Glacier Celebrates Xplore Tech’s 20th Anniversary

Glacier Xplore Rugged TabletsGlacier Computer is a proud Authorized Reseller of Xplore Rugged Tablets.

AUSTIN, Texas—August 23, 2016— Xplore Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: XPLR) today marks the start of its 20-year anniversary celebration. Since 1996, Xplore has exclusively engineered and delivered the most complete line of purpose-built rugged tablet technologies on Earth. According to VDC Research, out of all of the mobile computer original equipment manufacturers (OEM) operating today, Xplore is the only OEM to have focused on rugged tablets – and only rugged tablets – for 20 years. This market focus is what has made Xplore a trusted authority in the rugged tablet space. 

Congratulations to Xplore Technologies from all of us at Glacier Computer.

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Lift Truck Tips: Mobile computers react to mounting demands

KODIAK Lift-Mounted rugged computerExcerpted from a recent article in Material Handling Magazine.

When the concept of a forklift-mounted computer emerged, it was accompanied by a keyboard, separate battery and a better power conversion device specific to electric or propane, each of which had to be precisely and permanently integrated. Then, you had to manage, upgrade and optimize the operating systems. According to Ron D’Ambrosio, president and CEO of Glacier Computer, a single touchscreen terminal now houses all of these elements, but to address the hardware specs alone barely scratches the surface.

“The newest VMT technology is made to collect equipment and safety data from a vehicle management system, inventory and operational data from a warehouse management system, and any other PC-driven processes that the enterprise requires,” D’Ambrosio says. “Then it must not only disseminate that information, but provide the flexibility to orient the data to a variety of departments within the enterprise. This is the ‘Intelligent Forklift.’”

Keep Reading at mmh.com

The Siren Song of Lift-Mounted ‘Rugged’ Tablets

Male worker operating forklift in warehouse

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous yet beautiful creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. In Tablet Mythology the iPad revolution lured warehouse managers and IT specialists toward an emerging rogues gallery of “rugged” tablets as a ‘more affordable’ next-gen productivity solution. But lifts by their very nature produce a set of operating conditions that tablets are not designed to withstand…for very long.

Honeywell did us all a favor by articulating this problem in detail. The sub-heading of their piece says it all. “Why Tablets and Purpose Built Forklift-Mounted Computers Are Not Interchangeable.”

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One System to Rule Them All

KODAIK Supports multiple Operating systems

Your business no longer has to delay a critical hardware purchase because that hardware may not run the next operating system or platform upgrade.  KODIAK is built to run the latest versions and the widest range of operating systems of any VMT, right out of the box. Check it out at MODEX, April 4th through the 7th.

If you are not going to MODEX just sign up here to try a KODIAK out for yourself.

Visit us at Booth #1622 – Near the Premier Club – Floor Plan (PDF)

modex2

 

The Glacier Blog is Back!

We’ve got a new theme, a new look, and while there is still some remodeling left to complete, the Glacier blog is back.

under construction

New content is arriving soon so stay connected with expanded social media sharing or sign up for email updates.

Tech Tuesday on Wednesday July 8th, 2015

This week the physics of sparklers, custom 3D printed cars (for the road), and you don’t have to travel to a galaxy far far away – hoverbike technology is here.

Hoverbikes are real:  The United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command has commissioned two companies to develop hoverbike technology. Malloy Aeronautics earlier this month demoed a working hoverbike at the Paris Air Show.

Customize your own 3D Printed Car: The new car is an EV and Local Motors hopes that the car will be able to be 3D printed on demand and it is intended to allow the customer to add custom colors and trim pieces to the car.

The Physics of Sparklers:  It depends on the kind of sparkler, but the temperature of these sparks can be anywhere from 1800°F to 3000°F (1000°C – 1600°C).

 

Tech Tuesday on Wednesday July 1st, 2015

This weeks less than typical tech news includes battling drones (as a hobby), a “camera”(or is it an accessory) from OLYMPUS for your smartphone, and IKEA scries the connected kitchen of the future.

Game of Drones “…aerial sports — drone fighting and racing — seem primed to become a major new driver of consumer drone sales, and Cornblatt is sitting atop a deranged and delightful empire in the making.”

OLYMPUS ups your selfie game: “Officially called the Olympus Air A01, the 16-megapixel camera is more of smartphone camera accessory than a typical mirrorless camera. Olympus has managed to cram the sensor, storage, battery and other camera functions into a handheld body that is about the same size as an average DSLR lens.”

IKEA explores the concept kitchen of 2025: “Ten years in the future, the world will be a very different place. (Read how). What does that mean for us, for the design of kitchens, and the people who make them – and how will we be able to live a sustainable life at home?”

Tech Tuesday on Wednesday for June 17th, 2015

This week on Tech Tuesday on Wednesday we bring you…

The worlds thinnest light bulb – How thin is it?

“This new type of ‘broadband’ light emitter can be integrated into chips and will pave the way towards the realisation of atomically thin, flexible, and transparent displays, and graphene-based on-chip optical communications,”

A view from Pluto – The former planet not the cartoon dog.

We’re now down to less than a month before NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft makes its closest approach to Pluto on July 14…and there are two stellar ways for you to get in on the excitement.

And…Driving a Range Rover remotely from your Smartphone – Today Range Rover, Tomorrow…?

Jaguar Land Rover is developing smartphone control technology that lets you pilot a car (in this case, a Range Rover Sport) at very low speeds while you’re outside, helping you get past difficult terrain or tricky parking spots. 

And don’t forget to Follow Glacier on Twitter by July 4th,2015.  You could win a free 7″ Rugged Android Tablet.

You can also follow Glacier On Facebook!

Tech Tuesday on Wednesday for June 3rd, 2015 (with preamble)

If you are new to Tech Tuesday on Wednesday, you might wonder “why Tech Tuesday on Wednesday” ?

Fans of the TV show “The Walking Dead” may recall Hershel Greene who, in the 2013 season titled ‘Internment’ announced that,

“I think we should make some new rules before they get back. I hereby declare we have spaghetti Tuesdays every Wednesday. First we have to find some spaghetti.”

In the interest of not taking ourselves too seriously, and some cold-calculating research that suggests social media engagement might be slightly higher on the day right after Tuesday, I declared that “we have Glacier Tech Tuesday on Wednesday.”

And who needs another ‘Tech Tuesday’ on Tuesday?

Ten Reasons to turn rugged: Interest, Markets, Prices, Devices – and who doesn’t want to be thought of as ”rugged”?

How about augmented reality?  Magic Leap introduces an augmented reality developer platform.

Windows 10 is Coming. Check out devices built specifically for Windows

Michelle Obama and the NSA are drooling.  Google wants to use sophisticated deep learning algorithms to analyze a still photo of food, and estimate how many calories are on the plate.’

And don’t forget to Follow Glacier on Twitter (which happens to be the account of Ron D’Ambrosio – our fearless leader) by July 4th,2015.  You could win a free 7″ Rugged Android Tablet.

You can also follow Glacier On Facebook!

5 Keys in the Evolution to “Smart” Forklifts.

The term “Smart” in front of any noun has become the new standard for referring to the latest technological advancements in cars, phones, even hospital beds, but what about forklifts?  Thanks to a convergence of modern data collection technologies forklifts are evolving from warehouse workhorses into data collection Divas.

Here are 5 key areas to consider when we talk about the evolution to Smart Forklifts.

jungheinrich lift Forklift Manufacturers

Many players answer the call for electric vs. gas, stationary vs. mobile, and manned vs. unmanned. They all supply the basic functionality of a powered industrial “truck” used to lift and move materials short distances.   Companies participating in this market include Crown, Raymond, Jungheinrich, Hyster, and Toyota.

One of the largest in North America is Glacier Computer alliance partner Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America ( MCFA) distributors of CAT, Jungheinrich, and Mitsubishi forklifts; and their subsidiary Rapid Parts, a provider of aftermarket lift parts.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of forklifts in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company distributes three distinct brands – Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat® lift trucks and Jungheinrich® warehouse products.  –MCFA

Forklift manufacturers, evolving to meet customer needs, create the foundation upon which smart forklifts are created.

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