charger

Better Energy Systems, maker of the sun-powered Solio gadget charger, snagged $5 million from TBL Capital on Monday.

The Berkeley, Calif., company produces the petal-shaped, fold-up Solio for powering iPhones, digital cameras, MP3 players, GPS, and other mobile devices. Its unique design often turns heads at trade shows.

"Almost half the world's population has limited access to consistent electricity; Solio not only offers an advanced solution to that inequity, but does so in an entirely sustainable manner," Joe Marshall, principal at TBL Capital, said in a statement.

The Solio's lithium ion battery is meant to take … Read more

If there's a gadget that symbolizes urban living, it might well be something like the "BodyGard Survivor."

As its name implies, this handheld item from Swiss Tech serves as a personal security device that will fire off a high-decibel sonic alarm and flash ultra-bright LEDs when activated by the panic button, according to Gadget Grid. The survivor half of the equation comes into play with its compass and hand-cranked generator, which can be used to power a cell phone or laptop that's gone dead.

Of course, depending on where you live, there are other alternatives that … Read more

We really don't know what to make of this gadget, for a variety of reasons. First there's the odd combination of features--memory card reader, flash drive, USB charger, and a UV counterfeit money detector, of all things. Then there's the $9.99 price, which can barely buy a keychain these days. But weirdest of all is the design: a ladybug.

One can't help but wonder what goes through the mind of an engineer who comes up with something like this. Actually, it's probably just as well that this twisted thought process isn't applied to … Read more

You've been driving a hybrid car (good for you, by the way!) and eating veggie burgers, and yet still don't feel environmentally conscious enough? Well, you are probably not alone. And now there's a way for your life style to get even greener: the Medis 24/7 fuel cell powered flashlight/charger.

The lengthy name says it all, this is a flashlight and a charger kit that's powered by one Medis fuel cell. The cell can provide enough power for the flashlight to be used, on a "real world" basis, for up to six … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--Oh, what a tangled web we weave when plugging in and powering personal electronics whose chargers are so varied that they typically end up balled up in rat's nests beneath our desks.

Help, albeit slow, is on the way, according to members of consumer electronics companies, green-tech start-ups, and venture capital firms at the Alliance for Universal Power Supplies conference Friday.

Attendees charging ahead to create power supplies that cause fewer headaches and wasted energy found hope when Westinghouse announced that it will support standards from start-up Green Plug, whose Greentalk protocol enables devices and power sources to &… Read more

These always sell out fast, so I'll cut right to the chase: Buy.com has the Black & Decker Pocket Power on sale for $10 shipped -- no rebates required.

This portable, rechargeable battery pack promises up to four hours of extra power for your mobile electronics: cell phones, iPods, digital cameras, etc. Just plug in your regular USB or AC charger and you've got juice. (On the plus side, that means no "tips" to manage, as with other portable chargers. However, it also means you have to bring along your power/USB cables.)

For 10 … Read more

Apple has taken a shine to using solar cells in its mobile devices.

A patent application, unearthered by MacRumors.com, describes technology to integrate solar cells into portable devices. The named inventors of the patent application are Apple employees, some of whom are iPod engineers.

Using small solar panels to charge portable devices is nothing new; there are several such products already available. Apple appears to be trying to innovate in the integration of the solar cells into a portable device.

Rather than make a separate charger, Apple engineers have sought to package solar cells right into the device in … Read more

Recently, I started to become fascinated with portable solar chargers/batteries. Something about being able to charge up my many gadgets anywhere the sun is shining appeals to me. (Of course, I'd have to actually remember all the necessary USB cables as well, but no matter.) It's not as if I'm some huge outdoorswoman, but my inherent paranoia about getting myself into a sticky and potentially lethal situation in the middle of nowhere gives me an appreciation for survival gadgetry. Clearly, I've lived in the city too long and watched/read one too many horror stories (… Read more

Let's say you're a road warrior who's always running out of batteries but doesn't have the biceps to keep your gadgets juiced and ready at all times. Here's a way to take care of those needs with a power supply that looks just like a briefcase so no one will be the wiser.

Inside the "Solar Briefcase" are two solar panels that produce 13 watts of power, OhGizmo says. That's enough to recharge a mobile phone in an hour or so, when the sun's at its peak. If you're a … Read more