Until battery technology catches up with our portable device's seemingly unquenchable thirst for the power they produce, we're all somewhat tied to a wall socket. And that catch-up doesn't appear to be anytime soon. I suppose that's why I was so drawn to the Medis Technologies booth at CES. The Medis Power Pack is a fuel-cell that's both portable and disposable. Out of the box the device is inert and, in that state, has a shelf life of over a year. It only becomes "active" when the user snaps a seal forcing the chemical reaction to start. Once started the power pack is usable for four to six weeks.
The unit's patent pending power management system has the capability of charging a wide variety of different devices using a system of connectors [a one-time purchase] that access the particular device’s battery. When used to power a cell phone, the power pack will deliver about 20 hours of talk time, or about five to six full charges of the battery, depending on the individual cell phone power consumption and battery type.
The nice thing is that it's small AND inexpensive. It measures about 3 inches x 2 inches x 1 inch and weighs about 5 ounces. It's expected to retail for about $10. Small enough and cheap enough to claim a spot in MY gadget bag!
gll
