Filed under: Accessories, Cool tools, iPhone, iPod touch
X-Power1 Rechargeable iPhone/iPod charging cable: Everything you know is wrong
It looks like a USB charging cable swallowed a AA battery. What's inside is a lithium-ion battery with more capacity than built into any current iPhone or iPod. Using this cable, sync or charge your device while the internal cable battery charges. It will take about 3 hours to fully charge. Then when your device runs out of juice, plug in the cable and get power while you charge your device's battery.
I spoke with Alan Pocrass, the CEO of Xmultiple, and found that the information now circulating around the Internet is wrong. If you've already read something about the product, that information was based on a production prototype that will not be be built. The publicity picture is also inaccurate. The cable will work with iPhones, iPod touches and USB-charging iPods only, so earlier iPod owners (those that charge via Firewire) are out of luck.
Keep reading for more specifications...
Xmultiple produced 10,000 units and sold out in two weeks. A new shipment of 100,000 is due to arrive on August 25th and will at first be available from Xmultiple with the intention of later rolling it out to a number of vendors.
Three models of varied length and battery sizes will be available:
3 inches with a 2100 mAh battery for $19.15
6 inches with a 2300 mAh battery for $22.95
10 inches with a 2500 mAh battery for $25.95
There will also be a 42 inch one with a 2500 mAh battery which is the size that Apple ships.
[Earlier lengths listed in feet were incorrect; miscommunication with Xmultiple]
The only cable tested was 10" and it provided the following results:
4.5 hours of 3G talk
9 hours of 2G talk
up to 5.4 hours of Wi-Fi
270 hours of standby time
6 hours of video playback
The August 25th shipment will not contain an inline flash card as commonly reported. That configuration is planned but will not be available until the fourth quarter along with a proposed retractable cable.
[via Gadgetreview]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
James Donevan said 4:23PM on 7-29-2009
"If you've already read something about the product, that information was based on a production prototype that will not be be built. The publicity picture is also inaccurate."
Hmmm... sounds very reassuring. Always keen to buy a product that is so badly publicised they have to issue corrections like this.
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David Winograd said 4:25PM on 7-29-2009
Actually this is the first we mentioned it.
I called up the company for clarification and this is what I was told.
naturlichfrisch said 4:29PM on 7-29-2009
I'm trying to figure out why I'd want a 10 ft. usb syncing cable. I mean I would appreciate the larger battery, but 10 ft.? That seems a bit excessive. What length is the one that comes with the iphone 3G or 3GS?
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David Winograd said 5:38PM on 7-29-2009
Called them up again and the CEO misspoke. He meant 3, 6, and 10 inches.
Must be the rain.
jdechko said 4:29PM on 7-29-2009
So I understand what this does, but how is this better than an iPod/iPhone battery pack? Explain why I'd want a tail on my iPhone.
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Rendus said 4:35PM on 7-29-2009
I think this is more to replace the cable you might keep in your laptop bag, than to replace a battery pack.
astralbodies said 4:39PM on 7-29-2009
"Cable available in different size: 6 inches, 20 inches or 30 inches." per X-Power1's referenced site.
Not feet.
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David Winograd said 6:23PM on 7-29-2009
Called AGAIN and this time was told, by the CEO 3, 6,10 and 42". The press release was wrong, but they didn't take it down.
Raj said 4:56PM on 7-29-2009
I am a bit skeptical, but the price seems good enough to try this out.
I'd love to hear from someone who already has one and reviewed it!
I imagine this scenario:
1) I carry a connector (spare) cable in my travel bag.
2) I am out of juice for my iPhone/iTouch
3a) I connect as a battery extender (downside: tail w. usb dongle)
or
3b) I am near an outlet and plug it in to charge (use it as a cable)
3a could be mitigated if you had a way to roll-up the cord or somehow attach it to the iDevice, even if it was a bit clunky, I can't see myself talking on the phone with a dangling cord hanging off the phone.
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Raj said 4:58PM on 7-29-2009
Hate to reply to myself, but what would make this much more appealing is if the battery doubled as a rollup for the two connector ends.
Alex said 7:33PM on 7-29-2009
Yeah, I only see this for a "keep an extra charging cable around" and you have a backup battery built in to it if you happen to be away from an outlet for a while (like on a plane or something)
Michael said 4:29AM on 8-01-2009
Really? You can't talk on a phone with a cord hanging off of it? What did you do before cell phones and cordless phones then?
NoAndThen said 6:21PM on 7-29-2009
This would be great if they could work it out for something like an external power that your bus isn't quite providing enough power for; almost like a long term capacitor for your usb bus.
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Cris said 6:43PM on 7-29-2009
Is this for sale anywhere?
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David Winograd said 8:14PM on 7-29-2009
In a word: no.
From what I was told (which changed quite a bit) the boat from China with 100,000 units shows up on August 25th.
Dave said 7:20PM on 7-29-2009
Maybe it's just me, but I don't get a warm fuzzy when the press release is wrong, the CEO said feet, then inches, and the copy on the site looks like it was edited by my five year old. Get your act together, then bring it to market.
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David Winograd said 4:23AM on 7-30-2009
You think? ....
Sabotage said 8:31PM on 7-29-2009
NSFW picture there on the website of the girl listening to her ipod....
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Chris said 8:45PM on 7-29-2009
Love the Firesign Theater quote in the title! :)
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David Winograd said 4:22AM on 7-30-2009
You are the first and only one to get the reference. If TUAW had a budget, you would be first for a prize,
In fuddles,
George Leroy Tirebiter.
Please check out my old film, 'High School Madness'.