Items tagged with Rugged
Well look at that, Samsung is rolling out a new Galaxy smartphone! This one is not intended for consumer use, though. Called the Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition (TE), this newest member of the Galaxy family is a rugged, "mission-ready" handset designed for the "unique needs of operators in the federal government and Department of Defense." Clumsy consumers with slippery fingers will have to look elsewhere. "With a highly customized software and feature set, the Galaxy S20 TE can operate seamlessly with a range of existing peripherals and supports the requirements of tactical and classified applications, especially those designed to help operators navigate complex terrain, expansive distances, and...
Read more...
Acer has been on the Chromebook bandwagon since it began and has learned a thing or two about the platform. The biggest lesson is that any electronic device that is primarily intended for the education market needs to leave fragility at the door. To that end, Acer's new Chromebook 11 C771 packs a few performance upgrades into a rugged design that is not going to shatter into a thousand pieces if dropped.That is not just for the benefit of kids who are still developing their motor skills, but also school administrators, teachers, and everyone else involved the hustle and bustle of a busy school day. The same can be said for business users, though the audience outside of education is a bit smaller...
Read more...
Some people have relatively low risk jobs, where the biggest hazard is getting pricked by a staple or poked by a thumbtack. Take Bob from accounting, for example. He sits in his office and crunches numbers that get plugged into spreadsheets all day and for Bob, his thin and light Dell laptop serves him just fine. Then there's Barbara. She's a scientist studying volcanic activity and her job often requires treading rocky terrain in intense heat while recording critical data in the field. Come rain or shine, she's out there with her laptop. Likewise, her husband Joe is a demolitions expert and spends his days on various construction sites, oftentimes climbing over all kinds rubble and debris. For...
Read more...
One of the many perks of working at a publication like HotHardware is that we get to attend a wide array of different technology-related events. GPU Tech Days, the Consumer Electronics Show, processor deep dives, smartphone launches -- you name it, and we're there. This Notebook Still Worked After Being Thrown Off The Boat Onto The Rocks Below... At many of these events we get hands-on time with the latest and greatest gadgets and components, sometimes in exotic locations, but there's typically a predictable cadence. Arrive, get situated, learn some new things, maybe have a bit of fun, and then head home. But every once in a long while, things get a little crazy. Like, trying to destroy a $5,000...
Read more...
Do you want a rugged laptop or do you prefer a thin and light notebook? Typically you had to choose between one or the other, though Panasonic is looking to change the game with its new Toughbook CF-54, a semi-rugged system that's the thinnest and lightest Toughbook in its category. So, it has that going for it, but it's also well equipped with the latest 5th Generation Intel Core i5-5300U vPro CPU. The Toughbook CF-54 is a 14-inch laptop with HD (1366x768) and Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) display options, the latter of which uses an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel with glove-enabled touch support. It's also viewable in sunlight, whereas the HD model uses a TFT panel to keep costs...
Read more...
Storage on-the-go often comes with compromises, though Drobo is doing its best to eliminate most of them with its new "Drobo Mini with SSD," a portable and rugged storage solution that uses solid state drives. According to Drobo, ideal candidates for its expandable storage device include filmmakers, photographers, and creative professionals who need to capture and protect data while on location, and then safely transport footage and photos back to the studio for post-processing. The Drobo Mini sports four 2.5-inch SSD drive bays and an mSATA accelerator option. If one of the drives fails, the Drobo Mini will automatically repair itself and return to a protected state while still providing full...
Read more...
In a world where for some reason there are schools think that outfitting students with delicate and expensive iPads is a good idea, Intel Education has designed a rugged tablet that may actually survive the toughest test there is: kids K-12. The Android-based Amplify Tablet was built specifically for “the K-12 environment” with Corning Gorilla Glass, ruggedized edges that can survive drops, some level of waterproofing, and a tethered stylus. (The key there being “tethered”.) The tablet runs on a dual-core Intel Atom chip (2GHz) and also features a 10.1-inch touch display and 5MP rear- and 1.3MP rear cameras. There are microHDMI and microUSB ports, as well as a 2x2 MIMO...
Read more...
Stealth specializes in the industrial computer and peripherals market, and its newest product, the LPC-480FS, fits right in with that mold. It's a rugged mini PC that doesn't have any cooling fans, so other than any electrical noise that might possibly emanate from the system, it's silent rig designed for a variety of demanding applications, the company says. Heat is the biggest concern with any PC, especially silent systems that skimp or skips on active cooling. In this case, the system is housed in an extruded aluminum chassis that acts like a giant heatsink. The system measures just 6.1 inches wide by 10 inches deep by 2.17 inches high, roughly the size of a hard cover book, according to Stealth's...
Read more...
Remember Polaroid? Yeah, that Polaroid. The brand that helped define an entire era of photography has had some ups and downs over the years, with more "downs" in recent years. But now, the company is staging a comeback by producing items that are far more germane in today's society. The latest is the XS80, a mountable HD action camera designed to rival GoPro and the like. It'll take 1080p30 video in the wild, making it ideal for recording extreme sports. It's housed in a waterproof case along with anti-shake technology, and it's even shock + impact resistant. Additionally a variety of mounts that come standard allow video and still images to be captured virtually anywhere. Polaroid XS80 Specs...
Read more...
Sprint and Kyocera announced the new Kyocera Torque ultra-rugged smartphone. This smartphone is Sprint's first ultra-rugged smartphone to offer 4G LTE connectivity. The Torque runs on Android and is designed to withstand dust, drops, vibration, solar radiation, humidity, blowing rain, low pressure, salt fog, and extreme temperatures. The phone can also withstand a dunk in water up to one meter for up to 30 minutes. The Torque will also be the first handset in the US to feature Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver audio technology. This technology eliminates the need for a traditional speaker. Instead, vibrations are used to transmit sounds directly to the eardrum. This technology promises excellent...
Read more...
With its orange bumper and snow-white housing, the LaCie Rugged looks downright dainty. But LaCie says that the portable SSD can handle 4-foot drops and is meant to withstand the rigors of frequent shipping. Toughness aside, what makes the device really interesting is its dual USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports and support for bus power. According to LaCie, the Rugged offers up to 380MB/s bus-powered speeds. You’ll need to use electrical Thunderbolt cables (as opposed to faster optical Thunderbolt cables) to bus power the device. The box includes an electrical Thunderbolt cable and a USB 3.0 cable, so you’re good to go. LaCie is releasing the Rugged in 120GB ($199.99) and 256GB...
Read more...
There's really just a single name in tough PCs these days, at least on the mainstream front, and that's Toughbook. Panasonic's Toughbook line has been taking beatings in the field for quite a while, and now the Toughbook 19 Convertible Tablet PC is getting a refresh. The unit now ships with Intel's Core i5-3320M vPro processor (up to 3.3GHz), and an innovative ambient light sensor, allowing automatic backlight shut-off to improve battery life. There's also expanded storage -- up to 500GB of 7200RPM space, shock-mounted with a quick release hinge. There's a 10% improvement in battery life (up to 10 hours or so), an added USB 3.0 port, Interlink’s VersaPad for improved touchpad performance...
Read more...
DRS Technologies unveiled three new rugged tablets that are designed to withstand drops, temperature extremes, water, and more. All three new models are part of the company's Armor line. The ARMOR X7et runs Microsoft Windows 7 Professional and features an Intel Atom Z670 processor. This tablet weighs less than 1.5 pounds and promises six hours of battery life. The ARMOR X7ad in an Android-based tablet running on Android v3.2. This tablet weighs 1.3 pounds and offers a battery life of up to eight hours. The ARMOR X7ad uses an NVIDIA Tegra 2 1.0Ghz dual core processor. Both of these tablets have a 7-inch outdoor-readable multi-touch display and are certified to MIL-STD 810G. DRS also announced...
Read more...
There's rugged, and then there's professional-grade. Sometimes, they mix, and in the case of cameras, Olympus is mixing the two quite well with the new Tough TG-1 iHS. This just might be the most impressive "rugged" camera we've seen yet, combining high-end photographic qualities typically reserved for nice mirrorless units with a hardened, trail-ready shell. The new cam fits into the Tough Series, making it waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof and even dustproof. There's a high-speed f/2.0 lens, support for 1080p movie capturing and a 3" OLED display on the rear. More specs? Why, of course. There's a TruePic VI image processor, 10x zoom (digital), burst shooting -- a rare thing on...
Read more...
Lenovo is hoping to attract the attention of schools and students with the introduction of a new laptop that has been ruggedized for education. Lenovo recognizes that kids can be hard on electronics, so the company has designed the new ThinkPad X130e with a reinforced and extra durable top cover, keyboard and hinges. Key durability features include a top cover rubber bumper, reinforced and recessed ports, stronger hinges, and a stronger bezel. This 11.6-inch ultraportable laptop offers AMD Fusion E-300 and E-450 or Intel second generation Core i3-2367M ULV processors. You'll also find AMD Radeon or Intel HD-powered graphics onboard. The ThinkPad X130e weighs less than four pounds and touts a...
Read more...
There's rugged, there's durable, and then there's GammaTech. This company has been pumping out wildly durable laptops for years, and their newest rugged piece of computing equipment follows that trend nicely. The Durabook S15C2 is an upgraded war-machine equipped with a 15.6" LCD (1920x1080), a magnesium alloy case that's 20 times stronger than ABS plastic, and is tested to Mil-Standard 810G for drop and shock resistance. A flexible HDD cable design absorbs shock from drops, while anti-shock mounting technology around the LCD helps protect the screen from accidental damage. Additional protection is provided by the unit’s unique spill-resistant design that protects the LCD, keyboard and...
Read more...
Not every gadget has to be pretty, particularly if they serve a very specific purpose. Rugged gadgets in particular have a tendency to be somewhat unsightly. Elektrobit's latest phone isn't breaking any expectations on that front, but who would expect anything else from an Android-based platform designed for defense and public safety markets? The EB Specialized Device Platform allows Elektrobit's customers to benefit from the commercial technologies driving the rapid growth of the consumer wireless device market while giving market specific features and device type customization to specialized market organizations. As a smartphone-tablet platform, organizations get a 'made-to-order' mobile device...
Read more...
It surely isn't the prettiest of machines, but what rugged beast of a laptop ever is beautiful? And moreover, if you're buying a laptop that can take a beating, do you really care? GammaTech has made a living from producing high-end, highly-rugged notebooks that can take a beating in the field. The company's newly revised Durabook U12C is equipped with a convertible swivel LCD touch screen that enables rapid switching between notebook and tablet modes. In highly secure environments – from movie sets through special operations stakeouts - the one-click stealth mode operation disables all light and sounds from the unit. The U12C is designed with an Integrated Ergonomic handle for ease of...
Read more...
New portable hard drives seem to be popping up today at a blistering pace, but one thing most of 'em can't handle is severe drop. That's where Clickfree's newest drive comes in. The company's auto-backup line is gaining a new member this week, with the introduction of the C2 Rugged. This toughened-up drive claims to be the planet's only rugged portable drive with "automatic set-up and installation." It's built to U.S. military standards, and will continue to operate after drops from as high as four feet. The drive contains an EasyRun feature that will automatically start, search, organize and backup a user's data whenever it's connected to a Mac or PC. All a person needs to do is plug the Clickfree...
Read more...
Think that Intel's newest processors are fit only for consumer machines? Think again! Logic Supply makes systems that few average consumers ever see, but those in the enterprise (and those who go on field missions) will recognize the brand. Now, the company's small form factor AU912 has been updated with new CPUs, the updated Core i5 and Core i7. It's described as a rugged, industrial system designed for demanding environments, and it's built to be resistant to shock and vibration, and is protected against damage due to grease, dust, or dirt exposure. Pairing an AU912 with a solid state drive further increases reliability and allows the system to withstand up to 20 G/11 ms of shock and 3 G of...
Read more...
DRS Technologies has been produced rugged, hardcore gear for some time, and they aren't stopping now. The company just announced that their ARMOR X10gx rugged tablet has been approved for connectivity on the Sprint 3G network. This certification will enable ARMOR customers that utilize the integrated WWAN capabilities of the X10gx on Sprint’s network, and honestly, it'll be a rarity when it comes out. It's tough to find WWAN-enabled tablets right now (aside from just a handful of newcomers), but a rugged one? That's pretty much unheard of. The ARMOR X10gx met several technical requirements to achieve certification on Sprint’s network. The fully rugged tablet was tested in several...
Read more...
These kinds of desktops aren't for everyone. In fact, they aren't for too many people at all. But if you're in need for a hardcore desktop to take on crazy field missions, NextComputing offers some of the best around. These things are truly huge and rugged, specifically designed to withstand all sorts of hardcore/extreme conditions. The Vigor EX is built with high-end workstation performance in mind, all encased in a durable chassis to handle the beatings it will likely take on field jobs. It's an all-in-one system as well, featuring a dual-chassis design with a shock-mounted internal chassis suspended in a rugged, mil-anodized external chassis with no metal-to-metal contact. Customers can select...
Read more...
