An Earth Day review of Earth-friendly products, by John Laposky
Power Practical in May will begin shipping its PowerPot X, a portable generator that uses water and fire to produce electricity to charge portable devices in the outdoors. At max output, the PowerPot X will be able to charge two smartphones at top speed (5 watts), or one tablet at full speed (10 watts). The generator doubles as a regular pot for boiling water for soups, hot drinks or freeze-dried meals. A Practical Meter provides real-time feedback on charge speeds. It will retail for $219.
The SunSocket Duo-Flex from AspectSolar is portable, weather-resistant solar generator for charging portable devices. The Duo-Flex’s solar panels utilize high-efficiency flexible monocrystalline silicon cells to convert sunlight into electricity and charge the internal ultra-lightweight 8,000 mAh lithium-ion battery. When packed away, the Duo-Flex is ultra slim and weighs no more than 1.5 pounds. A dual design allows the user to configure the panels to fit in different spaces. Deploying them in a v
The Wi-Fi-enabled WeMo Insight Switch from Belkin is a “smart outlet” that connects home appliances and electronic devices plugged in to it to a home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing a user to turn devices on or off, program customized notifications, change device status, and monitor a device’s energy usage via the free WeMo app and a smartphone or tablet.
Using natural amplification, the Legato iPhone dock from Chinon organically boosts the volume of sound collected from an iPhone’s external speaker, without electricity, to a maximum of 6dB, making it ideal for background ambiance or for listening in a relaxed setting such as bedside or in an office. Hand-crafted from ash hardwood, its design is reminiscent of a gramophone with a Victrola-style speaker horn. In order to maximize the performance of the Legato horn, every piece is hand-crafted to over
Grovemade is a Portland, Ore., company creating hand-crafted goods from natural materials, including iPhone and iPad cases made from renewable American-grown hardwoods such as Eastern Hardrock maple, Oregon walnut and fast-growing bamboo. The small workshop is home to a family of designers, craftspeople and support staff working together toward innovation and renewable design.
Satechi’s Flexible LED Desk Lamp, with five levels of brightness, also boasts a USB port for charging portable devices, even when the lamp is off. The user-friendly, touch-sensitive lamp only consumes 8 watts of power, up to 80 percent less than a typical fluorescent light. It is available now for an introductory price of $59.99 at Satechi.net and Amazon.com.
The Cyclops for iPhone from Trident Case features bio-enhanced plastic construction that makes the case degradable, compostable and recyclable. It is constructed with polycarbonate and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) to provide dual-layer protection and meets military standards for rain, dust, sand, vibration and drop protection. It features a built-in, scratch-resistant screen protector and TPE plugs to cover power ports and audio jacks. Trident recently introduced a Cyclops case for the iPad Mini.
The Trinity from Skajaquoda is a portable wind turbine that generates up to 15,000 mAh to charge any portable device with its rechargeable battery via USB. It folds together into a 12-inch cylinder that can be carried anywhere. When the 11-inch aluminum legs are folded out, the three turbine blades also open. A USB port on the bottom charges a device and a MiniUSB plug can charge the Trinity in a wall socket. It is currently raising funds on Kickstarter with an early-bird pledge price of $249.
