Tag Archives: rugged

This Samsung T7 Shield portable SSD makes me want to do laundry with it

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Rugged devices often look like tanks, but the design of this portable SSD might make you think of something completely unrelated.

Our modern world revolves around data, particularly those stored in digital form. More and more jobs revolve around digital objects, not to mention how we live every day with photos taken by phones and digital cameras. Storing data in the drives inside our desktops and laptops is no longer enough these days, and we find ourselves moving files back and forth between computers and carrying around storage devices in our bags more often than not. That has given rise to a breed of rugged hard drives and SSDs, and Samsung’s latest portable solution almost makes you want to test its mettle in the laundry.

Designer: Samsung

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Let’s get it out of the way. This portable SSD, which conveniently fits in the palm of your hand, might remind you of a bar of laundry soap. Some people might not be familiar with that object in this day of liquid detergents and laundry capsules, but those still do exist. Admittedly, one can also associate the ridged surface of the Samsung T7 Shield with the treads of a tank, but the bar-like form of the portable SSD makes that idea less sticky.

That almost comical design choice does have some benefit to the drive’s rugged nature. In addition to the thick elastomer material, the ridges provide the first line of defense from impacts, better protecting the actual body inside compared to drives with smoother and flatter surfaces. And, yes, the T7 Shield is also IP65 (not IP68) rated against minute particles like dust and a few splashes of water. Despite its looks, it definitely won’t survive washing your clothes.

The Samsung T7 Shield is no larger than a credit card, at least in length and width, making it easy to slip into your pocket on the go. The company is positioning it not only for work, though, but also as extra storage for your phone’s photos and even your games. Of course, you won’t be able to carry your console with you everywhere, but the SSD’s speed will shave off a few minutes when you start copying games to the machine.

Of course, the portable SSD isn’t just all looks and tough talk. It naturally boasts some fast data transfer speeds, which is the main point of expensive SSDs, and high storage capacities of up to 2TB. The SSD itself isn’t made from sustainable materials, but Samsung still tried to minimize its negative impact on the environment by reducing the size of the tray packaging. Unsurprisingly, the Samsung T7 Shield rugged portable SSD isn’t exactly inexpensive, which is typical for SSDs, even more for portable SSDs. If you are in the market for a portable and fast storage solution, however, you might as well invest in something that can protect your data digitally and physically. Just try not to mistake this for a bar of soap.

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Doogee S98 looks and sounds more like a secret agent gadget than a smartphone

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If your phone looks like a tank and is built like a tank, you might as well use it to fight the bad guys, right?

Almost all smartphones these days are made to look classy and stylish, either appealing to grownups who want to look professional or younger audiences who want to be more expressive or any intersection of those two. There’s a certain class of phones, however, that were designed to be tough and endure potentially dangerous situations, marketed at companies and workers that also have to endure those same environments. These ultra-rugged phones are often anything but pleasing to look at, no matter the marketing spiel. A new phone in that category is turning the formula on its head with a design that is eye-catching and even attractive, especially when you consider how it almost works like a prop straight out of a spy flick.

Designer: Doogee

There have been phones that attempted to bring a second display on their backs, often for the sake of having a way to view notifications even while the phone is face down on a desk. In truth, these smaller screens are advertised as a better way to take selfies since you can use the mightier cameras on the back of the phone and still see your face. There have been a few iterations of this idea over the years, but Doogee’s latest rugged phone is probably the most tasteful of them all.

Instead of a large camera bump on its back, the Doogee S98 has what is practically a circular smartwatch flanked by cameras and an LED flash. It functions the same way as other second screens, except it actually looks good in that position rather than something that feels simply tacked on. It gives the phone an almost futuristic vibe, or cyberpunk given its rather think skin.

The phone’s specs are nothing to write home about, which isn’t surprising considering how most rugged phones like this are often underpowered. It does have one particular feature that makes it unique and, at the same time, ironically uninteresting for most consumers. It has a 20MP night vision camera, which fits that secret agent theme. Of course, it has real-world applications in industrial and security fields, which is where the phone is headed anyway.

The Doogee S98 is unapologetically rugged in features and appearance, and it refreshingly embraces that with an interesting twist. While most phone makers will be content to just leave things like that, the company has given the phone’s design a bit more thought, resulting in a product that rises above the rest in a good way. The phone won’t sell like pancakes in the mainstream market despite those features, but it will at least make its owners the envy of their peers. At least until the next rugged phone manufacturer designs to copy or even one-up Doogee.

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Garmin Instinct 2 flaunts bold colors that will definitely be head-turners

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Some smartwatch owners want their wearables devices to look like regular timepieces, while others want them to stand out. Garmin’s new set is definitely in the latter camp, though it has one interesting trick to help push wearers to stay outdoors more.

Garmin made a name for itself with its car navigation products, but it has been dabbling in smartwatches and wearables for a few years now. It even has a line of smartwatches just for golf players! Not exactly known for looking like luxury watches, Garmin has preferred to target audiences that need their smartwatches to be built like a tank and don’t mind them looking like one. With the Garmin Instinct 2, however, the company is trying to turn these rugged timepieces into fashion statements, ones that scream their colors at you, if that’s your thing.

Designer: Garmin

Garmin’s color selection has always been more on the muted side, trying to match the gear that hikers, adventurers, and even soldiers would have with them on their journeys. This time, however, it wants its smartwatches to be bold and stand out from the crowd, and what better way to do that than with colors that very few smartwatch makers would even dare dream of. Some of the Garmin Instinct 2’s color options will definitely be eye-catching, whether in a good way or otherwise.

Color names like “Electric Lime” and “Poppy” definitely sound atypical for rugged smartwatches, and their almost garish hues confirm these. “Waikiki” and its dual-tone combination might not sit well with some tastes, but the more subdued “Mavericks” might not exactly do better. And if the dozens of preset color options and sizes still aren’t enough, you can also swap out bands for a jaw-dropping 240 possible combinations. Garmin has definitely gone above and beyond customization, though its color palette might leave some cringing.

The Garmin Instinct 2, however, isn’t just a pretty face, whether or not you agree on the “pretty” part. One particular version of this smartwatch boasts unlimited battery life, thanks to a built-in solar panel. Garmin says you only need to spend around 3 hours outside under indirect sunlight each day to achieve this unlimited battery life, which owners of this kind of wearable should have no problem meeting.

Like its predecessor, the Garmin Instinct 2 also sets itself apart from other smartwatches by having a monochrome screen that saves battery and reduces distractions. One unique feature of this smartwatch series is a circular display insert in the upper right corner, mimicking some sports watches. Garmin definitely hasn’t turned its back on its intended audience, but now at least concedes that these people will sometimes want to express their personalities through colors, even ones that might make you want to scratch your eyes out.

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This retro-inspired battery case turns the back of your phone into an LED light show

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People put cases on their phones for protection, extra battery life, or self-expression, so why not have all three in one and turn your phone’s rear into a dynamic light show.

Phone cases are admittedly a bit of a controversial topic among smartphone aficionados. Phones are already designed to be as durable and as beautiful as their manufacturers want them, and some people consider it a heresy to mar a phone’s natural beauty with a case, especially those bulky ones. Others, however, want extra protection for their expensive investments or have found certain cases that appeal to their eyes. The latter group, however, sometimes has a hard time choosing between protection, battery, or beauty, and so STARcase designed something that makes that choice moot.

Designer: STARcase

To put it simply, STARcase is a rugged battery phone case that has an array of LED lights on its back. Each of these features on its own might not be so revolutionary, but having them in one place is an interesting proposition. What makes this particular incarnation of that idea really special, however, is how that LED matrix can be functional as well as aesthetic.

Sure, you can pick a variety of “low-res” animations and icons to display on the phone’s back, but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. The LED panel can also be used to display notifications, either using an app’s icon or even as old-school scrolling text. STARcase’s creators say you can even play some games on the phone’s back using the dedicated button at the bottom.

The STARcase also has the trappings of a typical battery case, including ruggedness (MIL STD 810G-516.6 spec even) and a 2,500 mAh battery that you can charge together with the phone. You can also set at what battery percentage the phone starts drawing from the case or, alternatively, manually turn charging on and off from the mobile app. That mobile app is the gateway to all of the STARcase features, which pretty much qualifies this as a smart case, unlike your typical battery case.

The freedom of artistic expression and whimsical fun that STARcase offers do come with a price. Although described as “slim,” there is obviously a significant addition to the height and thickness of the phone when wearing this customizable armor. At the moment, STARcase is on pre-order and is compatible only with iPhones, but the Pixel 6 and even the Galaxy S22 are promised to have their turn soon.

The post This retro-inspired battery case turns the back of your phone into an LED light show first appeared on Yanko Design.

Someone turned the Bugatti Chiron into a 4×4 off-roader and it feels like Mad Max meets Cyberpunk

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If you’re looking at this 4×4 Bugatti Chiron Terracross concept and going “something doesn’t feel right here”, it’s completely intentional. The Chiron, a beast made for perfect roads and luxurious metropolises, set against a rugged terrain with those massive tires just feels unnatural… but there’s a beauty in its unnatural design. Created by Rafał Czaniecki as a mere pandemic project, the Bugatti Chiron Terracross concept is a dystopian beauty made for a world where futuristic cybercities and wastelands coexist.

Off the bat, the Terracross isn’t your average Chiron. It comes with a few upgrades that are more than apparent when you look at the automobile. Right off the bat, you’ll notice its outlandish wheels and suspension, which make sense given its all-terrain nature, but create a ground-clearance that’s completely unusual for a Bugatti. The headlight and taillights are altered too, with a honeycomb-ish pattern that’s also found on the car’s exhausts, the wheel design, as well as on the large, outward-extending fenders. Among other noteworthy upgrades are the massive bumper guards on the front and back of the car, along with foglights on the top, space for a carry-case, and a place to mount your step knee.

The Terracross is a complete deviation from Bugatti’s luxury supercar DNA, while it still manages to retain the Bugatti elements like the horseshoe radiator and the C-shaped rear pillar. It’s an interesting experiment that I hope, for the sake of humanity, doesn’t become a norm – because a post-apocalyptic world where an all-terrain Chiron is a necessity isn’t really the kind of world I want to live in. That being said, Rafał Czaniecki’s pandemic pet-project surely yielded an extremely eye-catching car!

Designer: Rafał Czaniecki

Muzen Wild Mini Bluetooth Speaker Review: Small But Mighty Good

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There are countless Bluetooth speakers to choose from these days, so if audio companies want people to take notice, you have to do something pretty different. The Muzen Wild Mini speaker is just that. Measuring about 3″ high x 2.25″ wide x 1.375″ deep, this ultra-compact speaker is small enough to carry in the palm of your hand, but this tiny speaker punches way above its class in build and sound quality.

The Wild Mini comes packaged in a sturdy plastic case that’s substantially larger than the speaker itself. The rugged, foam-lined case is a nice touch but given the speaker’s own rugged look and feel, I’m not sure I’ll ever be putting it back in its packaging.

The speaker is the true star of the show, featuring a high-quality body made from high-density zinc alloy, and a design inspired by military radios. With the exception of a couple of trim pieces and buttons, everything on the Wild Mini is made from metal. Combined with the weight of a battery that can last up to six hours at full volume, the little speaker feels incredibly substantial and weighs in at over half a pound.

Despite being a pre-production model, my review unit feels really well built, with no gaps or rattly bits. The 5-watt amplifier and speaker produce a surprisingly big sound, without discernible distortion even at high volume levels. Physics prevent a speaker this small from ever producing booming bass, but it handles low end admirably for its size, and mids and highs are clean and pleasing to the ear. Overall sound quality is much better than I expected for a speaker this small, and I think the metal enclosure and rubber feet help to eliminate unwanted vibrations.

Every detail of the Wild Mini’s case and controls are smartly designed and engineered. There’s a satisfyingly clicky knurled metal thumbwheel for adjusting volume, a spring-loaded flip switch for powering the unit on and off and Bluetooth pairing, and a pushbutton surrounded by a bi-directional ring for pausing and changing tracks.

A MicroUSB charging connector hides beneath a hinged door that keeps moisture out. The speaker enclosure is IPX5-rated, which means it’s water-resistant, so it’s fine if it gets rained on or splashed at the beach, but you don’t want to submerge it.

In addition to its above par audio capabilities, the Wild Mini serves double duty as a flashlight. There are three modes – high, low, and SOS. It’s not an exceptionally bright light even at its highest setting, but it does provide enough light to guide your way on a pitch-black trail, or to find your keys in the dark. Plus, it can be operated at the same time as your music plays. The speaker’s case also has an “n”-shaped loop on its top, which lets you lash it to a backpack or belt loop with a piece of paracord or a small carabiner clip.

I absolutely love this little speaker. It’s got a unique look, is built really well and sounds very good considering its size. You can pre-order the Muzen Wild Mini Bluetooth speaker now over on Kickstarter. While the MSRP for the speaker is $99, there are still a number of Super Early Bird and Early Bird deals available, priced at $69 and $79, respectively.

Acer’s new ConceptD PCs are for creatives on a budget

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Acer is expanding its ConceptD creative PCs once again, and this time it’s focusing on artists and other producers who don’t have lavish budgets. The centerpieces are the ConceptD 3 Ezel and its more conventional Notebook counterpart. Both come with...

HP’s latest Chromebooks for schools include more durable keyboards

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HP is once again giving its school Chromebooks an overhaul, and they'll be particularly good news for teachers who bristle at the thought of mangled keyboards. The Chromebook 11 G8 EE, 11A G8 EE, x360 11 G3 EE and 14 G6 all have full-skirted anchore...