Today's smartphones, digital cameras, tablets and notebooks are getting thinner, lighter and more powerful. But they're also getting more delicate.

We've all heard horror stories of phones dropped in toilets, cameras freezing up because of moisture in sub-zero temperatures, and cracked and broken touchscreens from dropped devices.

There have been ruggedized versions of devices, but for the most part, they've been in the realm of corporate markets or heavy industry, are expensive, and can be big and bulky.

But that's changing. Some manufacturers have started creating tougher devices that are water resistant, temperature resistant, dust-proof, and employ shatter-resistant screens, but aren't unnecessarily bulky, nor uber-expensive.

It seems that when technology gets to a certain point where specs and features are pretty much the same, creating sturdier devices is one sure way to differentiate them. This is definitely a trend we'd like to see catch on.

Let's check out a few of these tough gadgets.

Panasonic Toughbook Honeycomb Tablet

Designed for enterprise, Panasonic's first Android tablet will fall under its Toughbook line, and will be available in Q4 of this year.

The Toughbook tablet will include a high brightness, daylight viewable screen so that mobile workers, in markets like field service, home healthcare, and public safety, can easily see critical data and operate the device regardless of lighting conditions.

The new tablet will also include an active stylus, allowing mobile workers in sales, customer service and mobile point-of-sale environments to capture signatures on the device's 10.1" XGA multi-touch display.

Enterprise-class mobile computing requires a heightened level of device security that is not currently available in today's tablet market. To address this need, the new Toughbook tablet is being designed with security embedded at the hardware level.

The Toughbook brand is widely known for its reliability and durability, even in extreme operating environments. Other features to be offered on the Toughbook tablet include satellite-based GPS, full-shift battery life, professional-grade accessories and optional embedded 3G/4G mobile broadband connectivity.

Fujifilm XP30 14 MP Point-and-Shoot Camera

Fujifilm's latest sporty point-and-shoot digicam is the Fujifilm XP30 ($229.99) that is built to perform under various conditions. A waterproof camera built to operate for up to 5 metres (16.4 feet) under water, it is the ideal beach or poolside companion with sealed-in ports and a mix of hard rubber and steel. The XP30 can also survive a 4.9 foot fall, and is rated for subzero temperatures; it can be used in up to -10-degrees Celsius.

This is all pretty impressive in a small camera body that offers a lot of photographic features such as a 14 MP sensor, 5x optical zoom, a wide 28mm lens, and low-light ISO sensitivity of 3,200.

The FinePix XP30 also shoots photos and movies in high-definition 16:9 format. Videos are recorded at 30 frames-per-second (fps). This adventure-proof camera also features a built-in GPS for convenient geotagging of photos. This is a feature usually found on more expensive cameras.

Motorola DEFY Android Smartphone

As far as Android smartphones go, the Motorola DEFY is one of the smallest ones we've seen in the market. But it is also one of the best built.

Exclusive to Telus for $79.99 on a three-year contract or $329 outright, the DEFY's 3.7″ inch screen is made from Corning's scratchproof and impact resistant Gorilla Glass. The DEFY is also swathed in protective polycarbonate and rubber that seals-in all the important ports, such as the headphone jack and the micro USB charging port.

What is remarkable about the Motorola DEFY is that it doesn't look like your typical bulky and overbuilt tough smartphone. Yet, it is dustproof, plus water and scratch resistant. Not bad for a small phone with huge battery life and an above average 800MHz processor running Android 2.2.

Toshiba CAMILEO BW10 HD Video Recorder

The handheld HD video recorder segment has seen a lot of innovation of late. The cameras now shoot 1080p HD video, are smaller, and have better battery life.

There's also emerging interest in affordable HD cameras that can be used to capture extreme sports, and are waterproof and durable.

The CAMILEO BW10 from Toshiba ($139.99) is a pocket-sized camcorder that features a rubberized coating that makes it suitable for recording video underwater. It is designed to go to depths of up to 6.5 feet.

The CAMILEO records full HD 1080p videos, and can also shoot 5 MP digital stills.

The camera packs a 2″ LCD and weighs 3.5 ounces, making it extremely portable. Users can strap it on to a GorillaPod to attach to bikes or other vehicles.

The CAMILEO BW10 has a miniHDMI port, and can upload video directly to YouTube when connected to a PC.

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