Hasta La Gadget!

Recently, Georgia Tech researchers discovered an unusual way to attack iOS: a third-party charger with a hidden computer can install malware when an iOS device is plugged in and unlocked. That won’t be an issue for much longer, however, as Apple has confirmed that iOS 7 beta 4 and future releases contain a fix. While the company hasn’t said what that solution is, Georgia Tech’s Billy Lau says that the new OS can tell when it’s plugged into a computer instead of a charger — there shouldn’t be any rude surprises. The dependence on an iOS 7-based fix could leave many users vulnerable until the fall, although the hardware-specific nature of the exploit means it’s unlikely to be a major concern.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple

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Source: Reuters

Do you have a lot of iOS devices in your house? Then get Griffin’s new PowerDock 5 so you can round up your permanently distracted loved ones in one place, even for just a few minutes. The family that charges together, looks at their gadgets together.

All five of the PowerDock 5′s USB ports deliver 5V at 2.1A, meaning you can charge five iPads on it if you have to, and using just one power outlet. The backrest lets it accommodate even devices with cases while occupying just a small space. You can order the PowerDock 5 from Griffin’s online store for $100 (USD). You know your business is doing well when no one’s surprised that a single family can have five of your products. For the life of me I can’t think of any other electronics company that has this kind of presence.

[via Electronista]

Just like how we have covered our fair share of portable wireless speakers over here on Coolest Gadgets in the past, another particular area where this particular niche gizmo is dime a dozen would be the phone charger. All phones come packed with their respective charger, although over the years, you would have realized that a single charger is good enough to play nice with a myriad of other phones, as long as they share the same connectors. Well, this begs the question, are all phone chargers created equal? The correct answer would be “No”, as evident by the flaming hope that this Kickstarter project, the Wrist Charge phone charger, claims.

What makes the Wrist Charge phone charger so different from the rest is its highly portable nature. Whenever you want to travel outdoors with your phone charger, you would not need a bag or backpack to toss it in, just slap the Wrist Charge phone charger around your, well, wrist, and you’re good to go. Not only does it ensure that your smartphone gets the necessary amount of juice whenever required, it will also double up as a fashion accessory when not in use.

The Wrist Charge phone charger will hook up any mobile device to a USB port to keep the battery going, and it will work with a myriad of iPhone models in addition to all Android-powered smartphones. Wrist Charge inventor and CEO Jerry Castro, said, “Wrist Charge is the most efficient product that I have designed to date. Wrist Charge provides convenience on the go, prevents lost phone chargers, and eliminates unnecessary clutter. Wrist Charge was created to help make cell phone users lives a little easier.”

If you want to see Wrist Charge being made a reality, a $15 contribution would definitely net you a Wrist Charge that you can call your own should it meet its target goal, where it will then be valued at $29.99. Instant win!

Kickstarter Page
[ Wrist Charge phone charger needs your support copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

So you’re doing your groceries or are out for a run, when you suddenly get a call – and then your phone dies because it’s out of power. What’s a desperate person supposed to do at that point, especially when the call is an important one?

Consider yourself lucky if you’re in New York, though, since you could probably just set off for the nearest Street Charging station to give your phone some much-needed power.

These solar-powered charging stations are thanks to the collaboration between AT&T, portable solar power systems developer Goal Zero, and Brooklyn design studio Pensa. The Street Charge stations were rolled out in various areas of New York.

Each station has PV panels installed on top and an internal battery that stores power gathered from the sun. Just plug your phone in and wait a few minutes to give your phone enough power to make that call or to charge it up because you have nothing better to do but stand and enjoy a sunny day. And also because you want to knock a couple of bucks off of your electric bill.

The concept for the Street Charge charging stations were done in early 2012 by Pensa. Marco Perry, one of the members of the studio’s team, described it as “an elegant all-in-one community solution for solar charging of mobile devices.”

From the looks of it, we agree.

[via Gizmag]

Electric vehicle charging stations aren’t cheap: one of the most affordable Level 2 (240V) units sells for $450 and only supplies 16A. Electric Motor Works (EMW) — which is best known for its electric conversion kits — wants to change this with JuiceBox, a 15kW Level 2 EV charger that costs just $99 in kit form (plus $10 shipping). The device, which is launching on Kickstarter today, supplies up to 62A and operates on both 120V and 240V. It’s built around an Arduino microcontroller and EMW is making both the hardware and software open source.

But wait, there’s more! The company is also crowdfunding a Premium Edition of JuiceBox ($199 in kit form) which adds time-of-day charging, a color LCD, ground-fault plus output protection (for outdoor use) and a unique enclosure (hopefully as funky as the one in the picture above). While the DIY kits only require basic assembly and soldering skills, you’ll be able to buy fully assembled versions for $100 more. At $329 (shipped), a ready-to-use JuiceBox Premium Edition undercuts other similar charging stations by several hundred dollars. The catch? You’ll have to supply your own cables (or buy them separately from EMW), including one with a standard J1772 EV connector. Hit the source link below to check out the campaign, and take a look at the PR after the break.

Filed under: Transportation

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Source: EMW (Kickstarter)