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16 sMartPhonEs biG in aGriCulturE / farMErs dEMand GrEatEr stability and wEathErProofinG / nEw outdoor sMartPhonEs farMinG-CoMPatiblE ruGGEd sMartPhonEs for aGriCulturE Today, more and more farmers rely on their smartphones, and there are myriad advantages to this new generation of mobile phone. A large proportion of farmers use smartphones to keep up-to-date online. Professional content such as weather forecasts, current agricultural market information and plant protection information are proving extremely popular. And then there is the huge range of easily accessible features offered by the latest smartphones such as sat-nav and reading and sending emails while you are on the move. One disadvantage is that these highperformance phones are usually touchscreen units. Your fingers need to find their way around a touch-sensitive display. This means that they are more suited to work in an office rather than heavy-duty work in the field or shed. But this looks as though it will all change with the latest generation of phones because manufacturers have realised there is a growing demand for impact-resistant and weather-proof smartphones and are now offering specialist models. Smartphones can also be fitted with a suitable case to make them waterproof and impact resistant. In this article we will be providing you with an overview of the latest models. Motorola have an interesting outdoor smartphone on offer called the Defy+. It is especially suitable for extreme athletes, adventurers or people who work outdoors, i.e. it is built with farmers in mind as well. The Defy+ is a smartphone with an Android operating system and 3.7 inch touchscreen. The casing is resistance to water splashes and dust-tight. The Motorola Defy+ is also fitted with so-called Gorilla glass which means that it is much more resistant to scratches than normal mobile phones. Compared to the iPhone the Defy+ is slightly shorter and lies comfortably in the palm of your hand, so it is the right size to comfortably fit into a jacket or trouser pocket. Standard equipment also includes a protective flap for extra resistance to drops and knocks. The new mobile is equipped to the latest smartphone standards, including a 5 megapixel camera, 2 gigabyte internal RAM and a connection port. The 1700 mAh battery gives you 7 hours of talking time and 16 days on stand-by. The Motorola Defy+ is available online for around EUR 200 without a contract. Small smartphone with big features Another interesting alternative is the Sony Ericsson Xperia active. This mobile phone uses the latest Android 2.3 version as its operating system. The screen is 3 inches and is also fitted with scratch-resistant mineral glass. Sony Ericsson point out that the display Motorola Defy+ Sony Ericsson Xperia Active
can even be operated with wet fingers. This could be an interesting feature for agricultural applications. 5 megapixel camera and LED photo light are also standard equipment on this phone. What is interesting is that this phone is completely watertight according to the manufacturer. Hi-Tech mobile for ag-apps Similar functionality is offered by the new outdoor mobile phone from Samsung called the Galaxy Xcover. This phone is also dusttight, waterproof and has a scratch-resistant display. The design of the unit is based on the highly successful Galaxy series. Drops shouldn't cause any problems and it should also be able to withstand dives down to one metre. An integrated LED photo light can also be used very well as a flashlight. Standard equipment features include GPS, WLAN, UMTS and HSDPA. Samsung Galaxy XCover Special mobile for outdoors The South German outdoor manufacturer Takwak has announced an interesting device for late spring. The Takwak tk700 will be launched as a Sat-Nav/Walkie-Talkie/Smartphone, designed especially for use in tough working environments. The interesting feature of this unit is its high quality navigation system that works both on and off road. What is new is a group navigation feature that lets user and vehicle interact with each other. This robust mobile is protected against dust and water and fulfills the IP57 insulation standard. A robust aluminium frame provides even more stability and the touchscreen can even be operated reliably with gloves and in the rain. In addition, there are large buttons for Menu and Home. The Takwak has a 3.5 inch (8.9 centimetre) screen with a resolution of 320 x 480. The operating system is provided Photos Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung by Android. Finally, the most unusual feature among smartphones. A Walkie-Talkie radio unit is also integrated into these phones (PMR 446 compliant). As a result they can be used as normal radio units. Signal range with the radio is apparently up to 10 kilometres. Smartphones upgrades If you want to stick with one of the classic models, like the Samsung Galaxy S2 or iPhone, then you can also make your smartphone more "agriculturally-compatible" by fitting additional equipment. This is particularly interesting to protect against drops. However, protection from the elements can also be improved with the right accessories. A protective film over the touchscreen should be a standard feature on all smartphones. These are not normally provided with the phone and have to be ordered separately. These screen protectors offer a number of advantages. Firstly, they protect against scratches, and secondly their special composition cuts out reflections and glare. To achieve this effect the film is applied with a special coating. Special protective films can also prevent the unwanted gazes from the side. All screen protectors are easy to fit and can normally be removed without a trace. To protect your smartphone against scratches it is also a good idea to apply a protector to the rear side. Protectors normally cost between 3 and 6 Euros. When fitting the protectors make sure that the surfaces of the phone are cleaned properly first so that no dust or grains of dirt cause air bubbles under the protective film. Tough case for tough protection Softcases provide ideal protection for phones used outdoors. The Survivor by Griffin, for example, which is available for iPhones and most models of Android smartphone. (website: www. ) This case was developed to give phones a better chance of survival if they are dropped, and provide protection in extreme weather conditions; in rain and in dust. This case even meets the high military standards of the US Department of Defense. A multifunctional belt clip provides an additional method of transport. Excellent all-round protection is also provided by the Otterbox Defender. This consists of 3 layers to protect the phone. The tough plastic film is designed to protect against drops. A key feature of the Otterboxes is their precision fit, with special cutouts for cable connection and integrated camera. 17
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