Rugged

Dell's first fully ruggedized laptop

By Noel McKeegan

20:46 March 4, 2008 PST

March 5, 2008 Dell has entered the rugged notebook market with the release of the Latitude XFR D630 - a sealed, shock-resistant and outdoor-ready unit aimed at government and commercial customers that meets Department of Defense standards (MIL-STD 810F) for operation in extreme environments. Read More

Duo-Touch II rugged PC

By Darren Quick

22:45 February 24, 2008 PST

February 25, 2008 General Dynamics Itronix has announced the availability of the Duo-Touch II, the second generation of the company’s lightweight rugged tablet PCs. Combining processing power with an ergonomic tablet design for one-handed operation, the Duo-Touch II enables rugged, high-performance computing for mobile professionals in industries such as public safety, telecommunications, utilities, government, and insurance. The unit also features Dynavue display technology that meets military standard for cockpit displays for direct sunlight viewability. Read More

Sonim XP1 mobile phone - one hard nut to crack

By Noel McKeegan

22:08 February 19, 2008 PST

February 20, 2008 It's quite a claim, but in the quest to prove that the XP1 is the world's toughest phone US based mobile telecom Sonim Technologies has seen its rugged handset run over by a car, burnt, shot at, encased in concrete, used as a soccerball and even attached to fireworks. Read More

LaCie releases 320GB Rugged All-Terrain portable hard disk

By Emily Clark

16:07 January 28, 2008 PST

January 29, 2008 LaCie has announced increased capacity to its Rugged all-terrain hard disk, making a total space allowance of 320GB. Read More

GETAC expands rugged range with new ultra-lightweight tablet PC

By Darren Quick

21:02 January 24, 2008 PST

January 25, 2008 Rugged computer manufacturer GETAC Inc. has added the ultra-lightweight GETAC E100 slate-style tablet PC and the “bright-as-you-need-it” GETAC B300 notebook PC to its growing roster of versatile mobile computing solutions. Read More

New industrial strength touch screen from Tangent

By Darren Quick

23:18 November 22, 2007 PST

November 23, 2007 Tangent Inc. has announced the release of a group of ultra slim, industrial strength touch screen PCs called the VITA K Series. The all-in-one PCs feature dust-free, water-proof front bezels, VESA wall-mount brackets, and 15, 17 or 19 inch LCD displays with NEMA 3/IP55 dust and water proofing. The metal enclosures not only look smart, they are also energy efficient and industrial strength for use in healthcare, industrial automation, digital signage, information kiosk and self-service check-outs roles, and other applications exposed to hostile environments. Read More

Panasonic’s new “business-rugged” Toughbook notebooks

By Noel McKeegan

22:19 November 14, 2007 PST

November 15, 2007 Panasonic has added three "business-rugged" notebook computers their Toughbook suite. The new trio is drop-and spill-resistant with strong magnesium alloy cases and chassis, shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs, and internal flexible connectors for additional protection. Read More

GETAC V100 ruggedized notebook-tablet

By Darren Quick

22:34 November 6, 2007 PST

November 7, 2007 GETAC's water-proof, shock-proof and drop-proof V100 features a 10.4-inch XGA LCD screen that rotates by 180-degrees, transforming the ruggedized notebook into a Tablet PC designed to withstand harsh use in industrial and field environments. Read More

GoBook - the quarter-sized rugged laptop

By Loz Blain

June 21, 2007 Rugged laptops with wireless connectivity are well suited to a lot of professions, from industrial and military to environmental and emergency services. As such, they've been gaining in popularity, with Panasonic's Toughbook, Sahara's Tufftab and even a Hummer laptop muscling into the market. General Dynamics now takes the rugged, go-anywhere laptop one step further, by reducing it to a quarter of the size with its GoBook MR-1, which meets the toughest standards for humidity, temperature, vibration, dust, rain and drop-resistance. Read More

Panasonic semi-rugged Desktop Replacement Toughbook with embedded 3G wireless

By Mike Hanlon

June 5, 2007 In an important product announcement, Panasonic has extended its Toughbook mobile computer range to include a semi-rugged, wireless-ready desktop replacement notebook, the Toughbook 52. Built on the new Santa Rosa chipset from Intel, the Toughbook 52 offers all the processing power of a desktop replacement notebook in a form factor engineered from the ground up for mobility and making sure your window to the world remains in pristine order thanks to embedded 3G access. The 15.4 inch widescreen laptop can withstand drops of up to 2.5 feet on all six sides, has a spill-resistant keyboard, six hours of battery life and a removable hard drive which can handle a drop of three feet. The MIL-SPEC-certified notebook incorporates magnesium alloy cases, flexible internal connectors and shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs. Read More

The extremely rugged Flash Survivor

By Mike Hanlon

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

Ruggedizing the BlackBerry

By Mike Hanlon

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

Ruggedised GPS Solution for the car and outdoors

By Mike Hanlon

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

ArmorPlus for BlackBerry – ruggedised Integrated Device providing Barcode Scanning, GPS, Touch Screens With eSignature and Secure Data Memory Cards

By Mike Hanlon

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

The ruggedized wireless Rapid Deployment Kits for response to Chemical, Weapons of Mass Destruction or Radiation incidents

By Mike Hanlon

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

Black Diamond launches the SwitchBack rugged Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC)

By Mike Hanlon

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

New ruggedized walkie-talkie phone

By Mike Hanlon

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

Ruggedised Remote Control Personal Size Lantern

By Mike Hanlon

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

Ruggedising cases for convergent (and other) technology

By Mike Hanlon

February 23, 2006 So you’ve got your new HP iPaq 6500 and it’s just the cutest, most innovative piece of convergent technology you’ve ever set eyes on - a phone, PDA, camera and GPS all-in-one and there’s just one problem – you’re either a klutz or you work in a hostile environment and the iPaq’s realistic life expectancy should be measured in days rather than years. Now there’s a casing that can keep your iPaq 6500 alive – indeed, Otterbox specialises in making ruggedised casings for a range of high-tech items, including models designed to look after the full range of Apple iPods, most laptops and handhelds and a selection of speciality items such as Fujitsu’s Stylus Tablet, a Zippo lighter, a handheld GPS and a CigarCaddy to keep between 2 and 15 cigars safe. While most OtterBox products are general purpose, the US$130 OtterBox 1910 is purpose built for the HP 6500 and provides access to all major functions on the 6500 including sync/charge, SD Slot, headset jack, and keypad. A clear window on the back allows use of the 6500's camera and flash through the case, taking crisp photos even in the rain! The 6500's keypad also remains operable with direct push activation through the 1910 and an external stylus holder adds convenience. Read More

EDO Introduces Rugged Mini Tablet Computer: Situational Awareness in the Soldier's Pocket

By Mike Hanlon

September 13, 2005 EDO Corporation is introducing its new MINI-T Rugged Mini-Tablet Computer at the Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) Exhibition, which is being held this week in London. The one-kilogram, personal-digital-assistant (PDA) design offers "situational awareness in the soldier's pocket" that is useable from the Antarctic to the desert. Typical PDA screens tend to be too small for situational awareness information needed in the battlefield and thus have been limited mainly to sending messages. The MINI - T rugged computer solves this problem with as much as twice the usable screen area as a PDA, powered by substantially faster digital-signal processing. It includes a 6.4 inch sunlight-readable touch screen and dual processing with a 200MHz RISC/DSP. Read More

The Hummer Ruggedised LapTop - testosterone enhancement for geeks

By Mike Hanlon

September 1, 2005 The Hummer brand is one of the most potent on the planet. Burned deep into the global psyche by the televised wars of Eastern Europe, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq, the Hummer is instantly recognisable and indistinguishable from America’s military dominance. As a brand, it carries with it all the brand values of the battlefield and the most technologically dominant fighting force since the Romans – reliability and ruggedness, with a liberal splashing of distilled testosterone and topped off with “essence of Arnie” thanks to the screen tough guy’s sponsorship of the brand. Hummer’s Fragrance for Men

was one thing, but this time the brand extension has much more relevance. – the Hummer Ruggedised Computer. We’ve recently written about the Panasonic Toughbook’s role in an Everest ascent, and as more people take computers into hostile environments, ruggedised computers will become a robust and established market segment with Panasonic’s Toughbook and ruggedised computer specialist Itronix the lead players. Based on the GoBook VR-1 semi-rugged computer that will be released by Itronix later this month, the Hummer-branded VR-1 will be a "semi-rugged" notebook computer designed to be much tougher than the average laptop and capable of withstanding temperature extremes and hard knocks. Read More

Sealegs unveils rugged aluminium amphibious craft

By Mike Hanlon

August 24, 2005: New Zealand-based Sealegs has unveiled an all-new aluminium amphibious craft. The 5.6m amphibious D-Tube features a 4mm marine grade aluminium hull with 3mm aluminium D-Tube shaped pontoons. An inboard air-cooled 16hp Honda engine powers hydraulic wheels motors, allowing the D-Tube to drive at up 10kmph on land and 60kmph on the water. Once in the water, a button is pushed to hydraulically retract the wheels and the Sealegs D-Tube becomes a normal sea-going boat. The boat is based on the boat which halved Sir Richard Branson's English Channel record in June. The standard SeaLegs boat cut the previous record of one hour, forty minutes and six seconds to 43 minutes and 12 seconds ( see pics inside of record).

Gizmag has covered a wide range of amphibious vehicles in recent times, including the original launch of Sealegs, the Gibbs Aquada Sportcar, the Gibbs Humdinga 4WD amphibian, the Platypus 4WD amphibian, the Rinspeed Splash, the Phibicat and the Amphicar. Read More

Motorola’s Ruggedised Phone

By Mike Hanlon

August 5, 2005 We can’t believe the lack of fanfare for the Motorola i560. The i560 offers advanced Walkie-Talkie services, Java capability, an external display and MMS but the thing that makes it waaay special is that it is a mobile phone built to take serious punishment – not the sort dished out by your average klutz, but the sort of extreme treatment you can encounter from tradesmen, firemen, public safety workers or on a building site or even in a war zone. The Motorola i560 is actually certified to meet military standards for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, low pressure and solar radiation. Its external display allows information such as incoming calls, time and date to be quickly viewed without the need to open the phone. Why has a phone of this ilk taken so long? We predict a best-seller!!!! Read More

Sealegs plans Rugged Amphibious Craft

By Gizmag Team

November 30, 2004 Sealegs amphibious vehicles can drive straight from land into the water using high-torque, motorised wheels and 'legs' that retract when the craft is afloat. The New Zealand company has unveiled designs for a new Rugged Amphibious Craft (RAC) targeting commercial, military and recreational applications which featues a 140hp inboard engine, jet drive and a solid aluminium hull. Read More

Seriously ruggedised battlefield computer

By Mike Hanlon

The US Army is digitising the battlefield to such an extent, that it has awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract valued at approximately US$100 million for the supply of DRS Technologies rugged Applique Computer Systems for the U.S. Army's Force XXI Battle Command. The US Army already has over 9000 DRS FBCB2s which incorporate advanced digital information processing and networking for improved combat support, real-time command and control, and enhanced operability and situational awareness throughout the military's force structure. Under the new contract, the FBCB2 will complete transition to full-rate production. Read More