Whether you’re going snorkeling in Maui or you’ve been deployed to the dusty battlefield of the Middle East, a regular old point and shoot camera just isn’t going to cut it. You need something rugged. You need something that is waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, making it reliable for all kinds of weather conditions. And now you can get one on sale.

The Nikon COOLPIX AW100 is a waterproof digital camera that can really withstand the elements and it’s currently on sale for about $125 off the regular price. It’s totally rugged, so you can dunk it in water as deep as 33 feet. You can also drop it from heights of up to 5 feet (shockproof) and use it in the dead of winter with freezeproof capabilities down to 14F (-10C). Well, I guess it depends on where you are for said winter.

As far as the tech specs go, you can expect a 16MP CMOS sensor, GPS and e-Compass functions, full HD 1080p video, and even Points of Interest information that can be added to your photos. Other features include the 4x zoom, 3-inch display, “Action Control” for “easily adjusting settings when wearing gloves,” in-camera special effects, 3fps burst mode, and advanced VR image stabilization.

The regular price on the Nikon AW100 is about $350, but it’s on sale for $224 on Amazon, including free super saver shipping. Buy it now and you’ll be more than ready to tackle the slopes on your family’s ski trip this holiday season.

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[Source via PR]

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When you’re trying to get that perfect shot, mother nature doesn’t always agree with you. There could be rain, dust, and all sorts of other camera-destroying elements. If you’re in the market for a mid-range DSLR that can handle rugged environments, the new Pentax K-30 is a compact, lightweight option.

The key selling point here is the weather resistant body, being able to withstand less than ideal weather, as well as dust and cold. “Every seam, every button, every hinge has been weather sealed for adventure-proof creative photography,” says Pentax Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing John Carlson. “Whether enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking in the Rocky Mountains or on vacation cruising along the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls, photographers can stop worry about weather conditions and start focusing on capturing the perfect shot.”

You get a 16MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor, 1080p full HD video recording at 30fps, 6fps burst rate, up to 1/6000s shutter, dual electronic dials, SAFOX IXi+ autofocus module, and an ISO range of 100 to 12800, which can be further expanded to ISO 25600 with a custom function. The optical viewfinder offers 100% field of view and you get Advanced Live View too. Power can come by way of the included lithium-ion battery or with four AA batteries via the optional D-BH109 adapter.

Expect the Pentax K-30 to sell for $849.99 (body only) and $899.95 (including DA L 18-55mm lens) this July.

[Source]

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Although many believe that there is no need for a case for the iPhone, we think that’s a really bad idea. That is why we let you know whenever an awesome case is introduced. The new product that you see above is the AQUA TEK S case for iPhone 4 and 4S from Snow Lizard Products, and it does more than just protect your iPhone from falls and hits.

The AQUA TEK S is waterproof and boasts a dirt resistant poly-carbonate ruggedized casing, which promises protection for your iPhone during your roughest treks. You can dive with it up to a depth of 20 ft (6 m) and it will be comfortable in the hands all thanks to the rubber grips.

The new case also features a solar panel on its back that will recharge a built-in battery to ensure that your device has an extended life. Meanwhile, the phone can be recharged and synched by opening the thumb screw at bottom of the case. The case’s battery has not yet been finalized, so the unit’s capacity is not available at the moment. But all that protection will make your device a bit bulky, but that’s always better than a broken iPhone.

And there are the usual cut-outs which will allow you access to the device’s touchscreen, volume buttons, speakers and the camera. The case will be available in nine different colors including Signal Orange, Black Night, Urban Camo, Reggae Camo, Navy Camo, Desert Camo, Jungle Camo, Pink Camo and Leopard.

The AQUA TEK S is a kickstarter project and they are looking to raise $75,000. So far, the project has raised over $10,000, with 23 days to go. If it enters production, the case is expected to retail for $129.99.

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Designed “with extreme sports enthusiasts in mind,” this phone represents the a larger partnership between the two brands, stretching out to major Billabong events around the world. They’ve also got exclusive wallpapers and other mobile content for the Billabong Edition smartphone, as well as the Billabong Surf Trip game for the Xperia Play PlayStation phone.

Realistically, the Billabong Edition handset is just a branded version of the existing Sony Ericsson Xperia active. This means that it has IP67 certification for dust and water resistance, as well as “wet finger tracking” technology on its smaller 3-inch touchscreen display. It’s tough and scratch resistant. Rounding out the extreme specs are a 5MP camera, FM radio with RDS, Timescape, DLNA support, Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, and Google Android. Plus that handy loop for your lanyard or carabiner clip.

Look for it in “select markets” starting now.

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It seems that Pantech is finally diving head first into the tablet market with the Element. The Element is a waterproof tablet that is designed to withstand a good splash, you can even submerge the new tablet in one meter of water for up to thirty minutes. Of course the question begs, why would you want to do that? Still, it’s nice to know there is finally a good tablet option for those of us that love going to the beach or pool.

The Element runs on a dual-core 1.5Ghz Snapdragon processor, has HDMI-out, 1080p video playback, and a 5MP camera. Of course, you only get Android 3.2 for now, though it is planned to have an upgrad path to Android 4.0 in the near future.

Outside of its fairly beefy specs, what really makes the Element stand out is that it will be the first tablet to feature Immersion’s Hi-Def Haptics technology that was soon off at CES. The Pantech Element combines a single piezo actuator from Samsung Electro-Mechanics Corp and the DRV-8662 haptic piezo driver from TI with Immersion’s TouchSense 5000 control software and MOTIV integrator tools.

Sounds complicated doesn’t it. So what does it all really mean? Simply put, it means it has cutting edge touch feedback effects.

Here is what Dennis Sheehan, Immersion’s vice president of marketing, had to say about the Immersion technology that will be found in the Element:

“Immersion’s TouchSense 5000 software takes advantage of the unique capabilities of high-fidelity actuators to create responsive and distinct haptic effects. By working with Pantech to customize the Element with our MOTIV Integrator, we developed an intuitive and engaging user experience. Users not only receive subtle and compelling enhancements to their device navigation, but they also receive enlivening haptic feedback for multi-media content.”

Overall this translates out to: Pantech’s first tablet is certainly no slouch by any means. The 8-inch tablet is also reasonably priced at $300 with a two-year contract and is planned for a January 22 release date.

[ source ]

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If you have dropped your phone in the toilet, sink, swimming pool, or pond, you’re going to love Fujitsu. The device in the photo above is being is a new waterproof smartphone from Fujitsu, dubbed the ARROWS ES IS12F.

The ARROWS claims to be the “world’s thinnest smartphone”, and thin it is, measuring in at just 6.7mm.  That beats Motorola’s RAZR sitting in at 7.1mm but just a bit thicker than Huawei’s newly revealed at 6.68mm  P1 S.

Although being waterproof and thin, the device does come with decent specs. The ARROWS runs the Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, comes with a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 processor,  4 inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 × 800 and 100,000:1 contrast ratio and the front of the device is cased in Corning’s Gorilla Glass.

Other features include 1GB ROM, 512MB of RAM, a 5.1 MP CMOS camera, Bluetooth 2.1 and Wi-Fi connectivity, DLNA support and a microSDHC memory card slot. And all that is packed into a body that weighs in at only 105g.

Just in case you are wondering, the handset could withstand water up to 1.5 meters (4.5 feet) for up to 30 minutes.

The Fujitsu ARROWS was unveiled in Japan in December, and is now being shown off at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. It is currently intended only for the company’s home market, but is expected to hit some carriers from around the world sometime in the near future. We haven’t got any hints regarding pricing; we will let you as soon as it’s available. So, stay tuned.

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This higher end GPS watch is waterproof up to 50 meters, letting you keep your tracking going even when you’re going for a dip in the pool or the lake. There are sensors that can provide detailed swim metrics, like distance, speed, pace, elevation, heart rate, strokes, pool lengths, and even your “swolf score,” which describes your swimming efficiency.

The watch can be used for other sports too, like biking, hiking, and running, but it’s clear that the waterproof-ness is lending itself to the more aquatic end of the equation. You can expect 20 hours of battery life, vibe alerts, and a “Virtual Racer” feature that lets you race against yourself. The Garmin ForeRunner 910XT is shipping now for $400.

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The earphones are available in three colors: white, blue and pink and can be purchased for a price tag of $60.

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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.

[via Olympus]

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