If you haven’t seen these then basically they comprise of a Powermat (charging station) and some kind of adapted device to allow it to get charged by the Powermat. The adaptation, initially, was an external case for the iPhone or a new backing for some of the Blackberry devices. They have since added a huge range of products to their line so you can charge digital cameras, smart phones, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, iPod etc. Some of these require the Powercube which contains various adapters to plug into your device (so not really wireless anymore but at least it means less chargers to carry with you!). Continue reading »

Exspect triple USB travel charger

The Exspect Triple USB Travel Charger is available for £20 from Amazon.co.uk and other gadget retailers.

So what did I think of it? Continue reading to find out:
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I love my iPhone but even with the improved battery life of the 3GS it is still a struggle to survive a full day away from power.

There have been external battery pack ‘backpacks’ before but most were fugly and there is no greater crime than to spoil the fine lines of an iPhone. And so it was with much hope that I ordered a Mophie Juice Pack Air.

Designed as a very svelte and slim case for your iPhone, the Juice Pack Air doubles the battery power of your iPhone whilst adding only a little bulk. The case is so well designed that it could easily be mistaken as a standard case.

On the back is a small button and four LEDs to indicate the charge level of the battery pack. On the bottom is the new micro-USB connector that is used to charge the battery and that of the iPhone if connected. It can also be synced via this connector and the requisite micro-USB lead is supplied. A small switch allows to switch the battery pack on/off as desired. When on it will power the iPhone and charge the battery.

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Griffin PowerDock for iPhone and iPod

Have you got more than 1 iPhone or iPod? I have, and keeping them all charged is a nightmare. The number of times I have grabbed my iPod and found that the battery is dead is too many to count. Griffin have solved all my charge problems with the PowerDock.

The Griffin PowerDock comes in two different models: The PowerDock 2 ($39.99 or £24.97) and the PowerDock 4 ($69.99 or £31.54).  Not surprisingly the PowerDock 2 has 2 charging bases whilst the PowerDock 4 has 4.

Griffin PowerDock

The PowerDock is compatible with just about all of the current and previous range of Apple iPhone and iPod products, with the exception of the iPod Shuffles. Click here to see the PowerDock compatibility on the Griffin web site.

As with the Griffin Simplifi (click here for our review) the PowerDoc comes with a brushed aluminium style that matches the Apple MacBook Pro, and the Mac Pro.  I am not much of a style guru, but I do like my technology to match.  I am surprised Apple don’t produce a metal iPhone…
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Griffin Simplifi dock

The Griffin Simplifi is a desktop dock for your iPhone or iPod, but it is not just a dock it is far more…

The Griffin Simplifi is a triple function gadget and not only sports an iPhone dock but has a multi-function card reader and a USB hub as well.

The design of the Simplifi follows the Apple metallic theme and matches the Apple Macbook Pro, Air Book and Mac Pros very nicely.

Griffin Simplifi iPhone dock

The iPhone dock uses the dock inserts to enable a wide range of iPhones and iPods to be used.  Six inserts allow the use of iPod Classics, iPod Nano (2G,3G), iPhone (Classic, 3G) and iPod Touch.  In fact the only iPod not supported by the dock inserts is the iPod Shuffle.  This can be charged using the USB hub.

Griffin Simplifi USB hub

The USB hub provides 2 additional USB ports at the back of the device which can be used to power low powered devices.  I have used it for a memory stick and my Griffin AirCurve (review coming shortly).  

If  you need to attach devices that need more power then the Simplifi can be connected to a 5v power supply (or should that be power suppli??) which is included in the box.  I prefer not to use this as it makes it less portable.

Griffin Simplifi card reader

The final aspect of the Griffin Simplifi is the multi-function card reader.  This has two slots, one for Compact Flash and one for Memory Stick, SD cards and XD cards.  The Memory Stick Duo is not supported directly, it can only be used with an adapter.   

In use I find that this is great paired with my MacBook Pro as I can use it for both my cameras and video cameras without having to scrabble around for adapters or cables.  At home it is a perfect match for my MacPro, and of course it charges all of my Apple iPhone/iPod devices.  One other important point is that unlike the Apple Dock the Simplifi also charges my TruePower iV Battery extender as well as my iPhone.

The Griffin Simplifi is in the stores at $69.99.  For more information on the Griffin Simplifi: Charge and Sync dock, media card reader, and USB hub click here.

Tired of having to look after the battery on your iPhone?  Then the Fastmac TruePower iV battery charger may be the device you are looking for.  

The Fastmac TruePower iV is a jacket style charger.  Slip your iPhone or iPod Touch into the jacket and you have instant power.  The rechargeable battery in the extender is 3100mAh and is claimed to give you up to 24 hours of talk time, 30 days of standby, or more importantly for me 21 hours of video and 72 hours of audio.  More than enough to get me from one power charge to the next…

The price of the additional power is an increase in size, both in terms of thickness and length.  With your iPhone in the TruePower jacket the device is extended by just over an inch, but the real space comes from the thickness.  The TruePower iV triples the depth of the iPhone making it pretty bulky.

This doesn’t have to be a problem  as you need only slip the phone into the jacket when you need to charge it.  At other times you can leave it in your pocket or bag.
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Have you ever been out for the day and found that your iPhone 3G has drained it’s battery?  Trust me it has happened too often to me.  To counter this then you need some form of external battery pack.  there are many on the market, but Morphie have just announced what they call the World’s Thinnest power jacket.  Extending your iPhone talk time by up to 4.5 hours and 20 hours more audio playback it will be available in Apple Stores for $80 or about £50.

Los Angeles, CA – February 11th, 2009 – mStation | mophie announces juice pack air, the world’s thinnest apple-certified external battery for iPhone 3G.  The rechargeable 1200 mAH lithium polymer battery housed in an ultra-thin case virtually doubles the amount of time you have to rock, talk, surf, and send.  Juice pack air will be available to consumers world-wide this spring at Apple stores and mophie.com for $79.95 in Black, White, and Purple.  http://www.mophie.com/products/juice-pack-air 

Juice pack air features an innovative “standby mode” that allows users to control when they want to take advantage of additional battery support versus simply using it as a protective case.  The integrated 4 LED charge status indicates how much juice is remaining in the external battery.  Unique pass-through design allows users to simultaneously charge their juice pack air and sync their iPhone 3G with iTunes with the included USB cable. 

 “The juice pack air is a simple yet elegant battery boosting solution for iPhone 3G power users” says Ross Howe, Sales and Product Development Director for mStation | mophie.  “Advanced features like standby mode and ultra-thin design make juice pack air the ideal option for both extended battery support and protection.”

The mophie juice pack air will be available at Apple stores and mophie.com this spring with an MSRP of $79.95.  For more information, please visit www.mophie.com