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The softer side of the tablet PC: five apps that hope to launch a whole new platform
It's going to take more than cool-looking hardware to make the tablet PC catch on. What these new devices really need is their own killer app that takes advantage of the unique features of the operating system offshoot, such as drawing and annotation, handwriting recognition, and dictation. It's still too soon to tell what that killer app might be, but a lot of prominent software companies--so-called tablet PC partners--are already hard at work trying to come up with it.
Corel Grafigo
What it does: Corel Grafigo is a collaboration and communication app designed specifically for pen-based computers such as the tablet PC. The user interface is designed to work without a mouse or a keyboard, and it includes graphical collaboration tools such as sketching, annotation, symbols, shape recognition, and handwriting support.
Pricing and availability: Available November 7, 2002; pricing not yet announced.
ArcGIS for Tablet PC
What it does: An extension of ESRI's ArcGIS desktop-mapping products (ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo), ArcGIS for Tablet PC lets you highlight features on a map; handwrite notes or create sketches attached to specific geographic locations; or outline areas to perform GIS-editing tasks. The add-in also works with the dictation features in Windows XP.
Pricing and availability: November 7, 2002; free download.
FranklinCovey TabletPlanner
What it does: Tablet PC is a natural fit for FranklinCovey, which made its name with both paper planners and PIM software based on the same metaphor. TabletPlanner lets you handwrite appointments, tasks, and notes directly into FranklinCovey's Appointment Schedule, Prioritized Daily Task List, and Daily Notes sections. Agilix Labs adds technology that lets you index, search, and retrieve handwritten notes. And using Tablet PC's digital highlighter and color pens, you can mark up FranklinCovey entries or documents stored in the program's eBinder, such as Web pages, e-mail messages, or word-processing docs.
Availability and price: November 7, 2002; $199.95.
Groove
What it does: We're not sure how this app will work, but Groove Networks has previously demonstrated a prototype of its business collaboration software that takes advantage of the Tablet PC's digital ink and voice features, as well as its portability. For example, Groove says that users will be able to take meeting notes or annotate documents using digital ink, then format, search, and integrate those documents with other collaborative tools.
Availability and price: To be announced.
Zinio Reader
What it does: This "digital magazine" service already works on desktops and notebooks, but Zinio badly wants into the tablet PC space--the company has even promised to "leverage" the platform into an all-new Zinio app that takes advantage of the tablet's unique form factor. Though it's not clear whether Zinio will be developing a version with tablet PC-specific features, these tablet devices, especially the slate designs, should be perfect for reading the latest issue of National Geographic Traveler.
Availability and price: Now; free download.
It's going to take more than cool-looking hardware to make the tablet PC catch on. What these new devices really need is their own killer app that takes advantage of the unique features of the operating system offshoot, such as drawing and annotation, handwriting recognition, and dictation. It's still too soon to tell what that killer app might be, but a lot of prominent software companies--so-called tablet PC partners--are already hard at work trying to come up with it.
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What it does: Corel Grafigo is a collaboration and communication app designed specifically for pen-based computers such as the tablet PC. The user interface is designed to work without a mouse or a keyboard, and it includes graphical collaboration tools such as sketching, annotation, symbols, shape recognition, and handwriting support.
Pricing and availability: Available November 7, 2002; pricing not yet announced.
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What it does: An extension of ESRI's ArcGIS desktop-mapping products (ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo), ArcGIS for Tablet PC lets you highlight features on a map; handwrite notes or create sketches attached to specific geographic locations; or outline areas to perform GIS-editing tasks. The add-in also works with the dictation features in Windows XP.
Pricing and availability: November 7, 2002; free download.
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What it does: Tablet PC is a natural fit for FranklinCovey, which made its name with both paper planners and PIM software based on the same metaphor. TabletPlanner lets you handwrite appointments, tasks, and notes directly into FranklinCovey's Appointment Schedule, Prioritized Daily Task List, and Daily Notes sections. Agilix Labs adds technology that lets you index, search, and retrieve handwritten notes. And using Tablet PC's digital highlighter and color pens, you can mark up FranklinCovey entries or documents stored in the program's eBinder, such as Web pages, e-mail messages, or word-processing docs.
Availability and price: November 7, 2002; $199.95.
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What it does: We're not sure how this app will work, but Groove Networks has previously demonstrated a prototype of its business collaboration software that takes advantage of the Tablet PC's digital ink and voice features, as well as its portability. For example, Groove says that users will be able to take meeting notes or annotate documents using digital ink, then format, search, and integrate those documents with other collaborative tools.
Availability and price: To be announced.
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What it does: This "digital magazine" service already works on desktops and notebooks, but Zinio badly wants into the tablet PC space--the company has even promised to "leverage" the platform into an all-new Zinio app that takes advantage of the tablet's unique form factor. Though it's not clear whether Zinio will be developing a version with tablet PC-specific features, these tablet devices, especially the slate designs, should be perfect for reading the latest issue of National Geographic Traveler.
Availability and price: Now; free download.
