Hasta La Gadget!

If you’re the type of person who’s constantly  dropping their phone on the ground, or just like to participate in lots of outdoor activities, you might want to check out this new rugged Android phone, that’s designed to take a licking and keep on talking.

The Chinese-made Runbo X3 definitely looks like something you’d keep in your hiking pack or toolbox – owing more of its aesthetics to a walkie talkie than smartphone design. It’s wrapped in a waterproof case that’s rated at IP67, which should protect it from water up to 3-feet-deep, as well as keep pretty much all dust out of its innards.

Speaking of walkie talkies, the Runbo X3 sports a walkie talkie mode, for easy communication with others who have the same phone, at distances up to 6 miles away from each other. It’s also got a built in laser pointer, which might come in handy if you’re planning a rave or blinding airplane pilots while out in the jungle.

In terms of phone specs, we’re not looking at anything too fancy. It’s got a 1GHz dual-core CPU, running Android 4.0, along with 3G quad-band networking. Wi-Fi supports 802.11 b/g/n, and it’s also got Bluetooth and GPS aboard. One thing that looks nice about this phone is that it’s got a massive 3800 mAH battery pack – which should give you up to 25 hours of usage on a charge – something that’s nice to know when you’re lost in the woods or dangling from a cliff somewhere. The dual SIM slots and wireless hotspot capabilities don’t hurt either. I also like that it’s got a physical keyboard.

Its rear camera offers an 8MP resolution, while the front-facing one is just 0.3MP. And its 4.3″ screen offers just 800×480 resolution, which isn’t much to write home about by today’s standards. That all said, you’re buying this phone for its durability, not because of its top-of-the-line tech.

You can find the Runbo X3 rugged phone over at Chinavasion for about $350(USD). While that’s expensive compared to some smartphones, you have to remember this one is totally unlocked, so you can use it with any network of your choice.

For those who are always in need of a little light while camping, we have just the device for you. MpowerD has introduced a solar-powered lantern they’re calling Luci. Luci is “the little solar lantern with a big impact” and we’re actually really liking this neat idea. Essentially this is a fully waterproof and lightweight lantern that only needs the sun for a charge, and will last up to 12 hours.

Luci is unique and what the company calls “solar justice” and the reason behind that is many solar devices don’t seem to work as advertized, or always take forever to charge. MpowerD’s little lantern is only about 5-6 inches tall, and almost something you’d find floating in the pool during the summer months. For those granola types who are always out camping, you’ll want to check this out.

Luci puts out 1200 lumens of bright light using LEDs, and will last anywhere from 8-12 hours depending on charge. Using a few extremely durable and lightweight solar panels you’ll have a full 8-12 hours of light in just 4 hours charge time. Take it camping and charge her up at night, then use Luci to keep camp bright all night long. With a clear plastic round design the light emits in all directions, and Luci states she’ll brighten a 15 square foot area for hours.

“Just charge in the sun, open, and light up your world.”

MpowerD’s new little lantern that is powered by the sun has a few awesome things going for it. It’s extremely lightweight, durable, and completely collapsible to be under an inch tall and smaller than your hand. Then open it up and light up your world — as they say. For the low price of $15.99 Luci can be lighting up your campsite all summer long. It features low, high, and SOS emergency settings with the touch of a button. I’ll be taking this little lantern on a few mountain bike trips this summer. That is for sure.

MpowerD Solar-powered waterproof Lantern hands-on is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Outdoor cinemas were all the rage in the past, and it looks like they’re making a grand comeback. I’m not talking about drive-in theaters though. Rather, I’m talking about the Hot Tub Cinema.

Yeah, the pictures don’t lie. The Hot Tub Cinema is a traveling screening event that’s currently making the rounds in East London, and it looks like it’s been a huge hit so far. I mean, who doesn’t want to watch a movie while taking a bath with hundreds of other strangers, right?

This particular one was held on the rooftop of Netil360, where classics like Top Gun and Anchorman were screened against London’s grand skyline.

Hot Tub Cinema began privately about seven years ago. Since then it has grown in increments, reaching the stage of a handful of hot tubs in a garden in Stoke Newington about 18 months ago at which point we realised it was time to find some new & exciting venues for our expanding endeavors.

The Hot Tub Cinema has a couple of events scheduled for the Halloween season, which you can check out here. They’re all going to be held in London though, so if you happen to be there, drop by for a truly one-of-a-kind movie-watching experience.

[via Pop Up City]

If you’re the sort to tear down your Galaxy S III, you might have noticed a mysterious STMicroelectronics LSP331AP chip lurking on the motherboard. While we’ve known that it’s a pressure sensor, we now know that it’s a new generation — new enough that ST is just getting to explaining the technology to a mainstream audience. The piezoresistor-equipped MEMS chip tracks altitude through atmospheric pressure with an uncanny knack for precision; it can tell when you’ve crossing between floors, which could be more than handy for future iterations of indoor navigation. Don’t worry if you’re an extreme sports junkie that might push the limits, either. The sensor can do its job at the kinds of pressure you’d normally see when 32,800 feet high or 5,900 feet below sea level, which should keep it working even if you’re checking your phone during a climb up K2 or a HALO skydive. We don’t know if anyone beyond Samsung is lined up to use ST’s pressure sensor in their devices, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a mainstay for smartphones and outdoor gear in the near future.

Continue reading STMicroelectronics details pressure sensor in your Galaxy S III, can tell when you’re mountaineering

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

STMicroelectronics details pressure sensor in your Galaxy S III, can tell when you’re mountaineering originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Having meals outside your home (and no, I don’t mean eating out at restaurants) is one of the simplest pleasures of life. The great outdoors provides the perfect ambiance for dining, but unfortunately, strong winds might make for a messy meal.

But a gusty day won’t be a problem if you’ve got the Bye Bye Wind Table, designed by Marco and Paola Oliva Marotto. It’s a table that looks like it’s molded from plastic. But what makes it special is the fact that it’s got special grooves where you’re supposed to put the plates and cups in, so that nothing topples over or gets blown away when a breeze comes along.

It’s a neat solution for an age-old problem. It’s even got slots in the corners which you can fill with plants to give the table a more vibrant look.

Unfortunately, it’s still a concept design for now but I’m sure many people, especially those with sprawling lawns and decks, are eager to see the Bye Bye Wind table become a reality.

[via Blog Deco Design via Crib Candy]