| Rugged multifunction handheld runs Windows CE |
Mar. 16, 2007
 Gotive this week unveiled a rugged, all-in-one handheld based on Windows CE 5.0. The H42 combines a jumbo, 6.2-inch touchscreen display with GSM/GPRS, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and 1D/2D scanning, many of which are available as options.
Gotive touts the H42 as a "technology-packed yet easy-to-operate" rugged device that's ideal for collecting, processing, and communicating information "at the point of activity." The device is expected to be used in outdoor logistics, transportation, field service, utilities, retail, public safety, forestry, and military applications. To support the requirements of these environments, the unit is rated for operation over a -10 to 60 degrees Celsius temperature range, and can withstand dust, moisture, and drops, according to the company.
Gotive's H42 multifunction handheld runs Windows CE 5.0
(Click to enlarge)
The H42 is powered by a 520MHz Intel PXA270 processor, and is equipped with 128MB RAM and up to 1GB of nonvolatile flash memory. Its 6.2-inch, half-VGA (640 x 240 pixels) display is available in a choice of STN or TFT, and can be used in either portrait or landscape orientations.
Besides being easy to read, the large display's touchscreen makes it easy to enter data, using a choice of on-screen QWERTY keyboard and handwriting input modes, the company says. Gotive notes that the device's large touchscreen is particularly useful in signature capture applications, such as field service, package delivery, and outdoor retail.
H42 being used for GPS-based navigation
For communications purposes, the H42 can be configured with a number of wireless options, including tri-band GSM/GPRS, 802.11b/g WiFi, and Bluetooth. An internal GPS module is also available for use in applications requiring navigation, or for position-based data collection.
 
Docking and pistol grip options
"It slices, it dices!"
(Click to enlarge) |
Key hardware specifications, as listed by the company, include:- Processor -- CPU Intel PXA270, clocked at 520 MHz
- Memory -- 128 MB RAM; up to 1 GB nonvolatile flash (960 MB user accessible)
- Display:
- 6.2-inch HVGA (640x240 pixels) 65K-color LCD; choice of STN or TFT
- Integrated touchscreen; provides "soft" QWERTY keyboard, handwriting input
- Supports both landscape and portrait
- CFL backlight
- Sound -- 18-bit sound; built-in speaker and microphone
- Expansion:
- SD card slot
- CF Card Type II (service accessible)
- Wireless:
- WAN (optional) GSM/GPRS tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz (internal antenna)
- WiFi (optional) -- 802.11b (11 Mbps) via CF Card Type II slot (internal antenna)
- Bluetooth (optional) -- via embedded module or via CF (internal antenna)
- IrDA, 115 Kbps
- Other interfaces:
- USB Host/Client via USB host plug or docking stations
- Barcode reader (optional) -- 1D laser scanner or 1D/2D CMOS imager scanner
- Smart card reader (optional)
- Fingerprint reader (optional)
- Signature capture -- on screen signature capabilities
- GPS (option) -- 16 channel NMEA, SBAS support (internal antenna; connector for external antenna)
- Physical:
- Size -- 9.05 x 3.70 x 1.34 in. (230 x 94 x 34 mm)
- Weight -- from 20.5 oz (580 g) incl. battery pack (depends on HW configuration)
- Operating Temperature -10 to 60°C
- Relative Humidity 5% to 95% non-condensing
- Sealing -- IP54
- Drop -- 4 ft. (1.2 m)
- Power:
- removable/rechargeable Li-Ion 4800 mAh
- non-removable 750 mAh LiPol rechargeable backup battery
- Software:
- Operating system -- Windows CE 5.0 (BSP available)
- Terminal Emulator -- Windows Terminal Services, optional 3rd party software
- Gotive Applications -- Large Finger Operable QWERTY Keyboard, freely resizable, freely programmable; backup manager
- Microsoft applications -- Internet Explorer 6.0, Inbox, Wordpad
- Browser plugins -- Windows Media Player; Active Sync 3.7; Macromedia Flash; Java support via third-party software
To support market-specific application development, the company offers an H42 SDK (software development kit) that supports Visual Studio .NET (Visual Basic, C#) and Embedded Visual C++. In addition, the SDK is said to provide APIs (application programming interfaces) for: GSM/GPRS (support for voice, data, sms); GPS (support for localization, navigation); BCR; LCD (freely programmable action keys).
Availability
The company has not disclosed pricing or availability specifics. The device is on display this week at the CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany.
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