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Garmin launches Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t outdoor navigators
Did you seriously shell out to have ARGONAUT plastered on your license plate? Oh, yeah? Listen up. Garmin has just pushed out a new duo of navigators aimed squarely at you, the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t. Both of the touchscreen-based devices boast a 3.2 megapixel camera, a 3-axis compass, waterproof chassis, 850MB of internal storage and USB connectivity. Each unit packs a 3-inch, sunlight-readable display, two precharged AA NiMH batteries, loads of waypoint storage and the ability to route you while on the road, on the trail or in the wild. The standard 550 is set to arrive with a worldwide basemap in shaded relief for $499.99, while the 550t comes with preloaded topography maps for the entire US for $599.99. The full release is after the break.
Proxicast's Cell-PAK: it's a portable 3G / WiFi hotspot, but rugged
If you've been toying with the idea of buying a bulletproof shell for your CradlePoint portable hotspot, we're guessing that Proxicast's Cell-PAK is an entirely better option. Said box, which is described as a rugged, self-powered 3G + WiFi wireless hotspot in a box, was designed to provide "mission-critical wireless communications" in the jungle, on the battlefield or in your backyard. Aside from having its very own battery pack for completely untethered access, the device comes encased in an impact and water-resistant MIL-spec rated chassis, and we're told that it can accept "any 3G modem from any cellular carrier worldwide." We're talking over a dozen hours of wireless access from anywhere that you can retrieve signal, and there's even an external high-gain antenna to help with that. Now, if only that $1,295 price weren't so gigantic...[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
LaCie's Rugged XL: 1TB of ready-for-anything storage
Clearly LaCie's going for that "timeless" look, 'cause the Rugged XL looks precisely like the original Rugged that launched over three years ago. The drive, which was unsurprisingly designed by Neil Poulton, touts a durable aluminum casing with external and internal shock absorbers, USB 2.0 and eSATA connectors along with a software suit to handle your backups. Packed within is a single 1TB drive, and externally, there's a "warm orange LED strip" to either keep you informed of drive status or just look stupendously fashionable, one. It's up for grabs today (or it should be soon, anyway) for $159.99, and no, the orange exterior cannot be swapped for a non-DOT-approved hue.
Camera-packin' Garmin Oregon 500 navigator on sale in UK
Wouldn't you know it? That leaked Garmin Oregon 500 is indeed a real, bona fide product, and it's on sale now for argonauts over in the UK. The outdoorsy navigator officially boasts a rugged 3-inch sunlight-readable touch panel (400 x 240 resolution), a tough, waterproof casing, a built-in electronic compass, barometric altimeter (seriously!), AA battery support, USB connectivity, a microSD card slot and a bundled carabiner clip to really set it apart. Oh, and there's also an integrated camera for automatic picture geotagging, which seems to be a pretty rare commodity in GPS units these days. We're not quite sure it's rare enough to justify the lofty £353.97 ($519) price tag, but thankfully that's not our call to make.[Thanks, Jordan]
Motorola's rugged i580 gets fittingly doused in yellow for Sprint
It's not that we didn't appreciate Motorola's rugged i580, but even for a beater phone, it just struck us as atypically drab. At long last, Sprint is looking to remedy that very complaint by pushing the all-weather clamshell out with a shockingly yellow accent. The "highly visible" new hue can handle even the nastiest of environments without cracking, and the Direct Connect support means that you and your pals can chirp away as much as you like. Other features include GPS (TeleNav), Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera and up to 1GB of optional removable memory. Folks sick and tired of breaking their handset (or huge, huge fans of yellow) can snap one up now for $119.99 on a two-year contract.[Via MobileBurn]
Motion's J3400 rugged tablet PC dissected, loved up on video
Somebody is really geeked about Motion Computing's J3400 Rugged Slate Tablet PC. Not only have we found it dissected over at Gotta Be Mobile, but the InkShow gang have just released the first of two videos where they give the device their "fine toothed comb" treatment. The verdict? "It feels great," the reviewer enthuses. It's easily the lightest rugged slate he's yet experienced, a joy to write on, with buttons "where they should be," and a host of great features: the convertible keyboard is held in place by magnets (which seem to be more than up to the task), the webcam has a flash, and the accelerometer is nice and responsive, switching things up from landscape to portrait and back with real panache. Of course, the best part is when this one guy states that "we are a mobile computing warrior, ready to do anything that we need to do." Video after the break.Read: What Does The Inside of Motion Computing's J3400 Rugged Tablet PC Look Like?Read: GBM InkShow: Motion Computing J3400 Rugged Slate Tablet PC, Part 1
Motion's J3400 rugged tablet PC boasts dual batteries, outdoor display
Need a tablet PC that'll last all day, do ya? Care for one that you can also see whilst outdoors? Look no further than Motion's brand new J3400, a rugged (albeit sleek) new tablet that comes equipped with dual battery compartments and an outdoor-visible LCD. Other specs include an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1.8-inch shock-mounted HDD (a 64GB SSD is a worthwhile option), 2 megapixel camera, GPS, a biometric sensor, multicard reader, Bluetooth 2.1, Qualcomm's dual-mode Gobi WWAN chip, WiFi and a chassis that's IP-52 rated and meets MIL-STD-810F specifications. In other words, a three foot tumble onto plywood won't even faze it. This beauty can be yours to ruin in the field for the low, low starting price of $2,299, and yes, it's ready to ship this very moment. Full release is after the break.
ThinkPads pass the Tough Test, but don't call 'em rugged
We've long since known that the ThinkPad line was one of the most sturdy, solid and well built families in the entire laptop kingdom, but Lenovo's making extra sure you're aware of that fact with a new designation. The ThinkPad X200, X301, X200s, X200 Tablet, T400, T500, R400 and SL300 laptops have all met "a barrage of military specifications tests," which obviously deems them worthy of a "semi-rugged" label. For the record, Lenovo is quite clear that these machines cannot be billed as "ruggedized" at this time, though the bashing that they reportedly took in the testing lab (see above) sort of prove otherwise. In related news, the firm is also adding a new optional 680-nit high brightness panel to the oh-so-popular T400, though there's no indication that said option will ever bleed out to more models. Full release is after the break.
Motorola's i365IS is intrinsically safe, intrinsically ugly
Oh, brother. If you're worried that Motorola's already brawny i365 just isn't robust enough to withstand the pressures of your daily life, there's the newfangled i365IS. If you're curious as to what the "IS" means, here goes: "intrinsically safe." Seriously. The handset, which would obviously play well in a recreated episode of Saved By The Bell, is a GPS-enabled push-to-talk device that is "safe to use in hazardous areas that may contain flammable gasses, vapors or dust." Obviously, the mobile will tap into the Nextel Direct Connect network in order to keep up with comrades, and its rugged chassis is certified for "military specification requirements including humidity, blowing rain, dust, shock and vibration." Further specs include a paltry 130 x 130 resolution display, Bluetooth and a talk time of around 300 minutes. There's no mention of a price or release date, but real men can wait, anyway.[Via Mobiledia]
GETAC's rugged PS535F sacrifices beauty for brawn
Make no mistake -- GETAC's PS535F ain't winning any beauty contests, but it just might survive an unplanned night out in the rain forest. The smartphone, which landed in the FCC late last year, has just popped official on the outfit's website. For reasons unknown, the unit comes bundled with Windows Mobile 5.0, though the shell is compliant with MIL-STD 810F / IP54 standards, which means you can drop, kick and sprinkle it with liquid without worrying over its demise. There's also a 400MHz Samsung CPU, 64MB of SDRAM, 2GB of NAND Flash, a 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi, USB connectivity, an SD card slot and a Li-ion good for eight hours of usage at "room temperature." No telling how costly this pup will be, but those who can't stand forking out cash each month for a new lightweight handset will probably not mind the premium.[Via WMPowerUser]
Motorola's rough and rugged V750 now available on Telus
It won't fill the void left in your heart from not being able to acquire a BlackBerry Storm, but it will withstand the beating you probably feel like dishing out. Motorola's surprisingly stout V750 has made its way across the border and onto Telus Mobility, bringing with it EV-DO Rev. A support, a 2.2-inch 320 x 240 internal display, 3.8-hours of talk time (83-hours in standby) and military-grade resistance to things like drops, water and extreme temperatures. If you're headed up to Yellowknife (or even crazier, Tuktoyaktuk), one of these could certainly come in handy. It's available now for between $199.99 and $399.99 depending on contract length.[Via mobilesyrup]
Olympus Mju Tough cameras are tougher, mjuier
If you need a pocketable digi-cam that works in all the extremes you do -- from the aquatic expanse of water jogging class to the frigid wastelands at the ski lodge's heated terrace -- you traditionally haven't had many choices. Olympus is the biggest player with its SW series of non-flimsy Mju cameras (µ if you dig special chars), and is now extending and re-branding that line to reinforce its durable nature, completely dropping "SW" and instead going for the rather more apt label of "Tough," as in Mju Tough and Stylus Tough (monikers already applied to the lineup elsewhere on this hostile planet). The series will include options at varying levels of durability, with the lightweight ones handling shock and submersion, and the more hardcore models adding the ability to work in freezing temperatures and survive some crushing action. They sound perfect for capturing your next expedition to the park on a cold, rainy day, but sadly there's no mention of improving the one aspect that's been lacking in these cameras: picture quality. We'll see how well they fare in that department when the new models drop in January.[Via PhotographyBLOG]
Golden Shellback weatherproof coating now on sale
We'll be frank -- we had kind of forgotten about the altogether astounding Golden Shellback after seeing it work its magic on video this summer, but now the weatherproof coating is on sale, and it's mighty tempting. For the argonauts out there (or just you clumsy kids) who can't seem to honor the natural separation between gadget and liquid, this coating keeps your precious gizmo safe from the occasional splash of rain, mist, fog, steam or Seltzer water. Granted, such protection won't run you cheap (does it ever?), with a coating for the BlackBerry Pearl running $120, the iPod shuffle $60 and the iPod touch $120. GS will also encase a few other select devices, and honestly, they'll probably wrap up your Palm III if the offer is right.Read - Official websiteRead - Coated iPod shuffle auction
Jeep's rugged RT-300 navigator gets rough review
Hmm, maybe Jeep should stick to scaling mountains and whatnot. To be totally frank, we had all but forgotten that a Jeep-branded navigator was even in the works, let alone closing in on release -- of course, maybe that's because we last heard of this thing in December of 2007. At any rate, the ruggedized RT-300 has finally found its way to the review bench, and unfortunately for those holding out for this critter, it didn't fare too well. At all. For starters, $249.99 is a lot of scratch for a lowly 320 x 240 resolution screen, and the fact that it's not even waterproof didn't help matters either. Worst of all, testers had issues with route calculation (read: its main function), with a certain Cincy-to-Jersey query causing a total freeze three times in a row (and even on a second unit). Bottom line? Steer clear of this one, hard though that may be for the Jeep faithful.
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.
Corsair's new 64GB Flash Voyager USB drive going for $199
Progress is beautiful, is it not? Just shy of two years ago, Corsair blew minds with its ruggedized 16GB Flash Voyager, built to withstand all but the nastiest of drops and hold oodles of quarterly reports for a mere $299. Earlier this year, we saw the capacity double up and the price fall to just $229. Now, the bootable drive has been bloated further with a full 64GB of space, only this one's available right now for just a buck ninety-nine. Dollars to donuts we'll see a 128GB version in under 12 months for around $150, but don't let that sway your purchasing decision or anything.Read - Corsair releaseRead - On sale for $199.99
Dell's Latitude E6400 ATG gets acquired, previewed
Merely weeks after Dell offered its long-awaited Latitude E6400 ATG up for sale, one of said units has been procured, unboxed and briefly tested by the laptop lovers over at NotebookReview. Initial impressions are that it's quite heavy (expected for a tough cookie such as this), built Ford tough and made to be used in broad daylight. The keyboard showed slight flex and a somewhat disheartening layout, though the touchpad was "very smooth" and the buttons had "excellent action." We won't spoil the first batch of benchmark results for you, so you'll have to wander on down to the read link for that and a handful of other pics.
NextComputing adds Blu-ray option to portable workstation line
Just because you need a PC that can withstand an impromptu war doesn't mean that you aren't interested in watching a Blu-ray flick once the fighting has subsided. NextComputing, best known for its, um, uniquely rugged machines, has just announced that a Panasonic recordable Blu-ray drive is now available on its entire line of mobile workstations. Just for clarification, that includes the NextDimension Pro and Pro HD, NextDimension Evo and Evo HD, Vigor Pro SD, and the Vigor Evo HD. Meanwhile, we think Rock is still trying to unload all that excess HD DVD inventory...
Verizon G'zOne Boulder gets torture tested, er, "reviewed"
Casio's G'zOne Boulder doesn't do much, but what it does do, it does anywhere, anytime and under (almost) any circumstances. After launching a few weeks back on Verizon, the ultra-rugged handset has been reviewed over at CNET, and needless to say, it managed to handle a few dips in the pool and a couple close encounters with a wall with nary an issue. Unfortunately, the phone faltered at handling its most important task: making calls. Call quality in San Francisco was said to be "hugely disappointing," with most calls sounding "crackly" with a dash of "static and echo" for good measure. The extra features (camera, multimedia player, V Cast, etc.) were all decent, but nothing truly stood out as phenomenal. Overall, the Boulder is probably only a safe bet if you're dead set on the design and toughness, but even still, we'd try out a few other hardcore handsets before settling on one with lackluster call quality.
Dell's rugged Latitude E6400 ATG laptop now available to order
Though we expected Dell's ruggedized Latitude E6400 ATG to have already launched by now, we suppose late is superior to never. As of this very moment, said laptop is available to order from the outfit's Small & Medium Business division, and the baseline machine comes with a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 CPU, Vista Home Basic, a 3-year warranty, 14.1-inch WXGA LED-backlit (and outdoor viewable, too) display, Intel's GMA 4500MHD graphics, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, an 80GB 5,400RPM hard drive, 802.11b/g and a built-in combo drive. The machine we just described can be ordered up for $2,399, but those with a higher spending limit can opt for integrated WWAN, a 64GB SSD, a respectable amount of memory and a 2.8GHz T9600 processor. Sadly, the estimated ship date is September 29th, but you can feel free to get in line before that figure slips well into Q4.[Thanks, Anthony]
