Northwest Austin–based Xplore Technologies Corp. announced March 27 the release of its newest product, the iX104C5-M2 rugged tablet, which can withstand extreme weather conditions from about minus 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and requires a U.S. government agency badge for a user to log in.

Jim Plas, vice president of marketing at Xplore Technologies, a tablet manufacturer founded in the late 1990s, said the company was approached by the Air Force last summer about needing a tablet with secure access capability, which spawned the creation of the new device. Xplore Technologies is located at 14000 Summit Drive.

Plas said the company put the tablet through at least 26 different tests in order to meet U.S. military standards. Plas and his team dropped the 5-pound tablet from 7 feet in the air, submerged it in 3 feet of water, zapped it with electricity and put it in a heated oven, among other trials, to test its power and functionality under extreme conditions. The tablet is compatible with Windows 8 and has a built-in shield to make the device immune to electromagnetic fields. The device also has a screen that is viewable in any outdoor condition and a cooling system for extreme heat conditions.

"I think what [the new tablet] does is demonstrate our ability to listen to our customers and make a product that is viable for them and their situation. ... Our ability to meet our customers' needs is where we excel," said Dan Morris, director of military programs for Xplore Technologies.

Plas said that in addition to the military, the company makes tablets to be used in fields such as utilities, manufacturing and distribution, oil and gas, and public safety and transportation. He said the company is scheduled to release another new product in the coming months.