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Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro available on AT&T October 21st for $100
Fans of rugged Android phones, rejoice: you only have to wait until this Sunday to get the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro on AT&T. The carrier just announced that it'll be making its way into stores on October 21st and will run you a whole $100 on a two-year commitment. It isn't going to be the stellar top-end device many power users crave, as it features a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, 5MP rear-facing camera with 720p video recording, 8GB onboard storage, ICS, LTE, Enhanced Push-to-Talk, 810g military-spec certification and EAS corporate email support. It's a definite upgrade from the Smart, no doubt, but we're still pining for the day that rugged phones can have the best components and bounce off a concrete floor without incident.
V-Moda's M-100 audiophile headphones get ready for mass production, we go ears-on
V-Moda's been seriously edging for the audiophile crowd lately -- namely with its Crossfade M-80 on-ear headphones, the VAMP headphone amp for the iPhone 4/4S, and a soon-to-be disclosed followup dubbed as Vamp Versa. That brings us to its soon-to-be released M-100 headphones, which haven't really been a secret since their inception, making them a special set. Unlike many companies who strive for secrecy in regards to upcoming products, V-Moda's taken a drastically different approach with its latest cans, with owner Val Kolton stating that they're effectively the first crowd-sourced set of headphones. Many headphone lovers out there likely know that Kolton's been heavily in contact with the Head-Fi community, hoping to craft the best sounding, looking and fitting ear-gear possible. As he puts it, "the easter egg and inside joke is that the [M-100 headphones] can actually stand up. It is the first headphone that we know of that 'stands above the rest' and all others fall down/crawl. It also can stand on top of a few other new brand's models almost like Cirque De Soleil." It may be hard to tell based on the fashion-focused looks, but the company is adamant that its audio gear goes through more stringent research and testing than some of the biggest names out there, and that it'll show in the end products. Most notably, its TrueHertz testing where, for the M-100, "six points from 5hZ to 12kHz are measured to be within [its] obsessive quality control levels." According to Kolton, most companies only check at 1Khz, and allow for much wider variances. He followed up stating that "like fine wine, a headphone is only as good as its fit (taste buds) and its driver variances (grapes/cork). To us, all brands advertising 'HD' sound [aren't being forthright] unless they believe or even know these key components are "'fugazi.'" For perspective, the M-100 is essentially the third iteration of the Crossfade LP over-ear headphones. Aside from a few tweaks to the design, it's packing an audiophile-focused tuning (rather than DJ) that's based on blending the voicings of its M-80 on-ears and the LP2 over-ears. It wouldn't be unfair to say the company is aiming for a flat, yet fun sound -- all in a package that's fit to take to the streets like its earlier offerings. Those familiar may know that just under 150 of the first 200 production-quality models are currently floating around as early stock and test units for a final bit of real-world feedback before mass-production begins -- and this editor's been lucky enough to get his mitts on a set for some initial impressions. So, is the product shaping up to match all the hype? Click on past the break for our take.
Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint phone so masculine it'll kick your face in for misdialing
Sprint's announced that it'll carry the Kyocera DuraPlus -- a rugged cellphone that recalls a lifetime of tedious internet memes. It's certified to "Military Standard 810G," for its resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity and it's able to withstand water depths of one meter for, erm, up to half an hour. You'll also find an embedded LED flashlight capable of lighting the darkest of very dark rooms. Using Direct Connect, you can push-to-talk to other subscribers or use Group Connect to chat with 20 at a time. It'll ship with a 1650 mAh battery (9.5 hours of talk time) with an additional 2300 mAh battery for those long trips round the secure compound. You'll also be able to buy an external charging port to juice multiple units at once -- if you're running your own private militia and need to swap out devices on the go, for example. It'll be available in the first half of the year for an undisclosed price, but we'd wager it'll be something really manly, like the teeth of a wild animal you've vanquished or in exchange for capturing Denis Leary.
Motorola Admiral to directly connect with Sprint on October 23rd for $100
We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time -- that, of course, is the Motorola Admiral that Sprint sure had a difficult time keeping a secret. But no matter now, as the fleet captain is ready to hook you up with the Now Network's CDMA-based Direct Connect service online starting October 23rd (November 13th for all sales channels) for $100 on a two-year commitment and after a $50 mail-in rebate. Summing up the specs: the Admiral features a 1.2GHz CPU, 5MP rear camera with 720p HD video capture, rugged 810G mil-spec design, 3G Mobile Hotspot for up to five devices at the same time, a 3.1-inch VGA display and Android 2.3. For a smartphone that you can kick the trash out of, that's not too shabby. Check out the full press release below.
Kyocera DuraMax for Sprint hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
Call us what you will, but we couldn't resist taking a quick look at the Kyocera DuraMax, which (along with the DuraCore) represents the first of Sprint's handsets to support Direct Connect for CDMA. It's no smartphone, for sure, but we were intrigued by its certification for the military's 810G standard, which promises resistance to dust, shock, vibration, water, low pressure, extreme temperatures and solar radiation -- among other nasty elements. %Gallery-136305% Kyocera DuraMax hands-on Kyocera Duramax is in the batter's box, launching with Sprint Direct Connect October 2nd Rugged gadgets put to the test in Engadget labs, wanton destruction ensues From the outset, the phone appears stout and bulky. It measures a full one-inch thick, although it seems like even more. Perhaps this is due to the grooved rubber finish, or maybe it's the clamshell shape, but you'll want a holster for this one, as the protrusion in your pocket would be hard to ignore. So just who is this device for? We'd like to imagine it's targeted at the kids who played with Tonka trucks as kids, who now drive bulldozers and pour hot tar on roofs. Yes, this phone is designed to take some punishment, which is undoubtedly its greatest strength. After carefully inspecting each angle, peeking underneath the battery cover and testing the "walkie talkie" feature -- which seems to work beautifully -- we began dishing out some seriously bad behavior. Check out the video after the break to see just what we mean.
Sonim introduces trio of rugged phones, including one with NFC support
Sonim's established a rather solid reputation in the rugged phone genre, with its XP3300 Force claiming the Guinness World Record for surviving the longest freefall this past February. Now it's branching out by announcing three more mil-spec devices at this week's CTIA, two of which will be available in the US starting today. First at bat is the XP1301 Core NFC, a device that lives up to its name by supporting a tag reader optimized for the workforce. It was announced for European availability last month, and is now ready to be sold in the US. Next up is the XP1330 Core PTT, a Push-to-Talk device shipping to select areas in Latin America over the next two months. Finally, the XP3340 Sentinel offers an emergency panic button and a man-down sensor capable of monitoring your phone for any freefalls or impacts, and can make an emergency call in your behalf. All of the above devices include quadband GSM / EDGE radios -- don't expect to use them for hyperspeed browsing -- and have been drop-tested at least 24 times from over six feet. They may not do your laundry, but at least you won't freak out when it drops a story or two. Head to the press release for more specifics.
It's official: Motorola Titanium coming to Sprint July 24th, mil-spec Eclair can be yours for $150
The Motorola Titanium has certainly made itself no stranger to us, as it was officially announced by Sprint all the way back in May. At the time, no pricing or availability dates were known, so we were left to speculation and leaked screenshots -- you know, the usual routine for new devices. We needn't wait any longer for the prized 411, though, as the Now Network has announced the 810G military-spec Eclair smartphone will land on store shelves on July 24th and ding our wallets a Benjamin and a half -- after a $100 rebate, that is. Of course, this particular device may not be for everyone, but we know it could be appealing for those of you who just enjoy tossing the ol' Android around a few times too many.
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%
