In addition to that freaky 18x zoomer, Olympus is shepherding out a pair of newborn Mjus this morning with their Mju (AKA, Stylus) 760 and Mju 770SW all weather shooters. Both pack a 7.1 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch 230k color LCD, choice of 3 all American/French/Dutch colors (red, white, and blue), support for xD-Picture Cards, ISO 1600 shots, and a suite of pre-defined underwater modes for easy point-and-shoot snaps as deep as 40-meters when coupled with their optional underwater cases. The Mju 760 differs by offering mechanical image stabilization not found in the 770SW. And while the 760 won't shy away from a little dampness, the 770SW downright prefers it just like its predecessors. In fact, it can take pretty much anything you throw at it: it's shockproof against falls from as high as 1.5-meters, waterproof to a depth of 10-meters, freezeproof in temps as low as -10 Celsius, and can withstand loads up to 100-kg (220-pounds) for those tempted to risk a slip of this slimster into their back pocket. It also packs a built-in "one-touch light" to find subjects tucked inside the reefs, an on-screen water pressure gauge, and a lens slathered with water repellent for droplet-free shooting. Both are expected to hit in March with the 760 demanding about £200/$394 and the 770SW about £300/$591. Pics of the 760 after the break.

[Thanks, David]

Read -- Mju 760
Read -- Mju 770SW

We admit, we do get a tad creeped out when a manufacturer dubs a hardcore, tough looking product "precious," but considering how dear the data that's on your Precious LHD-PHAU2 hard drive is likely to be to you, we guess the name fits the bill. This stainless steel clad drive comes in 80GB, 120GB, and 160GB sizes, spins at 5400RPMs, and can reportedly withstand drops from around one meter. Moreover, this darling of a storage device rocks a security switch that automatically encrypts the data and locks out intruders, and can only be re-accessed by logging in through the Logitec Secure Projects software. The firm also claims that this device is light on the power usage, RoHS-compliant, and while it can play nice with both OS X and Windows, the security application will only load on the Wintel side. All three flavors are slated to hit shelves next month, and you get your very own precious for ¥16,485 ($140), ¥25,410 ($216), or ¥33,285 ($282), depending on capacity.

[Via Akihabara News]

We're always a little suspicious when a company releases a line of products labeled with terms like "ruggedized" or "shock-proof," especially when those items are packed into tiny packages. So, we're a little wary of Plextor's claims that the company's new PX-SP USB hard drives, which weigh in at less than 8 ounces, are shock-proof. However, according to the company, the drives -- which are available in capacities of 80GB and 120GB -- are protected by a "silicon jacket bumper," which allow users to carry them "anytime, anywhere." We'll reserve judgment for now, though we're eager to hear how these survive some real world "anytime, anywhere" tests involving drops, falls and the wheels of large military vehicles.

The 7 megapixel Mju Stylus 720SW from Olympus has some pretty steep claims, including waterproofing up to 10 feet deep and shockproofing for up to 5 foot drops, but does seem to live up to its claims and happens to be a pretty good camera to boot. Available in pink, silver, or blue, the camera's metal housing is the main story here, with claims to be the world's only shockproof digital camera. With all this banging around we would hope for some optical image stabilization, but the digital version seems to do a decent job. The pictures are generally low noise, the camera does a good job of focusing, and the small flash manages to light up an indoor scene quite well. The reviewer liked the 2.5-inch screen, though the resolution was a bit low, but found the workings of the camera to quite quick, and the camera body easy to use and comfortable to hold. You could easily find a 7 megapixel shooter for less than the 720SW's $410 asking price, but good luck with dropping one of those in the drink.