hypermac
Latest
Apple patent application reveals plans for external battery pack, spells further trouble for HyperMac
Way back in September of last year, Apple filed a patent-infringement suit against HyperMac, the folks behind these external batteries. At the time, it looked like Apple was protecting its patented MagSafe power connector, but a newly released USPTO application for a "Power Adapter with Internal Battery" might reveal a more accurate view of the company's litigious motivations. From the look of things, the outfit intends to make its mark on juicing solutions with what is basically a wall charger packing an internal battery. According to the patent filing, the contraption would include a processor for parceling energy to the host device as well as the adapter, and could also incorporate a supplemental energy source like a solar cell. Among other things, it would also communicate with the device being charged to allow users to monitor the juice stored in the extra battery. If the thing does end up making it to market, it looks like HyperMac could have a whole lot more trouble on its hands than a little patent-infringement suit.
Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography
Surely you remember Sanho's HyperDrive lineup -- ya know, the only portable HDD that plays nicely with the iPad? Well, if you don't dig the $249 entry level price, you're in luck. The company just announced a bunch of new HDDs for you to take with you and your iPad on that road trip you've had planned for years. As we saw at CES, the new drives no longer sport the QVGA color display or the CF and SD card slots -- instead, the black case has two mini USB ports and a power socket. The HyperDrive doesn't come with the traditional AC adapter but instead a USB-to-DC cable and the user-replaceable battery will allow up to 40GB of transfers on a single charge. And if you're wondering why there's two USB ports, we really couldn't tell you. Perhaps if you choose the right port while connected to your PC and enter the Konami code, unicorns and fairy dust will pop out of your screen -- wishful thinking, we know. The HyperDrives ship in March (pre-ordering is available now) with prices starting at $99 for a bring-your-own-drive housing, 1TB for $349 and various sizes in-between. So, if your photo/video library is worth accessing at all times, well, props to you. Press release is after the break.
Magic Box MagSafe mod kit brings the external battery back to your Mac (some assembly required)
It ain't exactly soldering guns at dawn, but it looks like HyperMac is going through a few somersaults to ensure that its products stay on the market without offending the legal team at Apple. First there was the HyperJuice auto / airline adapter, and now the Magic Box takes things to an even more invasive level. First step: cut the power cord of your Mac's MagSafe power adapter in half. Second step: feed the cable that you cut in half into the MagicBox... and you now have your very own HyperMac battery pack for those extra-long liveblogging sessions. Seems dead simple, right? And for the time being, the company is throwing in a free car charger to sweeten the deal. Available for $50 in March.
HyperMac offers DIY solutions after Apple lawsuit
HyperMac's portable charging systems are back on the market with a revamped product line that does not violate Apple's patents. HyperMac was faced with a patent lawsuit from Apple over the company's charging cables, which used Apple's MagSafe and 30-pin connectors. The company stopped selling the infringing cables on November 2, while continuing to produce its line of HyperJuice batteries. Without the cables to connect to your laptop, though, the batteries were more or less useless. Sanho Corporation, the company behind HyperMac, was back at CES 2011 and showed off two new DIY power cable systems that skirt Apple's patents. One system uses Apple's MagSafe Airline adapter and a special plug provided by HyperMac to daisy chain a HyperJuice battery to your Apple laptop. While easy to implement, this setup powers your Apple notebook but does not recharge your battery. A second solution, detailed by Ars but not on HyperMac's website yet, requires the user to splice the cable on their MacBook power adapter. HyperMac provides the appropriate connectors to let users attach this modified cable to a HyperJuice battery or to the original Apple power adapter. These modifications require minimal technical skill and do not require any soldering. Though not as easy as the Airline adapter method, this latter solution does provide users with the ability to charge their battery from a HyperJuice battery while on the go. [Via Ars Technica]
HyperMac responds with vengeance, and non-patent infringing adapter
You may remember back in September the sad story of an Apple filed patent-infringement lawsuit that HyperMac and their beloved HyperMac batteries found themselves at the end of. The big whigs in Cupertino accussed HyperMac of using their patented MagSafe power connector and 30-pin iPhone / iPod dock connectors without the proper licensing agreements. Well, HyperMac has responded with a clever yet uninvasive way to avoid future legal ramification and still satisfy a power hungry family of MacBooks and their equally demanding users. HyperMac has now included a new Auto / Airline Adapter with their newly renamed HyperJuice external batteries which connects to a Magsafe Airline Adapter that you can legally purchase from Apple for $49. It is still the same old HyperMac battery we know and love, but with a juicier name and new connection. Update: HyperMac has also included a law abiding MagSafe Cable DIY kit with their HyperJuice external batteries. The kit is made up of two connectors, one male, one female, both connecting to the MacBook Power Adapter cable. Check the break for the official diagram of these connectors.
HyperMac's external hard drive enclosure for iPad hands-on
HyperMac is known more for its power-extending solutions than its other peripherals, but this still-unannounced iPad external hard drive enclosure we spotted at the company's booth is certainly interesting. Capable of accepting a standard 2.5-inch hard drive, the brushed metal box has two miniUSB ports around back -- one to connect to your computer, and another to connect to your iPad. Unfortunately, unlike other iPad storage solutions like the AirStash, because it interfaces through Apple's USB camera adapter, you're limited to photos and video content only. On top of that, it only works with the iPad because the iPhone and iPod touch don't support that particular accessory. The target price point is around $100 without any physical drive -- yes, it's a BYOHD affair -- which is definitely steeper than we'd like, especially given the limited functionality. Still, if you've got more content than space to spare, you might want to look into picking one of these up when it drops in sometime later this month. %Gallery-113113%
HyperMac to return as HyperJuice
As of tomorrow, November 2nd, HyperMac will stop selling MagSafe-Compatible charging cables, in compliance with a lawsuit filed by Apple. Now, the company has announced its intentions to re-brand itself "HyperJuice," though what that will entail other than a name change is unknown. Daniel Chin, President of Sanho Corporation, told Engadget that the soon-to-be HyperJuice is in "comprehensive licensing negotiations" with Apple over a "wide array of technologies and issues." HyperMac has produced a number of small, portable batteries that can provide power to a variety of Apple portable devices. When connected to a MacBook Pro with their MagSafe-like connector, the "MBP-PRO," the external batteries could be used to charge the computer's internal battery. Apple objected to sales of the devices, saying they violated patents related to MagSafe cables and other cables using a 30-pin connection. If you want one, you've got to act fast as sales will end at midnight, 00:00 U.S. Pacific Time. Good luck to the team at Sanho Corporation.
HyperMac to become HyperJuice in response to hyperactive Apple legal team
Apple legal has been abnormally busy over the last year as it engaged a who's who of cellphone makers and government agencies. They've also come down hard on Sanho Corporation's HyperMac subsidiary for using MagSafe and iPod connectors without approval. In response, HyperMac announced that it would stop selling MagSafe cables thereby rendering its HyperMac lineup useless for charging the non-removable batteries in Apple's MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro (although they can still charge USB connected devices like the iPad and iPhone). Now Daniel Chin, President of Sanho Corporation, is informing us that they'll be changing the HyperMac name to "HyperJuice" as part of its ongoing "comprehensive licensing negotiations" with Apple said to cover a "wide array of technologies and issues." He also reminded us that you only have a few hours left to snag a HyperMac with the all important MagSafe cable as sales will be suspended as of midnight tonight -- 00:00 US Pacific Time. Hey, with few alternatives, you might as well go down swinging selling.
HyperMac forced to stop selling MagSafe charging cables
A lawsuit from Apple has forced HyperMac to stop selling MagSafe-compatible charging cables as of November 2nd, 2010. HyperMac has produced a number of small, portable batteries that can provide power to a variety of Apple portable devices. When connected to a MacBook Pro with their MagSafe-like connector, the "MBP-PRO," the external batteries could be used to charge the computer's internal battery. The lawsuit claims that HyperMac violated patents related to MagSafe cables as well as other cables that use a 30-pin connection. HyperMac assembled their units using actual Apple parts. Note that HyperMac will continue to sell the batteries, though we don't see how useful they'll be without the cables. If you're looking to buy one of these, you've got until November 2nd to do so. [Via AppleInsider]
HyperMac will stop selling MacBook charging cables on November 2 -- Apple wins, you lose
Uh oh, HyperMac just announced that it will cease the sale of MacBook charging cables and car chargers -- on November 2nd at 00:00 US Pacific Time, they'll be gone for good. While the HyperMac batteries will be sold, you won't be able to charge your MagSafe-equipped MacBook without the cable, so what's the point? This, obviously, is the direct result of the patent-infringement lawsuit Apple filed over Sanho's unlicensed use of Apple's MagSafe power connector. And while it may be a victory for Apple legal, it's an unsettling blow to consumers like Engadget editors who need the extra juice to augment the life of Apple's non-removable MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro batteries. Read the full statement after the break. Update: We've spoken with Daniel Chin, President of Sanho Corporation, who tells us that his company is, "in middle of license negotiations with Apple and ceasing the sale of the MagSafe cables was a perquisite for negotiations to go on." So there is still hope for a legal solution to this mess. Otherwise, it'll be soldering guns and X-Acto knives at dawn.
Apple sues HyperMac battery maker for using patented MagSafe and iPod connectors without approval
Most Mac-wielding Engadget editors have had huge crushes on their HyperMac batteries ever since Apple moved to sealed-in MacBook Pro cells across the line, but there's a chance the party is over: Cupertino filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against HyperMac manufacturer Sanho earlier this month, claiming that it's using the patented MagSafe power connector and 30-pin iPhone / iPod dock connector without a license. Ouch. What makes this all the more interesting is that Sanho's always said it's using original Apple MagSafe connectors, which would theoretically defeat Apple's patent claims -- once a patent holder sells a product that contains a patented technology, it can be difficult to claim that the patent is being infringed by the use of that product, even if there's modification involved. (Legal nerds might want to look up "patent exhaustion" here.) The iPod connector claims might be a little easier for Apple, since we don't know if Sanho's using original parts in those cables -- and whatever savings it might have accrued by using knockoff connectors are probably going to be wiped out by the costs of this lawsuit. If we had to guess, we'd say Apple's simply unhappy that Sanho hasn't joined the lucrative Made for iPhone / Made for iPod / Made for iPad licensing programs that govern use of the connector, and that the MagSafe claim is just additional ammunition to force a settlement -- we'll see what happens, but we'd predict things come to a quick end once Sanho's lawyers send in the first bill.
HyperMac Stand doubles as an external battery for your iPad
Why settle for a separate iPad stand and external battery when you can have both in one device? Why indeed. That's the thinking from the folks at Sanho at least, who have just rolled-out the first-of-its-kind HyperMac Stand. It packs two slots that can hold your iPad at either an 18 or 45-degree angle (with or without a case), and a built-in 40-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-ion battery that promises to extend your battery life by a full 16 hours. Of course, that combination does make this one of the more expensive iPad stands around at $129.95, but that's not exactly too out of line when compared to a standalone HyperMac battery. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
HyperMac Micro, Mini batteries get iPad / iPhone 4 charging support, yet more color options
We've already seen some HyperMac batteries updated to support iPad charging, and it looks like you can now also add the smaller HyperMac Micro and Mini batteries to the list -- they've not only been updated with iPad / iPhone 4 charging, but with no less than ten color options as well. Apart from those changes, however, the Micro and Mini remain the same as before, and pack capacities of 3600mAh and 7200mAh that should translate to about five and ten hours of iPad battery life, respectively. They also hang onto the same $89.95 and $119.95 list prices, but HyperMac is knocking $20 off each of those just for this launch. Full press release after the break.
HyperMac external battery packs refreshed with iPad charging support
We're pretty big fans of the HyperMac external batteries here at Engadget, as they've saved us on numerous occasions from becoming mindlessly bored on coast-to-coast flights by keeping our laptops humming for a few more hours. Unfortunately, the integrated USB port -- while handy -- isn't up for handling Apple's new iPad, which requires a 10 watt USB adapter to even charge. We tested our lab iPad on our existing 222Wh HyperMac, and sure enough, the screen you're peering at above is what we saw (read: "Not Charging") -- though it does seem to power the device as to not drain what's left of the battery while connected. In order to remedy said quandary, the folks at Sanho have announced a new line of HyperMac batteries that support iPad charging, but unfortunately for you existing users, every available upgrade path involves shelling out more cash for a new pack. The revamped devices will be available in four different capacities: 60Wh ($169), 100Wh ($269), 150Wh ($369) and 222Wh ($469), able to extend the iPad 25Wh rated internal battery by 2 to 9 times, giving a total run-time of between 34 to 99 hours. Sanho claims these will be rechargeable up to 1,000 times and will include a one-year warranty, so if you're interested, you can place your pre-order now and await a shipment notification in around a fortnight.
Macworld 2010: HyperMac brings some style to the battery backup market
We're still on the lookout for battery backup options to power recharge your iPhone, iPod touch or just about any USB mobile device. The market just got a bit larger with the introduction of the HyperMac line of batteries at Macworld. Hypermac is also showing its backup batteries for the MacBook Pro here at Macworld, and is offering a 10% show discount. The first thing you notice is that they are very easy on the eyes, which is unusual in a market filled with very utilitarian design. These batteries come in in 9 iPod Nano colors (black/silver/pink/red/orange/yellow/green/blue/purple) and are housed in an attractive aluminum casing. The second thing I noticed is that they are much lighter than they look. %Gallery-85374%
HyperMac Micro, Mini, and Nano hands-on
They're light, they're colorful, and with the exception of the Mini, HyperMac's new kandy-kolored iPhone / iPod batteries are easily pocketable. It's a shame the new style hasn't found its way to the MacBook-charging lineup -- let's hope that's in the cards -- but on the plus side, given it charges any USB-powered device, we can see this coming in pretty handy on an universal level. Like gazing upon rainbow-colored batteries? We've got you covered in the gallery below. %Gallery-85276%
HyperMac debuts kandy-kolored, streamlined, pocket-sized batteries (vroom! vroom!)
We fell in love with our HyperMac batteries during this year's CES, and now it looks like Sanho's decided to open its net a bit and introduce chargers for all you iPod, iPhone, and future iPad owners. All three models feature aluminum cases in colors that correspond to the ol' iPod nano (pink, red, orange, so on, and so forth), and all three have USB connections for charging your non-Apple gear as well. The HyperMac Nano (fully recharges your iPhone 1.5 times), HyperMac Micro (up to three times), and the HyperMac Mini (up to six times) are available now $70, $90, and $120 respectively -- and if you hop over to HyperMac.com now they'll knock $20 off the asking price. If that doesn't convince you, perhaps a gallery full of model-types showing off the devices will? Nah, probably not. PR after the break. %Gallery-85245%
Laptop Battery Express' external battery works with 10,000 laptop models, just not yours
If you're toting a new laptop with non-removable battery then you've got an obvious problem: it will run out of juice, likely at the moment you need it most. That's Murphy's law. Fortunately, a number of vendors have started to introduce these external battery packs designed exclusively for laptops. The practically named Universal External Laptop Battery from Laptop Battery Express ships with enough interchangeable tips to provide an extra 4 hours (rated at 66Wh) of power to thousands of laptops from just about any of the big-boy brands you can think of. There's even a USB port for topping-off your cellphone or portable media player. Unfortunately, the most notorious fixed-battery laptop, the MacBook Pro, is not supported. Ah well, that's just more business for Hypermac, eh? One more glamor-shot after the break.[Via SlashGear]
External battery packs for Mac laptops
In what looks like a first for the Mac laptop line, support of MacBook and MacBook Pro owners everywhere, a 3rd party is offering external battery packs for MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook air models.The batteries, from Sanho in California, are available in 4 different capacities, 60Wh, 100Wh, 150Wh and 222Wh, giving a computer like the MacBook up to 32 hours of battery life. The company is also offering a car charger. These items are all available for pre-order and will ship later this month. Prices are $149.95US (car charger), $199.95 (60-watt-hour battery), $299.95 (100Wh), $399.95 (150Wh) and $499.95 (222Wh). The batteries also come with a USB power port so you can charge an iPhone at the same time or separately. The first thing I thought of when I saw this announcement was how the company was able to offer a charger with a MagSafe adapter, because that design is protected by Apple patents. I checked with the company president, Daniel Chin, and he told me: "What we did is obtain the MagSafe connector and cable from the original MacBook AC adapter, remove the adapter and splice in our own charger plug, which interfaces with our battery and car charger products. Since we are using the original Apple MagSafe plug and did not modify the actual plug (which the patent in question covers) in any way, we are still respecting Apple's IP and in no way infringing upon their patent."That might or might not satisfy Apple, but it did allow the company to offer these chargers which are likely to be highly desired by some customers. At the very least, I'm surprised Apple has not offered a car charger for laptops. I can think of many times such an adapter would have been handy.Update: Several commenters have pointed out the QuickerTek and MikeGyver power solutions for the MBP line, which predate the Sanho offering and use the same approach of sacrificing a MagSafe adapter to provide the plug connector. Apple's Airline adaptor, while electrically similar to a car adapter, is not recommended for automotive use (some have tried it with success, your mileage may vary). Lastly, you can of course use a DC inverter for in-car charging, but please be careful not to obstruct vents or leave the device plugged in and unattended... they can get very hot while in use. Happy motoring!
HyperMac external battery powers MacBooks for 32 hours
Yep, Sanho's Hypermac is a big clunky external battery pack. Sure, we're intrigued by the idea of running a MacBook Pro for 32 hours straight, but we'd really rather hunt around for a power outlet than drop $500 on the 222Wh unit required to make that happen. On the other hand, we could definitely see splurging for the $150 car charger or the $200 60Wh model, but we're crazy like that. Shipping later this month, we're told.
