• CAT is to Make a Rugged Smartphone
    39 replies, posted
[QUOTE]CAT, that company that is usually associated with heavy machinery, actually makes/sells smartphones too. It has announced a new flagship smartphone, which combines the ruggedness you might expect from such a company with up-to-date functionality (Android 6.0) as well as an integrated thermal camera made by FLIR. The CAT S60 handset is designed for utility and construction workers as well as those, who work in harsh environments. Despite expectations, the smartphone will cost about the same amount of money as flagship devices from other manufacturers.[/QUOTE] [url]https://apple.news/AmRN2JLiFMyKRFVanaLvOdg[/url]
Saw this the other day. Had no idea CAT makes phones and I live less than 10 minutes from Peoria :v: Also, FLIR on a phone camera prolly isn't too great, but it seems like it'd be a fun little gimmick.
Another* rugged smartphone, they've been doing this for a while.
The thermal camera has 80x60 active pixels.
I considered one of their rugged phones a while back but they had shit specs
the cool part is the thermal imaging camera. other than the rest of the phone
[img]http://images.anandtech.com/doci/10060/cat_s60_3_575px.jpg[/img] This is not 80x60
[QUOTE=Fish_poke;49799916]Saw this the other day. Had no idea CAT makes phones and I live less than 10 minutes from Peoria :v: Also, FLIR on a phone camera prolly isn't too great, but it seems like it'd be a fun little gimmick.[/QUOTE] Call it a gimmick. But I would have actual application for that
[QUOTE=Fish_poke;49799916]Saw this the other day. Had no idea CAT makes phones and I live less than 10 minutes from Peoria :v: Also, FLIR on a phone camera prolly isn't too great, but it seems like it'd be a fun little gimmick.[/QUOTE] Wait, CAT is based in Peoria. I wish I had known that, I could have been applying for positions with them the entire time I've been job-hunting! Honestly, I'd love a smartphone I don't have to babysit.
[QUOTE=Sableye;49800161]the cool part is the thermal imaging camera. other than the rest of the phone[/QUOTE] Agreed, [url=http://www.amazon.com/Seek-Compact-Thermal-Imager-Android/dp/B00NYWAHHM/ref=]but attachable thermal cameras already exist for smartphones[/url] that one clearly says only for android but there's a bunch on Amazon so I'm sure one of them would work with iOS
FLIR on a mobile device? This is fucking sweet, can't wait till developers get a hold of that api
They're claiming VGA (640x480) output resolution, probably interpolated. It's plenty for contractors looking for electrical overload/drafts/critters in the dark, and more than enough for enthusiasts who have more interesting uses for it in mind. Of course the hardware's gonna lag behind, but it's obviously worth the price to it's audience, and it's even got all the features any tech-minded forum always asks for on samsung/LG flagships: big battery, plenty of storage AND a microsd slot.
How does this compare to, say, the Samsung S6/S7? I'm looking to upgrade soon, and I can see this phone neing useful at work. I currently have a 2 yeard oldish Samsung Rugby smart.
[QUOTE=viper shtf;49801472]How does this compare to, say, the Samsung S6/S7? I'm looking to upgrade soon, and I can see this phone neing useful at work. I currently have a 2 yeard oldish Samsung Rugby smart.[/QUOTE] Probably not as powerful, but still plenty powerful.
Thanks. I'm not what you'd call a power user, but I'm sick of having a slow phone.
[QUOTE=Killuah;49800412][img]http://images.anandtech.com/doci/10060/cat_s60_3_575px.jpg[/img] This is not 80x60[/QUOTE] It is, high rez bolometers and very expensive, cheaper ones are usually aided by an optical camera. The thermal data is layered over the optical image.
It's wierd, everyone bitches about phones bending or having no battery but cat makes a tank phone and the thread bitches about specs
[QUOTE=Fish_poke;49799916] Also, FLIR on a phone camera prolly isn't too great, but it seems like it'd be a fun little gimmick.[/QUOTE] for the average consumer it's a huge gimmick sure but if I'm on a job site or doing a facility inspection, its great for spotting leaks and hotspots [editline]24th February 2016[/editline] and depending on how well it's calibrated, it would be great for identifying potential hot work areas [editline]24th February 2016[/editline] also holy shit it has an integrated SOS button so it functions as a lone-worker alarm its a safety inspectors wet dream
[QUOTE=latin_geek;49800717]They're claiming VGA (640x480) output resolution, probably interpolated. It's plenty for contractors looking for electrical overload/drafts/critters in the dark, and more than enough for enthusiasts who have more interesting uses for it in mind. Of course the hardware's gonna lag behind, but it's obviously worth the price to it's audience, and it's even got all the features any tech-minded forum always asks for on samsung/LG flagships: big battery, plenty of storage AND a microsd slot.[/QUOTE] Also the slowdown of mobile phone advancements is on CAT's side. You no longer have to have balls to wall specs to make an Android phone mildly usable. A mid-range phone is more than enough nowadays, especially when being rugged and durable is what you get in exchange.
That design is pretty cool looking.
[QUOTE=zakedodead;49801812]It's wierd, everyone bitches about phones bending or having no battery but cat makes a tank phone and the thread bitches about specs[/QUOTE] I don't understand... I keep scrolling up and down but I have no idea what you're talking about
[QUOTE=Demache;49802296]Also the slowdown of mobile phone advancements is on CAT's side. You no longer have to have balls to wall specs to make an Android phone mildly usable. A mid-range phone is more than enough nowadays, especially when being rugged and durable is what you get in exchange.[/QUOTE] Mmhm, I'm far more interested in this phone than I am anything else on the market right now. It's more powerful than the piece of shit I have now, has a snazzy FLIR camera built in, better optical camera, tough as nails...mm. I quite like that.
Its rugged, can operate for up to an hour underwater, touchscreen works with wet fingers (FUCKIN FINALLY), FLIR is 80x60 overlayed on the 13MP feed. Good shit under the hood too. I'd love it. If I ever had to splurge on a phone I'd get that one.
Something like this with a built in FLIR camera is needed in my water mitigation company. I find this perfect for my employees to use when they're out in the field. Honestly, built in FLIR camera is amazing when you're trying to located where water has traveled. This is not a normal teenager phone, this is a labor mans tool.
[QUOTE=Timebomb575;49802102]for the average consumer it's a huge gimmick sure but if I'm on a job site or doing a facility inspection, its great for spotting leaks and hotspots [editline]24th February 2016[/editline] and depending on how well it's calibrated, it would be great for identifying potential hot work areas [editline]24th February 2016[/editline] also holy shit it has an integrated SOS button so it functions as a lone-worker alarm its a safety inspectors wet dream[/QUOTE] Intended purpose. They've increased the resolution of the thermal sensor compared to the iPhone/Android attachments they've made in the past. It's got a decent SoC (Snapdragon 617 octacore) and given it safety features. Water resistant to 5 meters for an hour, SOS button, can use wet gloves and hands. 13 MP camera supplements the thermal sensor to sharpen the video feed. Tapping points on the screen will tell you the temperature there, and tapping multiple will tell you the difference. I want it just because.
Thermal vision on a smartphone? This is the feature I never knew I wanted.
[QUOTE=latin_geek;49800717]They're claiming VGA (640x480) output resolution, probably interpolated. It's plenty for contractors looking for electrical overload/drafts/critters in the dark, and more than enough for enthusiasts who have more interesting uses for it in mind. Of course the hardware's gonna lag behind, but it's obviously worth the price to it's audience, and it's even got all the features any tech-minded forum always asks for on samsung/LG flagships: big battery, plenty of storage AND a microsd slot.[/QUOTE] Never realized how useful a thermal camera for your phone could actually be. The draft thing is great, too. Useful for cars, electronics, the list goes on
[QUOTE=Killuah;49800412][img]http://images.anandtech.com/doci/10060/cat_s60_3_575px.jpg[/img] This is not 80x60[/QUOTE] that's just 80x60 thermal imaging with edge detection from an optical image added together.
Please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but at what temperature would something like this stop being able to differentiate? Would something 350°C appear 'hotter' than something 180°C?
It's probably basically [URL="http://www.flir.eu/flirone/content/?id=69420#specs"]this[/URL], so -20c to 120c range
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