Callpod gives us another cool charger

The Chargepod V2 can power multiple gadgets at once and act as a USB hub for data transfers.

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features

Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).

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Kent German

Jan. 9, 2010 10:46 a.m. PT

LAS VEGAS--I've not been shy about admitting that I'm a big fan of Callpod's Chargepod. I've taken it on many trips and I love that I can charge my camera, cell phone, and MP3 player simultaneously. But not only that: leaving all those individual chargers at home saves room in my suitcase.

At CES the company raised the bar a bit higher, with the debut of the Chargepod V2. Like the first Chargepod, the V2 can power multiple gadgets at once, but it also includes adapters for powering your laptop (both Macs and PCs) and it has a three-port USB hub for transferring data between devices or for connecting peripherals.

At 5.2 inches wide by 4.88 inches long by 1.34 inches deep, the V2 is designed to be portable. It's covered in a black plastic skin and weighs 11.4 ounces. Small LED lights let you know a device is connected.

The V2 isn't cheap ($199), but it offers a lot of parts in the box. Besides the V2 base unit, you'll find a PC/MAC laptop data cable, two laptop power adapters, two device adapters, an extension cable, a power cable, worldwide plug adapters, a car charger cable, and a carrying case. When fully loaded, you can charge up to eight gadgets at once.

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