Let’s Get Charged Up

While I remembered to grab the USB cable for my iPod touch and the AC adapter for my laptop prior to the mad dash for the airport, unfortunately I left my Blackberry charger at home. Once I reached my destination, I had to take time out of my all too brief long weekend to find a Blackberry charger with a mini-USB connector. The holidays are still a few weeks away but it’s not too early to start making a list and dropping hints about what you’d really like to find in your stocking. The following devices minimize the number of adapters you have to remember and give you more time to focus on the purpose of being away for business or pleasure.

IDAPT i4 by INOITULOS S.L., a technology consultancy based out of Barcelona, Spain claims to be the world’s first universal simultaneous charger for portable electronic devices. The IDAPT i3 model allows you to charge 3 portable devices at once and the upcoming IDAPT i4 will charge 4 portable devices. According to the website, the IDAPT i3 is compatible with over 3,500 devices including the Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, Nintendo DS, PSP, GPS systems, digital cameras, and Bluetooth products as well as popular AA/AAAA rechargeable batteries. The IDAPT features an interchangeable tip (adaptor) system which makes it customizable while eliminating unsightly cords. It has 3 charging points and an additional USB charging point requiring only a single outlet. The IDAPT i3 is currently available with six tips (adaptor) in eight different colors at the Barnes & Noble website for $49.99.

myGrid, from battery maker Duracell enable you to charge up to four mobile devices at the same time by attaching a Power Sleeve™ or Power Clip™ to each device and dropping it onto myGrid to charge. The myGrid Cell Phone Starter Kit comes with a Power Clip designed for BlackBerry®, Motorola® and Nokia® cell phones. According to the website, myGrid works with most cell phones, handheld devices and MP3 players. The Duracell myGrid Starter Charger Pad Kit for Mobile Devices is available online at theEssentials.com for $74.99.

Chargepod by Chicago based Callpod is a 6-way charging device that allows you to charge a variety of mobile devices such as phones, cameras, Mp3 players, iPods, e-readers, portable gaming, and GPS with a single power cord. The website boasts that Chargepod is compatible with more than 3,000 devices. To customize your Chargepod, select the manufacturer-specific adapters for your devices and throw away the many power cords that are cluttering your office and home. The Chargepod value pack ($59.99) includes Chargepod Base Unit, Mini-USB, Micro-USB, iPod/iPhone Adapters, AC adapter and a voucher for three additional adapters.