There are sturdy smartphones, and then there are the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-E1 and FZ-X1Â devices. Panasonic isn’t even calling its latest 5 inch devices phones: they’re just smaller versions of the company’s rugged ToughPad tablets… that you can use to make phone calls.
The ToughPad FZ-E1 runs Windows Embedded Handheld 8 software while the FZ-X1 runs Google Android 4.2.2 Jelly bean. They support 3G and LTE cellular networks.
Both models feature 5 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel displays and Qualcomm quad-core processors. But what really makes them special are the rugged cases.
Panasonic says the handheld tablets comply with MIL-STD-810G standards, can withstand a fall from 3 meters, and have dust and water-proof cases. They can also be used outdoors in temperatures ranging from – 4 to to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Clearly these devices are aimed at folks who work outdoors and in other rough environments. They’re not exactly svelte, measuring about 6.5″ x 3.4″ x 1.2″ and weighing almost a pound (15 ounces, to be exact). But they also have hefty 6200mAh batteries for up to 14 hours of continuous use.
The battery packs are also hot-swappable, letting you replace the battery without powering down your device.
They sure know how to make it ugly for the Ford and General Motors pickup truck crowd…
What can you run on Windows Embedded 8? Can it run desktop Windows 8 apps or is it closer to Windows Phone?