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| Android Phone Tips |
Panasonic Solutions Co. in Secaucus, N.J., plans to introduce an Android-based rugged tablet computer this fall for mission-critical government and mobile field applications, Panasonic officials announced this past week. The Toughbooktablet will be designed with security and reliability in demanding operating environments. in mind.
The Toughbook tablet will have a 10.1-inch XGA multi-touch sunlight-readable screen, an active stylus to capture signatures, and security embedded at the hardware level. The Panasonic rugged Android tablet also will be able to withstand the effects of drops, shock, and vibration, as well as protect against ingress from water, dust, and other contaminants.
At the heart of the future Toughbook tablet computer will be Android software for mobile computers and phones that includes an operating system, software middleware, and applications custom-designed for wireless mobile use. The open-architecture Android operating system, which is based Linux, is controlled by Web search Giant Google Inc. The Toughbook tablet also will include global positioning system (GPS) receiver, full-shift battery life, and optional embedded 3G/4G mobile broadband.
The exact specs detailed in Panasonic's press release are a little hazy, but we know the screen will be a 10.1-inch XGA multitouch panel and that GPS will come standard. Hopefully Panasonic will take a cue from Toshiba and offer a swappable battery, as well.
The niche market for ruggedized hasn't been addressed yet, and probably for good reason. Tablets have been fairly criticized as fragile devices, and mobile operating systems seem to sprout security concerns on a weekly basis. That said, compared with laptops and convertibles, tablets promise longer battery life, fewer moving parts, and an instant-on experience.
Panasonic has yet to reveal what version of Android the Toughbook tablet will run, or how it plans to address software security issues, but more information may come to light as the product makes the rounds at InfoComm this week.
By. Android Phone Tips
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