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Motorola is rolling out three new handsets that'll be available in the next few months. While the concepts are relatively up-to-date (eco-friendliness, military ruggedness, touchscreens), why did Motorola choose designs from 2002?
Posted by Nick Broughall at 3:30 PM on December 5, 2008
If you're a surfer / jetskier / snowboarder / sailor / kayaker / speedboater / any sport that involves water who's been ruing the lack of a wearable, waterproof camera that you can take with you to video your crazy water-based adventures - you're in luck! The Predator VX360, which claims the mantle of "first wearable waterproof video camera" has been available in the UK for a little while, but it's coming to Australia in January for $1199.
Pansonic's line of Toughbook laptops is already pretty extensive, but it's getting more so: Panasonic's just come up with the 8-series of "business-rugged" notebooks. The F8, T8 and W8 all come with a Gobi 3G mobile broadband system built in for roaming internet access. The F8 is being called the "world's lightest 3G-ready notebook with a 14.1 inch wide display and an internal optical drive," weighs 1.7 kg and has spill-resistant keyboard and integrated handle. The W8 is an ultraportable with 12.1-inch screen, 7-hour battery, and the T8 is similar but with tablet PC options. All are designed to withstand more than the usual share of knocks and bangs, and rugged businesspersons will be pleased to note they're out November for $US2,100 for the W8 and T8 and $US2,500 for the F8. Extensive press release below.
Casio's G'zOne rugged-arse mobile phone has been updated yet again, and this time it's called the Boulder. The Mil-Spec clamshell got GPS, a 1.3MP camera, an LED lantern, microSD support and a digital compass in its shock-, dust- and water-resistant frame. The Boulder is out now in black or orange for US$130 after 2-year Verizon Wireless contract and US$50 mail-in rebate, full press release down below. [Verizon]
Garmin has just announced a new member of the Nuvi GPS range, the 500 series. In a first for Nuvi, the rugged, waterproof 500 units are specifically designed to be multipurpose, with maps for driving, walking, cycling and boating built in. For out-doorsy types, there's a shaded digital elevation map option, and a dedicated compass page and tracklog. Plus the battery is a swappable 8-hour Li-ion type, so you can carry a spare for extended trips away from a power source. The 500 comes with City Navigator, and topographic maps of the US, while the 550 has highway coverage of the US and Canada, but no topographic data. The units are on show at the British International Motor show in London form today, and go on sale soon in the US for US$499. Press release below.
Asus is jumping on the bandwagon led by Panasonic and HP and releasing the B51, a super strong ruggedised laptop. The B51 is Mil-Spec 810F tough, can survive one metre drops and has a keyboard drainage system in case you can't keep your OJ in a glass. The heavy (3kg!) lappie runs Vista, has a Core 2 Duo processor, supports 4GB RAM, carries a HDD up to 320GB and has optional 1.3MP webcam and Bluetooth. Screen size, availability and pricing are still unknown—hey, what do you expect from Asus?—but the press release is after the jump. [Asus via Laptoping]
For those of us who need to do computer work in dirty and harrowing situations, iKey has a new industrial keyboard that's "built to withstand the harshest of environments." The Membrane Keyboard has no crevices, to prevent gross gunky buildup, and a waterproof, washable surface.
Rugged and waterproof cameras are great, but they've got a lot of improving to do in general design before they'll be good in the outdoor. I mean, someone just keep me from losing these things.
AU:Not sure what the problem is - I took three waterproof cameras with me to Fiji and never had any dramas. I found that I was more careful because of the fact that you use them in different situations, like swimming. Maybe it's a US thing...
Does a water-resistant and dust-proof camera really have to be as fugly as this? Ricoh's ten-megapixel, shock-resistant G600 sits alongside its Caplio 500G, and boasts, as well as a 5x zoom, flash with a ten-metre range, 52MB internal memory and hi-def 2.7-inch display.
Not feeling enough like a real man with that Bose Portable SoundDock? Well roll up your sleeves past your biceps and grab hold of this Construction Radio and iPod dock. Not only does it snugly hold your iPod, but this 4.5kg US$130 hoss has a spotlight, two power outlets, an SD card slot and a USB jack for charging phones or connecting a music source. Since it's found in the SkyMall catalog, we don't have the full drop-test ratings, but anything with that much metal piping is at least bound to protect your iPod's LCD while you're off soldering or jigsawing or jackhammering—whatever it is you're always doing in that shed of yours. [SkyMall]
