GadgetReview is giving away an Powerskin Smartphone battery pack (iPhone, HTC, Blackberry, Motorola Samsung), to ONE lucky winner!

The Powerskin battery packs ($60-70 value) extend your smartphone’s battery life by up to 2x all the while not adding too much bulk.  They also provide some much need to protection for those that have buttery fingers.  The rear of each Powerskin features a set of LEDs to indicate remaining battery life and charge via USB.

We’re giving away one of these to one person. To enter just LIKE our Facebook Fan Page and then leave a comment below telling us what you think would make our website super popular. You must register your comment with an email address so we can contact you. Comments are moderated so please be patient and enter only one.

Will pick one winner at random from the comments, but in order to WIN you’ll have to Like Us on Facebook. If you’d like a double entry, follow us on Twitter and tweet “@gadgetreview @powerskinusa #contest #free”.

This contest ends 8/17/2011 at 11:59 PST

It’s open to US residents in the continental US of A only.

Just when we thought we’d seen every iPhone battery case, along comes the Third Rail.  And yes, it will shock you because it’s that good.

Unlike other iPhone cases, which have a single built-in battery, the Third Rail case uses a modular system that allows you to detach the battery portion and charge it independently.  As a result, multiple batteries can be charged and swapped out without having to remove the case from the iPhone.  The batteries can be stacked on top of one and other for added juice, though a single battery, which contains 1250mAh should be enough for a full charge.  And because they’re stackable, partially charged batteries can be combined to charge one to a full charge. Each battery weighs 1.4oz, and a micro USB plug lets you charge other devices, assuming they support that type of plug.  Lastly, if a new iPhone arrives, which it will this September, you’ll simply need to buy a new case.

For $89.99 you’ll score the case and one battery.  Additional batteries can be purchased separately for $59.99.

In an ideal world hot swap locations could be setup through airports and other places with a high level of foot traffic allowing you to swap out your battery on the fly.

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Android devices are known for being power hogs, as are most smartphones.  Then fold in 4G connectivity and you’re pretty much screwed.  But if you’re willing to succumb to some added bulk wrapping around your handset, you could enjoy twice the battery life than you’re normally use to.

Powerskin’s silicone case with built-in battery is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S 4G, Vibrant, Samsung Galaxy i9000& i9003, HTC HD7, HTC HD2 and HTC myTouch 4G.  Pricing ranges from $49.99 – $59.99 depending on your phones model, but PowerSkin promises a two fold in battery life with LED status lights and an eco friendly tough case that will protect your precious handset from dings and bruises.

Head over to Amazon today if your down for the count.

Modesto, CA – April 26, 2011 – PowerSkin® continues to roll out its line of shock-absorbing cases that double battery life, announcing the immediate availability for the Samsung Galaxy and Vibrant series.

“PowerSkin® dominates the market for smartphones powered by Android,” said David Becker, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at PowerSkin® / XPAL Power. “With the launch of the Samsung PowerSkin® and upcoming skins for all the popular Android-based phones like Droid, HTC and others, we’re confident our new line will fill a gap in the Android space, providing much-needed power to these users.”

PowerSkin® smartphone cases, designed to address the protection and power issues consumers face, launched last month at the CTIA Show in Orlando. Features included in all PowerSkin® cases:

• One piece tough case is impact-resistant
• Soft silicone rubber
• Provides twice the power
• 100% recycled case (except for the battery & internal components)
• Rechargeable
• Lightweight smart battery technology
• On/Off button
• LED battery status lights
• Patented XPAL Powered™ battery technology extends phone life up to 8 hours

PowerSkins® are available in T-Mobile stores along with most major E-tailer sites like Amazon for the Samsung Galaxy S 4G ($59.99), Samsung Vibrant ($59.99), HTC myTouch 4G ($49.99), HTC HD7 ($59.99) and HTC HD2 ($59.99); the Samsung Galaxy i9000 ($59.99) and i3000 ($59.99) are available via international carriers.

AA batteries aren’t going away anytime soon.  You can thank digital cameras, a variety of toys, and Xbox 360 controllers for that.  However, there are probably now more USB powered gadgets than their are standard battery powered toys on the market today.  Making sure you’ve got a back up battery for each respective type can be a hair pulling experience.  

Enter the Continuance battery concept.  The form factor is that of a AA battery, allowing you to power your compatible gadgets.  On the side, though, is a USB port, which presumably allows you to rejuice them and power up gadgets that only take a USB plug, such as the iPhone or any other smartphone on the market.  You’ll inevitably need a number of them on hand since their mAh capacity should be rather limited, but 4-8 should probably suffice in most instance.

Again, this is a concept only, but they’ve got our vote to move ahead with production.  We’re thinking Costco would be a good retail venue.

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Nintendo recently showed off the 3DS to press in New York, revealing almost everything there is to know about the latest handheld from the world leader in mobile gaming. Now, however, they are making a huge mistake with the 3DS, and the company is doomed to failure for five very important reasons:

1. Nobody wants 3D. You don’t want it, I don’t want it, and according to most data out there on the subject, nobody really cares about 3D. Not 3D movies, not 3DTV, not 3D sports, and not 3D gaming. It’s a novelty at best, and an eye-straining, vision-ruining epidemic at worst. Furthermore, 3D content is currently so limited in film and 3DS gaming that anyone could store all the trailers and videos they want on the included 2GB SD card. Heck, there isn’t even going to be a way to realistically view 3D photos or videos taken on the 3DS except on the handheld. So who cares?

2. Software: It’s serious business. As much as we complain about hardware, it’s software that will make or break any electronic device. And here comes Nintendo with a slightly updated two-year-old operating system with a grand total of 11 apps. Oh, and some of them won’t be available when the 3DS comes out.

Apps on phones and media players are becoming ridiculously complex. I can learn a language, store all of Wikipedia, check the weather and do thousands of other things through apps on my iPod Touch. And what is Nintendo offering? Mii Maker and Face Raiders. Is this some kind of joke? I know kids in elementary school with more iPhone apps than me, who send more text messages and open more apps a day than my entire family does in a week, and Nintendo is putting in a notepad and activity log? I guess Nintendo’s new model is useless hardware and junk software.

3. Battery woes. Nintendo originally surpassed competition with the Game Boy through excellent battery life. Now, their most powerful machine yet runs…a measly 3-5 hours, “if you play soft”. In normal conditions, the 3DS couldn’t even last a flight from LA to NY. Even playing DS games it’s rated for just eight hours. For $250, Nintendo could at least make sure their console can keep kids quiet for the whole car ride. Is that really so much to ask?

4. Sharing is…overrated? When I grew up, we surrounded anyone playing on a Game Boy. It didn’t matter when or which model, we did it all the way through high school with the Game Boy Advance and SP. But now thanks to the 3D screen, there’s no reason to have that social experience, because the image looks skewed from any angle not perfectly perpendicular to the screen. And keeping your hands steady while holding a handheld when playing is next to impossible as it is. How much worse will it be if the 3D effects friendly kibitzing?

That is, unless you turn 3D off. I only wish Nintendo gave us options so many years back. You know, to help complicate our lives and entertainment like they are doing now.

5. Too little, too late. Nintendo may not believe in the phone industry, but game developers do, and consumers do. No matter what Nintendo may say or do, they are competing against products that make calls, send text and picture messages, stream and store video and music, run hundreds of thousands of applications, and play games. These are devices updated yearly. In comes Nintendo like a hipster trying to be retro: every part of the 3DS is old except for the 3D tech and the processing power, which remains a mystery. Three VGA cameras? A resistive touchscreen? 400×240 and 320×240 resolution displays? If I were to describe such a device to anyone today and not say it was from Nintendo, they’d ask “who would make such crap?”

Yet here we are, taking Nintendo’s word that the 3DS will be great, a leap in a new dimension, pun intended. But Nintendo, this is too little, and too late. You already gave us awful cameras with the DSi, and everything from limited apps to low resolution screens since the DS released back in – wait for it – late 2004. It’s 2011 Nintendo, and you are so late to the party that all your friends left and you’re in the laundry room making out with a mop. Come out and meet iPhone, Android, and heck, even Windows Phone 7. Sony may show up later, possibly with both a PSP2 and PSP Phone, but who knows.

Join us in the new decade Nintendo. Oh and Sega called. They wanted to wish you luck, and remind you that the Game Gear lasted 5 hours…AA’s.

The Nintendo 3DS launches in the US on March 27^th.

4 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Fully charges the iPhone 4
• Buttons work well
• Decent aesthetic

Cons:

• Heavy and bulky
• Pricey at $99.99
• Case shows smudges easily

Mophie must have taken my last review to heart.  Not more than a few months later, they’ve released the Juice Pack Plus for the iPhone 4 and I can easily say that it was the right thing to do.  Now packing a 2,000 mAh battery, it finally recharges the iPhone in full.  They also eliminated some of the design flaws found in the first iteration, such as the deep groove that resided over the power button.  There is now a flush button that resides atop the power button that makes using it a snap.  This same design change also applies to the volume buttons.  Where there was once an open hole in the case, there’s now a pair of buttons (+/-) that sit flush on the case and respond quickly and gently to the touch.  There is still the exposed port for the volume/vibrate switch, but it’s large enough, making it easy to toggle.

Beyond that, the silver band that was wrapped around the body of the Juice Pack has changed to a gun metal black color, and the case itself is just a tad different from the dry matte finish of the band.  Other than that, the design hasn’t changed much.  However, the matte finish of the body is still rather smudgy and the whole case adds a fair amount of bulk and weight to your precious iPhone 4.  The on/off switch and USB input are still situated in the bottom left and right hand corners, and the LED display is at the bottom of the case.

The battery power is easily the most redeeming aspect of the Juick Pack Plus.  Without a doubt, it fully charges the iPhone 4.  The 2,000 mAh battery finally “packs” the punch it should and makes the Juice Pack Plus worthy of your attention.   On the day-to-day, the case was too heavy for me to use, but I liked having it laying around fully charged, especially when occasionally travelling and in need of a charge.

At a price of $99.99, some might be deterred given all the other options available on the market today, but the Juice Pack Plus is a solid contender if you’re looking for a charging experience without the hassle of wires.  However, the case could use a visit from Jenny Craig, but other than that I found it to perform as advertised (unlike the other one), and its aesthetic is complimentary to the beauty of the iPhone 4.

Amazon has the Juice Pack Plus for $99.99.

Another day another iPhone 4 battery case.  Pinned as the slimmest battery case for iPhone 4, the Snap Battery Case features a 900 mAh battery and durable hardshell construction to protect the handset.  On the back are a set of LED lights to convey battery life, while a switch controls the power.  900 mAh won’t provide a full charge to your iPhone, but should add an additional 40% of juice, at least according to InCase, which sounds conservative since that’s more than half the size of the iPhone 4′s battery.

You can snag the Snap Battery Case directly from InCase starting today for $59.95.  For a little more bang for your buck, they’re including a USB to 30-pin cable – usually these cases are mini USB to USB.

Read

Cons:

• Battery life is not up to snuff
• Smears and smudges easily
• Heavy and bulky

Battery cases are a dime a dozen these days.  Mophie was a front runner in this category a few years back and we’ve just received their newest addition in the Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 4.  A slick aesthetic with deep recessed grooves and considerable weight will instantly give you mixed feelings about sticking the Juice Pack Air in your pocket before you leave the house.  Out of the box, the silver band around the body of the case that mimics the iPhone was unattached, making me want to pick at it like a scab.  Unfortunate review copy perhaps, or just shoddy manufacturing?  Note:  I did receive a replacement unit and the siding was intact.

The features on the Juice Pack Air are implemented with style and grace, though I didn’t prefer how deep the grooves surrounding the buttons were.  They required concerted presses, often times having to go back a second time with the skinny end of my finger or thumb to actually press the button (especially the power button).  Definitely good for accidental presses, they should have been designed with a much more flush approach.  I did appreciate the spacing on the volume switch port as there was plenty of room to get in there without the need of a coke nail, like numerous other cases of this ilk.

The ascending LED’s that denote available power are situated at the bottom of the case and look and feel great.  The on/off button is tucked conveniently on the bottom left hand corner and will instantly become friends with your thumbnail.  The USB charging port is opposite to that on the bottom right and is line with the rest of the tight design finish.  While the black matte backing is a nice aesthetic component to the Juice Pack Air, it scuffed and smeared quite easily.  The sound coming through the ports was decent and actually was better for playing games and such, as your hand didn’t disrupt the flow of sound as it does normally when holding it in landscape mode.

As far as battery performance was concerned, the Juice Pack Air is stated to have a 1,500 mAh capacity.  I simply don’t believe it.  The iPhone 4 has a 1420 mAh battery and both units I tested only charged the phone to about 75-80% which was rather disappointing.  It should have charged the whole way given the specs.  All in all, the Juice Pack Air is a letdown where performance is concerned.  Another method of use which was stated in the instruction manual was to run the battery when your phone was fully charged.  I didn’t like this either as the battery then only lasted around 4-5 hours and it was on standby for the majority of that time period.

If you’re looking for a battery case that’ll save you in a pinch, the Juice Pack Air will be there for you, but don’t expect a full charge.  The protective nature of the case is pretty robust at the cost of bulk and added weight but the look and style of the case are its more selling attributes in the end.  I have had better experiences with Mophie Juice Packs in the past and this definitely isn’t their best effort in terms of battery performance.  I’ve yet to test one, but there has got to be a better case out there for the iPhone 4 that is more well rounded than the Mophie Juice Pack Air.

Buy the Mophie Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 4 from Amazon for $80.

Chinavison once again never fails to impress with their new 20,000 mAh Solar Battery.  The huge array of solar cells will be much more effective in trapping rays and may not actually take forever like virtually every other solar charger I’ve tried.

The charger comes packed with 29 unique adapter tips to satisfy almost any gadget you have in your arsenal.  Priced at $148, this charger is pretty much a steal and anybody looking to go green may want to get their hands on this now.  

[via Dvice]

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With a million and one batteries to choose from, manufacturers and companies really have to go out of their way to throw something unique into the mix.  In the case of the Richard Solo 1800, it’s the LED flashlight and laser pointer.  Obviously not revolutionary in its own right, but coupled with a decent back-up battery and dual USB car charger and you’ve got yourself a quality package.

First things first, the name is just lame.  It sounds like the name of a naughty online file you’d find where Richard engages himself at, oh around 1800.  That being said, the LED flashlight and laser pointer were handy enough and the battery itself was there when I needed it.

Aesthetically, Richard Solo isn’t anything to gaze longingly as its general shape reminded me of one of those Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies.  The device is lightweight but it comes with too many pieces.  Packed with the Solo is a retractable USB cable, an iPhone/iPod cable, and a dual USB car adapter, and a USB AC wall plug.

The retractable USB cable is pretty ramshackle and could break at a moments notice.  Pulling it back and forth never seemed to get me anywhere I wanted to be and it was usually uneven by the time I was done futzing with it.  I’ve seen this type of cord before and while the idea is fine and dandy the execution is shoddy at best.  The body of the Solo 1800 seemed robust but the connections between the various cords were too loose.  The connection is not something I’d trust inside a bag but rather somewhere isolated, where it wasn’t touching anything else, assuring a good charge.  The hold between pieces wasn’t super weak, but it’s just something I’d want to keep an eye on, especially if the timely charge of your phone is imperative.

The 1800mAh battery did well against purported charge time and I got just around 1.5 full iPhone charges before the lithium-ion was fully discharged.  So, not as big as some of the batteries we’ve seen, but the Richard Solo also performed better than most.  The discharge amount was at 1% a day so it didn’t nearly deplete as bad as say, the Technocel Powerpak.

As far as the LED flashlight and laser pointer is concerned, there’s a toggle switch underneath Richard that prevents accidental use and battery drainage.  The flashlight has a nice round bloom but don’t expect it to be awesome at spelunking.  The laser pointer has a fairly long range and is good for whatever people use laser pointers for.

When charging up Richard, the many included pieces provide for several options.  You can charge the Solo through the wall or your car while simultaneously charging your phone, but none of the pieces included let you directly charge your phone through your computer, even though you probably already have one of those cords already.

In the end, I liked the Richard Solo 1800, albeit it has crappy name and too many pieces to keep track of, it’s a solid backup battery with some nice touches via LED Flashlight and laser pointer thrown in for good measure.

If you are looking to find a competent battery to add to your scenario, the Richard Solo 1800 is fairly priced and includes almost everything you need when it comes to maintaining a charged iPhone.

Pros:

• Reliable
• Robust package
• LED Flashlight/Laser Pointer

Cons:

• Too many pieces
• Connections could be more secure
• Lame name and bland aesthetic

Buy the Richard Solo 1800 for $70!

Remember Novothink’s Surge, the first ever Apple certified solar charging battery pack?  It’s now available.  You can score one for in black or white (other colors are coming soon) for $80 for the iPhone or $70 for the iPod Touch.  Surprisingly the iPhone version has a smaller battery (1320mAH) compared to the iPod Touch version (1500mAH), but costs more.

Novothink, in their infinite amount of wisdom, also launched a free Solar Planner App that provides you with an estimate of how much sun exposure you’ll need per day for a full charge based on weather conditions and your everyday usage.

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Too bad I’ll probably never ride Sanyo’s Eneloop Bike, but that can probably be said for the majority.  In any event, the company felt it necessary to update the recently announced bicycle.  Now, instead of just capturing power during acceleration and downhill glides, the Eneloop bike will ‘sip’, as in slightly nurse, energy while riders bike on the flats to charge its on board battery system.

Ultimately, this should mean more power for those moments when you need some added momemntum from the electric drivetrain, which is when and only when the on board motor system will kick in (think hill).  Sanyo says the system is self adapting to the riders output and shouldn’t impact or increase the pedal resistance.

The new Sanyo Eneloop bikes (CY-SPL226 and CY-SPL224) will launch in Japan only on April 21st for 157,290 yen.

[via TFTS]

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Batteries, batteries, batteries. Why is it every where I turn these days someone, some where is announcing a new set of battery packs to charge your portable devices. I mean, isn’t this market saturated enough?  Well, I guess that hasn’t stopped Hypermac, who last we saw intro a set of external batteries for charging your Apple laptop – now that’s something I can swallow.

Today the company introduced the HyperMac Nano, The Hypermac Micro and HyperMac Mini.  They hold an 1800mAh, 3600mAh and 7200mAh worth of juice, respectively.  All three models are encased in aluminum and are available in “Apple’s nine Nano colors (black, silver, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) plus a darker (iPhone) black color”.  They also boasts some cool features like a magnetic base for holding their caps as well as built-in cords.

Check the ‘leap’ for the complete details

New Candy Colored Pocket-Sized HyperMac Battery Packs For iPhones, iPods And iPad At Macworld 2010.
10 Hot Colors, 3 Different Capacities, Batteries Never Looked So Sexy!
02.11.2010 – MACWORLD 2010 SAN FRANCISCO, California – Sanho Corporation (Booth #948), the company behind the award-winning HyperMac External MacBook Batteries, introduces the HyperMac Nano, HyperMac Micro and HyperMac Mini – three pocket-sized, lithium-ion battery packs for charging iPhones, iPods, iPads and other USB-powered devices on-the-go.
All three models are exquisitely encased in aluminum and available in any of Apple’s nine iPod nano colors (black, silver, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) plus a darker (iPhone) black color. Users will be spoilt for choice when choosing the right battery pack to match their iPhone or iPod.
The 1800mAh HyperMac Nano is the world’s only iPhone/iPod lithium-ion battery pack with a built-in charging cable and holds enough power to fully recharge an iPhone 1.5 times. Unlike traditional battery packs with built-in rigid connectors, the HyperMac Nano features a flexible connector cable to allow the battery to move freely from the device, instead of simply sticking out of the base of the iPhone/iPod, which increases the chance of damage to the iPhone/iPod socket.
When not in use, the male iPhone/iPod 30-pin connector sits perfectly into the female 30-pin recharging socket, and with the cap closed, the HyperMac Nano is a sleek piece of metal without any exposed slots or buttons, reminiscent of a Zippo cigarette lighter. The HyperMac Nano’s patented design also features a magnetic base to hold the cap in place during charging.
The 3600mAh HyperMac Micro holds enough power to fully charge an iPhone up to three times, while the 7200mAh HyperMac Mini can fully charge an iPhone up to six times. Both output 5V/1A power through a USB port and the user can charge any iPhone, iPod, iPad or USB-powered device with the provided iPhone/iPod and USB cables. The batteries are rechargeable via USB or wall outlet with the provided USB cable and AC adapter.
Unlike most iPhone battery packs or iPhone cases cum battery in the market, HyperMac batteries works with virtually all iPhone cases, does not add bulk or affects the antenna of the iPhone.
“iPhone users have long suffered from the iPhone’s short battery life and dull utilitarian plastic battery pack solutions,” states Daniel Chin, President of Sanho Corporation. “HyperMac will no doubt breathe a fresh air to this tired industry,” he adds. “With its striking colors and attractive non-battery-like looks, for once there will be a battery pack that appeals to both women and men alike,” he concludes.
Like its big brother, the HyperMac Nano/Micro/Mini batteries uses the same “Grade A” high-end lithium ion cells that are supplied to the U.S. military, providing unsurpassed reliability, safety and longevity. It is rechargeable up to 1,000 times and comes with a ONE-year warranty – comparing to industry standards of only 300 recharges and 3 months warranty. All HyperMac batteries also support pass through charging so the user can charge both battery and device at the same time.
The HyperMac Nano, HyperMac Micro and HyperMac Mini are now available at HyperMac.com for $69.95, $89.95 and $119.95 respectively. As a launch promotion, there is currently a $20 discount on all HyperMac Nano/Micro/Mini batteries.
Specifications
Capacity: 1800mAh (Nano), 3600mAh (Micro), 7200mAh (Mini)
Battery Chemistry: Lithium Ion
Standby Time: Up to 450 hours (Nano), 900 hours (Micro), 1800 hours (Mini)
2G Talk Time: Up to 18 hours (Nano), 36 hours (Micro), 72 hours (Mini)
3G Talk Time: Up to 7.5 hours (Nano), 15 hours (Micro), 30 hours (Mini)
Wi-Fi Internet: Up to 13.5 hours (Nano), 27 hours (Micro), 54 hours (Mini)
3G Internet: Up to 7.5 hours (Nano), 15 hours (Micro), 30 hours (Mini)
Audio Playback: Up to 45 hours (Nano), 90 hours (Micro), 180 hours (Mini)
Video Playback: Up to 15 hours (Nano), 30 hours (Micro), 60 hours (Mini)
Dimensions/Weight
Nano: 3.4 x 1.5 x 0.55″ (85 x 38 x 14mm) / 2.4 oz (67 g)
Micro: 3.7 x 2.7 x 0.6″ (94 x 69 x 16mm) / 4.7oz (134g)
Mini: 5.2 x 3.1 x 0.55″ (132 x 79 x 14mm) / 8.4oz (237g)
Input Power: 5V/500mA (Nano), 5V/1A (Micro/Mini)
Output Power: 5V/1A
For more product information and specifications, please visit:
www.HyperMac.com

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A finalist at the Greener Gadgets Design Competition, this battery tower looks to be pretty convenient.  The main problem with conventional battery chargers is that they often take up valuable outlet space.  This design incorporates a much smaller downward plug that will free up much need outlets for other appliances.

Also acting like a straw dispenser, the charging tower stacks batteries from the top to bottom and charges them accordingly.  Let’s hope this design has some auto shut off features as well.

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Battery charging is all I can really remember about CES 2010.  Everywhere I turned I saw some new fangled “awesome” way to charge your cell phone or USB gadget.  Probably the best of what I saw first hand was the Zagg Sparq.  Encompassing two USB inputs and about the size of a MacBook charger, you can essentially charge your iPhone up to 4 times thanks to its internal 6000mAh built in battery.

Boasting orange LED’s to let you how much charge is left, the Zagg Sparq is available now on Zagg’s website for an introductory price of $99.  I have yet to see just how many charges I get out of this thing, but my only gripe so far is that it’s a bit heavy.

You’d think Powermat has had enough.  Afterall they’re the first major inductive/wireless charging solution on the market with massive distrubution – they’ve sold 750,000 units since launch.  But nope, they’ve got an insatiable appetite for success.  Today the company announced a slew of new products that has everybody, including iPhone users excited.

Remember those ‘receiver’, i.e. the case necessary to make your handheld device work with the Powermat?  No more.  Powermat now offers a set of receiver batteries for more than ten models from HTC, Blackberry, Nokia, LG, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, that enable wirelessly charging without the case.  And as a sort of consolation prize, Powermat has a new silicone iPhone receiver case and an extended battery case – the latter makes a whole lot more sense.

So what else do they have up their sleeve?  Check it:

• A set of sleeker mats that comes in 1, 2 or 3 sizes (Powermat 1X, Powermat 2X & Powermat 3X).  They hope this provides consumers with more options; not everyone needs three charging positions.
• More portable mats in more sizes and they include a built-in battery requiring no outlet for charging (me likey).
• The Powermat 3X Netbook.  A mat for charging your Netbook and 2 other devices
• Powermat Car Charger.  I think it speaks for itself.

Sorry there aren’t a ton of pics but we’ll be sure to get a hands on at CES some time Thursday – Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Pocket-lint

Powermat Leads Wireless Charging with Next Generation Line

Industry Leader Expands Consumer Choice, Freedom and Convenience
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Consumer Electronics Show – Building upon the massive success of its initial product launch, Powermat – the worldwide leader in wireless charging – will unveil a wide range of new and innovative charging solutions at CES 2010, further establishing its dominance in the category.
Although a late entry into the wireless charging category, Powermat quickly established its leadership by not only being first to gain national distribution with leading retailers in the U.S. market, but more importantly by experiencing considerable success and sell-through at store level. Since its launch in mid-October of 2009, Powermat has sold in excess of 750,000 Powermat products, with most stores experiencing severe out-of-stock shortages late in the season.
The company’s newest line of wireless chargers and products expands upon its success by offering consumers additional options in both the number of devices they can wirelessly charge as well as the number of ways they can charge them.
“It’s all about freedom and convenience,” said Ron Ferber, President of Powermat. “While our initial line delivered on our promise to eliminate the hassle of plugging and unplugging allowing consumers to plug in their Powermat and simply Drop and Charge the assortment was limited to a handful of popular devices and charging environments. For 2010 we’ve taken our product line to a whole new level through the successful miniaturization of our technology to the ASIC level.
With this and other incredible advances we’ve increased the selection of devices that we’re able to wirelessly charge to include virtually every brand of handset or handheld device. At the same time we’re offering a full range of new mats that allow consumers to charge in every possible environment, no matter where they may be.
Our next generation of products takes Powermat to an unsurpassed level. In fact our technology is so mature that we are already working with many top tier OEM brands that will be launching Powermat-enabled models in 2010.”
Powermat Receivers
The Powermat Powerpak(TM) receiver provides seamless integration into virtually any phone, by allowing consumers to upgrade to wireless charging with no change to their existing phone ergonomics and design. More than 10 models from HTC, Blackberry, Nokia, LG, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson will debut at CES, but the technology can be applied to virtually any phone ensuring access to the freedom and convenience of Powermat wireless charging to consumers worldwide.
Powermat also expands its support of the iPhone 3G/3GS by introducing 2 new models; a silicone case receiver, one of the most often requested models by consumers, and an extended battery case receiver which combines the dual benefits of extended battery life and wireless charging.
Powermat Home & Office Mats
Powermat will be launching a sleek new line of single, double and triple position mats for home and office use – Powermat 1X, Powermat 2X & Powermat 3X. These new models offer a wider range of price points to a broader range of consumers; whether you’re a consumer who’s “dialed down” your handheld devices to one Smartphone, a consumer who needs to charge multiple family devices or the consumer who needs a secondary charging station. Powermat will also offer Prepack Bundles, whereby a charging mat is bundled together with a receiver; such as the Powermat 1X single position mat with iPhone Receiver Case, or Powermat 2X double position mat with Powercube.
Powermat Portable Mats
Powermat eliminates the frustration of running out of power while on the go. Embedded into both the single and double position portable mats – Powermat Portable 1X and Powermat Portable 2X is a high capacity battery, which allows users to charge their devices without the need to plug their mats into an outlet. Both portable mats also fold into a sleek carrying case for easy portability and each comes complete with a set of International plugs.
Powermat Netbook Mat
According to Gartner, netbooks are driving the growth of laptop sales, with an expected 41.4% growth margin to 41 million in 2010 (Gartner, November 24, 2009). Powermat is introducing the Powermat 3X Netbook, a complete charging solution that simultaneously charges both a netbook and 2 additional low power devices such as phones, music players, Bluetooth headset, eBooks and more. Netbooks are also beloved for their portability and the Powermat Netbook mat folds into a carrying case to maintain that convenience.
Powermat Car Charger
Powermat extends its reach to motorists by introducing the Powermat Car Charger, which eliminates the constant plugging and unplugging every time you get a call. The Powermat Car Charger wirelessly charges hundreds of devices while traveling on the road with a simple Drop & Charge(TM).
CES Related News
Ran Poliakine, CEO of Powermat, will be a panelist at Power to the People: Advances in Charging and Battery Technology on Friday, January 8 at 12:00 p.m. He will discuss advances in wireless charging technologies and what we can expect from the technology in the not so distant future.
Powermat will be on exhibit at Booth #8253 in the Central Hall of CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
About Powermat
Powermat is a complete solution for simultaneously delivering real time, wireless charging to multiple electronics including mobile phones, music players, handheld games, electronic readers, GPS devices, BT headsets, netbooks and laptops. Powermat technology has been miniaturized to a level where it can be embedded into virtually any device, as well as walls and table top surfaces. Powermat technology is fast, efficient, and safe and revolutionizes the way consumers charge and power. For more information, please go to www.powermat.com.
Powermat Sales & Marketing offices are based in Commerce Township, Michigan, with Research & Development facilities in Neve Ilan, Israel. Powermat is operated by Ron Ferber and Ran Poliakine.