Tools - June 2009

By Susan Nunziata
Constant Motion
Motion Computing adds the J3400 to its line of rugged tablet PCs. Designed for mobile workers who compute while walking or standing, the J3400 offers a hot-swappable dual-battery design and bright, sunlight-viewable display. It's IP-52 rated and meets MIL-STD-810F specifications to withstand drops to concrete as well as dust and moisture. It's based on the Intel Centrino Core2Duo processor and features 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi connectivity plus Bluetooth 2.1 and integrated Gobi mobile broadband. Price: $2,299. www.motioncomputing.com


Rugged PDA
Handheld US introduced the 14.5 oz. Nautiz X5 IP65-rated rugged PDA with integrated barcode scanner. Connectivity includes 802.11b/g WLAN, Bluetooth, GPS and cellular via GSM (HSDPA/EDGE) or CDMA (EVDO). Built on the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform, it comes standard with 256 MB of RAM plus 512 MB built-in Flash storage. Price: $1,565. www.handheld-us.com


GIS Survey Tool
GETAC is targeting the GIS surveying and search-and-rescue sectors with its fully rugged Windows Mobile 6.1 PDA featuring integrated GPS, camera, altimeter and e-compass for advanced navigation capabilities. Users can connect to a GIS server to instantly transmit data. Price: $1,149. www.getac.com


Grab That Data
Cellebrite added the HTC G1 to the list of mobile phones supported by its UME-36 data transfer device. The device is designed for law enforcement and others who need a portable way to transfer content, backup, and manage data to and from mobile phones and smartphones. The standalone device requires no PC for use and supports more than 1,800 legacy and current cellular devices. Price: $1,299. www.cellebrite.com


Box It In
OtterBox adds rugged protection for BlackBerry Curve 8350i Push-To-Talk and iPhone 3G to its line of PDA and smartphone cases. The semi-rugged Defender series cases are drop- and scratch-proof. The iPhone case allows access to the device's silence switch plus an improved screen and enhanced fit and feel. The BlackBerry case allows for use of all functions, including trackball, camera and flash. Prices for both: $49.95. www.otterbox.com


Real-Time Access
Motorola's MC55 enterprise digital assistant combines cellphone, two-way radio, barcode scanner, digital camera and mobile computer with 3.5-inch display. Based on the Marvell XScale PXA270 500 MHz processor and Windows Mobile 6.1 OS, it offers 802.11a/b/g WLAN and Bluetooth. Options include WWAN and VoIP capabilities. It's available in North American in Q2 2009. Price: $1,695-$2,135. www.motorola.com/mc55


Ready For Anything
The GD Itronix GD8000 rugged notebook is aimed at military personnel, field crews and first responders who work extreme temperatures, humidity, dust and rain. It's designed to withstand multiple drops from 42 inches onto hard surfaces and operate in rain for more than four hours. It's powered by the Intel Core2Duo processing architecture and features integrated Gobi WWAN, GPS, and optional WiFi and Bluetooth. Price: $3,800. www.gd-itronix.com


Location 2.0
Garmin and ASUS team on the Windows Mobile 6.1 nÃÆ’¼vifone M20, due in first-half 2009. The dual-band 3.5G/Triband GSM phone also has WiFi, push email, and document viewing. It links Garmin's location intelligence to functions such as calendar, contacts, and email. Price: Unavailable. www.garminasus.com