ipx7
Latest
Kyocera's water-resistant Hydro Edge dives onto Sprint, Boost Mobile this month
An ice bar isn't how we'd choose to showcase a water-resistant smartphone, but that's just what Kyocera did at CTIA this year for the Hydro Edge. At the time, Sprint and Boost Mobile had set a loose summer launch for the modest device and now we have a hard date: July 19th and July 23rd, respectively. The IPX 5/7 certified device can be had on a two-year plan at the Now Network for $20 or for $150 outright at Boost, which gets you a 4-inch WVGA display, dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a 5-megapixel rear shooter. It's not as sleek and stylish as Sony's own hydrophobic smartphone, but if you're on a budget and need to brave the watery element, the Edge'll have to do.
LG invites you to splash around with Optimus GJ, a water-resistant phone for Taiwan
Come next month, NTT DoCoMo users won't be the only ones to benefit from a water-resistant version of the Optimus G. Similar to the L-01E for Japan, LG has introduced the Optimus GJ for Taiwan, which carries IPX7 certification that allows for worry-free immersion in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. The Optimus GJ also carries IPX5 certification for protection against dust particles. Dubbed the E975W, the smartphone is by and large a thicker version of the Optimus G (E975). This means you'll find a 4.7-inch, 1,280 x 720 True HD IPS display, a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, a 13MP primary / 1.3MP front-facing camera setup, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage and Android 4.1.2. Unlike the original Optimus G, the Optimus GJ wields a larger 2,280mAh battery and a red backing, but also lacks NFC functionality. You can expect it to hit the market next month in Taiwan, where it'll sell for NT$17,990 ($600). Hit up the source link to find additional views of the of the Optimus G -- it seems that LG has thrown a bit of a pool party to celebrate its announcement.
ECOXBT waterproof bluetooth speaker keeps the party floating
Waterproof smartphones and cameras are pretty much commonplace these days, but what about accessories to accompany these aquatic electronics? Enter the ECOXBT from ECOXGEAR. Priced at $130 this IPX7 approved, rugged, floating bluetooth speaker box can not only withstand 30 minutes under a meter of water -- it also makes the claim of having 10 hours of battery life. In addition to keeping your favorite playlists dry, the ECOXBT doubles as a speakerphone for those oh so important floating phone calls from the deep end of the pool. So, whether you're on spring break splashing water on a boat or on vacation swimming around a Lonely Island, this water-resistant sound machine ought to go perfect with this thing.
Toshiba's Regza SD-P100WP does TV, DVDs and doesn't mind a bit of water
Other manufacturers may be jumping off DVD bandwagon, but Toshiba's still got some love for the format -- not to mention the waning days of summer. The Regza SD-P100WP is more than just a portable DVD player, of course -- for one thing, the gadget's got a 1024 x 600 display, for watching your stories on the go. There's also a built-in TV tuner and wireless LAN, so you can watch content recorded on network-connected Toshiba TVs and Blu-Ray players. Oh, and then there's the IPX7-level waterproofing, for when you absolutely need to catch up on old seasons of Breaking Bad on the beach. The SD-P100WP has an SD slot for playing music, looking at pictures and the like, and should give you about eight hours of DVD-watching on a charge.
Grace Digital's Eco Terra boombox now available for $149.99, ready to rock the beaches
We're not sure what took Grace Digital this long to release the Eco Terra, but hey, you can now grab one well ahead of the summer season. Priced at $149.99, this IPX7-certified boombox works just fine even when dunked in water -- the two 3-inch speakers will always float upwards to annoy fellow swimmers. There's no iPod dock connector here as the job's done using a 3.5mm jack inside the watertight compartment, but much like many iPhone headsets these days, you can use the buttons at the top to control music playback and volume on supported iPods or iPhones; whereas with other MP3 players you can only change the volume after flipping a switch. Additionally, the Eco Terra comes with an air pressure release valve to allow easy compartment access across different altitudes. We assume this means someone somewhere has a habit of blasting out music while trekking. Of course, you'll need to install four C batteries to get things started, and that'll keep you partying in the wild for around 25 hours -- long enough to play the Baywatch soundtrack CD about 23 times. Hit the source link if you're ready to spend some cash.
NEC's waterproof MEDIAS N-06C to get a sprinkle of Gingerbread and 1GHz power
The MEDIAS N-04C might well be the hotness in the world of super slim phones right now, but if you're looking for something with a little more oomph and protection against water, then NEC's also got you covered. According to a pamphlet obtained by datacider, the MEDIAS family will soon be welcoming a Gingerbread-powered N-06C, which closely resembles the N-04C except for the extra 0.2mm thickness plus 10g weight, as well as touch buttons instead of physical ones. But what we really care about here are the IPX5 and IPX7 waterproof ratings, meaning this 7.9mm-thick Android's been tested against small water jets and one-meter immersion, respectively. On the inside, apart from the faster 1GHz chip and 14Mbps FOMA download speed, the rest are pretty much what we've seen before: 4-inch 480 x 854 LCD, 1GB ROM, 512MB RAM, 802.11n WiFi, and 5 megapixel camera with 720p video. There's no clear indication on a release date, but you're welcome to kill some time by checking out the full spec sheet after the break. [Thanks, Pavlo L.]
Twinbird's SD ZABADY DAP sheds water
Twinbird's no stranger to the land of waterproof gizmos, and the company's latest device to shed water with grace is the SD ZABADY. This digital audio player comes in black or silver color schemes, houses 128MB of internal storage capacity, handles SD cards up to 2GB in size, and plays nice with both MP3 and WMA formats. Additionally, it sports an external LCD, built-in speakers, USB 2.0 connectivity, and a reported playback time of around 18-hours. The best part, however, is its ability to hold out water from seeping in whilst submerged in up to one meter of liquid for a half hour, meaning that it's the perfect shower singing companion if you're not up to purchasing in-tub speakers for your bathroom. Look for the SD ZABADY to hit Japanese streets later this week for ¥15,000 ($123), and click on through for a few more snaps.[Via AkihabaraNews]
