Panasonic unveils waterproof smartphones

During the Mobile World Congress event in Spain this week, Panasonic has introduced two waterproof smartphones, the Eluga and Eluga Power.

The Eluga will launch soon with Gingerbread 2.3.5, but will be upgraded to ICS in June. Full specs:

- An ultra-slim D shaped design, with a slender 123x62.0x7.8mm frame.
- International standard IP57 water and dustproofing. Protected for up to a depth of 1 metre for up to 30 minutes in water, and protected against dust (75 micrometers or less in diameter/no harmful deposit) if left near or in it for eight hours or less.
- Near-field communication (NFC) technology, meaning the phone is ready for 'no touch' interactions, including contactless payments.
- A 4.3 inch, 960x540, capacitive OLED QHD screen with one of the largest display area ratio on the market.
- Swipe and Share, letting users wirelessly 'throw' pictures from their phone to a TV or cloud service, or stream movies from their phone to a TV. The VieraRemote app also enables the phone to be used as a remote control for other electronic devices in the home (such as a Viera TV, DIGA Blu-ray player and recorder, home cinema system, or digital still camera).
- An 8MP autofocus camera, with 8GB of integrated memory.
- A 1GHz dual-core processor ( OMAP4430 ), with Android Gingerbread (version 2.3.5) on-board, to be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich from summer 2012.

The Eluga Power, on the other hand, will launch with ICS, a larger 5-inch screen and better overall specs:

- A 1280x720 HD, 5.0 inch LCD screen with a 9.6mm thin frame.
- Slim form factor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.0.
- International standard IP57 water and dustproofing.
- NFC - allowing for contactless payment and data transfer.
- Main camera with 8MP autofocus and 1080p Full video , including auto scene recognition and 8x digital zoom, as well as a front-facing camera.
- Superfast charging - 50% charge takes just 30 minutes, and 80% takes 57minutes (provided starts charging from a 10% charged status).
- 8GB of internal memory, with Micro SD Card Slot supporting a further 32GB.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Feb 2012 11:36

LordRuss

Would come in handy on those drunken nights - staggering up to the can - dialing up a booty call, when all of the sudden... PLOIT!

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

28.2.2012 12:52 #1

LordRuss

wrong button...sorry - dropped my phone...

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

28.2.2012 12:53 #2

ThePastor

I'm interested in waterproof/dustproof. I wish more phone manufacturers would do this.
I use my phone in the Imperial Sand Dunes when off-roading. It's very useful, but sand in the buttons can destroy a phone.

"But the bigger point here is that UMG has effectively admitted this takedown was never about copyright. They demanded YouTube censor Megaupload and justify that by saying they have a contract which allows it so its fine. Its painfully clear what they would do with a law like SOPA that gives them much more power"

28.2.2012 13:20 #3

DVDBack23

Originally posted by LordRuss: Would come in handy on those drunken nights - staggering up to the can - dialing up a booty call, when all of the sudden... PLOIT! I'd like to say this hasn't happened to me..but have ruined a perfectly good $400 phone with a drop in the toilet. At least insurance covers a good portion, heh.

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28.2.2012 13:47 #4

LordRuss

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by LordRuss: Would come in handy on those drunken nights - staggering up to the can - dialing up a booty call, when all of the sudden... PLOIT! I'd like to say this hasn't happened to me..but have ruined a perfectly good $400 phone with a drop in the toilet. At least insurance covers a good portion, heh. I was being 'artsie', as this hasn't happened to me... YET... TFG! Otterbox & the relentless refusal to answer or call anyone when I'm in the head; seated or even at the door (you NEVER know what could happen), despite the level of intoxication.

But I have been the unwitting observer of multiple high divers into the porcelain ravine. What 'happened next' is just as varied & either shocking or life altering as the next guy's story & should "stay in Vegas".

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

28.2.2012 14:50 #5

Interestx

Given their mobility - ie going outside & using them - is a prime reason for being you'd have thought waterproofing would have simply been a feature from day 1 of the mobile/cell phone.

Many of us live in climates with rain being common so it's always been one of those things that has puzzled me as to how come it hasn't ben standard.
Especially with things like the GPS apps.

Better late than never I guess, hopefully it spreads rapidly.

29.2.2012 08:08 #6

voyager

Very cool

9.3.2012 14:22 #7

pmshah

I think most of the comments are from North American residents. They have no clue what a 3 month long south Asian monsoon can be like. Not only that the summers of places like Thailand or India are so bad one can sweat to a level that makes them look like drenched in rain.

For us it would be a god send.

9.3.2012 20:52 #8

xboxdvl2

they need to make it unbreakable.i havnt dropped a phone down a toilet or got it wet but i use to break phones all the time as a teenager usually by dropping it on a bad angle or when running and it would go flying out my pocket and the screen would hit something and break.

@pmshah im in australia we get heatwaves for up to 10 days at a time.we get temperatures of up to 45 degress celcius.I know what sweat is.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

10.3.2012 01:33 #9

birdiebandit18

Originally posted by ThePastor: I'm interested in waterproof/dustproof. I wish more phone manufacturers would do this.
I use my phone in the Imperial Sand Dunes when off-roading. It's very useful, but sand in the buttons can destroy a phone. i have 4 teenagers and we hike in the mountains hwere you have to cross streams all the time and having a waterproof phone will be helpful, although cell service is spotty at best. wish i could afford a sat phone, anybody know much about them: any affordable options?

10.3.2012 16:28 #10

LordRuss

Originally posted by pmshah: I think most of the comments are from North American residents. They have no clue what a 3 month long south Asian monsoon can be like. Not only that the summers of places like Thailand or India are so bad one can sweat to a level that makes them look like drenched in rain.

For us it would be a god send.
You obviously haven't lived in some of the southern states of the US. They make Africa look like Frigidaire & parts Thailand like a dip in the kiddie pool. And yes for your information (& not dispelling any OpSec) I have been in several Asian countries during the height of summer & monsoon season. I'd still invite you to try on an F4/5 tornado or a couple prolonged hurricanes.

Redundantly, yes, I have been through 4 tornadoes, 4 hurricanes and two monsoons. No, I did not have a cell phone, nor does it make my schlong much bigger...

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

10.3.2012 18:40 #11

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