“It’s late in the day and again my iPhone 3G’s battery is running low,” Eric Benderoff reports for The Chicago Tribune. “That makes this an apt time to take a fresh look at an increasingly important part of our gadget portfolio, those portable charging devices that provide a shot of juice in a pinch.”
“The iPhone 3G magnifies such issues. The Wi-Fi connection, the faster network speeds and GPS features all strain the battery. So for the last week, I’ve been using a few portable chargers to keep the iPhone and some other gadgets ready to go,” Benderoff reports. “‘It provides a supplemental charge,’ Ken Klarfeld, iPowerRush president, said of his portable charging device, one of the first targeting the iPhone 3G. ‘You’re on a plane, watching a movie and your iPhone goes dead? What do you do?'”
“With the iPowerRush [US$30, iPowerRush.com], you should be fine—as long as the six AAA batteries it needs work,” Benderoff reports. “The iPhone battery was nearly dead when I plugged the iPowerRush into the iPhone. About 45 minutes later, I had enough power to make it home, a 30-minute commute, playing with the iPhone all the way.”
“Another approach is a portable charger with multiple connectors, or ‘tips.’ These tips are made for iPods, various mobile phones, digital mobile phones and countless other gadgets,” Benderoff reports. “One of my favorites is the Powerstick, a $70 device (Powerstick.com) that includes nine tips. I’ve used them for many of my own gadgets, as well as those I review. It always works—and sure enough one of the tips it ships with worked with the iPhone 3G.”
“Again, the iPhone was nearly empty when I connected the Powerstick. It didn’t fully charge the device, but it provided a longer charge than the iPowerRush,” Benderoff reports. “You recharge the Powerstick via USB, so when it’s empty, you simply plug it into a computer’s USB port. A recharge takes about 30 minutes.”
More details and info about other iPod-only portable chargers here.
iPowerRush (the one with the six AAA batteries) sounds really really stupid. Who thinks of these things? Ecologically speaking, they are definitely Part of the Problem.
Strange that he doesn’t even MENTION the best one, FastMac’s iV (http://fastmac.com/iv.php). This one unanimously won Editor’s Choice for Macworld 2008 Best of Show Award.
Shoddy reporting, I say.
@SJG:
Do you know if the iV is rated to work with the 3G iPhone? I just wonder since it’s a pretty snug fit, looks like…
That thing is clunky. But for $30, what do you expect?
Sum Jung Gai… Use Rechargable batteries. the PowerStick thing looks interesting.
Thanks for the link, John. Now THAT’S an elegant solution!
@Sum Jung Gai,
Not if you use Rechargeable Batteries in the device. He mentions the iPowerRush does work with rechargeables in the video.
Peace.
He didn’t mention this one, which has gotten excellent reviews:
http://richardsolo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=264
@MacBill: I am thrilled with my Richard Solo battery. Got one each for me and my wife. They work great.
I am using the Kensington Mini iPhone Charger (amazon.com $38)….terrific portability and it will give me a quick 3/4 charge in about 15-20 minutes. I then recharge that in any computer. Hoping to make it all the way to London from Honolulu using just my laptop for charging up the Mini.
My car charger takes care of my on-the-go charging needs for me. $10 at RiteAid. Wall chargers at home and at work for the rest.
On an airplane or camping are the only two situations I can think of that I would need more. And I think there are chargers available for the airplane.
I’ve got to go with Sum Jung Gai’s favourite the iV.
It’s elegant, a better fit than the others, charges in a standard iPhone dock with the iPhone inside and gives you a Flash for your camera. I mean, what more do you need for goodness sake?
And the option to be able to charge up any USB device at the same time is sweet. Not got a bluetooth earpiece yet but if it charges through USM then that’s the whole thing sorted right there.
These other chargers just look like they are a basic charger with an iPod connector. The iV is a sleeve for the the iPhone so it takes the pressure off the connector. I hope the 3G version is out soon as I am upgrading my iPhone over the next few weeks and I would love to get an iV to go with it. Nice
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Thanks for the heads up SJG
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@British Mac Head
I agree that the IV looks good but my experience with Fastmac was horrible. I suggest anyone from the UK should think twice before using them.
Go to <http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/psp-rechargeable-battery-pack-p-1695.html?osCsid=182bf4b5d1745c8b57d8d470b9c9c3a0>
I used this little gem in Italy. you can use it to charge the phone as is or keep it attached. Just plug it in via USB and you can charge everything at once or just the battery by itself.
Yes – the iV is compatible with the 3G – But, I was told that the new 3G version will ship in 3-7 weeks and if I could wait that long, they’d ship me that one – so I went for it. Purchased the other iV, praying it would be compatible – and the FastMac guy I talked to said yes.
I got a Kensington Power Pack last week for a camping trip. Gave my 3G one full charge and a partial charge via USB. It was $60. Can charge the pack via AC or USB.
The great thing about AAAs is that you can get new ones any way you are in the world. No fussing or stress that you forgot to recharge your iPhone or Lithium like such as the Solo pack. Life is what happens to you, while you are busy making other plans. That’s why the iPowerrush exists. With its built in 30-Pin connector and CE and RoHS certified circuitry, you are out and about and when you need that power to complete something, you know there are AAAs always waiting to be had. Check the article out on Forbes at: http://www.forbes.com/prnewswire/feeds/prnewswire/2008/07/08/prnewswire200807080803PR_NEWS_USPR_____AQTU013.html