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Olympus TOUGH TG-810 Camera Withstands 100kg of Crushing Force

Michael Kwan — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:47:03 +0000

Have you ever accidentally sat on your phone, camera, MP3 player, or other portable electronic device? There’s a possibility that you broke something. With the Olympus TOUGH TG-810, apparently you don’t have to worry as much about that kind of thing.

Continuing with the rugged pedigree of the TOUGH line, the TG-810 will reportedly hold up to 100kg of crushing force. They’re saying that it’s a crushproof camera, thanks to things like the double-durable lens (and metal lens barrier) and port technology. It’s also scratch resistant, waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof.

The usual slate of technical specs runs like this: 14 megapixels, 5x wide zoom, ISO 80-1600, 720p HD video, manometer (checking water depth), GPS, electronic compass, TAP control mode, four underwater scene modes, 3D photo shooting mode, Pet Detection Mode, 3.0-inch display, SDXC support, and HDMI connectivity.

The styling cues won’t be for everyone and the picture quality likely won’t rival the company’s micro four-thirds offerings, but at least you can go snorkeling with the TOUGH TG-810 and get it trapped under a rock. Expect to see it this month for $400.

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.

[via Olympus]

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LifeProof Case for iPhone 4 Offers Military Spec Ruggedness

Michael Kwan — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 01:08:42 +0000

When it comes to super ruggedized cases for our portable electronics, one of the first names that comes to my mind is OtterBox. Unfortunately, most OtterBox cases can be quite bulky and not all that pocket-friendly. And so, we turn our attention over to the LifeProof iPhone 4 case.

The idea is to provide military spec protection in a case that doesn’t look all that bulky. In fact, the LifeProof case only adds 1.3mm of thickness to your iPhone 4. That’s no worse than the many non-military spec’d cases out there, but it’s obviously not as thin as something like Invisible Shield by Zagg.

As a rough and tumble case, the LifeProof case can submerge in up to 6.6 feet of water. It’ll also stand up to to dust, dirt, snow, six foot drops, and all sorts of other abuse. There’s even a “shock absorbing elastomer” to help with those unfortunate tumbles. I wouldn’t completely trust these cases for underwater photography, but it’s supposed to hold up to that too.

LifeProof might be a little late to the party with its new $69.99 case, so I’d hope that they’ll have a timelier release for the inevitable LifeProof iPhone 5 case.

[iPhone Guru]

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Toughen up any portable hard drive with the LaCie Tank

Michael Kwan — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:49:45 +0000

The folks at LaCie have been selling their own brand of rugged hard drives for quite some time. They can withstand all kinds of abuse while keeping your precious documents nice and safe. What if you want the same kind of ruggedness in a different drive? That’s where the LaCie Tank comes in.

It’s not a portable hard drive itself. Instead, the Tank is an IP-63 certified protective case that can wrap around most portable hard drives of the 2.5-inch variety. LaCie will obviously be happier if you choose to plunk a LaCie drive in there, but there’s no much stopping you from going with Western Digital, Seagate, or any number of other manufacturers.

The cool thing is that the LaCie Tank can also be used for other similarly-sized products, like your digital cameras, Nintendo DS, PSP Go, or whatever else you can shove in there. This could make the Tank which looks like the continous tracks of tank treads) a good choice for travel purposes, surviving random bumps and bruises your electronics may otherwise encounter along the way.

It’s currently listed on their UK site for just under 20 quid. That works out to about US$31.

[Lacie UK]

LaCie Tank: Battle-Ready Armour to Protect Your Data

· IP-63-certified: protects against dust and pouring rain
· Military-grade shock and drop resistant
· Customisable foam adjusts to your device
· Protects 2.5” hard drive, digital camera, Nintendo® DSTM lite or DSi

London, UK (7th December 2010) – LaCie announced today a resilient new hard drive case that protects hard drives against hazardous situations – the LaCie Tank, design by Neil Poulton. An ideal fit for 2.5″ HDDs, the LaCie Tank is strong enough to drop in a suitcase or shipping box and accessible enough to use every day.

A hard, rugged shell made of rubber and polypropylene snaps securely around your device, keeping out dust and rain. This robust exterior is also shock-resistant and tested against military-grade drop requirements, protecting your data from catastrophic drops. It’s manufactured in Italy for guaranteed durability.

Additionally, the LaCie Tank’s padded interior can be customised to fit any shape and size, guaranteeing your hard drive is cushioned and snug for any type of transportation. Simply remove foam cubes to fit your device precisely. The Tank is an easy, versatile way to protect your digital content.

“Customers have told us about the myriad of places they take hard drives, and LaCie developed the Tank just for them, providing armour for your hard drive as the name suggests,” Claire Rivallan, Consumer Accessories Product Manager. “There are so many elements that can damage invaluable data, which we aimed to eliminate with this design. The Tank can even keep data safe and dry in a hurricane – an unparalleled safeguard.”

LaCie Tank can also be configured to carry other portable electronic devices, such as digital cameras and Nintendo DS lite or DSi consoles. Offering military-grade ruggedness, the LaCie Tank is truly a fortress for your digital content.

Availability
The LaCie Tank is available through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, LaCie Reseller+ starting at £19.99. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com/uk.

About Neil Poulton
Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in Industrial Design from Edinburgh University and Milan’s Domus Academy, Poulton first came into public view in 1989 as the creator of “the ageing pens,” pens made from a “living,” wearing plastic that changes colour and form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and develops best-selling, award-winning products for a variety of international clients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has lived and worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com.

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Dell expands Latitude E-Family laptops, includes the semi-rugged E6410 ATG

Michael Kwan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:51:55 +0000

Dell Latitude E6410 ATG Rugged Notebook

Dell continues to be one of the biggest computer companies on the planet, so you know that they have to trudge ahead with new units from time to time. Continuing with this, Dell has expanded its Latitude line with at least three new E-series notebooks.

Well, that’s not completely true. They’re not completely new, per se. Instead, the Dell Latitude E-Family got “refreshed” with some “enterprise-class control, design, and collaboration for mobile computing needs.”

On the mainstream front, you can expect to find the “dependable and stylish” Dell Latitude E6410 ($1,129+) and E64510 ($1,164+). The former gets a 14.1-inch screen, whereas the latter bumps that up to 15.6-inches. They both get 3-megapixel cameras, optional discrete graphics from NVIDIA, Fast Response Free Fall Sensor, and the optional Dell Latitude ON instant-boot environment.

If you need something a little tougher, you can take the “semi-rugged” route with the Dell Latitude E6410 ATG. It also has a 14.1-inch screen like its non-ATG compatriot, but this version meets military standards for shock, vibration, temperature, humidity, and altitude.

All three laptops get secure fingerprint authentication, contactless card readers, one-time-password token capabilities, and intelligement management solutions.

Dell Latitude E series notebook Gallery

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