Back in April, we heard Samsung was planning a “ruggedized” version of its new Galaxy S4 that would be both dust and water resistant, and considerably stronger than the original. Now that device, called the Galaxy S4 Active, has been leaked ahead of its official release.
Sony has today announced the Xperia ZR, a midrange alternative to its flagship Xperia Z. Like its bigger brother, the Xperia ZR is waterproof and promises to survive depths of up to 1.5 meters. It also has some pretty impressive specifications for a midrange smartphone.
If there’s one thing we know about Samsung, it’s that the company just cannot stop rolling out new smartphones. Seriously, I can’t remember the last time a month went by when Samsung didn’t announce a new phone. It’s no surprise to me, then, that the Korean company is already planning a second Galaxy S4 variation, but in this case, I think it’s acceptable.
The new model will be a “ruggedized” version of Samsung’s new flagship that’s both dust and water resistant.
The best way to listen to all the music you have stored on your smartphone or tablet is to stream it to a wireless Bluetooth speaker. With the BOOMBOT2 from BoomBotix, you can enjoy your music pretty much anywhere — whether you’re going on vacation, taking a trip to the beach, or just popping to the park for a picnic.
It’s completely water resistant, so it’s great for chilling out next to the pool, and it syncs with any Bluetooth-connected device. The BOOMBOT2 also has a clip so you can attach it to your bag, your bike, your belt, or your pocket. What’s more, with Cult of Android deals you can get it for just $49 — that’s 30% off — for a limited time.![Rock Out With The BOOMBOT2 Bluetooth Speaker, Now With 30% Off [Deals]](http://cdn.cultofandroid.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif "More...")
BARCELONA, MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS — Here at MWC in Barcelona, Krussell is showing off its latest lineup of waterproof smartphones cases called Sealabox, which let you take your smartphone swimming to snap pictures of the fishes. Available for almost all common smartphones, the Sealabox is IPX7 certified for water resistance up to one meter, and it’s been carefully designed to allow you to make the most of your smartphone in almost any environment.
Rumors surrounding the Sony Xperia Tablet Z first surfaced last week, and we expected Sony to confirm them at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. But in Japan on Monday morning, the new flagship tablet was unveiled. And boy, does it look good.
Wireless speakers are often the best way to enjoy the music you have stored on your smartphone or tablet, but like other electronics, there are some places you wouldn’t want to take them — such as the beach or the lake. Filling them with sand and water will kill them incredibly quickly.
That’s not a worry with the NUU Splash, however, because it’s both dust and water resistant.
LAS VEGAS, CES 2013 – It’s pretty unusual to see a major headset manufacturer’s brand-spanking new flagship phone soaking in a goldfish bowl. Then again, if that phone is the new waterproof Sony Xperia Z, maybe a fishbowl is exactly where one would expect to find it.
The Patagonia MiniMass commuter bag ($69) is my first taste of Patagonia’s gear, and I’ve always wondered if their stuff was worth the hype. The company has a bit of a reputation — perhaps fair, perhas not — as the outdoor industry’s bourgeois player, probably due to generally higher prices than the competition, an innovative design ethic and the use of green materials throughout their line.
But Patagonia has also spawned a fanatical following. I once worked with someone who literally camped outside the company’s Southern California headquarters (it sits literally right aross the road from the beach) in the hopes she’d be hired. She wasn’t, but toting around my tablet in the the fantastic little MiniMass let me grasp why she tried.
The MiniMass is the smallest sibling in Patagonia’s family of courier bags (all of which end in “Mass” — a nod to the Critical Mass bicycle movement). This makes the MiniMass a perfect tablet carrier. And even though it isn’t explicitly to ferry tablets, it excels in the task.
Sony says they’re getting ready to ship two drool-inducing new toys. The first is a new addition to its compact NEX series, the NEX-5R, equipped with wifi, an ultra-quick (according to Sony), hybrid phase-detection/contrast detection autofocus system and — here’s where it gets really interesting — the ability to download specialized apps.
The second is Sony’s entry into the exploding action-cam market; the aptly named Action Cam is a really tiny, 3-ounce (with battery) video camera that comes with a variety of outdoor-enthusiast mounting options and the ability to use a smartphone’s screen as a viewfinder.
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![Patagonia MiniMass Courier: Could be the Most Versatile Bag I’ve Ever Had [Review]](http://cdn.cultofandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/patagonia-minimass-1.jpg "patagonia-minimass-1")
