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KDDI launches trio of Gingerbread-powered phones for the Japanese market
Last month, outdoorsy types in the states were treated to the G'zOne Commando, and now the Japanese market is about to get a macho Casio-made, Android-powered handset of its own. KDDI just launched the G'zOne IS11CA on its network, along with the Toshiba Regza Phone IS11T and the Xperia acro IS11S -- all of 'em Gingerbread-powered (sigh). The G'zOne IS11CA's design is similar -- but not identical -- to the Commando's, complete with rubberized bumpers, a 3.6-inch (480 x 800) display, and compliance with the US military's 801G specifications for dust, shock, and immersion in water. Meanwhile, the Regza IS11T is a 4-inch (854 x 480) slider boasting full QWERTY keyboard, 8 megapixel camera, GPS, TV tuner, and DLNA support. And lastly, the Xperia arco IS11S is a slab with a 4.2-inch (480 x 854) display, available in three colors. No word yet on pricing, though we know the G'zOne IS11CA and the Xperia arco are coming in late June, while the Regza Phone is slated to go on sale in September. Candy-colored press shots at the source links.
Casio G'zOne Commando review
For years, construction workers, thrill-seekers, and everyone else unfettered by cubicle walls have had rubberized, rugged handsets to keep them company on the road. Until fairly recently, though, the price of durability has been settling for a dumbphone. And frankly, the selection of toughened-up smartphones remains pretty sparse today. Casio's G'zOne Commando ($199 on contract) isn't the first quasi-invincible Android device, but it is the first to be sold on Verizon's network. As expensive as a flagship handset, the Commando offers military-grade resilience against drops, water, extreme cold, and other elements. But is it capable enough for everything else? Let's find out. %Gallery-123268%
Casio Tryx (EX-TR100) review
Given the sheer quantity of marketing muscle that Casio put behind the Tryx, you'd think the company was gearing up to rival Nikon and Canon in the DSLR space. Instead, out popped the outre device you see above. Without qualification, this is one of the strangest, most bizarrely designed cameras we've ever seen, featuring a pop-out display and a grand total of two buttons for operation. At 4.8- x 2.3- x 0.6-inches, it's certainly one of the slimmest, easy-to-carry point-and-shoots on the market, but is the absence of an optical zoom and a removable battery enough to tank an otherwise radical idea? Head on past the break for our two pennies. %Gallery-122773%
Rugged Casio G'zOne Commando official, coming to Verizon on April 28th for $200
We knew it was coming, and now it's official: Casio's macho G'zOne Commando is coming to Verizon on April 28th for a price of $200 on-contract. The Commando strays from a long line of durable dumbphones, and is the first ruggedized Android handset on Verizon's network. In addition to meeting 810G military specifications for water, dust, shock, vibration, salt fog, solar radiation, and temperature extremes, it runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) and has a 3.6-inch (480 x 800) display, 5 megapixel autofocus camera, microSD slot, WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, and a hotspot feature allowing it to share its 3G connection with up to five devices. And, being built like a tank, it also bundles a handful of apps for outdoorsy types, including a compass, pedometer, star gazer, and thermometer. If you've never handled a rugged smartphone, you'll get your chance Thursday when it hits Verizon retail stores. Until then, check out the PR after the break for more details.
HTC Incredible 2 prepares for imminent launch, Casio's Commando provides backup
If you'd been crushing hard on HTC's Incredible, cool that burning desire just a smidgen -- we've got evidence that suggests an imminent release of the Droid Incredible 2. Following its appearance in Verizon's internal system and leaked training docs, Best Buy has begun receiving accessories for the re-purposed Incredible S, ensuring you'll have all the requisite goodies at launch. Additionally, the folks at Droid Life report Verizon stores are receiving retail shipments of the device, along with Casio's G'zOne Commando. The expected release date is April 28th, so it looks like you'll be playing with those capacitive buttons soon enough. We've included a pic of the retail box after the break, and you'll find additional snapshots in the source link.
Rugged, Android-powered Casio G'zOne Commando coming to Verizon on April 28th?
After releasing a long line of rugged dumbphones, it looks like Casio has done the inevitable and given its durable G'zOne handsets the Android treatment. According to screen grabs sent in by two anonymous tipsters, the G'zOne Commando C771 combines a macho design with a 5 megapixel camera and unspecified version of the OS -- all while meeting military specifications for water, shock, and dust resistance, of course. No word on pricing, but both shots reveal it's slated to go on sale April 28th. For now, parse what you will from the product page, and find more photographic evidence after the break.
Fastec's DSLR-sized TS3Cine does 720p at 720fps for $30,000
For years, consumers have been able to shoot slow-motion videos -- mostly with the help of Casio's line of slightly gimmicky point-and-shoots. But Fastec's TS3Cine aims for a more discerning customer -- the kind of videographer who might spice up a promo or short with some slow-mo action. Unlike Casio's cameras, which cut the resolution to little more than thumbnail-size as you crank the frame rate, the TS3Cine does 720p video at 720fps, and 1280 x 1024 at 500fps. It's only when you further slow down the video (up to 20,000fps) that the image size starts to shrink. This camera also has a badass design, pairing a DSLR-like body with a gargantuan 7-inch WVGA LCD that effectively eliminates the need for an external monitor. Pros have their choice of a C-Mount, F-Mount, and optional SL-Mount, and can upgrade to a 256GB SSD for a cool two grand if the standard 128GB one isn't roomy enough. It also has Gigabit Ethernet and USB ports, HDMI-out, support for an external power source, and a removable battery. Can't afford the $29,900 price tag? If you're in the Boston area, at least, you can rent it for $625 a day, a price that includes a tripod and two batteries -- enough juice for up to six hours of shooting. Head on past the break for a sample video clip and a tour of this beastly camera in action.
NEC uses active noise cancellation for quieter zooming into your future memories
NEC just injected a little Bose up in some digital cameras, adding what it calls "noise suppression technologies" to Casio's new EX-ZR10 and promising that it will be deployed "throughout the digital camera and video camera markets" soon. The tech is designed to combat the evil intrusion of noise from optical zoom motors, working with a recording of what the zoom motor sounds like inside the camera. The shooter's internal circuitry then subtracts that noise from what's being recorded and, hey presto, silent zoomin'! NEC indicates a camera's microphone still captures other, desirable ambient noise without issue and that this tech allows the use of faster, more powerful motors for faster, more powerful zooming.
Casio's Tryx pocket camera takes a stand (literally) alongside new Exilim lineup
How do you stand out in the world of cameras? Casio thinks it's got quite the looker with its upcoming Tryx. The 12.1 megapixel shooter sports what the company's calling Exilim Engine HS, which equates to 1080p 30 frames per second video, up to 240fps (at 432 x 320 resolution) slow-motion, and various HDR and panorama options. there's also a 3-inch touchscreen LCD, but the biggest draw here is the swiveling enclosure that serves as a stand for setting up just the right shot. We got an early glimpse at a non-functional prototype, and the size is definitely interesting -- we still need to see it in action, though. Price is a penny shy of $250 and shipping date's April 2011. But of course that's not the whole story, and Casio's camera lineup is, surprisingly, not as mind-numbingly large as you might expect. Going down the list (at least as far as price is concerned), we'll start with the EX-ZR100, which also has a 12.1MP Engien HS with dual core processors, 1080p 30fps video, 12.5x optical zoom, up to 1,000fps burst fire (224 x 64 resolution), HDR, and the ability to "leverage the camera's full optical zoom and capture digital still images with high-speed burst shooting (10 megapixel), all while recording video," or so the company brags. It's coming March for $299.99, and if you remember its brother the ZR10, that one's due out September for $249.99. If battery's your bigger worry, you can get "at least 1,000 photos" on a single Li-Ion charge from the 16.1MP EX-H30 with 720p HD video (March 2011 for $249.99). Finally, budget-minded folk get the EX-ZS10 ($119.99) and EX-ZS5 ($99.99). Both do 14.1MP shots with 5x optical zoom, but the former does 720p while the latter only records VGA video. March is the date for those two. You know the drill: pictures below, press release after the break. %Gallery-112330% %Gallery-112332%
Casio shows Bluetooth Low Energy watch prototype, awaits Bluetooth Low Energy phones
Sony Ericsson, Citizen, and others have been taking occasional shots at integrating Bluetooth into wrist-bound baubles for several years now, but the problems have been pretty obvious -- Bluetooth wasn't really optimized to transfer nibble-sized chunks of information while sipping almost imperceptible amounts of power, so you end up with a watch that dies in hours or days rather than years. That's where Casio comes into play, showing off a prototype watch here at CES that makes use of Bluetooth Low Energy to connect to your phone and keep you abreast of calls and emails without the hassle of pulling the handset out of your pocket (or, worse yet, your belt-mounted holster). You can also silence alarms just by tapping on the watch, get your time synced, and generally look awesome while doing it -- if it were a production unit, that is. Problem is that there aren't any phones on the market with Bluetooth 4.0 support just yet, but Casio's confident enough that they're in the pipeline to say that they want to product their first BLE-enabled retail watches in 2011. The company is claiming two years of battery life off a single coin cell assuming twelve hours of use a day... so yeah, the benefits for this type of product are pretty clear. Follow the break for the full press release.
Casio shows off multi-hinged TRYX camera outside CES, prematurely outs press shots
Well, would you have a look at this? Details are scarce right now, but by the looks of these ads outside CES, this Casio TRYX imager sports two hinges for the sake of versatility: one for the frame that doubles as a handle or a stand, and one for swiveling the display -- presumably a touchscreen since there are just a couple of buttons on the body. Coincidentally, Google also led us to the TRYX's stash of press shots which have now been pulled, but we've got you guys a screenshot for the time being -- it's not like it'll be long before all is unveiled, anyway. %Gallery-112393%
Casio Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) camera review
Three months from introduction to on sale ain't too shabby in the camera world, and that's exactly what Casio has managed to accomplish with the intriguing new Exilim EX-H20G. We first spotted this point-and-shoot at Photokina in Germany, and now we've had a solid week to put it through its paces. Naturally, the inclusion of Hybrid GPS (read: engineered to find a location indoors as well as outdoors) is the standout feature and key differentiator, but the 14.1 megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom and 720p movie mode are all fine additions. It certainly isn't the slimmest compact on the market, nor the cheapest at $349.99, but do the unique aspects of this thing make the price easier to stand? Join us after the break for our thoughts. %Gallery-109236%
High-speed camera in motion can stop a commuter's heart
By now, you're certainly familiar with the magic that a consumer-branded Casio super-slow-mo camera can do with motion, right? But what happens when you use a two-year old Casio Exilim FH20 to shoot 210fps footage (played back at 30fps) from a moving train? Nothing, at least until the train slows down.
Ortustech unveils world's smallest Full HD display, puts Retina to shame
Ever heard of Ortustech? Probably not. But you have heard of Casio, right? Ortustech is a joint venture between Casio Computer and Toppan Printing to develop small and medium sized displays. Today, the company is announcing a doozy with its 4.8-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel HAST (Hyper Amorphous Silicon TFT) LCD with 160-degree viewing angle, 16.8 million colors, and a pixel density of 458ppi. Amazing when you compare that to the lauded 326ppi of iPhone 4's Retina display. However, it still pales in comparison to that little 546ppi panel Casio announced back in 2008 which we still haven't seen put into a consumer product. Doesn't bode well for this one being made available anywhere other than the trade show circuit.
KDDI au outs Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections at the same time
A few of these handsets were already public knowledge, but by and large, KDDI's mind-numbing torrent of phones announced as members of its new Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections will leave you once again asking why you haven't sold your four-bedroom suburban home and relocated your entire family to a 125 square foot flat in the heart of Tokyo. We've already talked about the X-Ray, a member of KDDI's fashion-forward iida line, and the 16.4 megapixel Sony Ericsson S006 -- but other highlights include the IS04, IS05, and IS06, Android smartphones from Toshiba, Sharp, and Pantech, respectively (which doesn't even include Sharp's IS03 announced at CEATEC a few days ago). Of the three, none matches the IS03's 960 x 640 display nor its low-power secondary LCD, but the Toshiba Regza IS04 notably features a 12.1 megapixel cam. As the iida line goes, the X-Ray will be joined by the G11, a follow-on to 2009's G9 model -- and from what we can discern, it'll be a GSM / CDMA dual mode slider for international roaming with a touch-sensitive area below the 854 x 480 display in place of the G9's physical keys. Highlights among the other models include an upgraded Sharp Aquos Shot SH010 combining a 14.1 megapixel sensor with a waterproof shell, a Bravia-branded Sony Ericsson S005 with a 1GHz processor, and "simple" phones from Kyocera and Pantech -- the K008 and PT002, respectively -- that are designed for the occasional shopper that actually doesn't want ridiculous specs designed to make every phone outside Japan look like a DynaTAC. There's also a new e-reader, the E Ink-equipped Biblio Leaf SP02, featuring integrated solar recharging -- a smart feature for a device designed to sip power in the first place -- and a new mobile WiFi hotspot from Pantech, the WiFi Walker Data05. If you need to know more, follow the source link, but we've got to warn you: it might be hours before you're done.
Casio debuts Prizm graphing calculator with 'high-res' color screen
Texas Instruments recently rocked the graphing calculator world by adding a touchpad to its TI-Nspire calculator, and Casio has now come back with a technological revolution of its own: a high-res color screen. Of course, a 3.7-inch, 384 X 216 display may not be much by smartphone standards, but Casio insists that the "Blanview" LCD will let equations and text be "displayed just like they appear in textbooks." The rest of the calculator's specs aren't too shabby either, and include USB connectivity, 16MB of flash memory, and a promised 140 hours of battery life. You'll still have to stick to your cold, hard black-and-white world for a while longer, however, as the Prizm won't be available until sometime in January, when it'll set you back $129.99.
Casio G'zOne Ravine blasts its way onto Verizon
Alright, Boulder owners, heads up -- your upgrade has arrived. The rumored Casio G'zOne Ravine is now official for Verizon, offering a 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash, noise cancellation, VZ Navigator support, and -- of course -- MIL-STD-810G compliance for resistance to "water, dust, shock, vibration, humidity, altitude, salt fog, solar radiation, and high and low temperatures." Salt fog can be brutal, can't it? It's also got push-to-talk capability over Verizon's EV-DO network, though we suspect that ain't a thing for most would-be Ravine buyers -- serious push-to-talkers have long since rallied around Sprint and Boost, both of whom offered their own ruggedized gear. We don't have a date just yet, but it'll be "coming soon" for $149.99 after $50 rebate on a two-year contract.
Casio debuts Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) and EX-Z16 point-and-shoots
Photokina's kicking off in earnest today with a serious bang in the point-and-shoot realm; Casio just introduced the planet's first camera with Hybrid GPS, which essentially enables it to geotag photos and videos where traditional cameras cannot. Yeah, indoors. The Exilim EX-H20G (shown above) also packs a 14.1 megapixel sensor, SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card slot, a 10x optical zoomer, an ISO range of 80 to 3200, 3-inch rear LCD, CCD-shift image stabilization, 720p movie mode and an HDMI output. Moreover, the company has throw in a world atlas with detailed maps of 140 cities around the world, and the rear screen can actually display a user's current position on said map for kicks and giggles. It'll hit shops this November for $349.99 (or €300 in Europe). If that's a bit too fanciful for you, the lower-end EX-Z16 might just fit the bill. Boasting a 2.7-inch rear LCD, VGA (640 x 480) movie mode, a 12.1 megapixel sensor, SD / SDHC card slot, a whopping 14.9MB of internal storage (um... okay?), CCD-shift image stabilization and an integrated YouTube capture mode, this dead-simple cam is designed to be about as hands-off as they come. According to the company, the only settings you have to adjust on the 2.7-inch panel are image size, flash and self timer -- everything else sets itself accordingly. 'Course, that won't sit well with the tinkerers in the group, but you can sure brighten a newbie's day by gifting 'em with one when it ships later this month at $99.99. More details are packed in after the break, should you find yourself thirsty for more. Update: We snagged a quick hands-on with the EX-H20G, and while the images below don't do it justice, the rear screen on this bad boy was something to gawk at. The map on there actually looked amazing, and while you'll have a tough time prying Google Maps Navigation away from our paws, this is definitely a lovely inclusion for those who'd prefer to simply enjoy nearby attractions on a map without pulling out a smartphone (or encountering roaming charges while navigating abroad). %Gallery-102609% %Gallery-102758%
Casio G'zOne Ravine coming soon on Verizon, it seems
Fact: the QWERTY clamshell Brigade is the only Casio G'zOne that Verizon currently sells. Fact: not everyone that wants a G'zOne wants a QWERTY clamshell (well, okay, that's more of a suspicion of ours than a fact, really). Anyhow, looks like Big Red is finally getting around to replacing the now-discontinued Rock with a new model, the Ravine, which appears to carry over all of the G'zOne lines usual features and styling cues -- most notably the ultra-rugged shell and push-to-talk capability. The external LCD reads Wednesday, September 29, which we suppose could be the launch date; in the meantime, we guess we'll just have to continue being careful not to drop our phone into creeks or mud pits. [Thanks, Terrence]
New Exilim golf-friendly digicam hitting Japan; the Pro from Dazaifu never had it so good
Golf fanatics will stop at nothing in pursuit of upping their game, and as you know, all sorts of gadgets have been modified to suit their purposes, from PNDs to digicams. Apparently Casio's Exilim line has been a favorite, and now its golf-centric camera is getting something of a spec bump. The Exilim EX-FC160S sports a 10 megapixel backside illuminated sensor, 5x optical zoom at 37mm, and support for 240fps video with an optional 30fps slow-motion playback. Available in Japan come August 27, in a limited production run of 5,000 units.
