Weatherproof
SBIG, also known as the Santa Barbara Instrument Group, has announced its latest horizon-to-horizon view cameras, the AllSky-340 and AllSky-340C. The AllSky cameras are designed for extended, unattended sky watching such as monitoring the weather, detecting meteors, or keeping an eye out for ETs. The cameras feature a self-contained all-weather housing, heated dome enclosure, an optional Bluetooth interface, and optional solar power. Read More
ChillChaser adds a little entertainment to outdoor heating
As winter approaches, it’s hard to reconcile with the fact that it won’t be long before it’s too cool for outdoor entertaining. A range of outdoor heaters from UK company ChillChaser, might have you enjoying the great outdoors for many more months. The heaters generate warmth from patented carbon fiber tubes which, according to the company, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% when compared to gas-powered heaters and the latest model, Poseidon, features an inbuilt media player and speakers. Read More
It was first seen in September 2008 at the Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany. Now manufacturer Leica has announced that its compact top end professional S2 DSLR camera system will be available from October. The S2 sports an impressive 37.5 megapixel (MP) pixel count, has a 30 by 45mm sensor, a super fast Maestro image processor, an OLED top panel information display and a newly developed precision autofocus. There's a whole bunch of new lenses too. But before you rush to pre-order, you'd better sit down, take a deep breath and prepare yourself because the recommended retail price is a whopping UK£15,996 for the camera body alone (with a US price set at US$22,995). Read More
Garmin's latest handheld GPS offering for explorers who like to hit the open road - as well as veer completely off it on foot - crams a 3-axis compass, 850MB of on-board memory and a 3.2 megapixel, 4X optical zoom digital camera into a 6.8 oz., water and weatherproof package with a 3-inch touchscreen interface. Read More
Nooka watches combine unusual form and function in order to tell time, where dots and bars fill space as the minutes and hours pass. Three new Nooka models have just been released designed suit a range of tastes from chic to utilitarian. Read More
April 22, 2008 This isn’t the first outdoor TV we’ve covered – and it's unlikely to be the last. The new 4610HD from SunBrite is a 46-inch all-weather LCD television which, like previous models, is designed with a corrosion resistant, powder-coated aluminum exterior that protects the internal TV components from rain, dirt, insects, and extreme temperature ranges. Now hammock potatoes can enjoy their outdoor viewing in full HD as the 4610HD is SunBrite’s first full 1080p full-HD model. It also features a baffled and filtered dual-fan airflow system to quietly keep the unit cool in temperatures up to 122 degrees F while, in extremely cold climates, the internal thermostatically-controlled heater activates automatically when the TV’s internal temperature dips to 32 degrees F, allowing the TV to safely remain outdoors in temperatures as low as -24 degrees F. Read More
March 29, 2008 Panasonic has introduced upgrades to its Toughbook 19 rugged convertible tablet computer. The next generation Toughbook 19F convertible tablet PC joins Panasonic’s flagship Toughbook 30F clamshell notebook with its incorporation of the Core 2 Duo processor and expanded memory capabilities, (1GB SDRAM standard, upgradeable up to 4GB). The 5.1 lb Toughbook 19 also offers an optional integrated 2MP camera for use in inspection and incident documentation applications for which the convertible tablet has become widely deployed in military, government and commercial applications. Read More
February 27, 2008 Sorry, we couldn't resist that headline. Rip Curl has been testing its highly-anticipated H-Bomb heated wetsuit in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic, resulting in this incredible photograph. The Hawaii/So-Cal surf lifestyle is very attractive to folk all over the world - even those who live in far less temperate areas. And while a regular neoprene wetsuit can do an excellent job in cool water, there's still a point at which the temperature calls "time" - but when Rip Curl finally releases its heated H-Bomb wetsuit, it seems that die-hard surfers will be able to brave even a sub-zero arctic chill to chase the perfect set. Read More
January 7, 2007 Looking more like a garage door remote control than any sort of scientific device, this lightning detector from SkyScan has the ability to detect the characteristic electromagnetic emissions from individual lightning strikes actual and determine how far away it is and whether it is moving towards you or away from you. With a 40 mile range of detection, the device gives the user ample time to seek shelter in the event of a lightning storm. Read More
