CTIA jumps on the micro-USB bandwagon
Think the CTIA is only good for swank trade shows? Think again! It’s actually a trade group created to fight for your interests — or at least those interests of your duly elected wireless providers — and apparently top among those lists of interests is plug standardization. Yes, we’re not the only ones sick of still having a sprawling mess of a gadget charging station, so CTIA is saying that micro-USB will be the power standard for all handsets and mobile devices. Likewise, the 3.5mm audio plug will be the standard for audio output on those same gadgets. It’s shocking, we know, if only because we thought the entire gadget universe was already on board, with everyone and their mommas signing up for micro-USB and even HTC finally making room for a 3.5mm hole in the bottom of their handsets. These standards are set to go into effect in January of 2012, meaning we should get a good 11 months or so of dongle-free gadget harmony before the apocalypse.
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video
CTIA jumps on the micro-USB bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted: October 12th, 2009
at 8:04am by Tim Stevens
Topics: 2012, 3.5mm, CellphoneCharger, StandardCharger, StandardizedCharger, cellphone charger, charger, ctia, micro-usb, standard, standard charger, standardized charger
Monstrous Battery Pack Promises 20 Hours of Video Playback for iPhones [IPhone]
USB Fever’s 3000 mAh add-on promises 8.5 hours of talk time or 20 hours of delicious video playback.
According to the manufacturer “it’s not bulky either as it just extends a little at the bottom”—yeah right, and Steve Ballmer is just a little intense. The Super Charger is positively ginormous, but if you have a sherpa (or intern) to help you schlep it around, the battery pack can be picked up for $60. It won’t void any warranties, but it should. [USB Fever via Crunch Gear]
Powermat wireless chargers unleashed into the atmosphere, for real
Oh, Powermat wireless chargers. We thought you were vaporware — and then, like an undreamed dream — you appeared to us in the flesh (and on video!) at CES. We didn’t really hear much about it after that, and we’ll be honest: we had nearly forgotten all about it! Well, it turns out these bad boys are now available. If you don’t recall the details, the Powermat is a one pad, one plug system designed to charge all your gadgets in one place — refreshing! Your phone or DS or whatever you want to charge will need a Powermat Receiver sleeve, enabling it to lock onto the mat and charge in the amount of time it takes to charge up traditionally. At $99.99 (plus around $40 per receiver), it’s not the cheapest charging method we can think of, but it’s sure to be a conversation piece at your next rager. Powermat’s lineup is now available at Best Buy and Target stores.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals
Powermat wireless chargers unleashed into the atmosphere, for real originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted: October 6th, 2009
at 2:10am by Laura June
Topics: GadgetCharger, Wireless, WirelessCharging, charger, charging, gadget charger, powermat, wireless charging
