A couple of weeks ago I road-tested the PowerBag, a backpack that lets you charge your gadgets on the go. It’s essentially a backpack + battery pack + gadget cables. The battery pack is user replaceable and can carry between a 3000 to 6000 mAh charge. That’s essentially a full charge and a half for an iPhone 4s.
These two other models fit a 14″ laptop (you could probably fit in the 15″ retina display MacBook if you tried hard enough) and your favorite tablet be it a Samsung Galaxy Tab or an iPad.
Tablet Messenger PHP 6,490
• 6000 mAh battery allows for power on the go
• Dedicated External charging pocket with micro, mini and Apple connectors • Internal tablet pocket
• Adjustable shoulder strap
Deluxe Black Backpack PHP 7,490
• 6000 mAh battery allows for power on the go
• Dedicated External charging pocket with micro, mini and Apple connectors • Carries up to 14″ laptop
• Suspension contoured back strap
So this is cool. iHome has a knack of making great speaker mashups and the iDM15SE is no exception. It’s essentially a portable set of stereo speakers which you can connect to your device via Bluetooth to stream music OR via the usual 3.5mm cable.
I want to make something clear: the PowerMat is not a portable charging solution like the BoostCase or any other portable battery packs you find in the market. Many people seem to misconstrue its function, most likely due to the wording of the product — it has the word “Power” in it.
So what is it? The PowerMat ecosystem allows you to charge your devices (almost) without the need of a cable. I keep a PowerMat charging system for my iPhone at home and a wider PowerMat system for Android / iPhone in the office. Buying into this ecosystem implies a mindset that you will need to dock your phone in places you frequent to keep your gadgets fully charged. Since the docks don’t require cables, dropping your gadgets into these “outlets” are second nature.
Now assume everyone in the office or in your household had an Android device, a BlackBerry or an iPhone. Everyone could simply share one or two PowerMats to keep their devices charged.
Pricing:
PowerMat with Powercube PHP 3,990.00
PowerMat for iPhone 4/4s PHP 3,490.00
Them: “Is everyone ready?” Me: “Wait lang guys, I have to finish charging my bag!”
Spent a couple of days in Beijing, China and for the most part I was outdoors walking the length of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, being un-forbidden in the Forbidden City and making our way to the Emperor’s Summer Palace. That was the perfect opportunity to road test the PowerBag, the latest geeky configuration of a backpack. It’s a charger and a backpack at the same time.
Removable battery
Wall socket
PowerBag charger and cables
There’s a whole line of bags + chargers available but this one in particular was co-designed by ful and comes in three colors. There’s nothing complex about the bag’s design: it’s water resistant and comes with two storage areas for (1) clothes and other personal effects and (2) your gadgets. Gadgets would include tablets, phones and laptops.
The front storage comes with a neoprene pouch that houses the lithium-ion battery. The battery itself is removable and comes in 3000mAh and 6000mAh variants. To get a sense of how much juice that’s worth, a 3000mAh battery can get about 15 hours of additional life on an iPhone 4s. From the battery pack, three sets of cords seam through the bag and go into the side pocket. These cords are for Apple, mini USB and micro USB (for Android and Blackberry). if you have bigger things to charge, like tablets, you can always pull the cord from the side pocket into the main storage so you can charge an iPad or a Galaxy Tab on the go.
To know how much juice the bag has left, the front comes with LED lights that indicate how much charge the battery pack has. Charging the bag is easy. It comes with a wall charger which you plug into a removable cap near the battery.
I brought the PowerBag everywhere we toured save for the Night Market because it was really near the hotel. If you aren’t a geek cowboy and don’t bring along an extension cord, the PowerBag can also serve as precisely that — an extension cord for charging.
The PowerBag will be available soon in the Philippines. First stores to have stocks will be Mobile 1 Rockwell and Ansons Emporium. Follow them on Facebook.
Pricing: PHP 6,990.00 – PHP 7,490.00
Highlights
Removable Battery
Water resistant
Comfortable for the long haul
Plenty compartments
Additional USB slot inside main storage for more devices
