged specialists Xplore do a very good job of offering bluetooth keyboards as accessories, but that just re-enforces the fact that you still largely need a keyboard for odious yet essential tasks such as updating records and filing reports.

Then there is the less frequent but still valid need for a field service engineer to use a desktop.

Again the laptop never really replaced the desktop, if an engineer needs to head back to HQ to help the team work on an important report for a client, outlining how wonderfully his company have met SLAs for example, there is a fair chance that he will do so sat in front of a desktop.

And whilst tablets are great mobile workforce devices they can’t beat a smart phone for simple things like making calls and even when it comes to FSM systems - giving an engineer a tablet means he has something else to carry, whilst his phone can just go in his pocket - when it comes to simple mobility - smart phones of course come out top.

So whilst we have had various new devices and form factors come into the market you could argue that none have really replaced each other. I’m sure that most field service engineers will have with them at least two devices at any given time and may have to use up to four devices in their workflow at some point within their working year.

Well not anymore.

You see, whilst the HP Elite x3 comes with an impressive set of specs that include beefy processing power and in fact a fairly robust IP67 dust and water ingress protection, it is the devices wider applications that make it so groundbreaking.

 

As so often in life, the devil is in the detail and the clue is in the name - specifically the x3 part.

You see the Elite x3 has a very impressive trick up it’s sleeve in that if you plug it into a dock which connects to a monitor then it literally becomes a PC. With a bluetooth keyboard and mouse you are all set to go with a full PC experience, completely powered by and therefore accessing the same data stored on your phone.

But wait there’s more...

HP have also developed what they call a LapDock for the Elite x3. This is essentially, for all intense purposes, an empty shell of a laptop. Yet when you connect the Elite x3 to the LapDock (wirelessly of course) once again the phone acts as the CPU for the laptop and again you have a seamless transition from a mobile based work flow to a laptop based workflow.

Even if a phone call comes through - you can take it without the need to exit any ‘mode’ etc and can continue working on the laptop as you speak.

 

For field service organisations the potential of such a system is of course deeply profound. Not only can you stop having to kit out your engineers with multiple devices (be honest how many of you still give your engineers a laptop/tablet and a phone) but also the direct result of this is that their workflow across devices reaches a whole new level of integration and for the first time, can be truly seamless.

Admittedly, HP aren’t the only ones to have explored this concept. I recall seeing Samsung suggest a similar concept for the Note series - and we may well yet see something similar for the Note 8.

But HP have certainly taken the first step in what could be a truly redefining new take on computing within the field service arena.

One thing is for sure, I won’t be dismissing any of their next few launches so easily out of hand again. And if the potential of the Elite x3 gets even close to having the disruptive effect I think it could have, I suggest you don’t either.

 

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RuggON Corporation, a leader in the design and manufacturing of ruggedized computing products, recently launched a new rugged in-vehicle terminal, the VX-601, which provides superb visibility from a large, bright, sunlight-readable touchscreen display; great durability; seamless connectivity and communications; as well as smart power management.

The VX-601 is suitable for challenging environments and diverse applications such as intralogistics, cold chain logistics, waste management, mining, harbour freight handling, agriculture and construction. The VX-601 is a full-featured industry-standard computer, based around a powerful Intel® Core™ i5-6300U 2.4 GHz CPU, with up to 8GB of memory, an 80mm M.2 SSD for storage, and internal mini-PCIe slots for expansion.

User friendly in-vehicle terminal

The VX-601 saves time and increases productivity with its outstanding user interface design. The ultra-bright 1200 nits display dims automatically in low light to save power and prevent eyestrain. Even in direct sunlight, a special anti-reflection layer is available to help keep the screen readable. Dedicated user-programmable function keys around the touchscreen provide instant access to important operations, including brightness and volume. A tough projected capacitive touchscreen (PCT) option is available for improved gloved operation.

Based on extensive experience with real-world applications, RuggON has developed the user-friendly DashON interface. With DashON users can easily monitor or adjust numerous important settings and features. RuggON also provides a complete SDK, allowing users to quickly develop their own applications.

Tough enough for any task

RuggON specialises in rugged design, and the VX-601 is built from the ground up for durability and reliability, with IP66 (IEC 60529), MIL-STD-810G and IEC 60721-3-5 Class 5M3 compliance. Waterproofed external connectors are available. Operating temperature range is -30°C to 55°C – with an optional defroster/defogger to keep the screen readable. Together, these features ensure the VX-601 will always be ready for action, in any environment, indoors or outdoors.

The VX-601 accepts a wide power input range, from 9 to 60 VDC, for compatibility with almost any vehicular electrical system. The built-in rechargeable 4500mAh battery pack not only acts as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) during brief power outages, but provides 1.5 hours of working time for mobile use, or when an external power source is not available. Smart power management features include ignition sense support to prevent glitches caused by voltage transients. The power connector features any easy relea5se hand-rotatable mechanism to prevent accidental power cable detachment.

The in-vehicle terminal that’s designed for connectivity and expansion

This terminal provides an almost unlimited array of options for connecting to the world and other devices, and includes full GNSS support. Wireless communications are provided by 802.11ac WiFi at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, High Speed Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Wireless wide area network (WWAN) support is also available. Wired connectivity options include Gigabit LAN, as well as extensive I/O features for field operations, such as powered RS-232 plus a separate RS-232/422/485 socket, GPIO and CAN bus (SAE J1939 / OBD II support), and optional four channel video input.

Based on popular industry-standard hardware for ease of expansion and maximum hardware and software compatibility, the VX-601 supports Windows 10 IoT. RuggON offers a diverse range of accessories and peripherals to suit any application.

Read more about the RuggON VX-601 – the ultimate in tough, reliable in-vehicle terminal computers – as well as VX-601 accessories, and other products from RuggON, the rugged computer specialists, here: http://www.ruggon.com/

 

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 Xplore Technologies Corp has recently announced its flagship Android™ rugged tablet, the XSLATE D10, is available with the upgraded Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. The Intel®-powered XSLATE D10 has long been considered the “fully rugged Android champion” in its 10.1” tablet class. This latest OS improvement provides Xplore customers with even greater return on investment (ROI) thanks to Marshmallow’s security, power management and mobile device management enhancements.

“Companies of all sizes, across all global industries, come to Xplore because they need to mobilize their workforces with highly secure, highly versatile enterprise-grade computing solutions that won’t compromise their sensitive data or the safety of their workers. They know that Xplore consistently builds and refines best-in-class rugged tablet solutions with the customers’ best interests and big picture operational objectives in mind,” explained Ron Harter, senior director of software development at Xplore. “With this latest XSLATE D10 OS upgrade, customers will maintain the Android-defined flexibility they mandate within their mobile IT environments but gain critical new computing functionality that will lead to performance and efficiency gains.”

[quote float="left"]With this latest XSLATE D10 OS upgrade, customers will maintain the Android-defined flexibility they mandate within their mobile IT environments but gain critical new computing functionality that will lead to performance and efficiency gains -Ron Harter, Xplore Technologies

The new Android 6.0.1, Marshmallow OS improves the battery life of the Xplore XSLATE D10 rugged tablet more than 10 percent, extending the use time beyond 8 hours*. Google’s latest battery optimization techniques work in combination with a new Marshmallow-specific application standby feature to prevent workflow applications from draining the battery and causing undue disruptions to the user. A hot-swappable second battery option provides up to 22 hours of continuous work time. The upgraded XSLATE D10 tablets also provide IT managers and users with several enhancements to the Android for Work and Voice Assist APIs, each of which will prove indispensable to organizations seeking greater worker efficiency and, therefore, faster application responsiveness.

 

“Often, when our customers first evaluate today’s mobile computer options, they are shocked to find how many are either incompatible with existing software, unable to meet security standards, or incapable of connecting to existing systems,” noted Josh Austin, CTO of OPEN Inc, the creator of SafetyPAD and an Xplore partner. “Our fire and EMS customers need complete, uninterrupted accessibility to critical data resources in and out of the office, and the Xplore XSLATE D10 rugged tablet is the only platform that enables them to easily leverage the inherent flexibility of Android. Xplore’s overt attention to quality, connectivity, and performance in the engineering of the XSLATE D10 has enabled our customers to easily achieve every one of their mobility goals. The recently expanded OS features will enable us, as a software provider, to further optimize and scale our solutions.”

The XSLATE D10 has been lauded for its user-friendly features, including a bright outdoor-viewable multi-touch display; eight standard I/O ports; and 4G LTE, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi technologies. It also comes standard with several collaboration tools that enable hi-res image capture and video conferencing as well as multi-user login. The rugged tablet’s numerous MIL-STD-810G tested, IP65-rated and ATEX/C1Z2-certified Hazardous Location safeguards combine with a 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD) to keep workers productive – and their work protected – in every environment.

The XSLATE D10, named Intel’s 2016 Client Platform of the Year, is also a highly secure and fully managed mobile computing solution. It can easily be deployed, configured, secured, and upgraded using a number of enterprise mobility management (EMM) platforms, including Airwatch, MobileIron and SOTI Mobi Control. And customers benefit from the standard TPM, Kensington Lock option, and expanded security and encryption features now available via the Marshmallow OS.

For more information about the new Xplore XSLATE D10 Android platform, please visit www.xploretech.com/D10.

 

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The term closest competitors could have been coined for Xplore Technologies and Motion Computing. Whilst they both competed in the niche market place of rugged computing, physically they were even closer - both being based on the same stretch of road in Texas. So it was almost inevitable that the two would eventually merge, which they did in April 2015 - making them the world’s 2nd largest manufacturer of rugged tablets overnight.

But when something is inevitable it doesn’t always mean it’s easy. Kris Oldland spoke exclusively to Mark Holleran COO, Xplore Technologies to find out more about the recent past, the present and the near future of the Texan Rugged Specialists.

It is testament to Holleran’s hands on approach to managing Xplore Technologies and his resulting busy diary that it has taken the best part of three months of diary juggling on both sides of the Atlantic before we are finally able to schedule a call that actually worked for this interview.

With this in mind, ahead of the call I was expecting it to perhaps be a somewhat hurried affair, with Holleran spouting off some pre-scripted soundbites that most CEOs seem to usually have to hand - particularly when being questioned about M&A activity. Generic quotes about mutual respect, optimistic futures and grandiose visions of world domination that to put it politely aren’t never quite in tune with reality.

Fortunately, it turns out my instincts were wrong.

Whether it was a result of the legendary friendly nature of Texans so often commented on, Holleran’s genuine passion for his company and the industry at large (he has been with Xplore for over 13 years and in the tech space for over 30) or as is more likely a combination of both factors, Holleran proved to be both engaging and insightful during the hour and a bit that we spoke.

Indeed, he was not only prepared to take the time to answer the questions put to him with thoughtful and reasoned responses, but also with a level of straight honesty that is all too often missing in trade journal interviews today.

Often, the real insight within an interviewee’s responses can get buried under wave after wave of hyperbole and over exaggeration that often needs to be translated back from marketingspeak.

At the same time it seems that many trade journalists are frightened to ask anything too probing these days in case it upsets any commercial relationships.

Whilst as Editor-in-Chief, I have the ability to control at least one side of this set of challenges to help ensure we continue to publish content our readers value, I’ll readily admit that some interviewees make our lives as business journalists that much easier when they just speak from the heart and shoot from the hip.

 

Fortunately in Holleran, it seemed I had discovered a kindred spirit in someone that believes in the virtues of just saying it as it is and letting the story speak for itself.

That said, it does of course help when the story is as compelling as Xplore’s acquisition of Motion which suddenly catapulted them to being the world’s second largest manufacturer of rugged tablets, seemingly almost overnight.

As mentioned above the prospect of Xplore and Motion coming together at some point had a certain sense of inevitability about it.

However, most analysts would have predicted it would have been Motion who acquired Xplore rather than the other way around and the speed of Xplore’s acquisition of their rivals from up the road certainly took a few in the industry by surprise.

“I think Motion was foreclosed on Friday, on the Monday we bought the assets and the next Friday we had a BBQ where there was 53 people all together” Holleran explains when we discuss the speed at which everything was completed.

Indeed, the shared culture of the two companies that were literally based on the same road in Texas, was already firmly in place well before the acquisition happened.

Holleran recounts how at that inaugural group BBQ one very astute individual asked all those who had previously worked for both companies to stand up - about 40 people did so.

In fact, there had already been previous conversations about bringing the two companies together as Holleran explained.

“It was originally the Motion founders that approached Xplore, but my predecessor wasn’t receptive to that, we did talk and in the end we did try and help each other.”

“For me, did I think we would we eventually work out something – yes I’d like to think so. Then we took the opportunity when it came around and fortunately for us we were in the better financial health - so it was us who acquired them,” he adds.

What is particularly interesting however, is that despite both companies sitting in the rugged tablet space, being in the same location and as a result of that proximity even having an informal movement of personnel between one another, the product ranges were actually very complimentary and with very little overlap.

 

As Holleran explains “If you look at Xplore’s history we were in the Ultra Rugged tablets space, we made the most rugged PC in the world. Then about five years ago we decided to enter to the fully rugged space but we didn’t really compete with Motion, who would have been in what we viewed as the semi-rugged space. So we saw a unique opportunity to acquire an asset that was very complimentary, their products are 100% complimentary to ours. Their channel was also very complimentary with around 80-90%, distribution which was also something they did which we didn’t do, They were working on a dual tier model and we were working on a single tier  model,” he adds.

Basically, what Xplore did well, Motion was weaker at and vice versa and this also translated into vertical and geographical exposure.

“Some major companies and customers are now embracing our products more because Motion was number three in the market and we’ve got over 20 years experience,” Holleran asserts before making the bold, yet perfectly valid statement that with Motion and their product range brought into the Xplore fold they now “have the god given right now to expect to be on every major rugged tablet RFP.”

At this point we do need to address the elephant in the room. Namely the fact that the reason Xplore was able to acquire their bigger competitor was largely due to the fact that Motion had suffered from issues in the supply chain, that ultimately led to financial challenges.

Was this an issue that was now fully resolved?

“There are always issues in the supply chain but if you understand that and you work closely in the supply chain they can be overcome,” insists Holleran.

“Myself, I travel to Taipei once a quarter. And don’t forget we’ve been doing this longer than anyone else. We were there 14/15 years ago so we understand their culture and their history, we have long standing relationships over there and we have an excellent reputation there,” he adds.

Yet, supply chain challenges are not the only potential threats to the ongoing success of Xplore Technologies. Is the rugged tablet market itself in a healthy position?

It is all very well being the second largest maker of rugged tablets in the world- but should the market move away from tablets and embrace the newly emerged form factor of the convertible or detachable does that leave them exposed?

 

I was keen to get Holleran’s opinion on products such as the Panasonic CF-20 - a fully rugged detachable that offers the dual benefit of being both a laptop and tablet at the same time. Will we ever see a similar device from the Xplore team?

“We never say never but our speciality and history is in tablets and we consider ourselves the world experts on rugged tablets – we’ve been doing it for twenty years which is longer than Panasonic has,“ he replies when I put the question to him.

“We’re investigating that area – but I would say that basic physics says that you cannot build a notebook or a 2-in1 device as rugged as a tablet”

“It all depends on your needs – if you're really keyboard centric and data intensive then a 2-in-1 is for you, but as soon as you put a keyboard onto a device it is not a truly mobile device to use. You can carry it, but you can’t just pull it up within one hand and then use it, that’s only the function of a tablet. So if you need mobility, if you need to have one hand free to keep other things working – then you really do need a tablet,” he added.

Of course, another threat to rugged manufacturers is that of the consumer OEMs.

In the past the argument from rugged manufacturers was a fairly straight forward one. If you worked in an environment where your tablet could get a bit wet or accidentally knocked about then you really needed to go with something rugged.

However, with consumer manufacturers releasing products that are themselves becoming more rugged such as recent Samsung products being IP68 certified - are the lines between business-rugged, semi-rugged and rugged all blurring somewhat? If so why should we invest in devices from specialist rugged manufacturers such as Xplore?

“I would say that ruggedization has various hats,” Holleran begins.

 

“If you are looking at an IP rating, which means it is protected against dust and water that’s one thing, but you can’t use these devices in extreme temperatures, you can’t see them in the bright sun, you still can’t drop these devices,” he adds.

“There is a need for different types of devices but those devices are not enterprise class PCs. They’re basically for reading your emails, watching a video or game – if you want them for doing a dispatch, accessing your ERP or picking system for example then no – they’re not going to run.”

“Our market is not inside an office or going out occasionally. Our market is in nasty plants, outside, with rain, sleet, snow, hot, cold, vibrations from vehicles. So if anything we see it [competition from consumer brands] as good for us as it lends more credibility to the need for fully rugged devices.”

“It gives some people a better understanding of the fact that in different environments you’ll need different types of ruggedization and there are considerable degrees of ruggedization. There are different needs for different people of course.”

For Holleran it all comes down to a simple question of reliability, which given the often mission critical nature of both installation and maintenance work carried out in the field, is of course paramount for most field service organisations.

 

“Basically it’s simple – when the product is a tool for your job, in other words if your computer is not working then you cannot do your job – then you really need a rugged device. If you’ve got your dispatch system, your inventory systems, your schedule, your maps, your components then if that computer is not working you can’t do your job – so people in that scenario want a rugged device that’s going to last.”

“Our marketing strategy is quality; our products exceed our customer’s specs.”

“If you want a product that can stay in the field for three or four years, then you need a rugged device, you can’t put an enterprise device in – it just won’t last,” he concludes.

What about the sometimes mooted concept of just having a rack of pre-loaded cheap tablets, so when one device fails an engineer can just pick up a new one from HQ?

“The problem with this idea problem is how do you get to all your data?” Holleran retorts.

“If your computer breaks, that data has then got to be put on a new computer and then you have to make sure that the new computer has all the security protocols etc, so your talking about days - maybe even a week if there is a backlog. A week where nothing happens and a guy can’t work? Do they just get an extra vacation whilst you lose money?” He asks.

From our conversation it seemed clear to me that Holleran not only has a strong depth of knowledge about his own market and the wider sectors he operates in, but also has similar depth of knowledge in understanding his customers needs and their workflows. I was keen to discuss this further so asked him how prevalent was such knowledge of their customer’s workflows across the company and was this ingrained into the success of Xplore to date.

“That is very important to us – Xplore is very much a customer centric company,” he begins.

“We will even put features into a product for the customer if required. For example, in our Rugged Android D10 we have HDMI-in port which allows it to work as a Telco testing device. So yes, that is one of our core competencies, it’s critical to the company and is a foundation which the business has been built upon.“

Indeed, it seems that the future for Xplore Technologies is well plotted and in Holleran they have a leader who has a clear understanding of where their strengths lie and how they can leverage those to best serve the markets they operate within.

“We still have new products under development the XSLATE will be the brand. We will continue to be a premium supplier with innovative technology; we have some new innovations under development,” he asserts.

“We intend to be the world’s expert authority on rugged tablets and peripherals attached to that. I tell people if you really want to buy a rugged notebook go buy Panasonic.”

“If you want to buy a rugged tablet come to Xplore – that’s what we do and we are the world's best at it.”

 

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The world's longest-establish rugged tablet PC maker, Xplore Technologies, has partnered with CLS America to launch the Thorium X, a first-in-class satellite communications tablet system based on the Xplore XSLATE D10 Android rugged tablet PC, meaning "off-the-grid" workers in the UK and Europe can maintain operations almost regardless.

Xplore has received an initial order from OEM customer CLS for 1,000 XSLATE D10 units and will fulfill follow-on orders as needed. It is now available in the UK and Europe.

Thorium X comes with the Thorium Application for immediate use of satellite email, weather, mapping and more.  Thorium X also comes with a ThoriumWeb account, so users can log on and see their locations, the data moving through the system, electronic forms results, connected sensor values and a number of other features.

Thorium X is priced at $2,299.00 (satellite and Wifi)  and $2,499.00 with cellular. There is a range of satellite service packages available, starting at $20 per month plus usage charges.

Mark Holleran, president and COO of Xplore, said: “One of Xplore’s strengths is the ability to engineer flexible rugged tablet technologies that allow OEMs such as CLS to customise and implement future-proof mobility solutions based on our industry-leading platforms. By adding satellite data communications capabilities to the best Android rugged tablet on the market – the Xplore XSLATE D10 – CLS both expands the addressable market and enables increased ROI for customers operating off the grid mobile workforces.”

 

The Intel-powered Thorium X features an integrated Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) modem and flexible satellite antenna that significantly expands the reliability, speed, and cost-effectiveness of mobile communications. As a result, users will be able to maintain continuity in their professional activities from any remote location around the globe – and most likely at a lower cost than most cellular data plans.

Michael Kelly of CLS America said: “We know that communications challenges in places or during times when no cellular or WiFi is available costs global industries and governments millions of dollars.Thorium X now allows people to stay connected via satellite 100% of the time, and at a fraction of the cost of satellite phones.”

In fact, Thorium X users will have the unprecedented ability to access email, view statistical reports of missions, engage in M2M communication and monitoring, and send electronic forms – among other critical tasks – via satellite in real time. A bright, 10.1” outdoor viewable screen and Glove Touch capabilities make it easy to conduct secure, TPM 1.2-protected transactions day or not, even in inclement weather. Thorium X software solutions are also available as a tablet app and desktop platform to securely facilitate mapping functions, deliver weather reports, and perform data compilation and transmissions in real-time via the rugged satellite tablet.

Michael Kelly added: “The launch of Thorium X means that users no longer have to rely solely on WiFi or cellular network connections. This is a huge win for people and teams who work in remote areas, or during times that other communications have been compromised, especially those supporting global operations related to emergency management, military, environmental monitoring, government, fisheries, and other field-centric industries."

 

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Logic Instrument, manufacturer of rugged mobile computers extend its range of the already widely accepted professional Fieldbook tablets with a new model that combines ruggedness, lightweight and unique functionalities offering multiple uses in industrial environments. Its 12.2-inch format ensures great display comfort that is vital for specialists in the fields of automation, automotive, construction or service technicians across all industries.

 The “cross-usage” Fieldbook combines the functionalities of a laptop and a tablet: a large screen, a full-sized, detachable keyboard, mobility and a variety of interfaces – all this considering its reduced weight and increased flexibility.

“This cross-usage tablet represents a new step in the evolution of Logic Instrument’s product range. It allows us to position ourselves in new markets with a device that is 50% lighter and fully rugged, for application in harsh industrial environments,” says Loïc Poirier, CEO of Logic Instrument.

Big Screen with Full HD Resolution

The 12,2-inch screen with 1920x1200 pixels displays all the details even of complex applications, GIS maps or large spreadsheets. The IPS technology allows for wide viewing angles with high contrast and good color reproduction. At the same time, the screen is protected from scratches and drops by Corning’s Gorilla® Glass. Data input can be made either with fingers, even on a wet surface or with gloves on, as well as with the attachable keyboard.

Long-life Battery

The Fieldbook K122 is powered by a 13,000mAh battery that keeps the device running for more than a normal working day. And if necessary, the user can easily replace the battery without needing specific tools.

Well Balanced

Powered by an Intel x5-Z8350 quad-core processor, the Fieldbook K122 achieves great performance combined with low power consumption. The standard version already has 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage, which can be extended by a micro SD card. An integrated WWAN module offers mobile broadband up to 4G/LTE speed. Also integrated are dual-band WiFi and an uBlox GPS module. Two USB type-A, one type-C, HDMI, Gigabit-LAN and up to two serial interfaces are available for wired connections.

A Fieldbook Loyal to Its Principles

Straight from the line of the Fieldbook, this K122 model does not deviate from the rule that has made the success of this equipment for many years: ruggedness, performance and versatility at the best price. Thanks to its hardened design, the K122 resists dust, water (IP65), drops as well as high and low temperatures. This ruggedness makes the Fieldbook K122 the ideal companion in all environments, even the most hostile.

The Fieldbook K122 will be available from February 2017 at a MSRP of 1598€.

 

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In the final instalment of our series decoding the various acronyms and abbreviations found in the world of rugged devices we explore the meaning of ATEX certifications...

When looking at a rugged devices spec sheet we will often see the words ATEX certified. So what is ATEX certification who is it relevant to and why is it important?

ATEX is the name given to two European Directives relating to controlling explosive atmospheres. The name actually comes from the French term ‘Atmospheres Explosibles’ and generally if you don’t think you need your devices to be ATEX certified then the likelihood is they don’t need to be - because if your devices do need to be ATEX certified then they really, really do need to be ATEX certified and you should know all about the subject already.

However, for the rest of the class and as a general recap lets take a quick look through the world of ATEX, starting by what exactly is an explosive environment.

So what is an explosive atmosphere?

Contrary to popular belief, in official terms at least, explosive atmospheres are not those situations where you’re engineer turns up 2 hours late and then realises within 5 minutes he doesn’t have the right parts in his van.

In the realms of ATEX at least, an explosive atmosphere can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. If there is enough of the substance, mixed with air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion.

Of course explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage to company property, assets and equipment. Therefore, preventing releases of dangerous substances, which can create explosive atmospheres, and preventing sources of ignition are two widely used ways of reducing the risk.

 

Using the correct equipment can help greatly in this, and if your customers operate in such environments, then it is vital (and probably contractual) that your engineers also comply with the regulations. This means that if you want them to benefit from the various positives of a digital workflow then the devices you provide them with must be ATEX certified.

Where can explosive atmospheres be found?

Perhaps surprisingly for some, ATEX workplaces are not restricted to oil refineries, petrol stations or grenade factories.

In fact, many workplaces may contain, or have activities that produce, explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres. Examples include places where work activities create or release flammable gases or vapours, such as vehicle paint spraying, or in workplaces handling fine organic dusts such as sawdust or grain flour - yes even an old flour mill can be a potential home for violent explosions.

So what exactly is ATEX?

As mentioned earlier ATEX is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres:

1) Directive 99/92/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 137’ or the ‘ATEX Workplace Directive’) on minimum requirements for improving the health and safety protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.

From the field service providers point of view this is the area of ATEX that your customers need to worry about.

2) Directive 94/9/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 95’ or ‘the ATEX Equipment Directive’) on the approximation of the laws of Members States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Now this is the one that from a field service operations perspective we need to pay closer attention to, because it is our responsibility to ensure our engineers are given ATEX certified devices if we are sending them into such an environment. Fortunately, many rugged tablets are ATEX certified so selecting one shouldn’t be too big an issue.

So what about those outside of Europe?

OK, so this is where things get a little complicated as there are essentially three separate certifications across the globe. In the USA there is Hazloc which is part of the National Electronics Code.

Hazloc and ATEX aren’t necessarily interchangeable - i.e. Hazloc certified devices would not be acceptable to use within the EU unless they are also ATEX certified.

 

As for us folks stuck in dear old Blighty?

Well when Great Britain pulls the plug on Europe and triggers Brexit as with many EU directives change will be required, although in this instance we’ve pretty much got it covered with our own regulatory equivalent of Directive 99/92/EC which are put into effect through regulations 7 and 11 of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).

However, there is also the IECex certification which is a conformity Scheme developed by The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The hope is that the IECex will eventually become a single mark of conformity that can be accepted worldwide in order to facilitate trade and reduce certification procedures and costs. In essence, “one standard, one test, accepted everywhere.”

Why the ATEX sign is so important

Basically, manufacturers/suppliers (or importers, if the manufacturers are outside the EU) must ensure that their products meet essential health and safety requirements and undergo appropriate conformity procedures.

This usually involves testing and certification by a ‘third-party’ certification body (known as a Notified Body) but manufacturers/suppliers can ‘self-certify’ equipment intended to be used in less hazardous explosive atmospheres. Once certified, the equipment is marked by the ‘EX’ symbol to identify it as such.

Certification ensures that the equipment or protective system is fit for its intended purpose and that adequate information is supplied with it to ensure that it can be used safely - which means that you can assure your customers and your staff that you have taken the required steps to offer safe working conditions whenever challenged by a potentially explosive environment.

 

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A selection of ATEX certified tablets...

AEGEX 10: €2,559.00 Aegex’s modern tablet will be the first of its kind to run Windows 10 furthermore be affirmed ATEX Zone 1, IECEx Zone1 and UL C1D1 for worldwide use on the planet’s most dangerous situations.

PANASONIC FZ-G1. € 2,749.00 The FZ-G1 is built to operate flawlessly in every environment - from intense heat and sunlight, to pouring rain and freezing temperatures.

XPLORE BOBCAT: €2248.92 With a MIL-STD-810G rating, optional hazardous area ATEX/IECEx Zone 2 certification (Pending), and Windows 8.1 Pro, the Bobcat can go from the boardroom to the work site without missing a beat and looking the part in every situation.

Getac T800 ATEX Windows Tablet: €2,317.00 Built for today’s mobile workforce, the new Getac T800 ATEX Windows Tablet features an 8.1 inch display, the latest wireless technology and unique SnapBack add-ons and runs Windows 8.1 Pro

Bartec Agile X Tablet PC: €3,222.00 The BARTEC Agile X is an extremely slim-line, rugged and highly flexible industrial tablet PC for rough environments. Thanks to its broad range of functions, the Agile X is the perfect assistant to service technicians, operating staff, engineers and project managers in the field and in industry.

 

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