Casio's Bluetooth 4.0 G-Shock

<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/casios-bluetooth-4-0-g-shock-is-water-and-shock-resistant-fcc/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/07/casio-gzone-bluetooth-closeup.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>The latest G-Shock watch from Casio boasts the usual array of shock and water-resistant claims, and now it can add FCC acceptance to the list, having passed through that government agency's approval process. So, why did this wristwatch hit the FCC in the first place? Well, the rugged little timekeeper is packing Bluetooth 4.0 in its bag of tricks, which lets the wearable gadget communicate with your smartphone. No word on a release date, but Casio did mention a fairly broad "some time in 2011" window when it was first announced back in March. Here's hoping that its FCC debut will speed the shock-filled process along.

Casio's Bluetooth 4.0 G-Shock

The latest G-Shock watch from Casio boasts the usual array of shock and water-resistant claims, and now it can add FCC acceptance to the...

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Casio's solar-powered Pathfinder watch

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/03/3-18-10-casiopag110c-3solarassist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/03/3-18-10-casiopag110c-3solarassist.jpg" /></a></div>Plotting their latest spread of watches this spring, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/casio">Casio</a> executives decided it was time to "go green." Some poor schmuck in R&D took them at their word. Thankfully for mother nature, the Casio Pathfinder PRG110C-3 is more than meets the eye; the watch -- suited for argonauts needing an altimeter, barometer, thermometer and digital compass -- also has a miniature <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/solar+cell/">solar cell</a> built into its face to <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/10/citizens-eco-drive-watch-never-needs-a-battery/">automatically recharge the battery</a>. Though Casio's claim that this last will cut down on the three billion batteries Americans trash each year seems a little reaching -- watch batteries last a <i>lot</i> longer than a AA -- the timepiece does help the planet some merely by being packaged in recyclables. The $250 device will be available exclusively from Amazon, and yeah, the color you see here is the color you'll get.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="post_via "></div><img alt="source" class="img_label" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/post_label_source.gif" /><span class="caption"><a href="http://www.casio.com/news/content/917E7FD3-8ECA-42DD-B16B-0F13EE450196/">Casio</a>, <a href="http://www.casio-intl.com/wat/toughsolar.html">Casio Tough Solar</a></span>

Casio's solar-powered Pathfinder watch

Plotting their latest spread of watches this spring, Casio executives decided it was time to "go green." Some poor schmuck in R...

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Casio's Poptone Cubic Puzzle watch

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/watches/casio/cubic_puzzle/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="1" height="235" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/09/casio-puzzle-watch-09-28-09.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></a></div><br />Alright, so Casio's new Poptone Cubic Puzzle watch may not actually contain any puzzles (or games of any sort, for that matter), but it does boasts some buttons that kind of, sort of resemble Tetris pieces, and it in comes in blue, which is good enough for us. Otherwise, it looks like you'll get all the usual watch functions you'd expect from a watch, including 12 or 24 hour time settings, a stopwatch, an alarm clock, and a backlight -- not to mention an "animated display," which remains something of a puzzle. Sold? Then you can grab one right now in your choice of black or blue for just under $90.

Casio's Poptone Cubic Puzzle watch

Alright, so Casio's new Poptone Cubic Puzzle watch may not actually contain any puzzles (or games of any sort, for that matter), but i...

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Magic Watch Casio

<a href="http://watch.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00103"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/12/wcasi001200_01_l.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" vspace="4" /></a>Just when we were beginning to think that the well of watch innovation had run dry, Casio comes along and renews our faith in multi-use timepieces, with a watch that not only tells time, but does magic! The appropriately-named Casio Magic Watch was created with the assistance of close-up magician Tomohiro Maeda, who may or may not be responsible for the totally 80s-inspired design, but most definitely is the man behind the five tricks the watch can help you perform, including guessing the number or card that a person is thinking of or roping your friends into a little con game. For some old school magic, each watch also comes bundled with an exclusive set of Tomohiro Maeda playing cards from Tally-Ho, though you'll have to decide if that's enough to justify the $80 price tag.<br /><br /><br /><br />source:<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/19/casio-magic-watch/" target="_blank">engadget.com</a>

Magic Watch Casio

Just when we were beginning to think that the well of watch innovation had run dry, Casio comes along and renews our faith in multi-use tim...

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Casio debuts Prizm graphing calculator

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/09/casio-debuts-prizm-graphing-calculator-with-high-res-color-scr/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/10/casio-prizm-10-08-2010.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div><div><br />Texas Instruments recently rocked the graphing calculator world by adding a touchpad to its TI-Nspire calculator, and Casio has now come back with a technological revolution of its own: a high-res color screen. Of course, a 3.7-inch, 384 X 216 display may not be much by smartphone standards, but Casio insists that the "Blanview" LCD will let equations and text be "displayed just like they appear in textbooks." The rest of the calculator's specs aren't too shabby either, and include USB connectivity, 16MB of flash memory, and a promised 140 hours of battery life. You'll still have to stick to your cold, hard black-and-white world for a while longer, however, as the Prizm won't be available until sometime in January, when it'll set you back $129.99.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img alt="source" class="img_label" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/post_label_source.gif" /><span class="caption"><a href="http://www.casioeducation.com/prizm/home" target="_blank">Casio Education</a></span>

Casio debuts Prizm graphing calculator

Texas Instruments recently rocked the graphing calculator world by adding a touchpad to its TI-Nspire calculator, and Casio has now come ba...

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Casio Tryx (EX-TR100)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="265" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-grand-canyon-1304478088.jpg" width="400" /></div>Given the sheer quantity of marketing muscle that Casio put behind the Tryx, you'd think the company was gearing up to rival Nikon and Canon in the DSLR space. Instead, out popped the outre device you see above. Without qualification, this is one of the strangest, most bizarrely designed cameras we've ever seen, featuring a pop-out display and a grand total of <i>two</i> buttons for operation. At 4.8- x 2.3- x 0.6-inches, it's certainly one of the slimmest, easy-to-carry point-and-shoots on the market, but is the absence of an optical zoom and a removable battery enough to tank an otherwise radical idea? Head on past the break for our two pennies.<br /><br /><a class="4107145" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on/#4107145" rel="casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-hands-on1409_103x88.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107146" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on/#4107146" rel="casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-hands-on1411_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107147" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on/#4107147" rel="casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-hands-on1412_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107148" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on/#4107148" rel="casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-hands-on1413_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107149" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on/#4107149" rel="casio-tryx-ex-tr100-hands-on" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-hands-on1414_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><h5><br />Design</h5>Let's be crystal clear here -- Casio's playing up the design angle <i>hard</i> on the Tryx. And unsurprisingly so, might we add. The chassis is undoubtedly the differentiating factor that separates this shooter from a myriad others that are currently cluttering store shelves, but the real question is this: does it matter? We've seen pop-out displays emerge on DSLRs -- where they're seen as helpful for budding video makers who need to shoot low-angle clips -- but Casio's taking a leap of faith by assuming the same theory will translate in the compact realm.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" height="266" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107300" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-rim.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>The outer "rim" that surrounds the optics and the 3-inch touchpanel is constructed of a markedly robust metal. We did our best can-crunching pose, and the frame barely flexed. All that's needed to separate the LCD from the frame is a solid shove, and things click back into place automatically once swung back around. Once exposed, the LCD is surrounded by an SDXC / SDHC / SD card slot, a mini HDMI output and a USB charging port. Each of those are covered by flimsy plastic clips, which we're guessing won't last a year given the assumption of normal wear and tear. The bezel is home to just two physical buttons: an on / off switch and a shutter trigger.<br /><br />After you've moved the LCD out into the open, you can swivel it 360 degrees -- perfect for shooting low-angle video and self-portraits. The hinge does an excellent job of holding the LCD where you put it, yet it's smooth enough that it doesn't require the assistance of the Old Spice Guy to return it to its default position. The 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor that dominates the face of the device is encased in a protective layer, and while we weren't able to scratch it during our recent jaunt to Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Joshua Tree National Parks, we're still leery that one or two tumbles could render all of your future photos a bit less idyllic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" height="266" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107302" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-open.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>As clever as the design is, we found ourselves struggling to unearth a purpose even after using it for a week. If you attempt to pop the LCD out and set it on a table for a timed group shot, you're foiled by the fact that it'll sit cockeyed on whatever surface you place it on. If you consistently shoot low-level video, the swiveling LCD is an obvious boon, and if you're a fan of filming your rollercoaster escapades, the handle (read: exposed rim) will certainly come in handy. Outside of that, though, we found no compelling reason to handle this thing unlike any other point-and-shoot. Compounding the problem is the fact that the entire rim is slick as glass, so you're taking quite the risk by holding the device in a closed fashion.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" height="266" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107303" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-lens.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>We also found the inability to zoom (optically, anyway) to be a huge downer. Sure, there's a digital zoom, but considering that you aren't a fan of heavily pixelated images, you might as well consider the EX-TR100 to be zoomless. <br /><h5><br />Software and user experience</h5>The user interface that Casio has loaded onto the Tryx is certainly sufficient. It's intuitive enough to navigate sans a trip through the dreaded user guide, and changing between modes rarely required more than two or three taps on the panel. Thankfully, the touchscreen is superbly responsive, and we never once had an issue with the camera recognizing our commands. We still prefer manual control dials and physical buttons when it comes to navigating through camera menus, but Casio does an admirable job of creating a touch-based UI that simply works.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" height="300" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107307" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/nothing-arizona-casio-tryx.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>As is common on point-and-shoots these days, the Tryx is home to quite a few shooting modes: Full Auto, Premium Auto, Best Shot, HDR Art, Slide Panorama and Motion Shutter (just to name a few). In our experience, Premium Auto seemed to render the best results for beginners who have no desire whatsoever to tinker with settings, while HDR Art was stunningly disastrous. If you're hoping to fiddle with ISO, aperture or any other number of manual settings, you're barking up the wrong tree. Impressively enough, the screen automatically rotates as you spin it around, and there's next to no lag in the changeovers. Also interesting is the fact that any video started while the camera is positioned in a vertical manner will result in a vertical video. Shocking, we know, but gnarly nonetheless. (Given just awkward it is to embed such a tall video, we'll point you to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDmJBzlO6Xk">the YouTube sample here</a> for external viewing.) Below, you'll find a few videos shot in NYC -- two in the day, one in a dimly lit eatery.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMHiSeqK78o" width="450"></iframe></center> <br />While we're on the topic, it's worth pointing out that this camera is capable of logging clips at 1080p, which is -- in our humble opinion -- the single most understated standout feature of the Tryx. A video can be started by tapping a small red record button in the lower right corner of the LCD, and we had no stuttering issues whatsoever using an off-the-shelf SDHC card. Unfortunately, it's impossible to start a video while shooting in panorama mode -- you'll need to switch into a standard automatic mode first, which seems like a ridiculous and unnecessary complication given just how terrific the panoramic mode truly is. In other words, we found ourselves glued to the panorama mode, but had to switch back and forth just to start videos.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107306" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-panorama.jpg" vspace="4" /></div>Snapping photos was easy enough, but the sliver-of-a-shutter-button won't be pleasing to all. That said, we're thrilled to have a physical button given the dearth of other keys, so we aren't going to harp too boisterously on that point. Casio goes out of its way to keep things dead-simple from a photo snapping standpoint, and we have to confess -- the Tryx does an admirable job of capturing the moment in broad daylight. It automatically flops over to Macro mode if it senses that you're too tight on a subject, and it did a laudable job of capturing hues and tone on challenging scenery at some of America's most stunning National Parks. Are we talking DSLR-quality? Hardly, but remember that the MSRP on this is but $250, and it's already selling for $229 at a smattering of reputable e-tailers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107308" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/petrified-forest-casio-tryx.jpg" vspace="4" /></div>The panorama mode, however, deserves a round of golf claps all its own. We adored the feature on the company's <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/20/casio-debuts-exilim-ex-h20g-with-hybrid-gps-and-ex-z16-point-a/">Exilim EX-H20G</a>, and we found it even easier to use on this guy. The results are nothing short of spectacular, and the automatic stitching job is downright impressive. <br /><h5><br />Image quality</h5>The 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor does predictably well in broad daylight. Colors were generally sharp and crisp, and for a sub-$250 point-and-shoot, we really had no qualms with our results. Once the light starts fading, however, it has a difficult time snapping a usable image free of blur. Expected, sure, but having full manual control access would've come in handy here. Considering that there's no optical zoom, you'll be forced to move forward and back to change what's in the frame. It's pretty obvious that still images aren't this camera's forte, but it certainly does a better job with 'em while also handling 1080p video than any of Flip Video's (now-defunct) camcorders ever did. Have a gander in the gallery below to get a feel for the image quality -- just so you know, these are completely untouched aside from a resize.<br /><div class="article_gallery"><div class="gallery_info"><span class="gallery_title">Casio Tryx sample shots</span></div><div class="gallery_img_holder"><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107250" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-sample-shots/#4107250" rel="casio-tryx-sample-shots" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/petrified-forest-np-g0031_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107251" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-sample-shots/#4107251" rel="casio-tryx-sample-shots" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/petrified-forest-np-g0030_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107252" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-sample-shots/#4107252" rel="casio-tryx-sample-shots" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/petrified-forest-np-g0029_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107253" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-sample-shots/#4107253" rel="casio-tryx-sample-shots" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/petrified-forest-np-g0026_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"><a class="4107254" href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/casio-tryx-sample-shots/#4107254" rel="casio-tryx-sample-shots" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/petrified-forest-np-g0024_103x88.jpg" /></a></div></div></div><h5><br />Battery life</h5>You're probably wondering why an atypical point-and-shoot deserves a battery section, so we'll just cut to the chase: the longevity of the Tryx is startlingly poor. 50 still images and 20 minutes of capturing 1080p footage had our review unit hanging on for dear life, and we aren't confident that a full charge is capable of lasting through a solid hour of filming. That may be forgivable if a few other things were true, but they aren't.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" height="266" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107301" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-battery-low.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>Those "other things" include a removable battery and a conventional micro-USB port. For whatever reason, Casio decided to completely encase the Li-ion here, making it impossible to access, remove or replace. We couldn't rely on this guy to carry us through the daytime hours at a National Park, which led to us carry yet another camera as a backup -- there goes the advantage of being mobile, eh? To make matters worse, Casio threw a proprietary USB charging port on here, which makes absolutely zero sense to us.<br /><br />What's so irritating about this decision isn't the requirement to carry around yet another cable in your pack; it's that Casio came <i>so close</i> to including a feature that we'd love to see on every single point-and-shoot from here on out. Had this camera been able to recharge via a standard micro-USB port (you know, like your Android smartphone, PND, portable media player, and 14 other gadgets you've got sitting around), it would have instantly become one of the most stress-free charging experiences to ever hit the P&S world. As it stands, we're flabbergasted with the design choice to select something other than a standard port -- there may be an awesome reason from an engineering standpoint, but if we can charge a Nexus One and a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/columbia-omni-heat-circuit-breaker-softshell-electric-heated-j/">Columbia heated jacket</a> through the aforesaid port, why not this?<br /><br /><i><b>Update: </b>Casio reported 50 still shots with just over an hour of Full HD video, but it's hard to say how much time they spent simply toting the camera around with the LCD on -- you know, as a real-world user would. As always, battery life is full of YMMV, but now you've got an ideal look at what you could possibly squeeze out, too. </i> <br /><h5><br />Wrap-up</h5>Casio's Tryx (EX-TR100) is far and away the most interestingly designed point-and-shoot that we've seen in years, but the compromises made to end up with a needlessly unique design continues to haunt it. The only logical benefit to the swivel-based form factor is to assist with low-level video shooting, and while the 1080p content that it logs is admittedly impressive, the paltry battery life means that you won't be shooting that way for long. If you're looking for a so-called Flip substitute now that Cisco's consumer dream has died, this would be an amazing option for $229... if it'd last for more than a couple of hours. We'd also have a far greater sense of appreciation for the design decisions if this were rechargeable via a traditional micro-USB cable, but alas, we're left with an even inferior solution: a proprietary cable <i>and</i> the inability to insert a secondary battery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="1" height="266" hspace="4" id="vimage_4107304" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-tryx-stance.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>There's no question that the Tryx is snappy, produces reasonably great images in daylight and handles Full HD video like a champ, but until a version ships with a far more robust battery and an optical zoom, it's tough to recommend without reservations. <br /><div class="post_footer_left"><table class="spanks"><tbody><tr><td valign="bottom"><div class="post_via "></div><br /></td><td valign="bottom"><div class="post_via "></div><br /></td><td valign="bottom"><div class="post_via "></div><br /></td><td valign="bottom"><div class="post_via "></div><br /></td><td valign="bottom"><div class="post_via "></div><br /></td><td valign="bottom"><div class="post_via "></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br />source:<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/casio-tryx-ex-tr100-review" target="_blank">engadget.com</a>

Casio Tryx (EX-TR100)

Given the sheer quantity of marketing muscle that Casio put behind the Tryx, you'd think the company was gearing up to rival Nikon and ...

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Casio TRYX Earns Guinness World Records Accolade

<a href="http://www.imaging-resource.com/NPICS1/TRYX_3_L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://www.imaging-resource.com/NPICS1/TRYX_3_L.JPG" width="320" /></a>Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., proudly announce that TRYX™ has been named the “World’s Most Adjustable Digital Camera” by Guinness World Records. The 12.1 megapixel camera, which appears in the 2012 edition of the legendary reference book, can capture images from virtually any angle and can be adapted to fit a user’s preferred shooting style. The frame rotates 360-degrees and can be adjusted so that the body acts as a tripod, allowing TRYX to stand on its own. Simultaneously, the LCD screen can be rotated up to 270-degrees so that users can perfect their own self portrait and see themselves in the frame. With TRYX, consumers can do more and be prepared to capture their photographic lives in ways they were never able to before. <br />“We’re honored to have TRYX included among such a celebrated collection of world records,” said Toshi Iguchi, Senior General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Casio America, Inc. “Guinness World Records is an iconic brand that for decades has been synonymous with pushing the boundaries of human achievement, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it with a product that has redefined the digital imaging category.”<br />The 3-inch touch-screen LCD on TRYX is swivel-mounted inside a frame, on which the camera’s ultra-wide-angle lens and flash are affixed. As such, users can even flip out and rotate the body so that the camera can hang from a hook, doorknob or other surface. TRYX’s body can also be adjusted so that users can record full-HD, 1080 video (30fps) using either a left- or right-handed grip. <br />TRYX is also fully-loaded with a full range of fun and creative functions, such as Slide Panorama, slow-motion video recording and Casio’s revolutionary HDR-Art technology, which gives users the ability to effortlessly transform any photo from ordinary to extraordinary, all with just the touch of a button. HDR-Art works by combining continuous shots with differing exposures and performing highly-precise image analysis to locally change the contrast and level of color saturation. Users can select from three different processing levels to suit their artistic tastes and produce results that are guaranteed to impress.<br />The TRYX appears in the Science and Engineering section of the Guinness World Records 2012 edition under the “Consumer Tech” category. This digital camera launched in North America in April 2011 and it retails for $249.99.<br /> 

Casio TRYX Earns Guinness World Records Accolade

Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., proudly announce that TRYX™ has been named the “World’s Most Adjustab...

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Casio G'zOne Commando

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/casio-gzone-commando-review/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="1" height="292" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando-lead.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></a></div>For years, construction workers, thrill-seekers, and everyone else unfettered by cubicle walls have had rubberized, rugged handsets to keep them company on the road. Until fairly recently, though, the price of durability has been settling for a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/29/samsung-announces-rugged-xcover-handset-with-67-day-standby-time/">dumbphone</a>. And frankly, the selection of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/motorola-defy-review/">toughened-up</a> smartphones remains pretty sparse today. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/rugged-casio-gzone-commado-official-coming-to-verizon-on-april/">Casio's G'zOne Commando</a> ($199 on contract) isn't the first quasi-invincible Android device, but it <i>is </i>the first to be sold on Verizon's network. As expensive as a flagship handset, the Commando offers military-grade resilience against drops, water, extreme cold, and other elements. But is it capable enough for everything else? Let's find out.<br /><div class="article_gallery"><div class="gallery_info"><span class="gallery_title"><a href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-review/">Casio G'zOne Commando review</a></span></div><div class="gallery_img_holder"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134349" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-review/#4134349" rel="casio-gzone-commando-review" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando6327-1305379055_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134333" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-review/#4134333" rel="casio-gzone-commando-review" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando6032-1305378981_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134351" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-review/#4134351" rel="casio-gzone-commando-review" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando6340-1305379059_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134359" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-review/#4134359" rel="casio-gzone-commando-review" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando6370-1305379106_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134361" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-review/#4134361" rel="casio-gzone-commando-review" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando6372-1305379118_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><center> </center> <br /><h5>Hardware</h5><br />With a name like "Commando," would it really surprise you to learn this is one macho handset? Particularly compared to the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/motorola-defy-review/">Motorola Defy</a>, a phone compact enough that you could mistake it for a garden-variety Android device, the Commando has an aggressively industrial aesthetic that combines rubberized surfaces, red accents, and loads of exposed screws. And yet, for such a tough device, there's something oddly toy-like about it. That's mostly because its sides are lined in plastic -- a material that also makes this handset lighter than you'd expect.<br /><br />In part, though, it's the small screen that makes the Commando look like a less-than-serious phone. Given its heft (5.1 x 2.6 x 0.6 inches), it's hard not to feel that Casio squandered some precious space. For a phone this imposing, the capacitive screen is surprisingly modest at 3.6 inches, and it's more cumbersome to hold than, say, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/samsung-infuse-4g-hands-on/">Samsung's Infuse 4G</a>, which boasts a whopping 4.5-inch display. Next to our <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/motorola-droid-review/">Motorola Droid's</a> screen, the Commando's 480 x 800 screen is brighter and more vibrant, though at times the touchscreen -- encased in 1-mm-thick <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/GorillaGlass/">Gorilla Glass</a> -- can be vexing to use. After about a week of testing, we realized that we had subtly adapted our behavior, and learned to apply extra pressure while swiping and tapping objects. As it turns out, without that extra pressure you'll have some irritating (and fairly frequent) moments where you flick the screen and nothing happens.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/casio-gzone-commando-review/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="1" height="213" hspace="4" id="vimage_4125177" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando-flip-out-menu.jpg" vspace="4" width="320" /></a></div><br />Taking a tour around the body, you'll find a covered 3.5mm headphone jack and a MicroUSB port, along with a volume rocker, programmable key, camera launcher, and power button. The port covers are easy to lift, particularly if you can wedge a fingernail under there. And though they stay put, these details, too, also make the phone feel deceptively less solid than it is. Removing the back cover, is also easy: just flip a lever to the unlock position and scrape the lid off. To re-secure it, just press the seven dots printed on the battery cover and slide the lever back into the lock position. Pressing those spots and hearing the lid make a satisfying click is one of the high points in the user experience, at least where tactility is concerned.<br /><br />Although sound from the two front-facing speakers was loud, phone calls sounded weak on our end. Ironically, we had a difficult time hearing our callers while chatting outdoors. Even when we retreated inside, though, we still had to crank the volume to make out what our friends were saying. But while the call quality isn't exactly befitting of an outdoorsy phone, the 1460mAH battery is well-suited to the challenge of lasting through a day in the rough. The phone's rated for 7.5 hours of use, and actually, we still had juice to spare after a full business day of obsessively checking email and Twitter, looking up directions in Google Maps, and playing <i>Angry Birds</i> during our commute and long wait at the doctor's office. If you were already in the market for a durable phone, this is the single best reason to consider the Commando. Sure, the Defy has stellar longevity, too, but with the Commando you won't have to wait long to start using it after you start recharging your dead battery.<br /><br /><h5>Ruggedness</h5><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/casio-gzone-commando-review/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="1" height="312" hspace="4" id="vimage_4125179" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando-aerial-water-1305126369.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></a></div>The Commando meets the military's 801G specifications for water, dust, shock, salt fog, vibration, solar radiation, and temperature extremes. If you were expecting to see a stunt video of us running the phone over with a cement truck, well, we hate to disappoint you, but the phone's durability is more appropriate for protecting it from mundane clumsiness. As an 810G-certified handset, the Commando can survive immersion in meter-deep (3.3-foot) water for up to 30 minutes, a series of 26 four-foot drops, and temperatures between -25 and 85 degrees Celcius (-13 to 185 degrees Farenheit).<br /><br />In short, it works as advertised. The phone's performance remained unchanged after we left it in our freezer for half an hour and left it submerged in water for the same period of time. And though we stopped short of throwing it out of our fifth-floor office window, we weren't able to scratch the display during our week with it.<br /><br /><h5>Software</h5>The Commando runs Android 2.2. (Froyo), though out of the box, at least, it feels like a crippled version of the OS. Verizon made Bing the default search engine, though you can always add a Google search widget to one of the five home screens (and, you know, trash the Bing one if you so choose). It also replaced the stock Gmail app with a proprietary mail application that syncs with Gmail accounts, along with Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, AOL, Exchange, and Verizon.net addresses. That variety's nice, but the app just isn't as well designed as the standard one -- it doesn't group messages in conversations, and you have to press a soft key to get to any reply or forwarding options.<br /><br />Fortunately, you can add your Google account through Android Market, at which point the phone will download the Gmail and YouTube apps, as well as copy the contact list from any previous Android handset you've owned. Alas, Google Maps doesn't come preinstalled, and you'll have to download it manually.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/casio-gzone-commando-review/"><img border="1" hspace="4" id="vimage_4125161" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/casio-commando-keyboard.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div><br />One thing you can't recover is the stock Android keyboard. Unlike other Android handsets, which list it as an option even if <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Swype/">Swype</a> or another third-party option is the default, the Commando gives you one choice: the XT9 / <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/t9-trace-lets-you-swype-through-your-text-messages/">T9 Trace</a>. Fortunately, it's a pretty darn good one. Essentially, it does the same thing as Swype, letting you trace out the word on the virtual keyboard without taking your finger off. (Of course, you can peck at each letter, too, which works smoothly.) The traceable keyboard is accurate, though be warned that there is a learning curve. You have to be precise about where you put your finger, and make sure you linger on a letter before gliding on to the next. As with Swype though, the word prediction isn't all that smart. For instance, in the photo above you can see that when we typed "helo" by mistake, "hello" wasn't among the top suggestions. Similarly, if you get the first letter of a word wrong (say, "b" instead of "v"), spellcheck won't offer words starting with "v," even if you spell the rest of the word correctly. With this keyboard, at least, the suggestions are listed in a horizontal panel sitting just above the keyboard -- a much less intrusive approach than Swype's predictive spelling, which pops up in the center of the screen.<br /><br />The Commando also takes liberties with the home screen (the default of five, that is), adding a flip-out menu of shortcuts for contacts, email, messaging, voice control, and the calendar app. To be honest, we didn't find much use for this, since we're fans of loading our primary home screen with shortcuts for the apps we use the most.<br /><br />Being a rugged phone and all, Casio also bundled a handful of home-brewed apps geared toward outdoorsy type, including a compass, pedometer, star gazer, runner's training companion, thermometer, so-called Trip Memory, sunrise / sunset tracker, and another that keeps tabs on the tides. Although you can install widgets for these, you can also find them inside the main G'zgear app. Of the bunch, the only one we found ourselves using repeatedly was the thermometer, which reports both city and room temperatures. All in all, the suite is gimmicky in the way <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/puma-phone-hands-on/">Puma phone</a> was, but at least it's easy to ignore these extraneous applications if you're so inclined.<br /><br />More egregiously, Verizon also bundled its share of apps you didn't ask for, with a bloatware list that includes City ID, Guided Tours, InnoPath Active Care, Verizon's mobile IM app, My Verizon Mobile, NFL Mobile, VZ Navigator, and a quartet of V Cast applications (music, tones, videos, and a store).<br /><br /><h5>Camera</h5><br />The ironic thing about the Commando's 5 megapixel camera is that the only way to get decent shots is to call a time-out in your active lifestyle. It's not enough to stop walking and try your darndest to keep your hands still -- you also have to stay frozen for a few seconds after you tap the shutter button. In the case of the below photo, for instance, we paused briefly to snap some foliage, and continued on our merry way. Only later did we realize we hadn't lingered long enough to get a clean shot of the greenery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/casio-gzone-commando-review/"><img border="1" height="300" hspace="4" id="vimage_4119766" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/commando-foliage.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></a></div><br />Occasionally, when we concentrated hard enough, we walked away with a crisp picture.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/casio-gzone-commando-review/"><img border="1" height="300" hspace="4" id="vimage_4119610" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/05/commando-open.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></a></div><br />As for quality, the color reproduction is fairly accurate, though the camera still stumbles in a wide range of shooting scenarios, from harsh backlighting to close-up photography. Meanwhile, our video looks like a stop-motion movie, with people and cars chugging along at a far more sluggish speed than in real life.<br /><div class="article_gallery"><div class="gallery_info"><span class="gallery_title"><a href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-test-shots/">Casio G'zOne Commando test shots</a></span></div><div class="gallery_img_holder"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134316" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-test-shots/#4134316" rel="casio-gzone-commando-test-shots" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/img20110508185918-1305378681_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134317" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-test-shots/#4134317" rel="casio-gzone-commando-test-shots" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/img20110508190039-1305378684_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134318" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-test-shots/#4134318" rel="casio-gzone-commando-test-shots" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/img20110508190054-1305378688_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134319" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-test-shots/#4134319" rel="casio-gzone-commando-test-shots" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/img20110508190121-1305378692_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="4134320" href="http://mobile.engadget.com/photos/casio-gzone-commando-test-shots/#4134320" rel="casio-gzone-commando-test-shots" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/2011/05/img20110508190135-1305378696_103x88.jpg" /></a></div><div class="gallery_img"></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><center> </center> <br /><h5>Wrap-up</h5><br />Casio's G'zOne Commando earns its stripes with its brawny design, which resists scratches, falls, spills, and stints in the freezer as promised. But what it boasts in battery life and sheer fortitude, it lacks in call quality, core Google apps, and a responsive touch experience. In a sense, we can't knock the slightly poky display <i>too </i>much. The Commando is a fine, if not good, phone for what it is. After all, if you're buying this, it's because you crave durability first, and not because you're a benchmark junkie. Still, we'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the Motorola Defy also offers impressive battery life -- along with a more discreet design (and, to be fair... <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Motoblur/">Motoblur</a>). If you can tolerate -- or even learn to love -- the Commando's cheesy <i>man's man</i> design and are willing to download core Google apps manually, you shouldn't get too hung up on the rest of those niggles in our cons list.<br /><br /><br /><br />source:<a href="http://www.engadget.com/" target="_blank">engadget.com</a>

Casio G'zOne Commando

For years, construction workers, thrill-seekers, and everyone else unfettered by cubicle walls have had rubberized, rugged handsets to keep...

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Microsoft and Casio enter cross licensing agreement

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://notfound.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/09/tuxmicrosoftcasiodantetktks.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>World wonders if Casio actually makes Linux-based devices.<br />If you happen to be making devices that run on Linux -- of which Android is a subset -- odds are pretty good that you'll be getting a phone call from Redmond at some point. And that's just what happened to Casio, who's joining existing licensees TomTom and Amazon in signing a cross license agreement with Microsoft for patents pertaining to the Tux-approved OS. Covering Linux on "certain Casio devices," the joint statement was equally vague about how many greenbacks exchanged hands, simply stating: "[both] parties acknowledge that Microsoft is being compensated by Casio." There ain't much more to it, but folks looking to humor themselves can do so after the break.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />source:<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/microsoft-and-casio-enter-cross-licensing-agreement-world-wonde" target="_blank">engadget.com</a>

Microsoft and Casio enter cross licensing agreement

World wonders if Casio actually makes Linux-based devices. If you happen to be making devices that run on Linux -- of which Android is a su...

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