While it seems the Sonim XP1 can actually survive almost anything from drops to hammer hits, it looks like a 9mm bullet is just too much for it. [Gadget Review]

The Price: $US300

The Verdict: The Stylus Tough 6000 is waterproof to 3 metres, shockproof to 1.5 metres, can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celcius. In this camera, Olympus even acknowledges the fact that its xD format is pretty much useless, and includes a MicroSD adaptor, so you can buy a much more useful MicroSD card instead. (I used a 4GB SDHC one for this test, and didn’t notice any performance holdbacks.)

As much as the puke yellow finish didn’t really go over well with the rest of my ski party, it’s easy to see in the snow, one of many characteristics that jive with Blam’s key requirements for a good snow gadget. It did get a little scratched up as you can see in the gallery, but the scratches were superficial, and kinda made it look tough.

Besides sheer durability, Oly added some great UI enhancements. I typically don’t give Olympus much credit for UI, but the main controls are straightforward and the icon-based menu is less confusing than the menu on most cameras.

I didn’t have much trouble controlling the camera with heavy gloves on—the zoom buttons and scroll wheel are laid out correctly for that—but the UI addition that makes this a real Snowmodo contender is the tap control: You toggle between shooting and reviewing, and change flash and macro settings, just by tapping the sides and top of the camera. It sounds weird, and at first it’s a little confusing, but it takes just minutes to figure out, and once you do, you’ll love it.

One big problem I ran into was that video resolution and frame rate were both set, as a default, to the lowest specs (QVGA, 15fps). So the video you see below is a little choppy and low-res, in spite of the fact that I could’ve shot 30fps VGA. I didn’t realise how bad my video was—and how much better it could have been—until after our days on the slopes had ended. The fact that there’s no HD sucks in this day and age, but I am sure Oly will get there soon. BTW, someone a lot better (at skiing) than me shot this:

Camera wise, there were some great things and some not-so-good things. It’s a basic 10-megapixel 3.6x optical zoom with a great wide-angle setting for one-armed self portraits and shooting in tight areas. I am partial to including the sun in outdoor shots because I like lens flares, but in this case, the optics were a little weird: During video shooting, the lens flare was a blinding bar, straight up and down, and in the still shot, I got a mushy pink flare:

And though the 6000 is good for most daytime outdoor shooting, it’s no good indoors without a flash or tons of ambient light, meaning it’s not the best choice for everyday use. To pay $US300 for a camera you only use on vacations might sting a bit, but hey, if you’re into destination-oriented pursuits like snorkeling and snowboarding, $US300 for a great beat-around camera might sound pretty reasonable. [Olympus Product Page]

It’s currently being shown off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so here’s hoping Jesus gets a hands on. Aside from the whole WinMo thing, this sounds like the phone the Sonim XP3 would be if it was a smartphone…

Introducing the world’s most adventurous smartphone, the i-mate™ 810-F

Brains and brawn, distinctive looks and smartphone power – all in one package

16th February 2009 – i-mate™, the global specialist in Microsoft Windows Mobile® devices and software, today launched the i-mate 810-F, the world’s first complete lifestyle mobile with a lifetime warranty¹. Designed to meet military specifications, the 810-F combines high-end mobile technology and incredible durability in a single sleek package.

Whether you work in the great outdoors or in an office, on the road or on a building site, or you just simply want a tough take-anywhere mobile, the 810-F offers everything you need for work and play. The phone comprises waterproof rubber casing and exposed metal screws to lock in the factory seal, making it impervious to almost anything. A full QWERTY keyboard, and impact resistant touch screen, means you don’t miss a thing while you are out and about.

And what’s inside is just as impressive: powerful hardware and Windows Mobile 6.1 letting you deal with emails, play games, listen to music or just browse the web.

The 810-F is designed around the stringent MIL-STD-810F series of standards. These standards are issued by the U.S. military’s Developmental Test Command, a body whose role is to ensure equipment can withstand the rigours of the most extreme environments. This means the
i-mate 810-F can cope with pressure, heat, water, humidity and even extreme shock without missing a beat. The 810-F is equally happy at a chilly -10°C or sweltering 60°C, and can be fully submerged in water.

Jim Morrison, CEO of i-mate, said: “Until now, users have had to choose between a compact phone that incorporates the latest features, or one that was big, bulky and very very expensive that could cope with the rigours of a harsh working environment and survive use during adventurous outdoor pursuits. The 810-F has been developed to meet the demands of the office, the work site and the outdoors. It is all about performance; whether it’s the ability to perform in extreme conditions, or the performance under its skin. For adventurers looking for a phone to match their lifestyle, it’s the perfect answer.”

i-mate is so confident in the ability of the 810-F to cope with anything that can be thrown at it, it’s offering a lifetime warranty¹. Plus, 810-F owners can outsmart any security threat thanks to Secure i-Q, a service from i-mate that let’s you use your PC to remotely lock, wipe personal information or alarm your mobile if it’s ever lost or stolen. Now that’s smart.

In speaking about the typical i-mate 810-F customer, Mr. Morrison added “We designed the 810-F to meet the needs of those people who work in the office during the day, but want to go surfing after work. Or, a contractor working in the tough environment of a building site who also goes fishing on the weekend. They want one phone that can do it all.”

The 810-F is a full-featured Smartphone based on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with tri-band HSDPA and quad-band GSM/EDGE connectivity. Also included is a 320×240 touch screen, 2.2GB of built-in storage, 128MB of DDR memory, 624Mhz PXA processor, 2MP camera with video capability, QWERTY keyboard, GPS, Wi-Fi, digital compass, accelerometer and Bluetooth.

The i-mate 810-F will be available at all leading mobile retailers over the coming weeks.

i-mate will unveil the 810-F, demonstrating its impressive capabilities for the first time in the world at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, 16th – 19th February 2009, Hall 1, Stand 1D34.

¹ Subject to warranty terms and conditions, registration on i-mate i-Q and annual service undertaken.

Visitors can also wager a guess on how many blows it will take before the phone breaks—with the closest guess earning a freebie XP1. Currently, the counter stands at over 33,500 hits—but my guess is that it will take quite a while before it finally gives in. I mean, it’s not like that hammer is really wailing on it. Keep in mind that the XP1 is only available in Europe, but interested parties in the states should be able to get their hands on the updated XP3 version in rural areas starting this March.

AU: Giz Australia will be wailing on their Sonim with a hammer as part of their testing of the toughest phone this week (we got delayed because our partner in destruction, Seamus, was busy with family duties.) So stay tuned!

[testanddestroy via CNET]

AU: The XP1 is available in Australia, and we’re still listening to suggestions on how to try and destroy it.

Apparently, the XP3 can handle temperatures from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (although the CEO claims it can actually operate at -40), 6-9 foot drops on concrete and it is completely waterproof. It also boasts 2.5 days of talk time and up to 2 months of standby thanks to a 2200 mAh battery. Obviously, this kind of phone is intended for use on the construction site or in the great outdoors by rugged, bearded individuals—not button-down boardroom types. If you want to get your hands on one, the device should be available in several rural markets starting in March—although no pricing information has been released.[Gearlog]

So, I’m partnering up with ex-Giz ed (and current Kotaku guest-ed) Seamus for a fun-filled day of attempted mobile phone destruction. And while we both have some rather creative ideas on the best way to introduce the phone to our friend pain, we want your help.

Let us know in comments how you think we should try and annihilate this thing. keep it realistic – we don’t have access to the LHC at the moment remember. The best ideas will be attempted, and we’ll video the whole thing and upload it next week.

And for those of you who are interested in the figures, the press release for the XP1 is below:

Crazy John’s brings world’s toughest phone to Australia

September 2008

Crazy John’s, Australia’s mobile phone experts, announces the Australian launch of the world’s toughest phone, the Sonim XP1.

Built for action, the Sonim XP1 is designed to withstand shock, water, wind, dust, dirt and extreme temperatures and is the only certified phone engineered specifically to meet the needs of mobile phone users who work and play in demanding conditions.

Crazy John’s has brought the Sonim XP1 to Australia to fill a gap in the market, by delivering a rugged phone to meet Australia’s outdoor culture. The GSM phone features IP-54 certification, mil-spec approval, bluetooth and is Push-To-Talk enabled.

“If you’re standing on a construction site with a welding tool in your hand, or hiking in the great outdoors, you really don’t need a fashion accessory or multimedia device,” explains Head of Marketing for Crazy John’s, Matt Scriven.

“You need a dependable working tool like the new XP1 which has been built for extreme conditions.”

Research conducted by XP1 manufacturer, Sonim Technologies indicates that 70 per cent of outdoor workers refrain from using their phones in the workplace because the phone might break. A further 40 per cent of people have broken their mobile phone in the last year, with most common reasons including damage from humidity, dropping and crushing the phone.
“The Sonim XP1 is the only phone in the world engineered for people who work and play outside; people in need of an unbreakable phone. After victorious launches across Europe, it’s time to show Australia how tough this phones really is,” said Bob Plaschke, CEO of Sonim Technologies.
“The Sonim XP1 has been shot with a Glock 9mm and a Remington rifle. This phone has been put in the oven, strapped to a rocket, used as a hockey puck, used as a hammer, kicked like a football, dragged behind a boat, driven over by multi-ton trucks, and still it survives. We challenge anyone to try and break it!”
As well as being shock and water-resistant, the Sonim XP1 is backed by an unconditional three year warranty.

“Should you find an extreme condition that takes the XP1 beyond its limits, just take it back to any Crazy John’s store for a ‘no questions asked’ replacement,” added Matt Scriven.

The Sonim XP1 is available at Crazy John’s for FREE on the $49 Crazy Cap with $310 credit included each month, or outright for $549.

For further information about the Sonim XP1 mobile phone visit www.crazyjohns.com.au or visit any of Crazy John’s retail stores across Australia.

Visit YouTube to see just how hardcore the Sonim is www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ReG7YhRNo

Check out www.toughestphone.com for more information

Note that the Por Homme guys stress it’s unlikely the phone’ll come in a similar case when it hits the stores soon, though, since this was a special for AT&T B2B employees. Maybe they’ll run with its Star Trek-alike looks instead, and match the packaging to that? No… I don’t think so either. [Por Homme]

[Fisher-Price]