The Ecobot-III does just that, plus it can poop itself. So, that’s more poop for the planet. Ecobot-I had an E. Coli engine that ran on refined sugar and Ecobot-II had sludge microbe engine that ate stuff like dead flies and prawn shells. The only problem was that they could not eject waste. They just kept cramming in new batteries until there was no room. You might say they became the world’s first constipated robots.

This third version can collect its own food and water and poop in a litter tray, which should prolong it’s life, but I guess someone has to change that tray now and again like changing a diaper. Ecobot is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who, coincidentally have also invested in the creation of some shiny new toilets.

[via Scientific American via Geekosystem]

Audio Cubes calls it an “iPhone battery charger” even though it only actually has a USB A Female connector. I see no reason why it shouldn’t work with other cables and devices just like its Eneloop counterpart.

You can order the Elecom DE-A01D-1908 USB/iPhone battery charger from Audiocubes for $50 (USD).

[via Acquire]

Called the Powerbag, this product line comes in a variety of forms, from backpacks to slingbags to a wheeled briefcase. The smaller Powerbags have a 3000mAh battery while the larger bags have a 6000mAh battery. The smaller battery can charge an average smartphone two times and of course the larger battery does twice that. Each bag also comes with three connectors – the 30-pin connector for Apple’s iOS devices, a micro-USB connector and a mini-USB connector – plus a USB port, meaning it can charge practically any electronic device.

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To use the charging system, simply press and hold the power button outside the bag for 2 seconds. A quick press of the same button will give you a general idea of how much power is left in the battery. Another practical feature is that you can charge the Powerbag’s battery without taking it out of the bag.

You can check out the official website for more info. If you’ve got your credit card ready head to Amazon; to order your own Powerbag. Prices range from $76 (USD) to $250. Bag included.

[via Best Stuff]

These lighter lithium jelly batteries might someday replace polymer gel batteries. They will contain about 70% of a liquid electrolyte that can be molded in all sorts of funky shapes. This could mean the advent of non-rectangular phones and tablets. While the thought seems interesting, it’s going to be a design challenge to get a device like that right.

These jelly batteries are supposed to cost as little as 10 to 20% of polymer batteries, easy to produce and resistant to damage. But they’re still not edible.

[via The Register via Dvice]

Together with two AA batteries, the Eneloop KBC-D1BS Mobile Booster adds up to 90 minutes of extra power to a gadget. It comes with a micro USB-to-USB cable, for charging gadgets, but you can’t use the USB cable to recharge the batteries themselves.

The Mobile Booster already comes with two Eneloop rechargeable batteries, which you can take out and use as conventional batteries if you like. Obviously you’re free to use disposable batteries with the Mobile Booster, but that wouldn’t be too practical or environment-friendly.

You can buy the Eneloop Mobile USB Booster Stick from Japan Trend Shop for $69 (USD), though you can get it for as little as $39 if you poke around over on eBay.

The Logitech K750 will sell for $79.99 (USD) and is completely built out of recyclable plastic. Solar panels are placed along the top edge of the keyboard to keep things juiced. They even include a luxmeter to tell you how well the panels are charging up.

It not only charges in sunlight, but also works underneath artificial lighting, like a lightbulb. I’ve been using Logitech keyboards for years and have never had any major problems. I’m about due for a new one, and haven’t yet decided which one to get, but this one looks pretty cool.

This new jump rope concept (which is a very strange thing to write) called the E-rope has turned up at Yanko Design. The concept might still leave welts on the uncoordinated, but it will actually do something else — charge AA batteries.

Each handle of the E-Rope holds a pair of AA batteries that are charged by the motion of the rope spinning around. A LED on the concept shows when the batteries are fully charged. The designer says 20 minutes of jumping will charge the batteries fully. On the other hand, plugging your rechargeables into a wall charger will net the same results without you cracking even the slightest of sweats.

It can fully charge/übercharge AA and AAA zinc carbon, alkaline, NiMh and NiCD batteries in as little as 15 minutes; a “technologically advanced microprocessor chip” ensures that batteries won’t heat up or overcharge while being Battized.

Battizer has a comparison of their gadget’s performance versus other chargers, specifically against “Best-Selling Charger” and “Popular Brand Charger”, and the Battizer beats both of them in terms of charging time and cost per charge. Of course we can’t verify this claim, so take it with a grain of salt. You can order the Battizer at its official website for $67 (USD).

[via AVING USA]

The clock is portable and runs on 3 AAA batteries. If you get tired of the same ol’ same ol’ generic calls like robin, mockingbird, rooster, and so forth, you can buy several different bird call cards that go with the clock for $10.50 each.

You can even buy a card with frog calls. Now birds seemed reasonable, but come on people, seriously, frogs? I just can’t picture it. I’m going to stand behind my theory that waking up to guttural ribbiting noises would not be the most auspicious start to your day.

I don’t know about you but in my neighborhood there are a bunch of annoying loud chirpy birds that wake me up with their cacophonous tweeting, without fail, almost every single day. So for me this item would be completely gratuitous as I get the service it provides absolutely free. Still, if you prefer to wake to a chorus of dark-eyed junco calls, or the throaty warble of a spring peeper frog, feel free to purchase the clock for $39.95 at The Nature Store.

[via cribcandy]