Global branded tablet shipments expected to fall in 2014

Tablet computers, a product category that first emerged in 2010 with Apple's iPad, will see an annual decline in global shipments this year for the first time as their novelty seems to have worn off and prices have bottomed out, according to a local research firm.

Global shipments of brand-name tablets are expected to drop by an annual 1.8% this year to 153 million units, recording negative growth for the first time, TrendForce said in a research note earlier this week.

'When Apple's iPad was launched in 2010, it was an instant hit and spurred a tablet computer craze,' said Caroline Chen, an analyst at TrendForce, adding that the iPad even squeezed sales of laptop computers.

'Tablets have been revolutionary in the sense that they have created demand for a new product category - one that competes fiercely with netbooks and regular laptop computers,' Chen said.

Low-priced notebooks are stealing the market share of tablets, she said, predicting that global laptop computer shipments will increase 1% annually to 171 million units this year.

'Time has shown that notebooks are irreplaceable,' Chen said. 'They offer larger screens than tablets, as well as a keyboard and mouse, which are all important for those who use their computers primarily for work reasons, while tablets remain limited to Internet browsing and entertainment functions.'

Global laptop computer shipments will increase in the second half of the year, on the back of a flagging tablet market, consistent demand for commercial laptops and their 'very competitive' prices, according to Chen.

The global laptop computer market has the potential to expand 4%-7% in the second half of the year, reversing the annual slowing demand for the first time in years, the analyst said.

Research firm WitsView held a similar view, saying that tablets have lost their appeal to consumers and are losing market share to competition from phablets and low-priced laptop computers.

Apple's iPad might experience its first shipment decline this year since entering the market in 2010, as Apple is unlikely to hold any major promotional or sales events for the product, the research firm said in a report in July.

Global shipments of iPads are expected to drop from 74.3 million units in 2013 to 68.4 million untis in 2014, despite new model launches expected in the second half of the year, the report said.

Taipei-based Digitimes Research said, meanwhile, that the global tablet computer market is becoming saturated, showing a similar pattern as the markets for notebook computers and digital cameras.

In addition, 4G smartphones and wearable devices are likely to squeeze tablet sales in the second half of the year, according to the institute.

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Global branded tablet shipments expected to fall in 2014

Tablet computers, a product category that first emerged in 2010 with Apple's iPad, will see an annual decline in global shipments this year for the first time as their novelty seems to have worn off and prices have bottomed out, according to a local research firm.

Global shipments of brand-name tablets are expected to drop by an annual 1.8% this year to 153 million units, recording negative growth for the first time, TrendForce said in a research note earlier this week.

'When Apple's iPad was launched in 2010, it was an instant hit and spurred a tablet computer craze,' said Caroline Chen, an analyst at TrendForce, adding that the iPad even squeezed sales of laptop computers.

'Tablets have been revolutionary in the sense that they have created demand for a new product category - one that competes fiercely with netbooks and regular laptop computers,' Chen said.

Low-priced notebooks are stealing the market share of tablets, she said, predicting that global laptop computer shipments will increase 1% annually to 171 million units this year.

'Time has shown that notebooks are irreplaceable,' Chen said. 'They offer larger screens than tablets, as well as a keyboard and mouse, which are all important for those who use their computers primarily for work reasons, while tablets remain limited to Internet browsing and entertainment functions.'

Global laptop computer shipments will increase in the second half of the year, on the back of a flagging tablet market, consistent demand for commercial laptops and their 'very competitive' prices, according to Chen.

The global laptop computer market has the potential to expand 4%-7% in the second half of the year, reversing the annual slowing demand for the first time in years, the analyst said.

Research firm WitsView held a similar view, saying that tablets have lost their appeal to consumers and are losing market share to competition from phablets and low-priced laptop computers.

Apple's iPad might experience its first shipment decline this year since entering the market in 2010, as Apple is unlikely to hold any major promotional or sales events for the product, the research firm said in a report in July.

Global shipments of iPads are expected to drop from 74.3 million units in 2013 to 68.4 million untis in 2014, despite new model launches expected in the second half of the year, the report said.

Taipei-based Digitimes Research said, meanwhile, that the global tablet computer market is becoming saturated, showing a similar pattern as the markets for notebook computers and digital cameras.

In addition, 4G smartphones and wearable devices are likely to squeeze tablet sales in the second half of the year, according to the institute.

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Forecast: Tablet sales slow as PCs find footing says IDC

SAN FRANCISCO:

Tablets will not eclipse personal computers as fast as once thought, according to studies by market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC on Friday cut its forecast for shipments of tablets and 'two-in-one' devices combining tablet and laptop features to 233.1 million, saying growth would be about half of what was originally predicted.

'When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,' said IDC research director for tablets Jean Philippe Bouchard.

'But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realise that there is still a good appetite for this product category.'

While shipments in mature markets such as North America and Western Europe were forecast to remain flat, those in emerging regions were expected to climb overall by 12%.

Meanwhile, the outlook for personal computer (PC) shipments was less dreary than originally envisioned, due in part to businesses replacing machines powered by outdated Windows XP software.

IDC forecast that worldwide PC shipments would fall 3.7% this year instead of 6% as it had predicted earlier.

Growth in shipments of desktop and laptop computers in mature markets would be more than offset by reduction in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, according to IDC.

'Programmes to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some segments,' said IDC senior research analyst Jay Chou.

'Nevertheless, the prospects for significant PC growth in the long term remain tenuous, as users increasingly see PCs as only one of several computing devices.' People seem to be waiting longer to replace PCs and are increasingly tempted by alternate computing platforms, according to IDC.

A separate IDC report this week estimated that more 1.25 billion smartphones would ship worldwide this year in a jump of nearly 24% from the 1.01 billion shipped last year.

The number of smartphones shipped was expected by IDC to climb to 1.8 billion annually during the next four years. 'The smartphone market, which has experienced runaway growth over the last several years, is starting to slow,' said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas.

'The key for vendors now is to maintain a presence in the higher-margin mature markets, while establishing a sustainable presence within the fast-growing emerging markets.'

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2014.

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Tablet sales slow as PCs find footing

San Francisco (AFP) - Tablets won't eclipse personal computers as fast as once thought, according to studies by market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC on Friday cut its forecast for shipments of tablets and 'two-in-one' devices combining tablet and laptop features to 233.1 million, saying growth would be about half of what was originally predicted.

'When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,' said IDC research director for tablets Jean Philippe Bouchard.

'But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realize that there is still a good appetite for this product category.'

While shipments in mature markets such as North America and Western Europe were forecast to remain flat, those in emerging regions were expected to climb overall by 12 percent.

Meanwhile, the outlook for personal computer (PC) shipments was less dreary than originally envisioned, due in part to businesses replacing machines powered by outdated Windows XP software.

IDC forecast that worldwide PC shipments would fall by 3.7 percent this year instead of by six percent as it had predicted earlier.

Growth in shipments of desktop and laptop computers in mature markets would be more than offset by reduction in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, according to IDC.

'Programs to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some segments,' said IDC senior research analyst Jay Chou.

'Nevertheless, the prospects for significant PC growth in the long term remain tenuous, as users increasingly see PCs as only one of several computing devices.'

People seem to be waiting longer to replace PCs and are increasingly tempted by alternate computing platforms, according to IDC.

A separate IDC report this week estimated that more that 1.25 billion smartphones would ship worldwide this year in a jump of nearly 24 percent from the 1.01 billion shipped last year.

The number of smartphones shipped was expected by IDC to climb to 1.8 billion annually during the next four years.

'The smartphone market, which has experienced runaway growth over the last several years, is starting to slow,' said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas.

'The key for vendors now is to maintain a presence in the higher-margin mature markets, while establishing a sustainable presence within the fast-growing emerging markets.'

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Tablet sales slow as PCs stabilise

SAN FRANCISCO - Tablets won't eclipse personal computers as fast as once thought, according to studies by market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC).

Students use tablets at a school in Paris on Dec3, 2012.

IDC on Friday cut its forecast for shipments of tablets and 'two-in-one' devices combining tablet and laptop features to 233.1 million, saying growth would be about half of what was originally predicted.

'When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,' said IDC research director for tablets Jean Philippe Bouchard.

'But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realize that there is still a good appetite for this product category.'

While shipments in mature markets such as North America and Western Europe were forecast to remain flat, those in emerging regions were expected to climb overall by 12%.

Meanwhile, the outlook for personal computer (PC) shipments was less dreary than originally envisioned, due in part to businesses replacing machines powered by outdated Windows XP software.

IDC forecast that worldwide PC shipments would fall by 3.7% this year instead of by 6% as it had predicted earlier.

Growth in shipments of desktop and laptop computers in mature markets would be more than offset by reduction in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, according to IDC.

'Programs to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some segments,' said IDC senior research analyst Jay Chou.

'Nevertheless, the prospects for significant PC growth in the long term remain tenuous, as users increasingly see PCs as only one of several computing devices.'

People seem to be waiting longer to replace PCs and are increasingly tempted by alternate computing platforms, according to IDC.

A separate IDC report this week estimated that more that 1.25 billion smartphones would ship worldwide this year in a jump of nearly 24% from the 1.01 billion shipped last year.

The number of smartphones shipped was expected by IDC to climb to 1.8 billion annually during the next four years.

'The smartphone market, which has experienced runaway growth over the last several years, is starting to slow,' said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas.

'The key for vendors now is to maintain a presence in the higher-margin mature markets, while establishing a sustainable presence within the fast-growing emerging markets.'

Keep up-to-date with the latest on coup d'etat with Bangkok Post SMS News. Call *451391000 to subscribe - 39 baht/month (7 days free, available in Thailand only) Bangkok Post SMS News: Deliver only trustworthy news on SMS

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Tablet sales slow as PCs find footing

San Francisco (AFP) - Tablets won't eclipse personal computers as fast as once thought, according to studies by market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC on Friday cut its forecast for shipments of tablets and 'two-in-one' devices combining tablet and laptop features to 233.1 million, saying growth would be about half of what was originally predicted.

'When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,' said IDC research director for tablets Jean Philippe Bouchard.

'But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realize that there is still a good appetite for this product category.'

While shipments in mature markets such as North America and Western Europe were forecast to remain flat, those in emerging regions were expected to climb overall by 12 percent.

Meanwhile, the outlook for personal computer (PC) shipments was less dreary than originally envisioned, due in part to businesses replacing machines powered by outdated Windows XP software.

IDC forecast that worldwide PC shipments would fall by 3.7 percent this year instead of by six percent as it had predicted earlier.

Growth in shipments of desktop and laptop computers in mature markets would be more than offset by reduction in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, according to IDC.

'Programs to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some segments,' said IDC senior research analyst Jay Chou.

'Nevertheless, the prospects for significant PC growth in the long term remain tenuous, as users increasingly see PCs as only one of several computing devices.'

People seem to be waiting longer to replace PCs and are increasingly tempted by alternate computing platforms, according to IDC.

A separate IDC report this week estimated that more that 1.25 billion smartphones would ship worldwide this year in a jump of nearly 24 percent from the 1.01 billion shipped last year.

The number of smartphones shipped was expected by IDC to climb to 1.8 billion annually during the next four years.

'The smartphone market, which has experienced runaway growth over the last several years, is starting to slow,' said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas.

'The key for vendors now is to maintain a presence in the higher-margin mature markets, while establishing a sustainable presence within the fast-growing emerging markets.'

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Global branded tablet shipments expected to fall in 2014

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) Tablet computers, a product category that first emerged in 2010, will see an annual decline in global shipments this year for the first time as their novelty seems to have worn off and prices have bottomed out, according to a local research firm.Global shipments of brand-name tablets are expected to drop by an annual 1.8 percent this year to 153 million units, recording negative growth for the first time, TrendForce said in a research note earlier this week.'When Apple Inc.'s iPad was launched in 2010, it was an instant hit and spurred a tablet computer craze,' said Caroline Chen, an analyst at TrendForce, adding that the iPad even squeezed sales of laptop computers.'Tablets have been revolutionary in the sense that they have created demand for a new product category -- one that competes fiercely with netbooks and regular laptop computers,' Chen said.Low-priced notebooks are stealing the market share of tablets, she said, predicting that global laptop computer shipments will increase 1 percent annually to 171 million units this year.'Time has shown that notebooks are irreplaceable,' Chen said. 'They offer larger screens than tablets, as well as a keyboard and mouse, which are all important for those who use their computers primarily for work reasons, while tablets remain limited to Internet browsing and entertainment functions.'Global laptop computer shipments will increase in the second half of the year, on the back of a flagging tablet market, consistent demand for commercial laptops and their 'very competitive' prices, according to Chen.The global laptop computer market has the potential to expand 4-7 percent in the second half of the year, reversing the annual slowing demand for the first time in years, the analyst said.Research firm WitsView held a similar view, saying that tablets have lost their appeal to consumers and are losing market share to competition from phablets and low-priced laptop computers.Apple's iPad might experience its first shipment decline this year since entering the market in 2010, as Apple is unlikely to hold any major promotional or sales events for the product, the research firm said in a report in July.Global shipments of iPads are expected to drop from 74.3 million units in 2013 to 68.4 million untis in 2014, despite new model launches expected in the second half of the year, the report said.Taipei-based Digitimes Research said, meanwhile, that the global tablet computer market is becoming saturated, showing a similar pattern as the markets for notebook computers and digital cameras.In addition, 4G smartphones and wearable devices are likely to squeeze tablet sales in the second half of the year, according to the institute. (By James Lee)ENDITEM/pc/ls

※This website's content, including but not limited to text, images and video, cannot be reproduced, retransmitted or publicly broadcast without the authorization of CNA.

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Business Choice Awards 2014: Tablets

The tablet computer was used in workspaces long before it made it big in the home via the iPad and the follow-ons running Android, Windows, and other operating systems. It's hard to argue that the tablet's biggest success is with consumers who use it for communications and entertainment. But the small, keyboard-free slate computers remain a staple in the office and the warehouse and the car for all sorts of work.

The question is, which vendor and operating system combo is the very best for getting things done?

In our PCMag Business Choice Awards for 2014, it's time we found out. This story will give you the low-down on just who PCMag readers rated the very best when it comes to tablets for work. The answer won't be too big a surprise if you've read about our audience's favorite tablets for the home.

Want to participate in future surveys with other PCMag readers? Click here and sign up for the Readers' Choice survey email list to receive invitations.

We did things a little differently with this survey, as we drilled down to pinpoint not just the manufacturer, but also the operating system on its tablets. Though you can rest assured Google will use Android, Apple will use iOS, and Microsoft will use Windows, the other big names might use a mix, and the resulting products can be very different. Though in this case, it didn't have much impact on the manufacturer PCMag readers consider the very best for business.

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No fees, no wires, just TV on a tablet, startup promises

SFGateNo fees, no wires, just TV on a tablet, startup promisesSFGateBay Area television viewers may soon have one more reason to cut the cord with cable and satellite companies thanks to a service that brings free over-the-air TV to tablet computers. It's called Tablet TV, which doesn't require Wi-Fi, a cellular ... http://ift.tt/1hgKyaM For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

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No fees, no wires, just TV on a tablet, startup promises

Updated 8:18 am, Sunday, August 24, 2014

Bay Area television viewers may soon have one more reason to cut the cord with cable and satellite companies thanks to a service that brings free over-the-air TV to tablet computers.

It's called Tablet TV, which doesn't require Wi-Fi, a cellular connection or a subscription fee. All that customers need is an iPad or Android tablet and one of the startup's antenna devices costing less than $100.

And it's backed by Granite Broadcasting, owner of independent San Francisco station KOFY. At a time when viewers have more choices than ever - from Netflix to YouTube to 500-plus cable channels - Granite sees Tablet TV as a way to lure viewers back to broadcast television, without the need for a television at all.

'This puts the broadcasters back into the driver's seat,' said Peter Markham, chairman and CEO of Granite Broadcasting. 'Now we're going to a one-to-one relationship with the viewer, which the broadcast industry has never had.'

Tablet TV is a 2-year-old joint venture between Granite, a New York company that operates stations in six markets, and Motive Television, a London technology company focused on the TV industry.

In the U.S., Tablet TV would be a throwback to the days before cable and satellite became dominant, when everyone relied on rooftop antennas or set-top rabbit ears to tune in.

If Tablet TV can prove that the technology is reliable, easy to use and cheaper than subscription TV, it could lead to 'a little bit of a renaissance in over-the-air television,' said analyst Brett Sappington of the Dallas research firm Parks Associates.

Since February, Granite and Motive engineers have conducted a closed test at KOFY. But the venture plans a more widespread beta test starting in early September, with the service set to begin on Black Friday, the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving kickoff of holiday shopping.

Betting on S.F.

If all goes well in the Bay Area, Tablet TV will take its show to other cities.

'Our theory is if we can make it work in San Francisco and people like it, the rest of the country will be easier, because people here are connoisseurs of media and technology,' Motive CEO Leonard Fertig said. 'We are placing our bet with San Francisco with this thing.'

The gamble comes at a time when cable and satellite providers worry about the rising trend of cord cutting, a term used when people watch video on the Internet instead of subscribing to traditional, and costlier, pay TV services.

About 7.6 million U.S. households have cut the cord, a 44 percent increase from 2010, according to a recent report by research firm Experian Marketing Services.

In an even more worrisome trend for pay TV services, Experian said 67 percent of younger adults watch streamed or downloaded video during a typical week. Many younger adults bypass pay TV services and go right to online sources like Netflix and Hulu.

The explosion in tablet use is part of the shift. Parks Associates said about 61 percent of all U.S. homes with high-speed Internet own at least one tablet, and found that the weekly video viewing time on tablets has increased from an average of a half hour in 2012 to 1.3 hours this year.

Tablet TV hopes to capitalize on that trend with a device Motive calls a T-Pod - a palm-size digital TV antenna, tuner and digital recorder. The company hasn't settled on a price, but Fertig said Tablet TV expects to sell T-Pods for between $50 to $100.

The rechargeable T-Pods can capture over-the-air digital TV signals and retransmit them to tablets using their own Wi-Fi signal. They work both indoors and outdoors, but must be within 100 feet of the tablet. The companion tablet app decodes the signal and shows the programs. The app includes a program guide and chat service, and users change channels with a simple swipe.

The programming isn't limited to KOFY's platter of reruns and syndicated shows - the antenna-tuner is designed to pull in any digital TV signal within range, including those from the local affiliates of CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and PBS.

58 Bay Area channels

During a recent demonstration at San Francisco International Airport, Fertig found 58 over-the-air TV signals, including the various secondary channels broadcast by stations like KQED and KNTV. In larger markets, he said, there are as many as 120 available channels.

And Tablet TV wants to compete with pay TV providers in another way - the T-Pod is also a DVR, able to record programs using its built-in flash drive and the tablet's available memory. The company has plans to eventually offer storage in the cloud.

Fertig said Tablet TV plans to offer video on demand three months after its service begins. That service needs a local TV station to transmit the signal - here it would be Granite's KOFY.

Tablet TV might have a hard time breaking the entrenched hold of cable and satellite providers, which the majority of U.S. households rely on even for over-the-air signals. 'Once you get cable, why would you go looking for over-the-air channels?' Brett Sappington of Parks Associates said.

But Fertig argued that pay TV's specialized networks offer only about 15 percent of what viewers watch.

The most popular shows - 'NBC Sunday Night Football' and CBS' 'The Big Bang Theory' topped the Nielsen ratings last season - and local news are on broadcast stations.

'We're not saying turn off your cable,' Fertig said. 'But what people are really buying is that 15 percent' of programming.

Tablet TV's main competitor will remain big-screen, living room HDTVs. The Parks Associates study found that U.S. households still watch an average of 20 hours a week on their TVs.

A secondary option

But Tablet TV positions itself as a secondary option for backyards, bedrooms or commuter trains, and Sappington said that portability could help the service find an audience.

Live mobile TV is already a hit in countries outside the U.S. where cable TV is not as entrenched, and in Asian markets, mobile phones have integrated over-the-air TV tuners, he said.

And a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that shut down New York startup Aereo, which retransmitted over-the-air TV broadcasts online, showed 'there really was an appetite for broadcast TV among consumers,' Sappington said.

The court found that Aereo violated copyright laws. Tablet TV, however, is backed by an industry that owns broadcast rights and will probably embrace a service that lets them capture more viewers and advertising dollars, Sappington said.

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Tablet Computers Offer Flexible Learning Opportunities

Tablet computers arrived at the Medical University of South Carolina's Children's Hospital in Charleston this week, allowing the hospital to offer flexible learning opportunities to their pediatric patients. Not only will medical staff be able to use the tablets' apps to allay the children's fears about their medical care, but the tablets computers also open the way for bedridden or chronically ill children who cannot attend a traditional school to receive an education. Through online instruction and the use of digital communications and collaboration tools, the children can complete assignments and share their work with classmates and teachers. This kind of flexible learning, however, does not just benefit medically fragile children. Used correctly, tablet computers offer collaborative opportunities that bring about a new level of flexible instruction. Customization of educational activities fit each child's individual learning style and academic level while laying the foundation for essential 21st century technological skills that today's children will find indispensable in tomorrow's work life.

In a 2010 study at the University of Notre Dame that pioneered a paperless education in assistant professor Corey Angst's project management class, students not only used the tablet computers to take notes, write papers, submit and present work, but also complete class readings and conduct research. Results of this study agree with reports from anecdotal evidence from the Riverside Unified School District where students report finding learning and homework more enticing when they are allowed to use a tablet. Further study at Riverside produced indications that the use of iPads raised proficiency scores in higher-level math classes by 30 percent in comparison to the time-honored textbook approach.

The iPad or other tablet computer devices have a high degree of versatility in terms of what opportunities they can afford students in pursuit of learning. There are apps for note-taking, annotating, reading, graphic design and listening to music, in addition to tools for collecting information, creating and communicating in written, spoken, visual or musical form through text, images, videos and collaboration programs such as VoiceThread. A survey by Tablet PC Review found that students take advantage of the flexibility of their mobile devices with a large majority of devices being used for multiple purposes, both educational and recreational. As a result, teachers and parents wanting to incorporate the leeway a tablet offers in how to structure learning opportunities must keep in mind that the device is only as educationally useful as the apps installed. The users must practice self-discipline to ignore the distractions available on a device to focus on the schoolwork.

A common drawback to iPads or Windows tablets in the classroom, according to Tom Daccord, an educational technology trainer, speaker and author at the Center for Teaching History with Technology in Boston, is to simply transfer traditional schoolwork to a digital format instead. Rather than zeroing in on single subject apps and keeping the subjects segregated, mobile devices offer a cross-disciplinary learning experience that is available to students whether they are confined to a hospital, home sick, on the road, at the library or most anywhere life may take them. Voice recording for language practice and collaborative discussion, presentation software such as Animoto, video, test and tutorial creator apps and more available on tablet computers have the potential to drive children's learning to richer opportunities. Children will develop hands-on understanding if parents and teachers take the time to prepare and discover all the possibilities that tablet-driven education has to offer.

By Tamara Christine Van Hooser

Sources:

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Low

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MUSC Children's Hospital receiving 4 donated tablet computers to help reach ...

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS First Posted: August 18, 2014 - 4:16 amLast Updated: August 18, 2014 - 4:19 am Places:

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - The Children's Hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston is being presented with four tablet computers to help young patients learn more about medical procedures and eases their fears.

The tablets are being presented in a ceremony in the hospital's pediatric sickle cell clinic on Monday. They are housed in a protective cover that complies with the hospital infection control standards.

The devices can also be used to play games, complete homework and message friends during long hospital stays. The units are donated by Colgate-Palmolive and Harris Teeter.

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Microsoft's Surface Pro 3: The Best Tablet a Lot of Money Can Buy

Consumer Electronics

Photograph by Jin Lee/Bloomberg

To use a Microsoft Surface computer is to feel a bit like a zoo animal. Set it up on an airplane tray table, and people will stare. Some of them will giggle at how funny you look, and others will ask you questions like you're an exotic curiosity and even poke at you. If you're lucky, a couple kind souls will try to feed you or buy you a drink.

I've been using the Surface product line since the beginning, which means I've suffered a lot. The first Surface, shipped in October of 2012, stood as Microsoft's initial stab at making its own computer. The device looked pretty, with a fancy kickstand and a nifty keyboard. The bells and whistles, however, mostly stopped there. My computer suffered from periodic seizures, and the medicinal software updates needed to cure them sometimes took a while to arrive. Based on an ARM chip, the device lacked horsepower and couldn't run typical Windows applications. It just wasn't a terribly pleasant computer to use, and so, like any good son would do, I gave it to my mom. She actually seems to like the thing, and chalks up the device's quirks to user error-a worldview that Microsoft has championed for some time.

These days, Microsoft is offering the Surface Pro 3, which started shipping in June. Here's the thing about this machine: It's an absolute delight.

Everything that is bad about the old Surface computers is good with the Surface 3. The computer is light, its fast, it has a beautiful screen, it's solid, it has a pen (if you're into that sort of thing), it has ports, it works well with Microsoft's online services, it has apps, the touchscreen is ultra-responsive and its battery life is solid. The new Surface has a kickstand like its predecessor, except the updated version works much better. Instead of only being able to put it one position, you can put it in any position you want. So, when you're on that plane feeling like a zoo animal, you can have the computer sit upright for typing or lean it back a bit more to watch a movie or lean it waaaaay back when the person in front of you reclines. The keyboard is also a heck of a lot better. I type very fast, and the keyboard keeps up just fine, and my fingers don't get tired even after long periods of use. Microsoft has made it so that the keyboard will form a sort of hinge with the screen too, which allows the keyboard to go at a more pleasing downward angle instead of laying flat.

The result of all the changes Microsoft has made is that I can actually use the new Surface as my main work computer while traveling, and I have been doing just that. It's good enough for me to take notes during interviews and to write stories and to surf the Web at a remote desk all day. I would say, however, that the computer shines more as an entertainment device. You can peel the keyboard away and use the kickstand to position the Surface just right for watching a video on a plane, at the breakfast table or in bed. The same goes for reading long papers or magazine features. My iPad used to be my go-to device for this type of thing. No more.

Which brings me to the over-arching problem with how Microsoft is selling the Surface 3. Its ads bill the machine as the first true laptop (or at least MacBook Air) and tablet replacement. Instead of buying two devices, you can have one that does all the requisite functions well. There's some truth to that, although I would not and do not use the Surface 3 day in and day out for work at my desk like I do with a laptop. What the Surface is is the ultimate traveling companion and, to me, the best tablet on the market.

The device starts at $799, which might be the right price for a traveling companion supertablet. But things get tricky real fast from there. I got the version with 256GB of storage instead of the 64GB base, a speedier chip, and the sold-separately keyboard,and ended up around $1,400. For that price, the machine should walk into my house, punch my laptop in the face and make me an omelet. It did none of that.

I know the price is messed up because every single person who has shown curiosity in the device and reached out to poke it has-after I told them the grim figure-recoiled and made the 'What?!' face. You don't see that face in Microsoft's ads, and it's a problem the company will need to resolve to make the Surface a success.

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Tablet Computers Alleviate Peds' Pre

Published: August 11, 2014

Don't underestimate the power of a little distraction among pediatric surgical patients. According to a recent study, playing games on a tablet computer was even more effective in making them feel at ease before going into the OR than a dose of sedatives was.

Researchers randomly gave 108 patients between the ages of 1 and 11 either oral midazolam or an Apple iPad Mini loaded with age-appropriate games. Patients given the computer were encouraged to play games after leaving their parents, up until the time they were administered anesthesia. The midazolam group was given the drugs at least 15 minutes before undergoing anesthesia.

In their study, published in the journal Pediatric Anesthesia, the researchers note that the computer group showed significantly larger reductions in self-reported pre-op anxiety levels than the midazolam group did.

The computer group's parents were happier with the separation experience as well, something the researchers picked up on. Putting tablet technology into the hands of pre-op children 'reduces perioperative anxiety, emergence delirium, and time-to-discharge and increases parental satisfaction when compared to midazolam in pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery,' they write.

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Ultra

RuggON Corporation was established in 2014 as a provider of ruggedized computing products. RuggON's stated mission is to raise the productivity of rugged computing solutions through creative, pioneering technology. Their lineup consists of RuggTAB tablets and RuggVMC vehicle mounts. On this page we're describing the VM-521 10.4-inch ultra-rugged vehicle mount computer.

Designed from the ground up as a vehicle mount system, RuggON's VM-521 brings tablet computer functionality into any cockpit. It does so with a compact 10.8 x 9.9 x 2.7 inch enclosure that weighs about 8.5 pounds and can be mounted in numerous ways.

The RuggON VM-521 has a 10.4-inch display with conventional XGA 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, making for the 4:3 aspect ratio that was the standard on almost all computer displays until wide formats became prevalent (though the Apple iPad continues to use 4:3). The anti-reflective display is sunlight readable with its very strong 1,000 nits backlight that can also be dimmed down to just 0.1 nits for nighttime use. Protective Gorilla Glass and a defroster are optionally available.

The VM-521 uses traditional 5-wire resistive touch, still a good choice for tablets using the standard or embedded versions of Windows 7 or 8.The screen size and aspect ratio make the VM-521 well suitable for use with virtually all Windows-based legacy vertical and industrial market apps.

The RuggON VM-521 is powered by a quad-core 1.91GHz Intel Atom E3845 processor. Note that this is not one of your father's poky Atom chips. Instead, the E3845 is part of Intel's 'Bay Trail' lineup of vastly improved CPUs that are powerful enough to not only be sold under the Atom brand, but also the Celeron and Pentium brands. 'Bay Trail' is based on the 'Silvermont' processor architecture, which is really the first true architectural update to Atom since its introduction in 2008. Bay Trail processors use up to four Silvermont cores, and for the first time in an ultra mobile Intel SoC pairs them with Intel's own graphics IP. In fact, Bay Trail leverages the same GPU architecture as in the Ivy Bridge Core processors, just with fewer EUs (execution units).

In terms of connectivity, the VM-521 excels. There are two USB 2.0 ports, two legacy serial ports (one RS232 and one RS422/485), two RJ45 Ethernet jacks, CAN bus ports, and separate audio in and out jacks, and both internal and external antennae. For video surveillance and similar projects, there's optional 4-port video in, and RuggON includes an SDK for it as well. Note that all ports are facing down and also meet the NMEA0183/NMEA2000 National Marine Electronics Association physical layer standard.

Integrating optional components is not as easy with thin and light designs such as the PM-522, and so RuggON offers a variety of bolt-on modules instead. The picture below shows, from left to right, a Smart Card reader and GPS combo module, a mag stripe reader module, and a 2D barcode reader module.

For wireless communication, the VM-521 includes Bluetooth 4.0 Class II, 802.11ac WiFi, and GNSS (GPS/QZSS or GLONASS). Optionally available is 3.5G or 4G LTE mobile broadband capability.

The VM-521 is an ultra-rugged unit, designed to handle whatever abuse or extreme environmental conditions it may encounter while on vehicle duty. That includes a very wide operating temperature range of -22° to 131°F (-30° to 55°C) as well as IP66 sealing, which means the unit is totally protected against dust and also against strong jets of water (meaning it can even be hosed down). RuggON claims MIL-STD-810G testing for shock and vibration (we;d like to see which tests and what results).

For power, there's isolated 9~36VDC or 18~75VDC and also an internal 22 watt-hour battery to guard against unstable power during vehicle operation.

In summary, the RuggON VM-521 is a very rugged vehicle mount computer using the latest WiFi and PAN communication standards, Intel Bay Trail quad-core processing, and a large and very bright resistive touch display, while also offering CAN (Controller Area Network) and legacy serial interface support.

Taiwan-based RuggON was launched in 2014 when First International Computer spin-off Ubiqconn decided to focus on ODM business only. RuggON took over Ubiqconn's tablet and vehicle mount computers, which are now sold under the RuggON brand. http://ift.tt/1hgKyaM For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

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RuggON PM

RuggON PM-501

Taiwan-based Versatile semi-rugged, Intel Atom-powered 10.1-inch tablet computer with function buttons, nav control, expansion modules RuggON Corporation was established in 2014 as a provider of ruggedized computing products. The company, however, is not a newcomer to the field - they are a spin-off from FIC (First International Computer), an experienced electronics designer and manufacturer, and also a pioneer in tablet computers. RuggON's stated mission is to raise the productivity of rugged computing solutions through creative, pioneering technology. Their lineup consists of RuggTAB tablets and RuggVMC vehicle mounts. On this page we're describing the PM-501 10.1-inch rugged tablet.

The PM-501 is somewhat unique in RuggON's lineup for two reasons:

First, it's the only one listed as 'semi-rugged' instead of fully rugged. There are no clear, universal definitions as to what constitutes the various degrees of ruggedness, but genereally 'semi-rugged' implies somewhat lighter construction, somewhat less sealing, and lower cost. It also can mean more onboard ports (ports are costly to seal) and additional functionality compared to fully rugged designs.

Second, not exactly knowing when the PM-501 was introduced makes it somewhat difficult to comment on its current usefulness. For example, while the unit's 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 has seen wide application in embedded and vertical market devices, it's been replaced by several newer and more powerful generations of Atom chips. The cameras, likewise, have lower resolution than what we'd expect in 2014, and 5-wire resistive touch has pretty much been replaced by capacitive multi-touch in most modern tablets. On the other hand, the unit's wide-format 1366 x 768 pixel display remains useful and is well suited for Windows applications.

In terms of size and weight, the PM-501-designed for a wide range of field and office deployments-measures 10.8 x 8 inches and is just over an inch thick. Weight is 2.42 pounds, very manageable for a semi-rugged unit. Looking at the tablet, size and weight specs presumably are without the large protective rubber bumpers.

Among the unique features of the PM-501 are the five large programmable function buttons and the large navigation diamond. When programmed for frequently used functions, or integrated in custom applications, this can make for easy, efficient, and error-free use. In addition, for scanning applications the PM-501 has large trigger buttons on each side of the display.

There are two cameras, a 1.3mp front-facing conferencing cam, and a rear-facing 2mp documentation camera. There's 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth v2.1 and RFID, as well as, optionally, 3.5G mobile broadband and magnetic stripe reading, barcode scanning and GPS via snap-on modules. Wired connectivity includes two USB 2.0 ports as well as audio in/out.

One of the benefits of the PM-501's miserly Atom Z530 processor is minimal battery draw. This allows the PM-501 to run 10+ hours on a charge if equipped with dual batteries.

Though the PM-501 is only considered 'semi-rugged,' environmental specs are quite impressive. IP55 sealing, which means its largely dustproof, and can also handle low-pressure water jets from all directions (albeit with limited ingress permitted). It also has a reasonably wide operating temperature range of 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be dropped from five feet (undoubtedly thanks to its solid state disk and hefty protective bumpers).

Overall, there's definitely a place for a tablet like the semi-rugged RuggON PM-501 with its large wide-format display, programmable physical buttons for easy device operation, availability of all sorts of data collection snap-on mopdules and accessories, and those big protective bumpers. And there are still sers who prefer resistive touch for outdoor and field operations. The Z530 is a bit of a question mark, but since the PM-501 comes with an emebdded version of Windows, which is always far less resource-intensive than the full consumer versions, it may well be enough for many applications.

Taiwan-based RuggON is a spin-off from First International Computer, one of Taiwan's premier forces in technology research, product development and manufacturing services. RuggON consists of FIC's Industrial Computer Business Unit and FIC's original R&D team. RuggON products include rugged tablet computers such as the PM-522 described on this page. (by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Specifications RuggON PM-501

Added

08/2014

Form-factor

Semi-rugged tablet

CPU Speed

Intel Atom Z530 1.6 GHz

OS

Win XP Embedded or Win XP Pro Embedded

RAM

2GB DDR2 800 SDRAM SO-DIMM

Storage

32GB SATA Solid State Disk

Card slots

none

Display type

TFT with 200 nits LED backlight

Display size/res

10.1 WXGA (1366 x 768 pixels)

Digitizer/pens

5-wire resistive touch screen

Keyboard/keys

Onscreen or optional external; 5 function buttons, 2 trigger buttons, RF button, navigation diamond

Navigation

Touch, stylus, navigation diamond

Housing

Unknown

Operating Temp

14° to 122°F (-10° to 50°C)

Sealing

IP55

Vibration

Unknown

Shock

Multiple 5-foot drops (MIL-STD-810G)

Certifications

CE, FCC, CB, CCC

Size (WxHxD)

10.8 x 8.0 x 1.05 inches (275 x 204 x 27 mm)

Weight

2.42 lbs (1.1kg)

Power

Internal smart Li-Polymer 7.4V/3800 mAH 28.1 watt-hours; optional external 4,200mAH battery pack

Sensors

Ambient light sensor

Cameras

1.3mp front camera, 2.0mp rear camera with flash

Interface

2 x USB 2.0, audio in and out

Wireless

Bluetooth V2.1, 802.11b/g/n, optional snap-on GPS/RFID/MSR modules, 3.5G WWAN

List price

inquire

Web page

RuggON PM-501 product page

Brochure

RuggON PM-501 brochure (PDF)

RuggON PM-501 Docks/Accessories

RuggON Corporation 3F., No.129, Minquan Rd., Xindian Dist. New Taipei City 23141, Taiwan Telephone: 886-2-8797-1778 Fax: 886-2-8797-1881 Web: http://ift.tt/1usD7Dq

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RuggON PM

RuggON PM-511

Taiwan-based Versatile rugged 10.4-inch tablet computer uses Intel Atom N2600, runs both Windows 7 or Embedded Standard 7, carries IP65 sealing, offers 4G LTE RuggON Corporation was established in 2014 as a provider of ruggedized computing products. The company, however, is not a newcomer to the field - they are a spin-off from FIC (First International Computer), an experienced electronics designer and manufacturer, and also a pioneer in tablet computers. RuggON's stated mission is to raise the productivity of rugged computing solutions through creative, pioneering technology. Their lineup consists of RuggTAB tablets and RuggVMC vehicle mounts. On this page we're describing the PM-511 10.4-inch rugged tablet.

Industry observers may recognize the RuggON PM-511 as the Ubiqconn uTablet T10C, and that's exactly what it is. Apparently FIC spin-off Ubiqconn became RuggON, and the RuggON PM-511 is a slightly updated uTablet T10C. That means it has a 10.4-inch 4:3 format display with high standard 1024 x 768 XGA pixel resolution. Ubiqconn foregoes the fashionable capacitive touch in favor of traditional 5-wire resistive touch, not a bad choice for the tablet's standard or embedded versions of Windows 7. The tablet can be ordered either with a rather bright 350-nits standard display, or a 700-nits sunlight-readable screen that benefits from anti-reflective coatings and circular polarizers.

In terms of size and weight, the T10C-designed for a wide range of field mobility duties-measures 10.8 x 8 inches and is just over an inch thick. Weight is 2.65 pounds. Looking at the unit, size and weight specs presumably are without the protective rubber bumpers.

As its intended purpose suggests, the PM-511 is a well-connected, well-equipped device. Wired onboard connectivity includes dual full-size USB 2.0 ports, RJ45 LAN, as well as a standard audio jack. There are, however, no card slots to augment the internal 32GB SATA solid-state disk (presumably, larger sizes are available). There are two cameras, a 2mp front-facing conferencing cam, and a rear-facing 5mp documentation camera. There's embedded GPS, dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth v4.0, as well as optional 3.5G or 4G LTE mobile broadband. Optionally available is a 2-in-1 snap-on 1D/2D barcode scanner and magnetic stripe card reader, and also snap-on RFID and GPS modules.

On the processor side, RuggON equips this rugged 10.4-inch tablet with the dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600, a competent and widely used processor well suited for this class of machine. Using a dual-battery arrangement with an internal and an external battery allows hot-swapping and combined battery life of up to 8 hours between charges. A service door in the back of the tablet provides easy access for upgrades or service.

The PM-511 is a pure tablet without integrated keyboard, but it does have five programmable function keys for easy one-click access to often used apps and utilities.

On the ruggedness side, the PM-511 claims IP65 sealing, which means it's totally dustproof, and can also handle low-pressure water jets from all directions (albeit with limited ingress permitted). It has a wide operating temperature range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, can be dropped from six feet to concrete, and has been tested according to MIL-SDT-810G procedures for mechanical shock and several other criteria. Ubiqconn also stresses the advantages of its uHeater intelligent heater solution that-via controllers, sensors and heaters-determines which parts of the tablet need to be heated under different scenarios and conditions.

Overall, the elegantly designed PM-511 actually foregoes some of the technology included in the smaller PM-311 (serial port, higher res display, expansion card slot), but offers a significantly larger display and an RFID option. It's an attractive, lightweight, versatile general-purpose tablet tool for mobile data capture and logistics jobs in numerous areas and applications. Backed by FIC's good reputation and experience, the RuggON PM-511 certainly deserves consideration.

Taiwan-based RuggON is a spin-off from First International Computer, one of Taiwan's premier forces in technology research, product development and manufacturing services. RuggON consists of FIC's Industrial Computer Business Unit and FIC's original R&D team. RuggON products include rugged tablet computers such as the PM-522 described on this page. (by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Specifications RuggON PM-511

Added

08/2014

Form-factor

Rugged tablet

CPU Speed

Dual-core Intel Atom N2600 1.6 GHz

OS

Windows 7 Professional or Embedded Standard 7

RAM

2GB DDR3 800 SDRAM SO-DIMM

Storage

32GB SATA Solid State Disk

Card slots

none

Display type

Daylight (350 nits) or sunlight-viewable (500 nits) TFT

Display size/res

10.4 WVGA (1024 x 768 pixels)

Digitizer/pens

5-wire resistive touch screen

Keyboard/keys

Onscreen or optional external; 6 function buttons

Navigation

Touch, stylus

Housing

Unknown

Operating Temp

-4° to 122°F (-20° to 50°C)

Sealing

IP65

Vibration

Unknown

Shock

Multiple 6-foot drops (MIL-STD-810G)

Certifications

CE, FCC, CB, CCC

Size (WxHxD)

10.8 x 8.0 x 1.05 inches (275 x 204 x 27 mm)

Weight

2.65 lbs (1.2kg)

Power

Internal smart Li-Polymer 7.4V/3800 mAH 28.1 watt-hours; optional external 4,200mAH battery pack

Sensors

Unknown

Cameras

2.0mp front camera, 5.0mp rear camera with flash

Interface

2 x USB 2.0, audio, dock connector, 1 X RJ45 LAN; optional desktop and vehicle docks: 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x RS232, 1 x VGA, 1 x RJ45

Wireless

Bluetooth V4.0 + EDR, 802.11a/b/g/n, optional snap-on GPS/RFID/MSR modules, 3.5G or 4G LTE WWAN

List price

inquire

Web page

RuggON PM-511 product page

Brochure

RuggON PM-511 brochure (PDF)

RuggON PM-511 Docks/Accessories

RuggON Corporation 3F., No.129, Minquan Rd., Xindian Dist. New Taipei City 23141, Taiwan Telephone: 886-2-8797-1778 Fax: 886-2-8797-1881 Web: http://ift.tt/1usD7Dq

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