Waterproof -- Engadget Mobile

waterproof posts

World's first waterproof solar cellphone from Sharp makes Somalian pirates say arggg!

by Thomas Ricker posted Apr 20th 2009 @ 7:19AM

In continuation of a recent trend of major manufacturers announcing a new-found interest in ~~making a buck off developing nations~~ solar-powered cellphones, AU (KDDI) and Sharp have announced the June launch of this unnamed solar handset. Besides being the world's first waterproof solar handset, it charges to a minute of talk or 2-hours of standby after just 10 minutes in the sun. No other specs were announced though we seriously doubt it'll be a power-sucking feature- or smart-phone. Naturally, it'll still be a boon to people where electricity is scarce but what about the industrious guy who owns the village car battery?

[Via Akihabara News]

Sonim's ultra-rugged XP3 headed to US in March, looking for trouble

by Darren Murph posted Oct 11th 2008 @ 7:08PM

When you're completely waterproof, able to function in temperatures ranging from -4 to 140°F and withstand body slams from six feet above the concrete, you pretty much roll however you please. Thankfully, Sonim's bringing its latest ultra-rugged handset, the XP3, into the United States in March, meaning that you can finally abuse your handset without feeling all guilty afterwards. Specs wise, the US version of the GSM phone will pack quad-band EDGE support, GPS, Bluetooth, "flashlight mode," a glare-resistant 160 x 128-resolution display, an Opera Mini web browser, 3-megapixel camera and a 3-year no-questions-asked guarantee. Sadly, we've no price to share, but we don't suspect all that rigidity will come cheap.

Verizon G'zOne Boulder gets torture tested, er, "reviewed"

by Darren Murph posted Aug 17th 2008 @ 1:47AM

Casio's G'zOne Boulder doesn't do much, but what it does do, it does anywhere, anytime and under (almost) any circumstances. After launching a few weeks back on Verizon, the ultra-rugged handset has been reviewed over at CNET, and needless to say, it managed to handle a few dips in the pool and a couple close encounters with a wall with nary an issue. Unfortunately, the phone faltered at handling its most important task: making calls. Call quality in San Francisco was said to be "hugely disappointing," with most calls sounding "crackly" with a dash of "static and echo" for good measure. The extra features (camera, multimedia player, V Cast, etc.) were all decent, but nothing truly stood out as phenomenal. Overall, the Boulder is probably only a safe bet if you're dead set on the design and toughness, but even still, we'd try out a few other hardcore handsets before settling on one with lackluster call quality.

Samsung B2700 sports water resistance, new naming scheme

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 7th 2008 @ 4:42PM

So IDNES appears to have revealed a reasonably serviceable new rugged candybar from Samsung for the European market featuring an integrated compass and barometer / altimeter, FM radio, Bluetooth, a 220 x 176 display, and IP54 certification, which promises resistance to dust and the occasional splash of H2O. That's all well and good, but the real story here might be the phone's full model number -- GT-B2700 -- which appears to signal a move away from Samsung's longstanding SGH / SCH / SPH naming convention that has its roots in the early days of Samsung's mobile business. Is it just us, or is anyone else getting just a little emotional about the thought of the stalwart "SGH" prefix going away? The memories, Samsung, the memories! Anyway, back to the B2700, IDNES expects to find it on local shelves later in the summer for about 5,000 Czech crowns (roughly $336).

[Via Unwired View]

Sony Ericsson prepping a waterproof cameraphone?

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 10th 2008 @ 12:33PM

Waterproof phones are no stranger to Sony Ericsson's Japanese division, but for the rest of the world, they're a slightly rarer occurrence. A couple shots have surfaced over on SEfanatics that seem to show a new model from the company -- a model clearly not destined for the Japanese market, we'd wager -- getting drenched with H2O. Now granted, they could be preparing a video demonstrating how to destroy one of their phones, but the more plausible explanation is that there's a waterproof model for the global market in the pipe that'll probably be introduced very, very shortly at MWC. Even better, the model in question shows Cyber-shot branding by aid of a 3.2 megapixel cam, making us wonder if we'll actually be able to snap shots in the deep blue. Probably not, but it'd be cool, huh?

[Via IntoMobile]

P2i's Ion-Mask coating could make waterproof phones an everyday occurrence

by Paul Miller posted Dec 31st 2007 @ 11:58AM

Plenty of waterproof phones and other small weatherproof devices have made it off the assembly lines and into our clumsy clutches, but P2i, a small spinoff company using tech originated within the Defence Science and Technology Lab in England, could be bringing waterproof gadgets to the masses. The Ion-Mask is a special invisible coating that is chemically bonded to the device and repels water. It should allow waterproofing to make it into devices that are too small for the seals that are usually used to do the trick. Devices can have joins and gaps coated for a general level of water repellence, or have individual components treated for even more protection. The tech was originally designed to repel toxic vapors and liquids from soldier uniforms, and could also be making its way into athletic shoes. Three leading phone makers are apparently in discussions over using the tech in upcoming phones.

Cellphone float keeps your mobile's head above water

by Darren Murph posted May 21st 2007 @ 3:39PM

Inflatable gizmos meant to save your dog's life and wake you from your bubble bath slumber have been around for some time, but this creation has probably been avoided due to the intrinsic probability of failure. Granted, the inflatable cellphone float would make for a great gift, but in reality, even the most diminutive of cannonballs will have this thing inverted in no time. Of course, for those just looking to float down the lazy river (yet still be attached to world), we could see it coming in handy, but there's no bundled guarantee that it's flip-proof. Still, this thing might not be a bad pickup for just R6.08 ($0.86), but we'll be sticking with the waterproof handset when it counts.

[Via Textually]

Casio shows toned-down G'zOne for business folk

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 22nd 2006 @ 5:49AM

Say you're on the board of a global corporation based in Japan. Sure, you're just another suit from 9 to 5, but on the weekends it's a different story -- you do some deep-sea diving, downhill skiing... heck, maybe the occasional BASE jump. Where are you supposed to find a phone tough enough to keep ticking (while you're wrestling crocodiles, that is) without getting you fired in the boardroom with some wacky, "extreme" color scheme? Believe it or not, Casio's got your number. The G'zOne E03CA takes a cue from the W42CA's book, offering a QVGA internal and 100 x 100 display, microSD slot, EV-DO radio, and 2-megapixel cam in a beefy, water resistant package. That's where the similarity ends, though: unlike the wild W42CA, the laid-back E03CA looks more fit for the inside of a suit coat pocket than a snowboarding jacket. Businessfolk with a tendency to destroy phones can look for the latest G'zOne to drop this December on KDDI's au network in Japan.

[Via I4U News]

Waterproof meets FOMA: the SO902iWP+

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 30th 2006 @ 12:39PM

If we had a dollar for every story we've heard of a flushed cellphone, we'd have, like, ten dollars. NTT DoCoMo's new alphabet soup, the SO902iWP+, may not get you your phone back if it makes its way to your town's sewage system, but it might just be working when it finally gets fished out. Besides sporting the usual FOMA goodies like a stunning UI on a QVGA display, camera, and music player, the candybar is waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water. We're not sure who makes the SO902iWP+ for NTT, but since it includes both a Memory Stick Duo slot and FeliCa support, we have our guesses.

[Via Mobile Magazine]