News
- Details
Zebra Technologies announced the end of life for their long-standing mobile terminals: the MC32N0 and MC92N0 handhelds, the VC70N0 vehicle and the WT41N0 wearable.
The last book dates are as follows:
MC32N0 - May 17, 2021
MC92N0 - August 20, 2021
VC70N0 - June 16, 2021
WT41N0 - April 30. 2021
The reason for the termination is the moral obsolescence of the hardware itself as well as the Windows CE and Windows Embedded Handheld operating systems, which have no longer been supported by Microsoft. A replacement solution is the current series of Zebra mobile devices running Android OS. Zebra MC3300x terminals (replacement for MC32N0) are designed for less demanding environments. MC9300 terminals (replacement for MC92N0), vehicle VC80x (replacement for VC70) and wearable WT6300 (replacement for WT41N0) are ready for harsh operating conditions and handling.
- Details
I have prepared a simple demo for Zebra Android mobile devices that introduces:
- StageNow client - for an easy device setup and app installations using the barcodes
- Ivanti Velocity client - Telnet and web server access
- Remote Desktop client - remote server access via RDP
- Enterprise Home Screen - device screen lockdown with selected apps user access only + full administrator access via a password
To launch the demo you need a Zebra Android device with the Internet connectivity and FTP traffic allowed on port 21:
- Connect your device to the Internet - most commonly via Wi-Fi
- Start StageNow
- Scan 2D barcode No 1 or all numbered 1D codes respectively from one of the following documents based on your device OS:
- If the connection is successful the device will install Ivanti Velocity, Remote Desktop and Enterprise Home Screen automatically
- Enterprise Home Screen locks the device desktop and publishes 3 icons: Remote Desktop, Velocity and Calculator
- Tap:
- RemoteDesktop: to connect to a remote server via the RDP protocol
- Velocity: to connect to a demo Telnet and web server
- To access Enterprise Home Screen administrator mode select Admin Login from the Tools menu (password is abcd)
- To return to the Enterprise Home Screen user mode select Admin Logout from the Tools menu
- To uninstall this demo from the mobile device run StageNow and scan 2D barcode No. 1 or all numbered 1D codes from the MSWebDemo_Uninstall.pdf. It uninstalls Velocity client, Remote Desktop and Enterprise Home Screen and reboots the device automatically.
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Zebra announced the End of Sale of the MC2100 enterprise mobile computer as it has reached the end of its lifecycle. Last book date is set to March 31, 2020. MC2100 has been on the market for 8 years. The component last time buy and Microsoft CE 6.0 Extended Support Retirement Date (April 2018) is forcing the MC2100 End of Sale while supplies last. As a replacement Zebra recommends the TC20 with keypad product family. It provides a CE 6.0 to Android Oreo migration path.
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In July 2019 Zebra launched the EC30 Enterprise Companion mobile computer, a pocketable and wearable Android device, designed specifically for retail and hospitality customers.
EC30 is an ergonomic, light weight, wearable mobile device that allows users to do basic barcode scanning, assisted selling and WLAN communication. With this product users can query product information, do inventory management, communicate with fellow staff members via PTT or VoIP, receive & execute tasks and much more. Key features include:
- 3-inch FWVGA color display and capacitive touch panel with light glove support
- Qualcomm SD660 Architecture with support for Android 8.1 at release and future Android updates (P and Q)
- Thin and light (less than 60 g), EC30 is well suited for a range of wearable modalities including neck lanyard, vest clip, arm and belt mounts
- Support for Zebra Mobility DNA tools and utilities
- 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope & e-compass for indoor locationing applications
- Locking cradle solution (like PSS system for retail associates)
- Fully integrated audio support with built-in speaker, microphone, 3.5 mm audio jack, Bluetooth 5.0, PTT and volume control buttons
- Center scan button for triggering of SE2100 1D/2D barcode scanner
- 1200 mAh Li-Ion PowerPrecision+ battery (not user-replacable) providing 8 to 10 hours of operation
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In April 2019 Zebra introduced the TC8300 - an update to the all-touch Zebra's TC8XX product family built on Android platform.
What’s new:
- 4.0-inch touch friendly display with capacity Gorilla Glass 5 touch panel
- 2.2 GHz octa-core processor SDM660
- 4GB RAM /32GB Flash, optionally 8 GB RAM/128 GB TLC Flash
- Latest Android OS, Launching with Android Oreo 8.1 with planned support for P and Q
- Latest Wi-Fi protocols, faster speeds and greater capacity with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/d/h/i/r/k/v/w and 2x2 MU-MIMO
- Various data capture options (SE965 1D, SE4770SR 2D, SE4750-MR 2D, SE4850 ERI 2D and SE4750 DPM)
- High capacity PowerPrecision+ battery 7000 mAh with supercapacitor hotswap
- 13 MP rear-facing color camera
- Backwards compatibility with all TC8000 accessories (DPM exception with color-matched dedicated charge-cradle)
- LifeGuard support
- New mobility tools including PowerPrecision Console, StageNow with restricted mode, WorryFree Wi-Fi and Device Tracker to find lost devices
Zebra will continue to sell the TC8000 device for the foreseeable future.
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An April 2019 Zebra introduced the MC9300 - new ultra-rugged, keypad based handheld computer based on Android platform.
What’s new:
- High visibility, high resolution 4.3-inch touch friendly display with capacity gorilla glass touch panel optimized to gloved use or when wet
- 2.2 GHz octa-core processor
- 4GB/32GB memory (pSLC)
- Latest Android OS, Launching with Android Oreo 8.1 with planned support for P and Q
- Latest Wi-Fi protocols, faster speeds and greater capacity with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/d/h/i/r/k/v/w and 2x2 MU-MIMO
- Bluetooth 5.0, 2.1+ EDR, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Various data capture options (SE965 1D, SE4750SR 2D, SE4850 ERI 2D and optimized SE4750 DPM)
- High capacity PowerPrecision+ battery 7000 mAh (standard) & 5000 mAh (Freezer)
- Improved keypad durability with new In-mold Decorated keys with adjustable backlight
- Optional:13MP rear-facing camera; 5MP front camera with support for Visible Light Communication (VLC), ready for indoor locationing
- Optional: Cold storage variant with advanced temperature control for use in condensing environment (Freezer -30C/-22F)
- Optional: Built in haptics that vibrates on scan verification in noisy environments
- Backwards compatibility with MC9x Terminal device charge cradles (via adapter)
- LifeGuard support
- New mobility tools including PowerPrecision Console, StageNow with restricted mode, WorryFree Wi-Fi and Device Tracker to find lost devices
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Zebra announced end of sale on all MC3200 Android SKUs, all MC40 and MT2090 - WLAN models of the MT2000 series - by the end of 2018.
The MC3200 with Android OS is discontinued due to the availability of modern and objectively better MC3300 series. Thanks to one big overseas customer, Zebra is up and running at the last minute with outdated Android 4.2 on the MC3200 to version 5 (Lollipop).There are currently no planned EOS dates for the Microsoft CE 7.0 MC3200 SKUs at this time.
The MC40 is product with a long history. For this device Zebra have developed Android from Jellybean, Kitkat to Lollipop - which is quite unique in comparison to other devices, but also a lot of childhood illnesses. It was popular mainly in the US market.
The MT2090 with Windows CE 5 ends suddenly and without replacements due to the unavailability of Wi-Fi chips from subcontractors. The other scanner from the MT2000 series - MT2070 (w/o WiFi) - is still on offer.
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In order to catch up with the competition, Zebra is launching successors of the TC51, TC56, TC70x, TC75x, and MC18. Common features of the new mobile terminals are the eight-core 64-bit Snapdragon 660 processor, 4 GB RAM and 32 GB flash memory, 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip, Bluetooth 5.0 with BLE support, support for minimum of three versions of the Android OS, starting with Android 8.1 Oreo, design almost unrecognizable to its predecessors and accessories compatible with its predecessors.
Specifically, these are the following types of devices:
- TC52 - TC51 successor, Wi-Fi only
- TC57 - successor TC56, Wi-Fi + LTE-A / VoLTE
- TC72 - successor TC70x, Wi-Fi only
- TC77 - successor TC75x, Wi-Fi + LTE-A / VoLTE
- PS20 - successor MC18 - Base and Plus
Starting with Android 8.1, Zebra only releases GMS (Google Mobile Services) builds within each BSP build. Users previously used AOSP builds have the option to turn off Google applications and services using StageNow / MX.
Another device specific innovations include, for example,
- Support for Digimarc invisible codes reading (T52, TC57, TC72, PS20 Plus)
- Atmospheric pressure sensor (TC77)
- Front-facing camera with visible light spectrum communication (VLC) support - usable for indoor locationing (except PS20 Base)
The software features of all new terminals include the WorryFree WiFi utility for WiFi setup and troubleshooting.
Zebra is not yet planning to stop the previous terminal types. For example, for TC7X, three generations of devices remain available: TC70, TC70x and TC72 (Wi-Fi only), respectively. TC75, TC75x, and TC77 (Wi-Fi + WWAN).
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The new, promising MC3300 Series launched by Zebra Technologies is trying to build on the tradition of the MC3000, MC3100 and MC3200 mobile terminals. This is a mid-range device that features technologies and features up-to-date in 2017. These include Android 7, a four-inch capacitive display, 802.11ac Wi-Fi radio, and a new type of fast-recharging battery.
Here are the basic facts about the MC3300 terminals:
- 4th generation of MC3000 series
- Charging accessories and holsters are compatible with previous models; MC33xx can utilize MC32xx batteries, but it is not possible vice versa.
- Communication cradles and cables from MC3000 / MC3100 / MC3200 with MC3300 are not compatible.
- 1.8 GHz Qualcomm 8056 processor
- 4" capacitive display with 480x800 pixels with Gorilla glass and multi-touch support
- Standard, Premium and Premium+ models vary in memory size and buil-in features
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac radio in all configurations
- Scanner modules SE965 (laser 1D - rotating turret), SE4750 (2D) or new SE4850 (2D Extended Range)
- Rear Camera at Premium+ Brick models
- New type of PowerPrecision+ batteries with fast recharging (requires new charging accessories)
- Resistance to repeated drops from 1.5 m on concrete
- Android N in both AOSP and GMS versions, preparing for Oreo
- LifeGuard software support from beginning March 2018
- The only preinstalled staging client - Zebra StageNow; Rapid Deployment and Soti MobiControl Stage are no longer part of the system
- Pre-installed Ivanti Velocity Terminal Emulation (ATTE) in all configurations, gun models are pre-licensed
MC3300 gun models can be ordered from December 2017, other configurations beginning March/April 2018. The MC3300 is expected to replace Android versions of MC3200 later in 2018. However, the MC3200 with Windows Embedded Compact 7 remains available.
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In the near future, Zebra will launch new MC55X terminals, which are replacements for the discontinued MC55A0 and MC55N0. The Extended Life MC55X is a Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 with keypad device and will be compatible with MC55A0/MC55N0 accessories. It will have an updated dual core processor, improved data capture functionality with the SE4710 scan engine and increased memory of 512 MB RAM/2 GB Flash. It is available in both standard and healthcare configurations.
EU shipments should start in December 2017.