Casio's made rugged smartphones and phones that connect to G-Shock watches before, but here's the first example of the brands crossing over — this concept G-Shock phone translates the tough watches' design cues to a smartphone form factor. Japanese site My Navi reports that it can withstand drops of 10 feet, is water resistant to a depth of 10 meters, and can handle weights of up to a ton being placed on it. The phone is in prototype phase, with details of the design and specifications still to be fully worked out — although the demo screen clearly shows some version of Android, Casio says it hasn't even made a final decision on the OS.
Casio G-Shock rugged smartphone concept resists falls, water, and weight

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useless without video
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 8:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They didn’t say it was a hands on.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 10:19 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It probably “resist” future android updates as well.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 8:35 AM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
The intended market won’t care.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 9:36 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Thank you
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 10:34 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
so then it’ll fit right in with the rest of the android phones, right?
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 9:55 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
There won’t be any video of a running device, Casio used an Android style screen to approximate what would be delivered in such a device. Purely built to gauge reaction. Hopefully, Casio will put this into production for worldwide distribution, they would get a lot more custom than just building for Verizon.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 8:41 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
“Atomic Solar?” I’m guessing that’s the type of G-Shock you have?
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 11:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Church, word and hell yeah. Couple of my small collection anyways. Name comes from the initial obsession and eventually purchase of the GXW-56-4. Which looks like a dinghy in pics, but isn’t that big to wear.
I’m serious when I say that Casio are missing a big audience here, unless Verizon are handing over serious cash to keep them sweet.
Posted on Jan 25, 2012 | 8:58 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
It also resists people by being so damn ugly.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 8:43 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
so ugly it’s good!!
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 9:56 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.” -Confucius
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 11:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I like it. Screw thinner, lighter fragile phones. Give me shock and water proof with physical buttons so I can receive a call without removing my gloves. With the awesome Google navigation app, this could be mounted to my bike and replace my existing ruggedized GPS and crummy Dell Streak. Build it! Just don’t price it into the stratosphere.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 3:44 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
…but they’re going to have to make it comfortable to hold against your head.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 3:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’d be a pretty useful phone for hikers, or extreme sportsmen I reckon, doesn’t have to be good looking to be useful.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 8:58 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
On top of the ugliness, they’ve completely changed the Android button arrangement with the Menu, Home and Back buttons up on the sides. Yay…..skins.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 9:01 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I really like the placement of the navigation buttons on the sides of the device. I’ve been waiting for a company to realize that, for people with larger hands, curling your thumb down to hit buttons along the bottom edge of a device isn’t ergonomic at all.
I keep hoping that the move away from hardware buttons in Android 4.0 will give users options like allowing the buttons to appear anywhere on the edge of the screen. Maybe a swipe that triggers translucent buttons the slide in from either side of the phone? With custom placement per user depending on hand size / finger reach? Though if phones keep getting needlessly larger this will be moot anyway.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 10:09 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Add wp7 and you got a perfect outdoorsman phone.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 9:20 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
my words exactly !
Posted on Jan 25, 2012 | 6:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
WhyO why do I like this design???! If it comes out with 4.0 it’s mine!!!
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 9:59 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
That is clearly running 2.3 or earlier.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 6:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
i mean when/if it eventually arrives on the shores of The States
Posted on Jan 25, 2012 | 6:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Why would casio put the buttons and ports on the parts of the phone that will come into contact with the ground should it drop?
Wouldn’t the smarter thing have been to put them between the bumps sp they never contact any unintended surface?
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 11:13 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They are flush with the shock absorbent body. Keeping the buttons on the side will provide for a better grip in outdoor environments or blue collar work sites. Easier to press and view with one hand.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 1:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That Status bar looks a lot like the Sense Status Bar.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 11:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The design fits right in with the g-shock watches.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 11:38 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
While most G-Shocks have that rugged look which is nice, it doesn’t translate well to a smartphone. At all.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 12:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This looks like a perfect candidate for WinMo 6.5 !
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 1:09 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Wow. Looks like someone stretched out my late 90’s G-Shock watch.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 5:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This would rock as a second phone. Good for days near the ocean or lakes and hiking. The kinds of conditions you might not want to take your regular shiny phone to.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 6:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
At least, this one is not another soap shape clone.
Love it or hate it.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 7:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t see why Casio wouldn’t release this as the follow-up to their G’Z One Commando
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 11:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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