Pocket-Sized Charger Claims to Keep Your Devices Juiced Up

What's This?

By Melissa Goldin2014-05-06 07:00:37 UTC

Low battery, you may have met your match.

A new portable charging system aims to put on-the-go power in your pocket, boasting a set-up that reportedly doesn't compromise on power or portability. Modulo, developed by Barcelona-based tech company Idapt, is a credit card-sized gadget that claims to power any USB device, wherever you go.

See also: 8 Solar-Powered Mobile Chargers

"All our lifestyle now goes to electronics — it's portable, really portable," Idapt CEO Jacques Giribet told Mashable. "We have designed a battery that is as small as possible, taking into account that we want it to give you the same power as the original battery."

Once an electronic device is connected to a Modulo, either with its original charger or one of Idapt's mini cables, the battery begins to power up. The two can be even more securely attached with special adhesive strips that don't leave any residue behind. Stacking multiple Modulos on top of one another means more juice for a faster charge. For example, one Modulo would be enough to power up a smartphone as quickly as a normal charger would, but a tablet would need two or three to reach a full charge in the fastest possible time, the company claims.

Image: Idapt

The Modulos themselves can be charged from any wall socket, while connected to a computer or with a wireless receiver. Idapt also hopes it will be able to offer a solar-charging panel and crank add-on that creates its own energy. A Modulo can last up to about six months on one charge, according to the company.

There are plenty of other on-the-go charging options out there. According to Giribet, what sets Modulo apart from the rest of the pack is the fact that it's compatible with so many devices, and users don't have to choose between true portability — each Modulo weighs 2.4 ounces — and function.

"None of the solutions that are there are really a solution," Giribet said.

Modulo's Kickstarter campaign has already surpassed its fundraising goal, attracting more than $60,000 out of its original $30,000 goal, with 24 days remaining. It also won iLounge's Best in Show award at CES 2014. Production is expected to begin June, and shipping will start in July.

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Topics: charge, charger, Dev & Design, Gadgets, kickstarter, Mobile, portable, Tech, usb

Image: Idapt