charge

When you absolutely need to make sure your main squeeze -- your smartphone or tablet, that is -- can stay powered when away from a wall outlet, a seemingly never-ending number of external battery options exist.

Few of the chargers, however, look as sleek as the half-inch thick Sony CycleEnergy external battery announced today, featuring lithium ion flavors in either 3,500 or 7,000mAh capacities. The slim aluminum frame weighs up to 6.9 ounces and sports a design that probably makes it easy to bundle along with a phone. … Read more

The iPhone 5 has arrived, and it's pretty great. But I can't shake this nagging feeling that Apple could have done more.

A week ago, CNET's David Carnoy penned a great roundup of the most-wanted features that didn't make it into the iPhone 5. It seemed like easy pickings for a Top 5 video, so I imposed a ranking, stood in front of a camera, and created the video you see before you (click here if you don't see a video at the top of this … Read more

In my limited observations, it seems that size, shape, color, and fabric constantly change in the evolution of fashion pouches, but the actual usefulness of a purse stays the same: you can put in whatever you can fit in.

Everpurse, an up-and-comer on grassroots-funding site Kickstarter, seems poised to take off by raising the idea of a clutch (or purse insert) that can charge an iPhone or Android smartphone through a built-in dock and battery. Why does it seem poised? It raised over $23,000 in one day. … Read more

Look, no wires. Nokia's new Lumia 920 smartphone can be charged wirelessly thanks to its own built-in technology.

Known as Qi (pronounced chee), the wireless charging standard lets you place your phone on any compatible charger whenever it needs a boost in power. Designed in cooperation with Wireless Power Consortium co-founder ConvenientPower, Energizer unveiled the first-generation Qi Inductive Charger in 2010.

The Qi standard is now supported by a collection of carriers, service providers, and other companies striving to use the same technology to charge any supported device no matter where you are. Any phone with the right built-in … Read more

Nokia is expected to unveil Windows Phone 8-based devices this week that will feature wireless charging.

The Lumia 820 and 920 handsets will use inductive charging in which contacts on the device will line up with contacts on a charging pad, sources tell The Verge. Earlier today, Twitter user "Evleaks" posted a photo of what is purportedly one of the new handsets on the charging pad.

The phones, which will reportedly support the Qi wireless power standard, are expected to be unveiled Wednesday at a press event in New York.

Images of what is purportedly the 4.5-inch … Read more

Intel is hoping that the relationship between your cell phone and a future Ultrabook will be nothing short of electric.

A post on the company blog today announced that Integrated Device Technology will develop and deliver the chipsets that will enable some future Ultrabooks to wirelessly charge certain devices. … Read more

An ambitious tinkerer has bestowed the power of wireless charging upon his iPhone 4S, with a modification that sees Apple's prized smartphone pulled apart and put back together with all new components.

Essex, England-based Tanveer Islam is the chap behind the creative hack. He uploaded a video explaining exactly how to modify your iPhone, which will gain the power to charge itself without being tethered to a boring old power cable.

Read more of "iPhone 4S gets wireless charging thanks to UK modder," and see the instructional video, at Crave UK. … Read more

Is it wrong of Orbitz to be pushing higher prices on Mac users? Of course not. The travel agency can do whatever it wants, and if it's found that Mac users spend more money on vacations, the agency's well within its rights to serve them more expensive trip results. And let's be honest, there are plenty of people who buy a Mac for all of the wrong reasons, ultimately overpaying on a machine that's only going to be browsing Facebook.

On the other hand, there's no denying that Apple products have earned a solid reputation in terms of build quality and reliability. This has trickled over into the buying psychology of customers. If people are convinced paying more will get them a product that they will be satisfied with, the same mentality can be applied to spending more on a vacation to ensure a better time. Don't hate Orbitz for figuring that out.… Read more

Apple has won a patent for a technology that could help iOS device owners more easily charge their phones and tablets.

Granted to Apple yesterday, Patent No. 8,207,906 is known simply as "Antenna insert" and would outfit a docking station with inductive charging circuits and a reradiating antenna.

The charging circuits would let users place their device on a docking station or other platform where it could be charged wirelessly.

As the patent states: "Devices currently require a physical connection to either a docking station, cable, or other device for battery charging and data transfer. … Read more