Do you have a bunch of devices that charge via USB: an iPhone, iPod, Blackberry, Bluetooth headset, or a digital camera? All of these will charge while hooked up to your desktop or laptop, but if you have a limited number of USB ports you need to use an adaptor in order to charge them from a regular electrical outlet.
FastMac has introduced the U-Socket, an electrical outlet with two built-in USB ports that can power any device that is capable of being charged via a 5V power adapter. There is no need for a power adapter! According to Engadget, they are capable of 10W, enough to charge an iPad.
The U-Socket can be installed on any existing wall outlet and are energy star rated. The USB outlets will only draw power when something is plugged into them.
Please also note that the USB ports only draw power when something is physically connected to the port. We didn’t want a vampire port that continually sucks and wastes power when not in use so this was one of the features on the top of our priority list during the design phase.
It might not be long before you see a U-Socket in a hotel or airport.
The company is in talks with hotel chains, conference centers, airports, and more to begin rolling out the U-Socket so that travelers, businesspeople, and conference-goers have a way to charge their USB devices just by carrying around a cable. Via Arstechnica.com
The U-Socket costs $19.95 and is available for pre-order from FastMac and should ship around October.
I don’t know about you, but I have several devices that charge via USB. Imagine being on vacation and needing to charge your Flip Camera. You wouldn’t need to find the power cord or boot your laptop to charge the camera. Or maybe you are sitting in a real estate continuing education class and forgot your USB adaptor. No problem, just plug your device into the U-Socket.
The U-Socket looks like a great home improvement project that is inexpensive and easy enough for anyone to install. I can’t wait for builders to start installing them (at least in a few rooms) in new construction homes in my area.
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That’s interesting. I suppose it could be handy, though I have noticed my cell phone charges much better and faster when actually plugged in to a wall socket instead of the USB in my PC. I wonder if it would make a difference if the USB port was coming from the wall like this (maybe it would charge just the same as if plugged in with a traditional chord).
That is a good question Ryan. I am not sure if it would charge faster or not. I hope something like the U-Socket is an indication that cell phone chargers / adapters might one day be standard – I really don’t like having to buy a new charger for every cell phone I buy.
Good point. I’m with you on that. It’s very wasteful to have to buy a new charger also.
Wow, great product! All these gadgets are here to stay so it only makes sense for this type of charger to be developed. Its would be a nice selling feature on a home which really does not cost that much.
That looks pretty neat, Bryan ! I’ve had to use a hub in the past to have more outlets and then you run the risk of device conflicts. I can see where this would be beneficial.
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