Travel Technology - The last charger you will ever need?

I just posted a short review of the Chargepod portable device charger here (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/traveltechtalk/2008/02/25/chargepod-hopefully-the-last-charger-you-will-ever-need/).

Pretty impressive little device, it's great to be charging 6 things at the same time on my desk :D

Interesting gadget! If you're not travelling with a laptop it might make sense to stick another pound worth of chargers into your bag. But travelling with a laptop I've made due with the dual-charging option from Kensington and then using USB charging cables for a second or third device via the laptop to charge 3-4 things at once. There's also a USB plug on my surge protector for a spare USB charging option in case I don't want to turn the computer on.

Nice, handy device. Pity they don't have a Sagem tip though!

In fact, I carry a small (about 5cm x 2.5cm x 1cm) 4-port USB hub with optional external power. Because I have USB chargers for most of my devices, I can use the USB hub to charge practically everything I have.

I agree that USB is the way to go - if your devices are supported. I'm rarely on the road without my laptop, so that's my universal charger :)

For someone who doesn't travel with a laptop this is a very interesting alternative to the jumble of cables approach.

I'm up in Minnesota for work this week, and was in a Target picking up some munchies...I wandered around the aisles and came across what appears to be an unbranded version of the Chargepod (with 6 device cables) for $30. It's one of their holiday gift-box style packages. As best I can tell, it's got the same connector type in the hub, so it might be compatible with the branded Chargepod tips. Mine came with an iPod/iPhone tip (compatible with the 3G iPhone, even!), miniUSB, microUSB, and a couple of LG and Samsung tips. I found it on an endcap display in the automotive section.

Here's a picture of the box:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2985084083_658e28f137.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/bdjohnson79/2985084083/)

The tips shown on the front of the box don't match what I had, and it doesn't come with a carrying bag like the branded one does, but looking at the product photo on Amazon, the AC and DC chargers do appear to be identical.

Not having used the branded product, I don't have a basis for comparison, but the hub feels cheaply made, and I had a hard time seating the cable into the hub. The LEDs are very dim, which is actually good on the road - I don't need to light up the hotel room at night.

I'm sorry, the product you purchased from Target appears to be a total knockoff and is NOT created or designed by Callpod Inc. You should be very careful with that product as it also appears to not be certified by FCC, UL, etc... Callpod will never create a product branded by another company.

I'm sorry, the product you purchased from Target appears to be a total knockoff and is NOT created or designed by Callpod Inc. You should be very careful with that product as it also appears to not be certified by FCC, UL, etc... Callpod will never create a product branded by another company.

Thanks for confirming that! Amazing that a big box retailer like Target would try and sell knockoffs :(

Lol, this story made Gizmodo.com:

http://gizmodo.com/5084886/target-selling-knockoff-chargepods-branded-under-own-name

Anyone here send that photo in to them?

Great device - I have one. I use it to charge an iPod, bluetooth headphones, Kindle, and two blackberries (8707g for Japan, curve for everywhere else -- but now just one since I picked up a BB Bold last week).

Beyond the multiple capabilities, I find this to be one of the smallest-packing solutions for charging multiple devices. I couldn't tell from the review photo, but you can get a smaller AC adapter from Chargepod (mini travel version) which was considerably smaller than the one that came in the box.

Now if only Jaybird would make a smaller charging dock (http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl;jsessionid=0a0101431f43f7e34f7fcaf840599de5bb 3880536882.e3eTax4KaN0Le34Pa38Ta38Nb3n0?c=720272&it=A&id=18&sc=2&category=101)!

-C

I just ordered one.

Thanks for the review -- I learned about this product a few months back; it looks to be the perfect solution for me (I carry two mobiles, an iPod, a PDA, a bluetooth headset, a gps and a digital camera) but their web site didn't make it clear what kind of power supply it had, and all the pictures on the web site cropped out the mains power connector. I emailed their help line about four times to ask and they kept responding about the various power OUTPUT options, no matter how carefully I explained I wanted to know about the mains power INPUT.

From the picture on your review, it looks like it has a power brick with a fixed two US flat pin connector? If so that's a bit a disappointment -- right now I am using a universal charger from Proporta, which comes with four interchangeable, snap-in connectors (round-pin, US flat-pin, UK flat-pin, Australia flat-pin). It works fine, except 1) for some reason it will not charge my Nokias even though the adaptor physically connects ok and 2) of course it will still only charge one device at a time.

Can you confirm the configuration of the mains power connector? Is it fixed US flat pin? Do they offer other versions?

Thanks for the review -- I learned about this product a few months back; it looks to be the perfect solution for me (I carry two mobiles, an iPod, a PDA, a bluetooth headset, a gps and a digital camera) but their web site didn't make it clear what kind of power supply it had, and all the pictures on the web site cropped out the mains power connector. I emailed their help line about four times to ask and they kept responding about the various power OUTPUT options, no matter how carefully I explained I wanted to know about the mains power INPUT.

From the picture on your review, it looks like it has a power brick with a fixed two US flat pin connector? If so that's a bit a disappointment -- right now I am using a universal charger from Proporta, which comes with four interchangeable, snap-in connectors (round-pin, US flat-pin, UK flat-pin, Australia flat-pin). It works fine, except 1) for some reason it will not charge my Nokias even though the adaptor physically connects ok and 2) of course it will still only charge one device at a time.

Can you confirm the configuration of the mains power connector? Is it fixed US flat pin? Do they offer other versions?

They do sell other mains adapters (UK and EU). But they appear to be extra. The US adapter is 100-240V. You can probably just slap a dumb adapter that costs a couple dollars on the end and it would be fine.

Can you confirm the configuration of the mains power connector? Is it fixed US flat pin? Do they offer other versions?

The one I have is US flat pin. There are a few others here: http://www.callpod.com/store#adapter_section

You can also carry the best plug adapter ever, the NISSYO NP-10. It's very very small and converts US/UK/AU/EU three pin to and from US/UK/AU/EU two pin, with LEDs to indicate if the main power is 110 or 220v. It even lets you plug in two items into one socket as a poor man's power strip.

Not a voltage adapter, but cool.

Around 1600 JPY in Tokyo:
http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/sidoh2007/66051001.html

I have a bunch of these, love 'em.

Lol, this story made Gizmodo.com:

http://gizmodo.com/5084886/target-selling-knockoff-chargepods-branded-under-own-name

Anyone here send that photo in to them?

While I'm flattered that they appear to have used my picture, no one asked my permission.

edit - just emailed Jason Chen (one of gizmodo's editors), and he got back to me pronto, so I'll get a photo credit.

You can also carry the best plug adapter ever, the NISSYO NP-10. It's very very small and converts US/UK/AU/EU three pin to and from US/UK/AU/EU two pin, with LEDs to indicate if the main power is 110 or 220v. It even lets you plug in two items into one socket as a poor man's power strip.

Not a voltage adapter, but cool.

Around 1600 JPY in Tokyo:
http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/sidoh2007/66051001.html

I have a bunch of these, love 'em.

I have this adaptor too and agree it is by far the best adaptor that I have ever had - the LED's are useful when you aren't sure of the voltage and a number of times having the second connection on the adaptor has been great.

The one I have is US flat pin. There are a few others here: http://www.callpod.com/store#adapter_section

You can also carry the best plug adapter ever, the NISSYO NP-10. It's very very small and converts US/UK/AU/EU three pin to and from US/UK/AU/EU two pin, with LEDs to indicate if the main power is 110 or 220v. It even lets you plug in two items into one socket as a poor man's power strip.

Not a voltage adapter, but cool.

Around 1600 JPY in Tokyo:
http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/sidoh2007/66051001.html

I have a bunch of these, love 'em.

Fantastic! ^ Thanks for the info -- unbelievable that callpod couldn't have provided this info themselves. And thanks for the info on the adaptor -- as it happens, I'll be in Japan in about 3 weeks so I'll try to pick a couple of them up.^^

Upon reading ScottC's recommendation on his blog several months ago, I immediately ordered one and for the most part have been quite happy with it. But I do have a couple of nitpicks:

1. The brick is too big and its prongs are not collapsible, making it awkward to pack.

2. What's up with those ultra-bright blue LEDs?

3. The carrying pouch that ships with it is useless.

1. The brick is too big and its prongs are not collapsible, making it awkward to pack.
Totally agree. I got the compact replacement adapter which is much smaller (still no folding pins though).

2. What's up with those ultra-bright blue LEDs?
Not an issue for me.

3. The carrying pouch that ships with it is useless.
I use an AC amenity kit bag which holds all the callpod items plus the jaybird headset charging dock and a plug adapter.

Amazon still has the bundle pack for $49.00.

Does anyone have a list of the included adapters? The callpod (http://www.callpod.com/products/chargepod_bundle_pack) website has a photo, but I'm can't tell from that if it includes everything I need.

____________
edit to add: found it under the "what's included" link on that page.
It covers my Samsung phone and our Garmin, but not Mrs. Gargoyles Motorola phone or my IBM Thinkpad. So I'd need to buy at least two extra adapters to make it useful.

____________
edit to add: found it under the "what's included" link on that page.
It covers my Samsung phone and our Garmin, but not Mrs. Gargoyles Motorola phone or my IBM Thinkpad. So I'd need to buy at least two extra adapters to make it useful.

Just to clarify; it will NOT charge a laptop or notebook. The Chargepod is only for small devices like phones, GPS units, headsets etc...

Not quite the same (it only charges one thing at a time), but I picked up one of these (http://www.3charger.com/diyhp/35067/enus/c-68668/p-AAAV+EAAhAAAKQPAAX/Lifetrons_Smart_Multi-functional_Charger.html) the other day. What I like about it is that it can use 4 different input sources; AC (4 snap in plugs supplied - twin round, twin flat, UK and Aus), car/airline adaptor, USB and 9v PP3 battery. Came supplied with 4 different phone tips along with USB (female) and USB-mini (male) outputs too. Other tips available. AC input is 100-240V 50-60Hz and output is 5V 800mA.

Doesn't do anything earth-shattering, but the all-in-one package appealed to me.

Not quite the same (it only charges one thing at a time), but I picked up one of these (http://www.3charger.com/diyhp/35067/enus/c-68668/p-AAAV+EAAhAAAKQPAAX/Lifetrons_Smart_Multi-functional_Charger.html) the other day. What I like about it is that it can use 4 different input sources; AC (4 snap in plugs supplied - twin round, twin flat, UK and Aus), car/airline adaptor, USB and 9v PP3 battery. Came supplied with 4 different phone tips along with USB (female) and USB-mini (male) outputs too. Other tips available. AC input is 100-240V 50-60Hz and output is 5V 800mA.

Doesn't do anything earth-shattering, but the all-in-one package appealed to me.

just out of interest, where did you pick this up from?

thanks!

just out of interest, where did you pick this up from?

thanks!

It's in the current CX on-board duty-free catalogue. Picked it up a couple of days ago. Can't remember what I paid, but no doubt it was more than the price on the earlier link I posted! ;)

Amazon still has the bundle pack for $49.00.

Does anyone have a list of the included adapters? The callpod (http://www.callpod.com/products/chargepod_bundle_pack) website has a photo, but I'm can't tell from that if it includes everything I need.

____________
edit to add: found it under the "what's included" link on that page.
It covers my Samsung phone and our Garmin, but not Mrs. Gargoyles Motorola phone or my IBM Thinkpad. So I'd need to buy at least two extra adapters to make it useful.

FWIW, the Target knockoff one has a different assortment of tips.

* iPod/iPhone (will work with 3G iPhone and 2G Touch)
* LG Chocolate
* MiniUSB
* MicroUSB
* Nokia barrel-type
* One I didn't recognize.

It's in the current CX on-board duty-free catalogue. Picked it up a couple of days ago. Can't remember what I paid, but no doubt it was more than the price on the earlier link I posted! ;)

would you believe it, its actually cheaper than on the website (on website its US50, while with CX its US45).

BTW what tips did you get with it?

I got the Amazon bundle and two extra mini-USB adaptors. It is fantastic. I really like it. I need to get a mini-USB charger with a folding plug to replace the charger that comes with it though.

I'm glad everyone likes it so much!

Guess you wont see it at Target anymore:
CHICAGO, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, November 17, United States District Judge Milton Shadur ordered Target Corporation to immediately stop selling Target's "6-in-1 device charger" product. Callpod alleges that Target sells the device in violation of Callpod's intellectual property rights. Judge Shadur called Target's conduct "shocking" and found that because of Target's conduct, consumers were likely to be confused between Target's "6-in-1 device charger" and Callpod's chargepod® product. The Court's injunction is effective through December 2, after which time the Court will decide whether to continue the injunction, and if so, in what form. Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081117/ny46824.html?.v=1