ChargePod - Charge Six Electronic Devices With One Charger

Electronic devices are proliferating in every household. On the upside, most have now started using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables. On the downside, now you have a charger for each device, requiring a mains plug per device and causing a lot of cable clutter. And when you go on travel, you have to drag the whole set with you. This ChargePod multi-charger promises at least some improvement.

Why It’s Clever

This clever device requires only one mains plug and fans out into six charging cables for six separate devices. Of course, you don't have to connect all six if you don't need to. All devices charge simultaneously, so in a few hours all of them are ready to go. LED indicators show which devices are still charging and which have finished. It has charging plugs for several frequently used devices, so it should take care of most of your requirements. And if your device can be charged from a standard USB plug, it's compatible in any case.
With a diameter of 2 ¾" and a weight of 1 oz, it's very compact and lightweight, so when you travel, you can take this one with you and leave all your other chargers at home.
And for those of you who are always away on customer calls, it also has a DC car adapter, so you can feed those hungry devices in the car as well.

Here's a commerial:

Summary

Charge six devices with only one mains plug, reduce cable clutter
Devices charge simultaneously
Huge choice of cables:
- For cell phones or Bluetooth headsets from Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Apple iPhone, Palm Treo
- Smartphones from HTC, Blackberry, etc
- Media players and games consoles such as iPod/iPhone, Microsoft Zune, Creative Zen Video, Sony PSP, Nintendo, etc
- Should accommodate any USB/mini-USB/micro-USB compatible device as well
Compact and lightweight for travel
Car adapter included
Available with US, UK, EU power adapters.

Tips

On several sites you can buy a package of the base unit together with adapters for a fixed price. Other sites as well as the manufacturer's allow you to buy the base unit and to configure exactly the device and mains adapters you need for your purposes.
For product details and available cables, see the CallPod website.

If you really don't need it for travel purposes, you might consider the five device recharging station or see how they compare.

On the other hand, if you need to be really mobile, check out this Freeloader Pro solar charger. You can even charge your devices while you're walking in the street.

If you need to charge batteries as well, the ChargePod does not do that. BUT, have a look at the USBCell from Moixa, it's an AA battery with USB connector so you can charge it by simply plugging it into an USB port of the ChargePod.

There is also a V2 scheduled for March, which will also charge a laptop or Mac, but this has a much higher price tag – preview below:

Where to buy

You can buy the ChargePod from the Amazon.com website.
If you want to buy it in the EU, one possibility is Gadgetworld, or Amazon UK.

Approx. price: $60 with adapters included (February 2010).

At about $200, the price for the ChargePod v2, which also charges a laptop or Mac, is harder to digest.