Getac Enhances Its Range of Versatile Android Devices with Launch of AI-ready Tablet
New 8-inch ZX80 fully rugged tablet combines compact design and a highly customizable specification with the flexible benefits of Android for optimal productivity in the field
IRVINE, CA—March 1, 2024—Getac today announced the launch of the AI-ready ZX80, a new 8-inch fully rugged tablet, powered by the versatile Android operating system. The announcement expands and diversifies Getac’s portfolio of Android devices, giving customers in industries such as utilities, manufacturing, and transportation even more choice when selecting rugged solutions to solve day-to-day challenges and boost productivity and efficiency.
Lightweight yet rugged design
The ZX80 has been purpose-built to thrive in challenging work environments, from busy warehouses and logistics hubs to remote field locations and outdoor facilities. Its lightweight form factor (590g), wide operating temperature range (-29°C to 63°C) and bright 1,000 nit 16:10 aspect ratio screen makes it particularly well suited to key tasks such as forklift truck operation and UAV control, where device performance and reliability are critical to success. MIL-STD-810H certification, IP67 certification and 6ft drop resistance further ensure it can easily stand up to the rigours of intensive field work.
For users who need full-shift functionality while working away from charging facilities, the ZX80 is also compatible with Getac’s hot-swappable battery technology, enabling users to switch additional batteries quickly and easily while in the field, saving precious time and preventing disruption.
Highly configurable for optimal versatility
Getac understands that every use case is unique, which is why the ZX80’s highly configurable design offers extensive flexibility when it comes to building a specification that matches customers’ needs as effectively as possible.
Key features include a dual SIM design (one physical SIM and one eSIM), which allows for rapid switching between carrier networks, while Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax, Bluetooth v5.2, and optional dedicated GPS offer rapid data transfer and location positioning capabilities. Depending on customer requirements, the ZX80 can be configured with 4G/5G LTE, NFC, and a barcode reader to fit different applications as needed.
AI-ready performance
The ZX80’s Qualcomm QCS6490 processor delivers astonishing performance at lower power levels, making it ideally suited to a host of IoT industrial field applications and commercial use cases. The tablet is also AI-ready, taking advantage of Qualcomm’s AI Engine to offer on-device machine learning and the ability to run AI use cases while maintaining battery life. To maximize the potential AI capabilities, the ZX80 incorporates 12GB LPDDR5 memory. The ZX80 comes with Android 13 pre-installed and is upgradeable to future Android OS releases, enabling users to embrace new AI features as soon as they become available.
Supported by a comprehensive range of dedicated accessories and software
Like all Getac devices, the ZX80 is compatible with a comprehensive range of dedicated accessories, peripherals and software, helping users maximize device functionality in different industry scenarios. This includes third party secure vehicle docks for optimal vehicle/forklift truck use, hand strap, stylus and high-capacity hot swappable batteries for enhanced usability in the field, and 65W USB-C adaptor and docking station for efficient use in the office. Customers can also efficiently manage their Android tablets through pre-installed Getac software solutions, including the brand-new Log Tool, deployXpress, enrollXpress, GDMS, Driving Safety Utility, and OEMConfig.
“The Android platform continues to evolve and expand throughout the industrial sector, offering new ways to solve key challenges and enhance business operations,” said Mike McMahon, President of Getac North America. “With the launch of the ZX80, we’re giving our Android customers even more choice when it comes to selecting the right rugged solution for their needs and enabling them to capitalize on the versatility of Android in environments and scenarios where it wouldn’t otherwise be possible.”
The new ZX80 is available in March. For more information, visit www.getac.com
The Port of Oakland has been awarded $50 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to modernize wharves and terminal infrastructure at its Outer Harbor facility, the port said today.
Those upgrades would enable the Outer Harbor to accommodate Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), which are now a regular part of the shipping fleet calling on West Coast ports. Each of these ships has a handling capacity of up to 24,000 TEUs (20-foot containers) but are currently restricted at portions of Oakland’s Outer Harbor by aging wharves which were originally designed for smaller ships.
According to the port, those changes will let it handle newer, larger vessels, which are more efficient, cost effective, and environmentally cleaner to operate than older ships. Specific investments for the project will include: wharf strengthening, structural repairs, replacing container crane rails, adding support piles, strengthening support beams, and replacing electrical bus bar system to accommodate larger ship-to-shore cranes.
Commercial fleet operators are steadily increasing their use of GPS fleet tracking, in-cab video solutions, and predictive analytics, driven by rising costs, evolving regulations, and competitive pressures, according to an industry report from Verizon Connect.
Those conclusions come from the company’s fifth annual “Fleet Technology Trends Report,” conducted in partnership with Bobit Business Media, and based on responses from 543 fleet management professionals.
The study showed that for five consecutive years, at least four out of five respondents have reported using at least one form of fleet technology, said Atlanta-based Verizon Connect, which provides fleet and mobile workforce management software platforms, embedded OEM hardware, and a connected vehicle device called Hum by Verizon.
The most commonly used of those technologies is GPS fleet tracking, with 69% of fleets across industries reporting its use, the survey showed. Of those users, 72% find it extremely or very beneficial, citing improved efficiency (62%) and a reduction in harsh driving/speeding events (49%).
Respondents also reported a focus on safety, with 57% of respondents citing improved driver safety as a key benefit of GPS fleet tracking. And 68% of users said in-cab video solutions are extremely or very beneficial. Together, those technologies help reduce distracted driving incidents, improve coaching sessions, and help reduce accident and insurance costs, Verizon Connect said.
Looking at the future, fleet management software is evolving to meet emerging challenges, including sustainability and electrification, the company said. "The findings from this year's Fleet Technology Trends Report highlight a strong commitment across industries to embracing fleet technology, with GPS tracking and in-cab video solutions consistently delivering measurable results,” Peter Mitchell, General Manager, Verizon Connect, said in a release. “As fleets face rising costs and increased regulatory pressures, these technologies are proving to be indispensable in helping organizations optimize their operations, reduce expenses, and navigate the path toward a more sustainable future.”
Businesses engaged in international trade face three major supply chain hurdles as they head into 2025: the disruptions caused by Chinese New Year (CNY), the looming threat of potential tariffs on foreign-made products that could be imposed by the incoming Trump Administration, and the unresolved contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), according to an analysis from trucking and logistics provider Averitt.
Each of those factors could lead to significant shipping delays, production slowdowns, and increased costs, Averitt said.
First, Chinese New Year 2025 begins on January 29, prompting factories across China and other regions to shut down for weeks, typically causing production to halt and freight demand to skyrocket. The ripple effects can range from increased shipping costs to extended lead times, disrupting even the most well-planned operations. To prepare for that event, shippers should place orders early, build inventory buffers, secure freight space in advance, diversify shipping modes, and communicate with logistics providers, Averitt said.
Second, new or increased tariffs on foreign-made goods could drive up the cost of imports, disrupt established supply chains, and create uncertainty in the marketplace. In turn, shippers may face freight rate volatility and capacity constraints as businesses rush to stockpile inventory ahead of tariff deadlines. To navigate these challenges, shippers should prepare advance shipments and inventory stockpiling, diversity sourcing, negotiate supplier agreements, explore domestic production, and leverage financial strategies.
Third, unresolved contract negotiations between the ILA and the USMX will come to a head by January 15, when the current contract expires. Labor action or strikes could cause severe disruptions at East and Gulf Coast ports, triggering widespread delays and bottlenecks across the supply chain. To prepare for the worst, shippers should adopt a similar strategy to the other potential January threats: collaborate early, secure freight, diversify supply chains, and monitor policy changes.
According to Averitt, companies can cushion the impact of all three challenges by deploying a seamless, end-to-end solution covering the entire path from customs clearance to final-mile delivery. That strategy can help businesses to store inventory closer to their customers, mitigate delays, and reduce costs associated with supply chain disruptions. And combined with proactive communication and real-time visibility tools, the approach allows companies to maintain control and keep their supply chains resilient in the face of global uncertainties, Averitt said.
Bloomington, Indiana-based FTR said its Trucking Conditions Index declined in September to -2.47 from -1.39 in August as weakness in the principal freight dynamics – freight rates, utilization, and volume – offset lower fuel costs and slightly less unfavorable financing costs.
Those negative numbers are nothing new—the TCI has been positive only twice – in May and June of this year – since April 2022, but the group’s current forecast still envisions consistently positive readings through at least a two-year forecast horizon.
“Aside from a near-term boost mostly related to falling diesel prices, we have not changed our Trucking Conditions Index forecast significantly in the wake of the election,” Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking, said in a release. “The outlook continues to be more favorable for carriers than what they have experienced for well over two years. Our analysis indicates gradual but steadily rising capacity utilization leading to stronger freight rates in 2025.”
But FTR said its forecast remains unchanged. “Just like everyone else, we’ll be watching closely to see exactly what trade and other economic policies are implemented and over what time frame. Some freight disruptions are likely due to tariffs and other factors, but it is not yet clear that those actions will do more than shift the timing of activity,” Vise said.
The TCI tracks the changes representing five major conditions in the U.S. truck market: freight volumes, freight rates, fleet capacity, fuel prices, and financing costs. Combined into a single index indicating the industry’s overall health, a positive score represents good, optimistic conditions while a negative score shows the inverse.
Specifically, the new global average robot density has reached a record 162 units per 10,000 employees in 2023, which is more than double the mark of 74 units measured seven years ago.
Broken into geographical regions, the European Union has a robot density of 219 units per 10,000 employees, an increase of 5.2%, with Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia in the global top ten. Next, North America’s robot density is 197 units per 10,000 employees – up 4.2%. And Asia has a robot density of 182 units per 10,000 persons employed in manufacturing - an increase of 7.6%. The economies of Korea, Singapore, mainland China and Japan are among the top ten most automated countries.
Broken into individual countries, the U.S. ranked in 10th place in 2023, with a robot density of 295 units. Higher up on the list, the top five are:
The Republic of Korea, with 1,012 robot units, showing a 5% increase on average each year since 2018 thanks to its strong electronics and automotive industries.
Singapore had 770 robot units, in part because it is a small country with a very low number of employees in the manufacturing industry, so it can reach a high robot density with a relatively small operational stock.
China took third place in 2023, surpassing Germany and Japan with a mark of 470 robot units as the nation has managed to double its robot density within four years.
Germany ranks fourth with 429 robot units for a 5% CAGR since 2018.
Japan is in fifth place with 419 robot units, showing growth of 7% on average each year from 2018 to 2023.