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Powermat wirelessly charges phones, iPods, Nintendo DS/Lite & more
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What if someone told you when your cell phone has run out of juice, or your iPod can't play the tunes because the battery wore down, just walk past your dresser or desk, place the devices on the mat and it's charging? You'd be like "no way". Yes, way. Powermat has revolutionized the way you're going to charge your devices and peripherals forever.
Back in January, 2009, Las Vegas was host to the Consumer Electronics Show, commonly referred to as CES. Powermat had its place in the sun that week showcasing a truly revolutionary product of wirelessly charging your portable electronic devices such as the commonly thought of iPods, iPhones, Blackberries, GPS’s, handheld games, computers and more.
Now, everytime you get a new gadget, there’s a new power cord that needs to be connected to an outlet and could even have a USB wire also. But, there are never enough outlets or power strips. Never enough USB ports. And you always have to plug and unplug different devices momentarily to make room to plug something else in. There are three cell phones in my house. So that means three charging cords, my iPod Touch charger, my color laser printer which requires a dedicated outlet, digital cameras, Skype phone, FAX machine, desk lamp, etc. It almost seems like a fantasy that you could just take your devices and simply place them on a mat as you casually walk by and never think twice about a charger cord again.
Powermat works on the concept of conductive charging technology. You can chose from two different Powermats. One is portable and folds into three different sections to be neatly carried within a carrying case so you can take it with you. This way you can use it at home, your business and while on the road. Another exciting plus is that the system comes with a Powermat Powercube Universal Receiver that has eight different assorted tips and a small, durable carrying case for them.
Getting back more to the Powermat itself, it comes with a Powermat Power Adapter with built-in cord access. Both mats also have a wired USB connection that permit you to charge devices that need a full-size USB. There are some videos you can watch to further acquaint yourself with the theory and function. Click here.
Powermat fits right into any décor. It’s well designed, well built and looks slick, smooth and black. While I was setting it up, I had some skepticism about it working and boy, was I ever surprised. On one device, I attached the sleeve for the iPhone and simply put it down on the mat so that the electronic gizmo on the back plate would line up with the gizmo that’s inside the mat. Then it made a sound like a space ship/robot chirp and it starts charging. Nobody could ever find this difficult.
Powermat has specific sleeves for the iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Blackberries, iPod Dock Receiver for all docking iPods and iPhones, Nintendo DS and Lite, and universal adapters for Samsung, LG, Apple, Sony, Nokia, Ericsson, and Micro. Now, let’s say you didn’t have a specific sleeve for your device. All you would do is place the Powermat Universal Receiver on the mat itself and attach one of the compatible adapters to the Receiver and plug your device in or, you can take the Receiver Dock, use the compatible adapter for your device and bingo, you’re charging.
Now, let’s get some basic background information on the Powermat. Ran Poliakine, an Israeli entrepreneur, is the founder of the originally New York-based company. Poliakine wanted to make wire-free charging technology available for everyone. The concept is magnetic induction. "Electrical power is transmitted through a thin-mat of conductive material which is very similar to radio-frequency identification tags which is embedded in or overlaid on any surface or wall." At this point in time, Powermat is based in Commerce Township, Michigan and is operated by partners Rob Ferber and Ran Poliakine.
Technically, these computer chips are placed on the device through changing the back plate of your cell phone. You also have the choice of using the universal power adapter and placing it on the mat. It’s in this way that when you put your device down on the mat, the chip in the mat gives a handshake to the chip on the device and you have charging. With a little foresight, it’s easy to imagine that future furniture like desks, tables and walls will all be built with internal chips for charging your electronic devices on the spot in question and it automatically starts charging. Eventually, you can see that devices will also be made with these internal chips so that you won’t even require a special sleeve or adapter because it will be built into the device.
So whether you’re entranced with elimination of unsightly wires and chargers in a tangled mess or the convenience and potential of this product, "Powermat provides consumers with an energy efficient option to traditional chargers. The system also initiates an electronic conversation between the mat and devices placed on the Powermat surface to ensure the optimum level of power is sent, and includes an auto-termination feature, which stops charging a device once it is fully charged to not only save energy but also protect the device."
Ron Ferber, President of Powermat has said, "Our mat is like a refrigerator…you plug in one fridge to store many food items. You plug in one mat to power many devices." So whether you’re a Tech Junkie, a traveler, teen or tween, game player, or anti-clutter cleaning nut, there’s something for everyone. Powermat is easy to find at your local Target, BestBuy and Amazon stores online or in person.
Powermat: "the complete solution for simultaneously delivering real time, wireless charging to multiple electronics including iPods, iPhones, Blackberries, other mobile phones, GPS’s, hand-held games and laptops, Powermat technology can be miniaturized to a level where it can be embedded into devices, walls and tabletop surfaces. It’s innovative technology is fast, efficient, safe and revolutionized the way consumers charge and power." For more information, photos and videos, go to Powermat.com. Great gift for Christmas or Channukah. Right now, you get $10 off each receiver with purchase of a mat.
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Source: powermat.com
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