In the event Sonim’s existing XP2 wasn’t quite rugged enough for you… well, first of all, we’re curious what exactly it is that you do for a living. Secondly, though, you might want to take a look at the just-announced XP1300 Core, allegedly the world’s first GSM handset to receive an IP-68 rating for submersion to two meters of liquid for up to 30 minutes — a feat Sonim calls “a breakthrough in waterproofing technology.” It’s got a media player, but that’s just about the only creature comfort you’re going to find on a phone whose death-proof shell is fashioned from a hardened rubber and fiberglass mix. Naturally, the 2-inch display uses Gorilla Glass… and realistically, the phone itself could probably be used by actual gorillas without missing a beat. It ships next month for $399 unsubsidized in your choice of black or yellow.
Update: We just saw it for ourselves briefly at CTIA West, and the phone’s durable all right — Sonim brought a six-foot deep tube filled with water and a giant rock to the show especially for us to test it out. When we dropped it onto the boulder from head height, it just bounced right off, and then the company had us call an XP1300 while it was still submerged.
I have talked about some of Sonim’s rugged mobile phone offerings in the past like the XP3 Sentinel. Sonim has unveiled a new rugged phone called the XP1300 core. The new phone is claimed to be a breakthrough in waterproofing tech as the world’s first IP-68 rated GSM handset.
The phone can be submersed fully in 2 meters of water for 30 minutes and still operate. The phone also features a 2-inch screen that is scratch resistant and has a noise-cancelling microphone. The phone will be offered globally starting in November for $399 unlocked. The screen is covered in Gorilla Glass and the phone will survive drops of up to 2-meters onto concrete.
The battery is good for 18 hours of talk and 800 hours on standby. The IP-68 rating also means the phone can withstand dust and other micro-particles. The keypad has large spaces so it can be used while wearing gloves and the speaker is a 23mm unit offering more volume for loud environments.
Alright, Boulder owners, heads up — your upgrade has arrived. The rumored Casio G’zOne Ravine is now official for Verizon, offering a 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash, noise cancellation, VZ Navigator support, and — of course — MIL-STD-810G compliance for resistance to “water, dust, shock, vibration, humidity, altitude, salt fog, solar radiation, and high and low temperatures.” Salt fog can be brutal, can’t it? It’s also got push-to-talk capability over Verizon’s EV-DO network, though we suspect that ain’t a thing for most would-be Ravine buyers — serious push-to-talkers have long since rallied around Sprint and Boost, both of whom offered their own ruggedized gear. We don’t have a date just yet, but it’ll be “coming soon” for $149.99 after $50 rebate on a two-year contract.
Motorola’s ES400S isn’t exactly pretty – though we have to say it does have a certain rugged, purposeful charm – but it’s tough and flexible, even with Windows Mobile 6.5.3 as the OS. The “enterprise handheld device” (based on the regular ES400) is headed to Sprint at the end of October 2010, priced at a hefty $499.99 (with a new agreement) but capable of withstanding dust, four foot drops and bumps.
Specs include a 3-inch VGA resolution touchscreen, WiFi a/b/g and EVDO Rev.A, along with a GSM/HSPA for international roaming. There’s also GPS, 1GB of ROM and 256MB of RAM, and a 3.2-megapixel camera which can fire out a red line – just like supermarket scanners – for using it more easily with 1D and 2D barcodes. The regular battery is a 1,540mAh pack, but there’s an optional 3,080mAh pack if you’re looking for extra runtime.
Frankly this is of little interest to most people, but if you’re out in the field, want biometric security and are rough with your smartphones, the Sprint Motorola ES400S might be the handset for you. Just make sure you have deep pockets in all senses.
Press Release:
First Motorola Mobile Enterprise Handheld Device to be Branded, Stocked and Sold Through a Wireless Carrier, Motorola ES400S by Sprint, Available by End of October
Motorola ES400S offers access to the Sprint 3G network,
superior ruggedness, enterprise-class barcode reader capabilities,
built-in Biometric finger swipe security and a customizable enterprise user interface
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Sept. 28, 2010 – Businesses demand capable, secure and rugged devices to get the job done, and Motorola ES400S by Sprint (NYSE: S) will soon be the ideal enterprise mobile device to do just that. Offering integrated voice and data capabilities that can unleash the full potential of mobile professionals, Motorola ES400S by Sprint is designed to transform business operations, increase enterprise profitability, and help teams complete their jobs anywhere and anytime.
Available by the end of October, for as low as $499.99 for qualifying business customers or $549.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement, Motorola ES400S requires a Sprint® Business Advantage Messaging and Data plan or an Everything plan with data.
Motorola ES400S is the first Motorola enterprise handheld device to be carrier-branded, stocked and sold to businesses of all sizes through Sprint sales channels, including Business Sales, Sprint.com and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1). It will also be available through the Sprint Business Solutions Partners, which can provide value-added services, including advanced help desks and application integration.
Enterprise managers and workforces across field service, field sales, healthcare, retail, utilities, manufacturing and transportation/distribution industries will benefit from the device’s compact design and mobile access to business-critical applications and back-end systems.
“Motorola ES400S was built with the business user in mind and expands Sprint’s leadership in rugged devices,” said Danny Bowman, president – Integrated Solutions Group, Sprint. “With its compact size and access to advanced applications leveraging the Sprint 3G network, Motorola ES400S is a breakthrough enterprise-class device that can meet the needs of business users who are constantly seeking ways to boost individual and team productivity. Sprint is ideally positioned to offer business customers tools uniquely suited to meet their needs, and continues to build a reputation as an industry leader among companies searching for cost-effective wireless devices and applications.”
Built on Windows Embedded Handheld technologies, including the Windows Mobile 6.5.3 platform for seamless connectivity, application compatibility and support for industry-specific applications, advanced security and device management mobility needs, Motorola ES400S provides the familiarity of a desktop with an intuitive, customizable user interface for quick access to critical apps. Key enterprise-friendly features include:
Customizable Motorola Enterprise User Interface (MEUI) makes business-critical information and functions available with one key press. Includes enterprise-specific enhancements like photo annotation
Enterprise-class security including built-in Biometric fingerprint reader
Durable construction to withstand dust, drops and bumps, with certifications for MIL-STD 810G, for a 4-foot drop, and IP42 sealing specifications
3-inch VGA touchscreen
3.2 MP camera with red line aimer for easy barcode scanning and one-button push-to-scan for one- and two-dimensional barcode reading
Wi-Fi/802.11 a/b/g with Enterprise Security
1 GB ROM/256 MB RAM
CDMA EVDO Rev. A for domestic service and HSPA/GSM for international roaming
VoIP ready
GPS
Battery: 1540 mAh standard battery and 3080 mAh extended battery (sold separately)
Motorola ES400S is designed for task managers working hands-on in the field or in the office and juggling management responsibilities who rely on access to high-value data and applications to sustain productivity.
“We are pleased to be working with Motorola and Sprint to extend Windows and the benefits of cloud computing to the world of high-performance and connected enterprise handheld devices,” said Kevin Dallas general manager of the Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft Corp. “The future for enterprise handheld devices is endless, and the new Motorola ES400S powered by Windows Embedded Handheld (based on Windows Mobile 6.5.3 technologies) demonstrates opportunities for enterprises to boost the productivity of their mobile workforce with anytime, anywhere access to vital information.”
Motorola ES400S enables rich applications to be easily developed, ported and deployed on the device, while meeting enterprise security needs. It also includes the unique MEUI, providing users with a customizable business-class interface. Designed for efficiency and speed, MEUI features include:
one-touch access to applications
business-focused home screen
single touch barcode scanning
enterprise-class camera application
simplified call management screen with touch-friendly dial-pad
readily accessible device management tabs to eliminate the need to drill down through multiple menus and screens to adjust settings
Sprint has earned top honors in the competitive business marketplace – winning the #1 ranking for overall satisfaction for wireless voice service providers and a matching #1 ranking in overall satisfaction for wireless data service providers in a survey of large business decision makers, according to a comprehensive study by Yankee Group and Mobile Enterprise Magazine (www.mobileenterprisemag.com).1
The study indicated that Sprint ranked first in overall satisfaction in wireless voice and data, and in voice services, ranked first or second in nine of the 10 categories among large business customers.
You may not remember the Motorola ES400 announced back in June; it’s the first device to run Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Handheld platform, after all — an offshoot of WinMo 6.5.3 — and doesn’t have a whole lot of relevance to the average consumer. Well, let this be your refresher: Sprint has revealed that it intends to launch its own version of the phone, the ES400S, through a variety of Sprint sales channels next month, marking the first time an enterprise-oriented Moto has been branded and offered directly by a carrier. It meets a variety of standards for ruggedness and includes a 3-inch VGA display, full QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera (which actually performs the barcode scanning duties, not a traditional laser scanner), 802.11a / b / g, GPS, and both CDMA with EV-DO Rev. A and GSM / HSPA for international use. You get a 1540mAh battery in the box, but a whopping 3080mAh unit is available separately if you plan on enterprisin’ away from a charger for days on end. “Qualified” businesses will be able to get in on the ES400S starting sometime before the end of October for $499.99, while average Joes will have the option of paying $549.99 on a new two-year deal. Follow the break for the press release.
Even phone holster users (don’t be shy, we love you) have every reason to shy away from using most of today’s ultra-rugged business handsets from manufacturers like Symbol once they clock out for the day — they’re just too beastly, and typically, they trade every last ounce of ergonomic credibility in an effort to be as bulletproof as possible. That’s a problem that Intermec is looking to tackle head-on with the new CS40, a phone that makes few reliability concessions while stepping down to a true smartphone form factor (and if you look closely, you can even see some hints of style in there). Just how rugged are we talking? Intermec says it’ll survive multiple drops onto concrete from four feet onto all four corners, will stand up to dust and splashed liquids, and still manages to include a 2D barcode scanner so that you can perform your weekly inventory with flair. It’ll be available in QWERTY and numeric keypad variants in the fourth quarter, but never mind the styling: can you carry Windows Mobile Handheld knowing full well all the cool kids will have Windows Phone 7 by then? Follow the break for Intermec’s full press release.
Fact: the QWERTY clamshell Brigade is the only Casio G’zOne that Verizon currently sells. Fact: not everyone that wants a G’zOne wants a QWERTY clamshell (well, okay, that’s more of a suspicion of ours than a fact, really). Anyhow, looks like Big Red is finally getting around to replacing the now-discontinued Rock with a new model, the Ravine, which appears to carry over all of the G’zOne lines usual features and styling cues — most notably the ultra-rugged shell and push-to-talk capability. The external LCD reads Wednesday, September 29, which we suppose could be the launch date; in the meantime, we guess we’ll just have to continue being careful not to drop our phone into creeks or mud pits.
T-Mobile USA and Motorola have announced the Motorola DEFY, exclusive to the carrier and – bizarrely – making its public debut on the Oprah Winfrey Show today. Packing a 3.7-inch WVGA scratch-resistent touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera and waterproof/dustproof casing, the DEFY was first spotted in the UK at the start of the month.
OS is Android 2.1 – Motorola load Flash Lite into the browser, but there’s no Flash Player 10.1 and there won’t be until a Froyo update – and the Swype keyboard is also preloaded. The camera is paired with an LED flash, and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR social networking integration is also present.
No word on pricing or availability, beyond it being in stores in time for the holidays. Motorola UK previously said the DEFY would land in Q4 2010 in Europe.
Press Release:
Motorola Debuts DEFY™ on the Farewell Season Premiere of “The Oprah Winfrey Show”
Exclusively for T-Mobile USA, Motorola DEFY is Equipped to Withstand All That Life Throws Your Way
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. — September 13, 2010 — Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) unveiled the Motorola DEFY™ enhanced with MOTOBLUR™ on today’s 25th season premiere of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Slim and pocket-able, this smartphone powered by Android™, which is planned for exclusive U.S. availability to customers of T-Mobile USA, comes equipped with a 3.7-inch high-resolution and scratch-resistant touch screen display that provides edge-to-edge views of your favorite websites, photos and videos.
“DEFY is designed to handle everything that life throws your way,” said Bill Ogle chief marketing officer, Motorola Mobility, Inc. “With all the features consumers expect in a smartphone, DEFY packs Web browsing, entertainment and messaging capabilities as well as an exterior design that can withstand the stresses of everyday life.”
Motorola DEFY is scratch and water resistant as well as dust proof, protecting you from life’s little challenges such as a sudden rain shower to a drop in the sand. Pre-installed on the DEFY, CrystalTalk® PLUS vanquishes noisy environments with two microphones that intelligently filter out background noise and amplify your voice so you don’t have to shout.
“DEFY is essentially a connection hub wrapped in a layer of protection,” said Paul Cole, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “The unique and innovative form-factor of the DEFY provides you with the confidence to truly take your phone anywhere.”
An Adobe® Flash® Lite®-enabled Web browser and 3.7-inch WVGA screen allow you to view more of the Web than standard browsers. Choose from thousands of applications, widgets and games on Android Market™ and enjoy access to Google™ services including Google Search™, Google Maps™ and Gmail™.
With a durable form-factor and 5-megapixel camera featuring a flash, digital zoom and auto focus, the Motorola DEFY is the trusty companion to capture memories at the next family reunion or vacation. Part of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), DEFY enables you to stream, store and share content with compatible devices around the home such as HDTVs, game consoles and PCs. Also, the Connected Music Player provides the option to display lyrics to your songs and enables you to discover, buy and download music, right from your phone.
Availability
Motorola DEFY with MOTOBLUR is expected to be available exclusively to T-Mobile USA customers in time for the holidays. For more information on Motorola DEFY with MOTOBLUR, please visit here. To view images please visit here.
Rugged computer specialist Getac has outed its successor a sibling to the V100 convertible tablet PC, and as you might expect it’s no less sturdy. The Getac V200 has a 12.1-inch super-bright 1,200 nit multitouch-capable display, 2.0GHz Intel Core i7-620LM processor and WiFi b/g/n, but more importantly perhaps it’s MIL-STD-810G and IP65 compliant for resilience to dust, vibration, temperatures as low as -20 degrees centigrade and water.
Other specs include gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1, USB, VGA, RS232, eSATA, an SD card reader and PCMCIA, while GPS and 3G are optional. Buyers can optionally swap out the standard 320GB hard-drive for an 80GB SSD, too. Data security is taken care of with a smartcard reader, fingerprint scanner and hardware encryption, and you can swap the battery without having to completely shut down the tablet.
The touchscreen is resistive, which was an intentional decision: that means gloved fingers can use it, handy when you’re in icy conditions. We’re waiting to hear back on pricing.
Update: Getac tell us the V200 is priced between $3,799 and $5,099 depending on screen size and options ordered.
Update 2: Getac also says the V100 will remain on sale alongside the V200, offering users a choice of screen sizes.
Press Release:
GETAC INTRODUCES WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL FULLY RUGGED CONVERTIBLE POWERED BY AN INTEL CORE i7 2.0 GHZ PROCESSOR
IRVINE, CA. September 07, 2010– Getac, a leading innovator and manufacturer of rugged computers that meet the demands of field-based applications, is introducing its new V200 rugged convertible, the world’s most powerful fully rugged convertible notebook*. The V200 also offers more features and functions than previous models, making it one of the most useful all-purpose rugged convertibles on the market.
The V200 is powered by the advanced Intel Core i7-620LM processor running at 2.0GHz, MAX 2.8GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the most powerful processor available in a fully rugged convertible notebook to date. The 4MB of Intel L3 Smart Cache is readily available to each of the processor cores, improving efficiency while increasing processor speed. At only 25-watts consumption, the Core i7-620LM helps the V200 outperform other rugged convertibles by up to 47 percent.
Perfectly suited for vehicle mounting or field use, the notebook-to-tablet V200 convertible features a 12.1-inch wide screen display and comes standard with Getac’s exclusive 1200 NITs QuadraClear™ technology, enabling users to easily read and operate their computer under direct sunlight. In addition, the display offers a resistive multi-touch capability enabling workers to manipulate the screen by a series of single and multi-finger gestures even while wearing gloves—a necessity when working in extreme weather conditions or dangerous environments.
“The new V200 is the most powerful and feature rich fully rugged convertible available,” explains Jim Rimay, president, Getac. “Its rugged design, fast processor and extensive features and functions make it the most useful, all-purpose tool for field-based applications in the industry.”
Weighing under 6 pounds, the V200 is MIL-STD-810G and IP65 compliant, adding to its rugged design and flawless performance in harsh environments. Along with its full magnesium alloy casing, the fully-rugged convertible comes standard with low-temperature operation allowing the computer to be used in -20C environments. The V200 also includes a shock mounted 320GB hard drive and sealed I/O caps and doors to prevent damage from solid particles and moisture. Users can also configure the V200 with an 80GB solid state drive.
Additional features that make Getac’s V200 one of the most advanced convertible include a full-size, 88-key keyboard for full functionality, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, and 10/100/1000 Giga LAN as standard features and GPS and 3G-Gobi 2000 multi-band wireless as available options. Numerous expansion interfaces including USB, VGA, RS232, eSATA, SD card reader, and PCMCIA, extend the flexibility and communications.
A built-in security feature using Intel® vPro™ technology enables IT specialists to maximize hardware-assisted security to better maintain, manage, and protect their business PCs. The V200 has a conveniently located finger print reader on the display face for the security required by government and corporate data management. Configured with a built-in Smart Card reader, the V200 increases identification & authentication security on administrator and remote access accounts while security criteria EAL 5+ encrypts valuable data by hardware, making data transfer more secure.
A groundbreaking new option on the V200 is Getac’s innovative LifeSupport™ battery swapping system. The LifeSupport™ battery swapping system allows field users to quickly change out a depleted battery with a fresh charged one. By entering standby mode, the user has approximately two minutes to replace the battery without shutting the computer down or closing applications.
By combining the company’s signature magnesium alloy casing with a super-fast processor, advanced design and other critical features and functions essential to field work, Getac has produced one of the most effective time-management tools available in the field.
As with all of Getac’s fully rugged notebook, tablet and convertible computers, the V200 is backed by the industry’s best 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the V200 is covered by a warranty that includes damage that occurs due to accidental acts and environmental exposure. The new V200 is will be available at the beginning of October through Getac Authorized Dealers.
About Getac
Getac Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Getac Technology Corporation. Getac Technology Corporation, a key subsidiary of MiTAC-Synnex Business Group (2009 consolidated revenue 18.3 billion USD) was established in 1989 as a joint venture with GE Aerospace to supply defense electronic products. Getac’s business coverage includes; rugged notebooks, rugged tablet PCs and rugged handheld devices for military, police, government, communications, manufacturing and transportation applications ranging from fully rugged and commercial-grade rugged. Getac’s strong R&D capabilities allow it to provide a high level of customization and all-aspect hardware-software integration solutions. Apart from the rugged computing business, Getac is also involved with the design and manufacture of plastic and lightweight metal components. The acquisition of Waffer Technology in 2009 has made Getac the world’s third largest aluminum-magnesium alloy producer. For more information, visit us.getac.com
* Testing conducted by Getac in July 2010. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of the V200 versus competitive computers current at the time of testing.
Stealth isn’t a stranger to the tech community, so when they go ahead and introduce something like their brand new rugged keyboard, we hope that they’re not immediately scoffed at and ignored. Even if it is pretty thick, and, well, rugged. Luckily for those who are curious enough to check it out, the new USB keyboard does feature plenty of features, and a very unique optical trackball mouse, right up there near the right corner.
First, we do have to say that that trackball looks like a crystal ball. Now that we’ve got that off our chest, we can move on to the other features. First and foremost, and what you’ll probably notice right off the bat, is the fact that the keyboard is perfectly housed within a nice, stainless steel package. The other thing you’ll notice, are those red keys. They happen to be NVIS-compliant red adjustable backlighting.
But, what about the protection specifications, right? How “rugged” is this “rugged” USB keyboard? Well, it’s NEMA 4, 4X, and IP65 specified, which means (at least in the latter part) that the keyboard will be able to handle dust, and water being ejected at it in powerful jets. We’re not exactly sure when you’ll have your keyboard around powerful jets of water, but hey, at least it will be protected. The keyboard is available right now if you’re interested, and it will cost you $695. Not cheap, is it?
