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October 10, 2008 9:27 AM PDT

Sony PS3 controller charger reminds us what we hate about the PS3

by John P. Falcone
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Sony USB charger for PS3 controllers (Credit: Engadget)

Engadget has noted the appearance of a new PlayStation 3 accessory in Japan: a USB charger that can juice up two PS3 controllers at once. While we wouldn't be surprised to see this thing appear Stateside as well, the problem is: there's really no reason it should need to exist. And if the PS3 were better designed, it wouldn't have to. In fact, the existence of this sort of accessory just serves as a reminder of some of the PS3's biggest annoyances--all the more evident because the superb gaming console/Blu-ray player/media hub is otherwise close to perfection.

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October 1, 2007 12:36 PM PDT

Transform a USB hub into the ultimate DIY gadget charger

by John P. Falcone
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Belkin USB hub charging six devices

A powered USB hub can replace bulky AC adapters for many of your portable devices.

(Credit: Sarah Tew, CNET Networks)

Recently, I highlighted the Belkin Dual USB Power Adapter as a great option for anyone with two USB-powered devices. But what if you have three, four, or more--say, an iPod, a Blackberry, and a Bluetooth headset? With its ability to charge six devices, the CallPod ChargePod caught my eye--but the need to buy a host of proprietary adapters turned me off. If all my devices already have charging cables with standard USB plugs, wouldn't it make a lot more sense for a charger to use corresponding standard USB ports instead? Of course it would. So, I was looking for a charger with as many standard USB ports on it as possible.

And then I realized it was already sitting on my desk. And it's probably sitting on yours, too.

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September 13, 2007 7:00 AM PDT

Charge two devices at once with Belkin's Dual USB Power Adapter

by John P. Falcone
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Belkin USB Power Adapter recharging an iPod Nano and a Sprint Mogul

The Belkin Dual USB Power Adapter can juice up two gadgets simultaneously.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Despite the dream of an "ultimate handheld," it's really hard to get down to fewer than two portable devices. A Treo may do it all, but you still want an iPod; an iPhone is great, but you still need a BlackBerry for work; you like to listen to your iPod while playing your PSP or DS; and so on. Even those who do manage to get down to one super smart phone often have a Bluetooth headset to go along with it. And traveling with two devices means taking two power adapters along. Or at least it did--until the Belkin Dual USB Power Adapter came along.

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September 11, 2007 9:16 AM PDT

Charge any PSP via USB with a $20 accessory

by John P. Falcone
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Kensington USB Power Tip plugged into Sony PSP

The Kensington USB Power Tip is an ideal accessory for any PSP

(Credit: CNET Networks)

One of the advertised improvements of the new PSP Slim was the fact that it could be recharged via its USB port. And while that may not sound like a major feature, for anyone who's ever traveled with a tangle of three, four, or even more AC adapters (laptop, phone, iPod, BlackBerry, ...), it was certainly an attractive idea. Unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver. Yes, the new PSP can be charged via its topside USB port, but the caveats involved make it more trouble than it's worth: the USB charging is almost twice as slow, only works when the PSP is powered on and in a dedicated USB charge mode, and it needs a PC as a source--it won't charge from a standalone AC-to-USB adapter. Thankfully, a handy accessory from Kensington provides a much better USB charging solution--and it works with both newer PSPs and the original models.

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