Tag Archives: power

STM Goods makes traveling in style and security a snap @ CES 2023



STM Goods Simple Travel SuppliesFor the regular traveler, trying to find the right travel supplies can be a priority. Limiting the number of items, and finding the right travel bag is important. Luckily, STM Goods (short for Smarter Than Most) makes a line of bags and accessories for any traveler.

STM Goods’ bags and backpacks

STM makes a line of backpacks and bags for any traveler and outdoorsman. The bags allow you to carry your gear safely and securely while giving you easy access to your stuff. Whether you are backpacking in the great outdoors or fighting your way through the boardroom, STMbags have you covered.

STM Goods Dux bags

We got a close look at the Dux line of backpacks and bags. The backpack line comes in two sizes: 30 liters and 16 liters, so there is an option no matter how much you’re carrying, while the messenger bag comes in 16 liters. For the avid traveler, all three sizes are able to fit under the seat on a plane, or of course overhead, so it is a great travel companion.

Our favorite feature of the bags was the ability to access your gear from several angles. If you’ve got your bag on the ground, you can access all of the contents from the top or back, giving you access to everything in the bag. However, if you’ve got the bag on your back or over your shoulder, you can access the items through smaller zippered openings on the sides.

For example, this is a great feature for photographers and videographers. Imagine holding a digital SLR in one hand, with the strap around your neck. On your back, you’ve got your STM Goods Dux backpack. You want to transition from closeup photos to long-distance photos, so it’s time to swap lenses. Without having to put down the camera or the backpack, you can open the side pouch exposing only the lens you need access to. You can remove the lens, swap them on the camera, and put the first one back in the bag.

The 30-liter backpack is available for $250. The 16-liter backpack is available for $230. The 16-liter messenger bag is available for $250. All three bags are available in 4 color options.

STM Goods’ mobile accessories

In addition to a full lineup of bags, STM Goods also makes mobile accessories to enhance your travel experience. From phone rings and holders to stands and selfie sticks, the product line really has a lot of options.

ChargeTree Go

If you’re deep in the Apple mobile ecosystem, you’ve got a lot of devices to charge while traveling. This can mean bringing 3 chargers, plus probably a power strip to plug them all in. The ChargeTree Go, however, combines all of the normal charge points into a single device.

On the front is a Qi charger for your iPhone. On the side is a pop-out charging surface for an Apple Watch. On the back is a platform for AirPods. Using the one device, you can charge all three. The best part is that you can flatten the device so that it fits easily into your bag without getting damaged. The ChargeTree Go is available now for $120.

MagSafe

The MagSafe line offers a number of products that connect to an iPhone using the magnetic connector on the back of the phone. The MagLoop is a small ring that connects to the phone and gives you an easy way to hold the device, especially on long uses. It can also be flipped down to be used as a stand. It’s more flexible than other phone holders because it is removable without ruining the product. The MagLoop is available in 2 colors for $30.

The MagPod is a magnetic tripod stand that can hold your iPhone in nearly any position. This is because the ball joint on the head, which gives a nearly 180-degree range of motion. The legs on the stand can also be pulled in to turn it into a short selfie stick. The MagPod is available in two colors for $50.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Elysie is a backpack with power for people on the go @ CES 2021



Elysie smart backpackWhether you’re a photographer, writer, journalist, or podcaster, there is one very common thread – the need for portable power. Heck, even regular device users know that, by the end of a long day, your phone is likely dead or nearly so. Portable battery packs can solve the problem for some people, but for many, we need more. Fortunately, we’ve got a more powerful solution in Elysie.

Elysie is, on the surface, a backpack. But, in reality, it is so much more. It’s got power storage built into it, with 2 separate 25,000 mAh batteries. In the outer shell, which is a polycarbonate material, are photovoltaic cells (solar cells) to charge the internal batteries. While the cells will charge best in the sunlight, they will also charge inside under decent lighting. The straps are reinforced, which makes the backpack great for carrying equipment, and feature photoluminescent straps, one at the top and bottom of each side (a total of 4).

The Elysie bag has a ton of smart technology integrated into it. Using the connected mobile app, you can check on the bag’s battery level. It can also tell you the current air quality in your current location. It’s also got a number of tracking systems built-in. Obviously, this is a bag you’re not going to want to lose. Fortunately, it has integrated geolocation tracking, so if you leave it behind somewhere, you can find out where.

One of the really interesting aspects of the Elysie bag is its ability to track what is inside. Using RFID tags attached to items, you can log what you regularly carry, like a laptop, camera, and headphones. When they are in the bag, it can let you know. More importantly, when they are missing, the app can also let you know.

The company is currently working on distribution and hopes to bring the Elysie bag to market soon. To learn more about the bag and the company, head over to the Elysie website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Joule is making your home energy consumption smarter @ CES 2021



Joule power managementIt seems like every year we use more and more electricity in our daily lives. Moving our work to our homes has not lessened that consumption – in fact, it has certainly increased it. No longer can we let our air conditioner hibernate a little during the day, because we’re always home. We’ve got extra computers and equipment for our jobs. And, we’re watching more streaming content than ever before. But, there are always ways to decrease our usage, but how can you determine what they are? That’s is where Joule comes in.

Joule is a cloud platform that is able to take data from any electric meter, old or new, and turn it into useful knowledge. It then combines it with data about other utilities, such as water and gas. The ultimate goal of the system is to help you optimize your energy consumption. The platform can work in residential, commercial, or industrial environments, meaning that it can help in any part of your life.

Users are able to interact with their collected data through a paired web and mobile application, as well as through an Alexa skill. Today, the company provides service for more than 12,000 users in Italy and has collected over 800,000 readings. The company has successfully helped these users minimize their ecological footprint.

In addition to the platform, the company offers a companion device – Scala. This device looks like a smart speaker, but has environmental sensors built in, allowing it to record indoor conditions to apply to the cloud platform’s algorithms. It has a screen on the front that can show information, such as indoor temperature, energy consumption, air quality, and humidity. You can also invoke the speaker with your voice and ask questions about past, present, and future consumption, among other factors.

To learn more about Joule, you can check out their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Nomadplug makes traveling a breeze for your devices @ CES 2021



nomadplug foreign travel adapterA hardware startup is not an easy thing to accomplish. There are numerous obstacles out there just waiting to slow you down, such as currency fluctuations, your certifications, selecting your manufacturer, or even a global lockdown! Now there is a great product called Nomadplug, created by Ryan Silberman. Nomadplug is an international travel adapter that has been in development for 3 years. It’s sleek and small, making it very lightweight to travel with. Speaking of travel, it functions in all of the 195 countries!

Nomadplug is a slick new product for many reasons and these are what sets it apart from other travel adapters. Unlike most travel adapters that have an individual piece for each plug type, Nomadplug does it with one interlocking connection. You simply disconnect the stack at the location you need and plug it into the wall. It also uses a rare earth magnet for keeping all the interlocking modules together.

On the backside is a universal plug so you can use almost any device from any country in any outlet in any country. The only limitation is that the device must support the voltage of that particular country. This makes traveling with modern phones, tablets, or computers easy. The plug features an easy to use hinge that prevents it from falling out of sockets.

In addition to the adapter, there will be three USB-C chargers that can also be used for your laptop and mobile phone. That means no more traveling with extra power bricks! The model that is available now provides 18W and a single USB port. Future models will be available with 30W and 65W, both offering more than one USB port. You can currently purchase the current model in a variety of colors for $76.44. For more information go to the company’s website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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SolarGaps Solar Panel Smart Blinds at CES



The trouble with solar panels is that they take up a fair bit of space, typically on the roof of a property, which means that those living in apartments or condos often miss out on the opportunity to generate electricity from the sun. SolarGaps have a solution to this issue, with solar panels that also work as blinds, both generating power and shielding the interior. Todd talks to Erik at SolarGaps to find out more.

SolarGaps smart blinds are fitted to the exterior (or interior) of windows and automatically track the sun to maximise electricity generation and minimise heating effects. Installation is straightforward and each panel on the outside generates around 100 W-hrs per square meter so a south-facing 3 bedroom apartment could produce around 4 kW per day. As the blinds track the sun, the output is typically 20% higher than the equivalent static photovoltaic pnel. The blinds can be fitted inside too but this reduces the power output.

SolarGaps is launching on Kickstarter in February with a price around US$480 per square metre, rising to around $1000 per square metre when the product is launched, so if you are interested, get in early.

Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.

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Meet SunPort, the World’s First Smart Grid Solar Delivery Device



sunportAmid the bright lights of Las Vegas, SunPort offers a way for consumers to be much more energy conscience with how they use their devices.

SunPort is a tiny box that plugs into your outlet and measures the amount of energy that goes through it. That information is then tracked and matched with solar energy purchased from solar farms by usage. This allows for the application of solar energy without the need for installing panels or having sufficient land. SunPort director of information systems Nick Williams compared the method to depositing money into a bank and then withdrawing it from an ATM.

The device is portable, of course, meaning it can be used in any outlet so you can use your solar energy on the go. It can be preordered now and is expected to cost $80 per year for both the plug-in and the energy.

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Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology


Ampy Charges Up Your Devices Just by You Moving Around



AMPY MOVE has found a unique way to help find the energy to keep your smart phone powered throughout the day: your body.

AMPY MOVE is a motion charger that captures kinetic energy from your motion and transforms it into battery power. Co-founder Alex Smith said at CES that one hour of exercise could supply up to five hours of extra smart phone standby battery life. The form-fitting device features an 1800mAH Li-Ion battery and can also be charged from a wall outlet. A second USB port allows the user to charge their smart device from the portable charger.

The product is already available for purchase at getampy.com and retails for $99.

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Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology


Hyper’s battery backup for your MacBook with HyperJuice



MBP2-100-2At the recent CES 2014, Hyper Juice presented an affordable battery pack system that can serve as backup for your Macbook.

Hyper Juice Macbook batteries come in four different capacities, beginning with the 60Wh, which allows you to charge your Mackbook for up to 14 hours. Not only can you use it to charge your Macbook, you can also use it to charge your iPhone, a tablet, or any USB-powered device. They also have the HyperJuice 100Wh, which gives your Macbook an additional 24-hour charging time, and up to 18x for your iPhone. The 150Wh HyperJuice battery, on the other hand, has the ability to provide an additional of up to 36 hours of charging time for your Macbook and iPhone for about 27x. Lastly, the 222Wh Macbook battery pack is a 61,000mAh that provides an additional 53-hour charging time for your Mackbook, and 40 hours for iPhone.

If you’re a professional that produces audio and video podcasts that need extra hours from their Macbook, these battery backup from HyperJuice will be a perfect addition to your gadgets.

Using the Magic Box kit, a little adapter where you can modify your existing MagSafe Power Adapter, all you have to do is connect it to your Macbook to create a connection. This will enable your Macbook to charge your internal battery instantly. So when you need extra juice, all you need to do is connect it to the HyperJuice battery and it will instantly recharge your computer or iPhone. Each Magic Box is sold in three different options. One is the battery by itself, the Magic Box Do-It-Yourself kit, and the pre-modified MagSafe Power Adapter, wherein the Magic Box will do the modification for you.

Furthermore, there’s also the HyperJuice 2, which a 100Wh that has an OLED screen as well as the ability to interchange the internal battery at a later time. So if in two or three years your battery starts to dissipate and you want to have the most up-to-date battery, all you need to do is contact them and they will help you do that.

As for its prices, the 60Wh HyperJuice external battery starts at $169.95$249.95 for the 100Wh,$349.95 for the 150Wh, and HyperJuice External Battery 222Wh for iPad/iPad 2 & MacBooks (MBP-222)The HyperJuice 2, however, can be bought at only $299.95, Magic Box not included. Learn more about the HyperJuice line from Hyper’s website.

Interview by Daniel J. Lewis from The Audacity to Podcast.

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Two weeks of Power from a Portable Fuel Cell



Nectar Mobile Power System

Nectar Logo

If you are constantly on the move, you probably  struggle to keep your devices charged throughout the day. You try techniques like disabling services in an attempt to keep within your battery capacity when you are out of the office or car, unable to charge your device – and end up without information from a critical app.  Or, you might be on a long trek away from power mains but still within wireless range. You need more power.

CES-2013-AM-LilliputianSystems-Nectar-FuelCell

The Nectar Mobile Power System is a flameless fuel cell that combines a hydrocarbon (butane) with oxygen from the air – producing electricity as a by-product.  This technology came from MIT, and uses a solid oxide fuel cell, converting any hydrocarbon into electricity. Fully approved for airplane travel, the system can provide two weeks of cellphone power on a single charge that costs less than $10.

It will be available exclusively at Brookstone in mid 2013. More technical details at their site, NectarPower.com

 

TPN Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews.com

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CES-2013-AM-DigX-NectarPower-Fuel-Cell


Tylt: Adding Style and Design to the Everyday Wireless World



No matter what technology is involved, consumers are still anxious about their battery levels – and mobile connectivity is “critical path” to almost everyone’s business and personal lives.

That results in a bag full of cables, backup battery packs- usually one for each system. Add in wall adapters and tangles and the opportunity for a more elegant solution is right in front of your eyes.

Bringing Design to the world of power cables, Y adapters, power blocks, and battery chargers captures the innovative approach that comes when products are Built to Tylt.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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