Before Apple popularized the MagSafe Power adapter, we’re pretty sure you and everyone we know destroyed at least one laptop power adapter running out the door to a last minute meeting.  In fact, it’s kind of funny to see a laptop without this tech installed.  And while the Powermat, and those products alike sort of resolved this issue when it comes to charging our portable gadgets, the bulkiness, at least in our opinion, is just too much of caveat to justify the convenience.

The Zip USB multi-charging station is effectively a MagSafe charging pad compatible with all micro-USB and mini-USB products.  You just plug the compatible ZipTails into your smartphone and place it near the charging pad.  And like that the magnetic connector is magically sucked into place and charging commences.  Now we know what you’re thinking; “what’s the point?”  Consider this: your charging your phone with a good old AC adapter when a call rings on your handset.  Your natural response is to pick it up, and in turn you end up ripping, as in breaking, the the power connection.  Honestly, how many of you have wonky micro-USB connections as a result of this?  With the Zip USB the connection breaks free without damaging the charging port.

Joy Division, the maker of the Zip USB, says that no power loss occurs with their product.  The pad has 2100mA, so it can charge up to 3 smartphones, or possibly more depending on their power demands.

Included in the starter kit, which costs $79.95, are one mini USB and two micro USB receivers.  Unfortunately, they don’t currently sell an iPhone version, which is just a crying shame, but perhaps they didn’t want to incur the exuberant licensing fees and the possibility that the next iPhone will make their tech obsolete.

Until Powermat integrates their charging system into the iPhone by offering a replaceable back, I’m not really all that interested.  But something tells me it’s a bit beyond their control since I’m sure Apple didn’t wanna form a partnership, and their probably isn’t a way to cost effectively produce such a design since the iPhone’s battery is built into the device.

Nonetheless, the company has released a case that is compatible with the iPhone 4.  It’s costs $59.95 and includes a mat.

We also recently spotted a powermat cover for the EVO that sleekly integrates into the device and adds what looks like little to no bulk.

Read

Here’s a great idea I can’t believe didn’t happen sooner. This coffee table, constructed out of white enamel and orange translucent acrylic, features a variety of charging ports for you and your friends that are visiting. There are concealed ports including USB, electrical, and an iPod dock. And it’s got a nice, modernist design too, by designer Joseph Reed. Not sure what this costs yet, but expect it to hit soon.

Read

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]

Read

While I don’t think it’s as cool looking as the Xbox 360 Power Pyramid Charger, the Wii PowerV QUAD Inductive Charging and Storage Dock is at the very least an affordable and reaonsably attractive charging stand for your Wiimotes.  For $50 you get the stand and four 800mAh batteries that can be charged just by laying the cold hard plastic into its clutches.  Two LED lights indicate charging status: red for charging, blue for complete.  It should ship in 2 to 4 weeks.

Read

I’m not totally sold on all this consumer grade solar charging stuff.  I just takes too damn long for me to really care at this point.  Looking forward however, comes the Muzatch SP 6000 Solar Laptop Charger.  Jamming a massive 12,000mAh battery into an eye catching package, the Muzatch SP 6000 uses updated solar technology to convert more rays more efficiently at a faster pace.

Currently priced at $150, the Muzatch SP 6000 also features an intelligent adaptive voltage distribution system to charge an array of laptop computers.  No word on Mac compatibility.  Looks nice!

Read

Ugh.  This thing is lame looking.  While Tommy Hilfiger might have been the first designer to boldly display his name on his clothing, this Solar Vest might as well be the last.  Perhaps if I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name this Solar Vest’s visual flair wouldn’t come to mind, but until that happens I can never wear this.

At any rate, the Solar Vest easily makes up for its lack of style with effective charge-a-bility.  Using the four very visible solar panels to charge the hefty 8.8Ah battery pack stored in the left hand pocket,  you can use the 8 power adapter tips and 7 connectors to charge your gear at 5V, 6V, 9V and 12-20V.

Very versatile indeed.  Drop $126 and this beacon of awesome can be all yours.  From the masterminds at ChinaVision.

Read

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.

Read

My roommate absolutely loathes clutter with an undying eternal passion.  To help him with that constant anxiety is the Bahem (sounds like a clear your throat noise, probably intended) Clutter Free Storage Table from HotSnow.

Looking an sounding like an IKEA product, the Bahem effectively “pseudo”  hides everything but the end of the wire and the connected gadget.  Only in the design process as of now, I’m sure this is just the first of many furniture designs to incorporate the never ending cell phone and gadget charging debacle.

You like?

Read

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.

Powermat’s hold on the wireless charging market isn’t about to get unseated anytime soon, but if that option proves too expensive, or perhaps a tad too snazzy then there is always iDapt, a poor man’s Powermat…sort of.  Actually, it has little in common with Powermat except that it uses a single stand to charge a multitude of devices.

Instead of a wireless or inductive charging, the iDapt stands feature up to 4 modular ports that accept a wide variety of charging tips, making them compatible with up to 3,500 products. Course you’ll need to purchase additional inputs, that is assuming the 6 included aren’t a fit with your products.

The iDapt stands start at $34.95, while the adapter go for $9.99 a pop.

Read

Last week Powermat finally went retail with their wireless charging offering, and within a few days yet another contender has emerged on the market.  From the folks at Gear4 comes the PowerPad.  It’s not clear if it too uses inductive charging, or takes a similar route to that of the Wild Charge, but one thing is for sure: it’s built specifically for the iPhone.

Aesthetically it doesn’t look half bad and here’s hoping that it’s cheaper than Powermat’s setup, though they offer compatibility with a greater number of mobile devices.  Expect more info to arrive sometime in November, with a preorder kicking off 10/15 and official retail launch sometime in December.

BTW, don’t confuse this with Nintendo’s offering…from the 80s.  Commercial after the ‘leap’

[via Techdigest]

Read

The dreams of Telsa have yet to be fully realized, but that hasn’t stopped a many of a company from releasing products that lay claim to ‘wireless or wire-free charging’.  But alas, until that day is upon us we’ll have to settle with a variation there of, such as the WildCharger’s Pad and Skins.

The concept is straightforward: you wrap your mobile device in a rubber skin that contains 5 over sized pin head like contact points on its back.  When the device is laid upon the WildCharge Pad, which is plugged into an AC outlet, its contact points form a connection and suck down electricity. I use an iPhone, so the Skin contains a dock connector to transfer energy to the phone’s battery.

Safety is of a paramount concern with any device, especially with ones that involve electricity.  While I didn’t drag my tongue across the Pad’s surface I did place my hand on it while it was plugged in and a device was charging.  I received no shock and can honestly say that the device is safe.

The Wildcharge Skin did add some bulk to my iPhone, especially at the base where the dock connector juts out, and on the back where the contact points reside.  For every day carrying I didn’t mind the added bulk and actually liked how the rubber skin provided some added protection.  When it came time to minimizing my pocket bulk, though, I removed the Wildcharge ‘skin’ since it was just enough to be annoying and aesthetically disrupting to my pant leg.  Fortunately, it’s simple enough to resinstall the skins, but it takes a bit of pushing and pulling since the dock connector needs to be inserted first.

From an efficiency stand point the Wildcharge device charged my iPhone in the same amount of time as Apple’s AC plug.  When placed on the pad not only does the iPhone sound the familiar charging tone, but the Wildcharge pad displays a glowing blue LED light (it’s so bright it will light up part of a dark room).  I have my concerns to how much power the WildCharge Pad draws when not in use, but compared to some of my other devices in my apartment (e.g. Plasma TV, computer, microwave, etc), it’s a rather moot point.  So all you crazy greenies, you can just as soon unplug the device when not in use, although it will defeat its purpose.

At the end of the day I’m still not sold on a ‘wire free’ charging device.  Recently a consortium was formed to help set a standard, but until every manufacture decides to jump on the band wagon were going to end up with numerous after market devices, such as the Wild Charge.  And as far as I can tell it’s just as good as any other.  I’m not jaw dropped by the design, and although it lacks the spit and polish of Powermat’s offering, it gets the exact same job done at almost half the cost.

Pros:

• Easy to use out of the box
• Rubber skins provides protection
• Inexpensive compared to competition

Cons:

• Adds bulk and length to iPhone
• Always plugged in – uses power nonstop
• No wow factor technology

You can grab a bundle deal here for $80.

We just got our hands on the Powermat!  The packaging is very polished and the Powermat kit includes a unverisal adapter for all your products as well as a carrying case.  Unfortunately, they didn’t send over an iPhone compatible skin, but did manage include two Blackberry receivers, which replace the battery door, adding very little bulk to the handset.  Check the quick hands on video below and expect a review in a few weeks time.

Hit the ‘leap’ for a ton more pics

While we anxiously await Powermat‘s offering and Apple to embed a solution directly into the iPhone, Wildcharge has officially announced the availability of their wireless charging solution for iPods and iPhones.  Much like Powermat, a ‘skin’ containing the necessary components is attached to the iPhone and when placed onto a Wildcharge pad begin to charge sans wires.  Of course, the pad has to be plugged into the wall and it is said that inductive charging, the technology currently behind today’s wireless charging isn’t as efficient as the traditional method, which of course gets all the watch dog groups in a huff.  The iPhone Wildcharge wireless charging solution ships in early July while you can pick up the iPod version now for the same price of $34.99.  Or you can opt for the bundle, which is $79.99.

Read

Full release after the ‘leap’

Wire-Free Charging for the iPhone and iPod touch Now Available from WildCharge
Anxiously awaited skins first to provide wire-free charging for the popular Apple devices

(Boulder, Colo. – June 23, 2009) – WildCharge Inc., the leader in wire-free power technology, announces today the availability of WildCharge Skins™ for the iPhone and the iPod touch. Consumers and licensing partners have been anxiously awaiting the skins, which enable the popular Apple devices to be charged by simply placing them on the WildCharger Pad™, or on other surfaces that are embedded with the WildCharge technology, where they will begin charging immediately. The iPhone and iPod touch skins add to a growing list of WildCharge solutions that enable wire-free charging for a variety of portable devices. The iPhone skin is compatible with all iPhone models, including the new 3G S.

“The market is demanding a move towards wire-free charging, and WildCharge is thrilled to answer that call by adding Apple devices to our lineup of commercially available products,” said WildCharge chairman and CEO Dennis Grant. “With the addition of these two ‘Made for iPod’ and ’Works with iPhone’ approved designs to our reference design library, WildCharge is solidifying our position as the leading wire-free charging developer in the industry.”

The WildCharge Skins are durable, protective, form-fitting cases that when placed on the WildCharger Pad, transfer wire-free power from the Pad to the device inside the skin. The soft cases provide the same protection consumers already enjoy from traditional skins, but have the added value and convenience of enabling a wire-free charge. The WildCharger Pad, used in conjunction with the skins, delivers full power to multiple devices, allowing them to simultaneously charge together on the Pad while eliminating the clutter caused by multiple chargers and power cords. The iPod touch skin is available for order today and the iPhone skin will be available in early July. WildCharge Skins are also available for the Blackberry Pearl and Curve, and all are sold for $34.99 at WildCharge.com.

In addition to the Skins, WildCharge recently announced a Universal Adapter for mobile devices that works with the WildCharger Pad. The Universal Adapter is able to charge over 150 different cell phone models from major brands such as Motorola, RIM, and Nokia through the use of interchangeable tips, with the list of compatible devices constantly expanding.

WildCharge provides the only commercially available technology that enables licensing partners to deliver wire-free charging to a variety of devices that require varying amounts of power. From cell phones that require only a few watts of power to laptops that need over a hundred watts, virtually any device that has a rechargeable battery can be powered from a single, contiguous, and non-discriminating charging surface. WildCharge technology has met the industry’s most stringent regulatory and safety standards, including UL, CE, FCC, RoHS, and has been certified across all of the GSM bands.  WildCharge enables licensees to bring new items to market quickly and cost effectively through its reference design library, which features wire-free products that have been conceived, engineered and tooled with a pre-established supply chain.

About WildCharge
WildCharge is a Boulder, CO based company that is revolutionizing power delivery to portable electronic devices by commercializing – through licensing partnerships – its proven, wire-free power technology. WildCharge is the first company to offer commercially available wire-free charging technology that works with multiple devices across multiple brands. WildCharge’s Technology Licensing Program provides the design and manufacturing guidance allowing original equipment/design manufacturers to quickly and cost effectively integrate highly efficient, wire-free, technology into their products. For more information on WildCharge products and licensing capabilities, go to www.wildcharge.com.

Later next month (Amazon says June 1st) Energizer will release a charging stand that uses induction technology to juice up your Wiimotes.  Induction you say? Yup, you won’t have to remove rubber sleeves and accessories of the same ilk to power up the system’s controllers.  Just place the Wiimotes on the dock and they’ll start to tax the proverbial grid accordingly.  But, much like Powermat, which we saw at CES this year, you’ll have to retrofit a special case or charging pack to take advantage of the tech and apparently induction charging takes longer than an AC plug.  Expect it to cost $50 when it goes on sale.

[via thanks, TK]

Read

We’ve already seen wireless charging from PowerMat. Now along comes a competitor and from what little I can garner from their site and videos, they’re essentially offering the same thing. Unlike the PowerMat, Ecoupled appears to be destined for custom installs (homes), commercial applications (work benches) and those in public service (police). Regardless, the race for wireless power is on!

Official site here

What is it: A wireless charging solution for multiple gadgets.

Features: Uses “Magnetic Induction” to transfer energy wirelessly to portable devices such as iPhones, PSP’s, Laptops, etc. For any gadget under 100 watts, a receiver is attached to the device. Anything that is above 100 watts, such as a laptop, will use a retractable attachment that connects magnetically to the mat. Other uses include being able to use them under a counter top for kitchen appliances or in a wall powering TV’s, lights, and such. Once manufacturers get on board and install the receivers with in their devices, PowerMat will dominate

Price: Mat for $100, receivers for $30

Street Date: Q4 2009