In-car charger presents four USB ports alongside cigarette socket
By Darren Murph 
posted August 12th 2008 8:16PM
posted August 12th 2008 8:16PM
[Via Coolest Gadgets]
posted August 12th 2008 8:16PM
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There is something like this at Wal-Mart but it's only 12 bucks
Look, I didn't spend 15hrs in line to get an iPhone 3G (White) to just walk into the local Walmart. This piece of consumer electronic tells everyone around me that I'm of a certain upper echelon. Yes, I have arrived.
Pfft. I laugh at your Walmart.
on the other end of the spectrum
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/BlackFridayRuler/walmart.jpg
There are many AC power inverters for vehicles that have USB ports for charging included.. I just picked one up from Staples the other day.
not bad, but the dollar store by me still has these instock, and you cant beat that price, even though its only one USB.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.688
Using Power inverters to power laptops in cars always struck me as slightly ridiculous. Convert 12v DC into 100-240v AC only to have the laptop adaptor convert it back to low voltage DC. Surely this is massively wasteful, there must be a better way of dealing with the cigarette lighter output.
BTW: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/12878.htm?referer=FR_PROD-PR-P-12878 is pretty much exactly what you describe.
This charger is nice - I like those 4USBs - but I prefer this one I saw in a store earlier this week:
http://us.kensington.com/html/13884.html
USB and a standard US power socket...
Oh, right, and I suppose you want to ruin Christmas too?
Way to go, Cynic Man
Batteries will always be DC, so there will have to be an inverter to make an AC 110V outlet.
Well, I smoke in my car - but I don't use the cig lighter. However, there are devices which still use it for power (such as my inverter)
My inverter is plugged in all the time, and I have never had a flat battery from it - I think the cigarette lighter in my car (and most others) only works when the car is running or in ACC on the ignition....therefore no flat battery.
yes you will see a lot of these devices in hospitals around the world,... after being removed from patients %^$ for "accidentally" sitting on it
Yes you are correct Alex. Also as I stated earlier, plenty of cars already offer household current. As far as running down the battery, many cars have built in power management to prevent this. It isn't that difficult.
Just curious. How many of you drive cars with ice-white interiors?
Looking around the carpark I can see a Volvo stationwagon with a sort of light grey dashboard.
How about car accessories that match the inside of an actual car?
(Yes that would mean producing a tan coloured one for the Alfa in the corner.)
Personally, the story written by Engadget doesn't come close to the hard-hitting, grammatically correct masterpiece on this device's website:
"Of course, you may buy a Cigar Socket Splitter, but in doing so, you need to put some stickers somewhere inside your car or even put some nails into your car. It has no problems if your car just cost you some hundreds, if you car cost you some ten thousands, will you still consider to put stick, nails to your car?"
BTW, abonstu, you have your wish. They're current out of stock, but replacements will come in black.
+ly