Rugged

May 2, 2007 Meet the Flash Survivor – no, it’s not another reality TV show, but one of the most rugged USB drives we’ve ever seen. The US$130 8GB Survivor is water-resistant to 200 metres (650 ft), encased in a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milled aluminum (as found in aircraft part production) case, and being solid-state, it’s incredibly shock-proof anyway. Additional protection from shock and vibration is achieved through the use of rubber moulded collar shielding which absorbs the impact force to prevent damage to the inner drive and the USB connector, making it ideal to safely store information in the most demanding environments.  Read More

April 26, 2007 Tablet Kiosk have commenced shipping their Sahara TufTab heavy-duty touch screen tablet PC, built to be resistant to rain, dust, humidity, extreme temperatures and vibration to make it the most rugged touch-screen tablet PC on the market.  Read More

January 25, 2007 You want the convenience and functionality of the Blackberry but you’re a klutz and/or you work in a very hostile or rainy outdoor environment – there’s now a simple solution that we quite like. The OtterBox 1930 and 1931 cases are designed to ruggedize BlackBerry handsets while allowing water-resistant access to keypad, scroll wheel, escape button, power button, mute button and programmable side button, all through the case. A rigid screen cover protects the LCD from scratches and drop damage with a rigid screen cover and Donaldson acoustic membrane vents allow sound transmission while keeping the case sealed.  Read More

November 2, 2006 We just love ruggedised electronics that can take a bit of rough and tumble and the odd dousing in water so the new US$550 Magellan CrossoverGPS introduced at SEMA was a natural. The rugged, IPX-4-waterproof device is designed to provide navigation for both driving and outdoor adventures. Available in December, the traffic-ready CrossoverGPS is a cross between two products, delivering a quality car navigation experience plus the functionality of handheld GPS receivers for the outdoors from the company that first brought the technology to the consumer market. Preloaded with both street maps and topographic contour maps, the CrossoverGPS guides users from door-to-door in a car - and from point-to-point where the road ends - so they can enjoy driving, off-roading, hiking, geocaching, boating, fishing and more, all with one GPS device!  Read More

October 27, 2006 The fully converged mobile device draws ever closer and a new product announced today by Solution Technology, the ArmorPlus for BlackBerry Series 7200 looks to be the ‘all-in-one’ solution with the mostest at this point in time. ArmorPlus for BlackBerry is the first wireless, mobile data device providing integrated applications for Barcode Scanning (a true Class 2 laser barcode scanner), GPS (a comprehensive GPS which works Off-road and Off-net, with a high-sensitivity mode for use in obstructed areas), a Touch Screen window that provides both touch data and signature capture capabilities with a stylus and a touch-sensitive, transparent window mapped over the Blackberry screen. It combines multiple applications in a ruggedized case (tested for multiple drops from two meters onto concrete) to deliver optimum performance for the demanding data needs of large, mobile enterprises. It’s a comprehansive mobile data solution for government and commercial services in transportation, healthcare, insurance, construction, manufacturing, homeland security, law enforcement, public safety, telecommunications and more.  Read More

October 19, 2006 This is the latest ruggedized, wireless, AreaRAE Rapid Deployment Kits for response to Chemical, Weapons of Mass Destruction or Radiation incidents. Made by RAE Systems, it’s one of a number of new rapidly deployable sensor networks that enable first responders to identify safety and security threats in real time. One of the first to order the new system was the United States National Guard which has already taken delivery of 55 custom configured AreaRAE RDKs to equip all 55 Civil Support Teams (CSTs) with portable toxic gas and radiation detection equipment. Key to the selection process was the ability for the CST deployed systems to interoperate, provide mutual aid, as well as interface to existing AreaRAE systems already in use by civilian first responders. The AreaRAE RDK is designed to be quickly configured and deployed in any response scenario and can integrate a wide range of detection equipment including RAE Systems’ portable monitors and third-party devices, all operating wirelessly and instantly providing data for incident commanders through a single real-time interface.  Read More

Updated October 2, 2006 The prospects of one day having our computers all able to withstand the hostile environment that is the real world moved a step closer this week when rugged electronic systems specialist Black Diamond Advanced Technology announced the SwitchBack PC , the world's first rugged UMPC (Ultra Mobile Personal Computer). The SwitchBack made its debut at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston this week and utilizes a 1.0 GHz Intel Celeron M processor, 1GB of 400 MHz DDR2 and can run Windows XP, CE, Mobile or Linux, packing the power of a desktop PC in a lightweight, handheld rugged form factor. The SwitchBack has all the features of today's rugged handheld tablet PCs, but it's smaller, more powerful and it has another significant differentiator ... a detachable/attachable Module on the back which can be used to extend functionality by adding additional hardware, devices or connector interfaces. Examples of modules that can be added include an additional processor, hard drive or battery, custom I/O options (data transfer, interface extensions), a fingerprint reader, an RFID, Barcode Scanner or Mag Stripe Reader, terrestrial radio(s), digital camera, GPS receiver, breathalyser and a Laser Range Finder.  Read More

July 8, 2006 Mobile phones have always been more resistant to abuse than they look, but a phone can never be too rugged for our liking and if you work in construction or a host of other industries where phone abuse is inevitable, then the ruggedized and fully equipped Motorola i580 handset is worth a look. It’s the only iDEN rugged phone in the industry to feature an embedded camera and the first with a clam form factor to include Bluetooth wireless technology. The i580 is also the first rugged iDEN clam phone designed to meet military specification 810 F for rain resistance, as well as for dust, shock and vibration.  Read More

June 27, 2006 They don’t make ‘em like they used to! Have you ever stepped into your tent at night to try and get that extra jumper, only to trip over your luggage as you try to reach the lantern hanging in the centre? Or have you perched your lantern nice and high above the campsite, only to realise that it is going to be very difficult to reach up and turn the light on and off? Or perhaps got all snug inside your sleeping bag before realising that the lantern needed to be turned off? It’s so clever and logical that you don’t even need to be a camper to appreciate the new 4D Rugged Remote Control Lantern from Coleman. The US$26 lantern features an economical, yet high-powered 7W Fluorescent U-Tube that delivers a bright, white light without generating the excess heat associated with other bulb types, the remote operates up to 15 metres away, and it runs for 14 hours on a set of alkaline batteries. No, they don’t make ‘em like they used to - now they make ‘em much better!  Read More