Roper Mobile announced that it was buy Black Diamond Advanced Technology , Almighty of the SwitchBack super - rugged UMPC . The machine debuted last declension , woo fan with its hot - swappable batteries , all - weather condition reflective screen and full sealing to three meters subaquatic . But until now no one could really corrupt one . Though not many knew it , SwitchBack was also the brains used inIntel ’s Satanic Chopper . Today the information processing system are finally for sale . We talked to God Almighty Todd Einck about his uniquely kick - rear UMPC :
https://gizmodo.com/intel-and-orange-county-choppers-create-satans-motorcyc-288926
The problem the company dealt with was this : how do you build a PC open of withstand extremes of temperature , wet , impact and dust , but then let some dude in the field plug in his iPod or digital camera , and lie with it all up ? enunciate Einck : “ How do you hang on to a lozenge if it has all this rubble hanging off it ? We embed all that stuff in BackPacks . ”
BackPacks are modules that can attach to ( yes ) the back of a SwitchBack PC for added functionality that can have equally ruggedized certification . Some BackPacks will be standard . The first include “ all the port you would get on a PC , ” says Einck : microcomputer card , USB 2.0 , sequential port , VGA , audio in and out . But Einck enounce the tangible point is to tailor-make BackPacks for specialised need : “ You could have a BackPack with a 3 - megapixel camera , iPod bobtail , and temperature investigation to check the weather , ” he says .
“ pour down it in your desk , it handles all your oeuvre stuff , then take it home , put it in your wharf at habitation . When you go hiking , you use the built - in GPS to get yourself out of whatever quagmire you got into , then pop it back in your jeep and go . ”
SwitchBack has a few other hard-core technologies up its sleeve :
• Its “ smutty box ” software combines accelerometer datum with metre pestle to provide a C - by - blow invoice of all the crap that happens to it . Even if the SwitchBack ends up wholly eliminate , you’re able to discover out what the hell happened .
• An optional 2nd CE - strength C.P.U. ( in addition to its 1GHz Celeron or 1.6GHz Core Duo ) could be used to run a less stamp battery draining interface out in the landing field , then take a back seat once you are in a less hostile environment and want to boot up Windows XP . [ Roper Mobile
ROPER MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ACQUIRES BLACK DIAMOND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ; ANNOUNCES SHIPPING OF SWITCHBACK RUGGED ULTRA MOBILE PC
Shipments of SwitchBack personal computer Commence for Customers in
Military and Industrial Markets
October 29 , 2007 — Tempe , AZ — Roper Mobile Technology today annunciate the skill of technology development firm Black Diamond Advanced Technology . Roper Mobile Technology , a entirely - owned subsidiary of Roper Industries ( NYSE : ROP ) , is a go provider of amply tough , extremely customizable fluid computation result for challenge environments . With this acquisition , Roper Mobile Technology announce the commercial-grade handiness of its flagship product , the SwitchBack PC . Debuted last fall as the world ’s first rugged UMPC ( Ultra Mobile Personal Computer ) , the SwitchBack is a potent Windows XP - based personal computer in a lightweight , rugged form factor .
“ Over the last year , we have experienced an irresistibly positive market response to the SwitchBack microcomputer and its unequaled modular design . With the completion of this acquisition , the SwitchBack is exploding onto the securities industry and our first customers have been proud of with the engineering and service we are providing , ” said Justin Dyster , former President of Black Diamond Advanced Technology and current Vice President of Engineering at Roper Mobile Technology . “ Our BackPack enterprise is already a succeeder , with many customers placing orders for the Standard BackPack and with several more in military markets ordering Custom BackPacks or work with us to educate their own . ”
“ The UMPC is emerging as a extremely workable signifier broker for use in vertical applications presently support by rugged mobile computing machine , ” say David Krebs , Practice Director , Venture Development Corporation . “ The SwitchBack is uniquely set to support many of these applications and its pattern emphasizes the need for more platform - based modular computing solutions . ”
“ The strength of Black Diamond ’s extremely gifted Research and Development squad combined with Roper Mobile ’s established world resources in gross revenue and service of process will greatly accelerate SwitchBack ’s market success , ” said Gene Yazbak , President of Roper Mobile Technology . “ Roper Mobile is pleased to inflate our potentiality in edict to retain our fierce focussing on innovating disruptive technology , like the SwitchBack , that go the superfluous stride to previse customer needs in harsh surround . ”
The latest version of the SwitchBack PC is the most powerful variant yet . Operating on a Windows XP or Windows Vista chopine , it employ a 1.0 gigacycle per second Intel ® Celeron ® M CPU , 2 GB of 400 MHz DDR2 and up to 120 GB of optional storage . It has pass rigorous environmental testing and meet military stipulation MIL - STD-810F and IEC 60529 standard IP-67 for lock in conditions of uttermost shock , trembling , temperature and immersion .
The stock SwitchBack PC is equipped with a condensed QWERTY keyboard , removable hard drive , blistering swappable battery and a 5.6 - inch WSVGA sunlight viewable touch CRT screen with stylus . Wireless capabilities like Bluetooth 2.0 , Wi - Fi b / g and GPS can be integrated . The novel SwitchBack also has a patent of invention - pending Status & Control characteristic that enables distant diagnostics for robotic troubleshooting in the field . This first of its genial symptomatic tool intelligently manages and controls vital social function of the personal computer including :
master & secondary battery levels
Temperature variation
Accelerometer to measure pearl
Power consumption
Input and output shortages
The BackPack Program
The SwitchBack ’s patent - pending BackPack Technology allow the user to integrate multiple devices into a single BackPack such as a digital photographic camera , biometric security , an RFID reader or any combination of I / O options .
The BackPack ( criterion or custom ) attach onto the back of the SwitchBack and user interface to the computer through a special ultra - full , mellow - speed connexion to the Switchback . This design is so flexible almost any electronic peripheral can be designed to interface with the SwitchBack .
Today , client can rate the Standard BackPack which includes :
Type II PCMCIA
USB 2.0 porthole
Serial Port
VGA output signal
Audio Line In
Audio Line out
Roper Mobile also works intimately with its customers to plan customized BackPacks that are veracious for them . In addition , customers can choose to utilize Roper Mobile ’s BackPack Development Kit which permit them to build their own BackPacks .
Pricing & Availability
The SwitchBack microcomputer and the Standard BackPack are uncommitted immediately through Roper Mobile Technology . For pricing and information on custom BackPack Modules or a BackPack Development Kit , contact Roper Mobile at 480 - 705 - 4200 x 230 or at[email protect ]
Backpackbulletproof
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