Rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Hinted

Samsung Galaxy S4

(Image Credit: http://www.samsung.com)

A rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 will supposedly be released by the South Korean manufacturer, and it will reportedly be dubbed as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, according to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal. If this is true, it will be a god-send for outdoor enthusiasts who think twice of bringing their smartphones whenever they commune with nature.

The report also indicated that this model of the latest flagship smartphone of Samsung will be introduced by Samsung in July. The reported device will supposedly be dustproof and waterproof but will have the same appearance as the current model of the smartphone.

Although the supposed Samsung Galaxy S4 Active may be a blessing for outdoor enthusiasts, it may likely be promoted for use among government or corporate clients. It will also be useful for workers out in the field.

The report of the rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 Active follows the introduction of the seven-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. The display of the upcoming tablet will have a resolution of 1024 x 600, and it will run on the Jelly Bean Android 4.1 OS. It will also feature a 3MP camera at the back and 1.3MP camera in front. The South Korean company will release the Wi-Fi version of the device by May and the 3G variant will be available by June.

On the other hand, supply issues have compelled the postponement of the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4 of T-Mobile and Sprint. However, Sprint revealed that the supply of the smartphone is starting to arrive to the sales channels of the mobile service provider.

With the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and the report of a possible Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, it appears that the South Korean company is aiming to cover a good part of the mobile device market around the world.

Advanced Rugged Point-And-Shoot With The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS

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The latest rugged camera offering of Olympus, the Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS, comes with some features that may encourage photo enthusiasts to use it every single day.

Normally the shooting modes as well as the optics of rugged cameras are compromised to provide it with the hard and durable casing. However the recently introduced the Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS offers more features than any other camera designed for use in the great outdoors.

One may even think that the Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS is an advanced point-and-shot camera due to its fast lens f2.0 lens, 12MP CMOS sensor that has been optimized for use in low-light situations, the 1080p HD video capture and its three-inch OLED display.

With its 4X optical zoom from 25mm to 100mm, the Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS facilitates the taking of pictures of subjects that may not be within arm’s reach.  Users can also opt to attach tele-converter and fisheye lenses into the camera although these are sold separately.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS is water-proof up to forty feet, freeze-proof up to fourteen degrees Fahrenheit, crush-proof up to 220 pounds and dust-proof. The camera also offers HDR and high-speed modes that are comparable to advanced non-rugged point-and-shoot cameras. 

The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS is also capable of shooting ten frames per second at a resolution of 12MP while the 3MP resolution will allow users to shoot at a faster rate of sixty frames per second.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS also has a rather fast auto-focus speed that is similar to the Pen cameras of the company while it offers Linear PCM audio recording while in video mode. The camera also has an integrated electronic compass and GPS.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS is expected to be released into the market by July at a price tag of $400.

Rugged, Waterproof Cameras and Camcorders Available in the Market

Kodak PlaySport Zx5

(Image Credit: pcmag.com)

In the past, when people talk about rugged, waterproof cameras and camcorders, Olympus and Pentax normally the brands that come to mind.

However in the past few years, the other major brands have started to offer their own models of rugged, waterproof camera and camcorder units. The emergence of numerous models of rugged, waterproof cameras and camcorders will benefit consumers since it increases the options available for them in this market segment.

These rugged, waterproof cameras and camcorders offer basically the same function although some would provide more protection than others. Some are designed for the great outdoors while others may be limited to the usual family-time pool or beach outings. With a price point that starts at around $100, the choices are varied although the higher the price the more protection it would offer. Therefore the more expensive it gets, the more rugged the camera will be.

Samsung HMX-W300

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Consumers would simply have to see which rugged, waterproof camera and camcorder brand would be more suitable for their needs.

The first device in the list is the Kodak PlaySport Zx5. This is supposedly the last of the rugged mini-camcorders of Kodak that is currently available in the market. For impulse buyers who want to have their own camera that they can bring just about anywhere, this is a good mini-camcorder choice since it is priced at less than $90.

Nikon Coolpix S30

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The Samsung HMX-W300 is a device that may take away the anxiety that camera owners will have if they let other people use it. However it should be noted that its video quality offered by this Samsung device may be similar to that of high-end smartphones.

The large-sized buttons along with the user-friendly menus makes the Nikon Coolpix S30 a good entry into a rugged, waterproof camera for dummies book. Since it uses AA batteries, the owners of the S30 will not have to worry much about running out of juice especially if a convenience store outlet just around the corner.

Pentax Optio WG-2

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The Pentax Optio WG-2 is probably the most rugged, waterproof camera in the market. This point-and-shoot device is not only waterproof it is also dust-proof, freeze-proof, shock-proof, and crush-proof. The Pentax Optio WG-2 is also available with GPS or without GPS.

Sony Cybershot DSC-TX20

(Image Credit: asia.cnet.com)

The last device on the list of rugged, waterproof cameras and camcorders is the Sony Cybershot DSC-TX20. This particular device may be chameleon of sorts. No it does not change colors and blend into the background. It does not appear to be a rugged, waterproof camera since it is designed more for suburbanites and urbanites who may want to have their share of some adventure in the wild streets of the city.

These are just some of the rugged, waterproof cameras and camcorders that are currently available in the market. In the end consumers will have the choice on which of these devices they would want to purchase when they find themselves wanting to put some adventurous flavor to spice up their lives.