waterproof

I first posted this roundup not long after the iPhone 4 hit stores and it's been through several updates, and now only includes cases that fit both the iPhone 4 and 4S and carry the "universal fit" tag.

Update, May 15, 2012: Added Griffin Survivor and Gumdrop Drop Tech Series.

As I've said before, how you choose to protect -- or not protect -- your iPhone is a matter of personal preference. But if some heavy-duty shielding is what you're looking for, this is the list for you.

While I tried to pick tough, protective cases that look good and don't make your iPhone too bulky, a few of the cases have more extreme designs that aren't necessarily intended for everyday use. I should also note that some of the more rugged cases can be a bit of a chore to remove and aren't friendly toward iPod docks and certain charging accessories due to how recessed the ports become when the case is on.

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Set to debut around late May in Japan, Sony's first waterproof Handycam packs a cavalcade of features that would make nearly any similarly sized shooter blush in comparison.

Despite the small stature, the HDR-GW77V can go up to 16 feet under water (for up to an hour), survive a near 5-foot drop, and resist dust.

As for imaging specifics, the engineers at Sony packed a lot into a very little device, with buzz-worthy features such as 20.4-megapixel resolution, full 1080p (60fps) video capture up to 28Mbps, and 10x optical zoom. Other notable features in the tiny shooter (1.2-inch width and 4.15-inch height) include a pop-out 3-inch touch screen, 16GB internal storage (with option to expand via SDHC or Memory Stick Micro), panoramic photos, and a built-in GPS chip for geotagging photos. … Read more

A few of us here in the office have been looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that will work in the shower. Alas, G-Project's new $69 G-Go speaker, which just became available in Target stores, is splash-resistant but not waterproof, so it might not quite fit the bill, but it's close.

The speaker comes in three colors and has an integrated handle for carrying it around. There are no built-in rechargeable battery like some portable Bluetooth speakers have, but you can get up to 8 hours of on-the-go use with four AA batteries, according to the company. You can stream music to it from any Bluetooth-enabled device, which includes virtually all smartphones and many tablets, including the iPad and higher-end Android tablets (the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet do not offer Bluetooth). … Read more

The world is a dangerous place for a tablet. One slip or spill, and your precious slate is sunk.

The Pantech Element, out now on AT&T for $299 on contract, is here to relieve you of your worry. Its solid, waterproof design can handle up to a meter of water, so go ahead and spill your cup of coffee.

But is this a tablet worth signing a two-year contract for? Head over to CNET's rated review of the Pantech Element to find out more.

According to a recent study, 19 percent of you have lost your smartphone due to a fatal meeting with the toilet. Putting aside the disturbing fact that some people can't part with their phone for a precious few moments, wouldn't it be nice not to worry about your mobile device, should it take a tumble into the commode or any other body of water?

Well, it could happen, and even better, it could happen this year.

A company called HzO developed a nanofilm waterproof coating that can protect your electronics from the perils of water, but it's a bit different from some of the other solutions out there, such as NeverWet and Liquipel.

The difference is that HzO's WaterBlock is applied during the manufacturing stage instead of after, so it safeguards the insides of your phone, tablet, or MP3 player--and not just the outside.… Read more

LAS VEGAS--Finally, a Honeycomb tablet for the hot tub.

The Pantech Element, announced during AT&T's CES 2012 press conference, is a waterproof tablet running Android 3.2. The tablet is due out on January 22, priced at $299 with a two-year contract.

The device uses an 8-inch screen, with a 1.5GHz dual-core snapdragon processor running behind it. All of the Android tablet standard features are present, such as front- and rear-facing cameras (2 megapixels and 5 megapixels, respectively), microSD memory expansion, Micro-HDMI output, and a Micro-USB transfer connection.

To keep these ports from fizzling out underwater, … Read more

You may not be able to take that adorable little shark home with you, but you can capture video of it nibbling on your toes with the new Kodak Playfull Waterproof Video Camera.

The 720p camera comes stocked with a 2-inch screen, 18MB of internal memory, a 2X digital zoom, and an expansion card slot. Waterproof video cameras have taken the dive before, but the Kodak comes in at a cheap $99.95 price point.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to take this addition to the Playfull video camera line all the way down to the Titanic. There are limits on its waterproofing. It can handle up to 10 feet of water for up to two hours at a time. Push the limits and it may turn into electronic chum.

The Playfull Waterproof could end up inspiring a whole school of YouTube Jacques Cousteaus. It is currently available for preorder. Stay tuned for a full CNET review soon.… Read more

We've often praised Contour's line of sports cameras for their ease of use, but with the announcement of the ContourRoam, it's about to get even easier.

The Roam fits into the entry-level position in Contour's camera lineup, just below the Contour GPS and replacing the ContourHD 1080p, which should be phased out shortly. At first glance, the Roam doesn't appear much different than the ContourHD (or any other Contour camera for that matter) but closer inspection reveals a few new features.

For starters, there is no power button. Where previous models needed to be powered … Read more

KlearKase bills its new Kindle 3 case as the "only splash-proof Kindle case you'll want to use all the time."

We weren't quite ready to drop our Kindle in the pool, but as you can see from the video below, the transparent case can take some heavy spritzing, and what's nice about it is that it's thinner and lighter than some of the truly waterproof models out there (M-Edge Guardian, which we tried with the Kindle 2, comes to mind).

You can also buy heavy-duty versions of Ziploc bags (TrendyDigital's WaterGuard case, for … Read more