Kensington Intros Battery Packs, Chargers, Car Mounts

By Lisa Johnston -- TWICE, 10/27/2008

Redwood Shores, Calif. — Kensington's computer products group made several introductions into the iPod accessories market late this summer and again in the fall.

Topping the list of announcements was the news the company had received Apple's “Works with iPhone” certification for its line of battery packs and chargers for the iPhone 3G. The new line includes a standard battery pack as well as its Mini battery pack, a car charger, an international travel charger, a power and sync cable and a dual charging dock.

The Kensington battery pack and charger for iPhone and iPod (K33396US) extends talktime up to six hours, said the company, as well as provides 100 hours of music and 21 hours of video play. Suggested retail is $69.99. The Mini battery pack and charger for iPhone and iPod (K33442US) is designed to be small enough to slip in a pocket or stay attached to the iPhone. It reportedly extends talktime up to three hours, in addition to 30 hours of music play time and six hours of video play. Suggested retail is $49.99.

Engineered to power an iPhone or iPod from a car's 12-volt power outlet, Kensington's car charger (K33410US, $19.99) also includes a USB dock-connecting cable. The company's Deluxe car charger (K33433US, $49.99), meanwhile, also comes with a flexible arm and cradle that secures the device while driving. For iPhone users, this means they can also use the charger as a way to hold hands-free calls or view GPS maps at eye-level.

Kensington's international portable charger (K33435US, $39.99) features changeable wall plugs that are said to operate in more than 150 countries. It also comes with a detachable cable that allows iPod and iPhone charging from a wall socket or notebook computer. And the company's power and sync cable for iPhones and iPods (K33444US, $14.99) is designed to allow powering or syncing iPhones and iPods.

All of these products are currently available.

In Kensington's second batch of iPod accessories announcements, made last month, the company introduced several car mounts for iPods and iPhones. The dash mount for iPhones and iPods (K33446US, $29.99) features an adhesive bottom, while the company's power-port mount (K33447US, $29.99) is engineered to leverage the car's power port as an anchoring point. It comes with a power-port pass through, flexible arm and universal dock to ensure compatibility with “nearly any common portable mobile device,” said Kensington. Finally, the company's windshield mount (K33412US, $29.99) includes a flexible arm and feet that are said to adjust to hold the device firmly. It's reportedly constructed to fit all cars, install quickly and have a one-button quick release.