A new, portable fuel cell charger will be available to buy this year and it claims to be able to recharge your iPhone between 10 and 14 times. The small charging device does not need to be recharged by plugging it in; it works with replaceable fuel cell cartridges which can even be carried on planes.

Fuel cell maker Lilliputian Systems today announced that Brookstone will be the first retailer to carry its portable USB power source, which will be sold under Brookstone's brand. The fuel cell device is about the size of a thick smartphone, and the lighter fluid-filled cartridges are about the same size as a cigarette lighter. It's a big step forward both for Lilliputian Systems, a 10-year-old spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and for portable fuel cell technology in general. Several fuel cell companies have developed portable power systems, but a number have failed. The new fuel cell will charge any device that has a USB cable.

The charging unit and replacement cartridges will be available to buy online from Brookstone and the cartridges can be fully recycled once depleted. There is no pricing information available at this time however the replacement cartridges are thought to cost no more than a few dollars. The system is being tested with users this year and an announcement on retail availability should follow that.

We've used all sorts of batteries for years, from household brands like Duracell and Energizer to the lithum-ion and lithium-polymer types found in many gadgets. How does the idea of a fuel cell grab you?

Source: Cnet

The Choiix Power Fort 5600 mAh by Cooler Master is an external battery pack charger for your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Unlike case charges such as the mophie juice pack, because it's USB based the Power Fort will also work with Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and most other gadgets, as well as accessories like Bluetooth headsets.

The Power Fort has a built-in lithium ion battery that takes about 6-8 hours to fully charge and Choixx claims it lasts for about 500 charging cycles. Once it's fully charged, it can re-charge most modern smartphones about 2 to 3 times for a total of about 28 hours of usage. An iPad 2 or similar sized Android tablet gets up to 6 hours and a Bluetooth headset, almost 140 hours. Handy LED indicators on the top show you how much charge remains in the Power Fort.

A special bypass circuit design in the Power Fort prevents any damage from over charging or charging/discharging, so you don't have to worry about your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad taking any battery life hits. The Power Fort also has short circuit and over heating protection built in, and you can charge your iPhone, iPod touch and iPhone while charging the Power Fort.

The good

• Provides a lot of power
• Holds charge well
• Compact and easy to carry

The bad

• One more thing to carry

The conclusion

The Choiix Power Fort 5600 mAh by Cooler Master is a good choice if you want a powerful yet compact external battery to take with you when you'll be out and about for an extended period of time. It's also good if you have several different types of gadgets and accessories and need one, flexible charging solution to handle all of them. It is one more thing to carry around, but without power, so is a dead iPhone or iPad...

$69.99 - Buy now

The Converge USB charging hub from Think Geek is a fun, futon-inspired stand for your iPhone, iPod tour or iPad. Working on an Apple mobile blog like iMore means you start to amass a lot of Apple mobile devices and even if I'm only using an iPhone and an iPad every day, keeping them both charged in an easy, elegant way has proven to be more of a challenge than I originally imagined. Converge looks like a great way to do just that.

Converge is the futon of charging hubs. Its white folds remind us of a bendy futon mattress, but it has the added feature of a slot to slip in charging cables. With the help of soft TPE grips, cables stay nestled out of sight behind Converge. Just plug the power source into your nearest outlet and you can charge up to 4 USB devices while they chill out on Converge's curvy frame.

Hiding cables beneath the fold of the Converge is a great idea, and including 4 USB charging outlets makes it great for power gadget users, couples, and even families who need to keep a lot of devices at the ready. And if you're cross-platform, it works with most other smartphones and tablets as well (though curiously not the Blackberry Torch, Blackberry Curve, or the Barnes & Noble Nook...?)

$39.99 - Buy now

The Seidio Desktop Charging Cradle is exactly what its name implies, a docking and charging station for your iPhone.

In contrast to Apple's white dock, this cradle is matte black. It is very sturdy which allows you to easily use and tap on your iPhone without the risk of knocking it over. With dimensions at about 4"x2.5"x1", the Seidio Desktop Charging Cradle isn't tiny, but it isn't bulky either. The cradle connects to your computer via micro-USB and iTunes does recognize when you dock your iPhone.

My favorite feature of this dock is that it is compatible with cases. There is a removable plate included with the cradle; this ensures that your iPhone fits properly in the dock regardless if you're using a case or not . I use an Apple Bumper on my iPhone 4, and it fits perfectly with the plate removed. If the plate is attached, my iPhone 4 fits nice and snug in its naked state. Although the Seidio Desktop Charging Cradle is advertised for the iPhone 4, I tested it with my 3GS, and it fit just fine with the plate accessory removed.

If you're looking for a charging dock for your iPhone, I recommend checking this one out. In addition to being a stylish way to charge my iPhone, I also enjoy having a slideshow display on it at the same time. The Seidio Desktop Charging Cradle is available in the TiPb Accessory Store.

Pros

• Compatible with case -Includes removable plate to ensure proper fitting
• Sturdy
• Stylish matte black
• Compatible with iPhone 4 and 3G/3GS bodies

Cons

• A little bit big (but not too big)

Orange has developed a t-shirt that also doubles as an iPhone charger. The t-shirt which is called the Orange Sound Charge is in a prototype phase at the moment. Extensive testing will be carried out at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

The eco charging device uses an existing technology in a revolutionary way; by reversing the use of a product called Piezoelectric film, allowing people to charge their mobile phones whilst enjoying their favourite headline act at Glastonbury. Usually found in modern hi-fi speakers, an A4 panel of the modified film is housed inside a t-shirt which then acts much like an oversized microphone by ‘absorbing’ invisible sound pressure waves. These sound waves are converted via the compression of interlaced quartz crystals into an electrical charge, which is fed into an integral reservoir battery that in turn charges most makes and models of mobile phone. As the ‘device’ is worn, a steady charge is able to be dispensed into the phone via a simple interchangeable lead which fits most handsets.

Orange believe that a sound level of around 80dB (which is roughly the ambient noise level of a busy high street) could produce up to 6 watt hours of power. That should be enough to charge up your iPhone which needs 5 watts. The panel in the t-shirt is removable so unlike most festival attendees, you can wash your t-shirt if you need to! Take a look at the video after the break then let us know what you think in the comments!

[Orange]

The Griffin PowerJolt dual USB charger solves an age old problem: you and your significant other have both depleted the batteries on your iPhone and yet your car only offers one charging socket. Who gets to use it? Or worse: you're in the middle of that big family summer trip and not only have both parents worn down their iPhones, all the kids in the back are near empty on their iPod touches as well. Do you get your internet or do they get the movies that keep them quiet and you sane for the remainder of the trip?

While I can't claim the Griffin PowerJolt dual USB charger will save relationships and family trips, this simple adapter will at least hold power hungry creatures at bay for twice as long. Read on to find out how!

The Griffin PowerJolt dual USB charger is different from the PowerJolt Plus I looked at last time, which let you pass through a second car adapter. The PowerJolt Dual is much simpler in a way -- an adapter for the power socket in your car capped by two USB plugs. Just plug in the USB to Dock cable that came with your iPhone or iPod touch and you're off and charging.

In my tests with both an iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS there didn't seem to be any appreciable loss of charging power due to the shared connection. Both iPhones got to 80% quickly and then topped off to 100% in about as long as it takes with the single chargers I've used in the past. (And I'm typically listening to music, using Google Maps, powering videos for the little ones in the back seats, or otherwise working while I charge.)

This is just an adapter, so there's no mount, no built in cable, and nothing else fancy in any way. Since it is simply USB in, you can also use it to charge your non-Apple gear as well, including other phones, devices, headsets, etc. That flexibility really comes in handy for family trips.

If you have more devices than you have charging ports definitely take a look at the Griffin PowerJolt dual USB charger, available from the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store.

Pros

• Compact
• Largely invisible when not in use
• Doubles charging ability of power socket

Cons

• Only the adapter: bring your own cables
• Doesn't charge iPad

TiPb Rating

The mophie juicepak plus for iPhone 4 is serious charging power for serious power users. If you're on the go, if your iPhone can't run down, won't run down -- if you need a case that can get you through twice the work and play, then here's your solution. To see how it held up for me under the rigors of CES 2011, read on for the review after the break!

Trade shows are the ultimate test of any battery for me. I'm on the go for 18 hours a day and my iPhone 4 is my lifeline to the world. It keeps me in contact, it lets me help run TiPb, and on top of all of that it lets me shoot all the show video and photos you see here on the site. It's bad enough AT&T hits my iPhone 4 battery like a freight train but the constant usage would run any device down. Enter the mophie juicepak plus.

Hardware

The mophie juicepak plus is all black, all soft-touch, and surprisingly solid. Mophie's done a lot of engineering work to prevent breaks around the cutouts and increase protection and it shows. It is a slider case and there have been some worries about slider cases scratching the glass but I didn't have any problems. (I also wipe down my iPhone before sliding.) Also, it sometimes takes a few, wiggling tries to get the iPhone dock port lined up and properly seated.

There are cutouts for the 3.5mm headset jack, rear camera and flash, and mute switch and extender buttons for sleep and volume. The cutouts are deep due to the size of the juicepak but didn't interfere with usage. The button extenders are well built but if they weren't set just right it would take a few presses to make them work.

The micro-USB charger is at the bottom right. Not using a dock cable to charge means you have to carry a separate micro-USB cable around with you, and doesn't let you use your existing dock-compatible car or video cables while the mophie is on. Understandable given the size of a 30-pin dock port but still annoying at times.

On the handy side there's a series of battery level lights so you can always tell how much of a charge your mophie is packing with the touch of a button

Usage

The juicepack plus is the bigger, badder charging solution in mophie's stable. It weighs more than the juicepak air but it also provides more power. More than double the power. That's twice the talking, twice the surfing, twice the tweeting, twice the recording, twice the watching, and twice the getting stuff done. Phew!

In my CES tests those results weren't just marketing. It's really tough to judge consistently since usage patterns always vary but when I slapped on the juicepak air I could pretty much go as long as I had on the iPhone-only charge. (I carried a juicepak air with me as well -- them were long days!)

When you charge the mophie via micro-USB it passes the charge on to the iPhone as well, so at night you can charge them both without having to plug in multiple charges for each one, or get up and switch.

Conclusion

The mophie juicepak plus ads bulk, no doubt about it. It makes your iPhone 4 bigger and heavier but that's the price of power. And the plus packs a ton of power. If you're away from a charger for a significant period of time the juicepak makes the difference between getting your work done and carrying around a dead brick for the rest of the day. That's an easy tradeoff to make.

Get your mophie juicepak plus for iPhone 4 now from the TiPb iPhone 4 Accessory Store...

Pros

• Convenient case form factor
• Complete re-charge for iPhone
• Pass-through recharge for simultaneous charge
• Solid construction

Cons

• Button extenders can be finicky
• Uses Micro-USB so not compatible with dock accessories
• Big charge means big case

TiPb review rating

Photos

The Griffin PowerJolt Plus means you never have to worry about running out of power for your iPhone AND iPad on the road ever again. You see, not only does it plug into your car's cigarette lighter (or any 12v accessory socket) to easily charge your iPhone but the back of the connector opens up to provide a second 12 volt socket that you could use, for example, to charge your iPad (or iPod touch, iPod, partner's iPhone, whatever!).

I love the Griffin PowerJolt Plus. The fact that it allows you to plug in another 12 volt adapter is a brilliant idea. I was worried that the second adapter would not charge at full capacity or would be buggy but that was not the case. I tested the PowerJolt with three different adaptors over the course of two 6 hour road trips and it everything worked perfectly.

The plug itself is well built and fits solidly into the car socket. I didn't have to worry about it coming loose and my iPhone not charging. Likewise the pass through socket. The Griffin PowerJolt Plus has a coiled dock cable which helps prevent tangles and the 30-pin Dock connector, while not Apple-thin, should work with a good amount of cases. If your favorite case is cut very closely around the Dock port, however, it will most likely need to come off (that's why I use the Case-Mate Barely There, just saying...) It also has SmartFuse for circuit protection.

Note, the Griffin PowerJolt Plus doesn't come with a second adapter, just the socket to plug one in. If you want to plug in a second adapter or something like an FM-radio adapter, you need to get that separately (you can get a regular PowerJolt SE from Giffin for a matched set). Also, I'd recommend getting a car mount so you have somewhere convenient to place your iPhone, especially if you're going to use it for something visual like turn-by-turn navigation.

If you are looking for a car charger I highly recommend the The Griffin PowerJolt Plus for iPhone and iPad. It's inexpensive so it makes the perfect gift for your someone special for the holidays. You can find it at the TiPb iPhone + iPad accessory store. I am going to be picking up another one for my other car I like it so much!

Pros

• Coiled cord is durable and doesn't get tangled
• Socket for second adapter works perfectly
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Thinner Dock connector would work with more cases

Rating

Gallery

The fine folks over at Element Case are offering up four (4) of their brand new iPhone 4 Vapor cases for TiPb readers. Machined from a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum and anodized in brilliant color, Vapor is about the only thing that can make your iPhone 4 look even more like something out of a sci-fi flick.

The frames come in silver or black, the caps in black, silver, blue, yellow, red, and pink. If you're picked for the give-away, you get your choice of color combo.

But wait, there's more!

The TiPb iPhone 4 accessory store wants one (1) grand prize winner to be all decked out so they're throwing in your choice of Bluetooth headset, screen protector and charging solution!

Want a chance to win? Here's all you have to do:

1. Pick an Element Vapor case color combination
2. Pick a Bluetooth headset
3. Pick a screen protector
4. Pick a charger

Then go to the official contest thread in our iPhone Forum and tell us your picks!

Give away starts now, ends on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 1pm EDT. Go!

The Griffin PowerJolt Reserve Backup Battery [$34.95 - iMore Store Link] is one nifty little iPhone/iPod touch accessory, One of the biggest gripes people have with Apple's iPhone is the lack of a removable battery. Sure you have some other battery charging options but if you don't wish to be bothered carrying around cords or bulky cases then the PowerJolt Reserve just may be for you. Get the full rundown after the break!

I've been using the Griffin PowerJolt Reserve for iPhone & iPod for a little over a month now and it has turned into one of those things I need to carry around with me whenever I leave the house. You simply plug it into your vehicle's cigarette lighter or 12 volt power outlet which then allows you to plug in your standard iPhone USB charging cord to charge your device while on the road.

A simple car charger alone would be on the boring side, what makes this accessory so special is that it also happens to have a built in rechargeable battery attached to it which you can carry with you in your pocket for backup power wherever you go. While it takes only a short time to fully charge, the backup battery will provide you with a 50% charge on your device. I was hoping to get a bit more but beggars can't be choosers and I've learned that it's usually all I need. Some more great features are as follows:

• Charges any iPhone and iPod touch.
• Charge your device the same time you are charging the backup battery.
• The battery connects to the charger magnetically so it is a breeze to attach and detach.

The Griffin PowerJolt Reserve Backup Battery for your iPhone or iPod touch [$34.95 - iMore Store Link] is a must have accessory for any road warrior who needs that extra juice to make it through the day. With the PowerJolt you will never have to worry about battery life again and even better there will not be any need to carry your charger with you everywhere you go as it provides instant power on demand.

We have all been there. You know, our iPhone is about to die from a drained battery and no charge cable in sight. Well, the Seidio 3-in-1 Retractable Charger [$29.99 - iMore Store link] is here to change that. The Seidio charger gives you everything you need for any portable situation. You get a USB cable that actually snaps into place (I love that. Most cables I see these days don't actually snap in place, they just fit, but not securely) and the always capable wall charger and large grip-friendly car charger.

What really sets this charger apart from the competition is the retractability of the cable. Just like with other retractable cords, you pull on both ends and it expands. Of course, it is convenient if you have your iPhone charging on your Mac or PC to just let is sit right next to your computer without any extra cable mess.

I use my cable on the time. My day starts off with getting in the car for work (yeah, don't use it at home, I have a cradle for that) and plugging it into the car adapter. I have a good 45 minute commute to work, so this buys me time to charge and listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks. Once I am work, I take the cable with me and charge at my desk as need. Yes, I am one of those people that if the iPhone 3GS tells me I have 96% battery, I must make it 100%.

As the day winds down, I repeat the morning process. Now you are probably thinking to yourself, "Why is this guy telling me how he carries his cable around all day?" Well, that is the point isn't it? The fact that the cable retracts makes it super easy to pull out of my bag and stow it away. I have a separate cable I stash in my bag too, the one that came with the iPhone. Using that cable is annoying as I have to "stuff" it in my bag, where the Seidio cable retracts beautifully with no mess. I know, it is the little things. Because of its portability, this has quickly become my main cable. On the ever-so-small downside, there is not an airplane adapter. That would make this the ultimate in charger cables, but for now, Seidio will have to do with a "fav" rating from this reviewer.

If you are looking for a functional cable such as this, you can pick it up in the TiPb store for $29.95.

Check out more in the gallery below!

mophie Juice Pack Air [$79.96 - iMore Store link] is the newer, sleeker model in town. We've tried out several battery extenders here on TiPb, and I've tried quite a few personally, but like the grail we keep looking for longer, better, and stronger power. Did I find it with the Juice Pack Air?

James has been talking the Air up for a while, but I wasn't sure about it. There are several variations in battery charger available for the iPhone, after all. First, form factor. Some chargers are modules that plug onto the bottom and while they can pack a punch, you have to be careful how you handle the iPhone when they're connected, lest they become rapidly unconnected. mophie makes the other kind, the case-style, and the Air -- as the name suggests -- is molded to be as thin and remain as pocketable as possible. In this, it succeeds brilliantly.

Some have complained that the Air's case-like form factor reduces their cell signal strength by a couple bars. I didn't experience that, though I'm in Canada and -- apologies to my long-suffering AT&T friends -- the iPhone is solid on our network.

The other variation is charging style. Some battery extenders charge via a dock port that makes them very handy since dock cables are ubiquitous and if you already have an AC adaptor, car adaptor, etc. they "just work" with those.

The mophie, by contrast, uses a USB micro-cable, but not micro-USB, which is always a concern (if your forget it, or lose it, your battery charger ain't getting charged).

Enough about what it is, what's important is how it works. I tested this one out on a weekend trip, and on several heavy-duty usage days. I also ended up testing it out when I negligently pocketed my iPhone while still recording video, leading it to discharge fairly rapidly.

And it worked well, pretty much in line with mophie's specs. It recharged my iPhone fairly close to full, and on one occasion recharged both mine and a friend's halfway during a 2 hour drive when a car charger failed on us.

So, bottom line, if you need extra power and still want something sleek enough to easily carry your iPhone easily in your pocket, (and your cell signal is typically strong), the mophie Juice Pack is well worth checking out.

For more info and full specs, check out TiPb's iPhone Store...

I recently tried out a friend's battery charger case and my iPhone 3GS began to buzz and flash between locked, wallpaper, and temperature warning screens.

Not to be all Wall Street Journal about it, but according to sources in a position to know, this is not an uncommon problem and Apple is set to address it in the next firmware update, which should be coming soon -- 3.1.

3.1 you ask? It's what we asked as well, and were told the iPhone 3GS is already running what's considered 3.0.1 and the next update would likely be 3.1 (though 3.0.2 or an "official" cross device 3.0.1 still sounds more like as a bug fix release to us).

Consider it a rumor for now, but at the very least, if your charging case is giving you headaches, rest assured help is on the way.

(And it's recommended you don't use it until the problem is addressed).

One of the biggest gripes a lot of iPhone 3G/3GS readers have is battery life. Now this is mainly due to not being able to put the iPhone down to give it a rest, but we now have another solution to your iPhone addiction. Enter Case-Mate's Fuel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS, which is available in TiPb's store for $74.95. For a full review, follow us after the break!

Design & Usability

The Case-Mate Fuel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS is integrated with a 2300mA Lithium Polymer battery, Case-Mate says it will add up to nine hours of additional talk-time, up to seven hours of internet browsing, up to eight hours of video, 24 hours of audio, and 250 hours of extra standby time.

The times that Case-Mate claims are pretty much dead on. If you have trouble putting your iPhone down and typically end up with a dead battery sometime during the day, Fuel is the right case for you.

Usually when I get into my car after a full day at work I would have 20%-30% of my battery left. With the Fuel I've been leaving with anything from 80% to being topped off and that's still with some juice left in the case itself. Not too shabby. I think it's also important to note that you do not need to remove the phone from the case to use the iPhone in any way, including phone calls.

On the bottom front of the case you will find 3 built-in LEDs that allow you to see exactly how much "Fuel" you have left and a power button that allows you to turn the charger on or off as you see fit. Both of these are nice little bonus features.

To charge the case you only have one option -- you must use a standard 5-pin USB cord. One is included but it would be nice to have the option to charge the case without using my laptop. On the plus side, Fuel fully supports syncing while iPhone 3G is docked into the case.

One nice features Fuel has that other iPhone charging cases lack is a belt clip that rotates 180-degrees. This sounds great but unfortunately Case-Mate dropped the ball on this one. I found myself worrying about the lack of protection on the upper half of my iPhone and the screen. Since you have to place the iPhone face-out, the screen is left completely unprotected. This means you have to be careful not to bump into anything or you will damage your device.

So, the next possibility would be to place the phone in your pocket. There's only one thing wrong with that -- the belt clip is not removable. Granted it still would be a tight fit without the clip due to the added size it gives the iPhone, but the option would still be better.

As to the belt clip itself, it does it's job well. Rest assured, your iPhone is locked in place and will not fall out on you.

Conclusion

Even with the complaints about the belt clip, I still like this case. The pros outweigh the cons by far. I found myself using the case at work around my desk and at home when I was lounging around. Even though the size adds to the iPhone it still feels good in the hand while using it.

Overall the Case-Mate Fuel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS does it's job and it does it very well. Since Apple chooses not to make the iPhones battery replaceable companies like Case-Mate have stepped up and offered us some solutions. For $74.95 you can't go wrong with this one, Fuel will give your iPhone the boost it needs to easily make it through your entire day and, in some cases, days.

Pros

• Battery life as advertises.
• Feels good in the hand
• Reasonable price
• Ability to sync while your iPhone is in the case
• Works with the new iPhone 3GS

Cons

• Lack of screen protection
• Belt clip is not removable
• Case only chargeable via micro USB cable

The Seidio Innocell External Battery Pack for iPhone 3G is the latest accessory to try an mitigate the lack of a user-changeable battery. Unlike cases that strap on to your iPhone, or dongles that plug in to the bottom, the Seidio Innocell, available for $39.95 from the iMore Store, tries to find a compromise between the capacity and convenience: a good bit of power in a form factor that's fairly small and unobtrusive.

How does it do? Find out after the break!

What's in the Box

The Seidio Innocell External Battery Pack for iPhone 3G is no frills in terms of both price and accoutrements. What you get is a small, light bit of plastic with a dock plug that looks pretty much like the bottom third of the iPhone. It would be nice if it included a USB or AC adapter plug. However, since unlike some other solutions, the Seidio Innocell actually contains a dock input of its own, allowing for seamless charging with existing iPhone cables, it's an understandable cost saving message.

Even the device itself is bare-bones: it's got a light to show when it's charging (red), when it's charged (green), and when it's giving over that charge to your iPhone (blue). In a bonus bit of design good-thinking, the Seidio Innocell includes a built-in speaker channel to make sure sound isn't distorted if you want to use your iPhone while you're recharging it.

How it Works

Simplicity, thy name is Seidio Innocell. Just plug the unit into the bottom of your iPhone and it begins to charge. That's it.

Because Seidio took pains to make the Innocell look cosmetically like the iPhone -- it's literally made like an extension of the device itself, faux chrome-trim included -- it's easier to use it with your iPhone on-the-go than something like the RichardSolo. The trade-off is lower capacity, of course, with the small, inexpensive Seidio Innocell providing just enough juice to recharge your iPhone 50%.

In my tests, however, the Seidio slightly over-performed. From less than a quarter left, the Seidio re-charged my iPhone to just below full. Since it's my understanding that the final 15% is the most charge-intensive, the performance was impressive.

Final Thoughts

It's light to the point of feeling a un-real (what you want in a carry-around), re-charges your iPhone 50% plus (what might not be enough for hard-core conference/event goers), and does a pretty good job of walking the middle ground between case and dongle.

The one complaint I have is the lack of a dock-lock. While the design and fit is excellent, if I have to use it on-the-go, I want the security of knowing it's not detaching unless I detach it.

Pros

• Simple and easy to use
• Over-performed in my tests
• Uses standard dock port to charge
• Low price-point

Cons

• May not provide enough charge for super-users
• Should lock to dock connector

TiPb Rating

Apple patents are strange and mysterious things. Like sums over futures, they give us a peek at thousands of strands of potentiality, but no clue about eventuality. In other words, Apple patents tons of stuff, most of which we never see in actual consumer products. Some of these, however, are pretty interesting looking. The Register says:

One of the applications describes a "host machine" - looking much like an iMac in the accompanying drawings - that has battery-charging slots built into its body.

A second describes how the host machine could communicate wirelessly with mobile devices to monitor their battery power, notify users when it was time for a charge, and talk with other host machines about the state of the batteries it's servicing.

A third describes a "intelligent universal rechargeable batteries" with pop-off end-caps that allow "battery chemicals" to be swapped out when they've reached the end of their productive lives.

The Black&Decker approach of one-battery-to-charge-them-all seems so un-Apple, but it would be convenient to a large segment of handy consumers. TiPb also recalls a previous patent that showed a MacBook docking into an iMac, so why not go from broke, Apple, and give us the iPhone to MacBook to iMac "Russian Doll" gadget? Check out the full article, linked above, for all the details, and let us know which, if any, tempt you.

(Thanks to Phil, news editor over at sibling site WMExperts for the tip!)

The iPhone doesn't have a user-changeable battery. To some that was a non-starter. To others, that was a call to action. Enter the iPhone external battery charger. We've seen them in several forms now, from built-in cases like the Mophie Juice Pack to plug-in units like the RichardSolo 1800 for iPhone.

TiPb had a chance to meet with the very gracious Richard Thalheimer at Macworld, who shared his enthusiasm for the RichardSolo 1800 and asked us to give it a try. Seeing as how, between email, twitter, blogging, texting, and calling, I was draining our iPhones near dry, I was more than happy to.

So how did it do? Read on after the break!

What's in the Box

The RichardSolo 1800 for iPhone comes with the battery charger itself, which is shaped roughly like smaller, thinner version of the iPhone, and includes a locking dock connecter (yes!), charging light, and two buttons which activate the laser pointer and the LED flashlight.

Yep, it's a multi-tasker, and while I haven't yet found a use for the extra features, it is kind of reassuring to know they exist in case I ever need to find my keys in a dark room, or simply annoy a friend.

Also included is a retractable mini-USB to USB cable for charging with adapters for both an AC outlet and a car charger. Since the purpose of RichardSolo 1800 is to keep you juiced up on the go, it's nice to have multiple options for charging the 1800 itself. However, while USB is a standard, I can't help but think if the RichardSolo 1800 itself used a dock connector for charging, just like the iPhone, that AC adapter and car charger could do double duty charging the iPhone as well. (Note: you can work around this by plugging the iPhone into the RichardSolo, and the RichardSolo into the USB cable, so it's a small niggle).

Lastly, the box includes braces for both the iPhone 3G and the original iPhone 2G. If you're ever in a pinch and need to use your iPhone while charging it with the RichardSolo 1800, the brace will help keep everything more stable. It's not as solid as a case-form external battery charger, of course, but if you're careful, it's usable enough.

How it Works

To charge the RichardSolo, you plug it into the retractable USB cable, and plug that into a handy USB socket -- or into either of the adapters mentioned above. RichardSolo recommends you charge the 1800 for a minimum of 5 hours, twice, to get maximum initial capacity. That's probably a fair indication of ongoing best practices as well.

Once the RichardSolo 1800 is charged, you plug it into the iPhone and move that charge on over! Thankfully, the 1800 will "lock" onto the iPhone dock, and requires you to pinch two buttons on the side to release it -- a nice feature to prevent unintentional disconnection. Since the 1800 charges through a dock connector, you could theoretically use it to charge the iPod touch -- or any other iPod -- as well, though I personally haven't tried that out yet.

From nearly dead to fully charged, it took somewhere between 1:30 and 1:45 to completely recharge my iPhone, and the 1800 still had power left to spare.

Final Thoughts

Is it unwieldily? Sure, hanging even a slim battery sized object off the bottom of your iPhone can be annoying, but what's more annoying is running out of power halfway through a conference, nary a port or outlet in sight. So it comes down to a choice, something less obtrusive like the aforementioned Mophie Juice Pack, which only works on the iPhone 3G, or the RichardSolo 1800, which isn't as elegant but can be used on all iPhones and iPods alike?

Pros

• Can charge any iPhone or iPod
• Slim profile makes it highly portable
• Includes USB, AC, and car charging options
• Built in flash and flippin' laser beam!

Cons

• Dongle-like solution less ideal for using-while-charging

TiPb Rating

Read on for the full review!

Design

The Griffin PowerDuo is comprised of three parts: the power block, USB cable and cigarette/12V accessory charger. Let's first look at the power block.

The power block is solid with retractable blades that fold flush into its body. Nothing quite beats the size of the new iPhone 3G's power block, but the blades on the PowerDuo are hidden within the body, preventing them from possibly bending or breaking, adding value.

The 12V cigarette/accessory charger works as advertised. You simply pop it in to the 12V port in your vehicle and it charges the iPhone. What is particularly great about this adapter is that it has a fuse that can be replaced should the charger go bad due to some sort of surge... very cool. 

Finally, the last peice of the puzzle, the USB cord. This cord is very versitle; it has the iPod 30-pin connector on one end and a standard USB male connector on the other. This allows you to use the cable in a few different combinations:

• 30-pin connector-->USB-->computer
• 30-pin connector-->USB-->power block
• 30-pin connector-->USB-->12v adapter

Daily Use

My routine with the iPhone goes something like this: I get up in the AM and sync my iPhone and check for any app updates. During this time it charges in the dock. Often, this does not give me a full charge due to lack of charging throughout the day. Next, I hop in my car and as I drive to work I use the 12V accessory charger component. I drive about 45 minutes to work, and by the time I get to work, the iPhone is fully charged (I also make the most of my time and listen to awesome podcasts such as the Phone Different Podcast while it is charging).

Once I arrive at work I use the device during the day with 3G on (yeah, no accessible Wi-Fi for the Chadman at work I am afraid... something to do with security...). So, as needed I can then charge my iPhone two ways; either by plugging the iPhone into my HP laptop with the supplied USB cable, or plugging the USB cable into the power block and plug it into the wall.

After work, on the ride home, it is the reverse of my morning; I charge in the car as needed.

Pros

• Power block blades fold flat for storage
• Works with AC outlets from 100V to 240V
• 12V car charger works in your vehicle's cigarette lighter or 12V accessory socket
• Has replacable fuse to protect from surges (NICE!!!)
• LEDs change color for charging status at a glance

Cons

• The PowerBlock is large, could be smaller

Overall

I can't recommend this combination enough. I very pleased with the quality and versatility of this accessory, and I can proudly say I use it every day.

Imagine this scenario: You’re in a hotel room and you bring your iPhone, Macbook, External Hard Drive, Camera, and another iPod cause you’re nasty..but they’re all in need of a charge. You run and send a search team for the nearest available outlet, to your utter dismay it only provides two outputs. You reason you can live without a couple of those items but then you can’t fit two clunky chargers at once. You’re left with just charging one device.

We’ve all run into hotel rooms that just don’t seem to have enough power outlets. With the Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB that problem is pretty much solved. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

It’s a portable surge protector that includes 3 electrical outlets and 2 USB ports (for charge only). They also throw in a Mini-USB charger for you in the box. Obviously it won’t win any design awards but the white and grey look is clean and will match your white charging cables from Apple, if you’re into that kind of thing.

The uniqueness of this electrical solution is the ability to rotate the surge a full 360 degrees with four locking positions (up, down, left, right). Meaning you can adjust the surge to your liking or to fit the surroundings of any outlet.

It’s a bit taller than your iPhone and as thick as maybe 4 iPhones so it’s not exactly small but its size is certainly purposeful. Build quality is solid, it makes you feel safe just holding it. Belkin did a really good job in making this surge protector a sturdy, trustworthy device. But I won’t lie, for a surge protector, this may be as good as it gets for design. It even matches Apple’s minimalist products!

Usability

Okay, here’s the lowdown on the specs of this bad boy:

• EMI/RFI Noise Filtration: 150kHz ~ 100 MHz up to 40 dB reduction
• Joule Rating: 918J
• Maximum Spike Current: 36,000A
• Powered USB Output: 5V/500mA each port
• Responses Time: <1 nanosecond
• UL Clamping Voltage: UL1449 800V

Though it isn’t the most compact device, it has become a must-add to my laptop bag. I’ve already found use for it at the local coffee shop, a hotel room, a classroom and expect to use it in more locations such as airport terminals and other public spaces. Honestly, I have no worries of being without a charge when I carry this portable surge around. Also, sharing the plugs with neighbors is fine by me, many suits breathe a sigh of relief when they see me pull out the mini surge protector.

This item isn’t exactly perfect though. I do wish the 3 electrical outlets were spaced a little bit wider, with so many unwieldy chargers these days it was hard to use ALL 3 outlets at the same time. Also, I would have preferred to see the actual plug snap into the body of the surge, which would make this device even more portable. Luckily they toss in a cap to protect the prongs.

The good

• Simple and Stylish for a Surge Protector
• Incredibly Useful for Frequent Travelers
• Rotates 360 Degrees
• It's a portable surge!

The bad

• Minimal Usage for Home Use
• Outlets should be spaced wider apart
• Plug should fold into the body

The conclusion

This is probably the perfect solution for any road warrior or frequent traveler. It seems as if there just isn’t enough plugs in this world to plug your electronic goodies into. So until hotels revamp their whole electrical wiring and public spaces offer multiple outlets, the Belkin Mini Surge Protector is probably the best solution. A 5 for 1 portable solution? Not bad at all.

Rating

• 4.8/5

Buy now

Are you a frequent international traveler? Are you always confused by international electrical outlets? Have you realized that there are a gazillion different electrical outlets requiring a gazillion different plugs? Well, the Mobi Products World Wall Adapter for S&C Cables for iPhone 3G, iPhone ($34.95) tries to simplify the tangled messy world of cables by giving you almost every solution in a simple adaptor. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Also, the charger has two USB ports available for charging. Thank god USB is universal because if each region had their own USB, well that would be more of a doozy than the electrical outlets.

Usability

The On/Off switch and Indicator Light made it easy for me to determine if the adapter was working and its light weight made it unnoticeable when moving from station to station. However, because the adapter includes so many different charging capabilities, it is a little bit bulkier than ideal size, but this can be forgiven since the adapter packs so many features into one device.

The execution of the Mobi Products World Wall Adapter is smart and purposeful. It all is designed to look like a one piece device but when put to use, the usefulness of all three adapters shines through. The inclusion of the three main electrical outlets allows the adapter to be compatible with over 150 countries worldwide. There are also built in surges and spikes protection system to protect your electronic devices from potential damage.

Final Thoughts

PROS

• Simple, Straightforward Design
• Two USB Ports for Charging
• As close as you can get to a Universal Charger

CONS

• A tad bit bulky

Final Rating: 4.8/5