Tag: dustproof

Sony Xperia ZR Unboxing

The Sony Xperia ZR is a small brother of the Xperia Z with a major differences in design and hardware. The one thing that remains common is the water resistance and dust proof nature of the phone.

Inside the box of the Xperia ZR you will get the standard set of accessories, including a wall charger, the USB to micro USB cable and in ear headset along with documentation.

Xperia ZR Initial Impressions

The Xperia ZR is water resistant to the point where you can go swimming with it, but the build is slightly different than the Xperia Z. The back panel is made up of a rubber coating vs a glass back on the Xperia Z. The Xperia ZR has a 4.55 inch 1280 x 720p display which makes it 323 ppi .

The back of the Xperia ZR has a 13 MP camera, but it appears that the company held back with the front camera which is a VGA camera. The phone is also slightly thicker at 10.5 mm and also shorter thanks to the size of the display, which makes the overall device more compact and slightly more portable.

Sony has really gained popularity with its Xperia series thanks to the right mix of Hardware design and build quality and the Xperia ZR is not behind in this trend. Based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064 1.5 GHz Quad core Krait chipset the phone also has the might Adreno 320 GPU. The whole mix is powered by a 2300 mAh battery and has 8 GB of storage along with 2GB of RAM.

You do have storage expandability in the Xperia ZR but only to 32GB vs the 64GB offered by many. Sony has also shipped this handset with Android 4.1.2 while many companies are now offering Android 4.2.2 out of the box.

Check out our images and video and stay tuned for the followup, iGyaan style.

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June 30, 2013
Hitcase Pro for iPhone 5 Review

Since the beginning of the smartphones, as a matter of fact, since the beginning of mobile phones, we have been finding ways to have our handhelds resist the elements. While technology has come a long way, there are always restrictions when it comes to water resistant and dust proof designs. The Hitcase Pro for the iPhone 5 aims to achieve that with a design that does not stall the daily usability of the iPhone 5.

Build Quality

The Hitcase Pro is very well built, to say the least. The moment you go hands on with this case, you don’t feel like you have lost your iPhone in a big pit of protection. Designed keeping the Go Pro in mind, the case has a very strong railside mount, you also have a metal engulfed wide angled lens that unfortunately is very prone to scratching.

The case is built from a composite of ABS and Polycarbonate and is layered with a rubberized coating all around that not only keeps the case clean but also provides ample grip. The case locks in from three sides, almost like a food box, but seals the phone completely to the point where you don’t feel afraid dunking it in water. The H-Seal on the inside of the case is made out of Poron and should last a really long time.

Features

The Hitcase Pro not only protects the iPhone when you go into water or sand, it also retains the usability of the iPhone 5. The Hitcase Pro also features a great 170 degree 3 X Wide angle lens that is an absolute treat for photographers. The lens also allows close up shots upto 3X and makes focusing on subjects really easy.

The Lens also adds a Go-Pro Style video effect to the video – where you get a wide angle video frame, that captures a lot more in the same 16:9 aspect ratio.

The free app called Vidometer, captures GPS tracking info along with speed, G force, altitude and angle of approach and displays it directly on the video. This can come in handy when you look at your footage later on.

The Hitcase Pro can be used 33 ft/10 Meters underwater thanks to the IP68 rating. The railside mount allows you to use the Hitcase Pro with all sorts of Go Pro mounts and gear. The Included TiltR and StickR mounts also help those who have no Go Pro mounts. A Wrist strap also ensures the safety of your phone and case when you are at great heights and decide to hold onto the case vs mounting it.

The only downside to the case, is that the microphone gets really muffled up taking phone calls becomes slightly difficult as you will find yourself screaming to the person on the other side.

Conclusion

Despite the availability of several cases for the iPhone 5 in the Market, the HitCase Pro for the iPhone 5 is easily the most robust design. It allows the use of the phone while being packaged in a Waterproof and Dustproof cage. Whats more, the 170-degree wide angle lens and Railside mounts make the use of the case in extreme/ adventure sports very easy. Allowing you to use your iPhone as the primary camera, will almost replace the need for a dedicated rugged camera for a lot of folks. If the speaker and Microphone volume levels are something you can deal with, The Hitcase Pro is the best action case for the iPhone 5

June 29, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Is Now Official

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is now official after what seems to be months rumours.

“The Galaxy S4 Active is the newest addition to the Galaxy series and is purposefully designed for active users who love the outdoors,” JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung said. “Samsung has taken the innovative features of the Galaxy S4 and added breakthrough protective design elements to create a device that thrives in an active environment and is built for a lifestyle of travel and exploration.”

Specifications for the Galaxy S4 Active include a 5-inch 1080p Super LCD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an 8-megapixel camera. That’s down from the 13-megapixel shooter found on the standard Galaxy S4, but Samsung says that this camera is optimized to take pictures underwater thanks to a new “Aqua Mode”.

A microSD card slot is also included for expandable storage up to 64GB, and just like the Galaxy S4, the Active features a large 2,600mAh battery. Android 4.2.2 will run on the phone out of the box. That added protection against the elements brings a little bulk to the phone, though. Samsung says the Active is 9.1mm thick and weighs 151g. That’s a slight jump from the Galaxy S4’s 7.9mm thickness and 130g weight.

In terms of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active release date all we know is that it will go on sale sometime this summer in select markets.

June 5, 2013
Leaked : Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Photos And Details

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Active is expected to launch by the end of this month, so it comes as no surprise that leaks for the phone are starting to become more prevalent. Several photos of the Galaxy S4 Active were spilled by GSMArena on Monday and we can see that, unlike the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Active will launch in a bright red color and offers a slightly different industrial design.

The phone will be water-proof and dust-proof which makes it Samsung’s answer to the Sony Xperia Z. The pictures also confirm the GT-i9295 model number, which has been previously associated with the Galaxy S4 Active.

As GSMArena reports, the specs of the Galaxy S4 Active are expected to be the same and the live pictures below confirm it – the device is running on a quad-core 1.9GHz processor with Adreno 320 GPU, which most definitely means a Snapdragon 600 chipset. The screen supposedly has the same size and resolution as the original Galaxy S4 – a 5.0-inch 1080p unit, though it’s unclear if it’s a Super AMOLED one or not. Strangely enough, the reported pixel density of the phone is 480ppi, so the display might actually be smaller.

Rumours also suggest the possibility of other Galaxy S4 variants, including both a Mini and a Mega version. Both will have differing screen sizes from the current stock Galaxy S4.

Also confirmed last week was the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, a vanilla Android packing version of Samsung’s flagship phone available for those who like their Android experience without any tweaks.

[GSMArena]

May 20, 2013
Rumoured Rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 To Be Called Galaxy Active, Coming In July

Samsung is readying a new variant of its Galaxy S4 for June, according to the Wall Street Journal. As reported earlier this week, the OEM is developing a rugged version of its flagship Android smartphone dubbed Galaxy S4 “Active,” which will look similar to the original but boast waterproofing and a sturdier chassis.

This is the first time that Samsung has ruggedized its most high-end smartphone, and is doing so to appeal to a relatively untapped market; as smartphones replace larger, more cumbersome pieces of technology, they become more essential to have with us at all times, regardless of where we are. People who work in hazardous or unpredictable environments often require extra cases and utilities to keep their phones safe, but external covers fail, and having a phone designed with such use cases in mind can extend its life tremendously.

Earlier this year, Sony unveiled the Xperia Z, a high-end device that is water- and dustproof. It’s proven quite popular everywhere in the world, and is rumoured to be Sony’s most successful Android device to date. Devices like the Sony Xperia Go are examples of rugged smartphones, but their specs don’t equal their might in many ways.

Samsung is also expected to debut yet another 8-inch tablet, though this one will lack the Note branding and S Pen, and likely come in well below the $399USD MSRP of the Note 8.0. That, along with a smaller Galaxy S4 Mini, will debut alongside the Galaxy S4 Active, says the WSJ.

[Wall Street Journal]

April 27, 2013
Lifeproof Nuud Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof case for iPad 2 / 3 / 4 Review

Build Quality and Design

[pullquote_right] looks pleasant and works well[/pullquote_right]The Lifeproof Nüüd is a case designed to not only look but act rugged. The cover is a complete mix of technology, engineering and design along with several elements of usefulness. The solid plastic center shell is surrounded by a second layer of polycarbonate-esque material which is dived by two layers of rubber seals and specialized O-Rings that prevents water from leaking into the case when the iPad is installed.

The one thing that bothers us is the fact that the manufacturer asks to remove the screen protector (which we didn’t remove) in order to ensure a proper seal with the Lifeproof Nuud, leaving the glass of your iPad virtually exposed to possible scratching / damage.

The case definitely makes the iPad resemble a tough-book from Panasonic or one of their new toughpads. It is solid, yet not a big eyesore so it looks pleasant and works well.

Installation and Usage

The Lifeproof Nuud installation process is a tedious one, and requires patience. Ensure that the O-RIngs are in place and the angle of approach to the clips is proper, the seals all clip and the covers are all shut. The process is almost like a flight simulator training on a 486 machine (for those later than that time – in simple words its got a learning curve). Once you are thorough the initial installation you are good to go.

In the box you will get a front and back cover, two O-Rings, 2 x 3.5 mm headphone port cover screws and a extension cable to make the headphone port accessible. There is also a iPad Test unit that is supposed to simulate an iPad for initial waterproof tests, but is a total failure in terms of design and is the main reason to cause frustration to most buying the Lifeproof Nuud.

Once Perfectly installed, you will realize how this cover can be useful for you. The Lifeproof Nuud is that one cover that will allow you to use your iPad in the Swimming pool, or simply underwater. In a Jacuzzi you can enjoy watching your favorite movie without being in the constant fear of loosing your iPad to the depths of the shallow blue water.

One of the most useful features, the the front cover that transforms into a stand that is not only robust, but also convenient. The front of the Lifeproof Nuud case provides added frontal damage protection, but also lets you prop up your iPad to watch movies or at an appropriate angle to type on the onscreen keyboard.

Weather you have an adventurous lifestyle or work routine that requires rugged equipment, this case actually may be useful to all. The Lifeproof Nuud will not make your iPad in-destructable and will not work for you if you are not careful. Example – after a few major drops the case may be prone to water leakage, or may case damage to the iPad on further impacts. Its not insurance its added prevention. If you are careful enough with the case, it will actually let you exploit the iPad’s capabilities in environment which were inaccessible earlier, Underwater, Rain, Snow, Dirt or work sites.

Conclusion

A cover for those who value their possessions, yet like to enjoy them. The Lifeproof Nuud will let you use your ipad in the pool and listen to music around it, without letting you worry of damage. It will also provide you valid build design information at construction yards and lumber mills. But it will also let you watch a movie at home. This is a rugged case, and if you can get over the initial testing bits, then it works great. Although removing added films is recommended, we didn’t, and our Lifeproof Nuud works great. The question really boils down to – “Do You Need One?”, I guess everyone does and for the price, if you don’t mind the added bulk, this case is Lifeproof.

[youtube id=”6LPyrXQsB2c” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

April 9, 2013