HYmini alternative power source specs and pricing revealed

Upstart MINIWIZ managed to attract our attention with its HYmini alternative power source last fall, but it unfortunately didn't have all the specs we could have asked for or, more importantly, a price. In case you missed it, the HYmini device itself makes use of wind power to recharge the integrated battery, which in turn can be used to charge your various gadgets. If wind's not an option, however, you can also make use of the optional solar panel, or simply plug it into an outlet and power it up the old fashioned way. As MINIWIZ has now revealed, the device also comes with five different connectors to accommodate most anything in your gadget bag, and you'll be able to snag a bike or armband kit to make full use of that wind power. If that sounds like what you've been waiting for, you can grab the basic HYmini package now for $50, with the solar panel running an extra $25 and the bike and armband kits demanding $9 and $15, respectively.

[Via SlashGear]

[Carbonize @ Feb 4th 2008 5:22PM]

"and you'll be able to snag a bike ... kit"

Wouldn't it make more sense if you want to power something whilst on your bike to use something like the good old fashioned Dynamo?


I'm quite surprised that nobody has yet made a Dynamo style bike light that can charge a battery when the lights are not on so that if you are stopped at lights the bike lights stay on.

[SimonRichards @ Feb 4th 2008 5:44PM]

Or get 8 of these and put them in a row on the handlebars :P

I think that would beat a dynamo :)

And these don't increase the resistance of the wheel.

[Carbonize @ Feb 4th 2008 6:26PM]

No they just increase your drag.

[aguiluz @ Feb 4th 2008 7:01PM]

I got an Idea!

Mount one of these in your shorts and get closer to a full charge every time you fart.

(Sarcasm)

[Carbonize @ Feb 4th 2008 7:12PM]

Not really that sarcastic. Somewhere in this world a scientist is trying to find a way of harnessing energy from methane. Given how much cows fart farmers could be on to a windfall.

[turn_self_off @ Feb 4th 2008 7:39PM]

heh, sadly one cant reply to a reply here so this is the closest one get.

ever watched mad max? there they powered a city on methane from pig dung. and i know cow dung is being used as a "liquid" fertilizer some places, and that stuff has to be aired so as to not build up to much methane.

sadly, no amount of cow dung or similar will ever be enough to power the worlds ever-growing need for energy sources.

[Carbonize @ Feb 4th 2008 7:44PM]

Yes that was Mad Max 3 - Beyond Thunderdome. But could imagine if we could get energy from methane? Americans energy problems would be over with the amount of shit their president spouts.

[Drew @ Feb 5th 2008 2:16AM]

@Carbonize:
"Somewhere in this world a scientist is trying to find a way of harnessing energy from methane."

Are you serious? Do you know what natural gas is?

[Carbonize @ Feb 5th 2008 2:35AM]

Do you know what sarcasm is?

It was a fart joke, plain and simple.


( btw whilst natural gas is mostly methane it is not pure methane ;) )

[soviet_vexxer @ Feb 4th 2008 5:35PM]

so do i have to let this sit in the sun or wind for an hour to get an extra 15 minutes out of my notebook. couldn't i buy a rechargeable box of some sort (i've seen such things) and bypass the fan/solar panel all together.

[Khris @ Feb 4th 2008 5:42PM]

I don't think this is really geared towards powering a notebook. It's more for cell phones, ipods, etc. Lower current devices.

[John @ Feb 4th 2008 5:44PM]

Nifty for bikers, but I can't imagine how effective the armband might be

[Twist @ Feb 4th 2008 5:52PM]

So how many of these would I need to turn a Telsa into a perpetual motion machine?

[ClaMs @ Feb 4th 2008 8:46PM]

Divide 1 by 0

[alitman @ Feb 4th 2008 6:00PM]

so, if I need to charge my phone, i would strap this thing to my car's roof rack, and drive around for a couple of hours, and then Ill have power stored in that thingy to charge my phone.. Sounds good to me.. :)

[slumcat @ Feb 4th 2008 6:17PM]

Except the slight increase in drag would cause a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, thus you're paying for your "free" power with gasoline that certainly isn't free. May as well just buy a $10 cable and plug it into the dash.

It's different for a bike or while running, because the cost of drag is really just a slight increase in effort on the part of the biker/runner, which is essentially free.

[slumcat @ Feb 4th 2008 6:20PM]

P.S. - Having re-read, my sarcasm meter may be broken. If so, my bad.

[Paul Walker @ Feb 4th 2008 6:09PM]

Some specs about how much power it can generate/store would be nice.

[Spyvie @ Feb 4th 2008 6:48PM]

Not only the specs, but a photo showing the relative size would be nice.

[Reader @ Feb 4th 2008 7:06PM]

Cool in concept, but don't see it being all that useful in reality.

[strikertp @ Feb 4th 2008 7:14PM]

Is HYmini an ideal name for a product?

"Hey what's that?"
"It's a HYmini"
"a hymeni? errr... *awkward silence"

[bioslug @ Feb 4th 2008 11:23PM]

lol...

[bioslug @ Feb 4th 2008 11:25PM]

lol...

[marovada @ Feb 4th 2008 11:39PM]

Talking of wind, I have a product called the "fartinator" which powers all of my devices.

[djaj26 @ Feb 4th 2008 11:50PM]

just what i need to power my ipod in the coming apocalypse!

[AceMcLoud @ Feb 5th 2008 4:27AM]

The soundtrack is all what counts ;-)

[Quito @ Feb 5th 2008 4:26AM]

Yes, but will it blend?

[immatur3 but cmon @ Feb 5th 2008 5:09AM]

they have got to go back to the drawing board with these names "HYmini" ok so they are breaking new ground but this reminds me too much of what i used to have

[giftgadgetgateway @ Feb 5th 2008 8:32AM]

I wonder how long will the battery last if left unused. There's a type of rechargeable battery; product of Uniross, called 'hybrio' which maintains the charges up to 90% if left unused for years.

Unique Gift Gadgets

[Royce @ Feb 5th 2008 10:13AM]

Or you could just blow on it, like in this video: http://blog.laptopmag.com/hands-on-with-hyminis-wind-charger

And it seems to really charge a Blackberry 8830

[Royce @ Feb 5th 2008 10:13AM]

It seems to work when you blow on it:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/hands-on-with-hyminis-wind-charger

[Royce @ Feb 5th 2008 10:14AM]

It seems to work when you blow on it:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/hands-on-with-hyminis-wind-charger

[John Monteith @ Feb 6th 2008 11:59AM]

Mmm ... hymen-y.

Sorry.

[gabe @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:16AM]

Guys.... I think this is a great invention. I know this post is outdated by now but you guys should seriosuly check out the website now. www.hymini.com. They launched the new addition (miniSOLAR), it's bassically a solar panel(s) that can be hooked onto the hymini and charge power to the hymini. It's extremely efficient! I bought one set for myself three months ago, been loving it like no other!