Trimble announced the next generation of its popular Trimble Recon® rugged handheld computer. The new Recon X-Series gives users the option of integrated Bluetooth and 802.11g wireless capabilities, and it comes with Windows Mobile 5.0, the latest version of Microsoft's software for handheld devices. The new Recon handheld computer includes two models, both with more Flash memory than before. The Recon 200X features a 200 MHz Intel XScale processor and 128 MB of Flash memory; the Recon 400X features a 400 MHz processor and 256 MB of Flash memory. Other new features include a built-in microphone, a redesigned keypad and an improved color touchscreen. Like the original, the Recon X-Series meets the MIL-STD-810F military standard for drops, vibration and temperature extremes. It also has an IP67 rating, meaning it's impervious to water and dust. The X-Series retains the Recon's two CompactFlash (CF) slots, allowing users to add GPS, GPRS, digital cameras, bar-code scanners and other devices. The Recon's Windows Mobile 5.0 software includes several new features that improve efficiency and reliability. Comprehensive persistent storage saves all programs and data to nonvolatile Flash memory; this eliminates the need for a RAM file system or system backups.
