Going to PowerPot X

PowerPot-XThings are really going to pot – and we mean that in the best way possible. The PowerPot X, which is being developed through a Kickstarter crowd funding project, has met its goals with just under a month to go. This 10-watt portable generator is designed to create electrical power while camping or otherwise out in the wilds.

Simple fire and water create power! The original PowerPot V was launched via Kickstarter in April 2012, and now the company is looking to bring it up a notch.

“We are astounded by the amount of support the PowerPot X has received in such a short time,” said Matt Ford, CEO of Power Practical. “We used Kickstarter to launch our inaugural PowerPot and Practical Meter, so we’re not new to the concept of crowdfunding, but we didn’t expect such preliminary success. This gives us a head start on getting the next generation in thermoelectric power manufactured and shipped to all our devoted supporters.”

This bigger, lighter and even strong addition to the PowerPot X Series emits 10 watts of power but has no moving parts. It can also be used to charge up to four devices (such as GoPro cameras) simultaneously, and can power up smartphones and even a tablet computer. It produces electricity in any weather, day or night. Video after the jump

Shoes are On

You put your shoes ON your feet but soon you might be putting On on your feet. Swiss startup shoe maker On has just introduced a new line of running shoes that feature absorbers that company refers to as “clouds.” These are small rubber circles that act as tread but also provide some bounce. These flex and even cave in to absorb shock when runners land on each stride. The company’s tag line “Probably the fastest in the world” is unique, but hopefully we’ll get to put a pair “on” in the near future and see if it is indeed like running on a cloud.

On Official Website

Power to the Pedal

HYmini generates power from wind to charge your portable devices.

Wind power doesn’t only come from towering turbines. The HYmini from miniWIZ is a handheld gadget that collects wind energy to recharge portable devices. (The unit can also charge from an additional solar panel or hand crank if there isn’t enough wind to turn the fan.) It stores enough juice to charge a 5-volt device, such as a cell phone, MP3 player, iPod, PDA, or digital camera. The catch? To use the wind power you must get movement from the fan. While you can set it on a picnic table and hope it’ll get enough wind blowing on it to bring your cell phone back from the dead, the device works better when there’s faster action, like when it’s mounted onto your bike or strapped to your arm while you’re out for a run. It’s also an eco alternative to plugging into the wall or trickle charge via a USB connection.