(Credit:
True Power)
We have USB outlets on our computers, we have them on our new HDTVs, we even have them in our cars. Why the heck don't we just put 'em right into the wall?
For $10, you can do just that. True Power will ship these bad boys in 2010. They allow for two USB charging ports alongside two traditional U.S. three-prong power plugs.
Read more of USB power outlets for the home; why didn't we think of this? at ZDNet's The ToyBox.
How did U.S. power plugs fare in the smackdown? Read on.
(Credit: Crave UK)Here at Crave UK, we might be British, but that doesn't mean we're generally swelling with national pride. After all, there's much about the U.K. that's simply broken and highly annoying (Hello, trains! Take a bow, Royal Mail!). We do have some things going for us though. Our health system means that if we get ill, we get treated--and our power plugs are excellent.
Yes, you read correctly. We said power plugs.
So, let's take a 100 percent objective* look at the plugs and plug sockets of the world--who will rise to be global victor in this crucial battle between the power interconnects of the planet? We welcome you to a no-prongs barred fight that will eventually decide what sort of sockets they use on Mars.
*Objectivity in this sentence has a one-off, government-approved change in definition. Its meaning here, and only here, is the exact opposite of what it usually means.
Read more of "Plug versus plug" at Crave UK.
(Credit:
Power Shelf)
One night, a tired Lynn Fetzer-Westmeister realized that her phone charger had fallen behind her nightstand. In a dance that's probably familiar to most of us, she pulled the furniture out from the wall, reached for her charger cord, plugged it back in, and pushed her nightstand back into place.
"I was so mad and frustrated," recalls the 29-year-old Fetzer-Westmeister, who lives in the northeastern Ohio town of Shelby. "I said, 'This is stupid. We have all these great inventions out there, all these people are doing wonderful things, and we don't make outlets with shelves.'"
And thus, the Power Shelf was born.
As its name suggests, the product replaces the standard flat power outlet with a shelf-enhanced version. It comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and designs so you can park all manner of gadgets--from cell phones, laptops, game consoles, and routers to baby monitors and power tools--in a predictable, organized spot.
The patent-pending products--which range in price online from $15.95 for a small Power Shelf to $59.95 for a laptop Power Shelf--have a tapered design that allows for charging cords to be wrapped around the base for further reduced clutter. The larger Power Shelves are a bit obtrusive-looking compared with the smaller ones (and probably less necessary), but overall, we like.
We also like that they're made of remelted scrap steel, and the packaging comes from recycled paper products. And in a cool local twist, all Power Shelves are manufactured in Plymouth, Ohio, not far from where Fetzer-Westmeister lives.
(Credit:
Power Shelf)
(Credit:
The six-socket ezSpace UFO power expander.)
Trying to put more electronics in a tight corner and running out of power outlets? ezGear has a solution, and it comes in a compact package.
The company announced Monday at CES its newest wall mount power expander, called the ezSpace UFO.
Taking the shape of a flying object, the ezSpace UFO is a six-outlet plug expander with built-in 1050 Joule surge protection ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
(Credit:
Fareastgizmos)
As we've noted more times than we care to remember, there are a countless number of useless gadgets that seem to exist only because they use a computer's USB port for a power source. Maybe that's one of the reasons behind Green-House's development of the "Eneplug."
This little device, which Technabob accurately describes as resembling "the decapitated end of a standard 110v AC plug," is a USB charger that skips the middleman and plugs directly into a wall outlet. It's available only in Japan at present, perhaps because that's where there's the most pressing need for such gadgets as MP3 players that give facials.
How about a heaping helping of visual tomfoolery to go along with your electricity?
Charge your gadget without the elephant charging you.
(Credit: Domestic.fr)Adrien Gardère's vinyl wall-outlet surroundings make charging your gadgets or powering your PC a little more interesting. Jack right into a pig's snout, a puppy's nose, or even the sun-don't-shine area of a cow or elephant.
Unlike doing any of those things in real life, you won't need to take a shower afterwards or get a call from the ASPCA.
The vinyl pieces cost 33 euros each, or about $44.
(Credit:
Newlaunches)
Way back before Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies, some people touted electrical power lines as the next big thing for digital transmissions. But even though it was feasible, few companies marketed products that used the technology.
Despite this unknown potential, Pioneer Japan has gone ahead and released its "Music Tap" series of power-line products for the Japanese market, according to Newlaunches. The line doesn't include an actual media player but provides the equipment necessary to turn an iPod into a sound system connected by electrical outlets.
We applaud the effort, but it may be too late now that wireless audio systems are finally starting to become more common. Besides, with all the huge bricks that come with all our electronic devices, we don't have an outlet to spare.
Can a power outlet be a work of art? In this case, we think yes. The inspiringly named Node 12050 looks more like a Frank Lloyd Wright design than an electrical device, and it's practical to boot.
The wall outlet works only with flat plugs like the type found in Japan, but it's tempting to switch appliances just to try it out. The node acts like a smart power strip--you can plug in several devices, and it indicates how much voltage is being used by a red light that expands to let you know if a power surge is imminent.
Of course, once the inevitable jumble of appliance cords are added, the artistic integrity of the Node 12050 could be somewhat compromised. Depending on your taste, that is.
(Photo: Akihabara News)
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