Gear Diary » Power Gear

Belkin Portable Power Pack 1000 Cell Phone Charger Review

Michael Anderson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:24 +0000

One of the biggest problems with our ever-growing love of smartphones ... is that everything we do with them seems to consume more and more battery. As a result we are always struggling with the battery life of our smartphones. As a result we keep chargers in our offices, our cars, and so on. But what about when you are on the go and don't have access to a wall plug - or are in an airport where everyone is huddled around the few remaining outlets? Belkin seeks to solve this with the Portable Power Pack 1000 - let's see how it works! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

First Look at the myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000

Thomas R. Hall — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:59:22 +0000

Things are winding down at CES 2012, which was nice for Francis and me, as we were able to walk around more freely due to less traffic and spend more quality time with some vendors. Luckily for us, we were able to stop by and visit our friends from myCharge and PowerBag. We have reviewed the PowerBag Messenger and PowerBag Backpack in the past, and Dan mentioned how useful a PowerBag can be. They also have a great brand called myCharge, which is a set of portable batteries for recharging mobile devices, including iOS and Android devices.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The team at myCharge was nice enough to provide Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 review

Dan Cohen — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:27 +0000

We've seen and reviewed a lot of different external backup batteries for mobile devices. Many of them will be coming to CES next month in the hopes that, for once, we won't be scrambling to recharge our gear. One of the batteries that will be coming along is the Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 but calling it an external battery is actually not quite accurate. No, the MP1580 can be thought of as a rechargeable battery charger that can double as an external battery. That means it serves a double function when you are on the go. Priced at under $25 it is a neat little product that can come in quite handy in a pinch. Let's take a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mophie and Rocketfish (Best Buy) Issue External Battery Pack Recalls

Judie Stanford — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:20:12 +0000

Two recalls just crossed my inbox; these may be products that you all own, so please check: The first item is the Mophie iPod Touch Rechargeable External Battery Case (shown above); it's being recalled due to a burn hazard. If you have one of these, check to see if your serial number has the first five alphanumeric characters of TR113 through TR120. Cases that fall in between those numbers are affected by the recall.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It

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Yoobao Power Bank 4400mAh External Battery review

Dan Cohen — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:00:53 +0000

We recently looked at the Yoobao Power Bank battery. It's a beast and has a huge capacity that can keep your device or devices going all day long. That Power Bank isn't the only capacity that the company is offering, however. They also offered this smaller 4400 mA hour battery and, while it is smaller, it has the same great features. In fact, when the power in my home went out again the other day this battery stepped in and saved the day. Let's take a look at it. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Yoobao Power Bank 11,200 mAh Battery Review

Dan Cohen — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:00:44 +0000

Welcome to another edition of "What's Coming to CES 2012". In our last episodes we visited with two PowerBags (I'll carry the messenger and Kevin will carry the backpack) and Mission Workshop Sanction waterproof rucksack that Francis will bring along for the ride. The PowerBags will give us a total of 12,000mAh of device-charging goodness. That's good… but it is not good enough. Thankfully we'll have a few additional external batteries with us. One example, we will bring along this 11,200 mAh battery from Yoobao. Despite its relatively small size and weight, it is a beast in the energy department. And the lovely white makes it perfect for Judie to take along. Here's a look… From Yoobao:

Weighs at only 8.9oz, Yoobao Sunrise packs 11,200 mAh battery in a small package, enough to charge your iPad/tablet, iPhone, mobile phones and more. Perfect for everyday use, longer trips and emergency situations.

Features:

Highest quality Li-Pol battery with capacity of 11,200mAh (iPad 2 battery is rated as ~7,500mAh) Dual USB outputs to charger 2 devices at the same time Give your smartphone up to 90 hours of extra talk, internet, and video time, so you can truly enjoy what your phone can offer 2.1A output to charge your iPad or tablet efficiently Compatible with iPad 1/2, iPhone 4/4S, 3Gs/3G, and iPod touch Compatible with all cell phones with micro USB connection, such as Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc. Compatible with e-readers, such as Kindle, Nook, etc. Compatible with gaming devices, such as Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, etc.

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USBFever Launches o’ the Week Include Eggshell iPhone 4/4S Cases

Douglas Moran — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:44:58 +0000

I've been watching my copies of the TV show "Firefly" lately (and if you haven't ever watched it, you should). Why do I mention this? Well, aside from the fact that I often write in a nearly stream-of-consciouness fashion and it's been on whatever passes for my mind lately, when I surfed to the USBFever web site to look at this week's offerings, one phrase that they use in "Firefly" just jumped into my mind when I saw the cases above: "Shiny!" In "Firefly," it indicates general approval, like, "Cool", or "Excellent!", or what have you. In this case, it was more a description of the actual appearance of the cases. But still, don't you Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Twelve South PlugBug QuickLook

Dan Cohen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:37:13 +0000

We brought word of Twelve South's new PlugBug Mac/iPad accessory the other day. Within seconds of learning about the new product Judie and I had both ordered one. It is a great traveling companion if you have a Mac and an iPad or iPhone, so it seemed like a no-brainer. It is! Mine just came and, once again, I'm impressed with what Twelve South has done. Here's a quick video look at the PlugBug.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can order yours for here on the company site for $34.99 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

PowerBags to the Rescue

Dan Cohen — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:33:24 +0000

Yesterday we reviewed the PowerBag Messenger, a messenger bag that carries a 6000mAh battery and has internal cabling that makes charging an iOS device, or one that has a mini or microUSB connection simple. Today I got home and shot a video of the backpack version of the PowerBag for the second part in the review. Little did I know how handy both bags would be just hours later. You see, the October Surprise dumped a fair bit of snow on the ground today. That, combined with the fact that the trees still had leaves on them that caught more snow than usual, has resulted in downed Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iPhone 4 Gear Review: The Etón Mobius Rechargeable Battery Case with Solar Panel

Judie Stanford — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:00:32 +0000

Can you picture yourself out camping for a week? Your car is parked in a lot miles away, and you have been hiking for days. You've got everything you need in your backpack, and you've been eating those freeze-dried dinners that they sell at REI. Civilization is nowhere near, and you are looking forward to having a shower ... in a few more days. You want to stay in touch with your family, but there are no chargers built into the side of the trees you've been passing, and your iPhone died yesterday. What do you do? Okay, I am having trouble picturing myself in that situation, so let's try a different scenario. =P Let's say that you Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Changers System: Solar Charging and Social Networking that Helps the Planet

Dan Cohen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:22 +0000

Imagine if you could charge your devices without having to add the to the world's pollution. Now imagine if you could charge your devices without having to add the to the world's pollution, AND you could encourage others to follow your lead? Think about the impact you could have by multiplying your green actions through influence? AND it gets better. Because you can do all this and get stuff in return, thanks to the new Changers Solar Charging System. The Changers System is just being announced today, and it has the potential to take solar charging mainstream. The device is simple, easy to use and powerful., and it adds in Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mobile Device Accessory Review: Juice Pack Powerstation

Dan Cohen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:00:01 +0000

It seems silly to refer to an external battery as "good-looking", but mophie's new juice pack power station is one good-looking battery. It is sleek, solid and feels great thanks to the combination of polished metal and soft touch material. And with a footprint that is a bit smaller than an iPhone, this 4000mAh battery is simple to carry around all the time. From mophie:

juice pack powerstation: This powerful 4000mAh external battery can charge virtually any USB device in the world including the iPhone and iPad. With completely reengineered battery and electronics, the powerstation can charge your device

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Etón Introduces Mobius NSP300B, a Solar iPhone 4 Charging Solution

Judie Stanford — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:45:12 +0000

The name is a mouthful, unless you shorten it to Mobius, but the idea is simple: place a solar panel on the back of an iPhone 4, and you won't ever need to worry about not being able to charge -- assuming natural light is plentiful, of course.

Differentiating itself from solar-charging solutions on the market today, Mobius features a quick charge time and the ability to store charge until you need it. The high-efficiency monocrystal solar panel re-charges the 1800 mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery pack on the back of the case. Only one hour of solar charging provides an additional 25 minutes of talk time. Mobius can also be

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iPhone 4 Power Gear Review: PhoneSuit Elite Battery + Case

Dan Cohen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:00:38 +0000

I'm a big fan of iPhone battery cases that combine protection and extra battery life into a single package. Since the release of the original iPhone, we have looked at a number of these hybrid case-batteries, and today we'll take a look at PhoneSuit's latest offering: the PhoneSuit Elite iPhone Case. The company is not stranger to this kind of battery case, and their experience shows in both the Elite's design and its functionality. From PhoneSuit:

The PhoneSuit Elite iPhone Case extends the battery life of the iPhone by more than doubling its power capacity. Users can now experience up to

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Review: The Joy Factory Zip USB Touch-n-go Multi-Charging Station with ZipTail Receivers

Dan Cohen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:00:26 +0000

Charging cables and cords… they're everywhere. Literally everywhere. Have an iPhone? You need a 5W wall adapter and a USB cable. An iPad? You need a 10W wall adapter and a USB cable. Using a Samsung Galaxy Tab? You'll need one of their proprietary chargers. Have a Blackberry or Android phone? Most likely you need a microUSB adapter connected to a wall charger. And the list goes on and on. I hate the mess of cords. That's why I've been so interested in the various conductive charging systems that have been coming to market for the past few years. The issue there? Most of the time they still require a special case to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

New PowerSkin Battery Case for Samsung Nexus S 4G

Douglas Moran — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:15:38 +0000

I am a big believer in having extra battery power handy, just in case. I travel an awful lot--once a week on average--and having, say, a Mophie Juice Pack Air for my iPhone 4 is very nice indeed; it relieves me from having to worry about looking for free plugs at the crappy Southwest terminal in San Diego (which doesn't have many--I really hate that terminal). "So what?" I can say to myself; "I've got this here extra battery pack, just in case! Life is good." PowerSkin wants you Nexus S 4G owners to feel that same sense of freedom unbound with their new battery case. It's available through their web site, as Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: AViiQ Portable Charging Station

Dan Cohen — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:00:29 +0000

The promise of converged devices like the iPhone was, among other things, the ability to travel light. Instead of needing to bring a phone, an address book, a music player, a note pad, a camera, etc., smartphones promised to replace all of that and be the only thing you needed to bring with you. Funny but, at least for many of us, that hasn't happened. Sure, my iPhone DOES replace all those aforementioned items, but along with my iPhone I now carry an iPad, a Bluetooth headset and, at times, a second phone. And in order to keep them all working I also need to bring wall chargers and cables. That's NOT converged living Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Now Shipping: AViiQ Portable Charging Station

Dan Cohen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:00:17 +0000

I've been working hard to streamline the tech I use. I now I only use a laptop (although I have to admit to using a docking system at home) and am trying hard to keep the cords and peripherals I use in check. With so many gadgets available it is just TOO EASY for things to get out of control. That's why AVIIQ's new charging system caught my eye. Sure it is great if you are on the road but there is no reason you can't use it at home too. We have a review unit on the way but let's take a quick look at the announcement we just received Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

QYG-Power: Power Case with Interchangeable Battery for iPhone4

David Goodspeed — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:00:53 +0000

An issue with most of the external battery pack cases for smartphones is they use built-in battery cells, meaning when the pack is dead it needs plugged in to be recharged. Not so with the new QYG Power Case FC13 available from USBFever.com. The QYG unit features a replaceable 1700mah lithium-ion cell allowing for extended device time away from the restraints of wall outlets. This makes an ideal travel companion. The system itself is composed of three parts: Bumper case, back cover and battery cell. The phone (my test unit was for the iPhone4) fits into the back cover and then Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iPhone Gear Review: Third Rail System

Travis Ehrlich — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:00:14 +0000

It is no secret that mobile power has become a huge issue for most of us. IOS, Android, Blackberry...we may all argue about whose is better, but the bottom line is that we all need extra power for our devices at one point or another. My job takes me on the road several nights a week -- without charging possibilities -- so this is a big issue for me all of the time. I have numerous external batteries and even a solar-powered charger that I carry with me in my gear bag and in my athletic bags. One problem I have with all of these is size, and most of them plug into my

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Need Gift Ideas for Father’s Day? How About One of These?

Dan Cohen — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:15:14 +0000

My father-in-law still longs for the days of Pleasantville. Too bad for him that Pleasantville wasn't even Pleasantville! Yes, the "good old days" were old, but they weren't necessarily any better. And they sure didn't offer the wide range of gadgets we have all come to rely upon! So if you are looking for a gift for your father or father-in-law, you MIGHT get them the complete Father Knows Best series on DVD, but maybe you ought to consider one of these instead... For the iPod nano-loving dad Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Car Audio Accessory Review: XtremeMac InCharge Auto iPhone and iPad Chargers

Dan Cohen — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:00:59 +0000

If you spend a fair bit of time in the car, it makes sense to have a car charger for your electronic devices. I know I have always kept one handy for my iPhone, since topping off my iPhone when I drive from place to place is always useful -- especially on long days when my iPhone would otherwise NEVER make it through the day. Things became a bit more complicated when the iPad was released, since it requires a 10w charger, and most of the previous adapters aren't up to the task. XtremeMac has rolled out a few car chargers that solve this and work with the iPhone, iPod touch AND the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Shocking News: The Wet Circuits Waterproof Power Strip Review

David Goodspeed — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:00:18 +0000

Next in my “Kids, don’t try this at home” series of tests I examine the power strip sent us by WetCircuits.com – the Wet Circuits Waterproof Power Strip to be precise. Initially I thought this was a joke, especially with the image they provide of a person holding a pair of metal tweezers inserted into an outlet while the power strip is energized. CRAZY. Like a fox, actually. This thing works. While I did not drop it into the bathtub with me and the rubber ducky, I did take it out to the greenhouse, a normally moist-to-wet environment that should provide a suitable test scenario. When it comes my turn to water Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The PhoneSuit Primo Power Core Rechargeable Battery Pack for Tablets and Phones Review

Judie Stanford — Wed, 11 May 2011 03:15:55 +0000

Electronic devices always seem run out of power at the most inopportune times, don't they? Figuring out ways to keep those devices powered for as long as they are needed is key. Whether you are a regular road warrior or simply away from the office for the day, if you aren't going to be near an outlet or power port, and if you carry multiple devices which will require energy doses at random times, carrying a portable power supply is the best option. Many times, these power supplies can best be described as bricks. How big or how small of a "brick" to choose depends upon your specific needs and ability to carry it; when traveling Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

B-Squares Makes Solar Power Flexible

Joel McLaughlin — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:43:43 +0000

Kickstarter allows some really cool projects to become reality by giving startups the opportunity to be funded by small, individual commitments of support. (I know a few of us on the site have helped fund some projects and took great satisfaction in being part of something new. It also doesn't hurt that sometimes the funding also yields an early units of whatever is being created. ) One project that I really hope becomes reality is B-Square's Modular Solar Powered electrics.

B-squares are solar power cells that have magnetic connectors at each corner for connecting one solar panel to

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Review: Belkin Conserve Insight

Joel McLaughlin — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:50:27 +0000

With the economy in the state it is in we are trying to conserve what we spend anyway we can. Whether we are turning the thermostat down, turning off lights or buying compact fluorescent bulbs that use less electricity, we are all trying to save what we can on our electric bill. All of this got me wondering: how much power your laptop really uses? How about my TV? Do compact fluorescent bulbs really save any money over standard incandescent bulbs? With Belkin's new Conserve Insight finding the answers was simple.

The device is simple and easy to use. All you have to do is plug it Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mophie Announces Juice Pack Air for iPod Touch 4G

Dan Cohen — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:45:47 +0000

We're huge fans of mophie's products here on Gear Diary. Their battery cases have saved us during CES two years in a row and, as a result, we're kinda fond of them. Today we got word that they have just released their mophie new juice pack air™ - iPod touch 4G. The timing is interesting for me since just the other day I was lamenting the fact that while i find the touch's battery life to be good I don't find it to be "great". I was hoping that mophie might, at some point, release a battery just for it and now they have. Here's what Susan Schedel, vice president of sales Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GD Quickie: Unruly Cables and Cords? Take Two Apple(cores) and Call Me In the Morning

Dan Cohen — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:15:11 +0000

Cords are a pain. Seriously. They are a royal pain. You got your headphone cords. You got your sync cords. You got your power cords. You got your... Never mind, you get the idea. The list goes on and on. Well here is one solution that is inexpensive, effective and a lot of fun too. The Applecore is a simple system for getting your cords in line. They come in small, medium and large so that headphones, sync and computer cables and power cords can all be effectively tamed. Better still they comes in a variety of colors. AND, and this is the best part, at $1.99, $2.99 and $4.99 respectively they are affordable Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Earth Day Gadget: Belkin Conserve Valet

Joel McLaughlin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:30:22 +0000

Earth Day is coming up! What better way to support mother earth than to save a bit of power when charging your devices? At least that is what Belkin must have been thinking when they released the new Belkin Conserve Valet. The Conserve Valet is a 4 port charging station that has a unique ability. It detects when an attached USB device is charged up and when detected, it shuts down the power to the port. This helps us conserve at least a little bit of power; it also lets you manage those many cords with some built-in cord management. The Beklin Conserve Valet will draw no power when it's not in use, which is much Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Proven True! Lightning Doesn’t Strike the Same Place Twice

Dan Cohen — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:45:01 +0000

photo credit: Kuzeytac

You know the old saying that lightning doesn't strike the same place twice? Well, now I have definitive proof that this is absolutely true. Yup, Lightning Does Not Strike The Same Place Twice! Years ago our house in the mountains suffered a direct lightning strike. How do I know that is the case? I know because it was the middle of the afternoon on Saturday and a huge storm front was coming through. Our golden retriever (she was still with us) and I were taking an afternoon siesta in the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...