It is often said that the pen is mightier than the sword, but the Impromptu Tactical Pen from Gerber lives up to that saying and not just in what you can write with it. It features a glass-breaking steel tip that can still “write in the rain” as well as upside down. It is a rugged writing instrument that features a machined steel body that is durable enough to survive just about anywhere.
The video below shows what else this mighty pen can do. Video after the jump
Fitness watches that are meant for running, swimming and cycling aren’t the kind of thing you’d want to wear when you’re not working out. The Monblanc Sport DLC Chronograph Watch will look good anytime. It is durable enough for outdoor activity, and features a hardened stainless steel case that is thermally treated and coated with black carbon.
While wrist watches aren’t something everyone appreciates these days, this is a fitness watch for those with a sense of style.
Klipsch Audio makes some great speaker system for home theater and even the computer desktop. The stylish speakers look as good as they sound and are the sort of thing that you’d want to treat with serious respect.
However, sound is what really matters and now audiophiles can take that quality with them and not worry about the elements. Klipsch has announced its new Image S4i Rugged Headphones that can stand up to Mother Nature’s bad side. Designed for music and more these can be used to enjoy and experience iPhone music and phone calls, while oversized buttons mean you can control the sound even with bulky gloves. The in-ear headphones, which are available in yellow, orange, blue and red, feature oval ear tips that are designed to be comfortable for hours of wear. Continue reading Klipsch Introduces All-Weather Headphones
Sony’s upcoming Xperia acro S and Xperia go Android-based smart phones not only look stylish, but they are robust, too. They’re water resistant and dust-proof, with Sony even claiming the Xperia acro S has the “highest level of water resistance of any smart phone.” We’re not sure if you’d want to dunk them into water purposely, but they’d probably fare well in rainy conditions or poolside. But rather than just talk about it, Sony posted two videos demonstrating this rugged feature.
Rugged smart phones aren’t new for Sony, though, as their lineup already features the highly rugged Xperia active (released under the then-Sony Ericsson brand), but there’s no word, yet, of release stateside for any of these Xperia phones.
Olympus is one tough camera company, and by that we mean they have more than one tough camera for this year. Back in January we noted the got rugged with the Tough TG-320, a camera for the budget-minded shutterbug. Then a month later Olympus rolled out two more models, the TG-820 and TG-620. Now the company is showing it is tough enough and more with the new TG-1 iHS compact. Continue reading Olympus Does Rugged One More Time
If smartphones could defend themselves, the Rugby Smart would be the Rocky Balboa of Android phones.
The latest invinci-phone to enter the arena, the Rugby Smart bucks Samsung’s signature Galaxy S styling for a rugged exterior, joining the ranks of the Motorola Defy with the ability to withstand dust, humidity, rain, shock, and extreme temperatures. The military spec phone can even be dunked in up to 3 feet of water (for 30 minutes), making it an ideal pick for hikers and beach lovers alike. Continue reading Samsung Rugby Smart Packs Both Brains and Brawn
This week Panasonic announced that will re-enter the European mobile phone market with a waterproof, dustproof phone called the Eluga. While pricey – as much as $650 in American currency – the phones will utilized the Google Android OS.
The Eluga smartphone’s features include a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of internal RAM plus 8GB of internal flash memory (there is no mention of a microSD slot) and a 4.3″ 540 x 960 pixel qHD touchscreen display. It is reportedly waterproof and dustproof rated to IP57 standards, and it can be immersed in a maximum of 1.5 metres of water for 30 minutes.
Panasonic is currently the leader in the UK market for “ruggedized products” and the company is looking to build on the success of the products in its Toughbook laptop line. No word on whether the Eluga would arrive in America, but we’re sure to hear more about it at next week’s Mobile World Congress from Barcelona.
Let’s face it – Apple notebooks aren’t cheap, so when it comes to protection, you want more than just a plastic sleeve with a funky design. Enter the Blackbox Bamboo Case for the MacBook Pro and iPad. These cases will have your MacBook running with the very best rugged laptops.
Handcrafted from solid bamboo, the cases were made to protect your Apple kit at all costs giving it hardshell protection from falls, scratches, and dents. Each case is also treated with a water-resistant finish to guard your laptop from rain or the accidental splash of coffee. Design-wise, the cases fit snugly around your MacBook/iPad and each case features a laser-cut leather strap and wool-felt liner. The cases do add a little bulk to your device, and a small portion of your device remains exposed (the portion surrounding the leather carry strap), but with prices starting at $99, it’s a small grievance for what could be a life-saving shield for your MacBook or iPad.
Blackbox Case Official Website
[via Gigaom: Blackbox bamboo MacBook Air case is beautiful and takes a beating]
There are plenty of rugged point and shoot digital cameras on the market, and these can survive in very harsh environments, but what if you need to bring along your digital SLR camera? These tend to need a little more protection. Fortunately a new Kickstarter project is working on the Cam Crate, a hardened case that will protect just about any full sized DSLR along with its lens.
The case is made out of a hard, molded plastic, while the inside features soft foam to ensure that the camera can survive those bumps in the roads and even a toss or two. The container features a water seal and latch, and reportedly floats. The Cam Crate is still in the development stage but it could be ideal for adventure travelers and those who want to bring their SLR into the wilds. Video after the jump
The U.K. will get a limited edition of the Android-based Motorola Defy+ with a rugged shell from construction and demolition company JCB. The added layer, or armor, on the phone will keep your phone protected, regardless of your extreme activities. If it takes a fall, you won’t have to worry so much. The built-in case improves the phone’s shock resistance capabilities.
In addition to the armor, the limited edition phone will come bundled with apps such as Therodolite, Spirit Level, Torch, Decibel Reader and B&Q store locator. The Motorola Defy+ with JCB features is an exclusive, limited edition phone available December 6 exclusively from Clove in the U.K.
[via Ubergizmo: Motorola Defy+ gets JCB treatment, becomes even more rugged]
There is another competitor in the rugged, wearable HD video camera market as the Swann FreeStyle HD has arrived. This camera, which features detachable LCD viewer and 3X digital zoom, can be enclosed in a sturdy case (included) that is waterproof to 65-feet. The Swann FreeStyle HD lives up the name and can capture 1080p HD video (1920×1080) at 30fps with stereo audio. In still camera mode it can shoot 8MP in both single-shot and rapid fire.
As with other rugged outdoor cameras it can be worn on the body, mounted on a bike, or on a helmet for skiing, skateboarding or just about any other outdoor activity. It comes with a variety of interchangeable mounts and brackets, while a remote control allows the wearer/user to operate the camera even when it is out of arms’ reach. Continue reading Wearable Swann Camera Takes Flight
When one thinks of table computing, Apple’s iPad or one of the many Android-based varieties come to mind. Heck, maybe even a BlackBerry PlayBook or a now-defunct HP TouchPad. But try to think of a rugged tablet, and you may be hard-pressed to come up with any. In truth, rugged portable computers have been around for a long time, but they aren’t exactly the chic portables that you currently see billboard ads for. Take Glacier Computer’s new T507K, for example.
Some mobile phones are built with more ruggedized features than others, but phone manufacturers often focus on drop and impact yet ignore some main culprits threatening a phone’s integrity: moisture, dirt and screen integrity. These are the main targets for the newly unveiled Motorola DEFY+, an Android-based phone that stands up to environment.
The DEFY+ runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Google’s latest version of the mobile operating system. The new operating system is optimized to work smarter, faster, and offers better battery life so you can go longer without plugging in.
The features we like are the water resistant, dust proof and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass properties of the phone. We’ve tested Corning’s Gorilla Glass, and compared to the display glass used on most phones, this new glass stands up to threats such as keys, rocks and other sharp objects. It takes quite a bit of pressure before the glass shows any signs of distress. So you can put this in your pocket and not worry if the phone’s display dances with other gear you have stored alongside it. Continue reading Motorola’s Rugged New DEFY+