Field workers and field technicians face some of the harshest work environments, and so does their equipment. In the world of high stakes field jobs where technology plays a crucial role, why would one trust an 'entertainment' level machine for their work? It's not just wrong but could lead to burnout of equipment on a regular basis.

Thankfully, the field workers have never enjoyed so many choices, when it comes to robust devices that do not compromise on performance even in the harshest environments.

One such device is Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1. Panasonic Toughpad tablets are state of the art computing tablets that are meant to be reliable, durable and rugged. They are specially designed for field applications and are regularly employed in industries such as aviation, construction, field sales and public sector.

The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 is a fully ruggedized and comes with a crisp outdoor display. It is incredibly user-friendly and possesses a 10-finger multi-touch display; it also has a digitizer pen. FZ-G1 runs on Windows 10 Pro with an Intel i5 processor. It's compact yet fully ruggedized design makes it a popular choice for businesses that require a reliable connectivity option for their field staff.

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 performs in the vehicle, in the dark, on a plane, and in extreme heat or rain.

The deciding factor when considering to buy a rugged device is the level of toughness required from the device. In such cases, it makes sense that the tablet is designed to the highest of performance standards set in the industry. Not only does this ensure the highest efficiency in the field but also lowers the cost of ownership. That is where the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 out-shines the competition.

From defense to healthcare, and hospitality to leisure, the Panasonic Toughpad series is already integrated into operations across the industries. Not only does it meet the expectations of the specialists looking to boost their productivity but also exceeds them on various parameters.

Having said all of the above, the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 is not meant for everyone. The life's purpose of this device is to be treated harshly in the worst possible environment. A state-of-the-art computing platform that is built for today’s mobile users should not be operated from the comfort of one's home or office. There are already plenty of Windows tablets, many of them more compact, lighter, and cheaper, that can be used for ordinary use. But the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 tablet does what those devices cannot do.

Succeeding the GH4, Panasonic Lumix GH5 is the latest DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless) camera from the brand. It is announced at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. What is noteworthy is that the camera is capable of capturing 4K videos at 50 or 60 fps (the first mirrorless device to do so), and 6K photos and 30 fps.

The 4K video at 60 frames-per-second is shot in 8-bit 4:2:0 color ratio. Increased color depth of 10-bit 4:2:2 can be achieved at 24 frames-per-second. 1080p slow-motion videos can be captured at 180 fps.

As far as 6K pictures are concerned, the camera shoots burst images at 30 fps and saves them as high-resolution shots equivalent to an 18 MP one. For the 4K variant, the speed is 60 fps, and the output is like an 8-megapixel image.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 is formed of a lightweight die-cast magnesium alloy body. The joints, buttons, and the dial are sealed to make the device splashproof and dustproof. On the storage front, the camera comes with a dual SD card slot.

The electronic viewfinder boasts of 3,686K pixels. The 3.2-inch OLED screen has 1,620K pixels. The shutter unit can withstand approximately 200K releases.

The low-pass filter available in the GH4 is withdrawn from the GH5. The micro 4/3rds Live MOS sensor boasts of a pixel count of 20.3 megapixels. One can use MOV, MP4, AVCHD and AVCHD Progressive formats at various frame rates. Also, there is no time limit for recording FHD and 4K videos.

For improved image processing, a new Venus Engine is deployed. It makes sure to use nine times larger pixel area for detailed reproduction of the captured data. It characterizes every pixel depending on its location on the image and optimizes accordingly.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 boasts of a combination of 2-axis optical image stabilizer along with a 5-axis body image stabilizer. The noise reduction mechanism is upgraded to high precision, thus improving it four times than that of its predecessor.

Depth calculation and contrast autofocus have also been enhanced. The number of focus areas has been increased to 225 for precise focusing. There is also a possibility to modify the focus point after the image has been clicked. One can also utilize Focus Stacking to click many snaps of the same frame with different focus points, and combine them later for a perfectly focused shot.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 will be available in late March this year at a price of $2,000 (body only).

Panasonic Lumix GH5 specifications

Image sensor: Live MOS
Effective pixels: 20.3 million
Metering: Center-weighted average, Multiple and Spot
Lens: Micro 4/3rds
Shutter: Electronic and mechanical
Shutter speed: 60-1/8,000 second (elecronic and mechanical); 1-1/16000 second (electronic)
Continuous shooting: 12 fps (at 20.3 MP); 30 fps (at 18 MP); 60 fps (at 8 MP)
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Viewfinder: Electronic (3,686,000 dots)
Screen: 3.2 inch OLED (1,620,000 dots)
File formats: RAW, JPEG, MOV, MP4, AVCHD, AVCHD Progressive
ISO sensitivity: 200-25,600 (auto mode); 100-25,600 (extended mode)
Power: Rechargeable lithium-ion 1,860 mAh battery
Dimensions (WidthxHeightxDepth): 138.5x98.1x87.4 mm
Weight: 725 g (with battery and memory card)
Price: $2,000

Panasonic has today launched its first smartphone featuring 2.5D curved display, the Eluga Arc. It also comes with Android for Work, which was also seen on the Panasonic Eluga Mark.

The smartphone is equipped with 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset. The processor is coupled with Adreno 306 GPU.

Eluga Arc comes equipped with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory. The memory is expandable up to 32 GB via the micro SD card.

The device is packed with a 1,800 mAh battery, and supports Qualcomm QuickCharge 1.0. The smartphone sports a fingerprint sensor, which is located at the rear.

The smartphone features 8 MP primary camera with LED flash. It also comes with a 5 MP front camera. The 4.7-inch display is an HD IPS.

It is a 4G LTE and VoLTE enabled device, with dual SIM support. Other connectivity options include WiFi and Bluetooth. The device ships with FitHome user interface, based on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Panasonic Eluga Arc comes in gold color. It is priced at ₹12,490 ($190 approx.).

Panasonic Eluga Arc specifications

Operating System: Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
Processor: 1.2 GHz quad-core
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Storage: 16 GB internal (expandable up to 32 GB)
Display: 4.7 inch HD IPS
Resolution (pixels): 1280x720
Primary camera: 8 megapixel
Secondary camera: 5 megapixel
Battery: 1,800 mAh
Dimensions (WidthxHeightxDepth): 67.0x139.0x8.1 mm
Weight: 130 g
Price: ₹12,490 ($190 approx.)

Panasonic today announced the release of its security-oriented smartphone, the Eluga Mark. Available at a price of ₹11,990 ($180 approx.), the device comes enabled with enhanced privacy features such as fingerprint sensor and Android-for-Work (more on this later).

The smartphone is powered by Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS, and a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor. It comes loaded with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory (expandable up to 32 GB via micro SD).

Users can configure up to eight different finger prints at a single point of time. Android-for-work allows enhanced IT security and BYOD (bring your own device) compatibility for private smart devices to operate on secure corporate networks.

The device features a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, and a 5 MP front facing lens. It is equipped with 4G LTE connectivity, and has dual SIM support. The smartphone is powered by 2,500 mAh battery. It boasts a 5.5-inch IPS display available in Royal Gold or Metallic Grey finish.

Panasonic Eluga Mark specifications

Operating System: Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
Processor: 1.5 GHz octa-core
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Storage: 16 GB internal (expandable up to 32 GB)
Display: 5.5 inch IPS
Resolution (pixels): 1280x720
Primary camera: 13 megapixel
Secondary camera: 5 megapixel
Battery: 2,500 mAh
Dimensions (WidthxHeightxDepth): 77.0x152.0x8.2 mm

Price: ₹11,990 ($180 approx.)