Panasonic announced its Android-based Toughbook tablet just about a month ago, and it looks like things are moving along -- we just spent a few moments handling a non-working prototype at an event in DC. True to Toughbook form, it's a rugged little beast, with a quarter-inch of rubber wrapping the entire frame and a matte-finished daylight-viewable 10.1-inch 1024 x 768 display. The power, USB, and microSD card openings are all sealed behind chinky plastic flaps, and the active stylus tucks neatly into a slot on the rear. There's also front and rear cameras, in case you need to document your high-stress work environment.

Unfortunately, we weren't told anything about pricing or internal specs, but we were told that it should be shipping sometime in November. That's a long time to wait, but it might well be worth it -- the combination of the matte screen and rugged build is extremely nice. We'll let you know when we learn more. More shots after the break.