EmergencyRadio
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Eton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radios
Eton, the name behind solar-powered sound systems and emergency radios, is updating its disaster-preparedness portfolio with the new FRX series of self-powered radios. The FRX 1, FRX 2 and FRX 3 use hand-turbine energy to keep the internal lithium ion battery juiced, and all include a glow-in-the-dark indicator, LED flashlight and DC input. While the FRX 1 offers only the basic components, the FRX 2 and 3 have solar panels for recharging, along with a headphone jack and a USB port for powering other gadgets. The FRX 3 boasts a digital alarm and radio -- as opposed to the analog radio on the FRX 2 -- and a display for receiving NOAA weather alerts. Eton priced the radios at $25, $40 and $60, respectively, and it's currently selling the three options with American Red Cross co-branding at outlets such as Amazon, Best Buy and REI. Realizing your crank-powered Raptor is on its last legs? Check out the PR past the break.
Oregon Scientific at CES 2012: new weather monitoring and a Qi charging stations, an action cam and more
As usual, the folks at Oregon Scientific are rolling out a bundle of products at CES. When the weather gets bad, the company's new Portable Emergency Alert Radio can come to your rescue to keep you updated as the world ends (it is 2012, after all) for $79. It can tune into AM/FM radio, NOAA weather radio, and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) location-based alerts, plus it can be charged via its solar panel or hand crank -- and a USB port's on board to keep all your other devices in the juice, too. There's the ATCMini action video camera that joins the company's other, action cam offerings. The ATCMini weighs a scant 2.3 ounces and records 720p video at 30fps, shoot 1.3 megapixel stills and is waterproof up to 65 feet (20m). It stores all your pics and vids on a MicroSD card, and you can show off your extreme exploits on the big screen via a TV-out jack. The action cam comes with a helmet mount, but there are handlebar, surfboard, and skateboard mounts sold separately as well. PR and a gallery of either awaits you below, and stay tuned for our hands-on impressions later today. Update: Don't forget to peep the Time and Wireless Charging Station+ and the Remote Weather Access Platform.
Eton Mobius, Soulra 2 and Road Torq hands-on
It seems that whole "solar panel" thing is working out pretty well for Eton, because the emergency radio company's got a slew of new products that charge with the sun's rays -- not just the angular Raptor, but also a brand-new wireless iPod boombox and an iPhone 4 external battery pack that use the very same tech. The Eton Mobius crams a monocrystal solar panel and an 1800mAh battery into an package just about 20mm thick, which Eton claims not will not only doubles the iPhone 4's battery life, but lets it run for nearly 20 minutes per hour of direct sunlight exposure. Meanwhile, the Soulra 2 boombox upgrades not only the power of its predecessor with a full eight speakers, but also the rate of charge, with a larger solar panel that lets it juice an internal 2000mAh pack in five hours, and pump out jams for up to eight. Both felt like pretty early prototypes when we gave them a heft, but the Soulra 2 gets fairly loud -- enough to hear music over the din of the CES floor, at least. It's also a heavy one, but comes with a carrying strap and handle. If you're bound and determined to have a hand crank on your emergency tool, though, you might want to give Eton's American Red Cross devices a look -- particularly this Road Torq stand-up beacon designed for car troubles. Flip out the combination flashlight / and red LED signal flare, pull out three reflector feet, and it stands up providing fifteen minutes of light for each minute you crank. PR after the break. %Gallery-112572%
Eton Raptor emergency radio trades the crank for solar power, rakish good looks
If "danger" is your middle name and yet "caution" a favorite word, you've probably already got an ugly old emergency radio buried somewhere in your car. Today, Eton's unveiling a model that you might actually feel comfortable using in public without disaster having to strike first. The solar-powered Eton Raptor boasts a slender, 11-ounce carabiner-like design that seems positively packed with tools, including the typical (AM / FM / WB radio, compass, LED flashlight), the adventurous (altimeter, barometer) and the plain ol' useful (audio line-in, bottle opener). It's also got a USB port for charging gadgets from the internal 1800mAh battery and takes splash-proof cues from the Eton Soulra. No word on price, but we know a few road warriors who might be interested when it hits shelves in the first quarter of next year. PR after the break, images immediately below. %Gallery-111814%
