Hasta La Gadget!

And you thought Ricoh’s G700 was fully featured. Premiering at Photokina this week, the souped-up G700SE is a modified version of the G700 that appeared last month, with this guy able to accept add-on modules that can boost functionality by a good bit. The prototype unit here in Germany was showcased alongside of the GP-1 GPS dongle and a BR-1 bar code scanning module, with the latter meant more for governments and enterprises. It’s still encased in a dust- and water-resistant shell, and it packs integrated 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR to boot. All of the other specs remain the same from the original G700 (which you can peek here), and if you’re looking to buy one, you’ll have to wait until the earlier half of 2011 for it to splash down at around €799 ($1,070) — according to booth representatives, anyway.

Oh, and for fans of the GXR series, we stumbled upon an A12 28mm f/2.5 lens module that’ll slot right into the company’s interchangeable camera starting in Q4. So long as you have €649 ($869) to spare.

Ricoh’s rugged G700SE point-and-shoot does Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS and more (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Continue reading Intermec CS40 walks the work / play tightrope, WinMo 6.5 threatens to knock it off

Intermec CS40 walks the work / play tightrope, WinMo 6.5 threatens to knock it off originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Come on tough guy, step right up. $20 says a roundhouse kick to the casing won’t even scratch the bad boy you’re peering at above. Well, unless you’re rockin’ a pair of Kenny Powers’ K-Swiss Tubes. Asides aside, Sweden’s own Handheld Group has just introduced its latest rugged offering, the 10.1-inch Algiz XRW, which is powered by Intel’s 2GHz Atom Z550 and Windows 7 Ultimate. Other specs include a 64GB SSD, 2GB of DDR2 memory, a pair of USB 2.0 sockets, inbuilt Bluetooth / WiFi, GPS, 2 megapixel webcam and an optional (but totally necessary) Gobi 2000 WWAN module. The whole thing tips the scales at just 3.3 pounds, and that’s including the IP65 / MIL-STD-810F rated enclosure, which is fully capable of rejecting dust, water, debris and mythical powers of persuasion. We’re told that the internal battery can keep things humming for eight solid hours, and in case you’re wondering, that 1366 x 768 resolution panel is of the daylight viewable variety. Mum’s the word on pricing, but the first shipments should head out in December for those with a brutal winter ahead.

Continue reading Algiz XRW: 10-inches of rugged, well-specced laptop nirvana

Algiz XRW: 10-inches of rugged, well-specced laptop nirvana originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getac, known for its ruggadized computer solutions, has announced its convertible, multitouch tablet PC made of magnesium alloy.Built to perform in a number harsh environments, the Getac V200 is taking hits and making guarantees. 

This PC is powered by Intel’s Core i7-620LM processor, running 2GHZ to 2.8GHZ with Turbo Boost. The V200 comes standard with a shock mounted, 320GB hard drive–you can swap it out for an 80GB solid state drive upon configuration. The multitouch is resistive, rather than touch sentitive, meaning you can use it with your gloves on. 

The screen measures 12.1-inches and weighs less than 6 pounds. The design supports a full-size keyboard as well as 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2.1 connectivity, and 10/100/1000 Giga LAN. Ports include USB, VGA, RS232, eSATA, SD card reader, and PCMCIA. It also comes with a fingerprint scanner and hardware encryption for security.

Getac’s V200 also features the company’s LifeSupport battery swapping system that allows you to swap batteries in the field without shutting the system down. Simply enter into standby mode and you will have 2 minutes to swap batteries without closing any applications or programs. The V200 is IP65 compliant for resilience to dust, vibration, water, and temperatures as low as -20 degrees centigrade.

The V200 will be available starting in October and, SlashGear reports, it will be priced between $3,799 and $5,099 depending on sceen size and options included upon order.

It’s been awhile since we sashayed through Klipsch‘s world headquarters back in December of last year, but the company certainly hasn’t let off of the pedal. Today at IFA, it managed to introduce no fewer than three new headphones, including the outfit’s very first on-ear set. The Image One was built to bring Klipsch’s signature sound to folks who’d prefer cans over ‘buds, and it’s also amongst the first to have an Apple-centric mic and three-button remote for controlling music playback on iPods, iPads and iPhones. Travelers will be pleased to hear that the ear cups fold flat for portability, but you’ll need $149.99 to call ’em yours when they ship this November. Moving on, there’s the Image S5i Rugged (shown above) — essentially, you’re looking at the same sound quality we lauded last year, but with a rugged slant. These feature the aforesaid three-button remote / mic as well as a “safety case” that touts a built-in flashlight. We’re expecting a demonstration of their toughness at IFA tomorrow, but in the meanwhile you can start sacking away $129.99 for their November debut. Finally, the October-bound Image S3 is the company’s new low-end set, priced at just $49.99 but still shipping with a trio of oval ear tips, a carrying case and a choice of gray, red, pink or green hues. The full presser is after the break, if you’re into that type of thing.

Continue reading Klipsch issues first on-ear headphones, Image S5i Rugged and bargain Image S3 earbuds

Klipsch issues first on-ear headphones, Image S5i Rugged and bargain Image S3 earbuds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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