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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.
Mophie's ruggedized 6,000 mAh Juice Pack Powerstation Pro: it's for argonauts
Did Mophie's 4,000mAh Juice Pack Powerstation not hold enough extra battery power for you, warrior of the road? Well, today you're in luck. The company has just introduced its new Pro variant, packing a massive 6,000mAh of total juice. Like its older brethren, it'll charge mostly any device over USB (even supplying pass-through power when you need to plug it in), and switches between 500 mAh, 1A and 2.1A to preserve its total capacity. The real kicker, however, is its "impact-restistant" casing, made of steel, aluminum and rubber, along with its "water-tight" USB ports. Notably, the Pro is also IP65-certified -- effectively ensuring a venerable level of protection from liquid, shock and dust. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but we're sure many a journeying LTE user will want one to store in their backpack ASAP. %Gallery-142401%
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%
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%
Ricoh outs rather rugged, water-resistant G700 point and shoot
Ricoh's released a new point and shoot, the G700. This little camera's water and dust resistant, it will supposedly withstand a drop of up to 2 meters, and its resistant to chemicals such as ethanol and hypochlorous acid, so shooting pics of the chemically-driven, zombie-infested apocalypse shouldn't be much of a challenge. Other than that, you've got a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 5x optical wide-angle zoom lens, a 3-inch color LCD, and password protection. You know, so the zombies can check out your shots! This baby will be released on September 10th in Japan, but as of yet, there's no word on pricing or a US release.
