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"Worried about getting your e-reader or iPad wet by the pool? Or how about the snazzy GPS you want to take hiking? You don't necessarily have to keep a tight grip for fear of dropping it. GalTime found some easy ways to summer-proof your tech from all your summer fun.\n1. Keep Your Gadgets Dry\nThe first line of defense is to get a good case for your gadget. There are solutions for various perils: water, sand or impact. If water sports are your favorite way to beat the heat, the DryCase is a versatile solution to protect your phone or portable electronics from splashes to submersion. Their watertight, vacuum-sealed plastic bags come in sizes to accommodate just about any tech you'd consider taking to the pool, beach or lake. \nThere's also a built-in jack for your headphones that doesn't let in water, and they even sell waterproof headphones. The smaller size comes with an armband to allow you to take your phone or iPod on your next kayaking adventure. The thin plastic won't interfere with touch screen use, reading or taking photos. Protecting a phone or MP3 player will set you back $39.99, a larger bag to protect ereaders or tablets is $59.99.\n2. Save Your Tech From Nasty Falls\nHikers and bikers \u2014 or those of us that are just plain clumsy \u2014 are concerned with protecting devices from bumps, scratches or being smashed to pieces while plummeting down a hill. Otterbox carries an extensive selection of cases for just about any portable electronic device, from phones to iPads. Their \"Defender\" line is the most rugged, protecting devices from drops, impact and even offering a bit of water resistance. \nMost smartphone cases are less than $50, which is a bargain compared to replacing the pieces of your shattered phone.\n3. Protect Your Laptop From Just About Anything\nFor those that can't imagine leaving their laptop or tablet home on their next beach vacation, E. Mishan and Sons makes a Just Air Shock Proof laptop sleeve that features waterproof outer layers, air cushions for anti-shock protection and extra cushioning around the edges and corners. \nAvailable in different sizes and colors to accommodate ereaders to tablets to laptops, the protective sleeves are about $30. Even if you don't plan to take your laptop or tablet near the water, the extra cushioning will ensure that your device makes it through a ride in the overhead bin.\n4. How to Insure Your Device\nFinally, a last line of defense available for your pricier tech toys is gadget insurance. Square Trade offers a line of extended warranties, with optional accidental damage coverage. While insuring a phone or lower-priced gadget isn't that cost-effective (the plan will likely cost more over the life of the device than replacing it), it can make sense for a pricey laptop, tablet or camera. \nA $1,000 laptop can be covered for three years for about $159, regardless of where the gadget was purchased. If you have property or renter's insurance, adding coverage for a specific gadget to your personal property policy may be less than you think, often as little as $5-6 per month. Call your agent before you drop it in the pool to see what your policy has to offer. \nImage courtesy of Otterbox on Facebook"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/07/02/summer-proof-your-gadgets/>