BioLite Stove

Here is a neat camping accessory for those of you that are still camping, I’m not but this is really something that I could see being useful for the outdoor Geek that is in some of us. At cost of just $129.95 you can have a way to charge your phone while cooking your meal along the trail. This is a very small stove and it sure would be a Godsend for those of you walking the Appalachian Trail.

For being such a small package it sure appears as though it is extremely useful when considering the extra weight it would add to your backpack. It is 5 inches in diameter, 8.25 inches high and weighs 33 oz. Here are a few other Tech Specs that you might be interested in:

Belkin’s WeMo iPhone-based home automation

So you have been thinking about home automation but you want to do it for reasonable prices. Where should you look? Belkin is releasing soon a couple of devices that can be controlled both wirelessly and through motion detection. It can also be programmed to respond to a free service call IFTTT (IF This Then That). These are fairly simple on/off power control devices but they have the ability to be accessed using WiFi and your iPhone.

These switches connect to your home WiFi network and communicates via a free WeMo iOS app, so you can control any appliance or fixture that can plug into a regular outlet right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. For example, you can use it to remotely turn on and off a light or heater, or schedule your coffee maker to turn on at a certain time in the morning. WeMo even comes with seamless support for the automated web service IFTTT, where you can set up "recipes" such as receiving a text message when an appliance turns on or off.

The WeMo Switch will cost you $49, or you can go for the Switch + Motion bundle for $99 where you get a motion-activated Switch that can trigger devices with a simple walk-by. Both are available now on Belkin's website.

AViiQ Portable Charging Station

This product really interested me when I saw it right after returning from a recent trip. One of the problems that I was constantly running into was enough power charging for all of the devices I had with me. Granted I travel a bit heavy with all of my toys but this setup would have easily accommodated me with everything that I would have needed. Priced at just $79.99 I think it is a real bargain.

Four Port Hub

3+1 USB charging hub can charge all your devices and get pass data through one.

The AViiQ Portable USB Charging Station can charge four USB devices simultaneously, including an iPad, as well as passing data through one specialized port. Rest assured that even your larger power-consuming products such as the Apple® iPad™, which requires a 10v charger, is supplied through one of our four ports.

Retractable USB Port

Syncing your device is a synch.

Sync to your computer with this retractable USB cable. No more unplugging between the wall and your computer just to charge your device, especially those that require more power than your laptop can provide. After you're done. pull and let it zip back into place and you're ready to go.

Can a Display Screen Let Me Recharge My Cell Phone?

I want to thank Sofia Sheppard for this article and making me aware of this wonderful new technology. I am looking forward to seeing it used in new products as they are being introduced. It is important for us to take advantage of all the ways we can to conserve energy whenever possible. I hope that engineers learn about these new technologies and begin using them in their designs. Thank you Sofia for bringing this product to my attention and thinking of my site as a forum for introducing others to this company that is designing products for the future. Be sure to visit Sofia’s site to see other information solar battery chargers.

Click to read more ...

Trendnet’s new 500Mbps powerline Ethernet product.

Ethernet over power lines has always been a part of our arsenal to connect PC’s when we don’t want to run wire. The draw has been that it is relatively slow when compared to the speed you are achieving over CAT5e and CAT6 cabling. It is nice to be running at a full gig between your workstations, servers and other networked devices. What we have seen in the past from powerline Ethernet was always in the 11-14mbps range but Trendnet’s new product promises to get that speed up where we need it to be to handle your Data, VOIP and Video traffic.

Things like Blu-ray players, game consoles, TVs and all sorts of other stuff need a web connection to work a lot of times. The catch for many of us is that not all of the gadgets have WiFi built-in and sometimes WiFi just doesn't cut it when it comes to getting a reliable connection.

Trendnet has unveiled a new powerline networking system that is aimed at folks streaming lots of HD models and other large files across a network. The networking kit promises powerline networking at up to 500Mbps. Each of the adapters has a Gigabit Ethernet port built-in and has 128-bit AES encryption. The system has one button set up and an LED indicator on each adapter for network status.

You are limited to a maximum of 16 adapters (nodes) if you are streaming video. Additional adapters can impact performance. Networked Powerline devices need to be plugged into power outlets that are on the same electrical system. The network signal transmits up to 300 meters.

You will be able to get two kits with the powerline gear. The TPL-401E is a single adapter and will ship on November 29 for $99.99. The TPL-401E2K kit is a pair of the adapters to get you started and will ship on the same day for $179.99. You can add more adapters to your powerline network as needed, but you need a pair to get started.

Do you want to charge for use of your power?

A new product is being introduced to control access to your premise power outlets and provide you with another source of revenue for your business. The SafePlug 1200-P3 is a pay-per-use system that provides this ability. This solution will provide paid access for those who find themselves with devices running low on power. The SafePlug 1200-P3 pay-per-use system can be into a regular power outlet. It will allow the potential client to gain access with a prepaid plastic card or key fob that are purchased from the front counter of the business or at kiosks, and will offer anywhere from 10 to 20 blocks of access time, where each one of which could be 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes in duration. Once the device is unplugged, the P3 will turn itself off automatically. $1 will net you 20 minutes of charging time, with the outlet’s operating cost being estimated at 12 cents per kWh.

How to add a little more battery life to your devices while on the road and without access to a power outlet…

Every now and again I find myself running down my devices to the very end of their battery limits and need a little extra time to complete the project I am currently working on. Morphie has made a press release on a battery product that you can attach to different USB powered devices. The Juice Pack Powerstation is most obviously targeting heavy iPad users, but the beastly battery pack is quite capable of rejuvenating your PND, PMP or smartphone provided you have the necessary cabling. Most interesting, however, is this unit's ability to automatically switch between desired mAh charges, including 500 mAh, 1A and 2.1A, while a standby toggle switch ensures no drainage when it's idle. There's also a USB pass-through so users can charge a device and the Powerstation simultaneously, and if you're interested, all 3600mAh can be yours starting today at $99.95.

Click to read more ...