The case is called the juice pack plus and promises 120% extra power in a thin case. Not only does the case provide extra runtime the iPhone 5, but it also helps to protect the phone from drops and impacts. Inside the case is a 2100 mAh battery promising 120% additional battery life for the iPhone 5 user.

Mophie also promises that the case itself won’t damage the iPhone 5 thanks to features like anti-scratch guides to buffer the impact of falls and a direct injection sleeve engineered with a special shockproof band. The case is offered in three different colors including a soft touch black case, glossy white, and metallic red. The red case is a collaboration with Product (RED).

The large battery pack inside the case promises up to 10 additional hours of talk time on a 3G network. Users can also get up to 12 additional hours of Wi-Fi use and up to 50 additional hours of audio playback. The battery pack can also provide up to 12 additional hours of video playback. Users can charge the phone and sync the device without removing it from the case.

It features a lightning pass through using the included micro USB cable. Users can also connect their headphones to the iPhone 5 without removing it from the case. A flip switch is integrated to allow users to toggle between charging using the juice pack plus battery or standby for the battery so it’s there when you need it. The case is also fitted with an LED indicator showing how much power is left in the case and the case has one amp charging allowing it to charge quicker than when using a standard .5A system. You can purchase the iPhone 5 juice pack plus right now for $119.95.

SOURCE: Mophie

Hardware

Mophie has been making battery-cases for smartphones for years now, focusing on the iPhone and iPod touch; its line-up for Android phones is a lot smaller, with device-specific models only for the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S III (though the company offers generic portable batteries, too). The concept is straightforward, being a hard case that’s enlarged to accommodate a rechargeable power pack, that can be used to top up the internal battery in your phone.

For the HTC One, that means a 2.88 x 6.06 x 0.67 inch soft-touch plastic sled which adds 3.12 ounces to the weight of the phone (to compare, the One alone is 2.69 x 5.41 x 0.37 inches and 5.05 ounces). Black and silver versions will eventually be offered, to match the two finishes of the One itself, though only the black Juice Pack was available in time for our review.

More on the HTC One in our full review

Inside, there’s a 2,500 mAh battery, 200 mAh larger than the One’s own battery, charged from a standard microUSB port on the bottom of the case. That simultaneously charges the One, too, thanks to a pass-through microUSB connection which is plugged in when you slide the phone inside. It’s a snug fit, involving pulling off the Mophie’s top cap, slotting the One into the groove, and gently pushing it all the way into place; once the case is closed up again, there’s no wiggle or movement.

Although the sides and rear of the One are covered up, you still get access to all the ports and buttons. Pass-through controls for the power/standby key on top and the volume keys on the side are included – slightly oversized, which works well with gloved fingers, and the power button is IR-transparent so you can use the HTC TV remote control app still – and there’s a hole for the headphone socket too. The cut-out is big enough for most jacks, though if you’re using a set of headphones with an oversized plug, you might find the case gets in the way.

On the back, there’s a big cut-out for the UltraPixel camera and LED flash, along with a hole for the rear microphone. Flanking the microUSB port on the bottom edge are four connectors for a docking station (which we didn’t have to test). The only controls are a button to show battery status – using a row of four white LEDs – on the lower back of the Mophie, with a switch to turn on or off the flow of juice.

Usability and Performance

Make no mistake, once the One is in the Juice Pack you’re left with a big device. It’s almost comically large, in fact: the bowed back panel fills your palm, and while the soft-touch finish is pleasant to touch, the Juice Pack does make the One feel somewhat like the digital signature gadgets couriers tend to carry. If you’re in the habit of dropping your phone in your front jeans pocket, or your inside jacket pocket, you’ll immediately notice the difference.

It also feels like Mophie missed an opportunity to build some extra functionality into that expanse of plastic. HTC’s BoomSound speakers are usefully left exposed, for instance, and so a kickstand would have been an neat addition to prop the One up for hands-free video use.

Still, the Juice Pack certainly does what it promises to. Mophie recommends waiting until your One is at around 20-percent, and then flicking the switch to take the phone back up to around 80-percent; it takes more power to recharge a completely flat battery, or to top-up a battery until it’s entirely full. In our testing the Juice Pack took roughly around the same amount of time to recharge the One as the HTC adapter would.

In theory, you should be able to get a full recharge out of a single blast of the Juice Pack. In practice, following Mophie’s guidelines means it’s more like you’re doing a couple of periodic top-ups rather than going from zero to full. Still, with judicious control of the power switch and typical use of the One, we saw runtimes just short of the Mophie’s maximum 100-percent improvement.

Value

At $99.95, the Juice Pack isn’t the cheapest case or the cheapest external battery. If protection is what you’re after, there are far more form-fitting soft or hard cases on the market, priced from around $10; HTC’s own Double Dip Hard Shell for the One is $24.99, for instance.

Meanwhile, if you’re willing to sacrifice the integration, there are portable batteries with far more capacity than the Juice Pack provides. HTC offers the External Battery Bank (BB G600), for instance, a $50 block roughly akin to an oversized Zippo, and which – with 6,000 mAh to play with – could recharge your One twice before it needed topping up itself.

Then there’s the lifespan of the Juice Pack itself. Mophie rates the case for “over 500 full cycles” of 0-percent to 100-percent, after which point the battery inside “may provide less than 75-percent of the original capacity.” To be fair, that’s par for the course for any Li-Poly rechargeable battery, but it could mean that one day you’re carrying a heavy case that doesn’t really deliver in terms of a lasting charge. Whether that comes before the average two-year agreement is up, and you’re already thinking of getting a new phone, will depend on how much you use it.

Wrap-Up

There are cheaper ways to protect and charge your phone. A separate case and external battery will generally provide more runtime and a more easily pocketed handset. On the flip side, the best portable battery is the one you have on you when you’re running low on power, and the converged solution Mophie offers scores highly on that measure.

For some, the extra bulk the Juice Pack adds will be a deal-breaker. Certainly, it makes the One a big device, but if you’re a power-user the promise of up to double the runtime is a huge advantage, and we can’t really fault Mophie’s design for accommodating the One’s controls and features.

Given the HTC One’s battery is non-removable, the Mophie promises to answer one of the biggest criticisms potential owners have of the phone (we only wish it added a microSD card reader, too). Like other Juice Packs, the One variant has pass-through USB for charging both phone and case, as well as synchronizing your phone with your computer, and an LED indicator row on the lower back to show the case’s remaining charge.

There’s also a standby-switch which, if flicked on, saves the Mophie’s power until you specifically want it; otherwise, the phone will run on its own battery. You still get access to the camera and – thanks to pass-through keys – the buttons for volume, power, and such. Mophie has even considered the IR blaster HTC built into the power button, which still works even with the Juice Pack in place.

Of course, the downside of strapping an extra battery to your phone is added bulk, and the Juice Pack does indeed add some heft to the svelte One. Together, they measure in at 2.88 x 6.06 x 0.76 inches, and the Mophie adds 5.05oz, effectively doubling the weight of the phone.

That may be easy to overlook if it means you can keep using your One, however. We found that Zoe photography – HTC’s mixture of burst-stills and short HD video clips – was particularly power-hungry in our review of the phone, and as such keen shutterbugs hoping to get the most out of the phone’s UltraPixel camera may well be the obvious target for Mophie’s new accessory. It’s shipping now in black, priced at $99.95, while the silver version will follow on in mid-May.

[via Android Community]

What makes the Helium stand out from the rest of the pack is that it’s simply not just a ported version of the previous Juice Pack cases for the iPhone. The Helium is a redesigned case that’s 13% thinner than past iterations. The battery inside is a 1700mAh battery, which is smaller than the 2000mAh pack in past cases, but the thinner design easily makes up for the slight loss.

The extra battery will give iPhone 5 users six additional hours of talk time, internet use, and video playback, as well as up to 30 hours of audio playback. It sure beats having to carry around a separate battery pack with you, and while the iPhone 5′s thinness is one of its greatest qualities, the slightly added bulk of the Helium will give users a bit more to grab onto.

The $79.95 case is available to order now for “loyal customers” only, but we were able to add it to our cart without a problem, so we’re guessing that anyone can buy it at this point. The case will come in dark metallic and silver, and will begin shipping starting February 14, with the silver version shipping sometime in March. The new case is available on Mophie’s website.

[via MacRumors]

The OutRide is a wide-angle, waterproof mounting system for the iPhone it turns it into a dedicated action sports camera. The case and mounting solution allows the iPhone to survive the elements and drops. The device works with the iPhone 4 or 4S, but won’t fit the new iPhone 5.

Features of the OutRide include a high impact, waterproof and lightweight polycarbonate housing. The housing has an attached wide-angle lens offering 170° viewing angles. The case and mounting system also works in conjunction with a free OutRide app.

The application is designed to allow users to capture, edit, and share video directly from the iPhone. The app supports recording high-definition video at 60 frames per second in 720p resolution or 30 frames per second in 1080p resolution. Videos can be recorded vertically or horizontally and then edited and uploaded directly from the device. The app also allows users to share videos made using the app from friends. The case is available online and in Apple Store retail locations for $149.95.

The case has a 2300 mAh battery inside doubling the talk time and runtime for the smartphone. Mophie promises up to nine hours of additional talk time, up to 11 hours of additional Internet use, and up to 32 hours of additional audio playback. The case is designed to be lightweight and low-profile, to add minimum bulk while doubling the usable life of the phone.

The case features a pass-through USB cord allowing for charging and synchronizing without having to take the phone out of the case. The case also has an on/off toggle switch allowing for standby and charging modes. That switch allows users to turn off the case’s internal battery until it’s needed. The case also has four LEDs on the back to notify the user of how much power is left inside the case.

When charging, those LEDs also indicate how much charge time remains until the battery is ready to go. The case is available in white right now with a black version shipping on November 28. Both colors will sell for $99.95 each.

Mophie has been making a number of accessories for the iPhone and other smartphones for a long time. The company has now announced a new case and mounting system that will turn the iPhone into a rugged and waterproof sports camera. The case is called the Mophie Outride. The Outride is more than a rugged case; it also includes an application that allows the user to edit and share video directly from the iPhone.

The case is waterproof and impact resistant and it ships with a variety of mounts to work for capturing video in numerous settings from the water to dirt and concrete. The case is designed to work with the iPhone 4 or 4S. The case is made from polycarbonate and it has a modular mounting system that allows recording at any angle and the attaching of the case to multiple surfaces on a variety of sports equipment.

The Outride app is on the App Store at no cost and allows the user to edit and share video they take using the iPhone and the smartphone case. The app supports vertical or horizontal video shooting and has a 170° viewing angle. The Outride will launch in the middle of September with bundles ranging from $129.95 to $149.95. The difference between the bundles is unclear, but likely has to do with the mounting options included.

The battery pack, which doubles as a case for the phone, features a 2,000mAh battery that should provide up to 8 hours additional talk time using 3G, 7 hours of browsing, 44 hours of audio playback, and 11 hours of video playback. The top and bottom caps come with a “snap” design so you can easily access the 30-pin dock connector, although there’s a pass-through USB cable included so you don’t have to remove the phone from the case.

On top of that, there’s a standy and charging switch so you can choose when to utilize the extra power, and the 4 LEDs will indicate how much power is remaining in the case. What about added thickness? The case itself is 0.71-inches thick, and weighs 2.5 ounces, but that’s better than lugging around a charger or additional external battery pack.

Starting from today the case is now available at Apple’s retail stores in addition to the online store, or you can pick it up from Mophie’s own store. Whatever you choose, expect to pay around $99.95.

The folks at V-Moda are bringing the iPhone heat with the VAMP for iPhone audio. It’s time for TiVo and PayPal to team up for in-ad shopping while DISH and Qualcomm team up for satellite chipsets. Then it’s time to get some up close and personal hands-on time with the Wii U with Batman – Batarang time!

The Facebook camera application has gotten a dot at the end of it. The folks at Verizon have finally revealed their fabled Family sharing data plans titled Share Everything.

Check out the new Spotify interface for Android and take note that there very well may be a new iMac and Mac Pro inside 2013. Stay tuned!

The two devices being announced here will go into direct competition with the myCharge lineup we saw at CTIA 2012, here with Mophie bringing on the power in a slimmed-down black-only set of charging solutions. The Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Mini is made to bring on approximately 150 percent of your smartphone’s battery life and has a lovely 1.0 amp high-output battery for “ultra-fast” charging – we’ll see about that soon!

The Powerstation Duo is the larger of the two devices and has dual-USB outputs, this allowing you simultaneous charging of two devices at once. Ross Howe, vice president of marketing at Mophie, spoke up this week about this chargers:

“Our original powerstation has been incredibly successful due to its ability to charge virtually any portable device with a USB output, and we’ve been working aggressively to offer a wider range of solutions for those carrying USB-enabled devices. The duo and mini deliver a huge amount of power and round out our juice pack universal line of external portable power solutions to keep consumers charged up when they need it most.”- Howe

See other accessories such as the iPhone case/power converter you see above at Mophie.com

The Powerstation Duo will cost you $99.99 and is capable of switching between 500mAh, 1A and 2.1A charge – its dual-USB ports will also allow you to charge both a smartphone and a tablet at the same time. The Powerstation Mini will cost you $59.95 and is also the slimmer of the two, both of these devices available immediately if not soon. Check them both out at Mophie’s online archive and expect them at your favorite retailer relatively imminently!

The Mophie Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition bundle features a case with a special orange and gray color and comes with a one-year subscription for the Mophie Outdoor GPS app that covers the continental US and Hawaii. You also get a one-year subscription to the Mophie Outdoor Edition website, which helps you plan your trips. After the first year’s complimentary subscription, the service costs $19.99 a year.

The case incorporates a 2,000mAh battery that is said to more than double your iPhone’s normal battery life. This means potentially adding up to six hours of GPS usage, up to 8 hours of 3G talk time, up to 7 hours of 3G internet use, or up to 11 hours of video playback. A toggle switch allows you to put the case on standby so that you only use the Juice Pack Plus battery when you need to. And it features four LED indicators to keep you informed of battery levels.

The Outdoor Edition bundle is available now for $119.95 from Mophie’s product page. If you already have the Mophie Juice Pack Plus regular editions and would like to use the Mophie Outdoor app, you can download it from iTunes for $29.99.

The ViviTouch haptics technology is more advanced then typical motor-driven haptics implementations. Instead of feeling your device either vibrating or not, ViviTouch delivers a broad spectrum of vibrations that can even seem to travel across the screen. For instance, a pinball bouncing off a wall will feel a certain effect very different from guns shooting in a game. Also, different guns selected in a game could produce different effects as well.

It converts electric energy directly into movement and even uses 70 percent less battery power. Developers do not need to use the ViviTouch API to generate vibrations, instead the audio energy from a game is converted to recreate different effects. However, the API is available if Developers want to optimize their games for ViviTouch.

The Mophie Pulse case will bring the ViviTouch technology to your iPhone and iPod touch and it reminds us of this neat gaming case concept minus the extra game control buttons. No exact release dates have been revealed, but it said to be coming soon.

[via Kotaku]

The Mophie Juice Pack Plus is just one millimeter thicker the original Juice Pack Air, but adds 25 percent more battery life. It sports a 2,000 mAh batter capacity, making it the largest of any external battery case out of the entire Mophie lineup. A rubberized casing, LED status indicator, standby switch, and “Acoustic Sound Enhanement” are other features that round out the case.

There will be a limited edition version for the Juice Pack Plus of only 3,000 units with a purple band that runs around the edge of the case. Other colors available will include a black on black, and a black with cyan, magenta, or yellow banding. For this all-in-one added power and protection for your iPhone 4, you can expect to pay $99.95.

[via Ubergizmo]

Hardware

The key difference between the Juice Pack Air and the Plus version is the battery: 1,500 mAh in the Air, versus 2,000 mAh in the Plus. For that Mophie charge $20 extra, bringing the Juice Pack Plus to $99.95. In comparison, the iPhone 4′s own battery is 1,420 mAh, and while the fourth-gen smartphone generally manages longer runtimes than its predecessors, the tactile charms of iOS often mean users run the phone down well before the end of the day.

Despite the larger capacity battery, the Juice Pack Plus measures and weighs exactly the same as the Air: 5.07 x 2.51 x 0.68 inches and 2.5 oz. Yes, it adds some bulk to the iPhone 4, but it’s minimal in practice, and the curved, soft-touch rubber back panel actually makes the Apple smartphone more comfortable to hold.

Around the case there are cutouts for the volume buttons, ringer switch, headphone socket and sleep/power button, as well as a hole at the back for the camera and flash. While there’s no docking connector cutout – the bottom edge of the Juice Pack Plus has a button and four LEDs to show battery status – you do get a microUSB port for recharging both the phone and the Juice Pack, as well as sync’ing with iTunes. A physical power switch on the bottom corner rounds out the main controls.

The iPhone 4′s speaker on the bottom edge of the handset gets a “virtual speaker box”, basically redirecting audio out the front of the case. As on the Air, it does make for louder music playback. Build quality in general is high, and while there’s no fascia protection (bar a slightly raised rim around the edge, holding the touchscreen off the table if placed face-down) the rest of the case is sturdy and feels well constructed.

Performance

Mophie claim the Juice Pack Plus is capable of boosting iPhone 4 talktime by up to 8hrs on a 3G network or up to 16hrs on a 2G network. Alternatively, you should see up to 7hrs extra 3G browsing time or 11hrs WiFi browsing. Audio playback is boosted by up to 44hrs, or video playback by up to 11hrs. Those numbers all exceed Apple’s estimates for the iPhone 4′s own battery, usually by at least an hour, suggesting you can more than double usage with the Plus in place.

As with the Air, the Juice Pack Plus can work in two ways. With the Mophie switched off, you can use your iPhone 4′s own power until it’s close to expiring, and then turn on the Juice Pack to recharge the handset as if plugged into the mains. Alternatively, you can turn the Mophie on straight away and rely on its external power initially, leaving the iPhone 4′s internal battery for when the Juice Pack Plus runs out.

Though we tried both approaches, the overall result was the same. With normal use we managed two days with no downtime – several hours longer than the Air had managed to prolong the iPhone 4. Of course, with some judicious use of the Juice Pack Plus’ power switch, we were able to prolong the power on offer through into a third day.

Wrap-Up

Barring the extra $20, we can’t see any reason why iPhone 4 owners would opt for the Air over the Mophie Juice Pack Plus. With no bulk or weight compromise, you’re getting several hours extra use together with the same protection for the smartphone. Equally appealing to power-users and those making trips during which time they’d rather not concern themselves with toting an AC adapter and finding somewhere to plug in, the Mophie Juice Pack Plus is perhaps the company’s best model to date.

In fact, you’ll get up to 8hrs extra 3G talktime, or 16hrs on 2G, or alternatively up to 7hrs extra 3G browsing or 11hrs over WiFi. mophie is also claiming up to 44hrs extra audio playback or up to 11hrs video playback. Meanwhile the whole thing measures a single millimeter thicker than the original Juice Pack Air.

As with the company’s first model for the iPhone 4 – which remains on sale alongside this new Plus model – there’s an acoustic enhancer with an angled speaker port on the bottom, together with a pass-through USB port and 4-LED battery gauge. It’s available now, priced at $99.95.

Press Release:

mophie Announces juice pack plus for iPhone 4

New innovation in juice pack line provides enhanced power and protection

Santa Ana, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2010) – mophie™ today announced the availability of the juice pack plus, an enhanced capacity iPhone 4 battery case that will more than double the time iPhone users have to rock, talk and surf. The plus is mophie’s second rechargeable external battery case designed for the iPhone 4, and has a 2,000 mAh battery capacity, the largest of any juice pack case produced to date.
In keeping with mophie’s award-winning juice pack design, the juice pack plus is ultra-thin and light-weight, providing protection and now even more power for the iPhone 4 while adding only 1 mm of thickness when compared to the original juice pack air design. The juice pack plus boasts a 2,000 mAh charging capacity, offering iPhone 4 power users with more than double the battery life on-the-go, and features enhanced design elements including a dual injected rubber grip for extra hold.
“The juice pack plus provides the most battery capacity we’ve put into a juice pack battery case, yet it only adds 1 mm of thickness,” said Susan Schedel, vice president of sales and marketing for mophie. “The plus is an example of how mophie is constantly working to evolve the juice pack line and provide Apple users with choices and added functionality, while maintaining a smart and sleek design that is expected from iPhone users.”
The juice pack plus for iPhone 4 is now available for purchase on www.mophie.com for $99.95, and will soon be available in AT&T stores nationwide. Key features and benefits include:

More than Doubles Battery Life – 2,000 mAh capacity, advanced battery technology delivers an incredible amount of “juice” in a small form factor, more than doubling battery life while only adding 1 mm of thickness. Users will experience:
Up to 8 additional hours talk time on 3G; 16 hours 2G
Up to 7 additional hours internet use on 3G; 11 hours WiFi
Up to 44 hours additional audio playback
Up to 11 hours video playback
Acoustic Sound Enhancement – The juice pack plus design acts as a virtual speaker box, redirecting sound from the bottom of the iPhone 4 to the front, resulting in a richer, fuller sound quality.
Choice of Color – The juice pack plus is available initially in black, but will soon come in three other colors, allowing you to choose the case that matches your style, including cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Pass-through USB – Included USB cable enables you to simultaneously charge and sync your iPhone 4 to iTunes without having to remove it from the juice pack plus.
Standby/Charging Switch: Features a simple toggle switch that allows for standby and charging mode so you only have to use the juice pack plus battery when you need it.
Efficient Electronics – Embedded electronics results in no signal interference with the iPhone 4.
4 Light LED Battery Status Indicator – An integrated LED status indicator tells you exactly how much “juice” is left and also displays how much time remains during the charging process.

The mophie juice pack plus is now available in black at mophie.com for $99.95—cyan, magenta, and yellow versions will be coming in the near future. For additional information regarding the mophie juice pack line of products, please visit http://www.mophie.com

About mophie

mophie is a California-based, award-winning designer and manufacturer of mobile intelligent devices and accessories. It is widely recognized and highly acclaimed for its creative designs and innovative solutions. mophie is the proud developer of the juice pack, the first “Works With iPhone” portable battery solution certified by Apple Inc. All of mophie’s products are developed to address real consumer and business needs and are seamless integrations of industrial, electronic, software and artistic designs. Its products are available in Apple stores, AT&T stores, Best Buy stores and on www.mophie.com and www.amazon.com. Follow mophie on Twitter at twitter.com/mophielovesyou or on Facebook at facebook.com/mophielovesyou

Mophie, whose Juice Pack Air has become synonymous with slide-on iPhone cases, is tipped to have ordered in excess of 100,000 cases in time for the holidays, on the assumption that they would go on sale on Apple’s shelves. As it is, though, the Juice Pack Air for iPhone 4 is only available through Mophie’s own site and AT&T stores.

The issue – if indeed one exists – appears to concern Apple’s choice of glass for the back panel of the iPhone 4, which unlike the fascia is seemingly not toughened. “They’re evaluating every case one at a time,” the source claims, “they’re being very vigorous. We’re still waiting for a final verdict.” Slider cases for the iPhone 3GS and earlier models are available, since the physical design is different. Apple has not responded to requests for comments.

The adjustability of the Workbook is infinite and it can be had in several colors. The five combinations for the Workbook include black on black, white with grey strap, orange with black strap, chocolate with cyan strap, and cement with yellow strap. The outside of the case is fake leather and the inside has a soft fabric to prevent scratches.

The case is made to allow access to all of the controls and ports of the iPad. That means you can charge and adjust anything you want on the tablet without having to take it out of the case. The Workbook will sell for $59.95 and is available right now.

As with previous versions, the new Juice Pack Air for iPhone 4 takes the form of a case for the smartphone. Gone are the curvy edges of before, replaced by squared off sides like the iPhone 4 itself; only the bowed back panel suggests the heft of the battery inside. The case measures 5.07 x 2.51 x 0.68 inches and adds 2.5oz to the smartphone; it has cutouts for the volume buttons, ringer switch, headphone socket and sleep/power button, together with a hole at the back for the camera and flash. However there’s no docking connector cutout, with the bottom edge of the Juice Pack Air instead having a button and four LEDs to indicate battery status. A physical power switch on the bottom corner rounds out the main controls.

Recharging is via the bundled microUSB cable, which also charges the iPhone 4 itself and allows you to sync it with your PC or Mac. Fitting the smartphone involves pulling off the top edge of the case, sliding the iPhone 4 in, and then replacing the panel. Mophie has added a “virtual speaker box”, which basically redirects audio from the iPhone’s speaker on the bottom edge out the front of the case. It’s a simple idea, but it does make for louder music playback. The back panel is covered in soft-touch rubber, leaving it grippy, and there’s a (non-metal) band running around the edge to mimic the iPhone 4′s own design.

The iPhone 4 has a 1,420 mAh battery which Apple rates for up to 7hrs of 3G talktime (14hrs 2G), up to 6hrs of 3G browsing (or 10hrs over WiFi), up to 10hrs of video playback, or up to 40hrs of audio playback. In practice, and with typical mixed use, we can get through a day of push-email, Twittering, GPS use, browsing and media playback between charges. That’s a decent improvement over the iPhone 3GS, it’s worth noting.

Mophie claim that the Juice Pack Air for iPhone 4 boosts talktime by up to 6hrs over 3G (12hrs 2G), up to 5hrs of 3G browsing (9hrs over WiFi), video playback up to 9hrs, and audio playback up 36hrs. That’s on top of what the Apple smartphone can manage on its own, of course. It’s obvious from the outset that those figures aren’t quite twice those of the bare iPhone 4, hence Mophie’s promise to “virtually” double longevity.

We fully charged both the Juice Pack Air and the iPhone 4, and set out to test them with a normal day’s use. By the end of the first day, when we’d normally be plugging in for an overnight charge – still with some power on the battery gauge, but generally not enough to get through the whole night and leaving you with a drained iPhone 4 in the morning – we left the smartphone unplugged. Both finally reached the end of their charge late in the afternoon on the second day.

With some clever use, of course, you can extend that a little longer. The Mophie has a dedicated power switch, allowing you to keep its power in reserve for when you actually need it. If you’re away for the weekend, for instance, and don’t want to take your iPhone charger (or won’t have access to AC power) you can run the handset on the first day from its own battery, and then save the Juice Pack Air for the second day. By turning it off overnight you’ll see just a few hours short of what the iPhone 4 alone could manage.

For $79.95, we’re happy with that sort of extra runtime – not to mention the added protection of the case. Yes, it adds bulk to the iPhone 4, but the payoff is more obvious than some rugged cases we’ve seen that do nothing more than cushion the smartphone from knocks and scrapes.

The powerstation actually has a pair of USB ports, but only one supplies power.  The other is used to recharge the battery itself, but can also recharge whatever device is attached at the time.  mophie says the external battery will shut off automatically to save juice when not needed, but there’s also a physical power switch if you don’t quite trust it.

A six-LED power gauge and up to 2 amp output round out the key specs, and while it’s not exactly the most pocket-friendly of devices – measuring in at 2.86 x 4.31 x 0.65 inches and weighing a pound – we’d still happily drop it into our bag just in case.  You’ll have to supply your own charging cable for whatever device you decide to use it with, though; mophie’s sales bundle doesn’t even have an Apple dock connector cord.  It’s $99.95 and available to order now.

As for the mophie juice pack for iPhone 4, in some ways we actually prefer it to the bare Apple smartphone itself.  The discretely curved edges and bowed back may not look as starkly minimalist as Jonathan Ive’s design, but it makes for far more comfortable holding during longer calls.  It fits snuggly, and the “acoustic sound enhancement” – which basically consists of a sound redirecting chamber at the bottom – does actually manage to make audio from the iPhone 4′s speakers sound a little more impressive.  Don’t expect miracles, though.  It’s also available now, priced at $79.95.

As for the hard figures, mophie are saying up to an additional 6 hours of 3G talktime (or up to 12 hours of 2G), or up to 36 extra hours of audio playback, or up to 9 hours of video playback.  There’s a four LED power gage on the bottom, and mophie even reckon the case “acts as a virtual speaker box” to redirect sound from the speakers underneath.

Press Release:

mophie reveals first look at next generation of juice pack
iPhone 4-compatible rechargeable external battery now available

Santa Ana, Calif. (7th September, 2010) – mophie™ today reveals the 7th generation of its juice pack line, delivering on-the-go power to the iPhone 4 via its light-weight and ultra-thin external rechargeable battery case. The new juice pack air is the first of several products planned for 2010 and joins the juice pack legacy line of award-winning designs. The juice pack virtually doubles the battery life of the iPhone and its soft touch hardware also provides protection from device bumps, bangs and drops.

“mophie’s passion is creating intelligent products that help Apple fans interact with their device in new ways,” says Ross Howe, Vice President of Business Development at mophie. “With the release of the next generation form factor, it is only natural that we provide its users the extended battery life and protection that Apple fans have come to expect from mophie.”

The juice pack air for iPhone 4 is now available for purchase on www.mophie.com for $79.95 (approx £52.00).

Key features and benefits include:
· juice pack legacy – With more than one million juice pack units sold to-date, mophie cases have been made for every iPhone and iPod Touch form factor since the devices’ debut and was the first-ever “Works with iPhone” battery case. The juice pack air for the iPhone 4 provides the very best of seven generations of product development and design.
· Battery extender and case in one – the juice pack air for iPhone 4 combines rechargeable external battery power concealed inside of a protective form-fitting case. It offers the full protection of a hard-shell case with an ultra-thin, light-weight, low-profile design.
· Twice the power – the juice pack air for iPhone 4 virtually doubles the power available to rock, talk, surf and send. A fully charged case gives users:
o Up to an additional 6 hours on 3G, up to 12 hours on 2G, of talk time
o Up to an additional 36 hours of audio playback
o Up to an additional 9 hours video playback
· Advanced battery technology – Highly condensed lithium polymer battery delivers an incredible amount of juice in a small form factor and features built in overcharge, short circuit and temperature protection.
· Efficient electronics – Embedded electronics results in no signal interference with the iPhone 4.
· Acoustic sound enhancement – The case design acts as a virtual speaker box, redirecting sound from the bottom of the iPhone 4 to the front, resulting in a richer, fuller sound quality.
· 4 light LED battery status indicator – An integrated LED status indicator tells users exactly how much “juice” is left and also displays how much time remains during the charging process.
· Quick speed – 500 milliamps fast charge technology, with an advanced battery for added safety, as well as 1500 mAh capacity.
· Soft-touch finish – Sleek design includes a new, soft-touch, rubberized finish and silver band that mirrors the aesthetic of the iPhone itself.
· Pass-through USB – Included USB cable enables you to simultaneously charge and sync your iPhone 4 to iTunes without having to remove it from the juice pack air.

The mophie juice pack air for iPhone 4 is now available in black/silver at www.mophie.com for $79.95 (approx £52.00). For additional information regarding the mophie juice pack suite of products, please visit http://www.mophie.com

About mophie
mophie is a California-based, award-winning designer and manufacturer of mobile intelligent devices and accessories. It is widely recognized and highly acclaimed for its creative designs and innovative solutions. mophie is the proud developer of the juice pack, first ever “Works With iPhone” portable battery case certified by Apple Inc. All mophie’s products are developed to address real consumer and business needs and are seamless integrations of industrial, electronic, software and artistic designs. Its products are available in Apple Stores, Best Buy, AT&T stores and on www.mophie.com. Follow mophie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mophielovesyou .

The new case is much like the iPhone version offering a rechargeable battery inside the case with a wrap around design to protect the touch from drops and scratches. It features pass through USB to charge the touch and the air’s own battery at the same time.

The device also has a four light LED battery status indicator to show how much power is in the battery. Mophie claims that the device will give the iPod touch twice as much runtime with up to 30 more hours of audio and up to seven more hours of video. it is available to purchase now for $79.95.

Mophie has announced today that it will be launching a new credit card reader in Japan in collaboration with Flight System Consulting and Focal Point Computer. The new card reader uses contactless Sony FeliCa technology.

It’s not clear if this is the card reader we talked about in December, Mophie offers no pictures of the device to verify that. The reader uses contactless IC card technology for processing payments on a mobile terminal. Considering the card reader we saw in December had a slot for swiping cards and this one has FeliCa technology built-in it may be a new animal altogether.

While several cellphones in the US are capable of receiving FLO TV broadcasts – which are transmitted live in their own chunk of spectrum, rather than delivered over the 3G networks – the iPhone is not one of them.  This new mophie adapter opens up FLO TV to a huge, dare we say accessory-voracious market of Apple fans.

There’ll be a subscription fee involved, obviously, which right now neither company are coming clean on; we’re guessing it’ll be around $8.99 per month based on a two-year contract, just like the standalone viewer.  Expect the FLO TV mophie juice pack to arrive in the US in the first half of 2010, price to be confirmed.

Press Release:

FLO TV and mophie™ to Bring Live Mobile TV to the Apple® iPhone™ and iPod touch™

— Unique Products to Deliver True Live Mobile TV to iPhone and iPod touch Users; Products Combine Live FLO TV™ Service with mophie’s Intelligent Case Design —

LAS VEGAS — January 6, 2010 — FLO TV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), and mophie today announced they are teaming to create a series of products that will bring live mobile TV to the iPhone and iPod touch platforms.

The products, which are expected to begin shipping in the first half of this year, will bring the award-winning FLO TV mobile TV service to the cutting-edge mophie juice pack, letting consumers view their favorite live entertainment, sports and news from the world’s top entertainment brands on their iPhone and iPod touch.

“We are uniting our vision of advancing mobile TV across a range of devices and platforms with mophie’s unrivaled expertise in designing intelligent cases for Apple users,” said Bill Stone, president of FLO TV. “Together, our solution will be a true live mobile TV product available to iPhone and iPod touch users.”

“mophie’s juice pack line has delivered superior rechargeable external battery life to Apple users,” said Shawn Dougherty, vice president of mophie, designer of the world’s thinnest Apple-certified external battery/protective case and other Apple-certified accessories. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to elevate our intelligent case design through this creative product collaboration and deliver the ultimate mobile television experience for iPhone users.”

The agreement between mophie and FLO TV reflects the growing demand for mobile television and FLO TV’s commitment to bring its award-winning service to any small screen. The new products integrate mophie’s intelligent case design with a built-in FLO TV receiver that allows iPhone and iPod touch users the ability to watch live television at the flip of a switch. Consumers can also utilize the device as back-up battery power in between charges.

Service not available everywhere. Programming subject to change / blackout restrictions. Service subscription required. “Live mobile television” means the FLO TV service transmits channels in real time; no downloading, sideloading or buffering.

We heard early last week that the screen for that long rumored Apple tablet will be coming from Innolux according to sources. The same sources claim the device is set for a Q1 release. The specs for the Google Chrome netbook were revealed last week. I can’t wait to see how well the thing performs and if Chrome turns out to be as popular as Android Microsoft should be worried.

DirecTV announced this week that with the launch of its new satellite it would be adding more nationwide HD channels for its users. The best news is that one of the channels will be 3D all the time. Grumblings that the PS4 may ditch the cell CPU in the PS3 and go with a multi-core CPU turned up this week. I suspect we are still a long way out from the release of the nest console from Sony.

The interesting NorhTech Gecko Edubook got the hands on treatment this week. The machine is powered by AA batteries and is said to be too small for comfortable use by adults. The GSM encryption standard used by some mobile providers was cracked. The companies say that the cracking of the encryption does not mean that voice calls are vulnerable.

Ford announced this week that it would be offering iTunes tagging and HD receivers on some of its vehicles release din2010. The tech lets users tag a song they hear on the radio to buy later. The coolest racecar simulator in the world was revealed this week called the Cruden Hexatech. I want one so bad it hurts.

Google announced that it was holding a press conference at its Mountain View compound on January 5. We figure that the conference is to unveil the new Nexus One we keep hearing about. We will be attending the Google press event and livecast it on http://live.slashgear.com. Coby Electronics is set to unveil a 3D-audio sound bar at CES. The thing is supposed to produce sound that seems to come from everywhere in the room.

Spring Design is going to unveil its Alex eReader at a press conference at CES. This is the reader that Spring Design claims Barnes & Noble ripped off for its Nook. A cool hummingbird robot was unveiled this week that is designed to fight crime and save lives. The bot can hover by fluttering its wings very quickly.

The Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus were confirmed as heading to Verizon. The FCC approval for the devices was spied this week. The Asus Eee 1001P was tipped for debut on Jan 6. The machine is another N450 packing machine from Asus.

The Sony Vaio TT was re-launched this week as a CULV notebook. The T series was killed off a while back. Word surfaced that an HTC Android Tablet would be shown in private meetings at CES. The machine is thought to be a Chrome OS machine.

Mophie is set to unveil a new credit card reader for the iPhone that looks like the companies Juice Pack battery line. The device is intended for use by people who need to capture credit card info outside an office. The Google Nexus One smartphone tipped up in a video showing the handset getting a 3D benchmark. The phone looks to be an impressive gaming platform.

A rather creepy looking robot was spied late in the week called the Omnitread. The thing looks like a snake to me and is designed to make it over just about any obstacle. The Motorola Shadow 9.9mm 1080p smartphone leaked this week. The thin phone looks really cool. Thanks for reading the first week in review of 2010! Have a great New Year!

The button was taken from a simple flashlight, while the rubber cover was donated from a laser pointer.  The LED itself, meanwhile, was a low-profile 5,550 mcd piece that cost $0.59.  As for the Juice Pack, once reassembled it all works as it did before, with the battery now also used to power the flash.

You can see an example photo in the gallery below; original on the left, and the version taken with the flash powered on on the right.  If you get the right distance – not too close to saturate, not too far away so as to make it pointless – then the LED can obviously make a difference.  Ryan’s second-gen mod will move the trigger button to a more ergonomic place.

[via CrunchGear]

As well as doubling your iPhone 3G’s runtime, the Juice Pack Air offers the protection of a hard case; that’s a first for a Mophie Juice Pack design. Despite all that, it’s only 0.75-inches thick, and adds just 20-percent more weight. Check out our review of the Mophie Juice Pack Air here.

To enter, and stand a chance of winning a Juice Pack Air worth $79.99, leave a comment in this post telling us about the most battery life you’ve ever managed to get from you iPhone 3G. We’ll pick one comment at random after the closing date – May 18th at 12pm central time – and that person will take away a Mophie Juice Pack Air! If you want more chances to win, we’re also giving them away at iPhone Buzz and PhoneMag.

Terms and Conditions

Competition is open to residents of the US over the age of 18. Family members of Mophie and R3 Media are not permitted to enter. Competition entries are only accepted via the specified comments section; entries left in the comments of any other post will not be recognized. Entries should be submitted before 12pm central time on May 18th; one entry per person.

The winner will be announced on this site and contacted via email; they will be expected to respond within 48 hours else their prize may be forfeit and another winner selected. Editors decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winner agrees that their name and details of their entry may be used for promotional purposes by, but not limited to, R3 Media. Prize consists of a one Mophie Juice Pack Air. There is no cash alternative.

Elsewhere, netbooks suffered a hiccup after MSI, ASUS and Acer all apparently saw fewer sales than expected in the first quarter of 2009.  That hasn’t done much to sway the tide of new machines, though, with the Aspire One Pro 531 finally getting official, along with the MSI Wind U100 PLUS.  Toshiba are also getting in on the action, with the Dynabook UX, while Sharp have prompted no small amount of interest with their Mebius NJ70A with its LCD touchscreen trackpad.  Meanwhile we saw the Acer Aspire One 531 unboxed on video, while a review of the ASUS Eee PC 1004DN flagged up the problems Windows XP presents to Intel’s GN40 graphics chipset.

We still can’t get enough of the Viliv S5 MID, and it seems we’re not alone.  Presales for the 4.8-inch touchscreen device kick off on Monday this week, albeit for the non-3G model, and if the reviews are to be believed then it’s a very alluring MID that should find no shortage of buyers.  No such luck for OQO, who have canceled all pre-orders for their Model 2+ UMPC.

If OQO’s struggles weren’t bad enough, SlashGear favorite Ugobe have also hit some unsurmountable trouble.  The Pleo-makers have filed for bankruptcy, leaving the robodino’s alluring IP up for grabs by the highest bidder.

Elsewhere, MSI’s X-Slim X340 ultraportable finally got an official price-tag, though we’re sad to see it missing its sub-$1000 predictions and instead coming in at $1,099.99.  To make up for the disappointment, someone promptly opened up their X340 to reveal compact components and a surprising amount of masking tape.

Don’t forget, SlashGear is giving away a year’s subscription to Slacker Radio Plus to one lucky reader.  Head over to this forum thread to find out more, plus details on how you can answer (hint: it’s very, very simple); entries will be accepted up until the end of the month.  Good luck!

This super thin battery doubles as a hard shell case for your iPhone 3G, keeping it powered and protected at the same time. Mophie claims the battery can add 4.5 hours of extra talk/data time, 20 hours of extra music-listening and 270 extra hours of standby time.

The Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3G will be available in white, black and purple color options for $79.95 starting on April 30th if you pre-ordered and May 1st if you backordered.

mophie supply it fully charged and with a pass-through USB connector so users can sync (and charge) their iPod touch 2G without needing to remove it from the sleeve.  Since the touch also has its headphone jack on the bottom, there’s a pass-through connector for that, too. 

The whole thing is covered in a soft-touch, non-slip coating, but one of our original criticisms – the exposed top edges – still remains.  It promises up to 42hrs extra audio playback or up to 7hrs extra video playback, and on the back there’s a four-LED battery status display.  The mophie Juice Pack for iPod touch 2G is available now, priced at $99.95. 

Press Release:

mophie Debuts Juice Pack for iPod Touch 2G

Ergonomic ‘Made for iPod’ Case/Battery Extender Now Available for $99.95 at mophie.com

Los Angeles, CA – March 19, 2009 – mStation | mophie announces the immediate availability the latest Juice Pack which is designed to offer second generation iPod Touch users twice as much time to watch, rock, surf and send. The juice pack is a rechargeable lithium polymer battery in the form of a non-slip, soft grip case and offers the following fantastic features…

•Battery Extender and Case in One – The juice pack is an official “Made for iPod” Apple certified accessory that offers the convenience of an extended battery and the protection of a case, all with an ergonomically designed, soft-touch, non-slip rubberized finish. It comes charged up and ready to go straight out of the box.

•Pass-Through Design – Included USB cable enables you to simultaneously charge and sync with iTunes without having to remove it from the juice pack. The pass-through headphone jack ensures that you’ll always be connected to your music.

•Advanced Battery Technology – Intelligent power distribution instructs the iPod Touch to always drain out the juice pack first. When you’re done with the Juice Pack , simply detach and you still have a fully charged iPod. Highly condensed lithium polymer battery delivers an incredible amount of juice in a small form factor and features built in overcharge, short circuit, and temperature protection.

•4 Light LED Battery Status Indicator – Integrated LED status indicator tells you exactly how much juice is left and also displays how much time remains during the charging process

•Full Charged Juice Pack give users more than twice the power –
o Audio Playback – Up to additional 42 hours
o Video Playback – Up to additional 7 hours

“We’re proud to now offer users of the iPod Touch 2G a convenient and ergonomic extended battery to ensure their favorite videos and tunes never run dry” says Ross Howe, Sales and Product Development Director for mStation | mophie. “Our mission is to keep every last iPod/iPhone enthusiast charged up at all times which is now possible with our latest addition to the Juice Pack family.”

The mophie Juice Pack for iPod Touch 2G is available now online and in stores at an MSRP of $99.95. For more information on the mophie Juice Pack please visit http://www.mophie.com/pages/information