To stay loyal to the Apple gods means you have to live with the non-removable batteries on your iPods and iPhones. Bringing the USB cable along with you everywhere is good if you expect to have computer access to get some charge from its USB port, but not too helpful if you are out, let’s say, on a safari. In that case, the RichardSolo Smart Backup Battery is an indispensable accessory.
Features
- Made for iPod licensed 30-pin connector
- Compatible with iPod touch and all other iPod devices except for the iPod shuffle
- Gives you up to double the battery time
- Small and lightweight for pocket, purse or briefcase
- High-quality aluminum case virtually scratch-proof
- Snaps on to iPod instantly — no bulky cable
- Begins to charge your Apple device immediately
- Battery pack includes both AC adapter [110-240V] wall charger and USB retractable charging cable
- USB retractable cable connects Smart Backup Battery directly to computer’s USB port or AC wall adapter for convenient charging
- Charge the Smart Backup Battery and iPod together [the iPod will charge first and then the backup battery — the next morning both are completely charged]
- Lithium-ion technology does not develop “memory” so you can charge often
- Smart, automatic on/off charging technology protects the battery from overcharging
- Advanced circuitry keeps battery cool to touch
- Blue, green, red LEDs indicate charging status
- 90-day warranty from RichardSolo.com
Test Results
From a fully charged RichardSolo battery, it took about 1hr 18min to finish transferring all its power to the iPhone. Not too shabby in my opinion, as its compact size allows you to plug it in and put your gadget aside. And the charge brought the iPhone from about 5% of battery life to about 60%. Not as much as advertised, but useful enough.
Conclusion
So now, I have more battery life on my iPhone than before, allowing me to watch more YouTube videos and surf the internet for longer hours. I find it particularly useful for watching videos, as we tend to forget about the battery life as our eyeballs get glued to the videos, and you may run into the problem of a flat iPhone/iPod unintentionally. With the battery, you get an emergency reservoir of power to tap into.
For sale online at US$49.95.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I think its gonna be expensive like iphone
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 am
just what I need as I write this comment on my iPod touch with only 10% battery left. I think it can be a pain with only a USB cable supplied to charge the damn thing!
March 7th, 2008 at 7:49 am
yeah its pretty cool, since you can use the usb to attach into both, makes it much better.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Too bad it blocks the headphone plug-in on the iPod Touch… so I guess the only thing you could do would be surf the web, but NO MUSIC, NO YouTube, NO VIDEO…. but if you aren’t using it, I guess you could hook it up and walk away while it charges….
March 13th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
This is a very interesting product. I for one have always hated the fact that you cant change the batteries and always have to charge. This can definitely come in handy when you are on long road trips or plane rides.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I don’t go on too many safaris (maybe some day!), but I do have a weeklong backwoods camping trip this summer. I may just have to check into something like this for my iPod. I’m all for enjoying nature, but not without some tunes!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:57 am
this is a great idea it should have come out since they invented ipods