Tag: Intel

Panasonic Gets Tough With New Tablet

Tablet PCs maybe great for taking on the go, you can do some web browsing, snap and view pictures and even use it as a GPS device. But the iPad and other tablets are so delicate that taking out in the backyard is roughing it. For real adventures you need something that can stand up to a bit of dirt, dust and all the other things the great outdoors has to offer.

Panasonic has introduced such a device in the Toughbook H2 tablet, which runs Windows and has an Intel Core i5-2557M vPro processor running at 1.7GHz. It weighs in at 3.5 pounds so it isn’t feather light, but it is still compact enough for those long treks. More importantly it offers 6.5 hours of battery life and has a fast charging hot swap battery option. Panasonic puts 4GB of RAM inside by default and it has a 320GB HDD for storage. The machine can also be fitted with a 128GB SSD. Best of all, the machine features aTransReflective Plus 10.1 inch screen that can be seen even in backlit, and it supports dual touch with a digitizer and works as a touchscreen.

This is more of a business machine for field workers, but we could see it making its way to the “civilian” market too. It offers GPS, 2MP camera and even an RFID reader. The biggest downside now, besides the hefty price of $3,559, is that the H2 is only available with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as Gobi 200 3G, but 4G will be available later this year. But this very much could be the beginning of truly rugged tablets.

[Via Geeky Gadgets: Panasonic Toughbook H2 Rugged Tablet Computer Debuts]

Shoe Shopping Goes Virtual

Here is a strange twist on buying shoes. Imagine going to the store, but not being able to find just the right athletic shoe. If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably heard, “we have more shoes online.” Well, rather than head to a computer you can head to the wall – as in the adiVERSE Virtual Footwear Wall, which is produced by adidias and powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and features 3D images of the shoes.

Popular shoes feature videos, product specs, game stats and even twitter feeds. Would-be buyers can add product to a virtual cart and check out via the store’s iPad. If the shoe is in stock you can try it on and walk out with it, and if not have it ordered and delivered.

Of course if you can’t try on the shoes, it begs the question why you wouldn’t just check out shoes online, but it is an interesting twist on the shoe store. Think of this as the merging of brick and mortar store with an online shop.

Intel Adds Intelligence to Employee Workouts

Image from architecture3s via Core Performance

Some companies provide a gym for their employees. And then some companies add more incentive for their employees to use the facilities and actually see results. In a bold move, Intel outfitted its Chandler, Ariz. Campus with a high-tech fitness center. Machines include Intel-embedded technology-based and Internet connected machines through a partnership with a company called Core Performance. Why do these machines need Internet connectivity?

Each participating employee provided health records, nutrition habits, and other information to create customized workouts dictated by the machines. Intel is involved for obvious reasons: it has a stake in the equipment it’s using. But it also intends to improve the health and fitness of its employees and in turn reduce the company’s healthcare costs. It hopes other companies will deploy similar programs as well.