chargecard
Latest
ChargeCard now shipping with micro-USB connector, we go hands-on
Sure, we own dozens of micro-USB cables, but we don't always have one with us when we need to charge up smartphones, cameras, e-readers and countless other devices. That's why we're happy to get behind this wallet-sized cable, coined ChargeCard. We had a chance to check out the Apple dock connector flavor in March, and now the Kickstarter-backed company is shipping its micro-USB version, supporting power and data transfer with just about any USB-equipped gadget. Micro-USB seems to be the accepted standard these days, so the $25 ChargeCard is a reasonable investment. It is indeed thin and light enough to fit comfortably in your wallet, but it will add some heft, and may be an unwelcome addition to already packed vessels. The device includes a fixed micro-USB connector and a pop-out flexible cable to plug into your computer or another power source. Unfortunately, the cable is not designed to be reversed, so depending on how it fits into your smartphone, the handset may need to face down. We experienced this issue with a MacBook Air and Samsung Galaxy Note II -- you can force the flexible cable to twist into the necessary position, but it appears to cause quite a bit of tension, and our ChargeCard was visibly damaged after just a few minutes of use. Otherwise, our quick test went off without a hitch, and you shouldn't expect to run into any problems, assuming your smartphone's orientation is a non-issue. The card has already begun shipping -- if you backed the project on Kickstarter, expect your ChargeCard to arrive this week. If you haven't placed a pre-order, you can pick one up at the source link below.%Gallery-188173%
ChargeCard pocket iPhone charger starts shipping, we go hands- and wallets-on
Perhaps we all bemoaned the death of the 30-pin dock connector accessories a little prematurely. Apple may be moving away from the technology in a huge way, but it seems the category's got a little juice left in her after all. On the back of a successful Kickstarter campaign last summer (raising a bit more than three times its proposed $50,000), the duo behind ChargeCard took their iPhone charger on the road to Las Vegas in January. Roughly half a year after hitting its goal, the product has finally started shipping, with one of the units making its way to our desk just this week. The ChargeCard's clever in its simplicity, a credit card-sized device made from ABS (think: Lego) plastic. A little rubberized arm lives in the center of the thing, unfolding and plugging into a USB port. One edge of the card, meanwhile, fits into your iPhone's port (assuming, of course, that you're not one of those fancy pants iPhone 5 owners, you big shot, you). And, well, that's pretty much all there is to the thing.
ChargeCard wallet charge cable gets the hands-on treatment
Back in July of 2012 I reported on a Kickstarter project that aimed to put a charger cable into your wallet. That project went way over its funding goal, and the resulting product -- ChargeCard (US$25) -- is now shipping, at least for the iPhone 4/4S and older devices that use the 30-pin Dock connector. Design When Noah Dentzel and Adam Miller teamed up to design the ChargeCard, they had one goal in mind: creating a charger cable that could be stowed in any wallet. They wanted to make the ChargeCard about the same dimensions as a credit card, and they've succeeded. It's a little bit thicker than a regular credit card, but put a credit card on top of the ChargeCard and it disappears. The design features a stiff card that includes the 30-pin connector on one end. In the middle of that card is a flexible piece ending in an open USB connector. Plug the USB end into an available port on your Mac, PC, HDTV or USB outlet, plug the 30-pin connector into the iPhone, and your phone is charging (and syncing via USB, if you still do it the old-fashioned way). When you're finished getting some power for your iPhone, you disconnect both ends of the ChargeCard, snap the flexible part into the stiff card, and pop it back into your wallet. Now you can get a charge anywhere you can find a USB port, without having to drag a cable with you everywhere you go. The ChargeCard guys are also selling a micro-USB version that's perfect for charging your Android phone or possibly even a Mophie Juice Pack, although it's currently backordered and expected to resume shipping in mid-March. There's also an iPhone 5 version in the works that will provide charging through the Lightning port; it's expected in May. Functionality The ChargeCard definitely works as advertised. It slips into a wallet slot, and it charges your iPhone 4/4S when plugged into a USB power source. I like that the designers put a small "adapter" insignia on one side of the ChargeCard so I know which side of the card should be up when plugging into the 30-pin port. It's not a long "cable," only about 4.5 inches long when fully extended, but that's enough to keep your iPhone close by when you're plugged into a laptop USB port. ChargeCard is also designed to hold the weight of your iPhone when it's plugged in, so you can let it dangle freely. Conclusion ChargeCard is a brilliant piece of work, ensuring that you'll always have a charge cable at your fingertips when you need one. Sure, you'll still need to find a USB port to plug one end into, but with a growing number of planes, trains and automobiles equipped with USB power ports, you may not have to look too far. Pros Only 0.1 inch thick (2.54 mm) and the same size as a credit card Marked for proper insertion into the 30-pin Dock connector iPhone 5 version is on the way Cons Durability of the device is uncertain Who is it for? Anyone who would like an unobtrusive iPhone charging cable that is always available
ChargeCard: An iPhone charger in your wallet
A lot of innovative ideas have popped up around the idea of always having an iPhone charging cable at your fingertips, but the ChargeCard -- a Kickstarter project that is a little over quarter-funded with 38 days to go -- is one of the most clever I've ever seen. The inventors of the ChargeCard came up with the idea of a device charger cable that has a USB connector on one end and a standard 30-pin Dock connector on the other end. But the unique part is what's between those two ends -- a flat, credit-card structure with a fold-out flexible "cable". The entire thing is designed to fold flat and take up no more space than a standard credit card. It's perfect for those situations where you forgot a charge cable, but you do have access to a USB port to plug one into. Open your wallet, take out the ChargeCard, flip open the "cable" and plug it in, then plug the other end into your iPhone. Done. If you want a chance at getting a ChargeCard, you can pledge US$18 or more for various perks. Check out the video below to see how the inventors came up with the idea.
