Samsung is updating its Galaxy Xcover ruggedized smartphone with an improved specifications list. The Galaxy Xcover 2 has a 4-inch 800x480-resolution display, slightly larger than its predecessor, but it retains the similar protective construction that allowed the Xcover to operate in outdoor environments without too much trouble.
Panasonic has updated its Toughpad range of tablets with a pair of ruggedized offerings. The Toughpad FZ-G1, aimed at outdoor and vehicle-based users, is the company's first to run Windows 8 Pro, while the Toughpad JT-B1 is a heavily protected 7-inch Android tablet for use by mobile workers in public-facing and heavy-duty industries.
LaCie has expanded its line of external storage products with the Rugged Safe, an external drive designed to protect data. Contents of the drive are secured using 128-bit AES hardware encryption, while a fingerprint scanner has been integrated directly onto the top of the housing for additional biometric authentication.
Panasonic has introduced its latest rugged notebook, the Toughbook 31. Like other devices in the series, the new notebook features MIL-STD-810G certification for protection from six-foot drops, shock, vibration, dust, rain, sand, altitude, and extreme temperature variations. The magnesium alloy case is fully sealed to protect against water, while the hard drives are shock mounted and still claimed to be easily removable.
iKey has unveiled its latest rugged keyboard, the BT-87-TP, which offers wireless connection using Bluetooth. The keyboard is fully sealed and meets NEMA 4X specifications that require resistance from water, dirt, dust, ice, and corrosives. Designed for industrial use, the silicone covering allows the device to be submerged and disinfected. A touchpad has been integrated into the ABS polycarbonate case to offer an alternative to a standard mouse.
LaCie on Tuesday announced its newest Rugged Hard Disk with a 500GB capacity. To protect the generous amount of mobile data, the drive is encased in a scratch-resistant aluminum shell which is then surrounded by a shock-resistant rubber bumper. That disk is Hitachi's 2.5-inch Travelstar 5K500, available with either a standard USB 2.0 or an optional USB 2.0/FireWire 400/800 interface for faster transfer speeds.
Designed for mobile video markets, Maxell's Professional Media Products Division has introduced a light-weight, rugged and shock-resistant compact removable hard drive solution for field archive operations. Debuting at NAB in Las Vegas, the company calls it the first "Field Tough Media" solution of its kind. It leverages Maxell iVDR technology that connects directly through a bi-directional USB or eSATA adapter to a shoulder-mounted camcorder capable of delivering 10-bit, 4:2:2 master- quality video and native full HD video. In its current form factor, Maxell iVDR solution is capable of storing 160 GBof data and has a transfer rate of 540Mbps.
