Rechargeable USB battery works in AA-ready devices
By Darren Murph 
posted October 16th 2007 11:17AM
posted October 16th 2007 11:17AM
[Thanks, Erie]
posted October 16th 2007 11:17AM
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That's exactly it. Say you have these things in your camera, and you forget to get batts but you do have a computer. You could theoretically charge up and be on the go w/out any charger at all.
Now I seriously doubt at this price they could run a modern digital camera, nor would I want to try and charge 4 of these babies at once, but if you have a grab and go device that takes just 2 AA, these worth considering.
these things have been out for a couple years now.
Excellent. 4 hours and I have to jam up my USB ports. That's MUCH better than my 15 minute 4-spot charger with 4 batteries for $22.
usbcell.com had this ages ago and they have nicer design with the hinge cap.
4 hour recharging time!! How inneffient!
I'll stick to my 1 hour 8 cell charger. It can charge 8 2000mAah AA batteries in 1 hour! I need my precious USB ports for Hard drives, DVD Burner, SD Card reader, BlueTooth dongle, Scanner, LifeDrive and many other computer related devices!
Then these obviously weren't made with you in mind, so you don't actually have to take the time to write about why you won't be buying them! Gasp!
I can comment on whatever I want to. I am just pointing out the major flaws with this design.
It is called Freedom of Speech. ;)
These were stupid a year ago, and they still seem pretty stupid to me. (But slightly less than before.) The phrase that comes to mind is "a solution looking for a problem".
At least the recharge time is down from 8+ hours to 4 hours.
Where am I supposed to find a USB port to charge this thing?
If it's a desktop computer, then there's normal electrical outlets right there.
If it's a laptop, then I don't want to be wasting my laptop's battery charging these things. Or do I plug the laptop in and leave it running as a $1000 incredibly inefficient charger for AA batteries? At least one commenter said his laptop will charge via USB when it's off, but I don't think that is typical.
How many devices do you own that still use AA batteries? In my office I have a Radica 20-questions ball (TOY) and that's it. At home? A flashlight and a Yahtzee game.
With the round shape, I can only fit 2 of them into my current laptop and that will "block" my other 2 USB ports in the process. Yippee.
And you're totally screwed if you lose that "cap" that covers up the USB plug.
I have bought USBCell batteries a while ago. But I haven't really used them, lol.
It's a good technology, I guess.
I would lose the top for sure.
They should make a version where the top is not removable and slides down.
I don't understand, can you chain these together and piggy-back them somehow? Who's got the time to charge batteries ONE BY ONE?
Wow, these look like some decent knock-offs. From the looks, these actually seem to be better than the original. Too bad you can only charge one battery at a usb port and with that thickness, it might block USB ports too close to the one it's charging from.
They should make USB batteries that also stores data! Maybe you can use them for readyboost while charging them.
Now add 1 GB of storage to each cell.
I bought these and they probably have the best Engrish I've ever seen.
"When battery capacity insufficiency, takes down the the battery the nearcathode black to be partial, reveals the battery the usb connection , inserts the computerthe usb place already to be possible charge, duration of charging 4 hours
NOTE: befre the use please confirmed the battery cathode. please hastilyopens the soltuon battery,the electric appliance does not need to besupposed for long time to take out the battery,the battery hastily invests in the fire."
I don't know what it means but it sounds scary.