USB Batteries - webworker tool of the week
February 13th, 2007 (10:56am) Chris Gilmer 9 Comments
Everything takes batteries, from phones, cameras, mp3 players, and that wireless mouse on your desk. How many times do you carry a few spares when you travel? Sadly, I never do, and always kick myself when my wireless mouse starts getting jumpy from low juice. In devices like my digital camera I usually have rechargeables powering it. Now how often do I have the charging base with me? Never.
That’s why I’m so excited about coming across USBCELL. This company offers batteries that charge conveniently by USB. As web workers we always have our laptops with us, so what better way to utilize power, and always have it accessible when we need it? Supposedly just a few minutes of charging AAs is all a wireless mouse needs for several hours of usage. These AA batteries are priced at just over $17US for a pack of two. USBCELL also has 9V batteries, AAAs, and a range of batteries for major phones, handheld devices, and of course Blackberries that will be released shortly.
[via scifitech]
9 Comments Post your own comment
Development on a Shoestring says: February 13th, 2007 4:28pm
USB-Rechargeable batteries
File this one under why-didn’t-I-think-of-that?
Moxia Energy, a renewable & portable energy company, have come up with a line of batteries that are rechargeable by USB called USBCell. That is, they have a built in USB plug tha…
LG says: February 13th, 2007 4:36pm
I know this has been done to death on Slashdot, Engadget etc, but for the benefit of those who came in late: These batteries suck
While the USB idea is cute, they’re piffling 1300mah batteries, which compared to normal 2400mah AAs will run your device flat in less than half the time. So you can recharge easily, but you have to do it twice as often.
They’re also (as the article points out) insanely expensive: For the price of 4 USB Cells, you could get a USB battery charger and 12 2400mah AAs, or a USB Battery Charger, 4 AAs and a month’s Broadband/7 Coffees/1 Nice Lunch/whatever your metric.
They’re also pretty slow to charge. Whilst most USB chargers quote a 90% charge in 3 hrs, these quote 5 hrs. Whilst that’s probably a little kinder on the battery (and you really care about these things lasting when they cost $AU14 each), it’s pretty annoying when you need the power now.
So yeah, they’re not really recommended, except as a novelty.
LG
Logical Extremes says: February 13th, 2007 4:55pm
Not as compact, but Think Geek has a USB-powered charger for rechargeable batteries, so at least in a pinch you don’t need a wall outlet. They also have the opposite - a battery-powered device for delivering power over USB.
Chris Gilmer says: February 13th, 2007 5:53pm
Thanks for the tips LG!
links for 2007-02-14 - mattherzberger.com says: February 14th, 2007 1:27am
[...] Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive USB Batteries - webworker tool of the week « usb batteries, what a good idea (tags: usb batteries charger) [...]
spatulated says: February 14th, 2007 12:34pm
wow, freaking awesome!
Toile-filante » Archive du blog » La toile en vrac - episode 8 says: February 15th, 2007 8:31pm
[...] Les piles rechargables par USB. [...]
TV and Video Guide says: April 19th, 2007 5:12am
TV and Video Guide
Not a bad idea! I do not agree with this opinion in 100%, but that’s sound really promising
USB Cells - Charge your cells from your computer : George Appiah | Aspiring Father, Social Entrepreneur, Technology Evangelist & Ghana’s Ambassador to the Internet says: June 20th, 2007 12:49am
[...] [Found via: Web Worker Daily] [...]