charger

Sunglasses, check. iPod, check. Charger, check. Actually, nix that last one. A new pair of solar-powered shades that double as a gadget charger mean one less item to toss in the beach bag.

The cool-looking "Self-Energy Converting Sunglasses" by designers Hyun-Joong Kim and Kwang-Seok Jeong integrate into their lenses dye solar cells that convert sunlight into energy. Just plug a device into the power jack in the back of the shades and it's powered up. You're not going to want to plug an electric car into these, of course, but for small devices they could provide … Read more

MTI Micro, a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology Incoporated, unveiled a portable charger on Wednesday that uses replaceable fuel cartridges.

MTI Micro is not the first, and hopefully won't be the last, company to go to the fuel cell for portable convenient power. (People refer to these new tries as "fuel cell gadget chargers," though to me that seems like it refers to a charger for powering fuel cell gadgets.)

Just this past September, Medis came out with the 24-7 Power pack, a charger powered by a liquid fuel cell, for only $40 with replacement packs for about $… Read more

While I still love my iPhone 3G, we've hit some bumps in the road in our relationship--in particular its battery life, or lack thereof, depending on what I'm using it for.

I recall one instance in particular. After using the phone more than I usually do in a day, I went to bed without charging it. The next day I woke up to a dead phone. Luckily this was a Saturday morning, so I didn't particularly need it for the next few hours, but this could have easily happened on a weekday.

And there I'd be. … Read more

Engadget has noted the appearance of a new PlayStation 3 accessory in Japan: a USB charger that can juice up two PS3 controllers at once. While we wouldn't be surprised to see this thing appear Stateside as well, the problem is: there's really no reason it should need to exist. And if the PS3 were better designed, it wouldn't have to. In fact, the existence of this sort of accessory just serves as a reminder of some of the PS3's biggest annoyances--all the more evident because the superb gaming console/Blu-ray player/media hub is otherwise close to perfection. … Read more

Users are beginning to receive replacement iPhone chargers offered under Apple's product recall, which states:

"Apple has determined that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter's metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock. We have received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported."

Included with the replacement adapters is a return envelope, in which the old, defective adapters are to be placed and returned to Apple. Users have said that paperwork … Read more

This cat has no shame.

She continues to haunt us with her incessant need to reproduce every consumer item in existence with her likeness on it. Our mistrust of the advancing Kitty empire on Crave is well-known, but we haven't brought it up in a while. Friends, it's time.

The cat is now trying to green-wash her cheap plastic empire, calling this solar-powered cell phone recharger "eco-friendly." Well now, throwing "solar-powered" into the description certainly sounds environmentally friendly. But wait. Apparently it's good for about 500 charges, then you're supposed to throw … Read more

With every step forward, there's often a step back, and in the case of the new iPhone 3G, it appears that battery life has taken a hit. Of course, the old disclaimer that your mileage may vary with use is in full effect, but the early consensus here in the CNET New York office is that if you're a road warrior/power user, you better have some backup juice on hand or you may be looking at a dead iPhone before day's end.

The solution: an extended battery. The sexiest one we could find was the $40 … Read more

Better Energy Systems, maker of the sun-powered Solio gadget charger, snagged $5 million from TBL Capital on Monday.

The Berkeley, Calif., company produces the petal-shaped, fold-up Solio for powering iPhones, digital cameras, MP3 players, GPS, and other mobile devices. Its unique design often turns heads at trade shows.

"Almost half the world's population has limited access to consistent electricity; Solio not only offers an advanced solution to that inequity, but does so in an entirely sustainable manner," Joe Marshall, principal at TBL Capital, said in a statement.

The Solio's lithium ion battery is meant to take … Read more

If there's a gadget that symbolizes urban living, it might well be something like the "BodyGard Survivor."

As its name implies, this handheld item from Swiss Tech serves as a personal security device that will fire off a high-decibel sonic alarm and flash ultra-bright LEDs when activated by the panic button, according to Gadget Grid. The survivor half of the equation comes into play with its compass and hand-cranked generator, which can be used to power a cell phone or laptop that's gone dead.

Of course, depending on where you live, there are other alternatives that … Read more