Posts Tagged richardsolo

It’s always a pleasure to find a piece of gear that not only performs well, but does it with style. And that’s the case with the RichardSolo 1800 Smart Backup Battery for the iPhone and iPod.

It’s made for those times when you might be away from a power plug for awhile—on a long international flight or out camping. Or, with the unusual weather we’ve seen in the U.S. recently, it could also come in very handy if you’re stranded at an airport all day.

The RichardSolo 1800 is a rechargeable battery that can be used to charge or top off an iPhone (2G, 3G or 3GS) or any model of iPod, except the Shuffle. The 1800 mAh is enough to provide a full charge for an iPhone with power left over. A full charge takes about 90 minutes.

The backup battery can be charged from an AC outlet, car plug, or from your computer with a USB cable. LED lights show the charging status.

The RichardSolo 1800 includes all the cables and plugs you’ll need for charging—an AC wall charger that will accept 120V or 240V, making it ideal for international travel; an auto plug with two USB ports; and a retractable (nice touch) USB cable.

But here’s another trick. The RichardSolo 1800 can replace your standard iPhone or iPod charger to free up some room in the bag. You can even connect the battery and the iPod or iPhone, plug them in overnight and, in the morning, both will be fully charged.

And, as they say on the shopping channels, “Wait! There’s more!” The backup battery also includes an LED flashlight—always handy for travelers—and a laser pointer for presentations.

I also appreciate the snug connection to my iPod and the included support brace. For my use, the RichardSolo unit it provides a much more secure connection than the iGo PowerXtender I reviewed earlier.

The RichardSolo Smart Backup Battery retails for $69.95 and is available direct from the manufacturer or at Amazon. RichardSolo also offers a similar model for the BlackBerry and other smartphones that use mini- or micro-USB ports for charging.

I’ve carried a different brand of backup battery for years on just about every trip. But after checking out the RichardSolo 1800, it’s my new preference because of the flexible design, included cables and plugs and the extra features, such as the flashlight and laser pointer.

If you depend on a smartphone or iPod when traveling, the RichardSolo 1800 Smart Backup Battery will keep you talking (or listening) longer.