Archive for category iPhone Chargers

Case-Mate Launches Fuel Lite Battery Extender iPhone Case

Feb 18

Posted by Tanya Menoni in Battery, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Cases, iPhone Chargers | 1 Comment

Case-Mate has just announced a new battery-powered iPhone case, the Fuel Lite Battery Extender Case. The slim, black case can extend the iPhone’s battery life and can be turned on and off so the battery only kicks in when you need it.

The Fuel Lite Case is compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and weighs roughly two ounces. It has access to all ports and buttons, and the case includes an on/off switch and three LED lights so you can see battery life at a glance. We haven’t given this case a real-world test, but Case-Mate claims that the Fuel Lite can add two additional hours to the iPhone’s battery life for talk time and Internet playback. The manufacturer also claims an additional 100 hours of standby time.

The Case-Mate Fuel Lite Battery Extender Case retails for $49.99 at Case-Mate.com.

Dexim Shows P-Flip Rechargeable Solar Battery Pack For iPhone

Jan 7

Posted by Tim Barribeau in Backup Batteries, Battery, News, Rechargeable Solar Battery, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Chargers | No Comments

iPhone accessory manufacturer Dexim has just announced the DCA199 Solar-Powered P-Flip, a rechargeable solar battery pack for your iPhone. It will retail for $79.90. The 2000mAh battery will offer a full recharge of your iPhone, which means an extra 8 hours of talk time, 15 hours of video or game, or 60 hours of music.

It comes with an special connector that allows the iPhone to sync while still in the pack, and its battery can be recharged by both USB or solar power. The battery pack also doubles as a stand for viewing your iPhone, either in portrait or landscape modes.

Interesting accessory for campers and travelers stuck in remote areas without electricity.

[Dexim P-Flip via iLounge]

Apple Black Friday Deals: Take Two

Nov 24

Posted by Tanya Menoni in News, iPhone Bargains, iPhone Chargers, iPhone Clocks | No Comments

As usual, there are a lot of rumors and speculation swirling around Apple’s discounts for Black Friday. As we reported last week, a leaked circular showed various discounts on iPods and Apple computers, but a new circular makes the potential deals even more interesting. No one knows if this is the real Apple Black Friday circular, but Boy Genius Report — the source of the leaked circular — is pretty confident in their source.

Surprisingly, the Apple Black Friday deals uncovered by Boy Genius Report are for Apple.com, not the actual Apple stores. If true, here’s what iPhone owners can expect at Apple.com on Black Friday.

Belkin TuneCast Auto

Belkin TuneCast AutoThe rumors have Apple.com selling the Belkin TuneCast Auto, an iPhone accessory that transmits music to your car’s FM stereo, for $48. The TuneCast Auto includes ClearScan functionality, so you don’t have to constantly seek out clear FM stations. The Belkin TuneCast Auto, which is ‘Works with iPhone’ certified, normally sells at Apple.com for $69.95.

Bottom line: Good deal. You can find the Belkin TuneCast Auto for $49 at various online retailers, so $48 is certainly competitive. Buyer beware though — the Belkin TuneCast Auto gets two-star ratings at Amazon.com and the Apple Store.

Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone

Mophie Juice Pack The Mophie Juice Pack claims to be the “world’s thinnest rechargeable external battery concealed inside of a protective form.” It’s designed to protect your iPhone like a regular case, while providing twice the battery life of the iPhone’s built-in battery. The mophie Juice Pack Air is normally sold at Apple.com for $79.95 and the rumored Black Friday circular has it priced at $58.

Bottom line: Fantastic deal. Nearly every online retailer has the Mophie Juice Pack Air priced around $80, so $58 would be a steal. Like the Belkin TuneCast Auto, it doesn’t get rave reviews at Amazon.com.

iHome iP88 Dual Dock Clock Radio Speaker

iHome ip88Normally $149.95, the rumored Apple Black Friday circular has the iHome iP88 clock radio priced at $108. The clock radio provides two docks so you can charge your iPod and iPhone simultaneously and play music from either. Other features include three alarms, Time Sync functionality and an included remote.

Bottom line: Great deal. The cheapest price I found online was $119.99 at J&R, so $108 is not a shabby price for this iPhone clock radio.

Other deals on the rumored Apple Black Friday circular include the iPod touch from $178 to $358, iMacs from $1,098 to $1,898 and MacBook Pros for $1,098 to $2,448. So do you think these are the real deal? Some of the discounts seem pretty generous — especially for Apple — so we’ll have to wait and see what Black Friday brings.

Review: Griffin Simplifi Dock for iPhone

Sep 3

Posted by Alan in iPhone Accessories, iPhone Chargers, iPhone Dock Reviews, iPhone Docks | 1 Comment

Griffin Simplifi Back

The Griffin Simplifi Dock ($45) is a versatile dock that can be used to charge and sync your iPhone or iPod. It is compatible with all versions of the iPhone (original, 3G, and 3GS) as well as several generations of iPods, including the iPod touch. It includes 2 card readers with read/write support for 6 types of digital media cards and comes with 2 powered USB ports on the back. Overall, we found the dock worked perfectly with the iPhone and can recommend it for iPhone users looking for something different from the default Apple dock, or for those who need a card reader or extra USB port.

Griffin Simplifi With Adapters

The Griffin Simplifi comes with 6 white plastic adapters that allow various iterations of the iPhone and iPod to have a tight, secure fit while sitting in the dock. If you use an iPhone case, the iPhone won’t fit snug into any of the adapters. However, the Griffin Simplifi functions as a universal dock if you don’t use any of the adapters, leaving plenty of room for an iPhone with a case. A side effect of using no adapter is that the iPhone fits very loosely in the dock, and the docking process is a much less guided, and therefore, much less smooth, process.

Griffin Simplifi Dock for iPhone and iPod

The dock is a combination of aluminum casing and white plastic. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we found it generally good looking. The fact that it breaks from the all-white plastic of Apple’s docks will appeal to those who like to “think different” while still maintaining some Mac aesthetic. Owners of a Mac Pro or the original Apple Cinema display, in particular, will find that the dock’s aluminum casing matches their equipment well.

Griffin Simplifi Blue LED

Some might find the glowing blue LED power indicator on the front as a drawback.

Griffin Simplifi for iPhone Card Slots

There are two memory card ports on the front that have read/write support for 6 types of memory cards: Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, SDHC, XD, and compact flash. Although not quite up to par with, say, a 60-in-1 card reader, the 6 supported formats should cover the basics for most.

Griffin Simplifi Short Mini USb Cord

The dock uses a mini-USB cord to connect to your computer (the end that plugs into your computer is normal USB, the end that goes into the dock is mini-USB). The cord is amazingly only 2-feet long, which is a problem if you plan on docking your iPhone anywhere but right next to your computer.

Griffin Simplifi iPhone USB hub

On the back of the Simplifi are 2 powered USB ports. Because you use up one of your computer’s USB ports to plug it in, the dock adds a net gain of 1 USB port to your computer. While that doesn’t exactly qualify it as a USB hub, it’s still a nice feature in an iPhone dock.

Griffin Simplifi Rubber Bottom

The Simplifi also comes with an AC adapter (wall plug), but strangely enough, you can’t recharge your iPhone when the wall plug is used. The wall plug only powers the USB ports on the back. You could conceivably plug your iPhone into one of the USB ports to charge, but this defeats the purpose of having a dock. If your goal is to have a dock you can plug into the wall and charge your iPhone (without connecting it to a computer), you will want to look elsewhere. (Just to be clear, the dock does charge your iPhone when the dock is plugged into a USB port on your computer.)

Conclusion

The Griffin Simplifi is a versatile dock for your iPhone or iPod that adds a net gain of an extra USB port as well as a card reader. Its silver aluminum breaks from Apple’s all-white-plastic docks, making it perfect for those who like a little something different, while still keeping with the Mac aesthetic.

Links:

Official website for the Griffin Simplifi

Griffin Simplifi $45 at Amazon.com

7 Ways to Get Power to Your iPhone (iPhone Tips)

Jul 15

Posted by Alan in Backup Batteries, Car Adapters, External Battery, Extra iPhone Batteries, Rechargeable iPhone Batteries, WildCharge iPhone Recharger, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Car Chargers, iPhone Chargers, iPhone Docks, iPhone External Batteries, iPhone Rechargeable Battery, iPhone Tips | 2 Comments

Keeping your iPhone charged is a constant battle. There are plenty of tips for how to make your iPhone’s battery last longer by turning off features like 3G or GPS. But sometimes, you just have to unleash the full power of the iPhone. Here are 7 ways to get power to your iPhone throughout the day and never see that dreaded 10% battery warning again.

1. Dock Connector to USB Cable

Having an extra USB iPhone cable is probably the most important additional step you can take for keeping your iPhone charged. The cable can be plugged into PCs, laptops, wall chargers, car chargers, docks, portable batteries, or just about anything that has a powered USB port. The official cable from Apple costs $19, but Amazon has some third-party versions for cheap, like the Eforcity Retractable iPhone cable for $3.

2. Wall Charger

An extra wall charger is another easy way to keep your iPhone charged up throughout the day. Outlets are everywhere, even in public places. In fact, most airports have added free charging stations where you can plug in and charge your mobile devices. I personally keep an extra charger and cord at work. Apple sells the the official wall charger for $30 in their store, but some Amazon vendors sell them for as cheap as $5. Please note that Apple did a recall for some old iPhone wall chargers because the prongs could break off in the outlet and create a risk of shock.

3. Docks

An iPhone dock can make recharging and synching the iPhone a much more comfortable experience. Cords get tangled, tend to get moved or dropped behind desks, etc. But a dock stays stationary and allows you to quickly drop the iPhone in for a charge. Docks also keep the iPhone upright so you can view the screen easily from a sitting position. Plus, the iPhone just looks cool sitting in a dock.

Apple sells an official dock for $29. A cool third-party dock I use is the Griffin Simplifi for $45 (seen below).

4. Car Chargers

Thanks to GPS turn-by-turn directions and stereo Bluetooth, the iPhone can burn a lot of battery in the car. iPhone car chargers are an affordable way to keep the iPhone charged up while driving. The XtremeMac InCharge is a basic charger for $19. There are also fancier versions that offer car mounts and control dongles that you can attach to your steering wheel.

5. iPhone Cases With Built-in Batteries

Nothing is more convenient than a battery case. These cases often double the battery life of your iPhone while still allowing you to use the iPhone as normal (no need to plug the iPhone into anything or stop using its features). And some battery cases, like the Mophie Juice Pack Air ($79), are relatively slim and won’t add too much bulk to your iPhone. The downside to battery cases is that they can be expensive and some aren’t quite as svelte as the Juice Pack. Synching your iPhone also can be a hassle, with some cases requiring you to remove them in order to plug in the iPhone. Some users also report loss of signal strength for the iPhone when in battery cases.

6. Portable USB Batteries

Portable USB batteries are perfect for charging the iPhone when traveling in places with no wall outlets or other power sources. USB batteries can be relatively inexpensive, like the Rekkeon TekCharge for $25. USB batteries are either powered by a rechargeable laptop battery or by AA batteries that you can supply yourself. They can be used with just about any gadget that recharges via USB. Their downside is that they’re just one more thing you have to pack and carry around with you.

7. Wireless Recharging Pad

Recharging pads are relatively new to the mainstream world of gadgets. They are dubbed “wireless” because the gadget is charged by simply laying it on the pad–no wired connection needed. The WildCharge ($80, comes with special iPhone case) is the first charging pad for the iPhone. This solution may best for those who rarely sync their iPhone with the computer. It also works with a number of other mobile electronics too.

Apple iPhone Wall Adapter $7 (Regular $30) (iPhone Bargains)

Jul 13

Posted by John Hawkes in iPhone Accessories, iPhone Bargains, iPhone Chargers | 2 Comments

*Update* Looks like there’s $5 shipping and the price is fluctuating. There are several vendors on Amazon selling it for under $10, so click around.

*Update 2* Here’s a second link for one going for $5 + $5 S&H.

*Update 3* Please note that Apple did a recall for some old iPhone wall chargers because the prongs could break off in the outlet and create a risk of shock. Updated chargers are signified by a green dot.

It’s always nice to have an extra one of these. Amazon has the official iPhone wall adapter for only $7 $10. Apple is selling the plug for $30 in their store. The adapter requires a Dock Connector to USB cable in order to connect to and charge your iPhone. Keep a spare one at school or the office to recharge your iPhone.

Link:

Amazon.com: Apple USB Power Adapter for iPod/iPhone $7 $10

Wireless Charger for iPhone and iPod Touch Announced

Jun 24

Posted by Alan in WildCharge iPhone Recharger, iPhone 3GS, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Chargers, iPhone Wireless Chargers | No Comments

WildCharge has announced a line of wireless charging products for the iPhone and iPod touch, the WildCharge Adapter Skin for iPhone ($34.99) and WildCharge Pad ($49.99). The skin allows the iPhone to be recharged simply by laying it on the pad. No need to plug it in or mess around with cords.

The WildCharge Adapter Skin for iPhone is a tight-fitting, matte-black gel case that fits snugly around the iPhone. The bottom of the case plugs into the iPhone’s docking port. The back of the case is embedded with a contact module that creates an electrical connection when placed on the WildCharger Pad.

The WildCharge Pad measures 8 x 6 inches in size, delivers up to 15 watts of power, and can charge multiple iPhones or iPods at the same time. It is compatible with over 100 devices (click here for list).

Both products carry the official “Works with iPhone” label, meaning they are endorsed by Apple to work with the iPhone. The skin and pad are available in a bundle for $79.99 (saves you $5).

A similar device, known as the Touchstone, is available for the Palm Pre for $79.99.

Here’s a goofy video review of the WildCharge for Blackberry by NY Times writer David Pogue:

The WildCharge Skin for iPod touch and WildCharge Pad are available now. The WildCharge Skin for iPhone will be available in early July on WildCharge.com.

Roundup of iPhone Batteries: Rechargeable External Batteries and Case Batteries

Apr 28

Posted by Alan in Backup Batteries, Extra iPhone Batteries, Rechargeable iPhone Batteries, iPhone Chargers, iPhone External Batteries, iPhone Rechargeable Battery | 1 Comment

Nothing is more depressing than seeing that 10% battery warning pop up on your iPhone. Thankfully, there are third-party battery solutions to help the iPhone go that extra mile. There are two categories for external batteries for the iPhone: iPhone cases with hidden batteries inside and portable “brick” batteries that connect to your iPhone. Here’s a roundup of both categories:

Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 3G

The Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 3G ($99) is a black soft-rubber case for the iPhone 3G that includes a hidden 1800mAh battery. The battery will fully recharge the iPhone once with a little bit to spare, essentially doubling the iPhone’s battery life. On the back of the case are a power button and four blue LED power indicators that display the remaining charge in the Juice Pack. The Juice Pack is thicker than a normal iPhone case, nearbly doubling the thickness of the iPhone 3G, but will still fit in your jeans pocket. It comes with a mini USB cable for recharging the Juice Pack’s battery.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 3G

iLounge review (rating: B)

Amazon.com: Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 3G

Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3G

The Amazon.com: Mophie Juice Pack Air“>Mophie Juice Pack Air (Amazon.com: Mophie Juice Pack Air“>$80) is a slimmer version of the previously mentioned Juice Pack battery case, adding only a quarter of an inch to the iPhone’s overall thickness. The Air is available in black, purple, or white glossy plastic. It’s a 1150mAh battery that will fully recharge an iPhone 3G one time with a little juice left over. The amount of charge left in the Air is indicated by four LED lights on the back of the case. The Air comes with a mini USB cable for recharging the Air’s battery.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Mophie Juice Pack Air

iLounge review (rating: B)

Amazon.com: Mophie Juice Pack Air

FastMac TruePower iV Battery Charger for iPhone

The FastMac TruePower iV Battery Charger for iPhone 3G ($99) case not only includes a battery for recharging your iPhone, it also contains several interesting features like an LED flashlight. The battery is a 3300mAh battery that will fully recharge your iPhone 3G two and a half times. The case also includes an LED “flashlight” on the back that can drastically improve pictures taken with the iPhone in low light. The TruePower iV has a full USB port that can you can plug any USB device into (such as another iPhone) and charge that device as well. A screen protector and iPhone-friendly headphone extender cord also comes with the case.

Helpful links:

Official website for the FastMac TruePower iPhone Battery Charger

iLounge review (rating: B+)

Amazon.com: FastMac TruePower Battery Charger for iPhone

Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G

The Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G ($99) is a case with a 1330mAh lithium-ion polymer battery that will fully recharge your iPhone 3G once. The case is made of black soft rubber and will roughly double the thickness of your iPhone. There is some awkwardness to the design–oversized headphone plugs won’t fit into the case’s headphone port hole and, in order to synch your iPhone, you will need to remove the entire case to dock the iPhone. The Incase Power Slider comes with a black carrying case and a USB cable for recharging the Power Slider.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G

iLounge review (rating: B-)

Amazon.com: Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G

PhoneSuit MiLi Power Pack

The PhoneSuit MiLi Power Pack ($80) is a good-looking 1800maH battery case that will full recharge an iPhone once and still have some power left over. The case is made of glossy plastic and comes in either black or white. The front of the case has a power button as well as 4 LED lights that indicate the amount of power remaining. The MiLi also has an outgoing USB port, which means you can use the case to charge another device via a USB cable (for example, another iPhone). The MiLi comes with a mini-USB cord for recharging the battery case.

Helpful links:

Official website of the PhoneSuit MiLi Power Pack

iLounge review (rating: B+)

Amazon.com: PhoneSuit MiLi Power Pack

Konnet PowerKZ for iPhone 3G

The Konnet PowerKZ for iPhone 3G ($80) is a 1800mAh battery case capable of fully recharging an iPhone or iPhone 3G once. The case has a power button as well as 4 red LED lights that indicate the amount of power remaining. It also has a well-designed, unobtrusive pop-out kickstand on the back to prop up the iPhone for video watching. A downside is that it does not come with a USB charging cable, meaning you must use the iPhone’s USB cord to charge the case instead (or buy a second iPhone cable).

Helpful links:

Official website for the Konnet PowerZ

iLounge review (rating: C-)

Amazon.com: Konnet PowerZ for iPhone 3G

Just Mobile Gum and Gum Pro

For external plug-in iPhone batters, the Gum series, featuring the Just Mobile Gum ($45) and Gum Pro ($60) are probably both the best overall, as they offer more power than almost all of their competitors at a cheap price. The standard Gum is a 2200mAH battery that offers approximately a full charge and a half for your iPhone. The Gum Pro is a 4400mAh battery and will fully recharge your iPhone 3G an astounding 3.5 times. The Gum batteries do not come with a cable for connecting to the iPhone (but it does come with a cable for charging the Gum itself), so you’ll have to use the iPhone’s own USB cable to connect it to the Gum. The Gums’ compact size and superior energy capacity make it a top selection. (The Gum series can be used to charge iPods and other USB devices too.)

Helpful links:

Just Mobile Gum official website

Just Mobile Gum Pro official website

iLounge review (rating: A-)

Amazon.com: Just Mobile Gum

Amazon.com: Just Mobile Gum Pro

Kensignton Mini Battery Extender and Charger for iPhone

The Kensington Mini Battery Extender and Charger for iPhone ($35) attaches to the bottom of the iPhone with just enough of a gap to allow for the proper functioning of the speakers as well as the microphone. The Mini Battery only offers about a half of a full charge for the iPhone, so it’s not the most ideal portable battery solution, but good enough for emergencies. It’s size–small enough to fit into a pocket–makes it extremely portable. It comes with a retractable USB dongle for recharging the Mini Battery.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Kensington Mini Battery Extender and Charger for iPhone

iLounge review (rating: B)

Amazon.com: Kensington Mini Battery Extender and Recharger for iPhone

3GJuice Battery for iPhone 3G

The 3GJuice Battery ($55) is a 1800 mAh battery that attaches flush to the bottom of the iPhone and will fully recharge it once. The main advantage of the 3GJuice is that it’s small enough to fit in your pocket and carry anywhere for emergency iPhone power. A downside is that it does not have LED indicators to display the remaining charge left in the battery. It comes with a mini USB cable for recharging the battery.

Helpful links:

Official website for the 3GJuice Battery

Amazon.com: 3GJuice Battery for iPhone 3G

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1800 Rechargeable Li-Poly Battery

The Tekkeon TekCharge MP1800 Rechargeable Li-Poly Battery ($45) is a 4000mAh battery that can fully recharge your iPhone once with some power left to spare. Its dimensions are 3.3 inches x 2.1 inches by 1.1 inches, so it might be too big to stuff into your pocket, but it’s relatively light at just 4.5 oz, so it won’t add much weight if you stuff it into a bag. It comes with a a retractable USB cable, a variety of cord connectors for connecting to different types of USB devices, a carrying bag, and, for some reason, a lanyard necklace in case you want to walk around with a big battery hanging from your neck.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Tekkeon TekCharge Rechargeable Li-Poly Battery

iLounge review (rating: not rated)

Amazon.com: Tekkeon TekCharge Rechargeable Li-Poly Battery

Kensington Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone

Kensington Battery Pack and Charger ($45) is a 7 watt-hour battery that will supply a three-fourths recharge for an iPhone. It has 5 LED lights on the front to indicate the battery’s remaining charge as well as a power button. Its poor battery performance and high price make it a poor choice for recharging your iPhone. It comes with a cable for connecting to the iPhone as well as a wall plug for recharging the battery.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Kensington Battery Pack and Charger

iLounge review (rating: B-)

Amazon.com: Kensington Battery Pack and Charger

Griffin TuneJuice

The Griffin TuneJuice for iPhone and iPod ($30) is an external plug-in battery that uses 4 AAA batteries (included) for its power. Although the TuneJuice is compatible with the iPhone, it’s not an ideal choice, as it can only power the iPhone for roughly 2 hours of talk time or 1.5 hours of Internet use, which is really only enough power for emergency use. Also, the AAA batteries are not rechargeable, so you’ll have need to have extras on hand to get more power–a rather environmentally unfriendly way of recharging your iPhone.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Griffin TuneJuice

iLounge review (rating: B-)

Amazon.com: Griffin TuneJuice

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1550 Battery Charger

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1550 Battery Charger ($25) does not contain a battery, rather, you must supply your own AA batteries (4), so it’s not exactly an enivronmently friendly choice unless you use rechargeables. The MP1550 will fully recharge an iPhone once. It comes with a variety of USB tips and connectors for recharging other devices besides iPod and iPhones.

Helpful links:

Official website for the Tekkeon TekCharge Mobile Power and Battery Charger

iLounge review (rating: not rated)

Amazon.com: Tekkeon TekCharge Mobile Power and Battery Charger

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Portable iPhone Battery: Tekkeon TekCharge MP1800 Rechargeable Battery

Mar 8

Posted by Alan in Backup Batteries, External Battery, iPhone 3G Accessories, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Chargers, iPhone Rechargeable Battery | No Comments

The Tekkeon TekCharge Rechargeable Li-Poly Battery can be used to recharge an iPhone, iPod Touch, or other mobile devices. Simply connect your iPhone’s USB cable to the the TekCharge, and it will start recharging. It weighs just 4.5 ounces, so it’s portable and small enough to stuff into any bag.

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1800

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1800

CNET reviewed the TekCharge and liked its simple design and affordable price and found that it works exactly as advertised. What they didn’t like is that the TekCharge doesn’t come with a wall plug. To charge it up, you must connect it via USB cable your computer or laptop.

Links:

CNET review

Tekkeon TekCharge at Amazon.com ($45)