Below are a variety of great charging accessories for your summer travel with your late-model iOS devices that I’ve tested myself for some extra power while on the road.

Battery charger cases

Mophie continues to be a leader in integrated battery pack chargers for the iPhone and the Juice Pack Plus, priced at $119.95, has a 2100 mAh battery, more than doubling the battery life of your iPhone 5 and extending your battery way beyond the Helium or Air we’ve covered before.

You can charge the Juice Pack while leaving it attached to your iPhone, but this method doesn’t allow for data transfer, meaning you need to remove the phone from the case to sync with a computer. This task is made more difficult because removing the iPhone from the Juice Pack is challenging, requiring some strenuous pulling and wiggling. Additionally the headphone jack is recessed enough that both my Square reader and my external headphones needed the dongle for usage. Although the speakers are blocked by the pack, I actually thought it sounded better than the naked iPhone.

The Juice Pack provides a significant boost in power, and for those don’t use the headphone jack or use wired syncing, it is an excellent choice.

An alternative to the Juice Pack Plus is the MyCharge Freedom 2000 ($99.99). This case doesn’t block the bottom ports of the iPhone, leaving the speakers and headphone jack easily accessible. I was even able to mount the device in some accessories — unlike the Mophie which blocked the Lightning port entirely.

When you need a charge from the Freedom 2000, you detach a small Lightning adapter from the bottom of the battery case and plug directly into the iPhone 5 thereby allowing you to independently charge the iPhone from its case. The device acts more like an attached battery pack rather than a built-in charging solution like the Mophie. It’s not as elegant, but it is practical to keep the bottom of the case free from encumbrance that may block the bottom jacks.

With a 2000mAh battery, the charging capacity is nearly identical to the Juice Pack Plus and so is the weight, but the accessibility and easy removal was a major plus in my book. A downside of the MyCharge is that it doesn’t protect the phone as much as the Mophie, and the power button on the top is very difficult to properly press.

Efficient chargers

With access to wall plugs at a premium in hotels, airports and rest stops, double-duty devices are the way to go for travel. The Scosche strikeBASE 5W and 12W has two USB ports and includes a multi-function Lightning cable that will convert to a micro-USB cable as well. At $29.95 for the complete 5W kit ($34.95 for 12W) it’s nice to charge two devices at once in a portable adapter with a flush-folding wall prong. Small and compact, it worked like a charm.

For the car, the Belkin Dual Car Charger with Lightning to USB Cable ($44.95) provides two 10W USB ports to charge two iPads at once via your car’s 12-volt outlet. This charger also includes an extra Lightning cable. Why waste those valuable power ports with just one device charging at the time?

Whether in a hotel, in your car, while camping or even flying on an airplane the Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Adventure Kit ($119.95) uses small solar panels to independently charge, via sunlight, four AA NiMH batteries that can then charge any USB device with a cable. The Goal Zero battery pack can also charge directly via mini-USB. The kit is smartly designed to fold the panels down to the size of an iPad mini and has a mesh pocket to hold the battery pack as well as any charging cables.

What I really like about this is besides getting a charge while on the boat, I can leave the Goal Zero hooked up to a backup or on the dashboard to get passive solar power throughout the day. With a car full of family members craving power, it’s nice to harness the power of the sun for an extra boost. I use the Goal Zero along with Radtech’s Kenburg short Lightning to USB Cable ($18.95) to minimize excess cable length and have it all fit in the mesh pocket.

Portable battery packs

MyCharge comes through again with two interesting charging packs that maximize power and flexibility. The Hub 6000 ($119.99) has retractable Lightning and micro-USB cables, an external USB port, and can charge devices connected to all three ports simultaneously via its 9000 mAh battery. The Hub 6000 also has a flush folding AC wall prong for charging itself. That’s serious power in a 9.3 ounce package.

Another useful external battery pack is The Peak 6000 ($99.99). Also by MyCharge, what I liked about this adapter was that, similar to the Hub 6000, this has an integrated micro-USB cable and an external USB port that replaces the Lightning cable with an integrated 30-pin charger for older devices. All three ports can be used simultaneously from the 6000 mAH battery.

The fun feature about this battery pack is the audible alarms as its charging and discharging so you don’t have to take your eyes of the road to know how much of a charge is left.

Any parent who has traveled with kids in the backseat knows that the empty battery icon on the iPad means “are we there yet” is not far behind and the fact that both of these products charge multiple devices at once reduces the “mine, mine, mine” arguments.

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Freehands touchscreen-enabled gloves

What it is: Gloves that allow you to keep your hands warm and use a touch-sensitive device

Why it’s great: Most gloves I’ve seen look goofy and remind me of something grandma would knit me for the holidays instead of getting me what I really wanted (Millenium Falcon). Instead of using touch-sensitive glove material, Freehands gloves actually have a tip that can be folded back so you have the full use of your thumb and forefinger. I like the fleece-lined ones as they keep my hands warm during cold Kansas winters.

Price: The prices range from $20 for basic fleece and up to $80 for cashmere or leather.

Who it’s best for: Someone who uses their smartphone all the time and lives in a cold weather environment

Scosche SolBAT II Solar Battery powered backup charger

What it is: A 1500ma external battery with a solar charger for USB-powered devices (such as an iPhone)

Why it’s great: The battery easily charges via micro-USB or the sun. The included windshield cradle allows you to charge while driving (and leaving your cigarette lighter free) and a universal carabiner mount easily hooks onto a backup for a charge throughout the day.

Price: $29.99

Who it’s best for: Students needing a battery boost, travelers, commuters with too many devices to charge.

Jot Flip

What it is: A precision stylus combined with a quality pen.

Why it’s great: I’ve used lots of pens with the rubber tip that enables touch. Most of them don’t have the heft and professional look of a quality pen. Also that rubber tip too often is mistaken for an eraser. The jot flip uses a disc instead of a rubber tip protected with a metal clip. The pen portion retracts back into the Jot Flip. The movement on the iPhone and iPad is very natural and responds with minimum pressure.

Price: $35

Who it’s best for: Anyone with long fingernails unable to easily use a touch screen, users who frequently write or draw on an iPad, business owners requiring signatures (think Square).

SpareOne Emergency Mobile Phone

What it is: An emergency mobile phone with a standby replaceable AA battery that lasts 10 years plus waterproof bag

Why it’s great: While I have a rugged case for my iPhone, there are some places I won’t take it such as the family boat or while doing outdoor sports. I also like having a spare phone for traveling so I can reach people if my iPhone malfunctions or is stolen. The phone includes a micro-SIM adapter so it can accept the SIM from phones older than the iPhone 5 or a pre-paid SIM. Without a SIM it can dial emergency services such as 911. I keep it in my car for situations in which I need to use a phone (rain, snow) and my iPhone wouldn’t be safe.
Price: $89.99

Who it’s best for: Someone that travels often, someone that needs a spare phone for condition in which an iPhone could get damaged (boater, skier, hiker), or someone stocking an emergency kit.

Thumbnail image courtesy of Flickr userandrewmalone

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Texting, phone calls, email and apps are generally shut down while driving with the CellControl and attempts to remove or tamper with the module can be automatically reported to a device admin. That’s handy if the kids try to circumvent the system, for example. Music libraries are still available for use on the car’s receiver and calls taken through a Bluetooth headset or an auto’s integrated wireless system are still allowed with the system.

This is a smart method to help cut down on distracted driving because of cellphones; smarter in my opinion than legislation to accomplish similar results. Laws that dictate no handset use in vehicles can limit the use of valuable smartphone functions such as location services, emergency calls and integrated apps for us in a car. Granted, not everyone can afford the $129 CellControl, but it’s a viable option that uses technology to improve safety.

For now, Scosche’s software is supported on Android and BlackBerry handsets as well as older Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 devices. I don’t expect to see the CallControl gain iOS support as apps that control and iPhone’s core functionality generally aren’t approved by Apple. Perhaps Cupertino would make an exception or consider a licensing agreement with Scosche, given how distracting it can be to use a phone while driving.

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Scosche solBAT II

The manufacturer sent me a Scosche solBAT II Solar Charger and Backup Battery to try, and I was surprised at how small it is, at approximately 4″ x 2.25″. It’s pretty light, too, at only a couple of ounces.

It comes with a case and suction cups that are designed to be mounted in a car window, with the idea that the charger will collect sunlight and store it in an internal 1500mA lithium-ion battery, ready to use when you need to charge your phone. There’s also a carabiner mount for attaching the charger to luggage or a backpack.

This charger’s small size and weight means that its solar cell is small and doesn’t charge very rapidly. The instructions say that it can take up to five days to reach the battery’s full capacity, so it’s recommended to charge the battery via USB (in about 3 hours), then use the solar cell to maintain its full charge.The charger outputs 5V at 500mA, which should be sufficient for many mobile devices.

SunCharge Universal Solar Cell Phone Charger

The SunCharge Universal Solar Cell Phone Charger from Choice Solar takes a different approach. It has a 5.5″ x 9.5″ panel, much larger than the Scosche, but the SunCharge is still pretty light at 3 oz.

Thus, it can charge a portable device faster than the Scosche, in 3-5 hours according to the manufacturer, but it has no storage of its own, and only works during daylight and in the right weather conditions.

It includes eyelets, but you’ll need to provide your own suction-cup hooks if you want to mount it in a window. The model I tried includes a “hydra” cable with five connectors: Mini USB, Micro USB, Nokia 2mm thin pin, Nokia 3.5 mm thick pin, and Samsung connector. There are also specific models for Nokia, LG and Samsung phones.

Choice Solar also offers the SunCharge iPhone Solar Charger Bundle, which includes a SunCharge, a 5 pin connector, Kensington battery and USB cable. This bundle is compatible with most iPhones and iPods. Note that neither the Scosche or the Choice Solar chargers can output enough current to charge an iPad.

The Scosche solBAT II Solar Charger and Backup Battery is available for $29.95 from the company’s website. The Choice Solar SunCharge is available for $39.95 plus shipping from the company’s website. The iPhone and iPod-compatible version is $79.95 plus shipping.

Both the Scosche and Choice Solar chargers do what they’re designed to do; you’ll need to decide which system is appropriate for how you work.

How do you charge your portable devices?

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The FlipSync USB Cable Keyring couldn’t be smaller yet has a USB 2.0 connector hidden in one end of the fob. The other end has the proprietary iPhone/iPod connector that pulls out when needed. It’s as simple as pulling both ends out of the fob and connecting the iPhone/iPod to a USB computer port for both syncing and charging. It’s not cheap at $20 but it is probably the smallest accessory designed to do what it does, and that might be worth it for the serious road warrior.

(via Windows Phone Thoughts)

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