The technology, product, and option isn’t really anything new at the moment. It features the same process that will treat your smartphone or tablet on a molecular level. Essentially coating every aspect of the device in a waterproof film invisible to the eye. This covers the electronics inside, speaker grills, cameras and everything else.

We’ve already been enjoying P2i’s technology in some of our favorite Android smartphones. The “Splash Guard” feature that Motorola introduced with their DROID RAZR and RAZR HD is all P2i. The difference between them and other companies is P2i wants our device to be protected out of the box, rather then ship them off for a water-proofing process.

Shown off here at CES 2013 is their brand new technology that builds on Splash Guard to make the entire device 100% waterproof, or what they call “dunkable” to the point where we can drop our smartphone in the tub for hours at a time without harm. As you saw in my image above they featured the Samsung Galaxy S III resting at the bottom of a tank completely unharmed. So while this technology is slowly becoming available to end users, hopefully we’ll just enjoy future smartphones that are 100% waterproof thanks to technology from P2i. They’re working with multiple partners and will be launched inside millions of smartphones throughout 2013.

What makes this type of water protection for smartphones and tablet unlike anything else available is the fact that it coats the entire device, electronics inside and all. The entire device is protected on a molecule level with an invisible to the eye Liquipel coating. This certainly isn’t cheap, and requires users to send off their device for treatment. Today they’ve announced that will soon be changing.

Liquipel 2.0 is a brand new treatment for smartphones like the iPhone 5 that adds a nano-coating though a propriety process. This process starts by tossing your device into the chambers of a Liquipel Machine. The process removes the air inside the chamber to create a vacuum. Then the special Liquipel formula is introduced in vapor form.

“The Liquipel coating permeates the entire device and bonds to it on a molecular level leaving it watersafe for years to come.”

Liquipel states their new 2.0 is 100x more effective, although their first and original product was pretty impressive to begin with. In the end the result is a product that will be watersafe nearly for the entire lifetime of the device. The awesome news today however isn’t 2.0, it’s that this awesome process is coming to a mall nearest you later this year and throughout 2014. The first retail location West Edmonton Mall, will start treating devices like the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III for $60 and will be located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Stay tuned for more details.

The watch has been designed to be as small as possible while still providing the necessary information, minimizing drag and resistance in the water. The Swim automatically knows what strokes the swimmer is using and tracks them accordingly, as well as monitoring variables such as distance and pace. Swimmers can also start timed sets, and everything is controlled via six buttons on the watch.

As for battery life, Garmin say it should be good for up to one year. It’s user replaceable too, so the watch doesn’t need to be sent away to have the battery replaced. The Garmin Swim is available starting from today, and will cost $149.99.

Like similar products available on the market HzO offers “protection from the inside” model with a nano-scale film barrier applied to the entire device during the actual manufacturing process to ensure the device is fully covered. HzO’s chemically bonded compound is applied to the innards of the devices and allows for full protection without the need of bulky cases. The video below explains things best by HzO themselves.

What separates HzO and their Waterblock formula from the others is not only the fact that it’s hydrophobic, but it also is deployed up to 100 times thicker than similar water-resistant coatings from other companies. What this essentially means is the devices are more than just water-resistant, they are almost water-proof as you can see they are calmly sitting completely submerged for the video, and all evening long. You can learn more at HzOinside.com

Stay tuned as CTIA starts full steam tomorrow and we’ll be bringing you all the news coverage

As well as that 100kg resilience there’s waterproofing up to 10m, shockproofing up to 2m, and freezeproofing up to -10 degrees C. A double-lock mechanism keeps the ports and card reader secure, and the chassis is scratch resistent.

Interestingly, there’s Olympus’ TAP Control system which allows you to operate common features by tilting and tapping the TG-810: handy if it’s freezing cold and you’re trying to work it while wearing gloves. The Olumpus TOUGH TG-810 will go on sale in mid-March, in silver and black, priced at €299.

Press Release:

State-of-the-art TOUGH flagship is world’s first 100kg crushproof* camera

Crushproof OLYMPUS TOUGH is world record holder

TG-810 has 3-sensor compass for outdoor action

Hamburg, 2 March 2011 – Just when everyone thought the TOUGH range couldn’t get any tougher, Olympus launches the ultimate indestructible camera. The new OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 delivers fabulous-quality HD movies and stills – and something just as valuable: unlimited peace of mind. This state-of-the-art TOUGH blows the competition away with record-breaking ruggedness and unique TOUGH technology. The stats speak for themselves. The TOUGH flagship is the world’s first camera that’s crushproof* to a weight of 100kg, so an adult can tread on it and it’ll keep going fine. Thanks to double-durable lens and port technology, the TG-810 is also waterproof*, shockproof*, freezeproof* and scratch resistant to an unprecedented degree. With its built-in manometer, unique three-sensor GPS & Electronic Compass and high-resolution,
glare-resistant HyperCrystal III LCD, this stylish camera is the ideal companion for an active lifestyle – from home to hotel to a hike through the Himalayas. Packed with advanced automatic features for easy shooting in tricky conditions, the new TOUGH captures memories just like they happened, and keeps them extra safe for sharing wirelessly with friends and family. The OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 is available for €299 from mid-March 2011.

The toughest ever TOUGH
You don’t have to live like a stuntman to abuse a camera. But with the OLYMPUS TOUGH flagship, you could. It’s the world’s first camera that’s crushproof up to a weight of 100kg. But that’s just the start. A sliding double lock mechanism and additional metal lens barrier ensure the TG-810 is waterproof to a huge depth of 10m, shockproof to a height of 2m and freezeproof to -10°C. There’s even a built-in manometer to make sure you don’t dive too deep. Just as well. Because this camera is packed with ingenious technology that’s hard to find elsewhere – and makes it a joy to capture photos and HD movies, whatever the weather, wherever you are.

The safest and smartest
The best cameras (and mobile phones) often come with GPS. But only Olympus’ GPS & Electronic Compass has three sensors to record the direction the camera is pointing (even when it’s turned off). That makes it an excellent piece of kit for finding your way in unfamiliar surroundings. It displays more than 700,000 nearby geographic and natural points of interest – the maximum for a GPS-equipped camera. At a glance, users can check their latitude, longitude and altitude, shooting direction, the date and time or air and water pressure. In the water, the TG-810 really comes into its own. i-Underwater Snapshot, one of four underwater settings, detects when the camera is submerged and adjusts white balance automatically to ensure beautiful, worry-free shots – even in optional 3D. No matter the element, the 5x wide optical zoom lens (28-140mm**) provides precision and flexibility, while the large, three inch 920,000 dot high-definition HyperCrystal III LCD reproduces images on the spot in very high quality.

The best of the best
Like the other two OLYMPUS TOUGH cameras, the TG-810 offers high-end features that make editing and sharing a breeze, for example Eye-Fi card compatibility that lets users automatically transfer images wirelessly to a website or PC.

The TG-810 is available in silver and black for €299 from mid-March 2011.

OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810
Toughness

• Crushproof* up to the world-record weight of 100kg
• Waterproof* to 10m, shockproof* to 2m and freezeproof* to -10°C for worry-free use anytime anywhere
• Metal lens barrier for extra-tough lens protection
• Sliding double lock mechanism for optimum protection of battery, card slots and ports
• Water-repellent and scratch-resistant double seal technology
• Built-in manometer for checking depth underwater
• GPS & Electronic Compass with unique three-sensor technology for orientation and key information at a glance
• Improved TAP Control Mode for controlling the camera by tapping or tilting the body, ideal when wearing gloves
Image Quality

• Four underwater scene modes, including i-Underwater Snapshot (with the camera set to i-Auto) for worry-free underwater shooting
• 5x wide optical zoom (28-140mm**) for shooting flexibility
• 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
• Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots
• TruePic III+ processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
• 720p HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in excellent quality
• 14 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
• ISO 80 to 1600
• Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye (photos only), plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour
• Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
• Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
• Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
• Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog’s or cat’s faces when they look at the camera
• Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)
• In-Camera Panorama for quick and easy panorama shots
• Built-in flash
Storage & Sharing

• 3.0” 920,000 dot Super Precision HyperCrystal III LCD for TOUGH, generating clearer images and reducing reflection even in direct sunlight
• SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
• Photo Surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
Connectivity

• Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
• HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it’s connected to HD equipment
Other

• USB charging

* Crushproof according to Olympus test conditions. Waterproof according to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8. Shockproof figures equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions). Freezeproof according to Olympus test conditions.
** 35mm camera equivalent.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association.

Full specifications of the TX5 are unclear, however.  From the photos it obviously has Carl Zeiss optics, and we can make out a 4x marking which suggests it has an internal 4x optical zoom.  However megapixel count and lens details are yet to be announced.

Also unknown is when Sony expect to launch the TX5.  The apparent release of press shots along with the other CES 2010 official photography suggests the company are close to announcement; perhaps we’ll see the camera debut at PMA 2010 in February?

[via Sony Insider]

The cheapest model Liquid Image offer is the $79 Freestyle Series Swim Camera Goggles, which pack a 1.3-megapixel camera capable of 1280 x 960 stills or 30fps VGA video with sound.  There’s also an LED flashlight and 4GB of onboard storage (good for 4,000 images or 90 minutes of footage) and the rechargeable battery is apparently good for up to 90 minutes use (though you use 25 minutes of that if you keep the light switched on) at up to 15ft deep.

Next comes the Summit Series Snow Camera Goggles, at $149, which can be used in various snow-bound activities.  They get a 5-megapixel camera or 720 x 480 30fps video mode, with both 16GB of onboard storage and a microSD slot happy with up to 16GB cards.  The battery is good for up to 2200 stills or 2hrs 20 minutes video.

Back underwater, and $200 gets you the Liquid Image Wide Angle VideoMask 312, doubling the original VideoMask’s lens capture to 135-degrees.  It captures the same quality footage as the Snow Camera Goggles, and uses the same memory system.

Finally there’s the Liquid Image Wide Angle Scuba Series HD322, which clocks in at $350.  That has – as the name suggests – a wide angle lens, in this case 135-degrees, and can capture 5-megapixel stills or 720p HD video.  It uses microSD cards (2GB supplied; 32GB supported) and AAA batteries, and can be used up to 40m/130ft deep.

Hands-on, and all of the models are easy to use with oversized controls that make generous – and glove-friendly – use of levers and chunky buttons.  Inside the goggles there are indicator LEDs which do a decent job of communicating status, though with no preview display it’ll take some getting used to correctly framing shots initially.  For that reason alone we’d be tempted by the latter models, with their broader angle lenses.

The Wide Angle Scuba Series goggles and the Wide Angle VideoMask goggles are set to ship in May 2010; the Summit Series Snow Camera Goggles won’t arrive until Summer 2010.  Meanwhile the entry-level Freestyle Series Swim Camera Goggles should drop in April 2010.

Their casing, in fact, makes them waterproof to depths of up to one meter and for periods of up to 30 minutes, which may not sound a lot but is certainly long enough when your housemate drops your precious MP3 backup into the toilet.  Meanwhile the SH93 also passes the MIL-STD-810F drop test, and has a fixed USB cable that wraps around the body of the drive and tucks neatly into place.

The A-DATA SH93 HDD is available in 250GB, 320GB, 500GB and 640GB capacities.  We’re waiting to hear back from the company on specific pricing and availability.

Press Release:

A-DATA Introduces Industry’s First 1M 30-min Waterproof & Shock Resistant SH93 HDD

Taipei, Taiwan – October 2, 2009 – A-DATA Technology Co., Ltd., the worldwide leader in DRAM memory and Flash application products, unveiled today the industry’s first ever waterproof and shock resistant portable HDD SH93, a super strong hard disk drive designed specifically for students, road warriors, and sports enthusiastic.

Waterproof, shock tolerant, cable storage – all in one
Incorporating rubber-plastic mix and special cushion materials, the SH93 sustains 1M waterproof test for 30 minutes and military standard MIL-STD-810F drop test. The MIL-STD-810 test addresses a broad range of environmental conditions to generate confidence in the overall durability of a system design. With the USB cable cord tucking into the slit that goes around the side of the HDD, the SH93 is beautifully designed with a finish paint in racing car yellow. It is easy for users to conveniently carry around massive documents without the fear of damaging files stored in the HDD in the incident of accidental drop or water spills.

The portable HDD has become the most important storage device for road warriors, students, even ordinary individuals in this digital era. With the ever increasing amount of photos, music, video files, and data, the need for high-capacity HDD with extreme durability is constantly expanding. Capacity available in 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, and 640GB, the SH93 offers maximum shock tolerance and greatest possible chance of data survival if the storage device is accidentally dropped on the floor or in the water.

A super strong HDD designed with users’ best interest at heart
All A-DATA portable hard drives come with the free-download value-added applications HDDtoGO (no registration required), Norton Internet Security 2009 (60-day trial) and 3-year product warranty period, from which users can enjoy enhanced mobility and security with just few mouse clicks away. Capacity, waterproof, shock tolerant, cable storage, and data security, A-DATA SH93 have them all! For more information, please visit www.adata-group.com.

It’s also waterproof to IPX7 standards and has a selection of different location categories – including home, car and restaurant – so you can differentiate between each point.  Charging is via miniUSB connection, and while Navin are playing coy on exactly how long a single charge will last for, the miniHomer will at least preserve the stored coordinates even if the battery dies.

A backlit display and straightforward controls round out the navigator, and there’s a clock in there too.  No word on pricing – though Navin tell us it’ll be no more expensive than GPS navigators currently on the market – but it’ll drop in November.

To protect the Dell, they built their own rugged exoskeleton and a custom waterproofing system that managed to survive a large cup of hot coffee spilt on it.  It also came through an 8ft drop, as you can see in their test video.

As for the cellphone, they found they had the best results by vacuum-sealing it using the sort of machine you might save food in.  After a first attempt which shrink-wrapped all the buttons down, a second run produced something you could actually use as well as drop into water; unfortunately you’d need to break the seal to recharge it, unless of course you had a WildCharge system to hand.  Finally the camera, which had mixed results – the zoom lens presenting maybe the biggest issue – and which survived a 5ft drop but not an 8ft one.

http://video.popularmechanics.com/services/player/bcpid16382224001?bctid=33718734001

[via GottaBeMobile]

Dynamic beamforming is a system whereby the realtime feedback systems in the 802.11 protocol are used to automatically direct transmissions to the best performing path on a packet-by-packet basis.  According to Ruckus, that means users see between three and four times the improvement in range and performance.

The Ruckus Wireless ZoneFlex 7762 can be deployed as a single access point or integrated into a mesh network with other products (indoor and outdoor) from the company’s range.  It meets IP-65 water and dust resistance and, thanks to the heater, can be used in up to -40 degrees centigrade climates with support for power-over-ethernet (PoE).  It will be available in August, priced at $1,999.

[via Crave]

The SimpleDRIVE Mini comes as the 250GB “red wine” model for $89.99, the 320GB “blue dusk” for $109.99 and the 500GB “carbon fiber black” for $139.99.  As for the grey SimpleTOUGH drive, that has a rotating fixed USB cable, is water-resistant and can withstand a 3m fall.  Hitachi even ran it over with a 1998 Chevy 3500 cab truck weighing one ton, with no damage.

Perhaps most interesting is the SimpleNET USB/NAS adapter, which offers a basic 10/100 network connection and two USB 2.0 ports.  Hitachi bill it as a straightforward way to make storage network accessible, and while the absence of gigabit ethernet may dissuade some it’s not bad for $79.99. 

Press Release:

HITACHI GST UNVEILS THREE CONSUMER STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Two Portable Drives and a Network Storage Adapter from Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Gives Users Simple Ways to Share, Protect and Access Their Digital Content

San Jose, Calif., July 13, 2009 – As one of the world’s most recognized and trusted brands, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today unveiled three new consumer products following the acquisition of SimpleTech by Fabrik earlier this year. The new Hitachi branded products include the SimpleTOUGH™ portable USB drive, industry’s only water-resistant1 and shock-resistant2 external hard drive from a global hard drive manufacturer; the stylish and colorful SimpleDRIVE Mini™ portable USB drive; and the SimpleNET™ network storage adapter for easily sharing existing USB drive content over a home or office network. All SimpleTech external storage solutions now leverage Hitachi’s award-winning, reliable hard drives and strong global brand creating additional advantages for road warriors, prosumers, small office/home office (SOHO) users, or virtually anyone looking for a simple and reliable way to store, protect, and better manage their data.

“Today’s announcement further extends the Hitachi GST brand into the consumer market with the reliability, confidence and dependability you would expect from one of the world’s leading hard drive suppliers,” said Mike Williams, General Manager of Hitachi GST Branded Business. “Re-branding SimpleTech to the Hitachi brand is an important step in differentiating our solutions in the marketplace. We believe that given the global strength of Hitachi, the close relationships we have built with our end-users as SimpleTech, and the continued support of our retail and channel partners, we are well positioned to move our Branded Business and the industry forward.”

Hitachi SimpleTOUGH Portable USB 2.0 Drive
If you work hard or play hard, the Hitachi SimpleTOUGH is one of the world’s most rugged drives for protecting data in harsh environments. Designed for serious mobility, it is the only water- and shock-resistant external drive available today from a global hard drive manufacturer. Engineered to sustain a three meter drop (9.8 feet) and able to withstand the pressure of a one-ton class commercial truck3, the SimpleTOUGH drive can take on more falls, knocks and spills than any average external drive on the market. Besides that, it’s ready for the great outdoors. The Hitachi SimpleTOUGH drive includes a “never-lose” foldaway USB cable, ergonomic sides for easy carrying, and a cool topside LED for power status. But don’t be fooled by its handsome exterior. Not only is SimpleTOUGH rugged on the outside, it’s dependable and reliable on the inside. All SimpleTOUGH portable drives integrate Hitachi’s award-winning Travelstar hard drives, which can be found in virtually all top brand notebooks around the world. Known for its proven, dependable design, Hitachi Travelstar drives provide best-of-breed operating shock at 400G operating and 1,000G non operating shock, and feature the company’s TrueTrack Technology™, providing added data protection against rough handling. Packaged in one streamlined solution, the SimpleTOUGH portable drive by Hitachi is USB powered for on-the-go convenience. The manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing (MSRP) is $99.99 for 250GB, $119.99 for 320GB, and $149.99 for 500GB.

Hitachi SimpleDRIVE Mini Portable USB 2.0 Drive
Your belongings say a lot about your personality, so why should your hard drive look like a toaster? Show off your style with the Hitachi SimpleDRIVE Mini portable drive. Designed for an increasingly mobile world, the Hitachi SimpleDRIVE Mini portable drive is stylish storage made simple. It continues SimpleTech’s legacy of offering a unique contemporary design with multiple colors, while delivering streamlined, yet simple ways to store and protect your data. The SimpleDRIVE Mini uses dependable hard drives from Hitachi so you can rest assured that your data is stored on a leading hard drive. Depending on your mood, personal style or capacity needs, you have color choices of red wine in 250GB, blue dusk in 320GB or carbon fiber for a textured black look at 500GB. MSRP is $89.99 for 250GB, $109.99 for 320GB and $139.99 for 500GB. All SimpleDRIVE Minis are USB powered.

Hitachi SimpleNET USB Drive Network Adapter
Not only is Hitachi GST delivering simple ways to store and protect your content, it is extending the value of your new or existing USB drive with SimpleNET. The Hitachi SimpleNET is a small network adapter that allows you to share and access existing USB hard drive content over a home or small business network. Simply plug a USB hard drive into SimpleNET and then plug SimpleNET into an Ethernet network. It’s that easy. The USB drive appears as a drive on the network so you can easily share your pics, flix, tunes and docs with everyone on your network. With no proprietary formats or reformatting of the drive required, you can easily hot swap your USB drive between your computer and the Hitachi SimpleNET device at any time. The SimpleNET solution is easy-to-install and easy-to-use for Mac, PC and Linux users, and you can even connect up to two USB drives at once. MSRP for the SimpleNET adapter is $79 MSRP.

Any data worth saving is worth protecting
Thanks to the increasingly digital lives we lead, our digital content – our family photos, music libraries, home videos and important business and financial information – is quickly becoming the most valued asset in our possession. More often than not, data is coming in so fast and from so many places, that people forget to back it up. If an accident does occur to the drive, it could cost thousands of dollars to recover the data. That’s where simple set-it-and-forget-it solutions from Hitachi GST can help.

In October 2007, SimpleTech was the first external storage brand to offer both local and online backup. Hitachi GST is continuing this tradition with SimpleTOUGH and SimpleDRIVE Mini. Both drives offer two levels of data protection, local backup and online backup, giving customers peace of mind that their data is safe in the event of fire, theft or natural disaster. Each new portable drive includes 2GB of free online backup space that can be used to safely store irreplaceable files offsite and online. Or, for less than five dollars a month, users can upgrade to unlimited online capacity. For more information, please visit http://www.HitachiUltimateBackup.com.

Unlike any other external storage solution on the market, the Hitachi SimpleTOUGH and SimpleDRIVE Mini drives also come bundled with Joggle.com. Joggle is an online digital content manager that helps you keep track of pics, flix, tunes and docs from one centralized location. Through its sleek, streamlined user interface, you can see all your stuff on a single screen, and can easily share slideshows and play lists with friends and family via email, blogs, social networking sites and more.

During the early stages of the brand transition, Hitachi SimpleTOUGH, SimpleDRIVE Mini and SimpleNET product information and support is provided by SimpleTech. For more information, please visit www.hitachigst.com or www.simpletech.com.

About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) develops advanced hard disk drives, enterprise-class solid state drives, and innovative external storage solutions and services used to store, preserve and manage the world’s most valued data. Founded by the pioneers of hard drives, Hitachi GST provides high-value storage for a broad range of market segments, including Enterprise, Desktop, Mobile Computing, Consumer Electronics and Personal Storage. Hitachi GST was established in 2003 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachigst.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billion yen ($102.0 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com.

Hitachi trademarks are authorized for use in countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi has the right to market the brands. Hitachi is not liable for third parties’ unauthorized use of Hitachi trademarks.

1Water resistance was measured using 60cc of liquid, simulating a spilled drink.

2Shock resistance was measured using three meter drops onto a carpeted concrete floor. Dropping the drive is not recommended while in operation mode.

3The SimpleTOUGH drive was placed vertically on a concrete road, and was run over by a one-ton class, 1998, Chevy 3500 cab truck with a service chassis. Luckily, there was no damage to the truck.

All testing was conducted by Hitachi GST.

One GB is equal to one billion bytes and one TB equals 1,000 GB (one trillion bytes). Actual capacity will vary depending on operating environment and formatting.

This diving mask has a 5-megapixel camera that allows you to take still images and videos while underwater. You can get a resolution of up to 720 x 480 at 33-feet below! That’s pretty impressive, if you ask me.

Other features include power and shutter buttons, a microSD memory card slot and 16MB of internal memory. The device is powered by two AAA batteries. It also has a USB 2.0 port. You can get the Liquid Image UDCM310 underwater diving mask now for about $180 in Japan.

Each measures just 32 x 15 x 3 mm and weighs 1.5g.  Colors are matched to capacity, so the pink kicks off the range with 2GB, the green gets 4GB, the blue gets 8GB and the sober black gets the full 16GB. 

The Super Talent Pico Mini USB Drives are available this week, worldwide. They’re priced at $9.99 for the 2GB, $14.99 for the 4GB, $23.99 for the 8GB and $39.99 for the 16GB.

Press Release:

Super Talent Introduces Pico Mini USB Drives

New Line is a Colorful, Trendy Addition to Successful Pico USB Family

San Jose, California – July 7, 2009 – Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today introduced their new line of colorful and trendy Pico Mini USB drives, available this week in capacities from 2GB to 16GB.

Like their siblings, the Pico drives, Pico Mini drives are built using COB technology which enables squeezing impressive Flash capacities into extremely small packages. At 32 x 15 x 3 mm (1.3 x 0.6 x 0.1 inches), Pico Mini drives are surprisingly tiny. Even more impressive, they tip the scales at merely 1.5 grams.

Pico Mini drives are water resistant, and support up to 200X transfer speeds. The drives are offered in four bold colors that are color coded to four capacities, as show below. Each drive includes a springy matching keycord.

Part Number DescriptionRetail Price
STU2GMAP2GB Pico Mini-A, 150X, Orchid Pink $9.99
STU4GMAG4GB Pico Mini-A, 200X, Lime Green $14.99
STU8GMAB8GB Pico Mini-A, 200X, Sky Blue $23.99
STU16GMAK16GB Pico Mini-A, 200X, Classic Black $39.99

“We designed these drives to build on the success of our popular Pico family. They share a lot of the same features, but while Pico drives have a shiny chrome finish, Pico Mini drives are colorful and trendy to appeal to a different demographic”, explained Super Talent Director of Marketing, Joe James. Pico Mini drives will begin shipping this week to online retailers worldwide.

About Super Talent Technology

Super Talent Technology Corporation based in San Jose, California, designs and manufactures a full range of DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memory modules and Flash based storage devices for computers and consumer electronics. An ISO 9001 certified company, Super Talent utilizes its state-of-the-art factories and leading-edge components to produce award winning products with outstanding reliability. Super Talent is an active member of the JEDEC and ONFI standards bodies. With over 250 patents, the company was ranked 38th in the 2008 Wall Street Journal’s Patent ScorecardTM for the IT industry.

Usable capacity is less than specified after formatting.

This gadget makes it possible to have music right in the pool with you. This speaker can float in the water and allow you to hear your music no matter where you are in the pool. Plus, there’s buttons on it that allow you to turn up and down the volume.

Your MP3 player can remain safely ashore, since the device uses Bluetooth. However, you’ll need to handle your player itself if you want to change tracks, which is sort of a bummer. You can get the Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker now for $40.

[via technabob]

Internal storage is 850MB, with a microSD card slot for adding to that, and there’s a USB port to transfer pictures onto your computer.  Each unit weighs 6.8oz and has an outdoor-viewable display; City Navigator maps – including roads, PoIs and turn-by-turn directions – are an optional extra.

The Garmin Oregon 550 has the standard shaded-relief worldwide basemap, and is priced at $499.99.  As for the Garmin Oregon 550t, that adds preloaded 100K topological maps for the US, with 3D elevation perspectives, and is priced at $599.99.

Press Release:

Picture Perfect: Garmin® Oregon® 550 with Built-in Camera Offers Touchscreen GPS for All Seasons, All Reasons

OLATHE, Kan. –(Business Wire)– May 07, 2009 Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t touchscreen handheld GPS devices, integrating a 3.2 megapixel digital camera, which creates geotagged images, and a 3-axis compass into the popular series of intuitive touchscreen handhelds. The waterproof Oregon 550’s easy-to-use interface and versatile features make it the ideal solution for customers looking for a multipurpose GPS device.

“As everyone looks for ways to do more with less, Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t can be the one GPS device you turn to for all of your activities, in any climate, on any terrain, at any time of year,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Easy enough for beginners to master, Oregon will guide you in your adventures, capture the highlights and bring them back home.”

There’s no need to tote a separate camera in your pack or pocket as Oregon 550′s 3.2 megapixel autofocus digital camera with 4x digital zoom automatically geotags each photo with the location of where it was taken, allowing you to mark, remember and navigate back to that exact spot in the future. With this waterproof digital camera, you can take and view pictures in landscape or portrait orientation, and 850 MB of internal memory offers ample storage. These pictures can then be printed or stored and shared online, making every trip even more memorable. Once your Oregon 550 is connected via USB, you can use my.Garmin.com to detect Oregon’s photos, simplify the selection and uploading processes and then store those photos on Picasa, a popular online photo sharing community for friends and families around the world.

The built-in 3-axis compass and enhanced sunlight-readable touchscreen are two other key additions to the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t (which features preloaded 100K topo maps for the entire U.S. in state-of-the-art 3D elevation perspective). The 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass shows your heading even when you’re standing still, without holding it level. And Oregon’s glove-friendly, color 3-inch touchscreen display is brighter and easier than ever to read and use in all conditions, responsive to the touch of your finger, yet resistant to the forces of nature. Weighing only 6.8 ounces, the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t come with two precharged AA NiMH batteries. These batteries provide up to 16 hours of life on a single charge and don’t lose energy when not in use. The included battery charger saves you money and reduces waste as batteries get recharged and reused. Also in the box is a carabiner clip and USB cable for high-speed USB connections. A microSD card slot provides even more storage for photos, mapping and memory and allows you to view pictures from other devices with Oregon’s picture viewer.

Highlighting its versatility, Oregon lets you customize five profiles — automotive, marine, recreation, fitness or geocaching — making the most useful features the easiest to access through shortcuts.

On the trail: With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix™ satellite prediction, Oregon 550 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. And you can store up to 2,000 waypoints, 200 routes, 5,000 geocaches and a tracklog of up to 10,000 points and 200 saved tracks. On the mountain: The built-in barometric altimeter tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude, and you can keep an eye on changing weather conditions by plotting pressure over time. On vacation: Explore with confidence, thanks to the detailed U.S. topographic maps preloaded in the 550t or the worldwide shaded relief basemap in the 550. On a mission: The simple-to-use touchscreen interface makes it easy to navigate efficiently and tackle your task quickly. In a group: With Oregon 550, you can share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly other Oregon and Colorado users. Out geocaching: Go paperless with Oregon, which can store up to 5,000 caches, by quickly downloading cache information from Geocaching.com. Oregon stores and displays key information such as location, terrain, difficulty, hints and description, so that you don’t have to tote printouts with you. (And lucky geocachers may even stumble upon a limited-edition Oregon geocoin.)

And Oregon does the work of several devices, just by adding various accessories to suit your activity or optional MapSource® microSD cards preloaded with detailed maps.

On the road: Optional City Navigator mapping provides detailed street maps, millions of preloaded points of interest and onscreen turn-by-turn directions to your destination, and an optional Auto Nav kit adds a suction mount and car charger. On a hunt or on a hike: Using a separate TOPO U.S. 24K DVD or microSD card brings you the highest level of topographic detail available, with maps comparable to 1:24,000 scale USGS maps, featuring terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, routable roads and trails, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points. On the water: Add BlueChart® g2 maps, which provide everything you need for a great day on the water, including depth contours, navaids and harbors. On the run or on a bike: Ideal for a trail workout, the lightweight Oregon is compatible with Garmin’s heart-rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors, and an optional handlebar mount makes it easy to track your speed, distance, elevation and location.

And wherever you are, whatever you’re doing and whomever you’re with, you’ll always have Oregon 550’s built-in camera to capture the moment, record the location and share the memories.

Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t are the latest breakthroughs from Garmin, which has spent 20 years using technology and innovation to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/jakesjournal.

Videos after the cut

The three videos below show drop, water and dust testing.  The titles are all pretty self-explanatory: first the J3400 gets hoisted up to 36-inches and dropped onto a hard surface, repeating this 26 times with only cosmetic damage, before being vigorously soaked.  Finally the J3400 spends eight hours in a dust box.  All of the tests take place with the Tablet powered-up.

If you’re convinced the Motion J3400 could withstand your frisky life, it’s available now with prices starting from $2,299.  Options include a choice of 1.2GHz or 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo ULV processors and a variety of SSD or HDD storage.

Motion J3400 drop-testing:

Motion J3400 water-testing:

Motion J3400 dust-testing:

[via GottaBeMobile]

Given that it’s a palm-sized device, audio output isn’t going to be anything approaching high quality.  The MS500′s amp outputs a mere 2W, though Sony Ericsson have loaded in some DSP to supposedly enhance the audio. 

Two color options are available – black and orange, and white and pink – each with a lanyard wrist-strap.  Wireless range is 10m and there’s volume and track control keys on the MS500 itself.  No word on pricing or availability.

Press Release:

Accessorise your life with music and Sony Ericsson’s first outdoor Bluetooth™ speaker.

Listen to your favourite sounds while on the move with the trendy Outdoor Wireless Speaker MS500. A first for Sony Ericsson, the colourful and powerful Bluetooth™ speaker gives you a festival experience wherever you are or want to go!

London, March 17, 2009 – Whether hanging out on a beach or enjoying urban life, the superior sound quality and cool design of the MS500 will impress all your friends.

Available in trendy orange and black or chic white and pink the MS500 speaker is the ultimate accessory for any dedicated pop rocker or dancing queen – small enough to fit into the palm of a hand and so light it can be taken anywhere and everywhere.

The MS500 speaker is designed for the outdoor environment with a durable splash proof shell and a handy strap which makes it perfect for attaching to a bag, or hanging from the wrist. This makes it an ideal outdoor accessory for everyday use and ensures your music will still be heard loud and proud.

The Bluetooth™ technology enables your phone to be used as a remote control to change tracks and increase volume, allowing you to just sit back and relax with music without the need to move. Simply connect the speaker to any mobile handset within a 10 metre range and in just seconds hear your favourite songs blast out, with clear treble and rich bass.

Additionally you don’t have to deal with the hassle of wires or the need of a charger as it’s powered by two AA batteries, which allows you to immerse yourself in music for up to five hours!

The Outdoor Wireless Speaker MS500 is compatible with most Bluetooth™ phones from Sony Ericsson and other brands.

The designer of the MS500 Wireless Outdoor Speaker, Leonardo Salzedo comments: “If I had to describe the MS500 speaker in three words, I would use the following; fun, compact and freedom. The word freedom has various meanings, as it refers to the speaker’s lightweight, small, splash proof shell, which enables you to take it with you everywhere and anywhere. No cables allow freedom of movement and a handy strap enables you to hang it from the wrist or attach it to clothing, so you have the ability to stylishly accessorise your life with music.”

For further information visit http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/accessories/overview/hbh-is800?lc=en&cc=gb

The Sony Ericsson MS500 speaker at a glance

Design

Colours: Black and orange (carbine hook) and White and Pink (white strap)
Materials: coloured plastic
Size: 113 x 83 x45mm
Weight: 155g with batteries/ 105g without batteries (2 AA batteries are included in the package)
Technology

Steaming music: Up to 5hrs
Efficiency: 2 watts
DSP for audio enhancement
Bluetooth™ version: 2.1 + EDR
Bluetooth™ profile: A2DP, AVRCP
Bluetooth™ profile: 10m
Compatibility

Most Bluetooth™ phones from SEMC and with A2DP, plus other brands
Legal

1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant.

2) Talk and standby times are affected by network preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market.

In fact the Model TT-840 uses infrared touchscreen technology, which will work with or without gloves, needs no calibration and can be used in the wet.  As for the display itself, it has a 600:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 nits of brightness for outdoor use, and will operate in temperatures from minus 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C.

Power, video and USB connections are made through IP68 water-proof ports, and the whole thing can be hung with either VESA or RAM mounts. The Stealth Model TT-840 is available now, priced at $2,295.

Press Release:

Stealth Introduces a Water Resistant, Sunlight Readable, 8.4″ Rugged LCD Monitor for Demanding Applications

Toronto, March, 2009 – Stealth.com Inc. (Stealth Computer) a leading ISO 9001 manufacturer of industrial rugged computers and peripherals has released their new Model TT-840, a rugged, environmentally sealed, LCD monitor with the ability to survive the demanding effects of harsh environments.

The Stealth model: TT-840 is an 8.4 inch sunlight readable LCD encapsulated in a rugged aluminum enclosure that has been sealed to IP68/NEMA 6P specifications. The high-performance LCD is totally water-tight, surviving liquid, dust and dirt intrusion and performs well beyond ordinary commercially available monitors. Stealth’s rugged LCD will operate in extreme temperatures from minus 20 to plus 60 degrees centigrade, ideal for outdoor and intense weather conditions.

According to Stealth’s CEO, Ed Boutilier; “by capitalizing on the latest in LED backlight technology the Stealth TT-840 rugged LCD features a vivid sunlight readable display with up to 1000 nits of brightness and a 600:1 contrast ratio making it ideal for outdoor or high ambient light conditions.” The LED backlights provide superior performance over their CCFL counterparts by offering low power consumption, long-life and increased vibration and shock protection.

Stealth’s TT-840 rugged display is shipped standard with Infrared (Ir) touch screen technology which provides distinct advantages over other touch screen technologies. Accurate touch positioning, increased optical transmissivity, superior shock and vibration specifications, no drift calibration and the ability to operate in wet environments with or without gloves are strong benefits.

Stealth’s TT-840 LCD monitor operates with a 12-36VDC power input making it ideal for DC powered applications typically found in mobile applications. Power, video and USB connections are provided through IP68 water-proof connectors directly on the unit. A wide-range of versatile mounting options is available by using the industry standard VESA and RAM mounting patterns.

The Stealth TT-840 harsh environment LCD is ideal for industrial applications such as; Plant Floor, Marine, Transportation, Oil & Gas, Mining, Outdoor and other demanding applications.

About Stealth
Founded in 1990 Stealth.Com, is a leading manufacturer of specialized Computers and Peripherals. The company is ISO 9001 registered and continually develops innovative products designed to meet the exact needs of their clients. For almost two decades Stealth has provided thousands of proven reliable product solutions that have assisted clients with a myriad of applications. Our impressive customer base includes a wide range of customers from single man operations to Fortune 500 companies, Military installations and Governments worldwide. www.stealth.com

In addition to shrugging off water like a nonchalant seal, the G3WP also has a 4x optical zoom (that looks to be internal), Auto Scene Detection and Pan-Capture Panorama.  The former bypasses a scene mode selection wheel and automatically figures out the best settings to use for each shot, while the latter creates panoramic photos simply by asking you to slowly pan across the scene.  It then intelligently snaps frames and sews them together. 

Previewing and reviewing is done on a 2.7-inch LCD with an ambient light sensor controlling backlight brightness, and the GE G3WP supports up to ISO 3200.  No word on pricing or availability.

Press Release:

Waterproof GE G3WP Camera Makes Big Splash

TORRANCE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–General Imaging invites you to dive right in and start snapping. The company has just released a new camera that loves the water.

General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, has launched its first-ever waterproof model, the G3WP.

GE cameras have always been a great fit for active lifestyles, but the fun new G3WP takes things to new depths. Waterproof to 10 feet, the G3WP is perfect for backyard pool parties or weekends at the lake. Rain in the forecast? No problem – take the G3WP with you. The camera is specially designed to keep moisture out.

“We’re very excited about this camera, because it opens up a whole new range of activities our customers can capture and preserve,” said Tom Haga, CEO of General Imaging. “Whether you’re going swimming or taking a walk in the rain, the G3WP is the perfect camera.”

The G3WP – part of the 2009 lineup of GE digital cameras – features a massive 12.2 megapixels of resolution, 4x optical zoom, and a 2.7-inch LCD screen that automatically adjusts to changes in ambient light.

As with the other cameras in the 2009 lineup, the G3WP offers Auto Scene Detection and Pan-Capture Panorama among its many advanced features. Auto Scene Detection automatically determines the appropriate scene type and optimizes exposure for sharp, vibrant pictures. Pan-Capture Panorama lets the user pan the camera across the scene while the engine automatically captures, determines overlap, and stitches the frames into a single panoramic picture.

The OPTIMA 830UW has an 8-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and ISO 1600 sensitivity, together with 21 scene mode programs, but the clever stuff is in its hardy silver metal casing.  That’s frostproof to -5 degrees C (22 degrees F), waterproof down to 10m (33 feet) and can survive a drop from one meter (3.3 feet).

There’s also an image stabilizer, just in case you’re shivering from the cold temperatures or the proximity to sharks, together with Smile Detection.  The preview display is 2.5-inches.

The AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW is available now, priced at $349.95. 

Press Release:

PMA 09: AgfaPhoto presents a digital camera for nature and sports fans

The AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW is ideal for diving, hiking and skiing

Las Vegas (USA) / Uhingen (Germany), March 2nd, 2009. Only a few days are left until AgfaPhoto releases the new outdoor camera AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW. The new camera will be launched at the PMA in Las Vegas, from March 3rd through to March 5th, 2009, in the South Hall at booth A 271.

Waterproof, frost-proof and shockproof
The extra sturdy, but lightweight digital camera is an ideal companion on the go, delivering a great performance in every one of your favorite sports and activities. It can be used for diving up to a depth of ten meters (33 feet) and, needless to mention, also takes pictures in the rain. The camera is also fit for winter, because it is frost-proof up to a temperature of -5°C (22°F). Even a fall doesn’t throw the AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW off balance, as it is shockproof for a fall from a height of one meter (3.3 feet). The AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW comes with a built-in image stabilizer, which guarantees that real-life action shots don’t get blurry. Taking unique souvenir photos of ski trips and sleigh rides is a cinch. For this purpose you may also want to use the panorama function, which is ideally suited for wide views from mountain peaks. With the included software “Zoner PanoramaMaker”, it’s easy to make great 360-degree shots on your computer. And to show the fun with so much outdoor action, there is the “Smile Detection” function, ensuring the right focus just when everyone is smiling.

Even more top technology in a sporty outfit
The AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW has a 2.5-inch wide TFT display, with 3X optical zoom, 8 mega pixel resolution, high photo sensitivity of up to ISO 1600, and 21 scene mode programs, such as underwater or night shot modes. The camera leads the pack not only with its technology, but also with its sporty silver metal casing.

The AgfaPhoto OPTIMA 830UW is available immediately for only $349.95 dollars (MSRP including VAT).

The AgfaPhoto brand:
AgfaPhoto is the world-renowned brand for Consumer Imaging Products. Right from the start, AgfaPhoto has stood for quality and smart solutions in the Consumer Imaging sector. The operation of the products is childsplay and this enables everyone to enjoy successful pictures with AgfaPhoto. AgfaPhoto is the personal companion that enables consumers to experience the world of images in all their exciting facets more intensely and convert those special moments in life into permanent memories for sharing. These are the claims and assurances of the AgfaPhoto brand. Under this brand promise, AgfaPhoto offers attractive Consumer Imaging products such as digital cameras, single-use cameras, digital picture frames, storage media, films and batteries.
www.agfaphoto.com

Canon’s cameras are known to associate with great sea life documentary, but hardly the underwater accessories. The new WP-V1 is the company’s first waterproof case look to penetrate consumer camcorder with a custom fitting wet-suit, designed more than just a few O-rings – it can sustain a dive up to 130 feet, while maintaining the control and functionality of the camera.

I don’t do much motion videos, let alone underwater filming, but I do reckon professional grade underwater housings aren’t exactly affordable for still images, and I could only imagine the same for the videos. Canon’s offering isn’t exactly the a full-fledged underwater setup but it’s lightweight, compact, and only set you back $599 plus the camera.

The new SV-ME700 and SV-ME750 are 5-inch Panasonic One Seg broadcasting portable TV with 480×272 resolution. Both are completely waterproofed with multimedia ability to play music files in MP3, WMA or WAV formats, or display pictures in slideshow. The units now packed a low noise and highly sensitive TV tuner with 1.4 times more reception power than previous models. Additionally, the built-in lithium ion battery, when fully charged, now supported up to 1.8 times longer viewing hours.

The only difference on the SV-ME75 came in the form of an SD card slot with 2GB capacity, and of course, you can add different size of SD storage for additional recording hours. The new Viera are available in black, pink and white. They will hit Japanese stores later this month with suggested retails of 45,000 yen ($500) for SV-ME750 and 38,000 yen for SV-ME700 ($420).

Sanyo also announced a new range of waterpoof camcorders, the Xacti DMX-CA9 and Xacti DMX-WH1, which record at standard definition and can be submerged to 1.5m and 3m respectively.  The WH1 has a 30x optical zoom, and both have anti-shake and face-detection.

Finally, the Xacti DMX-CG10 is a compact HD camcorder that can take 10-megapixel stills and yet weighs only 171g.  It, too, has anti-shake and face-detection, together with a 3-inch LCD for preview and review.  It will go on sale on February 20th, 2009, while the waterproof DMX-WH1 and DMX-CA9 will go on sale March 19th and 13th respectively. As for the DMX-2000, it will go on sale on February 6th, with the DMX-FH11 following on April 24th. No prices have been revealed as yet.

The Fujitsu F-01A is the first docomo PRIME series phone to use the integrated fingerprint security. Beneath its waterproof casing is a revolutionary AuthenTec’s AES1711 fingerprint sensor that works in conjunction with AuthenTec’s TouchStone packaging and TrueNav technology for touchpad-like navigational control. When enables, the phone will lock protection on its stored files and personal information. Also, the TouchStone technology extends beyond normal usage when it comes to durability, the sensor is said to have tripled coated for protection.

No word on pricing just yet, and we don’t know when Fujitsu will make its launch for US market, but The F-01A is available now in Japan through NTT DoComo.

The STYLUS TOUGH-8000 is rocking 12 million pixels of image resolution and, according to Olympus, can perform all sorts of death-defying stunts.  For instance, it can handle being dropped 6.6 feet, can go underwater 33 feet, can withstand 220 lbs of pressure and, I quote, will “laugh at freezing temperatures”.

The STYLUS TOUGH-6000 is a 10-megapixel camera that can perform some of the same stunts, just not as well.  The 6000 can only be dropped 5 feet and can only dive 10 feet underwater.  As for freezing temperatures?  Olympus says that the 6000 can “beat the freezing cold”, but it certainly doesn’t laugh at it like the 8000 does.

Both cameras will be available within the next month or so.  The 8000 will show up next month for $399.99, while the 6000 will come later this month, priced at $299.99.

The nano 4G has a diameter of 33mm and can drive 18 hours of your play list with a mere 3xAAA batteries to supply a dual-channel 1W speakers with frequency response of 200hz-18Khz.

For much wider sound effect, the AquadTune V2 supports a variety of iPod models from First to Fourth iPod, classic, shuffle to mini on a pair of 3-watt 45mm speaker with frequency response of 50hz-20khz. Four piece of AA batteries will last you 30 hours of playing time.

The Aquatune V2 is available now in Japan for 15,800 Yen ($ 175) while the nano 4G release will follow in January for 10,800 yen ($120).

Olympus has announced they will be introducing the next round of rugged cameras in January under the brand “TOUGH.”  These cameras are designed to take amazing photos in the most extreme outdoor conditions no matter where you are you what you are doing.

These new cameras will keep the same durability as we have seen before with the addition of new innovations that will benefit the entire line. Recent studies show that one of the key points customers are looking for when purchasing a new digital camera is durability and weatherproofing. Miquel Angel Garcia, Managing Director Marketing at Olympus Imaging Europa GmbH said, “Since some of our cameras even go beyond shockproof and waterproof – certain models are freezeproof and crushproof as well – we needed a name that was more reflective of the true nature of the SW series. The µ TOUGH brand lets our customers know what these cameras truly have to offer: strength that’s always ready to go, even in the most extreme conditions”.

The shockproof and waterproof models are ideal for the more adventurous users; whether it be snorkeling or hiking you can feel at ease taking your camera along for the ride. The freezeproof cameras can be taken anywhere from the top of Mount Everest to the deepest ice cavern. Snap breathtaking photos in great quality wherever you may be.

A free 30-day trial to Rhapsody is included, offering unlimited track downloads, after which you can choose to subscribe, cancel, or move to a free plan that gives you up to 25 tracks per month or 25 Rhapsody channels.  There’s also an FM radio and picture viewer.  Supported formats include AAC, MP3, WMA and WAV audio, JPEG and PNG images and MPEG-4, WMV, H 264, MPG, AVI and M4V video.

The Haier ibiza Rhapsody Sport PMP is available now.  The 4GB model is priced at $179, while the 8GB version comes in at $199.  They’re “weatherproof” and “water resistant”, though we’d assume that doesn’t mean you can drop them into a river.

[via dapreview]

Beneath the macho and recycled XENOY protective case, the Land Rover phones sound a lot like Sonim’s XP3: Less on the look, no diamond or easy to break full touch screen panel; Land Rover phones are submersible and weatherproof to withstand salt, fog, humidity, transport and thermal shock and can sustain a 1.6-metre drop to concrete from any angles.

Two co-branded phones, Land Rover S1 and S4 will enter the market by mid-2009, and the third following later in the year.

Besides waterproof; the Elecom is Class-6 standard, meaning it offers real-time recording directly to the card with a guaranteed minimum write speed of 6MB/sec and a data transfer rate of up to 15MB/sec.

Elecom waterproof SDHC is available in 4GB and 8GB capacity. Mum’s the word on pricing information but it is slated to ship in December.

In fact the XP3 meets the Mil-Spec 810F rating against salt, fog humidity, transport and thermal shock. The buttons are all tested to function beyond half a million pushes, and it’ll happily make calls from -20C to +60C; something tells me most users wouldn’t be able to say the same about themselves.

The battery lasts for 5.5 hours of talk and over 9 days of standby time and, if you actually manage to break it in the first three years of ownership, Sonim will replace it no questions asked. The Sonim XP3 is available now, either SIM-free for £245 ($367) or free with a contract from Vodafone UK.

Press Release:

Sonim Unveils the World’s Only Rugged All-Weather GSM Mobile Phone

Makers of the World’s “toughest” phone introduce an even more rugged – and now completely waterproof — phone for people who work and play in demanding environments.

London, UK, 24th November 2008: Sonim Technologies, makers of the award-winning Sonim XP1 today announces the latest addition to their Xtreme Performance Series, the Xtreme Performance 3, the world’s only rugged “all weather” GSM mobile phone.

The XP3 has a more rugged specification than the XP1 and can withstand more shocks and drops than its predecessor. Most importantly, the phone can be fully submersed for 30 minutes within one meter of water. In addition, the XP3 boasts an IP-57 rating and is designated with a Mil-Spec rating of 810F against salt, fog humidity, transport and thermal shock. The phone is rugged in every detail – the keyboard touch buttons are tested to function beyond 500,000 pushes.

Bob Plaschke, CEO of Sonim Technologies comments, “When we launched the Sonim XP1 last year, it was with a clear goal in mind. We wanted to create phones for people who work and play in rugged environments.” Plaschke continues: “For these people, having a phone is a tool, not a fashion accessory. They need a mobile handset to withstand some of nature’s harshest conditions. The Sonim XP3 is capable of working at -20C or at +60C without breaking down. We are committed to the rugged consumer, and the XP3 further proves our dedication to this community.”

Since the XP3 is purposed to be a communications tool for use in rugged environments, it is equipped with a powerful 1180 mAh battery that delivers 5.5 hours of talk and over 9 days of standby time. As continued proof of Sonim’s confidence in its products, the XP3 comes with an unconditional, three-year warranty.

“It’s true, it doesn’t matter how you break it, or whether you get it wet during the course of your work, we at Sonim Technologies will provide you with a replacement, no questions asked,” says Plaschke. “In fact, we challenge the industry to match our warranty.”

He continues: “Our customers needs have been largely forgotten by the mobile industry. We have listened to the feedback from our core audience, such as plumbers, builders, and even first response and rescue teams throughout the world. The Sonim XP3 is our reminder to our customers that no matter how rugged and tough their environment, we can provide the phone that will withstand the stress.”

The Sonim XP3 is available either SIM-unlocked for £245 inc VAT or free on contract with Vodafone please go to www.sonimxp3.com or call 0845 459 2009.

The Sonim XP3 will be available in high street retailers in time for Christmas.

A full feature cell phone like that is said to be difficult incorporating the waterproof function. It’s a fair statement and logical due to the increase amount of internal wirings and control circuits for many of its capabilities. In fact, this is Fujitsu first ever high end handheld with full-blown waterproof function.

As an IPx7 certified devices, the F-01A Is designed to withstand immersion in one meter (39-inch) of water for up to 30 minutes. At a press meeting in Tokyo yesterday, the company demonstrated its brilliant design with the F-01A fully immersed in the water. According to Nikkie, the internal parts are well thought and engineered. The LCD panel is attached on the frame with double-coated sealing while the joined areas on the keyboard are water-repelled with rubber packing.

The FA300 is not exactly iPod nano thin, in fact while 3-inches long the wedge-shaped PMP is close to an inch deep at its thickest.  It’s lightweight, though, and rugged; Freestyle Audio had one demo unit operation while submerged in water, and the device is also rubber protected for surviving drops and bumps.

mirasol uses the same light-refracting concept behind butterfly wings to create a color display with very little power draw.  Electrically-controlled membranes overlaid onto a mirrored surface can selectively alter the wavelengths of light reflected back out of the display; the interference of different wavelengths lead to the different colors.  Since the mirror uses ambient light to make the screen visible, no backlighting is necessary; the membranes are also bistable, meaning that once set to create a specific color they require virtually no power to maintain it.

In practise, the mirasol displays lacked color saturation and, at 0.9-inches, are small compared to OLED and LCD.  Qualcomm have a 1.4-inch mirasol panel, with 176 x 144 160ppi resolution, lined up for mid-2009 availability, while the company told us that larger displays based on the technology are currently in working prototype form.  Part of the improvement process will be increasing color saturation.

No specific release date or pricing was given for the FA300 PMP.

This latest Sanyo offering still has the “pistol grip” design and it’s super tiny. However, much of the complaints regarding these cameras has had to do with their picture quality in the past. It remains to be seen if this new one delivers in that area, but its specs are rather impressive.

With 8 megapixels for stills and “face chaser” technology, the Xacti E8 may very well show itself to be an impressive camera.

Check out the rest of the specs below:

Records MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video at 640×480 pixels
8 megapixel still images
60 fps video recording (in TV-HR mode)
5 frames per second still image shooting (at 2 Megapixels)
Face Chaser technology
Capacity: 8 hours of video or 2000 8-megapixel still images on a single 8GB SDHC memory card
2.5-inch LCD
CMOS sensor
5x optical zoom
Image stabilizer
2.8 by 4.4 by 1.6 inches
9.1 ounces
$400

[via Gadget Lab at Wired]

This portable TV can be near water without incident. It has an IPX7 and IPX6 waterproof rating, which means it can be submerged for 30 minutes at a depth of 3.3 feet. A device that can last in the water for a second is a good deal to me!

This tiny LCD screen has 480×272 resolution and supports 16.7 million colors. It also possesses a 1Seg TV tuner for viewing content over the air, but you can also watch content that is preloaded onto the device’s 2GB of internal memory. FM radio is also included. This BRAVIA runs off of AA cells and an internal battery. If you live in Japan, you can get your own starting October 30 for about $368.

[via Electronista]

This watch features world time with 29 time zones, auto daylight savings time adjustments, a dual electroluminescent backlight, a timer, alarm functions and a stopwatch. As if that weren’t enough, this G-Shock lives up to its name, being both shock and water resistant.

The best part has to be the price. You can pick up your very own watch for just $99, and that’s really not too bad for the included features and overall look.

[via Oh!Gizmo]

You can safely submerge your player in this case down to 12 feet and the “ClearTouch” window lets you actually use the multi-touch features of your iPod touch or iPhone while underwater. One thing I have to wonder, however, is how you’d be able to see the screen while swimming. Isn’t it positioned on the outside of your arm when strapped on?

Maybe I’m thinking about it too hard. Anyway, the Amphibx Waterproof Armband retails for about $80 and will keep your gadgets in a dry, airtight environment.

[via Boing Boing Gadgets]

The PA-15BA7 has composite and S-Video inputs and a quoted max resolution of 1027 x 768. PROVIEW also lashings of picture and audio fettling, including a 3D Comb Filter, Dynamic Audio Adjustment, Edge Adaptive Processing, PROVIEW Color Enhancement and 3D Video Noise Reduction. Whether any of these warrant being activated – or make for a noticeable difference when you’ve filled the bathroom with steam and just want to sing along to MTV – remains to be seen.

Sound is courtesy of a pair of 3 Watt speakers, and the 14.8 x 3.4 x 12.7 inch set is wall-mountable. Of course, PROVIEW don’t just want you to consider it for the bathroom. They also suggest it’s ideal for kitchens, pools, spas, or other “high splash” areas.

[via Krunker]

Then you get underwater surround sound quality audio for however long the 9-volt and AA battery combo lasts. This set is good for 128MB worth of music and a depth of up to 200 feet, which isn’t bad for $99.

There are several issues that come to mind when I even consider scuba diving with something in/on my ears, and all of them point towards it being a bad idea. However, if you are just swimming around in a pool, or snorkeling in a pond or something like that, it might not be a bad investment as it could keep things fun.

[via uberreview]