About three weeks ago I started the process to design a USB power strip where the device would be a dumb down version of a USB hub…it only gives power. The reason why I wanted to design something like this was for the infinite number of USB items I have. Just in my house alone, we have 3 iPhones, one Flip Video camera and two blue-tooth headsets…all powered and recharged by USB.
So enter, stage left, my thought of a USB power strip. Well, Elcom was thinking the same thing, but only months earlier! They have officially released the USB for port power strip and the 7 port USB power strip. Clearly I think the idea is simply brilliant.
Elcom includes LED lights for each port to show if a device is active or not. They include a switch to flip On or Off that particular port and last, Elcom gives you some clear labels [in English] to label what cable is going to which device.
The 4 port USB power strip is $40. The 7 port USB power strip is $110. Both are available at Geek Stuff 4 You. Page.
Continue Reading
HyperMac updated their power blocks to include support for the iPad product line. There are a couple models to chose from, but the high end, $500 unit, will give you 99 hours of iPad life. More then enough for that weekend get-away.
For a bit less, the $200 battery pack will get you the 60 watt version capable of powering your beloved Apple product for 34 hours. For this price, at least they include USB ports to power those USB gadgets you have in every corner of your office.
The HyperMac power bricks are not yet available, but will be within a couple of weeks. Just in time to be received with your long delayed iPad order.
Continue Reading
At first glance we became very excited about this 80 port USB board, we thought it was a huge USB hub. Then we read the details and realized it’s just an 80 port USB power source. And we say “just” with all the enthusiasm that word can carry. Wicked awesome from our point of view.
We’ve done the math and have still come up short on the exact NEED for the 80 port USB power board, but never-the-less, it makes you smile. Kinda like the iPad [even without USB support].
Our calculations seem to bring us back to quality control, that is the only legitimate reason why this board would be of “true” value.
At the time of this article, Buy.com has a set of AA battery chargers which re-powers via USB at a 72% savings. List price went from $24 down to $7 bucks!
Great stocking stuffer for the geeky Dad, brother or in-law.
Save the environment by throwing fewer batteries away! This Ni-MH battery recharges with any USB port and has a built in safety circuit to prevents overcharging. LED indicator light lets you know when your battery is fully charged.
Grab the Get USBDealz now!
Continue Reading
iLuv is showing their love to USB with this three port charger. Not only does it support multiple devices, it looks cool too.
iLuv put in a flip-out AC adapter so if the USB charger needs to be stored or thrown in a desk drawer it’s a bit more compact. Not much else to report about it other than a $20 price tag and available in Sep 09.
Continue Reading
Today I was doing some research for a good solar powered iPhone charger. I went the direction of a DIY [Do It Yourself] project then realized this is all a waste of time. Maybe there are a select few that would jump on a DIY solar powered iPhone charger project, but considering the complexity of the tutorials I found, very very unlikely my average reader would actually do it.
So to save yourself the 30+ minutes of looking for a good tutorial, just spend 3 minutes and buy one that will A) work better, B) look better and C) be cheaper.
The project directions can be found here and you’ll quickly see it’s a complex project that requires some tools you might not have, plus supplies you’ll surely need to buy. All in all, it’s about a $70 project,
Continue Reading
The world is going Green. This is your chance to keep those USB gadgets, yet charge them without consuming electricity and leaving your carbon footprint. The idea behind this USB tutorial is taking the kinetic energy of your bike and turn that into re-powering any USB gadget.
I found this fun little project off the Instructables website. Apparently the author received some grant funds from Lemelson-MIT program and put together a team of 6 students to create this solution.
The team got their idea from shake-up flashlights which are based off the Faraday Principle – which is a type of electromagnetism reaction to generate energy.
You will need to get a bread-board and create a small circuit to capture the energy produced by the bike and turn it towards your USB gadget.
Next, you’ll need a motor provider that will actually “capture” the energy, feed it through your newly made circuit. There are many options for this, check
Continue Reading
How would you like to connect wirelessly to your iPhone? Imagine sharing your photo’s or [soon to be] video with your TV or monitor without a cable? How about sync your iTunes without the white USB connector, or update contacts, schedules, calendar and more without making a connection. How about getting real crazy and juicing up your iPhone without a plug?
Well, all of this will be possible with the new Alereon wireless USB technology for the iPhone and those who integrate into their peripheral.
The demonstration consists of a small wireless USB peripheral connected to a typical iPhone or iPod’s edge connector. The adapter enables any iPhone or iPod to both provide extra battery power/charging as well as synchronize wirelessly to iTunes whether on a Windows or MAC OS machine. Future enhancements will enable connectivity to HDTVs for displaying photos or videos.
The ultimate vision of Alereon is to have a peripheral device integrated into
Continue Reading
I’ve seen plenty of cigarette USB chargers, but this one design from Belkin out does them all.
It’s not bulky. It will sit flush in your car. It’s got feedback via the blue LED light. It’s iPhone compatible, meaning it’ll charge anything. Only $15 USD. Awesome.
I went to buy it on-line and it’s not yet propagated into the e-commerce sites, but give it a couple weeks. It’ll be there.
America takes comfort in the fact we lead technology, but with mobile devices we are the exception. Europe is way ahead of us and so is China. In fact, back in Dec 2006, China made the decision to standardize cell phone charges to have a micro USB port. The reason, to reduce waste. Back then, you purchased a phone and you’d get a new wall charger. The charger was loaded with lead, plastic etc. Today, you simply get a USB cable.
Last week 17 mobile phone companies officially made the plung to accept micro USB as the connection for recharging cell phones. This decision was based on the same reasons as mentioned above.
Continue Reading
USBFever has a 5 port USB wall charger for those a bit light on USB ports, yet need something to charge those iPhones, iPods and PDAs.
The USB SuperTravel has 4 standard USB ports and one miniUSB port. It’s no longer required to haul around your laptop just to power up your gadgets while on the go.
The kit includes world voltage acceptance with plugs that cover you in US, UK, AU and EU. The charger will auto detect the voltage and adjust accordingly so no mess with figuring out which fuse or setting is needed in different countries.
USBFever is offering the USB wall charger for $26.
Continue Reading
No pun intended, but this laptop fan is cool looking with a great design. The Dog shapped USB cooling fan is an ideal adition to those working from laptops. With two 6″ built-in cooling fans, it can dissipate heat away from the bottom of your laptop and cool down the the under belly of your laptop.
The USB cooling fan for your laptop comes in either a Dog or Penguin shape and acrylic top. It’s almost a shame you cover up the design with your laptop.
Here is a side view of the laptop cooling pad:
Continue Reading
