recharge

Unlike with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, there aren't any first-party controller charging accessories readily available for the Nintendo Wii. At this point in the console's lifecycle, there are literally dozens of third-party devices that promise the most efficient and painless experience in getting your Wii remotes juiced.

There are plenty of variables to consider in picking out the best charging system. Price, charging style, and number of battery packs are all features you'll want to compare.

Lucky for you, we've put every Wii charger we could find through our vigorous testing procedures and have … Read more

Do you need power for your cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera, and other portable gadgets? Our friend Mr. Sun has an endless supply (well, not endless--5 billion years and kaput!). What you need is a way to harness those rays and turn them into energy you can use.

GoldenGadgets has just such a harness: the Portable Hybrid Solar Charger, currently on sale for $19.99--shipping will run you about $5.

What makes it a "hybrid" charger? Simple: It can draw energy from the sun (8-10 hours buys you a full charge--bad news for those of us … Read more

Need extra power for your iPhone or iPod Touch? Hey, who doesn't? Buy.com has the Energizer Energi To Go Battery Charger for $6.99 shipped. I'm going to make this quick, because I guarantee these will sell out.

The Energi To Go can power and recharge any dockable iPod, including 1st-generation and 3G iPhones, Touches, Nanos, and Minis. It relies on a pair of AA batteries, preferably of the lithium ion variety (two of which are included!). You can use regular alkaline batteries in a pinch, but you won't get the same amount of run time.… Read more

The kitchen can be a dangerous place. Sharp knives and tools lurk around every corner. Electrical outlets harbor gadgets and gizmos tantalizingly close to the kitchen sink. Even a simple thing such as grating cheese can become a delicate process when you consider how close your fingers come when you are grating the last nub of cheese. Faced with a room full of peril-in-waiting, it is comfortable to note that at least in the case of cheese graters, scratched knuckles and nicked fingers can finally relax.

The Oster Rechargeable Electric Cheese Grater takes the chore of grating cheese and brings … Read more

Got power? Scratch that. Got enough power? Oh, who are we kidding, there's never enough. That's why no self-respecting iPhone owner should travel without an external power pack, a battery that clips on to provide extra juice just when you need it.

There are dozens of such products available, often with price tags in the $30 to 40 range. However, Meritline has an 800mAh external iPhone 3G battery pack for $10.99 shipped. (It normally sells for $35.99.)

The iPhone 3G Power Station plugs into the bottom of your handset to recharge the internal battery or supply … Read more

You might balk at the $130 price tag, but this time more actually means better. The Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro combo puts two of our favorite products together in one package: the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Keyboard and the Logitech MX 1100 Cordless laser mouse.

Both products received very high marks from their respective editors, and the MX1100 mouse even managed to win an Editors' Choice award. This time around, we're sticking to our guns and rewarding this winning combo as well.

One of the most significant hardware changes in the bundle that we don't speak much … Read more

FM transmitters don't see a ton of traction on Crave, and for good reason. Strict regulations over broadcast power and frequency range have effectively stalled product innovation. The designs may change, but most of the new FM transmitters we see are just a rehash of last year's model.

Which is why we're happy to see Griffin's latest iTrip Universal, an FM transmitter with a rechargeable battery that uniquely aims to fill the void of FM transmitters designed for use beyond the car. Sure, the iTrip is as underpowered and interference-prone as any other FM transmitter, but … Read more

Nyko has announced the release of an Xbox 360-compatible charging base, much like the PlayStation 3 one the company debuted almost two months ago.

The Nyko Charge Base 360 comes with two NiMH rechargeable batteries fitted with contact points that allow you to simply drop the controller into the included cradle. The base can charge one battery in 2 hours and two in 4. Nyko says that each full battery charge should net you about 25 hours of play time.

Microsoft offers a Quick Charge Kit for around $30 that only comes with one battery and charges a single pack … Read more

If you're still using a corded mouse, it's time to get with the 21st century. One-deal-a-day site Yugster has a Targus wireless rodent for just $6.95, plus five bucks for shipping. It's a refurb with a 90-day warranty.

This three-button optical scroll mouse relies on RF technology (meaning no line of sight required) to communicate with its USB dongle. When the rechargeable battery gets low, you simply connect the mouse to the dongle using the included cable. You can, of course, continue using it while it's charging. There's also a USB extension cable so … Read more