Charging USB Devices With AA Batteries

In this article, we will share with you some devices that use AA batteries to charge USB-powered small electronics. These devices provide a convenient way to stretch the time between wall outlet recharges.

Some are advertised to work with any type of AA battery, giving you lots of options if you are in a pinch as well as permitting you to use resource-saving rechargeables. Here are some we found:

• QuickerTek Apple Juicz Little Black Box
• Neewer Emergency Charger with Flashlight
• Zap RX-4 Recharge-It-All
• Energizer Energi To Go CEL2MUSB
• Voxred Turbo Charge

QuickerTek Apple Juicz Little Black Box

QuickerTek claims its Apple Juicz Little Black Box is the first charger of its kind that will accept any type of AA battery, including alkaline, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-zinc (NiZn), and carbon. As long as each of the four batteries installed is of the same type and brand, this unit’s internal circuitry will adjust voltage appropriately. QuickerTek advertises compatibility with most any USB-powered device, including iPod, iPhone, and iPad. The Apple Juicz Little Black Box measures 3.16” L x 2.46” W x 0.76” D and weighs 1.6 ounces without batteries. There is an on/off switch and a single female USB port. Batteries are not included, and the manufacturer recommends NiZn batteries for best performance.

The QuickerTek Apple Juicz Little Black Box sells for around $23 on Amazon.

Neewer Emergency Charger with Flashlight

Neewer Emergency Charger with Flashlight

The Neewer Emergency Charger with Flashlight draws a surprising number of reviews on Amazon; over 40 customers weigh in to give the black-colored model an average of 3½ out of 5 stars, and about 10 people give the white-colored version an average of 4 stars. This charger accepts two AA batteries; though the manufacturer does not specify which types are appropriate, customers seem to have success with both rechargeables and non-rechargeables. On the edge of this unit you’ll find an on/off/flashlight switch, on its face there is an LED charge indicator, and on the end is the female USB port and LED flashlight. Most reviewers like this charger, citing its high value, slim profile, and wide charging compatibility. But this charger also draws negative feedback for running hot and inefficiently. Neewer claims compatibility with just about all USB-powered devices, including iPhones. Batteries are not included.

Amazon sells the Neewer Emergency Charger with Flashlight in black or white, both for around $5.

Zap RX-4 Recharge-It-All

Zap RX-4 Recharge-It-All

The Zap RX-4 Recharge-It-All accepts (and includes) four AA batteries. Eight Amazon reviewers give it an average rating of 4 stars. Customers like the flexibility of this device—it accepts alkaline and rechargeable batteries, includes a USB cable with adapters for different mobile phones, and it can be plugged into a wall outlet to recharge the batteries it holds. It has a four-light LED battery-life indicator and comes with a carrying case. The biggest complaint is about the included rechargeable batteries; customers find they aren’t nearly as good as most rechargeables on the market today. Though the manufacturer claims wide compatibility, some customers report the RX-4 Recharge-It-All will not charge their devices.

Purchase the Zap RX-4 Recharge-It-All for about $18 on Amazon.

Energizer Energi To Go CEL2MUSB

Energizer Energi To Go CEL2MUSB

Energizer’s Energi To Go CEL2MUSB charger operates on two AA batteries. This charger includes two Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAs, but customers say rechargeables also work. Customers also say the Energi To Go CEL2MUSB performs as advertised, working with a wide range of USB-powered devices and remaining reliable long after their purchase. There are some complaints about the battery door being difficult to work with and some reviewers found this charger was not compatible with their phones after they bought it, but overall the feedback is positive. The Energi To Go CEL2MUSB comes with adapter for mini- and micro-USB connections. The company states this charger is not compatible with iPhone or HTC Android.

You’ll find the Energizer Energi To Go CEL2MUSB available for around $17 on Amazon.

Voxred Turbo Charge

Voxred Turbo Charge

The Voxred Turbo Charge comes in a variety of packages, all with different sets of charging cables. We recommend the TBB850 or TBM1050 packages; each comes with a mini-USB adapter and the TBB850 also includes a micro-USB adapter. You can order additional adapters through the manufacturer. The Turbo Charge accepts two AA batteries (rechargeable or non-rechargeable), and two AAs are included. It measures 3” L x 1.5” W x 0.75”D and weighs 2.5 ounces with batteries installed. There is a three-level LED battery-life indicator and an on/off/flashlight switch (the flashlight is two white LEDs on the end). CNET gave the Turbo Charge 4 out of 5 stars in 2007. Customers have been a little less enthusiastic; their chief complaint is that the batteries are depleted well before the advertised two to three full charges for portable electronic devices.

Both the Voxred Turbo Charge TBB850 and TBM1050 are for sale on Amazon for around $18.

Best Prepaid Cell Phones

Prepaid cell phones have recently seen a surge in consumer interest as a recession-friendly option for mobile communication. With no contract to sign, prepaid cell phones are an attractive option for those who don’t want a large monthly bill or to be tied down to one phone or carrier for a lengthy period of time. Prepaid cell phones are also a popular option for parents to purchase for kids and teens. We’ve searched the web to find the best prepaid cell phones that run the gamut from smartphones to basic talk and text phones. Cnet has an excellent guide on how to pick the right prepaid plan for you. In the meantime, read on to find the best prepaid cell phone to fit your needs and budget.

LG Optimus V Prepaid Cell Phone

LG Optimus V Prepaid Cell Phone

The LG Optimus V prepaid cell phone is the best choice for an entry-level smartphone. Offered up by Virgin Mobile, it runs on Android 2.2 operating system with 3G Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability. Other features include a 3.2 megapixel camera and camcorder, app sharing from the Android market including Swype for texing, voice dialing over Bluetooth, full Qwerty keyboard, and phonebook integration with Facebook and Twitter. The design is slim at half an inch thick and a 3.2 inch color touch screen.

Best Buy reviewers have given the phone a 5 star rating with the only complaints being the battery life is too short and the inability to play flash video. You can only play flash video with YouTube or other 3rd party apps. Also, this cell phone does not support mobile hot-spot capability. Cnet reviewed the LG Optimus here, with a rating of very good. Virgin Mobile has unlimited data plans starting at $25 a month.

The LG Optimus V Prepaid cell phone is available from Best Buy for $149.99.

AT&T GoPhone Nokia 2320 Prepaid Cell Phone

AT&T GoPhone Nokia 2320 Prepaid Cell Phone

The Nokia 2320 is an ideal budget prepaid cell phone for the casual user who only needs calling and texting. With a simple, user-friendly design and a nice price of $14.99, this would be a great choice for parents of a pre-teen. There is no Bluetooth and no camera. According to the review on Cnet, the Nokia 2320 has good phone quality and excellent battery life. However, as one reviewer noted on Best Buy, sometimes calls get dropped with AT&T due to competition from iPhone users. This phone does have web capability but check the data usage rates. The AT&T pay as you go GoPhone prepaid airtime cards start at $15 and one is included with the Nokia 2320.

You can get the Nokia 2320 prepaid cell phone at Best Buy for $14.99.

Motorola Renew W233 Prepaid Cell Phone

Motorola Renew W233 Prepaid Cell Phone

The Motorola Renew prepaid cell phone was designed to be the world’s first carbon neutral phone. All of the plastic components of the phone are made from recycled water bottles and comes in 100% recycled packaging. It’s also energy efficient with an estimated talk time of 9 hours. Another good budget-friendly cell phone for someone who only needs the basic features. Capabilities and features include texting, Mp3, speakerphone, and e-mail access with free address. Cnet said of the Motorola Renew, “even with its minimal features and low-resolution display, it offers good call quality thanks to Moto’s CrystalTalk feature.” Read their full review here. Offered by T-Mobile who has prepaid plans starting at $15 a month as well as pay-as-you-go cards with talk at 10 cents a minute.

You can get the Motorola Renew W233 prepaid cell phone on Amazon for $39.99.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 Prepaid Cell Phone

BlackBerry Curve 8530 Prepaid Cell Phone

LG Cosmos Prepaid Cell Phone

LG Cosmos Prepaid Cell Phone

The LG Cosmos prepaid cell phone provide by Verizon Wireless is a high quality slider messaging phone perfect for teens or other text enthusiasts who want something a little more than the basic budget phone.  Recommended by both Cnet and PCMag as the best entry-level messaging phone with social networking capability, the only complaints were a lack of music player and video recorder and sluggish CDMA web browser, though was praised for design and call quality. Features a basic 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Bing for Mobile, and GPS capability. Verizon offers daily access plans (pay only on the days you use), pay-as-you-go plans at 25 cents a minute and monthly unlimited plans starting at $74.99 a month.

You can get the LG Cosmos prepaid cell phone at Best Buy for $69.99.

Samsung T369 Prepaid Cell Phone

Samsung T369 Prepaid Cell Phone

Though not the most advanced cell phone, the Samsung T369 still packs a lot of useful features into a basic compact slider phone. Features a full slide-out Qwerty keyboard, a 2-inch auto-rotating LCD screen, 1.3 megapixel camera with 2x zoom, Mp3, Bluetooth, and instant messaging access. Cnet liked the compact design of the Samsung T369 with its’ efficient use of space, though the alphanumeric keypad is slightly narrow and there’s no headphone jack for the Mp3. Bottom line, it’s a good middle of the road prepaid phone that will give you more than basic features. Amazon reviewers have given it a 4 out of 5 star rating. It’s offered by T-Mobile with prepaid plans starting at $15 a month or pay-as-you-go talk at 10 cents a minute.

The Samsung T369 prepaid cell phone sells on Amazon for $59.99.

Best Headsets Hands Free

The best headsets have been created in response to the amount of laws now in place against driving with cell phones in front of our faces. Manufacturers have jumped in to help consumers keep talking on their phones without having to actually hold it by creating headsets hands free. These headsets hands free are capable of holding a call while users engage in basically any task. There are many different types of designs, such as the earbud style with microphone attached to the cable, or the Bluetooth type that just sits in a users ear and features a mic attached to the end, which points towards the mouth. Manufacturers like Plantronics, Panasonic, Etymotic, and Bose have all begun making various headsets hands free, which have allowed consumers to test each style and find which is best suited to their needs.

The High-Fidelity Etymotic Research HF2

Best Handsets Hands Free: Etymotic Research HF2

The Etymotic Research HF2 Hands Free Headset is an earbud style headset hands free that provides users with some of the best sound quality on the market. With a 20Hz-16kHz frequency response as well as great noise isolation with the adjustable ear tips. There is even an in-line control button that can pause your music or skip tracks. It is compatible with the iPhone (2.5 and 3G versions), Blackberry Curve, Blackberry Bold, and Blackberry Storm and many other smartphones.

While it’s a bit pricey, users have claimed the sound isolation is superb, though at times it can take a bit of time to optimize for each user. Users love the in-line control and the sound quality is far and beyond many similarly priced headsets hands free.

The Etymotic Research HF2 Hands Free Headset is available at Amazon for $144.

The iPhone Compatible Bose Mobile In-Ear

Best Headsets Hands Free: Bose Mobile InEar

The Bose Mobile In-Ear Headset Hands Free employs a similar earbud style as the headphones that come with an iPhone. A tiny mic is attached to the cable near where a user’s mouth would be. Like those headphones, the Bose headset hands free is capable of switching between music and a phone call with ease. It comes with three different ear tips for different sized ears. It also employs the classic sound of Bose speakers in a tiny package. There are three adaptors available for different types of cell phone compatibility.

With a four star rating from Amazon, users really love this best headset hands free.  While some users claimed they didn’t fit their ears, that’s really based on an individual’s ear size. Some users also mention that the treble is a bit low, on oddity for most headphones. Another user noted that a volume control on the cord would have been nice, but overall it’s a great value.

The Bose Mobile In-Ear Headset Hands Free is available at Amazon for $129.

The Compact Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth

Best Handsets Hands Free: Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth

The Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset is a compact device that allows users to talk without the burden of holding a phone or the hassle of an external cable. It has a feature that lets you switch between two different BlueTooth devices as well as a one touch call feature and a dialing feature that is based off your voice. Its battery claims to be able to take 6 hours of talk time. The microphone is designed to be noise cancelling, allowing users to walk through busy streets with no interference. The footprint of this device is very efficient for users trying to cut down on extraneous equipment in their daily life.

With an astounding four an a half star review on Amazon after thousands of users’ input, this handset hands free is definitely one of the best.  Some users note that the noise cancelling feature on the microphone is not as strong as it claims to be, and other users have said that the battery may only get around 3 hours of talk time total on a full battery. But overall, most users laud the sound quality and ease of use.

The Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset is available at Amazon for $45.

The Foldable Panasonic KX-TCA92 Comfort Fit Headset

Best Headsets Hands Free: Panasonic KX-TCA92 Comfort Fit

The Panasonic KX-TCA92 Comfort Fit Headset Hands Free has great portability with its foldable design. Its noise-cancelling microphone is fully adjustable, and the headset hands free is fully reversible for either ear. There is a volume control on the cable and a mute button. Overall it’s a very simple design that provides comfort and control.

Amazon users give it three and a half stars, claiming it a decent buy for its feature set. Some users have claimed the mic can be a bit quiet in certain environments, and users have also claimed that the mute button is a hassle because you’re forced to hold it down when in use.  Overall, still a great buy at the price point.

The Panasonic KX-TCA92 Comfort Fit Headset Hands Free is available through Amazon for $60.

Most cell phones don’t even come close to being green — their chargers are energy inefficient, they contain hazardous chemicals, and they not are designed for upgrading or easy recycling. Recently though, some the big players in the field like Nokia and Sony Ericsson are making moves towards green design.

As far as assessing which phones are greenest, the best report we found was conducted by Greenpeace. Their report “Searching For Green Electronics” (PDF File) was published in June, and it rates the green attributes of cell phones based on a number of criteria. Greenpeace incorporated recycling reports by EPEAT (PDF File) and reports by Energy Star.

Here’s our round-up of this year’s greenest cell phones:

Sony Ericsson T650i

Sony Ericsson T650i stands out as this year’s greenest cell phone. The T650i’s charger is energy efficient (it exceeds Energy Star requirements by 24%), and the phone’s components are free of PVC, phthalates and beryllium. The T650i’s main circuit board is free of brominated flame retardants.

The T650i is good looking phone – it has a stainless steel finish on its casing and features scratch-resistant mineral glass. It has a 930 mAh lithium-polymer battery is rated at up to 7 hours of talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies, as well as international 3G networks (2100 MHz, found in Europe and Asia).

Sony Ericsson appears to be taking a lead on environmental standards: here’s the company’s environmental statement. They score high on energy criteria because all of its products meet and exceed the Energy Star standard. They recycling program leaves a lot of be desired though – they report a product recycling rate of just 1%-13%.

The Sony Ericsson T650i is available from Amazon.

Nokia N95

Like the Sony Ericsson T650i, Nokia’s N95 phone is free from PVC and phthalates. Its circuit board is free of brominated flame retardants and antimony, but still contains beryllium. N95′s charger is less energy efficient than Sony Ericsson’s phone — it exceeds Energy Star requirement by only 3%.

The N95 combines a lot of devices into one: it’s a cell phone, a GPS receiver, a digital camera/camcorder, a digital audio player, and a PDA. Some of the phone’s highlights includes a 2-way slide design, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 5 megapixel camera.

It’s a quad-band GSM/EDGE phone that runs on 3G networks here in the US (850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA).

Importantly, the Nokia N95 offers the best ratio between the price of a new battery and the price of a new phone (the lower the battery price being a greater incentive for the consumer to replace the battery rather than discard the entire phone).

The Nokia N95 is available from Amazon.

Nokia’s 3310 Evolve

Nokia recently introduced the 3310 Evolve phone, which is obviously designed to be green. The Evolve phone has “unpainted bio-sourced covers made from more then 50% more renewable material”. I assume “bio-sourced covers” means they are made with bioplastic — an important innovation I’ve waiting to see on cell phones. The 3310 Evolve also comes with minimalist packaging that features 60% recycled content.

The Evolve has perhaps the most efficient charger of all the phones listed here — it comes with Nokia’s new AC-8 charger that uses 94% less energy than the Energy Star requirements. The charger uses very little power when its plugged in but not charging.

The phone’s feature set is midrange — it offers a 1.3-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, an FM radio, a digital music player, a 262,000-color display, infrared, a mini USB port, and a microSD card slot. The 3110 is triband at the moment (GSM 900/1800/1900) so it’s primed for European networks, but you should be able to get it in North America unlocked.

This phone is currently only available in Europe.

Home Page: Nokia’s 3310 Evolve

Sony Ericsson P1i

The Sony Ericsson P1i is a smart phone that gets its green credentials mainly from the reduced amount of hazard materials inside — the P1i is free of PVC, beryllium and phthalates, and it has a main circuit board that’s free of brominated flame retardants.

It’s available from Amazon.

LG Electronics KE970

A stylish phone, LG Electronic’s KE970 scored green points due to a circuit board that’s free of brominated flame retardants, and a low number of RoHS exceptions. The phone features a polished-metal exterior and stainless steel case.

It’s still not free of antimony, beryllium or phthalates though, and the phone’s charger only exceeds Energy Star requirements by 7%.

LGE KE970 is available from Amazon.

We’ve seen prototypes for solar-powered cell phones, but now a Chinese company claims to have developed the world’s first commercially available solar-powered cellphone. The company says a scale-like solar panel on the top side of the phone can also be recharged by light from artificial sources. It can provide 40 minutes of talk-time after sitting in the sun for an hour.

Hi-tech Wealth is a a well-known telecommunication products supplier in China. The company says it has developed the most advanced solar power technology and owns eight patents and has applied for numerous others. Many companies around the world are working on similar mobile phones but their products are still at the experimental stage, Xinhua news agency quoted a company official as saying.

The S116, which retails in China for USD$510, features Hi-Tech Wealth’s information security technology. It supports a T-Flash card and features a 1.3 megapixel camera.
Hi-Tech Wealth has filed over 20 patents in China to protect the technology behind the S116 and has already secured pre-orders for 50,000 units.

Motorola has released its latest iDEN phone that is designed to meet “military standards” of durability. The iDEN i580 is water and dust resistant and sports Bluetooth, a MP3 player and a 1.3 megapixel digital camera. Multiple push to buttons are available to allow you to push to talk, push to meet and push to smart reply that allows you to send SMS messages using push to talk. The iDEN also accepts microSD memory cards. The i580 will be available in Q2 of 2006. The carrier will probably be Nextel.

Link: “>iDEN Home Page

Via Gadgets Weblog

VoIP (Voice Over IP) is telephone service which allows you to use your internet connection to make telephone calls.

Instead of making calls through regular telephone lines, you place calls through a phone connected to your broadband service (e.g. cable or DSL). You can read about more VoIP technology here.

Most people use VoIP save on the expense of having a POTS (plain old telephone service) and to save on long distance charges.

Companies in the US, such as Vonage, VoicePulse, and Packet8, offer unlimited calling to the US, and sometimes to Canada or to selected countries in Europe or Asia, for a flat monthly fee. Vonage is top rated by PC World and CNet.com. CNet’s editor Neil Randall says Vonage’s voice quality was so good that it’s a suitable replacement for a primary phone line.

Others reviewers were more impressed by the quality of VoicePulse. For example, Garry Peterson from Bright Green Living recommends VoicePulse over Vonage, because of better customer support and the fact that Vonage equipment cannot be used with other VoIP providers.

Some of the potential disadvantages of VoIP are:

• Dependent on Electrical Power and Broadband Connection. Unless you have your phone on an UPS, or are off-grid, your phone will not work when there is a power outage. This is also true if your broadband service is interrupted.
• 911 Service. Your VoIP provider may or may not have 911 service.
• Voice Quality: Your may be unimpressed by the clarity of VOIP phone connection.

You can read more about the VOIP’s potential disadvantages in this article from Tom’s Networking.

Skype is an example of a software-based VoIP service that allows users to make calls through their computers to those with regular phones. Two potential annoyances with this kind of approach is that you have have you PC turned on to make or receive calls, and sound quality is improving but is not as high as hardware-based VoIP according to reviewers.

Some reviewers also point out that using discount calling cards to make long distance calls may be as inexpensive as using VoIP.

Another VoIP technology which is gaining popularity is Wi-Fi telephony. Wi-Fi phones are similar to cell phones, but allow you make calls from any free Wi-Fi location — including your home, college campus or public hotspot. Two manufacturers of Wi-Fi phones are: Net2Phone and PulverInnovations.

There is a wide range of cell phones available today. Your choice is often narrowed by the fact that particular cell phones will only work with specific carriers. For example, if you buy a Nokia phone, it will only work with Cingular as the carrier.

As far as cell phone service is concerned, Verizon is top rated by these review sites: J.D. Power, Consumer Reports and Epinions. According to these reviewers, Verizon tops the field in terms of coverage and customer service.

One reason why you might not opt for Verizion as your carrier, is if you are a frequent traveler to Europe, Asia or Africa. Verizion uses a proprietary CDMA network for service, and you’ll find that other countries mostly use GSM networks instead (supported by T-Mobile and Cingular/AT&T).

If you are interested in the amount of radiation a cell phone emits, you can look up the “SAR” rating on this page from CNET. According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), SAR or specific absorption rate is “a way of measuring the quantity of radiofrequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body.”

Top-Rated Phones

A highly rated phone with one of the lowest radiation levels is the Motorola MPx200. Reviewers like its inexpensive price (around $200), crisp display and speakerphone feature.

An advantage of “clamshell” style cell phones (such as this one) is that the screen is protected when the phone is not in use, and is thus less likely to be scratched. The battery life is only average on this phone though. Reviewed by PCWorld, DesignTechnica and CNET.

Available from: (Search for Motorola MPx200 Retailers)

Another phone that reviewers are currently recommending is the Sony Ericsson K700.

This phone is praised for its stylish exterior, clear screen, well designed menu navigation, speakphone feature and bluetooth support. The price is $300-$400.

Reviewed by Wired (Editors’ Pick), CNet (7.6/10) and Mobiledia.

Available from: (Search for Sony Ericsson K700 Retailers)