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Mercedes’ 350e 4MATIC EQ extends EV-only range to 26 miles
Mercedes has jumped into EVs in a big way with its EQ lineup, but realistically, it's going to be selling a lot more hybrid vehicles in the near term. To that end, the German automaker has unveiled the all-new GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ that uses its third generation of hybrid tech. The biggest update over the last generation is a 13.5 kWh battery, up from 8.5 kWh. That will allow it to go up to 26 miles in all electric mode (WLPT range) before the 208 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine needs to kick in.
Tesla granted tariff exemption on Japanese aluminum for battery cells
Tesla has won an exemption from paying the 10 percent tariffs placed on imported aluminum from Japan. It filed a request with the Commerce Department in April for a tariff exclusion on 10 million kilograms of the metal per year from Nippon Light Metal Co for battery cells made in the Nevada Gigafactory. The department approved it this month.
AT&T portable battery will charge both your Apple Watch and iPhone
Apple's AirPower charging mat may be a no-show, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck if you want a multi-device charger from a big-name brand. Entries at both the FCC and the Wireless Power Consortium have revealed that AT&T is working on the Power Drum, a portable wireless charger and battery bank meant to top up both an Apple Watch and a recent iPhone (or really, any Qi-compatible smartphone). While the concept isn't completely novel, it's very compact -- the biggest issue is the 3,000mAh battery, which could handle an overnight stay but not much more.
Anker built two Nintendo Switch-optimized battery packs
Playing the Nintendo Switch in portable mode is incredibly convenient, but the short battery life can leave users wanting. Today, Anker announced two new battery packs that are optimized for fast charging the Nintendo Switch. One is a $70, 13400mAh pack that provides up to 10 hours of additional play time. The other allows for 15 additional hours of play time with a 20100mAh battery, retailing for $90. Both devices look quite sleek, like all of Anker's products, and are branded with the Nintendo Switch logo.
Tesla batteries will live longer than expected, survey finds
Tesla batteries retain over 90 percent of their charging power after 160,000 miles, according to data gathered by a Dutch-Belgium Tesla owners group. According to its survey of over 350 owners, the EVs dropped about 5 percent of their capacity after 50,000 miles, but lose it at a much slower rate after that. If the trend holds, most Tesla vehicles will still have 90 percent capacity after around 300,000 km (185,000 miles), and 80 percent capacity after a whopping 800,000 km (500,000 miles).
You won't be able to upgrade the Nintendo Switch's battery
Apart from the odd leak, we still don't know a lot about Nintendo's next game console. We know it has NVIDIA graphics. We know it can convert from a traditional TV set-up to a more portable one. Unfortunately, that's about where our verifiable knowledge ends -- or at least it did. A new filing at the FCC has added one more piece to the Switch puzzle: we now know that the device will probably ship with a non-removable battery.
Samsung's stylish mobile accessories are launching worldwide
What you see above is Samsung's suite of stylish accessories, each meant to be paired with a smartphone or tablet for entertainment and functional purposes. Up until today, the company had only offered these products in South Korea, but starting in November they'll arrive at select markets worldwide. There are six peripherals total, including a wireless charging tray, a battery pack, a Bluetooth LED light, in-ear headphones and two wireless speakers (one of which features 360-degree audio). Naturally, these have one thing in common, and that's their sleek, minimalist design.
The best USB battery packs
By Mark Smirniotis This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. We brought in almost 50 pounds of batteries and tested them in a specialist lab in Vancouver, British Columbia, to find the best USB battery pack for any situation. If you need a pocketable pack to get through an evening out, we recommend the TravelCard Charger because our previous top pocketable pick, the AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank with Micro USB Cable 2,000 mAh, is inconsistently available. If you need a unit to leave in your bag to keep your device going for a busy day of meetings, pick up the EasyAcc 6000mAh Ultra Slim Power Bank. If you need to charge your phone repeatedly, grab the larger AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank 16,100 mAh, and if you require a pack that can power a bagful of devices for a full day, buy the RAVPower 26800 mAh Xtreme Portable Charger.
'Better Re' Kickstarter finds a use for old cellphone batteries
Better Re hasn't exactly smashed through the boundaries and who even knows if designer Enlighten is here to stay, but it did exceed its $50,000 Kickstarter goal for a project that's on the greener side of things. The idea is that the Better Re will repurpose the battery from your old smartphone (so long as it's of the removeable sort) into an external power source for your phone, tablet and from the looks of it, even your laptop. The pitch video claims that at the average rate we typically replace our smartphones -- every two years -- their batteries still are about 80 percent efficient. That's quite a bit of wasted and unharnessed power that could serve a purpose instead of us mining for more lithium as demand increases. So, for $39 you can tap into that energy and use it to get extra time out of your gadgets.
Mophie introduces new battery cases for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
It was only a matter of time before Mophie made one of its popular battery cases for the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Today, at CES 2015, that time has come. Long known for its line of battery "juice packs" for Apple handsets, Mophie has announced not one, not two, but three different battery cases for the latest iPhones. The Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 6 packs in more than 100 percent of additional battery; the Juice Pack Plus promises more than 120 percent, but is slightly thicker; and last but not least is the phablet-sized Juice Pack for the iPhone 6 Plus, which Mophie tells us is the thinnest battery case it's ever made. It does, however, only offer 60 percent of extra battery power.
Native Union's Jump charging cable can juice up your devices on the go
It only took a little over 24 hours for Native Union's Jump, a charging cable with a built-in battery pack for juicing up on the go, to reach its funding on Kickstarter. Still, the company hasn't abandoned its booth here at CES to go out and celebrate, so we dropped in and laid some paws on the accessory. In case you need a recap, Jump consists of a central hub which contains an 800mAh battery, one braided cable with a Lightning adapter (or micro-USB) at the end, and another with a USB plug. The hardware is lightweight, easily pocketable and feels quite sturdy. Even the cords themselves feel like they can withstand a significant amount of wear and tear. While at first sight, the cables might appear as if they retract, they simply wrap around the central box and fit into small grooves. stretched from end to end, the contraption measures up at roughly 18 inches in length. On the face of the gadget sit a trio of lights that indicate the built-in battery level when a button on its rear is pressed. Not only does the device feel solid, but it's also quite smart. When plugged in, it'll make sure the gear you've connected will be charged up before topping off its own battery. While Jump will be available for $50 when it launches in May, you can snag it now through its already-successful Kickstarter campaign for $40.
Mophie Space Pack for iPhone is a battery case with built-in storage
Mophie's line of Juice Packs and Powerstations has proven invaluable to anyone who needs their handsets to keep on ticking from dawn 'til dusk, especially at a show like CES. Now the company behind those popular external batteries has introduced the Space Pack, a battery case for the iPhone that also incorporates built-in storage. Designed for the iPhone 5 and the 5s, the Space Pack not only packs a 1,700mAh backup battery, it also comes in either 16GB or 32GB iterations that could potentially double or triple your iPhone's storage capacity. Any file type can be stored and managed on it, from photos and videos to your iTunes library. Mophie also introduced a free iOS app called Space that organizes the files into easy-to-view Collections so you can see what's stored in your Space Pack. The 16GB version retails for $149.95 while the 32GB version will cost you $179.95. So if you've ever been stymied by your iPhone's poor battery life and fixed storage, you can go ahead and pre-order Mophie's Space Pack today as it starts shipping on March 14, 2014.
Nintendo's high-capacity Wii U GamePad battery lands in the UK and Germany
If you spend your days tutting at the Wii U GamePad's underwhelming battery life, then you were probably annoyed to see Nintendo launch a 2,550mAh power pack in Japan. Thankfully, however, that same spare part has now made its way over to Europe, where both UK and German gamers (let's call 'em WiiUsers) can now snag the unit. It'll set you back £25 in Blighty and €37 over in Germany, and should let you play for between five-to-eight hours between charges. Happy gaming!
Antec PowerUp 6000 offers iPad-capable portable power
Mid-June is an odd time of year. Apple's hardware refresh cycle isn't really due until October -- likely six full months away -- so you might consider picking up an external battery pack to use with your current iOS device to tide you over until then. Internal batteries drop in efficiency as devices age, and replacement prices can be a little steep. An out-of-warranty iPhone or iPad battery replacement can cost upwards of US$85 or $105 with shipping. If you're a developer, this goes double. With iOS beta season under way, mobile devices are eating up batteries in new and curious ways. This isn't uncommon, as early releases of operating systems often contain debugging processes that are removed before the system goes "gold." External battery units are becoming more affordable than ever and newer systems like the Antec PowerUp 6000 support recharging both iPhones and iPads with high-amperage USB ports. I've been using an Antec review unit for the last couple of weeks and have found it a solid performer for light-weight emergency power. The Antec is a portable pack that fits nicely into a pocket. Its design has soft edges, easy port access and a built-in indicator light. You charge it using USB (rather than, say, plugging directly into a wall socket). I've tested it with iPhones, iPads and a variety of other USB-powered devices including the Kindle Fire and Bluetooth speakers. It's a bit hard to fully review the Antec PowerUp external battery ($60 MSRP, $42 street price) as Amazon customer criticisms of the product center on it losing its mojo after a few months of continuous use. My work style doesn't include long periods of off-grid demands; I haven't regularly drained the unit and I've been pretty faithful about plugging it in at nights. A spokesperson from Antec promised to get back to us with a statement about these issues. We'll add an update when he does so. Because of these issues, TUAW does not feel comfortable recommending or not recommending the product based on our testing. Update: Antec replies, "We haven't seen that many returns or failures on the PowerUp line. In the case of those two customers on Amazon (and anyone who reports issues or problems) our tech support and customer service reach out to them to either return or replace the unit."
Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad: review and giveaway
Remember my last keyboard case review where I told you it was going to be the last one for awhile? Well, that was before yet another manufacturer knocked on my virtual door and handed me a keyboard case. But this, my friends, is a keyboard case with a difference -- it also has a huge built-in battery pack that you can use to extend the working life of your iPad or charge your other hungry electronic devices. The name of this unit is the Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad (US$109.95) from Digital Treasures, and I'll take you through a quick look at this case before giving it away. Design The first thing I noticed when I pulled the Props Power and Keyboard Case out of its box was how light it is. That's not expected, since this is not just a keyboard, but also has an 8000 mAh battery pack hidden inside. How heavy is it? 1.36 lbs (.62 kg). Compare that to the keyboard-only CruxSKUNK that weighed in at 1.73 lbs (.78 kg) or the ClamCase Pro at 1.56 lbs (.71 kg). That's a pleasant surprise. The Props case is similar to many of the keyboard folio cases we've reviewed, with a black bicast leather exterior with red stitching. A magnetic flap keeps the case closed for travel. The only external port is a micro-USB port for recharging. %Gallery-191246% Between the top of the keyboard and the back of the folding case are some buttons and lights. There's a button for turning on the external power if you wish to charge another device (including your iPad) -- that also serves to turn on LEDs that indicate the nearest amount of remaining capacity (25%, 50%, 75% or 100%) in the battery pack. There's also a switch for turning the keyboard on and off so it doesn't keep communicating with your iPad, and next to that a pushbutton for pairing the Props with your iPad. Two LEDs provide an indication of the pairing status and power to the keyboard. As you'd expect with a case that works with the last three generations of iPad, there's a back-facing hole in the case for the camera to peek through. There's a flap that protects the iPad screen from the keyboard when the case is closed up -- more about that in the next section. That flap also acts as a convenient wrist rest, which I think is the entire reason it was added to the Props case. Functionality Since it's quite a bit like a lot of the leather portfolios on the market, that means that the iPad is slipped into the Props from the side. It's very easy to insert and remove. The keyboard layout is pretty typical for an iPad keyboard case, with a top row of keys specific to iPad functions. One thing I thought was quite odd, though, was why Digital Treasures decided to include a Function key on the bottom row of keys, since all it does is activates Home, Page Down, Page Up, and End on the arrow pad. Those are functions that aren't widely used, especially when typing on an iPad. The keyboard has a good typing feel; most of the current crop of iPad keyboard cases are probably using a similar keyboard mechanism. Now, about the rest of the case design. As you're all well aware, most iPad cases take advantage of the magnetic auto-shutoff feature so that when the case is closed, the iPad shuts off. Open the case, the iPad turns on. That's the situation here -- but remember that wrist rest that also protects the iPad screen from the keyboard? Well, it also gets in the way of the magnetic shutoff feature. With the flap out of the way -- which isn't the way it's designed for carrying -- the magnetic shutoff works fine. WIth the flap in the recommended position, it doesn't work very well at all. The keyboard pairs easily with the iPad, although it still requires a 4-digit pairing code to be entered. I'm getting spoiled by the newer keyboards that pair without the need for a code. The iPad only works propped up in one position on the case, and there's no positive retention of the device. Other keyboard cases use either a magnet, a slot, or Velcro to hold the iPad steady -- there's no such mechanism here. Most of the time that's not an issue, but if you try using the Props Power and Keyboard Case in your lap -- say while sitting on the couch or on an airplane -- there's a good chance that even a slight movement will cause the iPad to flop over backwards and bang into your knees. It did that several times while I was writing this review. This could be rectified by putting two tiny strips of Velcro in appropriate locations on the case. As a battery pack, this case is excellent. As I mentioned earlier, it's actually lighter than other keyboard cases yet still contains an 8000 mAh battery. You can either use all of that power for 3,000 hours of uninterrupted typing (perfect during NaNoWriMo!) or to charge up other devices. Can that battery be used to top off your iPad? Certainly! There's a short micro-USB to USB connector that you plug into the case, and then you can use your favorite 30-pin Dock connector or Lightning connector cable to charge up the iPad, an iPhone or any other power-hungry device. The 4 blue LEDs give you an excellent indication of when you should stop charging all of those other devices to avoid running the battery pack out of juice. Conclusion The Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad is a mixed bag. As a keyboard, it works fine on a desktop, but the iPad can flop over if you're using this in your lap. There's a nice wrist rest that's comfortable for typing, but it keeps the case from shutting off automatically. There's no positive mechanism for holding the iPad in place, so it can move around -- especially in a lap. But for all of the somewhat mediocre features of the case, there's one outstanding feature, and that's the 8000 mAh battery that seemingly adds no weight at all. Pros Internal 8000 mAh battery pack can be used to charge your iPad and other devices LEDs give you a positive indication of charge remaining Lightweight, even with the internal battery pack Keyboard has an excellent feel to it It's easy to put an iPad into the case or remove it Price is very reasonable for a combo battery pack / keyboard case Cons Magnetic shut-off feature is hampered by the wrist rest iPad isn't held securely into place, so it can flop over if the keyboard is used in a lap Controls for the keyboard (on/off, pairing) and power pack (on/off and level indicators) are hidden behind the iPad when in use, making them awkward to get to The addition of a Function key to the keyboard seems odd, considering it really performs no useful function Who is it for? Anyone who needs a keyboard case that they can use on a stable desktop surface and who wants the instant availability of up to 8000 mAh of battery capacity for charging devices Giveaway You've read the review; now it's time to give TUAW readers the chance to win a Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 15, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Props Power and Keyboard Case for iPad valued at $109.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Nokia's colorful DC-18 portable USB charger matches your phone, shoes
For the most part, battery packs have become what CD cases were in the late 90s -- generic and utilitarian. Nokia's new DC-18 portable chargers dare to be different. The sharp, tile-like designs house a modest 1,720 mAh cell, retractable micro-USB cable (that doubles as a a switch,) plus an LED battery level indicator that lights up when you extend the aforementioned appendage. It's available in four colors (red, white, yellow and blue), but only in select regions right now. No word on when and for how much, but color-coordinators can keep pinging the source to find out.
Review: iKit NuCharge, two-in-one battery pack and cover for iPhone 5
iKit, a London based accessories manufacturer for Apple products, has announced the NuCharge, an interchangeable, battery pack and protective cover for iPhone 5. iKit says the NuCharge is the world's first iPhone 5 interchangeable battery and case cover, and it's currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds, promote and sell the NuCharge, starting at US$59 with first deliveries expected in April. Design The NuCharge promises to double your iPhone's battery life while protecting your iPhone. It comes in three parts: the case or shell, the battery and the back cover, which comes in a variety of colors as well as leather. You place your iPhone into the case, which has connection grooves on the outer back, and either connect the external battery or the protective back cover. The idea is you interchange the battery or the back cover depending on your needs. The case itself is a lightly shaded plastic housing or shell for the iPhone. All controls, ports, the speakers and the camera are left exposed for easy reach and use. The display is not covered either. The iPhone fits snugly inside the case -- it doesn't rattle around and it won't easily fall out. In fact, it takes quite a bit of prying to get the iPhone out of the case. The attachable back cover is a sheet of plastic, which has tiny teeth to lock into the case. Attaching the cover is easy. It fits and locks into the case's grooves as you slide it down the back. To take it off, push and slide the cover upwards. The case cover never came loose on its own in my time with it. %Gallery-184021% The battery pack comes on and off in the same way. It has a built-in lighting connector that you pull out of the bottom of the pack and plug into the iPhone. There are blue LEDs on the bottom right to tell you how much charge is left. To charge the battery, plug in a USB cable and connect the other end to a computer or a powered USB port. The battery pack is a charcoal color, and it's not very bulky or weighty considering its 1900 mHa charge capacity. A nice little extra is a kick-stand that comes out of the back of the battery pack, letting you rest your iPhone upright in portrait mode. Functionality The case and cover offer a moderate level of protection in day-to-day use. The iPhone's sides and back are covered, but the front top and bottom edges of the phone are still exposed. So not all of your phone is protected from scuffs and scratches. Additionally, because the case and cover are two separate parts which are made of plastic, if you dropped your phone, there's little to no shock-absorption. All in all, the NuCharge as a case offers some protection from scuffs and scratches, but I wouldn't trust it with more. On the plus side, the ports and controls of the iPhone are left open. You don't have to fiddle with the case to plug in your headphones or a lightning connector. Although the back panel and case as a whole look nice enough, I struggled with the rest of the aesthetics of the case. For example, the case and back panel attach securely, but there's a small gap left between the two. The finish of the front top and bottom of the case present some raw edges where the case ends. And the overall feel of the case is quite plasticky and cheap. As I mentioned above, attaching the battery pack is a simple process: slide off the back cover and slide on the battery pack. Of course, the battery pack is bulkier than the cover, but that's expected with any battery pack. Although, this is one of the lighter and slimmer ones I've seen. To get power from the battery, pull out the built-in lightning connector and plug it into the iPhone. Unfortunately, when you do this the lightning connector cable sticks out quite a bit. Placing the phone in my pocket became a bit awkward, and I was worried the connection would come loose with an unintentional pull or tug or if I placed the phone in my bag. iKit says the NuCharge will increase your iPhone's life by 100% and I have no reason to disagree with that. Unfortunately, after a few days of testing I couldn't get the NuCharge to charge my phone. I assume it must be a fault in the model I received. But during the time it was working, everything worked as it should and battery performance was good, though I couldn't complete my tests. The kickstand is a nice little extra feature that is flush with the battery, but when extended, offers a practical addition to the case. Conclusion The NuCharge is a great battery life extender, which offers solid battery performance on top of your iPhone's built-in battery. However, I found the interchangeable protective cover, for when you're not using the battery pack, to be more of an afterthought, rather than offering any real protection. Furthermore, when using the battery pack, the protruding lightning connector is very impractical. Pros Solid battery pack offering 1900 mHa Access to all ports, buttons and the camera Slim and fairly light weight for a battery pack Kickstand Cons Minimal protection offered Poor case quality Protruding lightning connector when charging battery Interchangeability of battery and case is gimmicky Who's it for? iPhone 5 owners demanding the most power from a battery pack, but are not too concerned with the form or function it comes in. For alternative battery packs for your iPhone 5, you might want to check out the Mophie Juice Pack Helium or the Mophie Juice Pack Air, which we found to perform the task of battery pack and protective case extremely well.
Braven 570 Bluetooth speaker / speakerphone / charger: Affordable style
Braven manufactures a line of portable Bluetooth speakers that also serve triple duty as speakerphones and iPhone chargers. Now the company is shipping the Braven 570 (US$119.99), a new and more affordable model of their stylish and durable speakers. Design Many of the Braven line of products share a common design meme. The Six Series speakers are made out of beautifully machined aluminum anodized in a variety of colors. With the Braven 570, the company has really outdone itself with the colors by bringing a total of six to the party. The review device came in bright green, and there are also black and white models in addition to vibrant blue, purple, or red. %Gallery-179859% The casing of the 570 doesn't appear to be aluminum; instead, it feels like a high-strength polycarbonate of some sort. This reduces the weight of the speaker, but doesn't detract from the looks of the 570 one bit. Like the other speakers in the line, the Braven 570 contains a set of speakers, a noise-canceling microphone and a battery that can either pump out tunes for a long period of time or charge up your smartphone. What's different between the different models? It appears that battery capacity is the main difference. The 570 comes with a 1200 mAh battery, the 600 has 1400 mAh of capacity, and the top-of-the-line 650 includes a whopping 2000 mAh battery. The price is also a differentiating factor. While the 570 is available for $120, the 650 has a price tag of $190, which is quite high for portable Bluetooth speakers. All of the Braven units use two custom HD audio drivers amplified by a pair of passive sub woofers. Output is at 6 Watts across the line. Like the speakers in the Braven Six Series, the 570 can be daisy-chained to other speakers to pump up the volume. A full charge is good for about ten hours of sound from the speaker, and it will take 2 to 3 hours to recharge the unit. The controls for the speaker are conveniently located on the ends, along with ports for charging the device or using it as a charger for your iPhone. Braven includes a USB to micro-USB charging cable and an audio daisy-chaining cable. Functionality I reviewed the Braven 600 last year and was quite impressed with the build quality and sound of the unit. The Braven 570 is a worthy addition to the product line, and one that is priced low enough to be accessible to most people in the market. The device emits a synthesized tone when powered up via a slide switch on one end. That's usually also your first experience with the sound quality and volume of the speaker. Pairing is simple and fast; you just hold down the speakerphone button until the speaker emits a "sonar" sound, at which time the Braven 570 appears in the list of Bluetooth devices on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. To check available battery capacity, there's a button on the opposite end of the 570 with a battery symbol on it. Pressing that button shows a white light if the current charge is between 50 and 100 percent of full, a blue light if it's between 10 and 50 percent, and a red light for less than 10 percent charge remaining. I like that the Braven speakers always give you audio and visual feedback that they're turned on or off. Not only is there a startup tone when the 570 is powered up, but there's also a power down tone to let you know that you've properly switched it off. While the device is powered up, a small white LED pulses about once every five seconds to let you know it's turned on. When playing music or watching movies on an iOS device and using the Braven 570 as your speaker, you'll be pleased. The sound is bright, clear and full -- it's hard to believe this is a small, pocketable Bluetooth speaker and not a much larger or more powerful speaker. Like the Braven 600 tested last year, the 570 is a little less impressive as a speakerphone. Then again, I haven't been too overwhelmed with any Bluetooth speakerphone so it seems to just come with the technology. The Braven 570 is certainly usable as a speakerphone, it's just not going to impress you as much as it does as a regular speaker. Conclusion Once again, Braven has released a great-sounding Bluetooth speaker that is also usable as a speakerphone and device charger. With the lower price point of the Braven 570, the company should attract even more Apple fans into the ranks of happy Braven owners. Pros More affordable than the other Braven speakers Case colors are vivid and attractive Excellent build quality and design Music / movie sound quality is impressive Built-in battery pack can charge mobile devices Speakers can be daisy-chained for even more volume Easy Bluetooth pairing process; no pairing code required Cons Less battery capacity than the higher-end Braven speakers Speakerphone sound is rather muffled Who is it for? Anyone who wants the convenience of a battery pack and Bluetooth speaker in one well-designed package Giveaway We have a beautiful "Fiji Green" Braven 570 to give away to one fortunate TUAW reader. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before February 27, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Braven 570 speaker system valued at $119.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Jackery outs Bar and Mini portable battery packs, aims to give power-hungry devices a boost
Mophie's Juice Packs are all the rage when it comes to giving a meaningful power boost to popular slabs like the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III, but let's not forget others outside that group may need some help, too. Here's where the California-based firm Jackery hopes to come in. The company's just introduced its Bar and Mini external batteries, touting rather portable and peculiar designs as some of the main features present. More importantly, both of the USB-equipped power packs are loaded with 5,600 and 2,600mAh, respectively -- and, according to Jackery, this is enhanced by the peripherals' ability to hold a charge for up to six months, thanks to the company's own "unique power lock technology." Jackery's 5.4-ounce Bar is available starting today for $40, while the more petite Mini (which weighs in at less than three ounces) can be yours for 10 bucks less than its heavier sibling.
Review: PowerSkin PoP'n iPhone 5 battery pack
Earlier in the week I published some news about a new iPhone 5 battery pack from PowerSkin. Now the Pop'n iPhone 5 battery pack (US$79.99) has arrived for testing, so join me while I take a look at this decidedly different way of keeping your phone powered up. Design What makes the PowerSkin PoP'n different from other external battery packs? The suction cups. There are 24 small suction cups that are used to stick the PoP'n onto the back of your iPhone 5 or case. The rest of the PoP'n consists of a shiny case (black or white) enclosing the 2000 mAh battery, and a gray U-shaped connector at the bottom of the unit that terminates in a Lightning connector. A button on the back of the unit lights up a set of 4 blue LEDs to indicate the amount of power remaining and turns the pack on for charging. %Gallery-179048% The connector can be swapped out for one that will charge any iOS device with a 30-pin Dock Connector or Android devices with micro-USB A or B connectors. That's a nice feature for those who may have more than one smartphone in the family that needs charging. Functionality My first test was to see if those suction cups would stick onto the leather surface of my Twelve South SurfacePad for iPhone 5, and unfortunately they didn't. However, that luxurious thin case is easy to take off and reinstall, so within seconds I had the PoP'n securely glommed onto the back of my phone. I pushed the button on the back, and the phone responded by letting me know it was receiving a charge. To recharge the unit after you've used it, there's a traditional USB to micro-USB cable. You'll need to plug that cable into a USB port on your Mac or PC, or into another AC to USB adapter. Those 24 little suction cups do a great job of holding onto your iPhone, but the PoP'n can be easily removed when you're done charging the phone. So, how does this compare to the recently-released mophie juice pack helium (also $79.95)? I don't know, since I haven't had a chance to test one. But the PoP'n delivers 500 mAh more capacity than the juice pack helium and doesn't have to be installed on your iPhone all the time. I also received word from an early owner of the juice pack that it requires a pass-through audio jack cable (included) to connect to a headset; with the PoP'n, the speakers and audio jack are easily accessible. Conclusion For iPhone 5 owners who find themselves running out of power towards the end of the day, the PowerSkin PoP'n offers a great way to recharge your phone. Once you're done charging, you can slide the PoP'n off of the phone and be back to your sleek and sexy iPhone 5. Pros Provides 500 mAh more capacity than mophie's juice pack helium Can also charge other devices with optional connectors Unique suction cup design grabs onto bare iPhones and hard cases Made For iPhone certified by Apple Cons Won't stick onto fabric or leather materials Glossy finish picks up fingerprints Who is it for? iPhone 5 owners looking for an external battery pack that doesn't require the phone to be placed into a case Giveaway We're sure that somebody out there would just love to have this PowerSkin PoP'n battery pack. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before February 19, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a PowerSkin PoP'n battery pack for iPhone 5 worth US$79.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
