As the description of the phone would suggest, the Blackcomb is meant for outdoorsmen and adventurers, including those that enjoy sailing, climbing, skiing, biking, snowboarding, kayaking, etc. And since most of these activities occur out in the middle of nowhere, where a cellular signal is usually never to be had, the Blackcomb will come with satellite connectivity for making phone calls and checking email, as well as calling for help in the instance of an emergency.

According to AllThingsD, Adaia consists of 16 employees, where around half of them are from Nokia. It’s taken two years to make the prototype of the Blackcomb, and the company expects to begin testing out the device later this summer. Interestingly enough, the design of the phone was inspired by topographical maps, and the unique rigid design allows for a firm grip on the device, according to the company. However, they’re not letting go of the look of the phone just yet — the teaser image above is all we get.

As for price, the Blackcomb won’t be cheap. It’ll be more expensive than a typical top-tier smartphone, but the company says that it will cost less than all the phones you’ve had to buy as replacements for broken ones. They certainly do make a valid case, and the company is marketing this new phone as the solution to rugged devices.

The Blackcomb is planned to be released at some point later next year, and specific details about the phone aren’t yet known, including the screen size, and the hardware on the inside. However, if the phone isn’t releasing until next year, the hardware that’s running the phone now will certainly be obsolete by the time 2014 rolls around. Then again, rugged smartphones usually don’t come with the latest and greatest hardware in the first place, but if we really wanted a rugged device, we’d rather get an iPhone 5 or an HTC One with an OtterBox case and call it a day.

During Google’s earnings call yesterday, Page discussed Motorola and mentioned that he has seen some of the company’s upcoming products, saying that he’s “really excited to see the potential there.” He discussed the problems with current hardware, such as short battery life, shattered screens, and phones breaking when users accidentally drop them.

Page notes that these things simply just shouldn’t happen, which means that Motorola’s upcoming devices could come with improvements to these three categories. We’ve heard a lot of rumors about a possible “X Phone,” which is said to currently be in the works over at Motorola, and it’s possible that the phone will come with a type of ruggedness unlike what we’ve seen before.

This means that the X Phone could be classified as a rugged smartphone, but it won’t be bulky and thick like most rugged phones are. Instead, it could come with a toughened exterior along with an unbreakable type of glass for the display, as well as large battery similar to what’s in the DROID RAZR MAXX HD. As far as when we might see a phone like this come to the public, it could be later this year in time for the holiday season, but we’re not counting on that 100% just yet.

Formally called the Casio G’z0ne Commando 811, the new handset comes with an all-new look on top of the brand new LTE chip. Of course, it’s not the most beautiful phone to look at, but if it’s protection from rain, dust, drops, etc. that you’re looking for. the Commando 811 may be the phone for you.

It’s very similar to our recently-reviewed Kyocera Torque, only this newer version is getting a bigger screen, a front-facing camera, and possibly an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean based on the new navigation-key arrangement at the bottom of the device. And of course, it’s got the black and red color scheme that Verizon is notorious for on its Android handsets.

Nothing is official yet, but we should be hearing from Verizon and Casio with an official announcement sometime soon. It just cleared from the FCC, so it should only be a matter of time before those that need a viable option for a rugged smartphone equipped with LTE will be able to grab the Commando 811 from Big Red.

[via Android Community]

With the Pelican ProGear Protector you’ll be working with a shock-deflecting outer shell packed with an elastomeric interior lining. You’ll be protected from scratches as well as basic impact, and you’ll be seeing this device in several color combinations, too! This little monster is available right this minute for MSRP $79.95 from a sweet Pelican retailer near you.

Then we’ve got the boss. Pictured above and below, the Pelican ProGear Vault will protect your iPhone 5 from a drop of 72 inches above the ground. You’ve got both insulating elastomeric shock and impact protection inside, a durable screen cover you can touch through but also offers high-grade anti-scratch technology, and some sweet flush-fitting stainless steel hex-head machine screws to hold it all together. With hex-head screws, you’ll never get in again (without a hex-head screwdriver, included in the package, of course), and you’ll be fashionably fit, too!

The Pelican ProGear Vault is one we’ve seen before – it’s been coming out since CES 2013 and is just now ready for full action! You’ll be able to pick one up now for a cool $79.95 MSRP this week – and make sure you know what you’re getting into – your kids will want to start tossing your phone more than ever! Have a peek at our Pelican ProGear Vault hands-on and hit up the timeline of Pelican products below as well – stay rugged!

The XP200 has waterproofing down to 15 meters below the surface of the sea, is resistant to cold temperatures – down to negative 10 degrees celsius, and will take on drops of up to 2 meters if you like. This beast is shockproof, dustproof, and is ready to roll out with the rest of your beastly rugged gadgets with the newest in fashionable beast-mode aesthetics. That means it looks nice, too.

The lens is one you’ll also find to work with 5x zoom, that is 28-140mm range, and there’s a lovely dedicated Burst Mode ready for your snappage as well. The back of this device also contains a 3-inch LCD display on the back so you’ll be able to see what you’re doing, and you’ll be able to take some slo-mo video as well. Video can be captured with this camera at Full HD 1080p at 60fps – and you can capture at 360fps as well if you want to go… so… super… slow.

This fabulous little monster will be available for 229 pounds in England starting at the end of April, and we’ll likely see it in the USA as well – soon and very soon! Have a peek at the timeline below of Fujifilm bits and pieces to put the whole puzzle together. And start shooting now!

[via T3]

Hardware & Design

The first thing you’ll notice with the Torque is its rugged look. It has a textured hard plastic Dura-Grip casing that protects it from drops, and every port is covered with a flap to keep water and dust out. The battery cover can come off, however, and it’s held on with a rather large screw that only requires a quarter turn to “unlock” it, so to speak. The cover is made out of a slightly-flexible rubber material to make it easy to pop off. Underneath the rear plate is a 2500mAh battery that powers the show, and it’s a slightly larger battery than we initially expected, but seeing how the Torque is meant for the adventurer, it’s critical to have a phone that can last all day.

The Torque comes with a 4-inch IPS display with a 800×480 resolution. Of course, that’s not really all that impressive, and those looking primarily for a top-quality display will want to look elsewhere, but otherwise it gets the job done, and most people who would need a rugged phone most likely won’t even care about the display’s quality in the first place. The screen is covered with a pre-installed screen protector as well, but it makes the screen look slightly blurry. We’re not sure what kind of screen protector is on the phone, but we could definitely tell that it made text and small icons a little blotchy.

As for the internals, the Torque comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz accompanied with 1GB of RAM. Sadly, it only has a measly 1GB of storage, but the phone has a microSD card slot that accepts up to 32GB of additional storage. The Torque sports a 5MP camera on the back, with a 1.3MP front-facing camera — more about that later.

As for ports and buttons, the Torque doesn’t rely on touch-based soft buttons. The phone consists of all physical buttons, including the three navigation buttons on the front. On the right side, there’s a dedicated camera button that acts as a shutter button, but it won’t open up the camera app itself. On the right side, there’s a volume rocker and a big yellow button for push-to-talk communication. On the top is the power button and a toggle button for turning the push-to-talk speaker on and off. Also on the top is the headphone jack in the middle. Then, on the bottom you have the microUSB port and the microphone.

The Torque also sports front-facing speakers, which is quite a rarity nowadays, and we were surprised to see that on a phone like this. The device houses the speakers at the bottom right below the navigation buttons, and I found it to be quite nice not having to cup my hand from the rear in order to get the sound to direct to the front, so having front-facing speakers is a small, but huge feature on this phone. As for the earpiece, it’s actually built into the glass display, and it relies on vibrations to deliver sound to your ear. It’s a weird concept, but Kyocera claims it makes voice calling quality better, especially in loud environments, like at a concert.

As for how rugged the Torque is, Kyocera claims it to be a pretty robust beast. The device meets Military Standard 810G, which applies to protection from dust, shock, vibration, temperature, rain, low pressure, solar radiation, and immersion in water for up to 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water. I ended up dropping it a couple of times on my kitchen’s tile floor at different angles and it didn’t scratch it one bit, and it made more of a “thud” sound rather than a high-pitched cracking noise that you would get with most other smartphones. I even brought it in the shower with me and it was fine the whole time. However, Kyocera notes that the phone is inoperable while the screen is wet. We’re not sure if the phone disables itself somehow to avoid damage, but the phone stays on — you just can’t use it. In the end, you probably don’t need to worry too much about damaging the phone, which is something that most other smartphone owners can’t say about their precious toys.

Software

The Torque runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and the interface looks to be mostly stock, although there are a few pre-installed apps that may get in your way. Other than that, though, it looks like Kyocera mostly left the user interface alone, which is a huge plus for those wanting a true Android experience. However, those wanting the latest operating system will be disappointed for now, but Kyocera plans to upgrade the device to Jelly Bean within the next few months.

However, there are still a couple of Kyocera-exclusive features within the software, including a modified lock screen, that allows you to swipe the unlock circle in any direction to unlock the phone, and there’s also a camera icon that does the same thing. The icons at the bottom of the home screen are also just slightly changed up, with an ID app to the far right that allows you change the theme of the user interface.

Camera

The camera on the Torque isn’t the best, to put it simply. Even with adequate lighting, photos turned out to be really noisy, and white balance wasn’t working too well in most situations. Low-light capabilities weren’t too bad, though, but there was still a lot of noise in the photos, of course. I noticed that the camera would only focus the frame after I pressed the shutter button, meaning that as I was lining up my shot, the frame would remain blurry until I took the picture. At that point, the camera would quickly focus the frame and snap the photo. It only appeared to be doing that specifically with macro and other close-up shots, though.

Video quality was subpar as well. Automatic exposure and white balancing were average, but it would take a few seconds to refocus if I moved the camera around. As with the photos, ISO and noise were apparent, and while the camera is capable of shooting in HD, the quality isn’t too great, and it mostly looks like a standard-definition video that was blown up to HD standards, which as you know, doesn’t have good results. Overall, if you’re going hiking and are planning to do some sightseeing, you may want to bring a dedicated camera to take photos of that beautiful sunset over the canyon.

Performance & Battery Life

We ran the Torque through our go-to benchmarking apps, Quadrant and AnTuTu, and the results were a bit better than we expected. In AnTuTu, the Torque scored a 10,500, which is right on par with the Samsung Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S II, while just lagging behind a bit from the ASUS Transformer Prime. In Quadrant, the Torque scored just under a 4,200, which puts it on par with the Transformer Prime and almost up to snuff with the HTC One X, which is quite impressive.

As for battery life, knowing that the Torque had a 2500mAh battery, I was expecting to go longer than usual with this phone, and that’s exactly what happened. Streaming Netflix TV shows and movies non-stop on the Torque ended up lasting eight hours before the battery even reached 25%, and with normal use, it was easily lasting a couple of days without a problem. Of course, the large battery mixed with the low power requirements of the internal components makes the Torque one of the few smartphones on the market that can last a long time on a single charge.

Wrap-Up

In the end, while the Torque probably won’t win any awards in the looks department, it certainly gets props for being an extremely rugged smartphone. There’s definitely some things that could be better if it wants to compete with the flagship devices currently on the market, so you’ll definitely have to make some sacrifices in the performance department if you’re wanting something rugged. Although, we’d almost just rather get a better phone, slap on an OtterBox case, and call it a day.

WIth the B15 you’re getting a dual-core 1Ghz Cortex A9 processor powering a 4-inch 800 x 480 pixel resolution display along with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. There’s a microSD card slot inside able to take on 32GB of additional storage, and the whole phone is ready to fit in the palm of your hand easily – especially if you’re a construction worker or massive person of sorts, generally the type to get into situations where such damage-resistant features as this one has will come in handy. But the audience this device has is not limited to those that pick up and smash down large rocks!

You’ll be working with aluminum (or aluminium, depending on how British you are), and shock-absorbing rubber on the outside. This is a device that will not – ever – need a case to protect it. The display up front is covered by Gorilla Glass (though we’re not sure at the moment if it’s Gorilla Glass or Gorilla Glass 2), and the aluminum and rubber frame comes up ever-so-slightly around the edges so if your device falls to a flat surface, the display will be further protected. You’ll see a couple of DEATH-DEFYING DROPS in the hands-on video above.

The CAT B15 is able to drop from a height of 6 feet, fall onto concrete, and survive to tell the tale. You’ll also be working with 3 feet of water protection as the whole of the device is sealed with more shock-absorbing rubber for the safety of its innards. Heat is also protected against up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit as well as cold, down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

You’ll be picking this device up in March if you live in one of the 50 countries the device is launched in across the world at first for right around 299 Euro. At the moment though we’ve heard from CAT that the device is planned for USA release in April, pricing has not been decided as deals with carriers have not been finalized. We shall see soon enough!

Be sure to have a peek at the rest of our up to the minute news blast and hands-on collection in the Mobile World Congress 2013 tag portal here on SlashGear. We’ll be here all week, and we’ve already seen quite a bit of excellent bits and pieces from manufacturers and developers of mobile greatness alike!

Samsung says the new device is dust and sand proof, and you can even dunk it in water for up to thirty minutes, thanks to its IP67 certification. There’s even a dedicated camera button and a wrist strap so that you can take photos underwater. The phone has a tight seal all around, including a battery cover lock to give the device add protection.

The Xcover 2 has a 4-inch WVGA 800×480 display, which may not seem like a fantastic option, but we’re guessing that those who pick up this phone for their hiking trips may not care too much about the quality of the display. Speaking of hiking, the new device has enhanced GPS ＋ GLONASS capability that enhances satellite detection by up to 20% to make sure you never get lost in the middle of nowhere.

The phone has a 5MP rear camera and VGA-quality front-facing camera. Of course, if you’re out hiking and want to capture some beautiful shots of the scenery, you may be better off with a dedicated shooter, but the Xcover 2 will certainly work in a pinch. Other than that, the phone has a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage (with microSD slot), Bluetooth 4.0, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean running the show. No word on pricing or availability just yet

[via Android Community]

The notebook has a full-size keyboard and 10.1-inch touchscreen that uses MaxView technology. Screen resolution for the machine is 1366 x 768. The processor is 1.6 GHz dual core Intel Atom in the machine has a 128 GB SSD. The computer also uses 4 GB of RAM and runs Windows 7 Ultimate. Other features of the computer include integrated GPS, Bluetooth, integrated Wi-Fi, and an optional 3G modem.

The rugged notebook uses optional Gobi 3000 technology allowing users to access 3G networks anywhere in the world. The computer uses a 57.72 Wh battery promising eight hours of use per charge. The machine has an integrated two-megapixel autofocus camera.

Connectivity options include an SD card slot, two USB ports, and one RS232 port. The machine also has a Kensington lock as an option for security in the field. The machine measures 260 mm, 178 mm x 40 mm and weighs 3.3 pounds. It meets military standards for drops, vibration, sand and dust resistant, water resistance, humidity, and altitude. The manufacturer claims the machine can survive drops from 4 feet.

[via HandheldEurope]

We discovered Samsung’s original Xcover device back in 2011, and while it never really gained any major popular, it proved as a solid option for those wanting a tough and rugged handset. Now, SamMobile has some details on the Xcover 2, which comes with faster internals and some better specifications all around.

The Xcover 2 has a 4-inch TFT display with a WVGA resolution of 800×480, which certainly isn’t anything to write home about, but we don’t expect owners to be too concerned with specs anyway. On the back, there’s a 5MP camera with a 0.3MP front-facing camera. There’s also 4GB of internal storage with microSD compatibility for up to 32GB.

Of course, the image is a little blurry, so we can’t make out the finer details, but it looks like the device will come with three physical soft keys at the bottom. Other than that, the device will run Jelly Bean, and will come with a surprisingly low 1,700mAh battery. Samsung plans to officially unveil the device at Mobile World Congress next month.

[via SamMobile]

The new camera is also waterproof, to a depth of nine feet, with an optional diving case extending that to up to 180 feet down. There’s a useful two-way remote, which can be used to start and end recording, and which also has indicator LEDs to show when the camera is active and in what mode; particularly handy if it’s strapped to your helmet or the top of your car. The remote has a 30 feet range.

Drift has addressed the serious stuff, too, with a new seven-element lens and 1080p video paired with simultaneous still photography. There’s a 1,700 mAh rechargeable li-ion battery good for up to 3hrs of recording per charge, and digital noise reduction for the integrated microphone. A 3.5mm jack supports external mics.

On the side, there’s a 2-inch camera with a Gorilla Glass cover, for instant review of footage and photos you’ve shot. The Drift HD Ghost will begin shipping from November 19, with pre-orders being taken from today at $399.

The ContourROAM2 costs only $199 and can shoot full 1080p HD video at 30fps, and 720p HD video at 60fps. It also comes with a 4GB microSD card, but we’re guessing you’ll want something a bit more substantial if you’re really wanting to take advantage of the camera while you’re blazing the trails all day.

The ContourROAM2 can also capture videos up to one meter underwater without any kind of waterproof case (since the camera itself is waterproof), and the camera has a 270-degree rotating lens topped off with a laser level to precisely line up your shots.

The new camera also has improved image quality (expected) and an aluminum shell that comes in four different colors: black, red, and blue, with green being an Amazon exclusive up until the end of the year when it will be widely available. The camera will be available starting October 21 Best Buy, Amazon, and other retailers.

[via Engadget]

Normally, triggering recording on the Contour+2 is a simple matter of pulling back the large switch on the top of the barrel. However, if you want finer control, including the ability to adjust HD video resolution, lighting, and audio sensitivity, in addition to stopping and starting recording, the app makes all that easy.

The eventual footage can be recorded at up to 120fps, although you only get those framerates in 480p mode. There’s an external microphone input, and everything is recorded to a bundled 4GB microSD card (which you can optionally swap out for something larger) with playback via mini-HDMI connection.

Contour has also boosted its Contour Storyteller app, for when you’ve offloaded your videos. They can now show improved GPS data, including speed, elevation, and distance travelled during video playback.

The Contour+2 is available now, including from Apple stores in the US. You can download the free Contour Connect app from the App Store [iTunes link]. At present, the Android version of the app doesn’t support the Contour+2.

The familiar barrel shape is still present, toughened to make sure dust, bumps or drops aren’t an issue, while physical controls remain straightforward. There’s no power button, just an “Instant On-Record” switch on top – slide that over, and recording begins.

Up to 120fps footage is possible, albeit only in 480p mode, or you can opt for higher resolution with 1080p support. The lens rotates 270-degrees for easier mounting, and there’s an external microphone input. Settings include white balance, contrast, sharpness, exposure, and metering.

In the box there’s a 4GB microSD card, though you can obviously slot in a larger one for more recording time; alternatively, the camera will squirt out HD video via its mini-HDMI port. Pricing is $399.99.

There’s also data security in electronic form rather than just hardware, with 256-bit AES encryption to stop access to anybody bar those who have the right password. It’s also paired with Wuala Secure Cloud Storage, which automatically mirrors a locked-down copy of any data added to the RuggedKey in a cloud drive accessible from your browser.

LaCie claims the RuggedKey’s USB 3.0 connection is capable of transferring a 5GB file (or an HD movie, or 3,000 photos) in under a minute, with peak speeds of up to 150MB/s. That will obviously depend on your computer, of course.

The LaCie RuggedKey is priced from £34.95 ($54) and will be available in 16GB and 32GB capacities. The drive has just dropped onto the SlashGear test bench, and so we’ll have a review for you very soon.

Storage is either HDD (up to 500GB) or SSD (up to 256GB), paired with low-voltage RAM. As for the display, that can be outfitted wiht either a resistive touchscreen layer of a combo resistive/active digitizer panel. It has a transflective LCD for outdoor use without active backlighting, which Panasonic says is the equivalent of a 6,500 nit backlight without actually using any power.

Connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, and an optional HSPA+ modem. Those playing it old-school with their hook-ups will be pleased to know that there’s a serial port and a PC Card slot.

Ruggedization meets MIL-STD 810G for drops, and IP65, MIL STD 810G for water, dust, vibration and temperature protection, thanks to a magnesium alloy casing, HDD damping and heating, and foam packing for flexible seals. If your idea of dangerous use involves lurking unseen in the shrubbery, there’s a “Concealed Mode” that shuts off the backlight, any status LEDs, the speakers and the wireless options.

All this doesn’t come cheap, mind. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 goes on sale in July, priced from €2,950 ($3,709).

The Xperia go can be used even if your fingers are wet – something most capacitive touchscreens aren’t happy with – and meets the IP67 dust and water resistance standard, higher than most ruggedized phones. Unfortunately it also runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box, though Sony says there’s an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade in the pipeline.

It has 8GB of internal storage, USB Host support, a 1265mAh built-in battery and a microSD card slot, along with 512MB of RAM and either triband or dualband UMTS/HSPA depending on country of release. Sony will also throw in 50GB of Box cloud storage for those who buy before the end of the year; the Xperia go will hit shelves in black, white and yellow in Q3 2012.

Xperia go:

As for the Xperia acro S, that’s PlayStation Certified and has 1080p HD video recording (720p from the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera) and runs Ice Cream Sandwich from the get-go. Sony’s Exmor R camera tech is onboard, plus HDMI, GPS, GLONASS, NFC and USB.

Xperia acro S:

Its battery is a non-accessible 1910mAh pack, and it has quadband HSPA+ connectivity.  It will be available in black, white and pink, also from Q3 2012.

Hardware

The Toughphone is relatively cheap for an Android smartphone, and with a chunk of the budget going on ruggedization, it comes as little surprise that the core specifications are humble. An 800MHz, single-core processor, 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen and mere 256MB of ROM make for a distinctly sub-average device. Outdoors, the display is reasonably clear though you need to shade it with a hand in direct sunlight.

Still, the basics are onboard. There’s triband 3G/HSDPA and quadband GSM/EDGE, together with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and WiFi b/g. A 5-megapixel camera with LED flash on the back is joined by a front-facing VGA camera for video calls – ideal for showing your Skype friends how great you look in your protective headgear – and there’s GPS too.

Design

Distinctive is probably the most generous way of describing the Toughphone’s appearance, JCB variously channelling protective clothing, oversized footwear and a waspish color scheme to come up with the chunky handset. Despite the compact 3.2-inch screen, it’s hardly a small phone at 125 x 62.2 x 20.5 mm, the thickness being a particular shock given the industry trend for slimmer and slimmer devices.

A mixture of black and yellow rubber sticks to JCB’s earth-mover traditions, and it’s certainly difficult to lose the Toughphone on a desk. Unfortunately the front panel button arrangement is a mixed bag: the call, home and call-end buttons are all nicely sized for use even when wearing gloves, but the touch-sensitive menu, search and back controls sandwiched in-between them and the display proved less responsive.

On the left edge there’s a covered microUSB port and a button that lights up the LED flash on the back of the handset for use as a torch. The power button and a covered 3.5mm headphone socket are on the top edge, and volume buttons and a camera shortcut are on the right side. All of the edge keys are somewhat stiff to press, by virtue of their rubbery protection, but they’re still large enough to hit if you’re not bare-handed.

A lanyard loop is on the top back edge, with the battery door cover underneath secured by two screws. JCB includes a small, fiddly screwdriver attached to a bundled lanyard with a carabiner and a compass, but it’s the sort of thing you only really want to have to open up and close once, really. The SIM, microSD card and 2,000 mAh battery are sealed in place by a rubber gasket around the battery door, helping to keep them safe from dust and water.

JCB quotes IP67 certification for water and dust resistance, and though the Toughphone isn’t invulnerable, it’s still far more resilient than your average handset. We were able to dunk it underwater and then shake it dry with no ill effects – JCB warns that “water resistance” isn’t the same as “waterproof” and so you can’t take the Toughphone swimming underwater – and a few careless drops left not even a scuff on the casing.

The weak spot is likely to be the display, a compromise between creating a rugged device and one which offers smartphone functionality. The raised bezel should do a decent job of protecting it, mind, and even after a trip in a pocket with some keys we noticed no scratches or marks.

Our one main complaint is the microUSB port. JCB’s charge/sync connection is standard USB, but the port itself is recessed – to accommodate the chunky body – and so requires a specially tapered plug in order to fit. That’s included in the box, obviously, but it does mean that your standard USB chargers won’t work.

Software and Performance

JCB has opted for Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread rather than 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Toughphone, earning our ire out of the box. However, the company has also generally left the OS alone, its modifications amounting to little more than a custom splashscreen, JCB-themed wallpaper and a special JCB Toolbox app.

In that toolbox are six different mini-apps of varying usefulness. There’s a spirit level, which uses the JCB’s sensors to track how level a surface is (and can be set to a certain preferred degree, if you have a particular angle in mind), and a digital theodolite, as well as a sound meter for measuring ambient noise.

A calculator duplicates Android’s own app, but there’s a handy converter app that can juggle measurements or other sums such as telling you how many days there are in a certain month, complete with voice-to-text input. Least useful is the torch, which basically turns the display into a full-brightness white panel, but is less powerful than the LED flashlight on the back of the phone.

Finally, for those needing building supplies, there’s a DIY store locator which shows nearby retailers on a map. With our UK unit, that seemed limited to the B&Q chain.

Given ruggedness is the primary purpose of the Toughphone, performance is unsurprisingly mediocre. In a world where dual-core phones are common, the JCB’s 800MHz single-core stumbles on with noticeable lag when dealing with heavier apps. We also experienced some issues with missed screen taps which, when mixed in with the tardy processor, left us occasionally confused as to whether our press had been registered or if the phone was just still crunching away.

Camera

Don’t expect much from the JCB’s 5-megapixels. Image quality proved distinctly disappointing, with bland colors and murky contrast. More worryingly, some of our test images showed marked aberrations in the frame, with wobbly lines and distortions.

It’s possible that’s down to the extra lens protection slapped on top of the sensor, or could be a software glitch in our review device; still, the phone was running the latest build available, according to the Android update tool. The takeaway was that the JCB is fine for a quick snapshot to aid the memory, but nowhere near something you’d replace even a different camera-phone with, never mind a dedicated point-and-shoot.

Phone and Battery

JCB has blessed the Toughphone with a throaty earpiece, and even we crept up near to a worksite to see if the smartphone could compete with the average rumble of heavy machinery, we were able to hear our caller. With no active noise cancellation, however, it proved a little more difficult for them to hear us.

Up to 550 minutes of GSM talktime or up to 360 minutes of standby are quoted from the 2,000 mAh battery. It’s a large pack given the size of the screen, and as a result the Toughphone can hold out longer than the typical smartphone. We managed a couple of days use – with push Gmail turned on – before needing to recharge.

Wrap-Up

Rugged devices have a tough time. Their audience is inevitably limited, and the balance of specifications, price and physical sturdiness is always weighted toward the latter. In the JCB’s case, the camera seems to have been the primary victim of those priorities.

Nonetheless, while the audience may be limited, so is the number of rivals. Motorola’s DEFY+ is the most likely alternative, offering a bigger screen, slightly faster processor and the same IP67 certification, albeit with less sturdy protective cladding. Ironically the DEFY+ is available in a special JCB edition, priced at £169 ($268) pre-tax, undercutting the Toughphone’s £259 ($410) pre-tax tag.

For most, the Motorola will be a sufficient compromise between performance and resilience. If you’re generally found on a construction site, however (or are clumsy beyond belief) and can accept the compromises, the JCB Toughphone should hold up to more than the average degree of mistreatment.

Thanks to Clove for the loan of the JCB Toughphone.

There’s also a new Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode, allowing you to create large photos by holding down the button and panning the Handycam around. Sony uses face and motion detection to avoid moving people and objects from showing up blurred or doubled in the final frame. The same face detection is used for self-portraits.

There are a frankly ridiculous 99 scene presets, happily selected between via an intelligent auto mode, and an Underwater mode for more natural colors when you’re splashing around. Storage is courtesy of either Memory Stick Micro or, happily, MicroSD/SDHC card.

Meanwhile, you can drop the camcorder from up to 1.5m and it’s resilient against dust, too. Sony says the Handycam HDR-GW55VE will go on sale in Europe come April, pricing tbc.

It’s a UMTS/HSPA+ handset, rather than LTE, and you get Android 2.3 Gingerbread rather than Ice Cream Sandwich. Internal storage is 4GB, with a microSD card slot to add to that, and the 5-megapixel camera can shoot 720p HD not 1080p Full HD video. You do at least get a 1.3-megapixel front camera so that you can video call people while paddling in the ocean.

Samsung reckons you’ll see up to 8hrs talktime from the 1,650 mAh battery, or up to 16 days standby, and the whole device is a sturdy 122.4 x 65.9 x 12.19 mm, 4.2 oz package. AT&T is unsurprisingly targeting those on building sites or the like, though if you’re an extreme sports fan you might want a phone that can stand a few knocks too.

The AT&T Samsung Rugby Smart will go on sale March 4, priced at $99.99 with a new, two-year agreement.

The unnamed Fujitsu flagship will also have biometric security, with a fingerprint scanner to prevent unofficial access to the handset. That’s something we’ve seen before, on Motorola’s ATRIX 4G, and it’s a welcome addition even with things like Android 4.0′s Face Unlock system around.

Finally, it’s said to be waterproof and dust-resistant, following the example of many Japanese handsets by offering a greater degree of ruggedness than most smartphones deliver.

Talk of the new Fujitsu range earlier in the week also suggested NFC would be onboard, used for wireless payments, along with LTE connectivity. The company also told European Communications that the smartphones would have strong social networking integration as well as “an SLR camera experience.”

Despite all those high-tech features, Fujitsu is apparently also confident its phones will deliver solid battery life. We’ll know more at MWC 2012 next week.

[via Android Community]

Five High Speed options are available, in both SD and microSD sizes, with up to 13MB/sec write rates depending on model. They’re priced from $9.99 to $99.99.

Meanwhile, two Plus Extreme Speed Series options accompany them, with 8GB and 16GB SD or microSD options, priced at $29.99 and $54.99 respectively. They support up to 21MB/sec write and 24MB/sec read.

All of the cards are ruggedized, capable of withstanding shocks, water and magnets. They’ll still work after up to 24hrs submerged in water, a 1.6 ton weight being placed upon them, and 10,000 gaus magnetic fields: basically, you’re safe as long as you don’t put them through an MRI scanner. All of the cards are shipping from today.

The Pentax Optio WG-2 camera is waterproof up to 12 meters or about 30 feet, dustproof, crush-proof, and hardy in cold weather down to -10C. Inside it packs a 16-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, with ISO up to 6400, and a 28mm-140mm lens with 5X zoom.

The Optio WG-2 can capture Full HD video and offers a slow motion option. It also features a 3-inch 16:9 display with 460k resolution and anti-glare coating. The camera will be available sometime in March, priced at $350. For an extra $50 you can opt for the GPS-enabled version.

[via Engadget]

PowerShot SX260 HS – 12.1-megapixel CMOS and 20x optical zoom with optical image stabilization. 1.29-inches thick. Supports 1080p Full HD video recording and GPS phototagging. 10.3fps burst mode. Ships March 2012 for $349.99.

PowerShot D20 – 12.1-megapixel CMOS and 5x optical zoom in waterproof, shock-proof and freeze-proof body. Full HD video recording and GPS integration for location tagging. 3-inch preview display. Ships May 2012 for $349.99.

PowerShot A4000 IS – 16-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization and 8x optical zoom. 3-inch preview display. Ships February for $199.99.

PowerShot A3400 IS – 16-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization and 5x optical zoom. 3-inch touchscreen with touch-focus and touch-shutter. Ships March for $179.99.

PowerShot A2400 IS / A2300 – 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch display. A2400 IS adds optical image stabilization. A2400 IS due March for $159.99; A2300 due March for $149.99.

PowerShot A1300 – Optical viewfinder along with 2.7-inch LCD. 5x optical zoom and uses AA batteries. Due April for $199.99.

PowerShot A810 – 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD. Uses AA batteries. Due April for $109.99.

The COOLPIX L810 offers a 26x optical zoom with VR image stabilization and a 22.5mm wide angle, along with a fast frame Sports Shooting mode and 720p HD video recording. There’s a 3-inch 921k dot LCD display on the back.

The COOLPIX L26 is the “standard” model in Nikon’s Spring 2012 line-up, with a 5x optical zoom and 720p HD video recording. It has a 3-inch display and automatic Scene Modes that Nikon reckons makes it the perfect point-and-shoot.

As for the Nikon COOLPIX S30, that’s shockproof for up to 2.6 feet drops and waterproof for up to 9.8 feet submersion, and pairs a 3x optical zoom with a 10.1-megapixel sensor. It can record 720p HD video too.

The COOLPIX L810 will be $279.95 with a choice of colors including black, red and blue, while the COOLPIX S30 will be $119.95 in white, blue or pink. Finally, the Nikon COOLPIX L26 will be $119.95 in red, black or silver. All three will drop in February 2012.

There’s also support for 1080/60p video recording, and up to 10fps full-resolution continuous shooting of stills. A speedy BIONZ processor is good for super-fast focussing, Sony reckons, as well as handling intelligent selection of which of the 36 difference scene modes is most suitable. That happens in just 1/30th of a second, Sony claims, with the TX200V automatically shooting two frames back-to-back in low-light or otherwise troublesome conditions, using difference settings for each, so that you can pick your favorite later.

Automatic background defocus, optical image stabilization and face detection, as well as a flash-pairing mode which uses two shots taken in rapid succession – one with flash, one without – to create a single frame that has the benefits of both, round out the key specs. Sony has also made the TX200V dustproof and waterproof to 16 feet.

As for the Cyber-shot DSC-WX70 and WX50, they each have a 16.2-megapixel sensor, 25mm 5x optical zoom and full HD video recording. They can also capture 12-megapixel frames while simultaneously recording video. Both have an XtraFine LCD touchscreen – 3-inches on the WX70 and 2.7-inches on the WX50 – and optical image stabilization.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V is up for pre-order now, priced at $499.99, and available in silver, violet or red from March 23. The Cyber-shot DSC-WX70 and WX50 are priced at $229.99 and $199.99 respectively.

As for the Olympus VR-340, that has a 16-megapixel sensor and a 10x super wide optical zoom lens, nine Magic Art Filters, and one-touch 720p HD video recording. There’s also a 3-inch LCD preview display on the back.

Finally, the Olympus VG-160 pairs a 5x optical zoom and a wide-angle lens with a 14-megapixel sensor, along with Magic Art Filters, HD Video and an intelligent iAuto mode for beginners and the lazy. It too has a 3-inch LCD, along with AF Tracking, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Face Detection.

The Olympus VG-160 will go on sale in February, priced at $99.99, alongside the Tough TG-320 at $179.99. The VR-340 follows on in March, priced at $149.99.

The EGO comes with a tripod mount and a multipurpose mount, and will have a range of suction-cups, surfboard and handlebar mounts, and other options available separately. It has a 136-degree wide-angle lens and measures 1.6 x 1.2 x 2.5 inches, controls boiled down to two buttons, and an LCD preview screen. Alternatively, full control is courtesy of a wirelessly-connected smartphone app. Storage is via a microSDHC card (up to 32GB).

As for the TORQUE HD and APEX HD, they’re Liquid Image’s more traditional video goggles, each with WiFi and GPS for geotagging stills and clips. Both have simple onboard controls along with remote app control, microSDHC storage, 30-degree adjustable camera angles and a replaceable, rechargeable battery good for 1.5 to 2hrs of use.

Liquid Image’s EGO 727 will arrive in June priced at $149, alongside the $399 TORQUE HD. The Apex HD will follow on in October 2012, priced at $399 for either the black or white models.

The MOTOLUXE measures in at 117.7 x 60.5 x 9.85 mm and 123.6g, with a 1400 mAh battery, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi b/g/n, GPS and an FM radio. There’s also a VGA front-facing camera, 512MB of RAM and 1GB of ROM.

The DEFY MINI is a smaller 109 x 58.5 x 12.55 mm and 107g, but accommodates a larger 1650 mAh battery along with Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi b/g/n (with WiFi Direct support) and an FM radio. It too has a VGA front-facing camera, dual-band HSDPA and quadband EDGE.

Each phone is already available in China as the XT615 (MOTOLUXE) and the XT320 (DEFY MINI), but they’ll arrive in Europe and Latin America (and, in the case of the MOTOLUXE, Greater China) from February. No word on pricing at this stage, beyond the promise that they’re “budget-friendly.”

Point and Shoot

FinePix F770EXR and F750EXR - 16-megapixel with 20x Fujinon optical zoom (25-500mm) and ISO 100-12800. Full HD 1080p video recording. 3-inch 460k dot LCD. RAW file support and integrated GPS on F770EXR.

FinePix F660EXR - 16-megapixel with 15x Fujinon optical zoom (24-360mm) plus 1080p Full HD recording. ISO 100-1280 and 5cm Macro mode. Optical image stabilization and 3-inch 460k dot LCD. Motion Panorama 360 mode.

FinePix XP150 and FinePix XP100 – 14.4-megapixel compact waterproof (10m), shockproof (2m), freezeproof (-10-degrees C) and dust/sandproof camera. GPS, electronic compass and tracking on XP150. Both support Full HD video recording and underwater recording. 2.7-inch anti-reflection LCD. 5x optical zoom (28-140mm).

FinePix XP50 – 14-megapixel compact waterproof (5m), shockproof (1.5m), freezeproof (-10-degrees C) and dust/sandproof camera. 5x optical zoom (28-140mm), CMOS Shift Image Stabilization. 1080p HD video recording and Motion Panorama 360 capture. 2.7-inch anti-reflect LCD.

FinePix Z1000EXR – 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and 5x optical zoom. 3.5-inch 460k dot LCD touchscreen and Full HD video capture, with mini HDMI port. 9cm macro mode. Wireless image transfer to Android/iOS devices with free app supporting easy social networking upload.

FinePix Z110 – 14.1-megapixel CCD, 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD. 720p HD video recording and ISO 100-3200. Digital image stabilization and 2cm macro mode.

FinePix T350 and FinePix T400 – 16-megapixel (T400) or 14-megapixel (T350) sensor with 10x optical zoom plus CCD shift image stabilization. ISO 100-3200. 720p HD video recording and Motion Panorama Mode. In-camera movie editing. 3-inch LCD.

FinePix JX700, JX580, JX550, JX520 and JX500 -  16-megapixel (JX700, JX580, JX550) or 14-megapixel (JX520, JX500) sensor with 5x optical zoom. 2.7-inch LCD (JX700, JX550, JX500) or 3-inch LCD (JX580, JX520) each with 260k dots. 720p HD video recording with dedicated movie button. Super-backlit LCD – 150- to 200-percent brighter than normal.

FinePix JZ100 and FinePix JZ250 – 16-megapixel (JX250) or 14-megapixel (JZ100) sensor with 8x optical zoom. 3-inch 230k dot LCD on JZ250; 2.7-inch 230k dot LCD on JZ100. ISO 100-3200 and optical image stabilization, plus face detection mode.

Bridge and Superzoom

FinePix HS30EXR and FinePix HS25EXR - 16-megapixel with 30x Fujinon optical zoom (24-720mm) and 60x digital zoom. Both 3-inch LCD and 920k dot EVF (latter only on HS30EXR). Hotshoe and 1cm Macro mode. RAW photo support on HS30EXR.

FinePix S4500, S4400, S4300 and S4200 - 1/2.3-inch 14-megapixel sensor, 24x/26x/28x/30x optical zoom. 200k dot EVF and 3-inch 230k dot LCD. Runs on four AA batteries. 720p HD video capture, 2cm Super Macro Mode.

FinePix SL300, SL280, SL260 and SL240 - 1/2.3-inch 14-megapixel sensor, 24x/26x/28x/30x optical zoom. 3-inch 460k LCD and 200k dot EVF. Hot shoe flash, ISO 100-5400. Second, side-mounted zoom lever and 720p HD video capture.

The full range of Fujifilm cameras will be shown off at CES 2012 next week, where the company will confirm pricing and availability details.

The Durabook R13C also features an IP65 rating, which ensures that all enclosed portions are completely protected from dust and water. It has a water-resistant backlit keyboard and a magnesium alloy case that’s 20 times stronger than ABS plastic. Additional security features include a fingerprint scanner, Trusted Platform Module 1.2, and a Kensington lock.

The laptop features a 13.3-inch multi-touch shock-mounted display with a 1000 NIT LCD that’s readable in sunlight. Inside, it’s powered by an Intel Core Low Power i7-620LM vPro processor along with 8GB of RAM. It also sports a 2.5-inch shock-mounted SATA hard drive with heater, an ultra slim super-multi DVD drive, two USB ports, SIM card connector, and SD card reader. For more details, you can visit GammaTech’s product page.

You’ll have options of 3 cell, 31.2 Whr or 6 cell, 62.4 Whr batteries, the latter providing you with the most magical massive set of hours without a plug-in. You’ll have the ability to load in as much as 8GB of RAM, a 500GB or 320GB harddrive, and the massive range of ports should keep you connected no matter what you’ve got in mind. You get an ethernet port, 3 USB 2.0 ports – one of them powered, a flash card reader, HDMI port, VGA port, and of course a port that connects to your everloving power cord as well. There’s also a VGA webcam with “low light sensitivity” so you can chat in the dusk.

There are several standard models, one of them with an Intel Core i3-2367M processor, the other two with AMD E-300 or AMD E-450 processor options. Education discounts non-withstanding, you’ll be able to pick up one of these little monsters for the low low price of $469 directly from Lenovo. Look like the option for you for your next school season? Perhaps a holiday present for the 2 semester superstar in your life? Your biggest choice here may well be between the black and the red cover, when it comes down to picking one up for your next season’s accessory matching, so keep that in mind!

There’s also the ability to locate your phone, with the PP-SHOCK watch reminding you if you walk away leaving it on a table or down the back of the sofa. Finally, the watch’s time is automatically kept up to date via the smartphone’s connection. The system was initially demonstrated back at CES 2011 in January, taking advantage of Bluetooth 4.0′s advances in reducing power consumption to maintain a persistent link without draining the battery.

Even so, the PP N-01D still brings a decent sized power pack to the party: a 1,700 mAh unit rated for up to 630hrs standby or up to 450 minutes talktime. There’s also a 1.4GHz MSM8255 processor, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth, world phone 3G roaming, and mobile TV support. NTT DoCoMo will also offer wireless file transfers using the inductive charging plate: drop your smartphone down to recharge, and it will automatically transfer your recent photos and videos to your computer.

The DoCoMo NEXT MEDIA PP N-01D phone will go on sale come December 9, and is available to preorder now. The PP-SHOCK GB-6900 watch won’t arrive until the new year, however, pricing tbc.

Update: We’re hearing the GB-6900 will be the equivalent of around $235, and the battery is supposedly rated for a whopping two years based on 12hrs of Bluetooth 4.0 connection per day.

According to Mobotix, the camera is having to cope with minus 30-degree Centigrade temperatures, and is only operational between 6am and 6pm Nepalese time because of the sunlight requirement. Footage is transmitted wirelessly to the nearby laboratory and observatory, before being shuttled off to Italian research labs to be analyzed.

While giving the lazy an easy way of checking out Everest’s West Ridge, as well as the north and southwest faces of the mountain, the webcam has more scientific ambitions too. Researchers hope to use it to track evidence of climate change and global warming, pairing it with temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, sunlight and precipitation data from the 8,000m high weather station near the top of Everest itself.

You can access the streaming feed here; it’s updated every 5 minutes.

[via Gizmag]

There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, EVDO Rev.A and GPS, along with mini USB, microSD and a 5-megapixel main camera. Unfortunately, all that ruggedness – including IPX4 waterproofing, IP5X grade dust resistance and the ability to survive 76cm drops onto concrete – comes at a price, which is bulk: the ASUS TOUGH is clad in rubber and the like, adding up to 215 x 132 x 20-22.2 mm and 620g on the scales.

Battery life from the 7,400mAh pack is unconfirmed, though we’re guessing KDDI and ASUS’ target audience – enterprise users wanting to outfit their on-site workers with ruggedized slates capable of standing up to some careless treatment – will demand all-day runtime. No word on pricing at this stage, but the ASUS TOUGH ETBW11AA will go on sale in Japan come November.

This phone puts the E in Extreme and has some ruggedness claims that are impressive to say the least. The phone is made to survive just about anything and has a IP67 certification for water resistance. The phone is supposedly so water tight that you can swim with it in your pocket to a depth of 1 meter for an hour. The phone is also very resistant to shock.

Gresso says that the phone can survive drops from 7-meters up onto concrete and it can survive having weight of 1 ton on it. That means you could run the phone over with most cars or trucks and it would survive. The phone also can cope with temperatures from -15C to +60C without issue. It operates on 800/1800/1900Mhz networks and has an integrated flashlight, Bluetooth 2.0, and a FM tuner. I’m not sure what the phone costs, but judging by the company behind it and the specs it won’t be a cheap device.

[via BornRich]

You’ll notice how I keep saying Shiny Orange. It’s not because that’s what I’ve decided to describe the color as – that’s the way the color is presented in the original release from Pentax in Japan! How about that! It’s always fun to see companies being more free with their descriptions of their products, especially when that freedom brings a fanciful sort of nature to the whole situation.

The device you’re looking at here has the ability to track and record positional data with each image you photograph, much like most of your smartphones equipped with cameras today, but here with a 14-megapixel sensor encased in, again, an ultra-rugged casing. This device can survive being dunked in water up to 14 feet, is totally shockproof for falls up to five feed, and is crushproof up to 220 pounds of force. So it’s not like you can toss it off a mountain only to be run over by a semi truck and drown to the Titanic, but it’s rough nonetheless.

This device also has face detection, self-portrait assist mode, and is resistant against cold and dust. This unit has a 5x internal optical zoom and can record up to HD 720p video. This device is currently released on the market wherever awesome cameras are sold and will set you back $399.95. On the other hand, we’re not sure when or even IF this much more awesome orange version will be available in the USA. You could always order it in!

[via Akihabaranews]

The little screen of the notebook is 5.6-inches and uses LED backlighting and DynaVue display technology with a resolution of 1024 x 600. The notebook can support higher resolutions when connected to an external monitor in the office using the Mini-Office Dock. Storage for the computer is to a 64GB 1.8-inch SATA SSD and an optional 128GB SSD is available. The keyboarded is sealed and has 77-keys that are backlit.

Power comes from a 7600-mAh battery that is hot swappable and is good for six hours of use per charge. The machine measures 1.8-inches H x 6.6-inches W x 4.8-inches D and weighs 2.4 pounds. Mobile broadband and WiFi are optional. The little machine meets or exceeds MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461F. It is water/dust tight and has a die-cast magnesium chassis and sealed I/O ports. Pricing is unannounced.

It still has room for an 8.1-megapixel camera, however, and Sony Ericsson splashes on their custom UI (with, we’re assuming, Facebook Inside XPERIA integration). It’ll arrive in Q3 2011, in a choice of black, pink, gold or white.

Then there’s the Sony Ericsson XPERIA active, and as the name suggests it’s all about sporty types who worry about accidentally dunking their phone in water or getting it sweaty. The 3-inch scratch-resistant display runs at 320 x 480 resolution but can apparently be more easily controlled with wet fingers – fingers that may have been dampened as you retrieve the XPERIA active from the 1m deep water it can survive being submerged in for up to 30 minutes. It’s dustproof as well (though we guess the water would’ve washed that off already) and has GPS and Bluetooth along with a barometer. It too will arrive in Q3 2011.

Finally, there’s the Sony Ericsson txt, a non-sliding version of the QWERTY txt pro outed last month. A keyboard-encrusted candybar, it has a 2.6-inch display and borrows the Android UI though runs it on a featurephone OS. It’ll drop in Q4 2011.

[via Android Community]

A very cool case has turned up called the Alpinist Camera Case that has the coolest design of any case for a camera I have ever seen. The case is made from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum and it has a ring that is intended to allow the user to clamp the case and their camera to a climbing harness, backpack, or other carrying method. The case comes in black or silver and looks to be very rugged. I really like the etched design on the surfaced of the case, I bet they help with more grip too.

The cases are designed to be water resistant, have safety lock slots, side grip pockets, magnetic latches, and foam lining. The foam lining will help your camera inside survive a drop. The price for the cases is $60 to $120 depending on the size you need. They are offered in sizes to fit cameras from very thin up to the fatter Leica style cameras that are more like a DSLR than a point and shoot.

[via Uncrate]