But wait it does so much more! This device almost belongs in an infomercial. It might actually take an infomercial to explain how it works and everything it does.
The mPowerPad is produced by Third Wave Power. The device is about the size of a large tablet but thicker. It houses solar panels that charge the mPowerPad in about six hours or you can use an AC/DC adaptor and charge it in one hour. It has two USB ports for charging gadgets and will charge them in the same amount of time as it would take a wall charger.
The device has more functions besides just working as a solar charger. It has a built-in flashlight, reading light, AM/FM radio and ultra sonic bug repellent. Even more interesting is the fact that there are no knobs. In order to turn on one of its features, you tilt and turn it. You have to see this video to really get the idea.
A 2500mAh battery runs the thing and when fully charged gives about 20 hours of flashlight, reading light, radio or bug repellent each. If you use it to charge your phone while listening to the radio, repelling bugs and using the reading light, that 20 hours slips to only four or five hours of use.
The flashlight and reading light features use LEDs which provide the equivalent light of an eight watt bulb. That might not seem like a lot of light but in a tent while camping it will seem quite bright.
That brings us to the intended audience for whom Third Wave Power created it. While the item can be useful at home, especially if your power goes out or you live in an area without electricity, home isn’t the primary target. The primary target are outdoor enthusiasts for whom an all in one compact device would be a plus.
Others who might be interested in the mPowerPad would be:
Professionals like sales representatives, field engineers, medical professionals and teachers often have to travel to and work in remote areas away from the grid.
Homes and shops in some rural and suburban areas often encounter power outage or have no access to power at all. Without electricity, many households go dark at night.
While the mPowerPad might seem to be a novelty in places like the US, Canada, England and other industrial countries, it could prove to be a essential tool for people living in rural areas in Africa, India, and China. Most Americans might buy one for those instances when the power goes out because of floods, tornados, hurricane’s and blizzards as a way to keep up with the outside world and keep cell phones powered up for emergencies.
Overall the mPowerPad might not be a bad purchase for someone who loves hiking, camping, or lives in disaster prone areas. Unfortunately, that list seems to be growing by the year.
Should this make your Holiday shopping list, according to Gizmag, it won’t be available until January and will cost about $80. It should hit the market just in time for really nasty winter weather.
