With the launch of the new high speed multi charger, Tom Tom is taking its driver responsibilities to even higher levels. Now we can not only ensure our saintly sat nav is fully charging, but also while we’re at it, charge a few other peripherals too. Why not hook up an iPhone, an iPad, and a juice hungry DVD at the same time at four times the speed of normal rechargers?

The new high speed multi charger can charge up to three devices simultaneously without any reduction of power unlike other chargers where power is split between ports. There are two USB ports, one at 1.2 amps for standard mobile phones or mp3 players and another at 2.1 amps for more power heavy iPhones and iPads plus a dedicated 12 volt port too for larger devices such as DVD players.

Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director at TomTom delivers the final  knock out punch: “Sleek, small and boasting TomTom’s award-winning design, this is is the first TomTom accessory that enables users to charge their sat nav device and other mobile devices at the same time – it’s a neat in-car, in-truck, or in-caravan charger”.

The new high speed  multi charger will be available  online and at most major electrical retailers for £19.99

[Source: Tom Tom takes multi tasking to a faster level]

Picture courtesy of Flickr user quiroso

Finally, it seems manufacturers have come to their senses and agreed on a universal way to charge phones. The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) has had agreement from all the major mobile manufacturers to use a standard one size fits all USB connection for all their new smart phones.
Research shows that there are 51thousand tonnes of redundant chargers produced every year, and this new initiative throws the door wide open to significantly reducing both greenhouse gas emissions by some 13 million tonnes a year and the cost of shipping and manufacturing.

IEC General Secretary and CEO Ronnie Amit said:

“We all have drawers full of chargers that became obsolete as soon as we buy a new phone.
Today, we have a truly operational global standard that will allow the industry to end this waste and significantly reduce environmental impact”.

Will this lead to our new phones reducing in price? We will have to wait and see. What it will do though is give me some significantly more drawer space.

[Source: IEC approves universal smart phone charger]

Livescribe Echo Smartpen

If your loved one’s tendency for travel is business rather than pleasure related, the chances are he or she will love the Livescribe Echo Smartpen. This ingenious device records audio and matches it up with what you are writing. People taking notes during a presentation or a lecture can get away with jotting down keywords and later going back and listening to the conversation, cued up to different words on the page. When users download the free software to their PC, when the pen is plugged into a USB port, they can recap both the audio and the notes – most definitely a ‘smarter’ choice of pen.

Available in two different sizes, the 4GB Echo Smartpen costs £110 and the 8GB Smartpen costs £130.

Kayak app

This app costs nothing so cannot be considered as the most ‘generous’ travel gift available. Nonetheless being a simple, searchable app including information on flights, car hire and hotels, it’s a corker.

The Kayak app is available at www.kayak.com

Klipsch Image S4 Headphones

For travellers enduring long-distance journeys, standard ear buds can become slightly uncomfortable to say the least. The Klipsch Image S4 Headphones come in different sizes and are smaller, more tapered and softer than conventional headphones. They may be smaller but they are sturdier and more sound resistant than other standard ear buds – a real ‘must have’ for ardent travellers.

Go Laptop Travel Charger

Times have changed immensely since the days a backpacker’s backpack consisted of a pair of undies, socks and a toothbrush. Nowadays even backpackers insist on taking their laptop with them on their travels. A decent charger is therefore imperative. With a bevy of ‘tips’ or adaptors, that work with different power jacks, a whole host of Windows-based laptops can be charged with ease. And measuring 0.7 inches thick and weighing just 13.5 ounces, the Go Laptop Travel Charger is less bulky and lighter than standard AC adaptors, making more room for those other ‘essential’ travel items.

World Mate app

Another fantastic freebie, the World Mate app is an essential travel portal that provides worldwide weather forecast, currency exchanges and hotel searches.

World Mate can be downloaded at www.worldwidemate.com

Tripit Travel app

By acting as a kind of personal travel organiser, the Tripit travel app creates a master travel itinerary and enables users to access their travel itinerary online. To collate confirmation emails into one travel itinerary, download the Tripit app for free at: www.tripit.com

[Source: Don’t leave home without it: A gift guide for a loved one with the travel bug]

This year however, thin is in and the 2010 range was decidedly svelte. The iPhone 4 and Blackberry cases were pretty much the same size as conventional cases – with the added benefit of wireless charging obviously.

The iPhone 4 came with a little cradle you could throw your phone onto, holding it in place whilst filling it with juice. Like previous generations of Powermat it makes a little whirring noise when you engage it. Unlike previous generations of Powermat there was no “mute” button, which was a mild irritant. Then again, in normal use you would only put it down to charge once so it’s not that big of a deal.

The case adds very little bulk to the iPhone or Blackberry. The Nokia Powermat solution however, is nothing short of magic – replacing the battery and battery cover with a Powermat supplied version means the device is exactly the same size but can charge wirelessly.

Outside of phones there was the PowerCube – a small white device with a variety off attachments for micro-USB, mini-USB, Nintendo DS and other battery-charged electronics that extended the wireless charging love-in to all.

Obviously, Powermat would like to work with manufacturers at the design stage to build Powermat technology straight in to devices from the get-go, eliminating the need for cases – and making cutting down on cable-clutter. In terms of Phones, wireless syncing of data would also be incredible. Until that day however, the current Powermat range is interesting.

With prices ranging from low to reasonable for a decent phone case and some wireless charging voodoo, the Powermat range is definitely worth checking out.

[Source: PowerMat 2010 range hands on]

Electric cars, whilst undoubtedly a ‘healthier’ option of vehicle to the planet, are still relatively ‘avant-garde’, and some might say even ‘unrealistic’ in the minds of many car owners. This is where Yves Behar and Fuseproject’s brilliance steps in, as by using smart grid technology, the GE Wattstation is an easy-to-use electric vehicle charger, which dramatically decreases the time required for charging electric cars in a consumer-friendly fashion, which will, GE ecomagination insist, entice consumers into a currently slightly ‘apprehensive’ market.

By slashing charging times on a 24 kWh battery from 12 to 18 hours to 4 to 8 hours, and by using smart grid technology, which will enable companies to manage the impact of electric vehicles on local and regional grids, it is hard to believe that Steve Fludder’s – Vice President of GE ecomagination – comments that implementing charging stations that are “quick, easy and readily available”, is the key to getting the skeptics to “accept the idea of and possibly pursue electric vehicles”, will not materialize.

A prototype of the GE Wattstation is expected to be available in the last quarter of 2010 in the US and Europe, whilst becoming commercially available some time in 2011.

Greener technologies like electric cars really must capture the imagination and more importantly the ‘convenience’ of car owners if we are to rescue our planet from its otherwise imminent demise. If the GE Wattstation helps accomplish a widespread willingness of car drivers worldwide to convert to electric vehicles – a feat which is required if we are to cut the ambitious amount of emissions the leaders of our world arduously drone on about but rarely do anything about – then Yves Behar, really can be considered as a great industrial designer, by helping cleanse a polluted urban landscape, tainted by excess and greed.

[Source: The GE Wattstation electric car charger – redefining the electric car industry]

Thankfully the Universal Multi-Charger from One-For-All is on hand, promising as it does to solve the problem of charger clutter whilst helping out the old environment in the process. The Universal Multi-Charger will charge up to three devices simultaneously, with no messy wires and an LED light for the individual charge slots. Once each battery is fully charged, that slot shuts down automatically and the light goes out – so, as well as saving energy, you can tell the charging process is complete without having to check the device’s display. The device even uses turbo charge technology which can help to reduce charging time by up to 25%

The Multi-Charger works with mobile phones, PDAS, digital cameras, game players and practically any other device that needs regular recharging. The charger comes with interchangeable tips to suit all major brand devices and tips compatible with less popular models can also be ordered online, the manufacturers even claim the device will be ‘future proof’ to as they plan to release new tips as and when products are released.

In the world of wireless charging provided via the PowerMat the Universal Multi-Charger may not be the sexiest product on the market but what it lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in practicality. With all of us increasingly aware of our impact on the environment the Multi-Charger even ticks the green box, though coming in at a RRP of £59.99 it’s far from an affordable option for most.

[Source: Charger clutter? One For All launch universal multi-charger]