Here's a gadget I'm still trying to wrap my head around: the Medis 24/7 Power Pack. The black box is about the size and weight of two decks of cards, and is a fuel-cell recharger for cell phones, MP3 players, and gaming handhelds.
It's an interesting idea. When you're ready to use it, you push down on the top to initiate some kind of chemical reaction inside (Medis calls it "direct liquid borohydride technology") that lets you juice up your gear. The company claims a fuel cell will give you much more power and longevity than a battery-powered portable charger; 30 hours of talk time on a cell phone and 60 hours of music playback on an iPod (I didn't test these claims, though). The Power Pack is also UL-listed, so it's not going to blow up in your luggage.
The charger includes an assortment of adaptors for iPods, lots of cell phone models, BlackBerrys, PSPs, and so on. If there's an adaptor tip you need that isn't in the box, I see them listed for $3, while the Power Pack itself is listed for $23.99 at
www.mytreo.net.
Here's where I get stuck: There are plenty of ways to charge your portable gear from a wall socket, a USB port, a cigarette lighter, even an airplane headphone jack. All of those methods are easy and self-replenishing. This Power Pack, though, involves carrying yet another piece of gear with you, and it isn't self-replenishing...when the power's gone after 30 hours of cell phone charging, you've got a good-for-nothing plastic brick. Medis' site provides a cursory "Our product is recyclable and we have authorized recycling facilities ready to receive depleted Power Packs," but it doesn't list the recycling facilities or give a recycling address for you to send your empty Power Pack to (and even shipping it back is going to rub some green geeks the wrong way).
So is the amount of battery life you'll get from the Medis 24/7 Power Pack worth the money, luggage space, and disposal hassle?
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October 2, 2007 5:41 PM
Good question Kyle. This currently available first generation disposable unit is designed to fill the gap if you will. For the times and places where you do not have wall outlet access or are without your variety of chargers (i have to otherwise carry a slew of chargers for each device when I travel). It can power a number of different devices as it comes with a variety of adapter heads. Perfect for camping, on a plane, in an emergency kit, and so on. Lots of info can be found at http://poweritanywhere.com
Medis is working on a next generation charger which will be refuelable (using a patented solid fuel tablet). They showcased the prototype for this next generation device at the Intel Developer Forum last month and will be demonstrating the working protoype at "The Big Event" at Hollywood & Highland this friday the 5th.
Thanks!!
October 3, 2007 8:16 AM
For each of the alternative ways you suggest to charge your portable gear, your device is no longer portable, even within a room. I.e., it is fixed to a wall, a computer, a vehicle, or an airplane seat. Also, each of those ways demands a different device. With the Power Pack, you don't have a cord dangling from a conference table to a wall outlet for people to trip over and pull your device with force to the floor (ever had that happen?). You can't even move around a room, let alone walk a few blocks or hop the subway to a meeting. Lots of situations where this is the only solution that will always fit.
October 3, 2007 2:29 PM
I'd be interested in the refuelable one. I'd have nothing to do with the disposable, though. There are already disposables out there with battery technology, albeit without that long of a charge. I can see some use for transglobal flights due to the 30+ hours...
November 16, 2008 9:25 PM
I lost track of this fuel cell development until this past week, Nov 13, 2008. It got me so excited. I was so excited about it that I ordered one from Fuelcell.com. I own an iPod iTouch and I would like to get 3M's mini LED hand size projector to use in the classroom. As a teacher (Art & Technology) on-the-move, room-to-room, I can carry my Airbook and the mini 3M projector with me. Now that's what I call portable. The 24/7 Medis fuel cell charger fits right into my plans for the classroom.