Charger

BlackBerry CEO calls iPhone users ‘wall huggers’ due to poor battery life

BlackBerry's newly appointed CEO John Chen isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers. Last month he penned an open letter regarding T-Mobile's 'ill-conceived' iPhone promotion, and this past week he went after the iPhone users themselves.

Speaking at the Oasis Montgomery conference, Chen was asked for his thoughts on the surging popularity of the iPhone. And his response was 'I call you guys wall huggers,' suggesting the handset is unable to last a full day on a single charge...

Users complain of Lightning cable issues due to corrosion

Apple has been taking criticism for its new Lightning connector since it was introduced alongside the iPhone 5 in 2012. The change instantly made millions of cases and other accessories incompatible, forcing users to either buy updated products or do without.

Those complaints have since spilled over into the Lightning cable's durability, with the Apple Store showing a 1.5 star rating of the cable on over 1,200 reviews.  Apparently the cable is vulnerable to breakage, fraying, and according to a new report, corrosion as well...

Good deal: 75% off this pocket-sized USB battery pack

One of the most popular tech gifts and/or stock stuffers, this past holiday season was the portable USB charger. I know I included one in my Holiday gift guide, simply because they're small enough to take with you when you're on the go and very convenient.

But for those of you who didn't score a new portable USB charger this Christmas, you may be interested to know that Stack Social is running a deal on the Keychain Power Bank. For a limited time, you can grab the 2600mAh battery pack for less than $15...

Mophie introduces new ‘Space Pack’ iPhone case with built-in battery and storage

Mophie added a new edition to its family of popular Juice Pack iPhone cases today. It's called the Space Pack, and just like Mophie's other cases, it features a built-in battery that can essentially double your iPhone's battery life.

But what really stands out about this new accessory is that it also features built-in storage. That's right, the Space Pack supports a number of different file types and can increase the capacity of your iPhone 5/5s by 16 or 32 GB...

EU lawmakers drafting legislation that could force Apple to change its Lightning plug

EU lawmakers agreed yesterday to draft legislation that will force all mobile phone manufacturers to consent to the use of a common standard for battery chargers which can fit any device. The draft could be voted on by the EU Parliament as early as March 2014.

While many see this as a huge win for consumers, who would no longer have to purchase new charging accessories for different devices, it would be a huge blow to Apple. The company uses a propriety plug, the Lightning connector, in all of its iOS product lines...

Thai man allegedly electrocuted by charging iPhone

Another iPhone electrocution has been reported in Asia—this time in Thailand. A 28 year-old man was reportedly killed while using an iPhone 4s, which was believed to be charging using an unauthorized third-party charger.

According to a report from Thai language news outlet Daily News Thailand, on Monday, police in the Rayong province found an unnamed man lying dead on the floor of his home holding a burnt iPhone 4S in his left hand...

A quick look at the Moshi dual car charger and premium Lightning cables

I assume there was an eyebrow raise at "premium Lightning cables." Be ensured, the title is not intended to be click bait, rather a description of the actual product. After Apple switched from 30 pin, my arsenal of available cords depleted. Like many of our readers, I amassed a large number of 30 pin cables across the years.

Suddenly, I needed to reinvest in more cables. I grew accustomed to having a cable pretty much anywhere I sat for more than an hour. The folks at Moshi sent me a review unit of their Lightning cable, which is the same price as a standard Apple OEM cable, but offer a lot more in the way of rugged design and classy fixtures...

Griffin unveils new MultiDock capable of syncing and charging up to 10 devices

Developers, teachers, and essentially anyone else with multiple USB devices will be happy to hear that Griffin has just unveiled a new version of its MultiDock. The redesigned charging station looks great, and can charge and sync up to 10 devices at once.

Griffin says that it collaborated with former Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoffer to build the second-generation MultiDock, which is both lighter and more attractive than its predecessor. It's also now compatible with several smartphone and tablet models...

Apple’s third-party USB adapter trade-in program now available in 30 countries

Following a handful of fatal electrocutions in China due to the use of unauthorized chargers, Apple unveiled a new USB Power Adapter Takeback Program earlier this month to "enable customers to acquire properly designed adapters."

The program, which allows folks to turn in their third-party adapters for recycling, or trade them in towards the purchase of an Apple-branded adapter, officially launched yesterday, and it's now available in 30 countries around the globe...

Scosche introduces new ‘BoltBox’ charging cables for Lightning devices

Folks looking to pick up a new Lightning charging cable might want to check out Scosche's latest iOS accessory. The California-based company introduced the 'boltBOX' today, a new colorful USB charging cable for all of your Lightning devices.

What makes the boltBOX better than your average Apple USB Lightning cable? Well, aside from the fact that it comes in a variety of different colors, it features an innovative retractable design that neatly stores its 3-foot cable when not in use...

Apple launches ‘Takeback Program’ for third-party USB power adapters

In light of recent events involving the safety of third-party chargers for iOS devices, Apple has launched a new trade-in program for all unauthorized USB power adapters. The company made the announcement on its support site this afternoon.

The 'Takeback Program' officially kicks off next week, and will allow users who have concerns about their USB power adapters to either drop them off at an Apple store for recycling, or trade them in towards the purchase of an official Apple power adapter...

iOS 7 includes fix for malicious charger exploit

Back in June, a group of researches discovered a flaw in iOS that would theoretically allow an iOS device to be hacked  using a malicious USB charger. Their proof-of-concept allowed them to invisibly install malware on non-jailbroken iPhones and iPads.

The results of the experiment were called 'alarming,' and brought to the attention of Apple in hopes for a quick fix. The Cupertino company must have gotten the message, because according to a new report, the exploit has been patched in the latest iOS 7 beta...