Kensington Mini Battery Extender and Charger for iPod and iPhone 1G, 3G (Black)

List Price: $49.99 Discount Price: $28.99

Features:

• Compatibility: iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch; iPhone
• Power and charge your iPhone or iPod--extends play time up to 30 hours of music or 6 hours of video (on iPod nano 3G) or 3 hours of talk (on iPhone)
• Includes retractable USB charging cable
• High-capacity, rechargeable Lithium-Ion polymer battery pack for increased energy efficiency
• Small enough to keep connected to your iPhone or iPod

Customer Reviews:

Handy but not very powerful [Posted on 2008-11-07]
If you use your iPhone a lot then you need a battery backup device. I purchased a battery backup that requires a USB cable and it works great, but I was looking for a device that was more compact. The Kensington device is handy because it plugs in directly and takes up little space in your pocket or glove compartment. I was able to attach it without having to remove my phone's protective case. The downside is that it will not completely charge your phone if it is very low. It is great for emergencies but not so great for long games or phone calls. I have not used this device on an iPod, I think it would probably work well on one with low power comsumption.

A must-have for IPhone owners and frequent IPod users [Posted on 2008-11-15]
I own both an iPhone 3G and an iPod Classic. While the Classic holds its charge for a long time, the iPhone's battery can be depleted fairly quickly when I'm using it to retrieve email, run applications, and connect to the internet in addition to talking. When I saw this Kensington battery extender, I knew I had to have it.

The battery was larger than I expected, slightly more than one-third of the length of the iPhone itself. In retrospect, that shouldn't have been a surprise, given that it's an extra battery. Once I got over the disconcerting appendage to my iPhone, I found it invaluable. I keep it charged and carry it with me so I can just plug it into the iPhone, with no interruption to service.

You can charge both the battery and the iPhone together, or you may charge the Kensington separately using a USB port. (You cannot recharge the battery via an electrical outlet.) The charging itself takes a few hours to go from empty to full charge -- too long for new technology, in my opinion -- but the charge it delivers to the iPhone or iPod is immediate. You can operate your device directly from the battery power, or, if you aren't using the iPhone/iPod, you can let the Kensington transfer its charge to the main unit. Although it cannot fully charge the iPhone, any extra battery power is welcome.

The Kensington mini-battery is one of those items that you don't know you need until you have it -- and then you cannot imagine how you did without it.

-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann

Portable and great [Posted on 2008-11-19]
This is the most portable battery extender I've seen for the iphone and very reasonably priced. It charges the iphone about 70 - 75% from 10% remaining. My favorite part is that I can carry it in my purse and use it for emergencies since it is so light and unobtrusive.

Buyer Beware-Doesn't work with iPhone 2.1 or 2.2 [Posted on 2008-11-21]
I had a problem with my mini battery extender, so I contacted support via email. All I got was nonsensical responses, except for one gem of information. THE PRODUCT ONLY WORKS WITH 2.0 FIRMWARE, NOT 2.1 OR 2.2!!!
They also will not answer any further inquiries when I have tried to find out when or if they will resolve this issue. Since I didn't know this, and I had the product more than 30 days, and didn't keep the original packaging, Kensington, and my original vendor, will not accept a return, and also will not replace it (although replacing it will not do any good anyway).
Without 2.1 or 2.2 support, this device is useless. Buyers should be aware of this before they buy, not after. Kensington support refuses to respond any further. They did state, in writing, that it doesn't work with iPhone running 2.1 or 2.2. Unfortunately, it's a total waste of money, and is useless. Customer support is no help whatsoever.

Does Not Work with iPhone 3G 2.2 Firmware [Posted on 2008-11-25]
I just spoke with Kensington Technical Support. The representative confirmed that this product does not yet work with the latest firmware upgrade to the iPhone. The company is working on their upgrade. I was told to return my product to the vendor for a refund (though, thankfully, I had not yet bought it). For the moment, anyone with the latest firmware should avoid this product.

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