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Corning says its latest Gorilla Glass can survive a two-meter drop
Corning claims Victus is its toughest Gorilla Glass yet.
Researchers create bone-inspired 3D-printed building materials
You may not think of your bones as buildings, but researchers do. A team from Cornell University, Purdue University and Case Western Reserve University believes that by studying the internal structure of bones, they may be able to 3D-print stronger construction materials for homes and buildings.
Watch the OnePlus 7 Pro's pop-up camera lift 49 pounds of cement
If you can get your hands on the OnePlus 7 Pro -- one of two flagship phones released today -- one of the first things you'll notice is that it's done away with the front-facing notch camera. Instead, OnePlus opted for a pop-up camera. And to prove just how durable it is, the company released a video of the camera lifting a 49.2-pound block of cement.
Acer built a more durable Chromebook for clumsy students
Apparently, the rugged Chromebook Acer built for schools back in 2015 wasn't durable enough. Today at CES the company announced a new, more durable notebook. Now schools can equip students with a Chromebook 11 N7 C731 that can bear up to 132 pounds of force, resist case and hinge damage while bouncing around in student backpacks, and survive falls from as high as 48 inches -- more than twice the drop height of the old model.
Corning to show off Gorilla Glass 2 at CES 2012
Gorilla Glass is tough, real tough. And it's got a solid reputation as a durable screen for small and large displays alike. But by no means is it perfect, and Corning has been hard at work to make the product's sequel even better. We're pretty dry on the details so far, but Corning SVP / GM James Steiner mentioned that his company's positioned to meet the challenge of accommodating phones and tablets with more functionality from thinner designs. We'll find out a lot more information about the latest version of the glass in an announcement this coming Monday at CES, so stay tuned as we find out the juicy tidbits.
Corsair Flash Voyager, GT, Survivor get a USB 3.0 boost
Call us jaded, but most USB flash drives just don't get the juices flowing like a new tablet or smartphone. Nonetheless, they've become a critical component of many a workflow, and for a device where speed is key, a USB 3.0 boost is certainly welcome. And Corsair did just that with its Flash Voyager, Flash Voyager GT, and "adventure-proof" Flash Survivor lines. The entry level Voyagers ship in 8GB ($17) and 16GB ($24) capacities, while the premium model offers 32GB and 64GB of storage, for $59 and $129, respectively. 8GB ($28) and 16GB ($35) drives in the ruggedized Survivor series are constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum and are water-proof all the way down to 200 meters -- that algae-covered Survivor you found 650 feet down at the bottom of the ocean floor? Yup, it probably still works. The new drives are shipping now, and you can find the full scoop from Corsair just past the break.
Polymer Vision drops the ball on its flexible display, literally
Flexible displays may well be the future, but it's not hard to see that they won't truly be practical unless they're also as durable as they are flexible. Polymer Vision is well aware of that fact, of course, and it's now gone to some "extreme" lengths to demonstrate the progress it's made on that front. See the results for yourself in the video above.
Panasonic's new suite of colorful camcorders hits stores this July, gets priced right now
When Panasonic introduced us to its Skittles-like array of candy-coated camcorders, they gave us a taste of the little things, but left us hanging on price and availability. Well, if you've been slobbering over the specs since February, you can sate your appetite soon, because the HM-TA20, HM-TA2, HX-WA10, HX-DC10, and HX-DC1 will hit stores starting in early July. The Flip-style, 1080p HM-TA20 rings in at $200, while its less rugged little brother, the HM-TA2, will run you $170. The upright and rugged HX-WA10 will do 1080p video and 16-megapixel stills for $350, and you'll drop $280 on the HX-DC10 for the same functionality without the weather-proofing. For the same look at an even lower price, you can shoot 14-megapixel stills on the HX-DC1 for $200. Hungry for more? Full PR awaits you after the break.
Panasonic Toughbook 19 scores upgraded internals to match its mighty shell
If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- words Panasonic has clearly taken to heart with the Toughbook 19. It's time for the rugged, 10-inch convertible tablet to get its annual refresh and not much has changed visibly. Instead, the company gave its internals a boost with some Sandy Bridge goodness and slapped a new TransflectivePlus screen in this military-grade machine for computing in direct sunlight. Impressively, the Core i5 found inside is not of the ULV variety, it's a standard voltage 2520m powering this completely sealed, fanless design. Additionally, the Toughbook 19 now comes standard with 4GB of RAM and has a pair of SSD options for added durability. You'll be able to pick one up, and use it as a frisbee, in September starting at $3,349. While you wait, feel free to check out the PR after the break.
Ricoh unveils waterproof, dirt-resistant PX camera for outdoorsy photographers
Just a few months after releasing its outdoorsy, G700 point and shoot, Ricoh has taken the wraps off yet another rugged digital camera -- the waterproof, shockproof and dust-resistant PX. This small warrior packs a 16-megapixel CCD sensor along with a 5x optical wide zoom lens and is capable of booting up in just 1.4 seconds. The device also supports subject-tracking and face-priority auto-focus features, in addition to a host of shooting modes, including toy camera, soft-focus and high-contrast black and white, among others. Most alluring, however, is its resilience. According to Ricoh, the PX can survive drops from an altitude of up to five feet, remains waterproof at depths of about ten feet, and is impermeable to dust, sand and dirt. There's also a 2.7-inch, scratch-resistant LCD on its backside, meaning you won't have to worry about casually tossing it in your backpack as you make your way along the trail. More flamboyant hikers, meanwhile, can add their own personal touch to the PX by wrapping it in a protective silicon sleeve, available in five, vibrant colors. If you're interested, you can grab a PX of your own when it hits stores later this month, for $300 AUD (about $317). You can check out some sample images from Digital Photography Review by hitting the link below, or flip through some pics of the PX in the gallery below. There's also a full PR waiting for you, after the break. %Gallery-125925%
Pantech's first US Android comes to AT&T as the Crossover, launches June 5 for $70
Pantech and AT&T have been BFFs for several years, but the two companies have never taken things to the next level -- until now. Alluded to by an AT&T exec earlier this month, the Crossover will be the Korean manufacturer's first attempt at Android in the US and will be on sale June 5th for $70 with contract. We can't help but notice the similarities between the device you see above and the P8000 that cleared the FCC a few months back, but now we actually have some cold hard specs to go along with it. Packing a modest offering of Froyo, 3.1-inch touchscreen display, 3 megapixel camera, and a less-than-stellar 600MHz CPU, it's no Atrix 4G or Vega Racer. Despite the less-than-stellar features, it should fill an empty niche in AT&T's lineup quite well as a durable QWERTY slider with textured back and rubberized corners. You only have a few days to decide which kind of shock tests you'll put your new phone through, and you may find the press release (found after the break) to be full of great ideas.
Samsung's 10.1-inch plastic LCD showcased in concept laptop, tablet at SID 2011 (video)
Fumble your phone much? Samsung may have a solution for clumsy gadgeteers with screen shatter fears: a lightweight, ultra-durable, plastic LCD screen. Tucked into laptop and tablet concepts at SID 2011, this 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 wunderpanel could be the next innovation in durable mobile devices -- cutting thickness by as much as two-thirds at one-fifth the weight of a glass LCD. Lighter, stronger devices sound awesome, but the tech has its drawbacks; it suffers from poor off-axis viewing angles, and the entire surface has a visible, but not entirely off-putting, wavy texture. Cracked LCD bending art enthusiasts can rest easy for awhile, there's no word yet on pricing or availability; easy-to-bust displays aren't going anywhere. Hit the gallery and the video (after the break) for an eyes-on look. %Gallery-123859%
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%
Panasonic unveils a suite of camcorders of all shapes, sizes, and depths
Well now, leave it to Panasonic to dump a pile of camcorders at once, ensuring every domestic niche is covered. We have five separate models, so bear with us as we break out some bullets: HM-TA20 - This is a Flip-style upright design with a lens on one side and, on the other, an LCD with a big red button beneath it. But, it's durable, offering three meters of waterproof protection and a durable, dust-proof case. It'll do 1080p footage, offers no optical zooming, but does have a night mode that drops it down to 15fps to help it perform well when the lights go out. It can be used as a webcam, too. HM-TA2 - This is basically the TA20 minus the heavy-duty bits. Best to keep it dry. Comes with a tripod for self-portraits. Perfect for your new MySpace profile pic! HX-WA10 - Another durable one, waterproof to three meters, dust and shockproof, captures 16 megapixel stills and records 1080p footage, too. It offers a pistol-style grip and a flip-out, three-inch touchscreen. It's pictured after the break. HX-DC10 - This is basically a WA10 that doesn't like the water, or the dust, or being dropped. HX-DC1 - Another step down the cost ladder, this one backing down to 14 megapixel stills and losing some of the high-tech trickery of the others. Its three-inch LCD isn't touchable. Panasonic didn't grace us with prices for any of these, nor release dates. But, hey, who needs details like that?
Sonim XP3300 Force hands-on (through insulating gloves)
What do you do with a phone that claims it can withstand anything you throw its way? Dip it in sub-zero temperatures, bang it against concrete, drop it from great heights, and then stand on it? That was the full extent of our imagination today when getting to grips with the Sonim XP3300 Force and the damn thing didn't budge a millimeter, never mind an inch. It has a Gorilla Glass-protected screen and some rather self-apparent water- and impact-resistant hardware surrounding its soft electronic core. Changes in this latest model include the redesign of the Java-based OS, the internal power supply circuitry, the GPS module, and the antenna, all in the name of improving efficiency to a claimed 24 hours of talk time on a single charge. That's quite the feat, even if you can't exactly stream HD Flash videos using this chunky fella. The XP3300 Force is available in 50 countries around the world today, with pricing near $400 unsubsidized or between $50 and $150 on contract. Skip past the break for video of its endurance. %Gallery-116644%
Motorola Defy makes a splash on T-Mobile this November 3rd for $99
T-Mobile USA's tweet pretty much says it all -- the Defy is nigh -- and you'll be able to pick Motorola's ruggedized handset come November 3rd for a penny under $100 on-contract. It's not the fastest handset on the block, saddled as it is with both Blur and Android 2.1, but there's nothing quite like a handset that you can stab with a pen or dunk in the drink while it's still turned on.
Motorola Defy: Android 2.1 goes rugged with water, dust and scratch resistance
Remeber the Motorola i1? Moto has just added its second rugged(ish) Android handset in the 3.7-inch Gorilla Glass-fronted Defy. It's dust-, scratch-, impact-, and water-resistant. Matching up to the IP67 durability spec means it's expected to resist being submersed in up to a meter of water for up to half an hour -- making it a pretty awesome option for taking your Android to the beach, 854 x 480 is your screen resolution, backed up by an OMAP 3610 chip running at 800MHz (there had to be some tradeoffs, right?). Android 2.1 is another slight disappointment, we're not clear on why Froyo had to be left off the table, but at least Motorola has bundled Swype as the default input mechanism. Should be a boon for some, we suppose. The Defy is expected to launch across Europe in Q4 2010. Update: Hands-on video now available after the break.%Gallery-100857%
DRS Armor X10gx gets a handle on military-grade tablet technology, specs it slightly shy
DRS' latest ARMOR tablet hasn't quite gotten with the times; the new X10gx sports the same 10.4-inch resistive display, a similar 1.2GHz processor and lags behind consumer products in RAM (2GB) and storage (64GB) almost as badly as predecessors two years prior. The badass quotient, however, has gone through the roof... as this magnesium-shelled puppy is now MIL-STD-810G, IP67 and UL1604 certified. To translate that in layman terms, you can (and they did) drop this 4.7 pound Windows 7 tablet from four feet dozens of times, throw it in a meter-deep pool of water and subject it to sub-freezing, sweltering and potentially explosive environments, all while still accepting standard-height 2.5-inch hard drives. Other features for worthy warriors include integrated GPS, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, optional Gobi broadband and the ability to attach external antennas to each, plus hot-swappable 2400mAh batteries to minimize downtime. Smart card, TPM module and fingerprint scanners come standard, of course, and in a singular gesture to the consumer world, there is one HDMI port. No word on price, but given the construction of these machines, we're not going to pry -- it had just better be competitive with Panasonic's $3,400 device.
Dell Streak's Gorilla Glass screen: torture tested for your amusement (video)
So we've been hearing rumors about the Dell Streak being some kind of a rugged bad boy. Word is, the Gorilla Glass display on this 5-inch slate is good enough to withstand pretty much anything a human would care to throw its way. Them's fighting words where we come from, so we did the only thing a responsible tech blog can do -- we put them to the test. Should you be brave enough to follow us after the break, you'll come upon our best efforts to destroy our own Streak prototype, albeit with little success. Then again, the end result might be less important than the journey there, which is not to be missed.
Panasonic Toughbook 19 gets Core i5 grunt to match its grizzled visage
Few notebooks are as respected as Panasonic's Toughbook line, and that's partly because they don't fade away like an old general, they just keep getting upgraded. The Toughbook 19, a 10.4-inch convertible tablet, is the latest to receive some augmentation, this time in the form of a 2GHz Intel Core i5-540UM processor. It's mounted in the same bomb-proof magnesium case that we know and love, enabling it to survive six-foot falls with ease. (Trust us, our ears are still ringing from the time we verified that pledge.) The new toughbook 19 is shipping to battlefields and bomb shelters right now starting at $3,399.
