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Mobile Miscellany: week of March 5th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, one clever individual has repackaged HTC's Beats equalizer for use on any Android smartphone, and we've also come across news of additional language support for Siri that's set to arrive later this year. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of March 5th, 2012.
Mobile Miscellany: week of December 19, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of December 19, 2011:
Sonim brings a trio of rugged devices to CTIA E&A 2011, we go hands-on (video)
Sonim doesn't crank out smartphones. It's too busy flooding the earth with uber-rugged featurephones that would most likely withstand an actual flood, and it's darn proud of that fact. That's the impression we got, at least, after visiting the company's booth at this week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications. We had the opportunity to play around with Sonim's three new devices: the XP1301 Core NFC, XP3340 Sentinel and XP1330 Core PTT. Announced on Monday, the first two phones are already available in the US while the third is targeted squarely at Latin America over the next two months. Quite frankly, the new GSM / EDGE lineup looks so similar that it'd be incredibly easy to forget which one was which -- aside from having an appearance not unlike a tank, all three devices seem to come from the same mold. As similar as they are, each one has its own specialty: the XP1301 offers a Near-Field Communication tag reader, the XP1330 takes advantage of Push to Talk and the XP3340 Sentinel throws in a customizable man-down sensor that triggers an emergency alarm when something is awry. But we'll tell you what won't require emergency assistance -- viewing the galleries and videos below. %Gallery-136315% %Gallery-136316% %Gallery-136328% Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.
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.
Sonim's rugged XP3300 Force does not blend
Our old friend Tom Dickinson is back with a brand new edition of Will It Blend?, but it seems his ultra-destructive Blendtec blender has met its match -- the equally rugged Sonim XP3300 Force we tested at MWC. Now, Sonim doesn't have a perfect track record, and Tom definitely let the smoke out here, but apparently the leftover wreckage was still functional. Better luck next time, blender!
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%
Sonim XP3300 Force claims insane ruggedness, longest talk time in the world
Sonim, purveyors of insanely overbuilt handsets that are virtually guaranteed to survive far longer than you, is back at it again at MWC this year with the XP3300 Force. Though it looks a lot like the models that have come before it, the Force has a unique claim: it alleges to offer the longest talk time of any cellphone in the world at 20 to 24 hours, which can be traded in for 20 to 24 hours of continuous GPS tracking, along with 800 hours of standby. Sonim hangs on to its ruggedness chops by casting the Force in a fiberglass shell with 1.5 millimeters of Gorilla Glass over the display, all adding up to an IP-68-rated device that can withstand a two-meter drop onto concrete, two meters of submersion in wastewater (yes, not water, but wastewater), and temperatures ranging from 20 below zero to 55 degrees Celsius (-4 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit). Pricing and availability are yet to be announced; follow the break for the full press release.
Sonim's XP1300 Core will probably -- no, definitely outlast you
In the event Sonim's existing XP2 wasn't quite rugged enough for you... well, first of all, we're curious what exactly it is that you do for a living. Secondly, though, you might want to take a look at the just-announced XP1300 Core, allegedly the world's first GSM handset to receive an IP-68 rating for submersion to two meters of liquid for up to 30 minutes -- a feat Sonim calls "a breakthrough in waterproofing technology." It's got a media player, but that's just about the only creature comfort you're going to find on a phone whose death-proof shell is fashioned from a hardened rubber and fiberglass mix. Naturally, the 2-inch display uses Gorilla Glass... and realistically, the phone itself could probably be used by actual gorillas without missing a beat. It ships next month for $399 unsubsidized in your choice of black or yellow. Update: We just saw it for ourselves briefly at CTIA West, and the phone's durable all right -- Sonim brought a six-foot deep tube filled with water and a giant rock to the show especially for us to test it out. When we dropped it onto the boulder from head height, it just bounced right off, and then the company had us call an XP1300 while it was still submerged.
Sonim XP2 Spirit gets hammered with Engadget
At the MWC Pepcom event earlier in the week we bumped into Sonim and its almost indestructible handset, the Sonim XP2 Spirit. The XP2 is a seriously tough set with the display covered in Gorilla Glass from Corning, a magnesium core, and a shell crafted with hardened rubber and fiberglass, all backed by a rather bold unconditional 3-year guarantee: you break it, they replace it. Sonim gave us an opportunity to try to destroy the thing, and... well, how could we turn down an offer to try and smash a phone? So with hammer and nail we give it an honest go -- follow on to the video after the break to see who wins.
Sonim's 'unbreakable' handset shattered on the BBC
What happens when you let all comers batter, submerge, and otherwise abuse your so-called "unbreakable" handsets on the show floor at CES? Well, sometimes they break -- as a certain BBC News video makes abundantly clear. Are you ready for the truth? Hit the source link. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sonim's XP2 strong-arms its way through the FCC
No one's going to mistake this for a fashion phone, but we're thinking that's just fine with Sonim, the company well-known for its ultra-rugged XP3 that's just passed a new XP2 model through the FCC's barrage of testing. Dubbed "Spirit," the XP2 appears to be Sonim's first phone with 3G on board -- though the tiny display will probably make it useful more for tethering than anything else -- and that insane-looking octagonal shell has us believing that they're going to be able to make some truly wild claims about its survivability. UMTS while spot-welding the phone in 30 feet of water? Probably not, but if any phone could do it, we suspect it'd be this bad boy. No word on pricing, availability, or even an announcement, but we'll keep you updated.
Oh, by the way: August 24, 2009
Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Monday, August 24th, 2009: Sony Ericsson is taking its Java runtime downmarket, committing to roll it out to what it's billing the "entry 3G segment." On a completely unrelated note, is it just us, or was the mini-golf game that came on the T610 one of mankind's greatest entertainment achievements of all time? It appears that parts of Europe will be receiving a tweaked version of the Samsung B7320, creatively rechristened the B7330. Differences are mainly cosmetic with one critically important material change: the screen's now up to 320 x 320 resolution from the original model's QVGA. German site AreaMobile is quoting a local release in October, but other than that, it's anyone's guess. [Via the::unwired] A whole bunch of new 850MHz 3G spectrum is now online in AT&T's San Francisco and New York City networks. 850 does a better job of penetrating buildings than 1900, and if there's one thing the Big Apple has plenty of, it's buildings -- so we'll see if this improves the dropped call situation at all. If you have a curious tendency to drop your phone into kiddie pools, throw it at brick walls, and engage in lengthy heart-to-hearts from Antarctica's Base Esperanza, you'll be delighted to know that Sonim's ultra-rugged XP3.20 is now shipping in the US unlocked for $399. [Via Gearlog]
Sonim's ultra-beefy XP3.20 coming to the US this summer
The launch date for a US version of Sonim's mighty XP3 toughphone has been a bit of a moving target for a while now, but it looks like we might finally have a firm date. According to Sonim's CEO, the XP3.20 -- a tweaked version of the original XP3 that features better talk time, better survivability, and 850MHz GSM for North American use -- will be launching this summer on rural US carriers, even conveniently coming packaged in a crush- and water-resistant box that you'll want to keep for... you know, things you want to keep dry and uncrushed. It likely won't be cheap, but if you're looking for something that meets the mega-rugged IP67 standard -- as opposed to the IP57 seal usually displayed by these kinds of phones -- this is your ticket to ride. No guarantees, but it might be available in an unlocked version, too, so start saving your dirty, wet, partially destroyed dollar bills.
Land Rover S1 -- the phone, not the SUV -- hits the FCC
Sonim promised us Land Rover-branded handsets in 2009, and it looks like they aren't poised to disappoint. The S1 model recently hit the FCC, and to call it "rugged-looking" would be an understatement of epic proportions; we reckon this thing could probably be run over by a whole fleet of Land Rovers, in fact (though we wouldn't recommend trying such a stunt on a piece purchased with your own cash). Considering Sonim's kinda known for the whole rugged thing, that really shouldn't come as any surprise -- what might come as a surprise, though, are the price and launch date since we still don't have those. Stay tuned for that noise, and in the meantime, go hop some rocks in your $80,000 all-wheel drive luxo-yacht, aight?
Land Rover taking on harsh mobile terrain next year
Hummer chose Modeabs to help dilute its brand, but Land Rover's looking to inject a little more street cred into its unnecessary foray into the mobile world by hooking up with Sonim, purveyors of the badass XP series. Hoping to "compliment the lifestyle of the outdoor adventurer," Sonim will offer the Land Rover S1 and S2 G4 models by the middle of 2009, with a third model following on later in the year. All told, the unlikely twosome hope to market the phone to carriers and directly to consumers in some 40 countries around the globe. The models feature Bluetooth, water resistance, and can be dropped from a height of 1.6 meters onto concrete -- which, let's be honest, is more abuse than that $70,000 Range Rover of yours is ever going to see, unless you count potholes in Hamptons tarmac.[Via Phone Scoop]
Sonim's ultra-rugged XP3 headed to US in March, looking for trouble
When you're completely waterproof, able to function in temperatures ranging from -4 to 140°F and withstand body slams from six feet above the concrete, you pretty much roll however you please. Thankfully, Sonim's bringing its latest ultra-rugged handset, the XP3, into the United States in March, meaning that you can finally abuse your handset without feeling all guilty afterwards. Specs wise, the US version of the GSM phone will pack quad-band EDGE support, GPS, Bluetooth, "flashlight mode," a glare-resistant 160 x 128-resolution display, an Opera Mini web browser, 3-megapixel camera and a 3-year no-questions-asked guarantee. Sadly, we've no price to share, but we don't suspect all that rigidity will come cheap.
Sonim LM801 isn't a Sonim at all, XP1 still in the mix
It's still a rugged little bastard -- and yes, it still has a laser pointer -- but there's one thing the LM801 cellphone is not: a Sonim. The CEO of Sonim, maker of the purposefully overbuilt XP1, wrote in on our LM801 piece to let us know that they don't actually have any association with Condurro, the company advertising it. If anything, the LM801 is actually a direct competitor for Sonim's wares -- and at £149.99 (about $270) at retail, it's bringing the heat. Assuming it actually lives up to its tough look, anyway.
Sonim's rugged LM801 phone will probably outlast you
Sonim has chosen IFA this week to show off its latest hardcore G'zOne killer, the in-your-face, take-no-prisoners LM801 candybar. Highlights of the rugged set include an integrated flashlight, laser pointer (for those times when you're stranded in the Rockies and you need to blind you some bears, we figure), magnetic compass, barometer / altimeter, FM radio, and thermometer, all bundled neatly into a yellow shell that repels all the water and dust you can toss at it. Most carriers aren't terribly talented at offering a rugged lineup, so we can think of a few who'd be well-served to investigate adding something like this into the mix -- and seriously, what's with no other phone having a laser pointer?
