Countless times, smartphone and laptop users are hammered with the same statement, “Don’t leave your charger connected to your phone overnight because it will deplete battery life!” Or the usual, “You will be wasting power if you stay plugged in!” Unfortunately, very few heed those words, and even less people pay attention to the latter statement. As phones get smarter and laptops more innovative, chargers remain simple accessories. The UsBidi team hasĀ decided to change that.
The UsBidi charger is, as advertised on Kickstarter, the world’s most intelligent charger. It boasts key features thatĀ are impressive enough for an established company. However, UsBidi currently remains a project relying onĀ financial support from online backers that can range from corporate investors to basic internet users. The team originally set a goal of $25,000. But as of this week, they have reached approximately $87,000 in funding. An impressive earningĀ indeed!
Some of the most interesting features include automatic power shut-off, increased charging speed, and LED-clad magnetic ends.
The automatic shut off is very helpful in keeping the device’s battery at full capacity instead of the usual gradual depletion. Once the device is completely charged, the charger shuts off completely without the heat emissions and random charging cycle’s that would otherwise prove to be harmful to the charger. As for the increased charging speed, I am just as astonished as the next writer. UsBidi claims that their charger can charge an iPhone twice as fast. Apparently, for normal computer USB port chargers, the charger will attempt to sync data and charge at the same time. The UsBidi charger, on the other hand, has a touch switch that a user can use to stop data syncing so the charger can use all of its facilitiesĀ to increase the charging speed. Once the user is finished syncing, they can use UsBidi’s Smart and Fast Mode, which will do as mentioned and cut charging time in half.
Not only is the charger impressive from an engineering standpoint, it is also appealing from a visual standpoint.
With UsBidi, the creative aesthetics of the charger compliment the impressive features that come along with it. On the end of the charger, there is an LED indicator, much like on Macbook MagSafe chargers, that displays colors to show charging status. Also similar to MagSafe, the UsBidi has a magnetic end for a more secure hold on the device. Users have the ability to store their chargers virtually anywhere magnetic, which may be a very useful feature for the students here on campus. Along with that, the cableĀ itself is visually appealing, as it resembles a shoelace texture that comes in many different colors.
The team at UsBidi is trying to revolutionize current portable technology with an innovative and fresh revision of the already established charger. This neat accessory will be available February 2016 and can be pre-ordered on Kickstarter right now. The charger will be available with a Lightning connector for Apple devices and MicroUSB for Android products. In the fight against battery depletion, UsBidi leads the charge.
