Jan/Feb 2006

Mobile computing specialist DLoG often manages to come up with something out of the ordinary, and it certainly seems to have succeeded with its latest model, the XMDA handheld.

Indeed, whilst it's called a handheld, arguably the XMDA defines a new market space with its 7in TFT touchscreen display, which is an order of magnitude larger than those of other more typical handhelds. Yet the unit measures only 256 by 131 by 40 mm, so it is seen as ideal for warehouse and logistics applications.

The company describes the XMDA housing as "a fusion of design and functionality". It is notable for its protective corner cappings, which that serve as shock absorbers and also include integrated ports for headsets, speakers and scanners. The unit is rated at IP65 for environmental performance, and is also said to be shock- and vibration-resistant to drops of up to 1.2m.

The XMDA is powered by the latest Intel PXA 270 processor running at a sprightly 520 MHz, and features the latest Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 operating system. Other features are fitted to order, including wireless networking, GPS and GSM.