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Otterbox readies iPad 2 Defender case

If you're looking for serious protection for your iPad 2, you'll probably want to check out Otterbox's Defender Series Case, which the company says is "shipping soon."

As Apple has reduced the size and weight of the iPad 2, Otterbox has also slimmed down its case: It says the iPad 2 version of the Defender is 20-percent lighter than its predecessor for the original iPad. It's still going to be one of the bulkier cases out there, offering multiple layers of protection and a clip-on screen cover that turns into a stand with two adjustable heights, one for typing and one for watching.

All this protection comes at a price, of course. The Otterbox iPad 2 Defender is $89.99. Otterbox isn't doing preorders, though you can sign-up to get an e-mail alert when it becomes available.

In the meantime, check out the video below. As you can see, it's a bit of an operation to get your iPad 2 into the case and cover, but both iPad and case look like they could take a licking. … Read more

Motorola's rugged 7-inch tablet aims for enterprise

Motorola could be in the early stages of developing a new, rugged Android tablet. According to information passed to Engadget, the company has begun work on a new 7-inch tablet that looks to feature a dual-core 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage. Other preliminary specifications peg this unnamed tablet with an 8-megapixel camera on the back, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, HDMI output, and a USB port for "snap-in" peripherals.

The presentation slide alludes to a "rugged" tablet that would be able to withstand extreme temperatures and drops from 4 feet. Motorola has already … Read more

Military materials toughen up laptop, iPad bags

Durable, rugged, and stylish are words that don't often go together, especially when laptop bags are involved. Industrial designer Spencer Nikosey, who's based in Los Angeles, may change this perception with his range of backpacks and satchels for portable computers.

As part of his Killspencer brand, Spencer designs and makes bags that range from messenger satchels to a large carryall, all with specialized laptop or iPad compartments. Some models standout models include his Special Ops Backpack and Desert Sand iPad 2 Case, the former fitting laptops not larger than a 15-inch MacBook Pro.

What sets Killspencer bags apart are the tough materials they're said to be made of--military fabrics from various wars. There's Korean War-era cotton canvas, a material used by soldiers in the 1950s; desert sand-coated cotton canvas used in the Vietnam War; and our favorite, a military truck tarp that's been "used in combat."

Like Acme Made, another well-known premium laptop bag manufacturer, Killspencer carriers command a premium. The iPad 2 Case will set you back $150, while larger models range from $285 to $450. The bags are available online and ship internationally.

(Source: Crave Asia via Uncrate) … Read more

Panasonic pops five minicamcorders into U.S.

Last year Panasonic started up a mini-camcorder line with one device, the HM-TA1. It wasn't very good, but Panasonic decided to press on, announcing three dual-camera pistol-grip models (HX-WA10, HX-DC10 and HX-DC1) and HM-TA20 and HM-TA2 candy-bar-style models.

For the HX-series models, they look like the continuation of Sanyo's dual-camera Xacti line (Panasonic announced total acquisition of Sanyo in December 2010). The WA10 is the highest-end dual-camera model (they have separate video and photo capture buttons) and features waterproofing good down to 10 feet for up to an hour; a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor; 16-megapixel photo capture and full … Read more

Olympus announces SZ-30MR high-power megazoom, TG-810 GPS-packing rugged cameras

Last year's Olympus point-and-shoot lineup was filled with a few too many also-ran cameras. Its 2011 models so far seem much more competitive. Case in point, the newly announced SZ-30MR: a somewhat compact megazoom featuring a 24x, f3-6.9 25-600mm lens (35mm equivalent), a 3-inch high-resolution LCD, dual image processors, and 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor.

Judging by the press release, this camera does many of the things I've come to expect from a camera with a BSI CMOS sensor. Those include easy, one-press in-camera panoramas; high-speed burst at up to 9 frames per second at full resolution; and … Read more

How I broke the rugged Sonim XP3300 Force (review)

The joke's on you, Sonim XP300 Force. You taunted me with your thick rubber sidings and waterproof, mud-flap-protected charger port and headphone jacks. You bragged with your impressive laundry list of certifications for withstanding heat, cold, humidity, dust, salt, and shock. You laughed in the face of water.

But now you're cracked, over, kaput. Spilling shards of glass as effortlessly as a dog shakes of water after a swim. All I did was toss you a few feet into the air. It's true; I have it on video.

OK, so maybe it could have been a few … Read more

Trident Aegis 'encapsulates' iPod Touch 4G

We don't write up a whole lot of iPod Touch 4G cases, but Trident's Aegis case showed up in our offices and we thought it was worth calling out.

It's a double-layer case, with a soft silicone interior and hard polycarbonate shell on the outside that's got a nice rubberized finish. The silicone interior is thicker on the corners, which provides a little extra protection should you drop your Touch.

The Aegis comes in six colors and ships with a "scratch and smudge-resistant screen protector" as well as an audio extender in case your … Read more

Optio WG-1 adds GPS, crushproofing to Pentax rugged cameras

The Pentax Optio WG-1 follows in the design footprint set by the W90. The WG-1 breaks new ground, though, by being crushproof; it's a first for Pentax and only Olympus offered that protection previously in a point-and-shoot.

The crushproofing allows the WG-1 to survive a weight force up to 220 pounds. It's also dustproof, waterproof down to 33 feet, and freezeproof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It's shockproof, too, able to take a 5-foot drop.

Like the W90, Pentax circles the 5x f3.5-5.5 28-140mm-equivalent lens of the WG-1 with five LED lamps used for macro … Read more

Panasonic's latest Lumix cameras are not just more megapixels

Panasonic, out from under the product deluge that is CES 2011, announced today refreshed versions of its high-end point-and-shoot cameras. If you recently bought the compact megazoom Lumix ZS5, ZS6, or ZS7, the rugged TS2, or the touch-screen ultracompact FX75, you may not want to read on because some of the new tech is actually worth having.

The ZS10 and ZS8 get a wider, longer lens than their predecessors, and the former gets a 3-inch touch screen. The TS2 update, the TS3, gets GPS and is more rugged. The FX78 (replacing the FX75) gets a larger touch screen, a less … Read more