Tag: charger

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Chargers/Batteries

Shake the VAGA HandEnergy to charge your phone, burn your lunch

Throughout the day, many people are understandably preoccupied with ensuring that their smartphones, tablets, and laptops are sufficiently charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, finding the requisite “juice” can often be challenging as outlets can be scarce and portable batteries themselves need to be charged as well.

A novel solution to this problem would be a battery capable of charging itself as opposed to one which requires an outlet for charging. Thankfully, this product exists and is called the VAGA HandEnergy. The VAGA HandEnergy is a compact, handheld device that uses kinetic energy to produce power that can be used to charge smartphones. All you have to do to generate a charge is shake the device your hand. Although the device features a single USB port, the campaign isn’t clear about whether or not the VAGA HandEnergy can charge other devices like tablets as well. In any case, there are a wide variety of colors to choose from, so backers won’t be without choice. The product is priced at $39, with an unclear ship date and a $50,000 campaign goal.

VAGA HandEnergy may seem like a novelty product, but alternative means of generating energy is a growing market and the VAGA HandEnergy therefore finds itself in good company. Products like Hydrobee also seek to cut the cord on outlet dependence, making both devices ideal for always-on-the-go types who absolutely need their phones on, fully charged, and ready for anything.

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Chargers/Batteries

Lightors Monster batteries finally recharge the way everything else does

The main problem with standard alkaline batteries is that they have to be thrown away after a few hours of use—an inconvenience for users and the environment. Typical rechargeable batteries do away with that issue, but require the use of a separate cradle or other charger.

Lightors Monster batteries largely overcome both of those issues. They can be recharged more than 500 times, and don’t require a separate charger to house the batteries while charging. All that users need to do is plug a micro USB cable into the internal port on the batteries, and it will start recharging instantly. Lightors batteries hold promise thanks to their convenience, especially while traveling. The fact that they don’t require a separate charging device while at home or in an office, however, is not a huge selling point. That’s because they still require a separate device for recharging in the form of whatever device is attached to the other end of the micro USB cable.

Lightors come in a choice of AA or AAA batteries, and will ship two-packs of either battery type in July of this year to backers that spend $8. Its creator set a goal of reaching $15,000 by March 14.

Categories
Organization Travel

McChi Luggage offers convenience for those on the go, makes airports more bearable

It’s been said that it’s not about the journey, but the destination. Well, most seasoned travelers would have to disagree. Actually trying to get somewhere, especially when air travel is involved, can be a huge pain.

McChi Luggage is a way for travelers to experience a bit more convenience than the airport has to offer. These bags not only hold stuff, but also convert into tabletops. This is especially useful, since airports always seem to lack flat surfaces to put stuff down on. McChi also features its very own USB charging station, perfect for phones and tablets. The luggage is made from either black or silver aluminum, and features two different table heights.

The creators of this luggage line, also the makers of the McChi Lock, have thought of two very important conveniences for travelers: tabletops and chargers. Both will surely make long trips much easier. This product is especially useful for sales or businesspeople who must remain organized in order to appear professional. Hopefully, the bags aren’t too heavy for travelers.

One will cost backers $240 for the carry-on model, and $260 for the mid-size model, with an expected delivery in July of this year. McChi hopes to raise $15,000 on Kickstarter by March 9.

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Chargers/Batteries Connected Objects Luggage and Bags

AMPL charging backpack provides ample energy for your contraptions

What should be portable devices are anything but when people have to lug around external batteries, charging cases, and all types of wires just to keep them filled with energy throughout the day. Modern demands require the presence of constant sources of energy, but always fighting for an outlet isn’t the most practical solution.

Instead, the AMPL Smart Backpack lets users take the power with them. The shock absorber-lined, water-resistant backpack is outfitted with three compartments for swappable, high capacity batteries that are powerful enough to charge everything from smartphones, to tablets, to 17″ laptops. The batteries feature Onovo fast charging technology to charge the batteries to 80% in an hour to avoid staying stuck to walls. Located throughout the bag is a total of six USB ports that funnel the energy, monitored and controlled by either a small, touch-capable OLED screen, or a Bluetooth-enabled companion app that lets users prioritize what gets charged first, along with keeping an eye on the internal temperature—all without opening the bag.

This is the slickest conception of a smart charging backpack so far when compared to half-baked products like the Smart Charge Power Bag. The sheer power that can be carried around, coupled with the level of control the companion app gives users, makes this a clear winner for lots of people since these devices are so common. The $125,000 campaign is looking to get the $249 backpack out to backers by September of this year.

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Chargers/Batteries

Ora adds aura to wireless chargers, turns charging devices upside down

Wireless chargers are the most important accessories for wireless devices, but they tend to be rather indistinct and boring from a design standpoint. Ora is a unique-looking wireless charger/power bank that is oval-shaped and sleek-looking, coming in a combination of white and one other color of the buyer’s choice.

patent-claimedA sliding panel allows the user to pull out the hidden outlet plug and USB adapter. Ora gets plugged into a wall outlet, and the user can opt to plug a wireless device into it via a charging cable or directly into Ora’s spring-loaded connection port. It is compatible with the iPhone 5 and 6, iPod Touch and Nano, and all Android and Windows Mobile smartphones—and the charger will hold each device upside down safely. Backers who pledge $30 will get one charger when it ships in July as part of an early bird Kickstarter discount. Ora is hoping to raise $60,000 in funding.

The charger certainly looks unlike rival products, but it’s not clear how many consumers will spend extra money for a charger mainly for its nice design. Nor is it clear how many consumers will feel comfortable enough to plug their expensive smartphone into Ora upside down, especially if the wall outlet is far off the ground.

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Cell Phone Accessories Chargers/Batteries

HDkey provides phone-to-phone charging, data sharing

There are times when it would be enormously handy to be able to use a friend’s cellphone to charge a cellphone. HDkey is a device that can be used to do just that. But in addition to phone-to-phone charging, it can also be used for high-speed data transfer of HD video and images.

HDkey offers high speed data sharing with more than 20 times times the speed of Bluetooth. Another key feature is integrated NFC that enables users to share business cards or perform any other kind of data transfer with others in the vicinity. With just a tap of HDkey on a client’s cellphone with NFC capability, the user’s contact details will be stored on the client’s cellphone. Backers can get HDkey for pledges starting at only $10. But it’s not clear how much the device will sell for at retail or when it will ship. WaferLabs is hoping to raise $500 on Indiegogo.

The device is promising. But it’s hard to gauge just how strong demand can be until the retail price is clear. It seems like a strong deal for its $10 or $11 early bird perk offers. However, backers will have to cough up additional money to have it shipped outside of India. HDkey will also only work on phones with microUSB connections.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries Nutrition/Hydration

EFFIC mug holds coffee, charges smartphones too

For people on the go, a typical morning routine may include grabbing a coffee and checking smartphones. If that’s the case, the EFFIC mug may be the solution the connected crowd did not know they were looking for. The mug combines a traditional thermos with the utility of a smartphone charger all in one.

The mug comes in a variety of bright colors and is molded with an indent designed to hold a device with the help of a magnet. The other side of the magnet attaches directly to the smartphone. EFFIC uses an external lithium-ion battery that can fully charge a device up to three times. The inner container is made out of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic.

While it may be nice to have a device nestled in the side of a coffee mug, users may not want their smartphones right next to liquid. The company touts a leak-free lid, but most thermoses leak anyway. Pledging $5 or more gets backers the EFFIC mug for delivery in May 2015. The campaign is looking to raise at least $58,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Get a tan and power your devices with the SolarPad

The impressive functionality of the smartphones, tablets, and wearables in people’s lives makes it an absolute bummer when they die. Usually, power banks swoop in to save the day, but even those need to eventually be plugged in themselves. In response, products have emerged that charge devices with solar energy, but take a long, long time to do so.

The SolarPad solar charger comes in an iPad Air form factor and is outfitted with monocrystalline cells that are fully charged in just three and a half hours of direct sunlight. The product’s use of coated bamboo is attractive and keeps it that way, making it a worthy addition next to the beautifully designed devices everyone totes around. SolarPad features 2 USB ports for dual charging, and a USB in for daisy chaining or wall charging as well.

Every solar charger tries to pack solar panels onto something new, like the SolarHug and the SunnyBAG, so it’s refreshing to see it designed to be on its own. The SolarPad boasts a seven year warranty, so users won’t have to worry about anything but soaking up some sun. The product goes for $97, and its $35,000 campaign is looking to have it shipped out by March 2015.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Hydra phone charger increases talk time, stores files too

The fast and furious plethora of phone charges hitting the market doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. So it’s more important than ever for consumers to consider what is going to work best for their lifestyle.

The Hydra phone charger has features that will be appreciated by busy professionals and students alike. Some of these include a lithium battery that offers over two hours of talk time, and a flash drive and USB charging cable that can connect to any Android or iPhone 4, 5 or 6. Hydra also features an LED flashlight and emergency hammer. This is another charger that easily attaches to a key ring. So unless one leaves their car keys at home, it’s going to actually be there when it is needed.

For those who often take their laptop or tablet with them, a flash drive backs up computer files and pictures, and holds up to 64GB of Micro SD memory. While Hydra is a good product, there’s not much that sets it apart from similar products. And the emergency hammer feature is a little random.

This campaign seeks to raise $1,800 on Indiegogo. Early bird backers get one product for $20 with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

YankCharger prevents cellphone yanking, cord breakages

Just about anybody who regularly charges a cellphone in public places knows how annoying it can be to have their device knocked off of a table while waiting for it to finish charging. Especially when the phone winds up breaking.

The YankCharger, from a Bend, Oregon inventor solves that issue. The anti-yank charging cord has a plug built into it to limit the amount of force that can be applied to a phone charging port. The cord’s reliable connection ensures that the phone will not go flying, no matter how hard the cable is yanked on. Backers who pledge $20 will get a YankCharger with microUSB connection and those who pledge $24 will get a version with lightning connection for iPhones when the device ships in April. The expected retail price of the cord isn’t known. Its inventor is trying to raise $4,500 by Jan. 27 so that he can make a minimum order of product and get the YankCharger custom-tailored to his specifications.

The charging cord has a very narrow purpose, but one that many consumers may find appealing. It’s not clear, however, if consumers will be willing to spend more than $20 just for a cord.