DAN HESSE SAYS ALL PHONES USING MICROUSB BY 2012

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has just confirmed that by January 2012, all US phones will use microUSB chargers, which will theoretically make all chargers and syncing cables cross-compatible. Hesse said that even as the head of a major mobile carrier, he found the dozens of different charging and syncing cables annoying, characterizing them as a “pet peeve” of his.

Late last year, the European Union ordered cell phone companies to do something that was ostensibly very pro consumer. Annoyed by the way that every single phone manufacturer had their own proprietary charging and syncing cables, the EU ordered manufacturers to standardize their syncing and charging solutions: all phones should use microUSB to both transfer data and charge.

That would mean that if your friend has an iPhone and you have a Nokia, you should be able to charge your iPhone with his Nokia charger, and vice versa. The European Union wimped out at the last minute and agreed to allow cell phone makers to comply with the law by shipping their phones with microUSB adapters.

The system’s going to roll out exactly the same in the United States as it did in Europe. The best we can hope for is that most companies will standardize using standard microUSB… but there’s no way everyone will....Apple we are looking at you!!!!

ENERGIZER Qi CHARGING MAT UNBOXED - WITH VIDEO

Even though the Engergizer Qi (pronounced 'chee') hasn't hit retail yet, a review gives us an overview and unbox of the device.  The Qi is a mat that will charge your mobile device.  Currently, you will need to place a sleeve on the mobile to allow it charge, but if Energizer can sell enough of these, eventually the sleeve portion will be built into the mobile device.

The Qi charging mat will retail for $89 and the sleeves, currently only for the iPhone 3G and up and the Blackberry Curve 8900, will sell for about $35. [Engadget]

HYPERMAC TO STOP SELLING CHARGING CABLES

HyperMac will stop selling MacBook charging cables and car chargers on November 2nd, under potential legal threat from Apple.  Apple sued Sanho for patent infringement of their MagSafe cables, similar to MacHype's cables.  HyperMac sent the following email to its customers:

Dear Valued Customers,


As part of our ongoing comprehensive licensing negotiations with Apple regarding a wide array of technologies and issues, we have decided to cease the sale of the MacBook charging cables and car charger on November 2, 2010.


While we will continue to sell the same batteries together with the rest of our product line after November 2nd, they will not be able to charge MacBooks without the cables.


If you wish to get the world's ONLY external battery and car charger solution that works with ALL MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (supports dual voltage) as well as the iPad, iPhone 3/3GS/4, iPod and all other USB devices, NOW is the time.


On November 2, 2010 00:00 U.S. Pacific Time, they will gone for good.


As we have very limited stocks, do order early to avoid disappointment. We will continue to sell until November 2nd and while stocks last.


We wish thank the many customers who have already gotten the HyperMac External MacBook Battery and those of you that gave us wonderful reviews.


HyperMac will continue to sell the charging batteries, but without the necessary cables this is a bit pointless. [Engadget]

BEST BUY BRINING THE JUICE

Best Buy, in conjunction with ECOtality, will begin installing the Blink EV charging stations for electric vehicles at 12 Best Buys in Tucson, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle my March 2011.  With Best Buy starting to sell electric scooters and motorcycles in some of its stores this makes sense.  The deployment of the charging stations is part of the government funded EV Project being overseen by ECOtality.  Best Buy stated if the trial is successful they would be expanding it to other stores nationwide. [Engadget]

ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS COULD FOLLOW YOU AROUND

Could the fear of running out of power in an electric vehicle keep people from buying them?  It is a possibility and researchers at the Mitsubishi's lab in Cambridge, MA have come up with a novel way to help alleviate the problem.

By using a central database to compile power usage and battery capacity from electric vehicles, then using that data to locate where the vehicles find they need re-charging the most, they would then send mobile power stations to those locations.

The mobile power stations would also need recharging, however this could be done overnight, when demand for recharging of vehicles would be slower, or by solar power. [New Scientist]