February 24th, 2009 by
Those AA alkaline- and lithium-powered phone chargers are a totally handy (and relatively inexpensive) thing to throw into a bag and carry around in the event — the incredibly likely event — that you end up running your set dry at one time or another, but there’s a small problem: those AAs don’t go very far. Generally speaking, you’ll get a couple charges out of a set of batteries, which makes them environmentally dubious at best and less convenient than you’d like them to be. That’s where KFE Japan’s new solution comes in: same concept, but the batteries are zinc-air instead of alkaline or lithium — the same tried and true chemistry used by hearing aid batteries — whereby you pop a lid open on the charger to expose the batteries to air, which starts the juice flowing. The advantage is that you’re looking at about 20 charges before the thing’s depleted, and when you’re there, you’ll be able to send it back into KFE to be recharged. The chargers will run 3,000 yen (about $31) when they launch in March. [Warning: subscription required]
Filed under: Cellphones
KFE’s new phone charger powered by zinc-air batteries, science originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in japan, battery, charger, kfe, kfe japan, KfeJapan, zinc air, ZincAir | No Comments »
February 20th, 2009 by
We’ve seen some nifty chargers in our day, but this bugger is probably one of the most practical to ever hit the market place. Rather than sending along 800 various tips to keep track of lose while traveling, this wall charger converts a single AC outlet into power for five USB devices (4 USB A female and 1 mini-USB). These days, it’s rare to find a device that can’t optionally be charged via USB, and if it can’t, let’s face it — it’s about time you threw that thing to the local thrift store. Grab one now for just $25.99.
Filed under: Peripherals
Wall charger takes one AC outlet, provides juice for five USB devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in usb, charge, charging, charger, adapter, usb adapter, UsbAdapter | No Comments »
February 18th, 2009 by
Freeplay’s ZipCharge has already made its debut, but it’s showing itself once more at Mobile World Congress now that it has a definitive ship date and price. For those out of the loop, this here power stick can charge up in just ten minutes, and the supplied cable provides all sorts of tips to juice up whatever random gadget you have laying around (Palm’s Foleo notwithstanding). The device is expected to splash down on store shelves this April for around £60 ($85), and you can peek a few more hands-on shots in the read link below.
Filed under: Peripherals
Freeplay’s ZipCharge spotted, priced and dated originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in charge, charging, energy, power, charger, freeplay, portable power, PortablePower, mwc, mwc 2009, mwc2009, mwc 09, Mwc09, power stick, PowerStick, zipcharge | No Comments »
February 15th, 2009 by
While some companies like Connectland have already offered up their own solution to the problem of multiple cellphone connectors (seen at right), a European Union commissioner now seems to be taking the idea one step further, and is starting to push the notion of one standard cellphone connector to rule them all. According to Telcompaper, European Commissioner for Industry Günter Verheugen recently said in a German interview that he has had his patience tested after giving the cellphone industry several chances to develop a single cellphone connector, and he’s now not excluding “severe measures” to force them to reach a solution. His main concern, as you might have guessed, is the waste that results from folks needing a new charger for each new cellphone, although the cellphone industry obviously sees things a bit differently, with the EICTA’s Tony Graziano saying that Verheugen’s demand is “legally and technically impossible” due to differences in voltage and battery requirements within the European Union. In any event, it seems that some actual regulations are still quite a ways off from becoming a reality, and Verheugen still insists that he’d prefer to see the industry arrive at a standard voluntarily.
[Via Tweakers.net]
Filed under: Cellphones
EU commissioner pushing for standard connector for all cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in eu, European Commission, european union, EuropeanCommission, EuropeanUnion, charger, connector, cellphone charger, CellphoneCharger, cellphone connector, CellphoneConnector | No Comments »
January 19th, 2009 by
There are plenty of terrible portable chargers out there, but the “Wrist Band Portable Battery” sure isn’t one of them. The name pretty much tells the whole tale — it’s a wrist band packed with a lithium-ion battery (that supposedley gets about five hours of juicing time) for charging numberless portable devices. It comes with 7 different adapters, and the totally awesomely-styled band itself has a set of LEDs which indicate the battery life remaining. It’ll cost you about $25 to get one of your own and prove once and for all that no, punk is not dead. Check out a few more pics after the break.
Continue reading Wrist Band Portable Battery charges your phone, electrifies your look
Filed under: Wearables
Wrist Band Portable Battery charges your phone, electrifies your look originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in charging, battery, batteries, charger, wristband, portable charger, PortableCharger, the ramone | No Comments »
January 19th, 2009 by
There are plenty of terrible portable chargers out there, but the “Wrist Band Portable Battery” sure isn’t one of them. The name pretty much tells the whole tale — it’s a wrist band packed with a lithium-ion battery (that supposedley gets about five hours of juicing time) for charging numberless portable devices. It comes with 7 different adapters, and the totally awesomely-styled band itself has a set of LEDs which indicate the battery life remaining. It’ll cost you about $25 to get one of your own and prove once and for all that no, punk is not dead. Check out a few more pics after the break.
Continue reading Wrist Band Portable Battery charges your phone, electrifies your look
Filed under: Wearables
Wrist Band Portable Battery charges your phone, electrifies your look originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in charging, battery, batteries, charger, wristband, portable charger, PortableCharger, the ramone | No Comments »
January 10th, 2009 by
Posted in charger, kinetic energy, KineticEnergy, ces, motion, mobile charger, MobileCharger, ces 2009, Ces2009, ces 2009 crapgadget, Ces2009Crapgadget | No Comments »
January 10th, 2009 by
This isn’t a Palm-branded party favor, a paperweight, or a doorstop. Actually, sure, it could be any of those things if you really wanted it to be — but Palm’s Touchstone is mainly about charging your Pre and making sure it looks pretty while it’s getting juiced. It’s a pretty wild product (and the first accessory purchase for many a would-be Pre owner, we’d bet), so we wanted to spend a little quality time with it. We weren’t allowed to do much charging on our own, but the magnets buried in the Pre certainly seemed to do their job of keeping it glued to the base in portrait and landscape orientations. Oh, and just to validate what we know you’re thinking right now, yes: we overheard several Palm employees call it “the puck,” so you should, too.
Filed under: Cellphones
Palm Pre Touchstone eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in Palm, charging, charger, ces, features, ces 2009, Ces2009, pre, touchstone | No Comments »
January 10th, 2009 by
Kinesis’ K2 solar / wind charger will power any USB device and is guaranteed to disappoint people mistaking it for a handheld fan. Of course, if you’re feeling less environmental, feel free plug it into an AC outlet to reenergize the thing. Anticipating popular demand, we’ve put video after the break.
[Via OhGizmo!]
Continue reading Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in solar, energy, power, fire, wind, solar power, SolarPower, charger, wind power, WindPower, featured, earth, heart, features, solar energy, SolarEnergy, wind energy, WindEnergy, kinesis, k2, kinesis k2, KinesisK2 | No Comments »
January 10th, 2009 by
callpod’s adding a new version of their popular Chargepod that responds directly to some of the gripes we had with the V1 model. The Chargepod V2 has a three-sided design that charges a PC or Mac portable, three smaller devices like an iPod or camera, and a three port USB 2.0 hub for charging and syncing. Don’t worry if you’ve already dropped mad coinage on those device-specific adapters for the V1 — they’re compatible with the V2. The device’s specs make it look a bit hefty, but thankfully the design helps alleviate some of that. However, consolidation don’t come cheap — the Chargepod V2 will run you a steep $199.95.
[Via acquire]
Filed under: Peripherals
Chargepod V2 consolidates your power cords and thins your wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in charging, charger, callpod, chargepod, chargepod v2, chargepodv2, charging dock, ChargingDock | No Comments »
January 7th, 2009 by
What would CES be without a little video gaming, huh? Thanks to Nyko, we won’t ever have to find out (at least in 2009), as it’s bringing a smattering of new Nintendo Wii accessories to the desert. Kicking things off right is the simply titled Wand, which is said to be the “world’s most advanced alternative to the Wii remote.” Aside from doing everything the Wiimote does, the April-bound device also features the firm’s Trans-Port technology, which “enables control and vibration feedback to be electrically replicated on a compatible attachment accessory.” Up next is the Charge Station EX ($34.99 this April), which improves upon its successor by adding a LED battery indicator and a “new sleek look.” Finally, the Kama Charge Kit is an all-in-one charging solution while simultaneously stores and charges both the Wiimote and Kama controllers in one unit. All the fine print is hosted just after the break.
Continue reading Nyko brings Wand Wii remote, Charge Station EX and Kama Charge kit to CES
Filed under: CES, Gaming, Networking
Nyko brings Wand Wii remote, Charge Station EX and Kama Charge kit to CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in Nintendo, Wii, wiimote, charge, controller, nyko, charger, wand, wii accessory, WiiAccessory, ces, kama, ces 2009, Ces2009, charge station ex, ChargeStationEx, charging station ex, ChargingStationEx, nyko wand, NykoWand, trans-port | No Comments »
January 7th, 2009 by
What would CES be without a little video gaming, huh? Thanks to Nyko, we won’t ever have to find out (at least in 2009), as it’s bringing a smattering of new Nintendo Wii accessories to the desert. Kicking things off right is the simply titled Wand, which is said to be the “world’s most advanced alternative to the Wii remote.” Aside from doing everything the Wiimote does, the April-bound device also features the firm’s Trans-Port technology, which “enables control and vibration feedback to be electrically replicated on a compatible attachment accessory.” Up next is the Charge Station EX ($34.99 this April), which improves upon its successor by adding a LED battery indicator and a “new sleek look.” Finally, the Kama Charge Kit is an all-in-one charging solution while simultaneously stores and charges both the Wiimote and Kama controllers in one unit. All the fine print is hosted just after the break.
Continue reading Nyko brings Wand Wii remote, Charge Station EX and Kama Charge kit to CES
Filed under: CES, Gaming, Networking
Nyko brings Wand Wii remote, Charge Station EX and Kama Charge kit to CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in Nintendo, Wii, wiimote, charge, controller, nyko, charger, wand, wii accessory, WiiAccessory, ces, kama, ces 2009, Ces2009, charge station ex, ChargeStationEx, charging station ex, ChargingStationEx, nyko wand, NykoWand, trans-port | No Comments »
December 24th, 2008 by
While we sit here contemplating how we somehow didn’t think of the CP Dock first, we might as well praise the innovative minds that managed to devise a “gadget” that accommodates a phone charger, serves as a cord wrap, and acts as a phone stand all at the same time. Of course, you could save the $12.95 and just resort to the antiquated method of placing your beloved phone on — you know — a surface, but feel free to carry out the conspicuous consumption if you’re so inclined.
Filed under: Peripherals
CP Dock, because your phone is way too cool to rest on a table or floor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in dock, charger, PhoneStand, PhoneDock, stand, cp dock, cpdock, phone holder, phoneholder | No Comments »
December 23rd, 2008 by
The cats at iGo are making their first-ever CES appearance next month, and they’re bringing a suitcase of new gadgets with them, including three devices — a laptop charger, a surge protector, and a wall outlet — they say will reduce the power used when attached devices are in standby or off mode with automatic shut-off and recovery. Additionally, iGo will introduce a not-as-green netbook charger that, like its wallMAX predecessor, lets you simultaneously charge your phone, PMP, camera or other device. Rounding out the showcase are various assorted accessories like a card reader, laptop cleaning kit, and international travel adapter. We know you’re simply dying to check out that triumvirate of awesome.
Filed under: Household
iGo unveils green power supplies, drives stake through vampire power originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in power, green, iGo, charger, power adapter, PowerAdapter, igo laptop charger, igo netbook charger, IgoLaptopCharger, IgoNetbookCharger, laptop charger, LaptopCharger, multi device charger, MultiDeviceCharger, netbook charger, NetbookCharger | No Comments »
December 22nd, 2008 by
You don’t usually equate CES with big time Energizer introductions, but this year is going to be different. While our fingers are still crossed that a 50-foot drum-toting bunny is seen storming around in the Vegas heat, we do know that said outfit will be bringing along its minty fresh Zinc Air Prismatic batteries, not to mention the newly unveiled Rechargeable Solar Charger. The above pictured device will boast a USB port to power an assortment of devices, and it can also be charged from an AC outlet if you just can’t seem to locate the sun. Better still, its weatherproof nature should make it suitable for argonauts, and it’ll only run $49.99 with a pair of rechargeable cells when it lands next summer.
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals
Energizer’s Rechargeable Solar Charger gets detailed, pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted in solar, solar-powered, battery, batteries, solar power, SolarPower, charger, solar-power, ces, solar charger, SolarCharger, ces 2009, Ces2009 | No Comments »
October 20th, 2008 by
Filed under: Wearables
For shame. We know good and well engineers can concoct energy-generating garb that actually looks good enough to wear, but evidently those fashion-minded gurus weren’t hired for this project. Granted, we have all ideas the image you’re quizzically staring at above is NTT’s first go at a pair of power-packing sandals, but there’s clearly a good ways to go before these things are cute / safe enough to wear on the streets. Might we suggest shoving all that hardware inside of something? The “all hanging out” look just isn’t working here.
[Via TokyoMango, image courtesy of AFP / Getty]
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Posted in japan, charge, charging, energy, ntt, ntt DoCoMo, NttDocomo, green, charger, turbine, shoes, shoe | No Comments »
October 10th, 2008 by
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Even with today’s wireless video game controllers, you can’t stay untethered forever. After a few hours of gaming on the PlayStation 3, you’ll have to plug in that SIXAXIS or DualShock 3 USB cable to charge. Starting December 18th, Sony Japan will offer an AC adapter intended for PS3 controllers at a price of ¥2,800 (just under $30). Like third party solutions we’ve seen, it has two USB ports so you’ll be able to do two controllers or toss in a Bluetooth headset. Nothing yet on availability outside of Japan, but if we get word we’ll be all over it, ’cause we feel slightly guilty for leaving the PS3 on overnight to charge — what with the world’s dwindling energy supply and all.
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Posted in playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, japan, usb, controller, dualshock 3, Dualshock3, charger, sixaxis, ac adapter, sony japan | No Comments »
September 26th, 2008 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals
Compared to other cellphone charging pads out there, Connectland’s USB Multi-Cellular Phone Charger is mighty minuscule. The box gets power via a USB plug and then pipes it to eight different connectors that fit into mobiles from Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, etc. We dig that Brando throws in a “foam rubber” to keep this in while traveling, but honestly, would it really take more than two unanticipated jaunts to break every last prong from this thing? She’s $18 if you’re shaking your head from left to right.
[Via Gadgets-Weblog]
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Posted in usb, brando, charge, charger, connectland, cellphone charger, CellphoneCharger, multi charger, MultiCharger | No Comments »
September 26th, 2008 by
Filed under: Peripherals
For any iPhone or iPod user brimming with energy that might otherwise go wasted on aimless fidgeting, Swedish designer Peter Thuvander has devised the perfect way for you to marry your hyperactivity and your love for your Apple device: the iYo YOYO Induction Charger. While playing with the charger as you would an ordinary yo-yo, a small lithium-ion battery is charged inside, which in turn powers your device. The idea sounds great, and if it ever gets out of the concept stage we look forward to having our idle hands finally used as something other than the Devil’s playthings. Check out a video of the device in rendered action after the break.
[Via Engadget German]
Continue reading iYo YOYO Induction Charger lets you enjoy your tunes sans AC
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Posted in iPhone, charger, eco, iPhone charger, IphoneCharger, iyo, iYo Yo Yo charger, IyoYoYoCharger, Peter Thuvander, PeterThuvander, yo-yo, yoyo | No Comments »
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