Rechargeable USBCells

Juniper Foo | Sep 25, 2006

Simply one of the best and more practical USB ideas we've come across. When the whole review team starts clamoring to get one, you know it's a winner. Just too bad that the USBCells are sold only in the UK presently. These AA batts look ordinary at first glance, until you pop the top. Once uncapped, the NiMH AA cell reveals a built-in USB connector/charger that can plug into any nearby USB port, be it laptop, game console, monitor or USB hub, to power up. The only gripe. A full charge apparently takes 5 longish hours and it holds only just 1,300mAh of charge. But that's a tradeoff for the portable convenience of using these like normal batteries and then simply recharging by plugging into any USB port. And we're hoping Moixa Energy will up the charge to a more current 2,500mAh in its second-gen USBCells. Next up, USBCells in AAA and 9V formats, as well as versions for a range of major phones, BlackBerry and portable devices. Hurry it over to Asia.

Check out a larger image | recharging in an Xbox | recharging in a laptop | the package

Via CNET News.com blogs

Price: US$24.50 for a two-pack
Availability: Online
Device: Rechargeable batteries
Basic specs:1,300mAh for AA

Filed under: Gadgets
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