With the Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Solar kit, charging for most any portable electronic gadget can be done on-the-go in a backpack, sitting in a classroom or while at a campsite.
The kit consists of a Nomad 7 solar panel and a Guide 10 battery pack.
The Guide 10 battery pack (2.5-by-4-by-0.75-inches) can be charged 2 different ways; with AC through a USB cable or with a solar panel such as the Nomad 7.
When the battery pack is charged, you’ll have 4-rechargeable AA batteries (2300mAh each) ready to be used in whatever device you need them for or keep them in the battery pack and connect your cell phone, tablet, GPS or any other gadget needing a shot of power via the built-in USB port.
Charging times with the battery pack should mirror the charging times your device charges from wall power.
The Nomad 7 solar panel (9-by-1.5-by-17-inches) will charge the battery pack in 3-6 hours, depending on the amount of sunlight on the panel. There’s a built-in USB and 12V port in the solar panel to charge a device directly. According to Goal Zero, the Nomad 7 will charge most USB and 12V devices (not tablets). That includes most handheld USB devices, cellphones and smartphones.
The solar panels do not store power like the battery pack, they produce power only when exposed to sunlight and that is passed on to the connected device.
Info: www.goalzero.com, $129.99
Wireless keypad
Satechi’s aluminum wireless keypad is a perfect way to extend smaller keyboards, laptops, tablets or smartphones by adding a full keypad with numbers. It also has backspace, enter, undo, copy, cut and paste keys along the top; 22 keys in all.
It has a portable, sleek profile enabling it to easily fit into a backpack, bag, or purse. Anti-slip pads keep it in place and an ergonomic tilt allows for comfortable use.
The aluminum design makes it a perfect match for Apple keyboards; it also works with Windows operating systems.
Connections are via Bluetooth and powered by two included AAA batteries.
Info: www.satechi.net, $37.99
Backup battery
MagicMount PowerBank from Scosche is a portable 4000mAh Lithium-ion battery, which affixes to smartphones for charging while keeping the phone fully functional.
It comes in models for microUSB and Apple Lightning connections and has a built-in 2.1amp USB output.
What Scosche calls powerful rare-earth magnets keep the battery (1.1-by-3.8-by-6.7-inches) attached to your smartphone. A small cable attaches to your phone’s input to charge a dead smartphone twice.
The microUSB version includes the Scosche EZTIP, which is a reversible microUSB connector.
Info: www.SCOSCHE.com, $49.99 for the microUSB, $59.99 for the Lightning connection.
Bluetooth keyboard
Kanex aluminum MultiSync Bluetooth Keyboard for Apple devices is full-sized and can be shared with four Mac and iOS Devices.
Any device you want to use connects via Bluetooth Mac layout. With the wireless connections, none of the devices take up valuable USB ports.
The keyboard has an Apple device-matching aluminum finish and features a full Mac layout. When synched with more than one device, toggle keys on the top right (over the number keys) let you press a key to dedicate the keyboard to that device.
Once done with one device, press a toggle key to go to another.
This lets you write a document on your computer screen, answer text messages on an iPhone or emails on a tablet by simply toggling between a few keys.
Two AAA batteries is all you need for power.
Info: www.kanex.com, $99.95
Multi-lens system
The Olloclip 4-in-1 lens system converts your iPhone (6/6s and iPhone 6/6s Plus) camera into a multi-lens system. This makes it a great system for daily photo/video use, copying documents and recording lectures.
The four advanced optic quick-change lenses (fisheye, macro 10x and 15x, wide-angle) weigh less than an ounce each and work on both still image or video controls with the smartphone.
The marco lenses have a clever design; just unscrew the fisheye and wide-angle lenses to expose the macro lenses.
Olloclip lenses are designed with precision-coated ground glass optics, which helps produce crisp images and videos.
The Olloclip 4-in-1 lens system also works with the new OtterBox uniVERSE case system case.
Info: www.olloclip.com, Olloclip 4-in-1 lens $79.99, OtterBox uniVERSE case $49.99 for the iPhone 6/6S model, $59.99 for the iPhone 6 Plus/6S Plus
Bluetooth headphones
The Samson RTE 2 Bluetooth headphones have everything the average user wants or needs.
They are wireless, fold for portability, look good, have comfortable cushioned ear pads and most importantly sound great.
An internal battery powers for up to 10 hours of music or up to 200 hours in standby mode. A built-in microphone makes them ideal for hands free calls.
Inside the ear cups, which are attached with an adjustable headband, is a pair of 40 mm drivers. The sound is Samson’s signature digital voicing, which produces authentic, full-range audio with no added hype or coloration. Samson refers to the great sounding audio as “a true and fatigue-free listening experience.”
All the controls for power, track selection, volume, and calls are on the right ear.
Info: www.samsontech.com, $99.99
Flash drive
Adata’s i-Memory flash drive transfers digital files in seconds between a computer and an iOS device.
It’s built with an Apple-certified Lightning connection on one end and a standard USB (3.0) connection on the other. Both slide in and out to keep them exposed only when needed.
Just plug it into your computer’s USB port (Mac or PC) and to your iOS device to load data on or off. The i-Memory app views or transfers digital files, supporting most formats including Ultra HD 4K video.
Info: www.adata.com, i-Memory 32GB $65.99, 64GB $69.99, 128GB $109.99
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