Charge your gadgets with or without an outlet – the iGo Charge Anywhere Gadling review

by Scott Carmichael on

When it comes to powering my gadgets, and keeping them powered, I’m a bit of a freak. See, I have this deep hatred for gadgets that don’t have the battery life to stay working as long as I need them to. There is something sad about a $600 phone that dies halfway through the day, or a media player that can’t last through a long haul flight.

This is where the iGo Charge Anywhere can help. This 2-port USB wall charger has a secret – hidden inside the device is an 1800mAh battery pack. The combination of this AC charger and battery means you can power and charge two gadgets whether you have an outlet or not. The battery is powerful enough to get most gadgets back to 100%, or up to two full charges for smaller devices like an iPod or Bluetooth headset.

The charger is the same size as any “normal” USB wall charger, and comes with a USB to iGo tip cable. This allows you to carry just one cable, and an assortment of iGo power tips. These tips are available for almost every gadget on the market.

Of course, since the charger has normal USB ports, you can also use any USB charging cable included with your gadget.

The charger provides enough power for small gadgets like portable gaming consoles, phones and media players, and obviously does not have the oomph to power and charge your laptop.

The power rating of the iGo Charge Anywhere allows you to use it anywhere in the world as it supports 100V-240V. Of course, you’ll still need the appropriate plug adapter if you plan to use it in a non-US socket.

Operating the iGo Charge Anywhere is as simple as can be – plug your devices into one of the two USB ports, and plug it into an AC outlet. When you don’t have an outlet available, you just plug your devices in and press the power button on the unit.

Because the iGo Charge Anywhere is part of the new iGo Green lineup, it has a built in circuit to eliminate “vampire power”. This means the charger will completely turn off when it senses it has fully charged your gadgets. This means it won’t draw any power at all once it has done its work. The power savings may not be very big, but every tiny bit counts.

Pros: Works on any voltage, double USB charging ports, integrated battery pack, very compact
Cons: Relatively weak battery pack, only one power tip included

The iGo Charge Anywhere costs $49.99 and is available directly from iGo. The purchase price includes one free power tip (worth about $8).

Product page: iGo Charge Anywhere

Daily gear deals – $17 MP3 player, $5 Kindle charging kit and more

by Scott Carmichael on

Here are the hottest gadget deals for today, Friday May 29th 2009. Remember, these deals are often one-day deals, so act fast before they are gone!

Today’s lineup of deals starts with the highly rated Garmin Nuvi 855. This widescreen GPS unit is miles ahead of the usual cheap stuff we post here. The Nuvi 855 offers speech recognition, spoken commands, lane assist and even the ability to navigate by picture, with the photos from the Garmin photo sharing community. The unit normally costs $499, but is currently on sale through Amazon for just $299 (with free shipping).

Are you in the market for a really cheap MP3 player? This Creative Zen Stone with speaker has 1GB of storage and a built in speaker. Normal price is $45, but it is currently on sale (refurbished) in the Creative outlet for just $16.99.

Do you travel with the Amazon Kindle? Then this deal is perfect for you – an iGo 4 piece Amazon Kindle charging kit (wall + car) for just $4.24. The kit comes with an AC charger, DC (car) charger, retractable cable and Amazon Kindle iGo power tip. On sale at Amazon, but since it is under $25, you’ll need to pay for shipping.
for under $5!

The final deal for today is for this Olympus Stylus 820 weatherproof digital camera. On sale for just $89.99. The camera features a 5x optical zoom, 8 megapixel sensor and weatherproof seals to protect the camera from rain, sand, snow and more.

Looking for more hot deals, coupons and discount codes? Check out the lineup of bargains in our shopping portal!

Two for the Space of One

by Dave Luna on

As a computer nerd, I’m doomed to walk the earth with as many electronic gadgets as possible. In fact, I was once questioned by Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport security why I had two MP3 players and two cell phones. In spite of that (almost) international incident, I think there has never been a better time than now for gadgety-type traveling.

Companies today are marketing products that can charge multiple devices in multiple environments with just one plug. This means one less Blackberry plug in your carry-on and more space for souvenirs!

Gomadic markets a number of two-device chargers for use in either home or auto. These chargers support cell phones, PDAs, and MP3 players. About $40 to $50.

iGo sells dual-device power adapters that can be used on airplanes, on AC current, and in cars. They have models that can charge laptops in addition to a small device like a phone, MP3 player, or PDA. Ranges from $30 to $120.

Finally, the VersaCharger PRO consolidates all of your USB device chargers into one small adapter usable on a plane, in a car, or in a hotel. Around $25 to $30.

By the way, you get extra points if you attach any one of the previously mentioned chargers to the Tumi adaptor Erik mentioned. (Oh, and check the comments of that post to see cheaper Tumi alternatives.)