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Klipsch’s next true wireless earbuds will include AI and gesture controls
For the second year in a row, Klipsch is introducing new true wireless earbuds at CES. Last year, it offered the first glimpse of its T5 True Wireless earbuds. Now, the company is expanding its lineup with three more true wireless models.
Sony's ultra-fast SD cards are designed to be abused
Not content just to have the fastest UHS-II memory cards on the market, Sony wants to have the fastest and strongest. It just unveiled the SF-G series Tough UHS-II SD cards that can handle as much pain as you care to inflict. They're 18 times stronger than standard SD cards, and "use the world's first monolithic structure with a completely sealed one-piece molding," Sony said. As such, they're bend-proof, drop-proof to five meters, waterproof and dust-proof.
LifeProof frē for iPad Air: Saving your tablet from real life
LifeProof's frē case for iPad Air just what the doctor ordered if you're one of those people who uses your tablet in conditions that would void your warranty in a heartbeat. If you need a totally water- and shock-proof case for your device, read on -- and you'll have a chance to win a LifeProof frē at the end of this post. Specifications Price: US$109.99 (Total Water Protection Program warranty available for an additional $20) Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.4" x 10.3" (1.778 x 18.796 x 26.162 cm) Weight: .48 lbs (.218 kg.) Standards: Sealed from dirt & dust particles – meets or exceeds IP-68 Ingress Protection Rating. Sealed from snow & ice – meets or exceeds IP-68 Ingress Protection Rating. Withstands drops from 4' / 1.2 m – meets or exceeds MIL STD 810F-516 Waterproof Rating: Fully submergible to 6.6' / 2 m for 1 hour Design Highlights This polycarbonate case is now clear on both sides, meaning that you could theoretically take photos or videos with your iPad Air while snorkeling -- just don't go more than 6.6 feet below the water's surface. As with the other LifeProof cases, the frē has a watertight O-ring that runs around the inside of the case. The two halves snap together tightly to keep dust, snow and water out, and there are pass-through switches or closable covers over all ports. One nice feature is that the front clear plastic cover now has a "dish" right where the home button is, making it easier for users to get tactile feedback while using their devices. Another welcome addition is the inclusion of a plastic tool for prying the halves of the case apart. If you've ever tried to open a LifeProof case with your hands alone, you'll know why I'm happy about this move. For a water/snow/dust-proof iPad case, the LifeProof frē is surprisingly thin at 0.7". It's great to see that case manufacturers are trying to do their best to make ultra-protective cases as thin as they can. Looks-wise, the frē is rather "meh". I'd like to see them offer a yellow sports model or something red, anything but the basic boring black and white. Functionality Highlights I installed the LifeProof frē on my iPad Air and found it to be much easier to put on than earlier versions of the case. The removal tool also sped things up when taking the case back off -- there's no longer a need to wrestle with the case to remove it. While I did not submerge the iPad Air in water to test the waterproofing (AOL doesn't insure my personal equipment from water damage...), I did the standard test that LifeProof recommends -- that involves putting the case into water for 30 minutes and then checking for leaks. The frē passed the check with flying colors (note that we have had some cases that leaked during testing, none of them being LifeProof cases). I was pretty surprised with how well sound emanated from the frē; it sounded just as loud as if it wasn't in a totally sealed case. And photos taken with the frē installed on the iPad Air showed no degradation due to the extra layer of protection over the camera lens. Conclusion If you regularly find yourself using your iPad Air in the rain or snow, on the beach, or in the hot tub, then buy the LifeProof frē and keep your Air protected at all times. The case is remarkably well-built, easy to install and remove, and is probably the thinnest waterproof case on the market to date. The only thing missing? A more exciting color scheme. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway If you're going to the beach for Spring Break in the next couple of weeks, then you want to enter this giveaway for a LifeProo frē. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before March 14, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a LifeProof frē case for iPad Air valued at $109.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Hands-on with Fujitsu's waterproof, dustproof Stylistic M702 tablet (video)
Somehow we missed this at Mobile World Congress last week. We were so busy playing with Fujitsu's GPS cane and 5-inch F-02E phone that we didn't even notice the company introduce a waterproof, dustproof Android tablet. As you can see in that shot above, the Stylistic M702 is more than just water-resistant: it meets the standards for IPX5, 7 and 8, which is to say it can withstand immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. (That, and the occasional jet stream.) A close inspection of the tablet will show that all the ports are sealed with rubber-coated doors, which should keep out liquid as well as dust particles. Other than that, this more or less has all the specs you'd expect on a high-end Android tablet, including a 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, a 10.1-inch, 1,920 x 1,200, IPS display, 2GB of RAM, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, MHL, dual 8MP / 1.2MP cameras and LTE connectivity. The built-in storage tops out at 32 gigs, but fortunately there's a microSD slot to give you more leeway. Out of the box it will run Android 4.0, but an upgrade to Jelly Bean is coming. Interestingly, there's also a small door housing an antenna, but that'll only be offered on the Japanese model; the European config we handled here at CeBIT had just a blank slot. Most impressive of all, potentially, is the claimed battery life: the 10,000mAh cell is rated for 15 hours of runtime, which would be a coup indeed. And at 590g (1.3 pounds) the tablet isn't even that heavy, considering the gigantic battery squeezed inside. It's available now in Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East for €999, which is expensive, sure, but perhaps it's a price corporate customers can swallow anyway.
Sony's Xperia Tablet Z launcher spied by Mr. Blurrycam (video) (update)
After officially breaking cover yesterday, an untamed image of Sony's forthcoming Xperia Tablet Z has surfaced on Chinese social network Weibo. While this blurry photo opp isn't the most inspiring, it does give an up close look at what this slab looks like without its makeup on. As a quick refresher, the waterproof Xperia Tablet Z features a bafflingly thin chassis (6.9mm), a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8.1 megapixel camera and Android 4.1. If a poorly lit picture isn't enough to satisfy your curiosity, an equally dim video showcasing the unreleased device's UI has made its way to the web as well. Head past the break for a closer look at the Xperia Tablet Z in action. Update: To be clear, the video below is an alleged leak of the Xperia Tablet Z's software running on an ASUS Transformer.
Sony's Xperia Tablet Z announced: 1.5GHz quad-core, 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 screen and 6.9mm thickness
Announced bright and early in Japan today is the Sony Xperia Tablet Z that we've been hearing about. As you'd expect, this 10.1-inch Android 4.1 tablet features the same design language as its smartphone counterpart, but it's what's inside that really sells this device: a Qualcomm 1.5GHz quad-core APQ8064 processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 screen (with Mobile Bravia Engine 2), an 8.1-megapixel Exmor R camera, NFC, LTE (MDM9215M radio), microSD expansion and Sony's very own "S-Force" virtual surround sound technology. Amazingly, these are all packed tightly into a 6.9mm-thick, 495g-heavy body which not only takes a huge leap from the retiring Xperia Tablet S, but it also beats the Toshiba Excite 10 LE that was once the champion in both fields. That's right, Sony now has the world's thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablet! Oh, and did we mention that the Tablet Z is both waterproof and dustproof as well? We'll update you guys once we get hold of info on pricing and availability. Update: For those wondering, Blog of Mobile says this new tablet packs a 6,000mAh battery, which is actually a tad smaller than the Excite 10 LE's 6,690mAh cell. Hopefully Sony's power management will bring its tablet up to about the same mobility performance.
Sony Xperia VL brings dash of toughened-up LTE to Japan
We were intrigued by Sony's Xperia V back at IFA, but deals with specific carriers haven't been very forthcoming. Japan's KDDI is covering that gap by pledging to carry Sony's mid-size Android 4.0 phone as the Xperia VL. Everything we know and (mostly) love about the dust- and water-resistant phone is intact, including that thin sensor-on-lens 720p display, the 13-megapixel camera, the 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, NFC and LTE-based 4G. The one question remaining is a definitive release date: Sony will only promise an Xperia VL launch before the end of the year, although there's talk at Impress Watch of a release on November 2nd for ¥30,000 ($381) after carrier discounts. Let's hope for the company's sake that other carriers sign up for the V and VL sooner rather than later.
Bell may get Samsung Galaxy Rugby LTE on November 1st, give Canadians rough and tumble 4G
Americans won't get to keep the Galaxy Rugby Pro all to themselves. As long as internal documents gleaned by MobileSyrup prove true, Bell should be carrying Samsung's ruggedized 4G phone as the Galaxy Rugby LTE on November 1st. Other than the name change, it's likely to be a match for the AT&T version down to the very wide frequency support we saw at the FCC, when it appeared as the SGH-i547. You're looking at a modest 4-inch screen, 768MB of RAM and 5-megapixel rear camera, but also a quick 1.5GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.0 and that dust- and waterproof body. Pricing is an unknown, although the partly toned-down features imply that the Galaxy Rugby LTE will skew well below the $160 contract price for a Galaxy S III on Bell's network.
Lenovo outs dual-SIM waterproof A660 ICS smartphone, likely for China only
Lenovo is burning up the Chinese smartphone market, and it's just announced a new midrange 4-inch ICS model, the A660, with two twists: dual-SIM slots and a waterproof case. The IP67 certification and Gorilla Glass also make it dustproof, but apart from that, the device carries pedestrian specs: Android 4.0, 1GHz dual-core processor, 800 x 480 screen and 5-megapixel rear camera. As with other recent models in China aiming down the middle of the road, the A660 boasts several colors, and supports WCDMA + GSM networks with dual-SIM / dual-standby capability. There's no word yet on how much or when, but don't start shopping for lime green or burnt orange furniture to match just yet -- few of Lenovo's smartphones have crossed the Great Wall.
Olympus Stylus TG-625 Tough adds AF light for tricky shots in rough situations
It's been awhile since we've seen Olympus tackle the more affordable side of its rugged camera lineup, which makes its latest entry feel overdue. The Stylus TG-625 Tough effectively replaces the TG-620 by adding something that's been commonplace in the camera world: an autofocus illuminator light to improve focusing at night or, more likely with this camera, when it's plunged 16 feet underwater. Outside of a new double-lock system, though, you're looking at the hardware that has defined most of Olympus' rugged line this year, including a 12-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 28-140mm equivalent lens, 1080p movie making and a 3-inch LCD. The Japanese should get the TG-625 the soonest, on August 31st. There's no word on whether or not there's an upgrade on the way for the US, although we can picture it slotting into the American lineup without much trouble.
Fujitsu's Stylistic M532 quad-core tablet ships to the US with toughened body, dash of security
Fujitsu's Stylistic M532 has had a protracted development process that saw it appear on our radar as early as January; imagine our surprise after it ships to the US with barely more than a knock on the door. Now that it's here, it looks to be on the sunnier side of average for an Android 4.0 slate. A quad 1.4GHz Tegra 3, a 1,280 x 800 display and 32GB of built-in space won't rock our world in mid-2012, but the rough-and-ready among us will likely appreciate the military-spec abuse tolerances and a year-long subscription to Absolute CompuTrace theft tracking, just in case it's pilfered from an open bag. Fujitsu's obstacles? Apart from not having much of a cachet in the tablet arena, the company also has to convince buyers that the extra safeguards are worth a $549 price -- for those who treat their tablets more delicately, there are a few tempting alternatives.
We go hands-on with the waterproof Sony Xperia go (video)
The spiritual successor to last year's Xperia Active has been given a performance boost. Now packing a dual-core 1GHz processor, Sony hopes it'll manage to keep up with your surf-heavy lifestyle. At least, that's the explanation we reckon underpins the Xperia go's (or Xperia advance) certified dust and waterproofing. The phone is notch above the Xperia miro and Xperia tipo hardware wise, although the software remains less so, leaning on the increasingly creaky Android Gingerbread. (Sony says it's coming -- but it wont be available on launch.) Those curved corners and design lines bring it close to the aesthetic of the Xperia S, P and U -- although it does lack that pervasive see-through bar. The increased processing power made web browsing a pretty painless affair, while wet finger tracking means you'll still be able to use the 3.5-inch touchscreen in the British Summer surf. The device will be priced around £250 (around $390) in the UK and is pegged to arrive over the next few months in white, black and yellow -- the latter has swiftly become our favorite. Take a visual tour of the yellow option in our gallery and hands-on video right after the break.%Gallery-160088%
Sony announces Xperia Go and Xperia acro S: waterproof and dual-core (video)
If you were underwhelmed by the middling specs of Sony's past toughphones, you might want to take a look at the latest pair to join the 2012 Xperia family. First up, the Xperia go houses a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display with a dual-core 1GHz processor, powering the (unfortunately still) Gingerbread interface. Sony has reiterated that Android 4.0 will find its way to both new devices. The Xperia go also throws in a 5-megapixel camera and the same wet finger tracking seen on the Xperia Active, which will mean the phone can be steered during underwater adventures. You be able to pick from white, black and yellow color options when the phone arrives in Q3 this year. The Xperia acro S bumps the screen resolution up to 720p, slathered across a 4.3-inch surface, alongside a 12-megapixel camera and dedicated shutter button. It appears to be the global version of the Japan-only Xperia acro HD and arrives PlayStation-certified. Like the Xperia go, it totes IP55 and IP57 ratings for dust and water resistance, plus NFC capability of Sony's SmartTags. The Xperia acro S will land in black, white and pink color options -- but we're still waiting to hear more precise availability details. Video tours for both handsets are right after the break. Update: We've been told that the Xperia go will launch as the Xperia advance in the US -- but dates and prices remain a mystery.
Samsung ships QF20 camcorder with WiFi, toughened-up W300 pocket cam
Samsung's CES blitz included a tease of five new camcorders, but precious little in the way of launch details. Some of the mystery has ended, as two of the camcorders -- the QF20 and W300 -- are at last hitting US stores. The QF20 caters to the Internet crowd and, for $350, will let you upload your 20x-zoomed 1080p videos straight to Facebook, Picasa or YouTube without thrusting a computer into the process. If you're more concerned about your camera surviving a rafting trip than producing viral videos, the W300 will give you dustproofing, 15-foot waterproofing and 6-foot shockproofing in a pocketable form for a more frugal $160. We're still waiting on launches for the camcorders' closely-related F80, Q20 and W350 (pictured) cousins, but for now you can catch full details of the QF20 and W300 after the break.
Fujifilm FinePix XP170 camera rebuffs water, dust and cold, cuddles up with iOS and Android (video)
Fujifilm's latest rugged point-and-shoot has pulled together some pretty standard specs with some more contemporary connectivity features, all in a hardy shell. The 14-megapixel CMOS sensor is paired with 5x zoom lens, while the rubberized lug is capable of 1080p video, and can increase video capture up to 240 fps at 320 x 240 resolution. Available in blue or orange, the device should survive up to 10 meters of water, a two meter drop and still work at -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit). We're not sure if that's all at once. Sharing with mobile devices requires Fujifilm's own Android or iOS app and some semblance of a WiFi signal. The FinePix XP170 will sidle up into stores next month for $280, but until then, Fujifilm's got a video to demo those new wireless transfer functions -- if that's your thing, you can check it out right after the break.
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399
Ruggedized cameras have always been delivered with some kind of compromise -- an inflated price tag, bulkier body or sub-par image quality. Now, much as the E-M5 did to tighten the gap among mirrorless cameras, Olympus is introducing a full-featured pro-worthy Tough model. The Tough TG-1 is effectively an XZ-1 in a ruggedized shell -- its 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, 25-100mm, f/2.0-4.9 4x zoom lens and 3-inch 610k OLED display are all wrapped in a reinforced body, capable of flawless shooting at depths of 40 feet, in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) and after a 6.6-foot fall. With the TG-1, the company is aiming for the pro's gear bag, bringing features like 30 fps full-res rapid-fire shooting (for 50 consecutive shots, or 220 in a 3-megapixel 60 fps mode), the same TruPic VI image processor previously available only on current-gen PEN models and super-fast E-P3-like focusing speeds to an affordable, pocketable compact. The TG-1 is also a capable video shooter, offering 1080/30p captures on land and under the sea, with Linear PCM audio recording and a powerful Multi-Motion Movie image stabilization feature. A shutter range from bulb to 1/2000 second boosts versatility, while tools like GPS, an e-compass and pressure-measuring manometer combine to provide data-rich pictures while also aiding in-camera tools, like a compass with 3D renders and a power-efficient GPS that helps to identify more than 700,000 landmarks around the globe. It's hardly approaching ILC territory, but the camera includes some lens accessory compatibility, with an available conversion adapter with fisheye and telephoto attachments that work (and can be swapped in and out) underwater. Double-locking battery and HDMI port doors will keep dust and water away from compartments, and a repellant coating helps fight water build-up on the lens -- there's 40.5mm filter compatibility as well. The Olympus Tough TG-1 is set to ship for $399 in mid-to-late June, and we're fairly certain it will be worth the wait. Full PR is just past the break.
Sony outs new waterproof HDR-GW77V Handycam, available May 25th in Japan
Despite having launched a full battalion of Handycams back at CES, Sony left the adventurous crowd out by not introducing any ruggedized shooters. With that in mind, the Japanese outfit has taken the wraps off of its first waterproof (and dustproof) Handycam, which packs a mouthwatering 20.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor capable of 1080p video at 60fps. Staying true to its Handycam roots, the HDR-GW77V sports a 3-inch swivel screen while also offering 16GB of internal storage and a 10x optical zoom. Sony claims the camcorder can handle up to 16 feet of water as well as sustain a five-foot freefall. The HDR-GW77V will be hitting Japanese shelves late next month for 70,000 yen (around $860), and there's no word on when -- or if -- it'll make a trip outside its home turf.
Samsung Rugby Smart officially coming to AT&T March 4 for $100
It was only a matter of time, we suppose. After having seen the Samsung Rugby Smart poke its head out from time to time, Samsung's new rugged smartphone is officially hitting AT&T stores on March 4th. Much like the Pantech Element, the Rugby Smart will be "waterproof," meaning it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. The phone itself is built to mil-spec 810F standards, so it's going to handle most extreme conditions pretty well. So let's list off the specs we've heard so far: it will launch with Android 2.3 -- shocker, we know -- as well as a 3.7-inch WVGA Super AMOLED panel, 4GB of internal storage, 1,650mAh battery and a 1.3MP front-facing shooter for video chat along with a 5MP rear facing autofocus camera with LED flash and 720p video capture. The Smart will also be 12.19mm thick (also not a surprise, given its rugged nature) and weigh 4.2 ounces. We don't know what CPU's inside yet, but we'll update as soon as we find out. To check out all the extreme details, head to the videos and press release under the break.Update: As noted by NJTechReviews, Samsung has confirmed it's a single-core 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 powering this guy.
Panasonic adds Lumix DMC-TS4 and DMC-TS20 to ruggedized camera line
Panasonic has helped lead the market for ruggedized cameras, which have been a hit among adventurous photographers for years, and now the company has two new additions to add to its water/shock/freeze/dustproof cam line. Described as "the optical outdoor companion," the Lumix DMC-TS4 is Panasonic's new ruggedized flagship, replacing the TS3 and packing a 12.1 megapixel CCD sensor, 1080/60i HD video capture, a 4.6x 28-128mm optical zoom lens and 2.7-inch LCD. Naturally, it can withstand just about everything you'll throw its way, considering that it's waterproof to depths of 40 feet, shockproof to 6.6 feet and freezeproof to temps as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The TS4 also includes GPS, compass, altimeter and barometer functionality, logging all this data to supplement your photos with a full weather and location readout. Panasonic has also added full manual control, letting you adjust both aperture and shutter speed when shooting in manual mode.The TS4 may offer a respectable spec list, but it doesn't come cheap. The TS20 is an attractive alliterative, however, with a slim profile, 16.1 megapixel sensor, 720p HD shooting, a 4x 25-100mm optically stabilized zoom lens and a 2.7-inch LCD. It's waterproof to 16 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive drops from up to five feet. There's no manual option on this lower-end model, but it does include Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode for more accurate shooting. The TS20 will ship in late-February in orange, blue, black and red for $180, while the flagship TS4 will be available in orange, blue, black and silver for $400 when it ships in mid-March. You'll find both press releases after the break.
Samsung announces new camcorder range: QF20, F80 and ruggedized W300
Not satisfied with unveiling a whole bunch of point-and-click shooters, Samsung's also unveiled a a refreshed set of camcorders for 2012. First up, the QF20 and Q20 totes the same switch grip features of its predecessor and are capable of 1080i HD video, while packing 20x optical zoom, a touchscreen display plus a medley of requisite artistic effects. The rough and tumble W300 and W350 are for the sporting videographer; dust-proof, shock-proof to two meters and water-proof to up to five meters. It records 1080 HD video, with an optional floating bumper accessory incoming for those Jaws homages. There's also a five megapixel sensor and f/2.2 lens for your rugged stills. Finally, there's the F80, which ups the optical zoom to 52x, 720p recording at 30fps. For those willing to upscale, there's also a 1080i option through HDMI, which can also display any five megapixel stills snapped from great distances. No dates for when we'll see these in stores -- or price tags -- but expect to see them this side of 2012.
