The small capacity is down to the relatively small size, with the DC-18 measuring in at just 57 x 57 x 14.9 mm and 65g. Up front there’s a battery status indicator, which lights up with the current charge level when you pull out the retractable microUSB cable.

Pulling the cable free turns the DC-18 on, while tucking it back into place turns it off. That does leave the microUSB plug itself protruding, which seems like a recipe for getting it caught on your bag or the lining of your coat pocket, however.

Nokia will offer the DC-18 in four colors – a Lumia and Asha 501 matching cyan, magenta, white, and yellow – though the company is yet to confirm pricing. We’re guessing it’ll be relatively affordable, however, since the DC-16 (which actually has a larger, 2,200 mAh battery) portable charger comes in at around $40.

We’ve seen AC outlets that feature integrated USB ports in the past. Newer Technology has announced the next generation Power2U AC/USB in-wall charging solution. This charging solution is a new outlet that requires you to remove your existing outlet in the wall and place the new outlet in its stead.

The Power2U device has two traditional AC outlets designed for use in the US and a pair of USB ports built right in. The USB ports now have tamper-resistant receptacles with little doors that slide down over the top to keep children from poking things into USB ports. You should be able to plug-in two USB charging devices and two standard AC outlet devices into the same outlet.

The new generation outlets also now come in a 20 amp rated unit along with the original 15 amp rated unit. Newer Technology says that the 20 amp model is designed for both residential and commercial, hospitality, education, and municipal applications. Both the 15 amp and 20 amp models are UL listed in featuring Smart Power functionality that only provides the power required by the device attached to the outlet or USB socket. The USB ports also automatically turn themselves off when the cable is removed. The outlet is now available in white, white, ivory, and light almond. The 15 amp model is available for $29.95 and the 20 amp model is available for $39.95.

[via Newer Technology]

The company is now shipping the ChargeCard for the iPhone 4 for $25. The micro USB version is also shipping for $25. However, it has already sold enough that it’s backordered until the middle of March. Shipping for the iPhone 4 version is delayed for one week.

On one side of the ChargeCard is the connector for plugging into your smartphone. In the middle of the ChargeCard is a rubber tongue that flexes that has a standard USB plug for power and sync built-in. The USB plug snaps into place in the center of the card allowing you to slip the device in and out of your wallet with ease.

If you use the iPhone 5 or the iPad mini that has the new Lightning connector, ChargeCard also has a new version of the device that is designed specifically for you. The iPhone 5 version of the device is up for pre-order right now with shipping expected to start in the middle of May. The iPhone 5 version will also sell for $25.

[via Chargecard]

We’ve seen powered Backpacks before that pack internal batteries to charge our favorite smartphones, tablets, and more, but this is made to handle any and all situations. With nearly enough pockets to store your entire office, an awesome industrial design, and 3 USB cables to handle a wide array of devices you’ll never be without juice.

TYLT’s new Erergi Backpack rocks a 10,050 mAh battery that’s built in, and will be able to charge your average smartphone almost each day of the week, depending on size. They’ve equipped this backpack with an array of compartments to store everything, and they’ve also got a place specifically for your tablet.

You can charge a single device, or up to three simultaneously. It sports three USB ports on the side and enough cables to access the nearly 10 different compartments. Every area of the backpack can be provided with juice to charge devices, but it comes with 3 cables already routed for your convenience. The TYLT Energi Backpack can be charged back up via micro-USB, as well as a full USB 2.0 port on the side for easy recharging on the go. It’s currently available for $169.

The Nectar system is a lightweight portable device designed to charge just about any consumer electronic device out there including smartphones, tablets, Bluetooth headsets, digital cameras, and lots more. The device promises enough power to keep your typical electronic gadget running for two weeks or more by inserting a single Nectar Pod power cartridge. The system promises to deliver 10 times the runtime versus traditional chargers.

The product will be on display at CES so the manufacturer is holding back a few key details. One of the biggest details that’s unclear is exactly how the system generates its power. It appears to be some sort of fuel cell charging system. The manufacturer says that both the mobile power system in the Nectar Pods cartridges are approved for carry on use of board commercial aircraft.

The Nectar Pod is hot-swappable so when one runs out of power, you can simply replace it with another to keep your devices powered indefinitely. The device will launch this summer and the charger will sell for $299.99. Additional Nectar Pods will be available for $9.99 each.

The stand is called the iOdock and claims to be the first wireless conductive charging stand on the market. The docking station connects to a computer via a USB cable and is able to transfer power and data wirelessly to the user’s device through a case specifically designed for your gadget to work with the conductive charging stand. The product will be on display at CES this week.

The company promises that the required charging case needed for the system is much slimmer than other inductive charging cases on the market. The dock stand also allows the user to rotate the screen of their device for whatever angle is most comfortable for them. The iOdock is currently available for the iPhone 4S and the iPad.

The company does intend offer connector charging cases that will work with the iPhone 5, iPad mini, and other devices by the middle of 2013. At this time, it’s unclear exactly how much the iOdock will sell for. I would expect pricing to be somewhere in the range of the pricing for the company’s line of stands ranging from $90-$100.

The PowerDock 5 charges up five devices at a time (hence its name), and includes five separate bays, each with an accompanying USB port. On the bottom is where the AC adapter plugs in, and there’s two short pillars to wrap the AC cable around to shorten it if need be. You’ll also find a small notch on the end where the cable sits in so that the PowerDock sits flat on the table.

Essentially, any mobile device will fit in the five slots, including smartphones and tablets. It’s also incredibly lightweight, almost too light — it feels like it could break any second, and might have the tendency to slide around on your desk since there’s no weight to it, but the rubber coating on the bottom may help alleviate that. The PowerDock 5 will be available this spring for $99.

Apple refused to give the project approval because of the design running afoul of rules regarding the Lightning adapter. Those rules had to do with Apple disallowing anything that is also capable of charging competing gadgets. This left the designers of the project with backer money in hand being forced to announce that the project was canceled.

There were about 1000 backers of the project at the time and there was significant concern about how the company would get the money back to the backers. Luckily, for the developers of the charger, Apple relented changing the guidelines for Lightning connectors allowing the project to move forward.

The developers of the project had already announced the cancellation and pending refunds to the backers. Another e-mail went out after Apple changed its rules notifying backers that no refunds will be issued and the project is moving forward as intended. The project was seeking $50,000 and ended up raising $139,170.

[via Gigaom]

The big hitch is that Kickstarter always takes a fee from a project, that being a big part of how the organization works. In this case, the creators at Edison Jr have made an unprecedented move in asking for that 5% back. There’s also a credit card fee that’s more or less 3% that Edison Jr is claiming they’re having to absorb, these two costs being relatively prohibitive for their prospective future in the business.

The total that this company would lose because of this situation is said by them to be over $11,000 USD. Or it will be unless Kickstarter gives them the 5% of the cash back. What would you do if you were Kicksarter? What would you do if you were in Edison Jr’s position?

Meanwhile the CEO of Edison Jr (that’s Jamie Siminoff, again), has started up a company by the name of Christie Street. This company is a crowdfunding program that “carefully vets each invention before launch to ensure they are feasible and credible.” Jamie Siminoff is currently taking all of the backers of POP (the ones that wont be getting products at this point) and is setting them up with Christie Street accounts.

Once they’ve got Christie Street accounts, they’ll either have the option to get their cash back that they put into POP, or they can choose to “receive credits to invest in a new project on Christie Street.” In other words, if you supported POP, you’re about to be a member of Christie Street, and if you don’t specifically ask for your cash back from the POP non-product, you’ll be given Christie Street “credits” instead. As the release notes, this has created a situation in which refunds can go out much quicker than if they’d set up manual refunds to all 1,000 some backers one by one.

It is good to hear the following, one way or anther, straight from Jamie himself:

Providing full refunds means we will have to absorb a hit for both credit card (3%) and Kickstarter fees (5%) totaling over $11,000.  Today we asked Kickstarter for the 5% fee they collected based on the circumstances, however regardless of their decision YOU WILL RECEIVE 100% OF YOUR MONEY BACK.

We don’t believe in selling a substandard, compromised product that only satisfies the needs of a few backers, as that was not our promise.  So we can’t thank you enough for your incredible support and awesome feedback – we hope to collaborate again with you soon.  If you have any issues please email me directly.

All the best,
Jamie

Let us know what you think about the whole situation whether you’re involved in it directly or not!

This device is alarm clock the large digital readout that also has an AM/FM tuner inside. The big draw is that the clock is capable of charging up to six gadgets at the same time. Three of those devices can be charged using the embedded cradle on top of the alarm clock.

The other devices are charged via USB cables and those cables can be sorted using a cable routing system on the back of the clock. The clock provides plenty of charging power for smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players. The device uses smart current detection technology and has built-in surge protection.

The large digital clock numbers are 1.2-inches tall and all the controls for the radio and clock functions are digital. If you want to listen to music from one of your devices, it does have an auxiliary 3.5 mm input. The clock also has a battery backup using a pair of AAA batteries in case power goes out. The Model CR34 is available now for $99.99.

The portable battery pack is ruggedized and water resistant to survive life in the wild. The outside of the device is covered in silicone and can survive drops. It also has an integrated LED flashlight to help you see where you are going.

The external battery pack is available in two configurations that differ in battery capacity. One of the configurations has a 7200 mAh battery inside and the other has an 8400mAh battery inside. Both capacities have the ability to charge two USB devices at the same time.

The smaller capacity battery pack sells for $29.90 and the higher capacity battery cells are $39.90. The only downside I see to this device is that you would have to carry your device’s charging cable with you on the go. Both of the Tough Pro external batteries are available now at Amazon and other online retailers.

This charger has a stick-shaped battery with the USB port at one end and a USB plug on the other. The solar panel itself looks like a small notebook and folds open revealing a pair of panels that harness energy from the sun and send it to the rechargeable battery.

Users can then plug anything that uses a USB port to charge into the other end of that battery for power. The manufacturer claims that the battery itself can be completely charged using only the sun in about six hours. The lithium-ion battery has interchangeable tips allowing it to work with just about anything from USB to specific devices such as the iPhone, Droid devices, and lots more.

It appears initially the device will come with the USB adapter and additional tips and accessories for the Switch 8 will launch this coming spring. The Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit can be purchased right now at REI retailers and online for $99.99.

On the product page, Apple has confirmed that the new charger will come with Retina display iPads, meaning both the 4th-gen and 3rd-gen iPads. However, you can also purchase the charger by itself for a reasonable $19. It’ll also work with the iPhone 4S, 5th-gen iPod Touch, 7th-gen iPod Nano, 2nd-gen iPad, and the new iPad mini.

Word of caution, though. While the charger will work for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPod Nano, it’s not recommended that you rely solely on the 12W adapter to charge your device up. Yes, it will charge them up almost twice as faster than the smaller 5W adapter, but it’ll also ruin the battery over time.

While Apple confirmed that the new 12W adapter will charge iPads faster than previous adapters, they didn’t say by how much. “We don’t have an exact percentage of how much faster it would charge but you should see an increase in speed,” a spokesperson said. I guess we’ll have to wait for side-by-side comparisons to pop up.

[via 9to5Mac]

ZAGG has unveiled three new lithium polymer external batteries to help keep your gadgets charged. The new batteries include the ZAGGsparq 1220, 3100, and 6000. The 3100 and 6000 units both feature Hypercharge Technology promising to allow your gadgets charge up to four times faster than using a standard USB charger.

All the batteries have a standard USB port and have built-in prongs for plugging the battery directly into the wall. Having integrated prongs means that you don’t need a USB port to charge the external battery, and you don’t have to keep up with an external power adapter. The difference between the three batteries comes in capacity.

The 1220 has a 1200 mAh 1A power source and sells for $39.99. The 3100 has an internal battery with 3100 mAh of juice and can charge a smartphone fully two times and sells for $69.99. The 6000 has 6000 mAh of power, two USB ports, and sells for $99.99.

According to O2, 70% of customers in the UK who buy a new smartphone already have the charger to go with it. This results in more than 100 million chargers going unused. O2 says that by trying to reduce the number of chargers floating around in the world, it will prevent further environmental damage by limiting the amount of components and packaging that are normally required.

While this unannounced smartphone from O2 and HTC won’t come with a charger, you’ll still be able to grab one separately if need be, but the phone itself will only come with a USB cable, for which you can use to charge your device through a USB port on your computer. But if you need to charge via a wall outlet, you’ll need to get the separate wall charger.

It makes sense really, especially for those who are loyal to one handset manufacturer. Back in my Android days, I only bought HTC, and as a result I ended up with a ton of chargers that were all the same. It was nice to have extras, but I simply had too many that would go unused, especially when I mostly just charged my devices through USB.

[via Pocket-lint]

Tesla has announced that it plans to build a network of solar-powered chargers along major US highways to expand the driving range of Tesla vehicles. The chargers would be offered to Tesla owners at no charge. The company has already installed the first six of the high-speed chargers along highways in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

The high-powered solar chargers are able to recharge a Model S sedan at a rate of 100 kW. The high power of the souped-up chargers allows the vehicle to travel for three additional hours of highway driving with 30 minutes of charging. Each of the Chargers cost Tesla $250,000.

The charger can charge 4 to 6 Tesla electric vehicles at one time. Tesla’s overall plan is to install 100 of the new solar chargers over the next three to four years at a total cost of $20 million-$30 million. Tesla also plans to begin opening the so-called “superchargers” in Europe and Asia in the second half 2013.

[via Bloomberg]

Fulton Innovation has announced a new breakthrough in wireless power that uses adaptive resonance technology and is capable of simultaneously charging multiple devices that use different power formats. The technology is called Adaptive Resonance and combines benefits of inductive coupling, magnetic resonance, and Qi technology into one solution. This means no matter which of those three formats your device uses for wireless charging, Adaptive Resonance technology will allow you to charge it with the same system.

This technology addresses one of the key areas of concern for many people who are looking forward to widespread use of wireless power. With multiple formats on the market, the chance of cross compatibility between brands was looking slim. The Adaptive Residence technology allows a single charging base plate to charge multiple devices, even if those devices use different wireless power formats at the same time.

The Adaptive Residence technology also allows the user to move devices around on the charging plate to make room for another device while maintaining very high charging efficiency. The technology also supports both closely and loosely coupled wireless charging systems. With Adaptive Residence technology supporting three of the biggest wireless power formats out there, it suddenly doesn’t matter as much what format the device manufacturer chooses to support.

At the time, the original project launched the developers promised a version would come for devices that recharge using micro USB ports. That micro USB version of the ChargeCard has now been unveiled. Like the iPhone version, the micro USB ChargeCard is thin enough to fit into your wallet and take with you wherever you go.

Rather than having an iPhone charger on one side, this one has a micro USB port coming off at an angle. The section of the ChargeCard that plugs into the USB port of a computer is still flexible allowing the charger at work at just about any angle. The developers say the micro USB version of the product will work with any device that recharges using the little USB port.

That means this should work with the majority of Android smartphones and tablets out there as well as a bunch of other products. The micro USB ChargeCard comes in three colors, including black, white, and bird. The bird version is black with white silhouette art of birds sitting on a line. The project has 12 days to go and was seeking $50,000, so far backers have pledged over $136,000.

The Charge Card is claimed to be the slimmest charging and data cable for the iPhone around. The device is thin enough to fit inside your wallet so you can easily carry it with you at all times. In the center of the Charge Card is a flip down, flexible USB connector that you can plug into any USB port.

On the other side of the Charge Card is a standard iPhone dock connector that plugs into your device. The rigid plastic of the Charge Card allows it to be used like a charging stand in some instances propping your iPhone up as it charges. The USB connector itself appears to be flexible to allow you to position the charger to work with a variety of devices.

The Charge Card is 2.54 mm thick overall, so it should fit into even the most crowded wallet. The guys behind the Kickstarter project say that it’s thin enough that it can store underneath many iPhone cases. The body of the charger is made from ABS plastic, and the flexible USB arm is made from a thermoplastic elastomer. The charger is designed to work with a case installed on your iPhone. The project is seeking $50,000 and so far has raised $102,970 with 28 days to go.

The Desktop Charging Cradle has a design that allows for synchronization and charging at the same time allowing users to keep their smartphones powered up at all times. Another bit of good news is that the charging cradle is designed specifically to work with smartphones that have the Seidio Active or Surface cases installed. Not having to remove the case to charge or sync your phone is a big deal.

The charging cradle docks smartphones horizontally, allowing users to watch movies, look at photos, or check out other multimedia. The cradle is black with a matte finish and soft touch coating. The coating helps keep the cradle clean and helps to resist fingerprints and dirt. The back of the charging cradle has a power LED. The rear LED helps keep the user informed while not glaring in the eyes. The docking station is shipping right now with the required cable for connecting to a computer for $29.95.

The Satechi Portable Energy Station weighs 5.93oz and is only 5.5 inches long. It provides quick and efficient charging of your devices through 6 connectors that are compatible with most smartphones and tablets. Its 10,000mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery is powerful enough to fully charge an iPhone 4S from empty five times.

It also comes with a USB charging cord, a battery life indicator, and auto-off feature that detects when a connected device is fully charged. The device is available now through Satechi.net and Amazon, priced at only $49.99.

Previously Vodafone took pictures of customers dropping off their smartphones to be recharged, or used wristbands with barcodes, but as the company notes, “wristbands get lost [and] faces need a human to make a judgement call on identity.” The truck will instead be fitted with infrared palm vein readers, designed to build a map of the blood vessels in your hand which is unique to each person. Vodafone say the system offers great security, already employed by several Japanese banks, and is impossible to fool.

The readers even work if your hands are dirty thanks to the use of infrared, and should detect the customer in just a couple of seconds. The new system should be much faster, and the truck itself can accommodate up to 2,000 smartphones. Vodafone say they have chargers for all kinds of phones, so no need to worry about standing in a muddy field without any battery left. The truck should be making its way to various festivals shortly.

[via Vodafone]

A company called Lilliputian Systems has an interesting new fuel cell that will be sold via a retailer called Brookstone this year. The smallish fuel cell charger will be able to recharge your smartphone about a dozen times before it out of power. The fuel cell has a USB port and will be sold under Brookstone’s own brand. The fuel cell is said to be about the size of a thicker smartphone and is powered by cartridges filled with lighter fluid about the same size as a cigarette lighter.

Presumably, if you need more than a dozen charges, you would be able to pop in a new cartridge and keep going. The charger will work with any device that has a USB cable. This particular fuel cell uses some unique technology to allow for longer charges than earlier devices, which typically lasted about a day. The technology includes a solid oxide fuel cell membrane on a silicon wafer. The fuel cell would be able to charge an iPhone 4 somewhere between 10 and 14 times on one fuel cartridge and the cartridges will be allowed to be carried on airplanes. Pricing for the fuel cell is unknown at this time.

[via CNET]

The first vehicle from the Chrysler Group to get wireless in vehicle charging will be the 2013 Dodge Dart. The Dart is set to hit dealer showrooms in Q2 of 2012. The car has an integrated power bin that measures 8.27-inches by 9.5-inches by 3.25-inches. The bin is just below the center stack in front of the center console and has an integrated charging grid activated when the user places their smartphone into the bin.

Just like the home solutions, the in vehicle Mopar charging solution does require the phone to have a special case installed. The case is available for a variety of phones, and the stock photo from Chrysler shows the iPhone in use. The vehicle charging solution is $199.99 plus installation. It sounds as if this is a dealer-installed option. $199.99 seems expensive, but if you spend a lot of time in your car with your smart phone, the price might be agreeable. The downside is if you use your smartphone for navigation, you won’t be able to see the screen when the phone is in the bin.

The JuiceTank case on Kickstarter right now eliminates any need for a charge cord or adapter. The case is designed to protect your iPhone from drops and scratches and has a pair of fold flat outlet prongs on the back. When you need to charge your iPhone, you flick the prongs up, and plug the case and phone directly into the wall.

The phone charges automatically once plugged in. The case is made from polycarbonate and it appears to add a bit more bulk. The company is offering a Kickstarter limited-edition case for people that help fund the project at $75 or more that is green and black. The cheapest pledge to get your hands on one of the cases standard black cases is $40. The company is seeking to raise $125,000 to develop the case and has 58 days remaining. So far, the case has raised $7872.

The boostpac quick shot is a smaller rectangular battery that has 1200mAh of power. It has a 5V DC output and measures 2″ x 1.4″ x 1″. The circle on the front indicates how much power is left inside the battery pack. It will work with just about any smartphone and has a connector for the iPhone. If you want a charger for your desktop, the eclipse is for you.

This battery pack has a 1500mAh rechargeable battery inside, and it is made to sit on a desk like a docking station. It has a USB port on the side for connecting to other smartphones and devices. The output is a 5V DC and the eclipse ships with a USB to micro USB cable. The battery pack measures 2.7″ x 2″ x 0.9″ and has a flip-up top that hides an integrated iPhone charge connector. Pricing and availability are unknown.

This type of technology doesn’t come cheap, as you can see, but what we’re getting here is more than just a simple bit of science fiction made real. The Powertrekk actually takes the hydrogen in water and turns it into electricity with myFC’s “FuelCellSticker” technology. The group myFC is a fuel cell technology company that specializes in solutions for powering portable electronics, and will certainly be a team to watch in the coming years for mobile devices. The device works by converting hydrogen into electricity with a Proton Exchange Membrane by the name of PEMFC – the PEMFC sits between a cathode and an anode, the latter reacting with the water and the hydrogen gas separating into protons and electrons. The membrane has the protons conducted to the cathode while the electrons move along a circuit and – poof! Electrical current charges your device.

The “Powerpukk” fuel pack (the $12 bit here) will eventually wear out because of this process, but is 100% recycle friendly so you can keep that smile green! The battery that’s charged is able to move a current of 1500mAh over an hour and will work fine connected to your mobile device just so long as it’s got compatible charging requirements. For example an iPhone will work, but a tablet of most any size will not work. We’ll be looking to test this device out in the coming months – get wet!

[via Electronic Products]

Kanex has a new charging station called the Sydnee that gets around the trouble of finding enough outlets by allowing you to charge up to four devices at the same time with one cord. You plug the charger into your outlet and then hook the normal Apple charge cables to the ports on the back. All the things will then charge up.

Not only does it need only one AC outlet for four devices, but also you can stack multiple iPads in the device as well to save counter space. Sydnee also looks cool as well. You can get it in black or white colors in Q1 2012 for $149.99.

The new kits on the cars are to highlight the 75th anniversary in 2012 of Mopar. The Redline has a Hemi V8 with 590hp. That engine kit isn’t all the car gets though; it also has a high performance exhaust, a carbon-fiber front splitter and other carbon-fiber parts. The engine has an aluminum block to shed 100 pounds from the car.

The Super S has 18-inch wheels, a new chin spoiler, and a new trunk lid spoiler along with a coil-over suspension for better handling. It’s not clear if these cars will be sold or if they are simply to show off the performance kits that a buyer can add to their own stock vehicles.

[via FreeP]

In fact, you get 250 mAh more than the regular Galaxy Nexus LTE battery – itself 100 mAh bigger than what’s supplied with the slimmer HSPA+ version – though given how power-hungry 4G is we’ll take anything we’re given. We’ll have feedback on exactly how much extra runtime the extended Galaxy Nexus battery grants after some testing, but the good news is that we’ve found it actually makes for a slightly more comfortable phone in the hand thanks to the extended rear cover. Unfortunately it won’t fit into the battery compartment in the HSPA+ Nexus.

Verizon Galaxy Nexus official accessories:

Since we now have two batteries, we also grabbed the Battery Charger with Stand ($39.99), a compact plastic sled that allows you to charge a battery without having to actually slot it into your phone. A notch allows you to prop up the Galaxy Nexus for easy viewing on your desk – in either portrait or landscape orientation – and there’s a useful Y-adapter that means you can power both your phone and the Battery Charger with Stand from the one AC adapter.

Finally, we grabbed the Anti-Glare Screen Protectors ($14.99 for a pack of three), a matte-finish adhesive screen cover that not only helps avoid scratches to the fortified glass front of the Galaxy Nexus. As with all screen protectors they require a reasonably steady, careful hand to apply if you don’t want bubbles trapped underneath, but they certainly make a difference for outdoor usability. More details in the video above, and check out our full Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE hands-on for more on the smartphone itself.

Hardware

Batteries are seldom aesthetically pleasing, and Duracell has opted for subtle rather than trying to make its portable rechargeable stand out. A black 4.0 x 2.25 x 0.75 inch box, Duracell offers a number of different wall plug adapters (such as UK and European plugs) that snap onto the back but can be removed – and the port covered with a blanking plate – for easier transportation. Of course, if you leave the plug section at home, you can’t then rejuice the charger itself later on.

On the front there’s a battery-shaped button with three green LEDs, showing charge status. Press it, and they briefly show how much power is left. Along the edge are two USB ports, allowing the Duracell to power two devices simultaneously. High-current USB devices – over 1A, Duracell says – should only be used one at a time.

Inside there’s a 1,800 mAh lithium-ion battery good, Duracell reckons, for another five hours of talktime on your smartphone. A full recharge of the portable charger itself took us less than two hours.

Performance

The Duracell’s usefulness depends greatly on what sort of gadgets you want to use it with. We were able to partly recharge a Galaxy Nexus – the HSPA+ model with a 1,750 mAh battery – to 70-80 percent, certainly enough to take us through into the following day if used for the overnight charge.

However, a more demanding device, such as a tablet, presents more of a challenge. We plugged in an iPad and the Duracell managed to get the slate to 11-percent before it ceased recharging. It’s worth noting that the portable charger itself still had some juice left at that point – we topped off the Galaxy Nexus by 12-percent before the Duracell was actually flat – simply not enough to make any difference to the iPad.

Wrap-Up

With a £39.99 including tax RRP ($63) in the UK, the Duracell 5 Hour Portable Charger is a tough sell. Thanks to a street price closer to £25 ($39) it’s a more realistic accessory, and could be a good stocking-filler for the gadget hound in your home or office this holiday season.

Of course, Duracell isn’t the first to offer a portable charger, and it’s worth noting that other manufacturers offer bigger batteries – some as much as 7,000 mAh – for a similar price. The compromise is generally on physical size: the bigger the battery, the bigger the device you’ll have to accommodate.

Smartphone owners frustrated by underwhelming talktime will likely find plenty of affordable appeal in the Duracell. Those with a broader range of gadgets, like power-hungry tablets, should probably opt for a bigger model or simply taking the AC adapter with them.

The final piece of the inductive charging kit is the WallStation, which is similar to the BaseStation but designed to mount to the wall to hold your iPad 2 while it charges. Both the WallStation and the BaseStation use magnetic attraction to mount the iPad case section. The iPad 2 starts charging as soon as it is attached to either of the stations.

The hard case has a mini USB connector with pass-through that allows for charging and sync when the WallStation or BaseStation aren’t available. The case also has a special design that amplifies the sound for the iPad and directs it out to the front. This is one of the more expensive systems I have seen. The PowerShuttle case is $149, the BaseStation is $199, and the WallStation is $199. The complete kit would cost you almost as much as your iPad. All of the items will launch in Q4.

[via eCoustics]

The device is designed to eliminate the tangle of cables that often goes with working on the road. The device will send a HD signal out to a TV, projector, or computer screen and allows the TV or projector remote to control a MHL-enabled smartphone or tablet for hands free operation. The TV or projector connected to the device has to support HDMI CEC for the remote control function to work.

The DVDO Mobile has an integrated 20-inch USB-A connector and an 8-inch micro USB connector as well. The HDMI cable is 36-inches long and the adapter can connect to computers as well to allow data transfer between the connected devices and a computer. That means you can charge, sync, and shoot video out to other devices with one gadget. Pricing is unknown at this time.

The company claims that these are the world’s smallest and lightest chargers for EVs. Both of the chargers measure in at 150 x 35 x 60cm. That makes them about half the size of other chargers that are on the market today. The A202 is a 20kW charger weighing 150kg and the A302 is a 30kW charger and weighs 20kg more than the other weighs. That makes each about 66% lighter than the normal chargers.

The chargers can apparently recharge an average EV in about 35 to 60 minutes. They work with vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and others that use the CHAdeMO standard. The huge fly in the ointment for these chargers I that they are insanely expensive costing as much as the EVs themselves. The A202 will sell for about $24,600 and the A302 will cost about $27,200.

[via TechCrunch]

The company that makes the device doesn’t offer much in the way of technical details on the charger. I guess it’s geared more towards the well-heeled that just want it to look good and work. What the company does say is that it will provide 30 hours of charge time for a mobile phone or MP3 player and the internal battery charger via USB and the solar panel.

What I want to know that isn’t mentioned is how long exactly that solar panel will need to charge the internal battery. I suspect that it would be a number of hours just as other charges need. The leather case will protect the charger and has a carbon fiber embossed design on it. The price hasn’t been announced at this time and availability is a question as well.

[via Uncrate]

The charger is called simply the Dual USB charger and it is one of the chargers that almost completely hides in your car DC outlet. The front of the charger has a 1A USB port and a 2.1A USB port for the iPad. Both of the ports are clearly marked so you know which one you are plugging into. The charger measures 2.25″ x 1″ and has a LED on it to show when it is plugged in.

Those LEDs are a pet peeve of mine since they can be glaring at night. The charger will work with any USB charging device like cameras, GPS devices, smartphones, and tablets. You can put devices other than the iPad into the 2.1A port as well. The Dual USB Charger is on Bracketron right now for $24.95 and will come to other retail stores soon.

The travel case for the battery measures 10″ x 5″ x 1.5″ and weighs under a pound. The charger part is a sort of USB hub for charging that also has a data port for connecting to your computer for the synchronization of your gear while it charges. There is no internal battery. The charger has 10W of power so it will charge your iPad too.

The charger can power up your gear and needs only one AC outlet. The case is made from nylon and the charger is made from APS plastic. The charger will charge items will less power needs as well. The AViiQ Portable Charging Station sells for $79.99.

The CampStove converts heat energy into electricity that powers a small fan to improve the combustion from the burning wood. Surplus power of one to two watts are available to charge a cell phone or LED light. However, the CampStove isn’t just for campers. BioLive believes that it will be useful in developing countries where meals are often cooked using wood-burning stoves.

The company claims that the CampStove requires half the amount of wood as an open fire and cuts smoke emissions by up to 95%. The benefits are thus two-fold in that it gets rid of the emissions that are bad for human health and reduces the need for wood to help curb deforestation.

Weighing just under two pounds, the CampStove can boil a liter of water in less than four minutes. It can also burn various materials including sticks, pine cones, and underbrush.

[via TechCrunch]

“When I saw the TV footage of the quake victims making a fire to keep themselves warm, I came up with the idea of helping them to charge their mobile phones at the same time … Unlike a solar power generator, our pot can be used regardless of time of day and weather while its small size allows people to easily carry it in a bag in case of evacuation” Kazuhiro Fujita, CEO, TES NewEnergy

Outwardly looking like any regular pot, the Pan Charger actually has a base plate covered in strips of ceramic thermoelectric material: the temperature differentials between the fire underneath and the 100-degree C water inside allow that material to create electricity, which is pumped out via a regular USB connection. Anything that can operate on roughly 2W/400mA can recharge; Fujita reckons an iPhone would take around three to five hours to fully rejuice.

TES NewEnergy is offering the Pan Charger in Japan this month, priced at 24,150 yen ($300), but the company also plans to launch it in developing countries where stable power sources can be tough to find. “There are many places around the world that lack the electric power supply for charging mobile phones” Fujita suggests.

As the British well know, the best course of action in an emergency is to boil some water and make a nice cup of tea. Now, you can charge your smartphone and radio at the same time.

[via Yahoo!]

Perhaps the most interesting is the HP TouchPad Charging Dock, priced at $79.99, which basically does the same as the Touchstone inductive charger for webOS phones like the Pre, but in an easel format to suit the tablet. Best of all, it comes with another charger and USB cable, so you don’t have to tie up the one that comes with the TouchPad itself (a common criticism of the Touchstone), and charges the slate at the same rate as the wired AC adapter.

The $69.99 HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard, meanwhile, uses Bluetooth to hook up and has low-profile keys and auto-off that, HP reckons, means a single set of batteries are good for up to 12 months use. The $49.99 HP TouchPad Case folds either horizontally or vertically, depending on what angle you want to prop the tablet up at, and has cut-outs for the headphones and buttons. You can also charge the TouchPad in the Charging Dock without taking it out of the case.

Finally, there’s the $29.99 North America Power Charger, a 10W adapter like that supplied with the iPad 2, which has a USB port and folding prongs for easy carrying. Of course, the TouchPad itself is also up for pre-order – $499.99 for the 16GB, or $599.99 for the 32GB.

[via PreCentral]