We have been getting more and more questions about running ITScriptNet on Windows 7. For the most part, transitioning from Windows XP to Windows 7 is very smooth, but there are a few details to keep in mind due to the enhanced security in Windows 7. We have posted a new Knowledge Base article that discusses the points to keep in mind for ITScriptNet on Windows 7.

We have been getting quite a few questions lately about Override INI files. This is an ITScriptNet feature that alows you to change your database connections and file locations when you deploy your applications. We have written a new Knowledge Base article with some more information about creating Override INI files that may help.

We are getting close to the next release of ITScriptNet, and there are several new features and new devices supported. Some of the new features include:

• Media Player element for embedded video clips.
• Edge Gradient button style.
• Transition effects for images.
• Heartbeat logging for the Omni Server

New devices:

• Motorola MK4000
• Motorola MC65 and MC9500
• Intermec CS40
• Janam XG-100 Windows Mobile

We will discuss these new features more as the release approaches.

Raco has published an application note about a solution using our Asset Tracking Solution Pack. This is a good example of how our Solution Packs can be used as-is, or customized to meet your customers needs.

Honeywell AIDC and Zebra Technologies have announced a sales and marketing partnership. It appears the idea is to allow each company's products to be available through the distribution channels of the other, and presumably each company will recommend the others hardware when selling systems.

Here is a post from Raco Industries that explains the IP Rating scheme, used to quantify how dust and water resistant a mobile device is.

We've discussed the factors that affect the performance of mobile devices, and one of the factors is the speed of the Flash Memory used by the device. Now, Elpida Memory Inc and Sharp Corporation claim to be developing a new memory technology that could be 10,000 times faster than todays chips. If this technology becomes available, it could lead to significant performance improvements for mobile computing!

Microsoft has launched Windows Phone 7. We have discussed Windows Phone 7 before, and it does not appear that any Data Collection devices will be using it right away. Instead, WP7 is targetted more to consumer devices. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and see what develops.

We see that Intermec devices are now going to be available through BlueStar. If you are an ITScriptNet reseller who also resells Intermec, you now have one-stop purchasing through BlueStar!

We will be exhibiting at the Honeywell Scanning and Mobility North American Partner Event, October 26-28 in Las Vegas. If you are attending this event, come see us at the ISV Solution Fair, where we wil be showing our latest offerings on Honeywell hardware. Contact us for more information!

Motorola has announced two new devices: The MC65 and the MC959B.

The MC65 is the next generation EDA device, similar to the MC55 but running Windows Mobile 6.5.

The MC959B is in the MC9500 line, but includes both GSM and CDMA radio capability.

We've been following the changes to the Windows Mobile and Windows CE product lines, and the latest news is that Microsoft is moving the Windows Embedded group into the Server and Tools division. It is not clear what the impact of this change will be. However, this may reflect a continuing division between Consumer Phones and Embedded / Data Collection devices. Data Collection device manufacturers will benefit from keeping compatibility with the large installed base of Windows Mobile and Windows CE devices using native tools and .Net Compact Framework, while Window Phone 7 is a clean break requiring XNA or Silverlight for development. We will continue to monitor developments.

Here is a video on the new Intermec CS40, giving a good feel for its size.

Intermec has announced an addition to their Mobile Computer product line, the CS40. This device is a smaller, mobile phone sized device, but still incorporating an imager for barcode scanning, as well as 4 radios (WiFi, GPS, GPRS, and BlueTooth).

The CS40 competes with the new Motorola ES400 as data collection devices in a smaller form-factor that is appropriate for route accounting and sales personnel. While less rugged than an industrial device suited to a warehouse environment, these devices are still more rugged than a typical consumer phone.

The CS40 appears to be compatible with the Intermec Developer Library, so we expect our ITScriptNet client will work on this device. We will update once we have a chance to test.

The article in Wired about new mobile processors caught our attention. Samsung, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments are all shipping or about to ship their first dual-core ARM processors.

The reason this is interesting is that all Windows Mobile and almost all Windows CE portable devices use these processors. The increase in power for video applications is primarily being driven by the Consumer phone business, but as prices come down these chips will eventaully find their way into portable data collection devices as well. This will lead to a significant increase on the performance of these devices.

Have you ever noticed that most popular wireless communications methods use 2.4GHz? This includes Wifi (802.11), BlueTooth, cordless phones, and more? Gizmodo provides a very understandable explanation. Basically, it turns out that the 2.4 GHz band of the RF spectrum was set aside by the FCC for unlicensed communications (this means you don't need an FCC license to run your WiFi Access Point or BlueTooth headset). Furthermore, because all of these systems use frequency-hopping technology (which means the radios check a particular frequency to make sure it is open before transmitting), you can have multiple products running in the same physical area without interference from each other.