Most phones are not very rugged. Drop it or get it wet and that’s the end. Well, Pantech has a new smartphone that is designed to be both dustproof and waterproof: the MIRACH IS11PT smartphone. It manages to be durable without looking like it.

Some features include a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 SoC with a 1GHz CPU, a 3.7-inch WVGA screen with a 480 x 800 resolution, and Android’s Gingerbread 2.3 platform.

Sure, the iPhone is ultra popular, but many people still like flip phones. So how do you compromise? Well, Softbank has an answer with their new phone.

The company’s new handset was developed by Sharp and features a 3.4 inch touch screen, high resolution camera, and runs Google’s Android operating system. And it’s waterproof. Will it be a hit with flip-loving folk? We’ll see. It will hit Asia in mid-June for about $490.

Who is this sexy and slim beauty in white? Why it’s the Nec Medias N-04C and it is one sexy and slim Japanese Android Smartphone. Good news. It will be available in a waterproof version soon as well with the N-06C.

This new NEC Medias N-06C is scheduled for a Summer launch in Japan and will come pre-loaded with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), and a faster CPU of 1GHz compared to the 800MHz found on the N-04C and it will be available in four different flashy colors like white pearl and pink.

You own an iPad for convenience, so don’t think you have to leave it at home when you go to the beach. Instead, check out this new waterproof and sand proof case, called the DryCase. The manufactures says it’s completely waterproof.

The DryCase keeps your iPad waterproof by using a vacuum which is created in the case using a small pump to extract all of the air from the pouch. The case tightly seals around your iPad, but still allows the touchscreen to function. It’s like a spacesuit for your gadget.

Rugged phones are usually more rugged than pretty, since they are made to survive harsh conditions. But here’s the exception. A company called Verykool has a new rugged phone called the R80 that looks attractive. The phone is a quad band device supporting 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and it uses GPRS class 12 technology.

Some other features include a 2.4-inch screen and it has a screen on the back that is a 1-inch OLED. There’s also Bluetooth, USB tethering, and PC sync capability as well as a 2MP camera and four hours of talk time and ten days on standby.

It’s too hot 90% of the year in Texas for a lot of outdoor play so we tend to stay near water. Many folks swim to keep in shape and want some music to listen too at the same time. H2O Audio has a line of gear that lets the swimmer listen to music while in the water and will survive folks that sweat profusely as well.

The new headphones from the company are called the Surge 2G and they are waterproof to 12-feet deep. The headphones can also be washed and will survive sweating. Either of those will kill your typical set of headphones. The Surge 2G headphones ship with five sets of elastomer earphones with XS-XL sizes for a custom fit. The elastomer tips in various sizes are to provide a custom fit, block outside noise, and should help keep water out of your ears.

When it comes to protecting your smartphone some of the most protective cases carry the OtterBox name. The company makes all sorts of cases from simple sleeves to cases that protect from water, drops, and just about anything else that might happen to your device.

OtterBox has announced new cases that are available for the HTC Evo and the HTC Droid Incredible. The two cases are specifically designed for a snug fit and to protect the HTC devices. The cases each offer three layers of protection in a sleek package that adds minimal bulk to the smartphones.

Klipsch has introduced three new iPhone-compatible headphones in the Image One, Image S5i Rugged and Image S3. The Klipsch Image One is the company’s first on-ear headphones and features a three-button remote specially made for the iPhone, iPod or iPad.

The Klipsch Image S5i Rugged headphones come with a three button remote that can survive some moisture, but isn’t fully waterproof. Lastly, the Klipsch Image S3 headphones can be used with any device like an iPod or an MP3 player since it features a 3.5mm audio jack.

The MI-SPORT MP3 Player Headphones are waterproof and wireless headphones that are great for using when working out or just being out in the rain. They feature a fully integrated waterproof MP3 player. You can use it while swimming or hanging out by the pool, knowing they will be safe from water.

The headset includes waterproof soft sponge earplugs made to be worn underneath the headphones, that will block water out but allow sound in. The controls are on the exterior and your album text or personalized playlist is read and voiced back to you, in either a male of female voice or even a different language.

Japan’s second biggest mobile company KDDI has unveiled the 10 cell phones of their new line-up for this summer. The first of these models will be arrive in Japan as early as the end of this month.

The majority are waterproof, which is becoming a trend for phones in Japan and they come in many assorted colors and styles. Looks like there’s something for everyone and every age. Hit up the link below for the full rundown.

Folks that work in harsh environment like fire fighters, field workers and oil field workers need a device that is strong enough to survive life in the field. Drop your iPhone and the thing is probably dead. Rugged phones however, can withstand drops and tumbles.

AT&T has added a new phone to its line for users needing a rugged handset called the Airo Wireless A25is. The device meets MIL-SPEC 810-F/G. It can survive repeated drops form as high as 50-inches, up to 95% humidity, and harsh vibrations for up to 1000 miles.

When you design phones while on crack, there are bound to be some bad results. The iPod Water phone, despite it’s name, isn’t waterproof and it doesn’t even look like an iPhone. These knock-off companies are really slipping lately. I’m very disappointed. I thought the idea was to make your thing look like the other more desirable thing.

The specs are also disappointing, featuring dual band GSM connectivity, a 2.2″ display, audio and video playback, Bluetooth support and a built-in digital camera of unknown megapixel count. It also has an integrated FM tuner to help you keep radio alive.

The folks over at OtterBox, protectors of gadgets for the active and accident-prone, gave us a chance to try out one of their defensive products to see just how well it holds up. In this case, OtterBox sent us a protective case for the Blackberry Curve, a device I have with me day in and day out.

Since the case from OtterBox is protecting something I own and depend on daily, we did not put it through the usual drops, dunks and vodka-proof trials that we would normally do. But, despite this we can tell you that this case blows away any other protective case we’ve had our hands on, for any mobile device.

I was never really into fingerprint authentication on my devices. The first thing I ever purchased with a fingerprint scanner was my Dell XPS M1330 laptop. I can safely say fingerprint authentication on my laptop sucks. It usually takes three or more swipes to get the reader to accept my fingerprints and I can log in by typing my password faster than by swiping.

Some folks really like the idea of fingerprint authentication though and Fujitsu has announced the first waterproof cell phone to offer fingerprint authentication. Why waterproof you wonder? Well, I know a lady who has dropped not one or two iPhones into the toilet, but three. Yeah that’s a crappy iPhone.

We’ve seen a number of waterproof solutions that allow you to take your iPod safely on the beach or in the shower but the Icebar V2 combination case may be the best one we’ve seen yet (and the most expensive). The case provides a waterproof housing for you iPod nano and built-in waterproof speakers for places where it’s inconvenient to use headphones.

The case does have a port for headphones if you’d rather keep your tunes personal, and also has a click-wheel membrane to give complete control of the iPod through the case. The body is made of a shatter-proof polycarbonate which allows you to easily see the iPod display, but just be case the case is shatterproof doesn’t mean the iPod you put inside is.