There's a revolution going on in the enterprise, driven - usually - by the Apple iPad. Tablets are becoming increasingly visible at work but are they business tools or toys? Can they bring benefits to the business or are they just a security hole?

Before tablets, we saw laptops with rotating screens that could be converted into something looking very much like a slate. Their key advantage was that they were running a standard operating system, usually Windows, that brought the benefits of familiarity from the points of view of both users and the IT department. Then came the iPad, which quickly invaded the workplace as well as the home, and is now used widely in meetings for note-taking, email, web browsing and so on. Estimates of the numbers of the devices in use inside the enterprise put them at around 200,000 and growing. Interestingly, this cements the trend of consumer electronics leading the enterprise where 10 years ago, when PC penetration the reverse was true: barely half of homes had a PC and most didn't have an Internet connection. However, while the iPad sports advances in usability and design, it doesn't run the same operating system as most other machines in the enterprise. This means it can't run standard applications and management tools that would allow it to be incorporated easily into the enterprise network, a difficulty that can generate both cost and potential security issues. Additionally, its functionality is geared more towards consuming content rather than creating it; in business, the requirement is more the reverse.

Living with slates

So users are bringing iPads into work and connecting them to the network. The clear implication is that there is a role for such a device. They're being used in a variety of ways, including sales and stock management in a retail environment; professional services such as legal, where they're replacing paper for note-taking; outdoor usage by engineers working for utilities; in airlines at the check-in and elsewhere air-side, and even in the public sector where the police and the MoD have both expressed interest in using slates. Assuming that such the device's function is business-oriented rather than just being cool, if they can't be properly managed, what's the way forward? Ideally, a "slate" would offer the core advantages of the iPad, such as portability and ease of use, while being team players when it comes to the rest of the enterprise. This means built-in sharing and security, ease of management, and use of standard file formats and applications.

Effectively, the solution is a PC in slate form - and hardware vendors are starting to deliver these, with a number of Windows 7-based slates already on sale and this year's CES -Consumer Electronics Show - showing many more from major vendors including Asus, Fujitsu, Gigabyte, Hanvon, Lenovo and Samsung.

The key is to decide if slates fit into your business strategy and, in making that decision, a number of questions need to be answered. These include but are not limited to:

·         Can users be more productive using a slate, such as those out in the field?

·         Do slates make people more productive in meetings for taking notes and researching, rather than using a laptop?

·         What extra does a slate offer, such as portability and battery life, over and above a laptop?

·         Is that enough to warrant the additional cost of purchase, maintenance and support?

·         What do you do about the personally-owned slates that people bring to work?

The alternative is to ignore slates and pretend they'll go away?

Chances are they won't and sooner or later they will become a headache. Far better now to determine the right way forward and make that clear to users and managers today. ®

There comes a time in a Linux-loving geek’s life when he or she needs a new challenge. Making desktop apps isn’t hacking it anymore and building yet-another-website seems passe.  If you want to jump into the world of mobile, here are a few reasons why HP webOS is the platform for you.

 

#1: It’s free.

There’s no cost to become a developer.  You don’t have to pay any sort of fee to download the SDK or submit apps. The webOS emulator is free and the tools support development on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. HP also have discount programs to help developers to get their hands on real devices.

#2: We give you full access to your device.

You don’t have to jailbreak or root your device.What other platforms call jailbreaking or rooting, HP call entering developer mode.  HP don’t make you jump through hoops, purchase device certificates.  or use questionable tools; instead, HP provide simple shortcuts from our launcher and phone apps.  Just tap on the “Just Type” search bar and enter “upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart” (the classic NES Konami code!); an icon appears that lets you toggle this mode on and off. In developer mode, you can get full access to the device over your USB cable.

#3: It’s Linux.

Once you’re in dev mode, it’s just Linux and WebKit.  You can get a fairly functional shell on the device by using the command “novaterm” on Mac/Linux or by using “pdk-device-install” and PuTTY on Windows. HP have many of the essential Linux commands available, tools like cp, vi, grep, find, diff, top, tar, and gzip, making it easy to find your way around the system. HP include scripts in our SDK to sideload ssh and gdb.

#4: A lot of it is familiar technology.

HP use the languages and APIs you already know.  Most apps are written in JavaScript with the presentation layer as HTML and CSS. HP provide a framework to make writing apps quicker and to make accessing system features easier.  For webOS 2.x and earlier, it’s Mojo, and for webOS 3.0+ it’s Enyo. HP are also working with leading mobile JavaScript frameworks and tools to make sure that their code can work well for webOS applications.

If you want to use C and C++, the main build tool is gcc and main APIs are SDL and OpenGL ES, both widely used systems with lots of support material online and in books.

#5: The source is easy to find.

Since apps are written in JS, it’s easy to find lots of examples just by poking around on the device.  The in-ROM apps are all in /usr/palm/applications.  Some have been compressed for faster loading speed, but HP usually still have the original source there too.  For the open-source parts of our OS, HP have opensource.palm.com with all the tarballs and patches for the pieces we ship on phone.

#6: Our tools are hardcore developer-friendly.

You don’t need an IDE, but you can use one.  HP main tools are command-line tools like palm-package and palm-install, but there is an Eclipse integration plugin.  The emulator is a x86-based build of the OS running in the open-source VirtualBox system. HP also have a web-based IDE at ares.palm.com that lets you build apps in your browser with a nice layout designer and a code editor based on Mozilla’s Bespin project.

#7: You can try cutting edge stuff.

Doing background work on the devices is pretty easy; apps can be bundled with services based on node.js. JavaScript apps can call native code using the hybrid PDK model where the code runs as a plugin. You can try your hand at 3D graphics with OpenGL ES or do remote device control using Bluetooth serial.

#8: Our developer support is awesome!

The webOS developer forums are very active and members of both the developer relations and engineering team often answer questions there when other forum members don’t jump on them first. HP also publish a lot of information directly on developer.palm.com and they hold great events like our Developer Workshops all around the world.

#9: webOS Homebrew Rocks!

HP have an awesome independent developer community in webOS Internals that does things like replacement kernels, new system services, and overclocking tools. Our community produces innovations that have made their way into later webOS releases; for example, we liked the page cache compression work that they did to improve webOS 1.4.5 so much that we made it part of our standard Linux kernels on webOS 2.0. HP hasn’t tried to stop or silence these groups; instead we work with them when possible and even give them hardware to help with their explorations.

#10: Your open source project can make a difference.

Many of the best applications are open source, available either via the App Catalog or through homebrew channels including FourSquare, drPodder, pReader, Spaz (Twitter client), Relego (Read It Later client), and Preware, People have already ported over a bunch of Linux games using our SDL system, and there are efforts to bring lots of languages and tools onto the platform. If you’re an expert in porting some important bit of Linux technology, there’s likely a niche for you here in the world of webOS.

Company Outlines Plans to Accelerate Intel Manufacturing Lead with Intel® Atom™ Processor Family and Move Faster than Moore's Law

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

* Over 35 innovative "Oak Trail" design wins from customers including Evolve III*, Fujitsu Limited*, Lenovo*, Motion Computing*, Razer*, and Viliv* available starting in May and throughout 2011.
* "Cedar Trail," Intel's upcoming netbook and entry-level desktop platform, will deliver features including Intel® Wireless Music, Intel® Wireless Display, PC Synch and Fast Boot, as well as improvements in media, graphics and power consumption.
* Innovation beyond the PC: Embedded Intel Atom Z670 creates smaller, thinner, fanless devices for mobile clinical assistants, industrial tablets and portable point-of-sales devices.
* Intel is accelerating its Atom product line to move faster than Moore's law, bringing new products to market on three process technologies in the next 3 years.
* Atom platforms harness Intel's unique "operating system of choice" strategy for Google* Chrome* and Android*, MeeGo* and Windows*, delivering personalized experiences.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intel Corporation today announced that the Intel® Atom™ platform, formerly codenamed "Oak Trail," is now available and will be in devices starting in May and throughout 2011. Over 35 innovative tablet and hybrid designs from companies including Evolve III*, Fujitsu Limited*, Lenovo*, Motion Computing*, Razer*, and Viliv* are based on "Oak Trail" and running a variety of operating systems.

In addition, at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, the company will give a sneak peak of its next-generation, 32nm Intel Atom platform, currently codenamed "Cedar Trail." This solution will help to enable a new wave of fanless, cool and quiet, sleek and innovative netbooks, entry-level desktops and all-in-one designs.

"The new Intel Atom 'Oak Trail' platform, with 'Cedar Trail' to follow, are examples of our continued commitment to bring amazing personal and mobile experiences to netbook and tablet devices, delivering architectural enhancements for longer battery life and greater performance," said Doug Davis, vice president and general manager of the Netbook and Tablet Group at Intel. "We are accelerating the Intel Atom product line to now move faster than Moore's law, bringing new products to market on three process technologies in the next 3 years."

The new Intel Atom processor Z670, part of the "Oak Trail" platform, delivers improved video playback, fast Internet browsing and longer battery life, without sacrificing performance. The rich media experience available with "Oak Trail" includes support for 1080p video decode, as well as HDMI. The platform also supports Adobe* Flash, enabling rich content and Flash-based gaming.

With these significant improvements in power-efficient performance, the Intel Atom processor Z670 allows applications to run on various operating systems, including Google* Android*, MeeGo* and Windows*. This unique flexibility delivers both new experiences and more choice when it comes to tablets and hybrid designs that combine the best features of the netbook and tablet together.

The platform also helps deliver smaller, thinner and more efficient devices by packing integrated graphics and the memory controller directly onto the processor die. The processor is 60 percent smaller than previous generations with a lower-power design for fanless devices as well as up to all-day battery life 1. Additional features include Intel® Enhanced Deeper Sleep that saves more power during periods of inactivity as well as optimized Intel SpeedStep® technology. An integrated HD decode engine enables smooth 1080p HD video playback at a fraction of the power consumption.

In addition, Intel Atom Z670 processors come with the Intel® SM35 Express Chipset, delivering a lead-free2, halogen-free3 design with high-speed USB 2.0 for greater performance and Intel® High-Definition Audio to enable premium home theater sound.

Also ideal for small form-factor and portable embedded designs, the platform provides an excellent solution for a range of tablets in retail, medical and industrial applications. Solutions such as mobile clinical assistants allow medical staff to directly input data into patients' electronic files and avoid paper charting. This can result in a reduction in errors, better workflow, higher productivity and reduced paper handling and overhead costs. In addition to the Intel Atom Z670, Intel is offering the Intel® AtomTM processor Z650 for embedded devices with 7-year lifecycle support on Windows and MeeGo operating systems.

Based on Intel's leading-edge 32nm process technology, the next-generation "Cedar Trail" platform will feature improvements in graphics capabilities including Blu-ray 2.0 support, a dedicated media engine for full 1080p playback and additional digital display options including HDMI output and DisplayPort. New features will include Intel® Wireless Music, Intel® Wireless Display, PC Synch and Fast Boot. In addition, the enhancements made in power consumption and TDP will enable fanless designs with longer battery life. This means great acoustics without the hum of a fan and improved ruggedness and aesthetics of the design. Intel is currently sampling "Cedar Trail" to all major OEMs and ODMs. Users can look forward to a new generation of innovative mobile and desktop designs based on the "Cedar Trail" platform in the second half of 2011.

For more information, video, photos and benchmarks visit www.intel.com/newsroom/atom.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

Intel, Intel Atom and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

1Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information go to http://www.intel.com/performance.

2 Intel 45nm product is manufactured on a lead-free process. Lead-free per EU RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC, Annex A). Some RoHS exemptions may apply to other components used in the product package.

3 Applies to components containing flame retardants and PVC only. Halogens are below 900 PPM bromine, 900 PPM chlorine, and 1500 PPM combined bromine and chlorine

With more than 165 million tablets expected to ship over the next two years, tablets are growing in popularity and changing the way that we consume content. People are spending considerable time with tablet devices and using them to play games, browse the web and search for information. Growth in the tablet market is only accelerating with companies releasing new products, and media companies and developers creating content specifically for these new devices.

In order to better understand how people are using tablets we ran a survey of over 1,400 tablet users and found that:

• 68% of tablet users spend at least 1 hour a day on their tablet
• 77% of respondents report that their desktop/laptop usage decreased after they started using a tablet
• 82% of respondents said they primarily use their tablet at home
• More than 1 in 3 respondents uses their tablet more than they watch TV:

Matthew Daly has been appointed Business Manager with mobile computing device specialists Think4 Mobile.

Daly, who has 15 years industry experience with the likes of Apple, Acer and most recently Promethean, will be responsible for developing Think4 Mobile’s business unit.

Heywood-based Think4 Mobile already has partnerships with Viliv and Viewsonic with other mobile device deals in the pipeline.

Says Matthew: “Think4 Mobile has huge growth potential because it has fantastic foundations already in place. We are developing a strategy to ensure we accelerate that process.

“My immediate challenge is to build on the partnerships we already enjoy with Viliv and Viewsonic. I really want to maximise what we already have and, at the same time, develop new relationships.

Matthew says his new role will be to position Think4 Mobile as the UK’s leading brand in the mobile computing market.

“Our particular focus is on hand held mobile devices and there is a lot of scope within that. The beauty of the Think4 Mobile business model is that we are independent, agile and much more flexible than a traditional reseller, which means we are much more able to adapt to a very fast changing market. Right now tablets are the mobile computing devices that are attracting all the headlines but, as new technologies are emerge, we will remain at the forefront.”

Think4 Mobile is a subsidiary of IT service and solutions outfit Think 4.

Mattd@think4.com