It can be hard to choose a backup battery when the market is as flooded as Bluetooth speakers and iPhone cases have become. Manufacturers are now finding ways to include added value with their emergency power supplies, like Cerevo’s new EneBrick that can turn your favorite USB keyboard into a wireless Bluetooth accessory for your tablet or smartphone.
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Here’s a rare occasion where it may serve us well to copy the Europeans: the European Union has voted overwhelmingly in favor of introducing a single, universal charger for all mobile phones sold across the continent.
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There are two reasons why I’m not a fan of most wireless chargers for mobile devices: they make it awkward to use your device while it’s charging and they require bulky cases for your mobile device. Slimo easily takes care of my second complaint. The first one? Not so much.
Unfortunate name choice aside, Slimo is indeed slimey slim. Instead of a bulky case it takes the form of a conductive patch that’s just 0.014″ thick. The patch delivers power to newer iOS devices via a Lightning connector. This means that you can attach Slimo without removing your iOS device’s case. You can even keep it underneath a case, as long as the latter isn’t made of metal. Slimo will work with any charging base that complies with the Qi Wireless standard.
Place your browser flat on your computer and try using it without lifting it off. Then pledge at least £22 (~$37 USD) on Kickstarter to get a Slimo patch as a reward. Pledge at least £39 (~$65 USD) to get a Slimo and a wireless charging base combo.
[via Likecool]
In 2014, we’re constantly hearing words like clean energy, solar power, fossil fuels, carbon emissions, the price of oil, and fracking. And if you’re like me, you know what some of those words mean but you’re hazy on others.
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Because solar panels are designed to accumulate as much light from the sun as possible, they’re typically very dark in color. It makes them more efficient, but also kind of an eyesore, minimizing their adoption. So researchers at the University of Michigan have developed what they believe to be the world’s first semi-transparent, colored solar panels.
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The world’s largest solar plant is awesome—
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A team of Stanford scientists recently made a breakthrough. After years of trying to create a new generation of lithium-ion batteries that use energy-efficient silicon to hold a charge, they found the secret to the winning design in an unlikely place: pomegranates.
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Like it or not, living rooms around the world are no longer dominated by the TV. Sure, it’s still on in the background, but our attention is now mostly held by smartphones and tablets while we lounge about. So forget a surround sound setup, the best upgrade for your living room is now an extra long cable to keep everyone’s devices charged.
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The Power Tap isn’t something you need, but if you’re up for having a charger that’s actually fun, then you might want to look into it. As the name implies, the wall charger comes in the shape of a tap. However, instead of dispensing drinks and other liquids, it “dispenses” power.
Just twist it open to turn it on and charge your gadgets or shut the power off by turning it the other way. The tap itself will glow red or blue to let you know when your device is or isn’t charging, respectively.
The Power Tap is compatible with all devices that charge via a USB port, though since it’s made in the UK, it appears to be designed for European outlets only. It’s available from Amazon for $28(USD).
[via H&H]
Fourteen cm in height and eight around, the world’s first battery looked more like primitive pre-Columbian art than an amazing piece of ancient technology. Although most experts agree that the device produced electricity, there is little consensus on what that power was intended to do.
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