The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Philips untangles power cable spaghetti

Power, power everywhere

Cloud based data management

IFA 07 Philips for one has cottoned onto the fact that consumers are fed-up with piles of unidentifiable cables cluttering up their cupboards. Today, it unveiled its Power4Life range of universal chargers, developed to replace many chargers with one.

SCM7880_Power2Charge
Philips' Power2Charge: one thing to charge them all

The Power2Charge range consists of three universal USB chargers and two universal USB car chargers. The slight nag is that it can only charge devices that can be powered through a USB port, such as an iPod, and presumably different cables would still be required for standard USB and mini USB ports. But it's a step in the right direction.

All three models are compatible with devices operating on up to 5V, while Philip's flagship SCM7880 model has an LED power level indicator on its front and a retractable USB cable. It also stores 15 hours' worth of power as a back-up and a foldable plug.

PhilipsSCE7640
Philips' Power2Go: does what it says on the tin

If your power requirements are more upwardly mobile, then the Power2Go line provides up to 60 hours of power when away from a mains power connection. The range is divided up into two forms of battery pack and a third model specifically for mobile phones - so that classic 'oh my battery died' won't wash with the missus any more.

The Power2Charge and Power2Go ranges - both offered under the Power4Life brand - will be available across Europe from December, but prices are yet to be confirmed.

Regcast training : Hyper-V 3.0, VM high availability and disaster recovery

More from The Register

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Proof the pen is mightier?
Sammy’s iPad Mini killer has a stylus to stab other rivals too
Microsoft lures buy-curious vixens, corduroys with a cheap fondle
Surface slab sales latest: Will no one rid Ballmer of these turbulent tabs?
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?