Macally PowerLink Emergency Battery Pack with 2 GB Pen Drive for iPod and iPhone (Black)
by Macally
|
List Price: Our Price: $16.99 You Save: $18.00 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $8.99 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Macally PowerLink Emergency Battery Pack with 2 GB Pen Drive for iPod and iPhone (Black)
Customer Review: Emergency power on the go. . .
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Ok. . .so. . .2GB USB drive on one end.
Yeah, it isn't a lot, but it isn't 1GB or less either. I can still fit downloaded TV shows or music on the go. But, in today's day and age where 8GB are now below $20, it would be better to have at least that much memory or close to it (minus 1 star)
Now to the backup power portion:
1) Recharges in less than an hour when plugged in to the computer
2) While watching a TV show on my iPod Classic the backup power gave me an additional 10 minutes before the video continued but the sound went out. I got about 15 minutes boost when listening to an audiobook.
Whether on a phone call with an iPhone or trying to get that last bit of TV/Movie/Audiobook with any other iPod. . .it gives you enough time to complete your task or at least get to a good stopping point
3) The unit works as a portable sync connector/charger between the iPod and the computer.
On a Mac, I had to plug the USB unit in FIRST and let it mount BEFORE connecting the iPod for synching/charging. When trying to plug them in at the same time my Macbook only saw the USB device not the iPod. No biggie. When done in the right order, the unit synched and charged without any additional cables.
This unit also comes with a 1 foot (12 inch) USB extension cable, which is easy to carry around.
The product picture makes it look huge, but it's really only 1.5x the size of any other USB drive I own and fits in my USB carry pouch with the other 4 USB drives I have for various projects.
OVERALL:
I'm happy with this unit as it does what it suggests = gives emergency backup power.
When showing this to a friend, he wanted to buy one right then and there as he is constantly loosing battery life when on his iPhone. This baby would give him those extra minutes to wrap up his call.
For $30, we both felt this is more than worth it considering any other iPod accessory (i.e. Cases, speakers or earbuds) are between the $20-$30 price range.
Customer Review: Handy for Iphone users
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
When I was offered this item I thought it'd be a good idea to have an Ipod battery, I have been in situations in which there is not a computer to plug my Ipod in, I don't have the cable with me or any other in which I have no more remedy than to stop using it.
Well, first of all it'd be important to clarify this is what it is: a battery, not a charger. The item description if not read thoroughly may deceive users. Also the fact the box that contains it focuses in the virtues of the product but never mentions how long will the batteries last does not help at all. The product description made me assume this was an extra battery for the Ipod, since duration is never mentioned I just thought it would last the same time an Ipod battery does, and well, that is not the case.
It is small and simple to use, all you need is to plug the PowerLink to a computer USB power source and wait for the 4 lights in it to be lit. When running out of battery on your Ipod/Iphone all you have to do is plug the PowerLink, turn it on, and it will provide power to the device, not recharge it. I have used it several times now and the average time the battery runs is three hours.
This device is a great idea, but in my case there aren't many scenarios in which I could use it, I usually carry my Ipod to listen to it in the car and I thought this would be better than the car charge-kit I own already; well, it is easier to carry but the charger has the upper hand here. To me, the real value of this item lies in the flash drive capabilities.
The product description sums it all; this is only for Emergency power. As an Ipod owner I don't see much benefit, if I am traveling it is better to have a charger to use as many times as I want than a battery that will provide power for only 3 hours more.
The product is not bad at all, I just thought I'd explain how I intended to use it in case other customers thought the same thing. I am certain Iphone users will definitely welcome this device.
Customer Review: Good functionality, but poor design.
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This device is useful for a lot of situations - the iPhone with a dying battery, the iPod or iPod Mini which can't hold a charge, and those moments where I need to download or transfer data. I've had to use this device in each of the aforementioned situations, and it's come through each time. As far as functionality, this is a great device.
However, there are a few oversights in the design itself.
(1) The end caps - I hate using USB devices with an end cap because they can come off and get lost or broken, and this device has two caps. If the iPhone/iPod port had a retractable design like this one and the usb port had a swivel cap design like this device, that would have been a huge improvement.
(2) No loop - This drive has no loop for a keychain so it's a little awkward to carry around.
(3) The USB cord - I can't synch up my iPod or iPhone without using this cord, so that's yet another thing I have to carry around. It'd be nice to see a retractable cable similar to this built into the unit.
(4) No write-protection. I was surprised to see this missing, since it's a standard feature on other USB devices.
The following mission statement comes directly from Macally's website:
"Our mission is to provide those users with the highest quality and value product which exceeds their expectations and provides an effortless and pleasant interface with their PCs.
We are achieving our mission through excellence in design, manufacturing and service."
After using this device, I'd have to say that it didn't exceed my expectations - and the "excellence in design" will need to be reworked for the next version.
Customer Review: Meh - 2-n-1 but there are better, cheaper options for both
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
What you get - up to 1 hour of charge - (I got 15 talk time) - and 2 GB of storage in a unit the approximate size of a pack of gum. I was excited about this item at first, but it is truly limited.
To use as a flash drive or to charge it:
Plug into your USB port - it is recognized just dandy by my Mac
To use as emergency power:
Plug into your ipod or iphone and switch to "on" position - I get the happy little charging chime. Indicator lights will let you know how much juice remains. It goes fast!
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
As a flash drive, it is unforgivingly big, plastic, and small in storage. I just picked up an 8 GB flash drive for under ten bucks. Blah!
It is hard plastic. This is going to get scratched up if I toss it in my bag as a back-up. I prefer Corsair 8GB Flash Voyager USB 2.0 Flash Drive - CMFUSB2.0-8GB for security and durability in my daily flash drives.
Caps, caps, caps - these are truly the most obnoxious caps. They are tight (good) but unsecured and have no tether point for clipping to anything.
Emergency power - if this was the only option I'd be crazy not to get it, but for the same price I can have Kensington Mini Battery Extender and Charger for iPod and iPhone 1G, 3G (Black) which although slightly larger WILL charge my iPhone and a cheap flash drive making it the superior choice if juice is your priority over carrying one less thing.
So, while it is incredibly easy to use and does what it says it will (mostly - I could not get the talk time promised, but I have bluetooth on), it is not great at either of the things it does. So, sadly, 3 stars for an average product with no major design flaws besides just arriving on the market too late.
Customer Review: Bass-o-matic Redux
Summary: 2 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Remember Dan Ackroyd's hilarious spoof of the Ronco Pocket Fisherman-the Bass-o-matic? Hawking an ordinary blender, the SNL pitchman asked:
"How many times has this happened to you? You have a bass, and you're trying to find an exciting new way to prepare it for the dinner table. You could scale the bass, remove the bass' tail, head and bones, and serve the fish as you would any other fish dinner. But why bother, now that you can use Rovco's amazing new kitchen tool, the Super Bass-o-Matic '76. Here's how it works: Catch a bass, remove the hook, and drop the bass - that's the whole bass - into the Super Bass-o-Matic '76."
Such is the promise of this tool. Promoted as an emergency backup battery for your iPhone or iPod, a sync cable AND (if that's not enough) a 2GB flash drive, it delivers an electronic version of a yummy bass shake instead.
Given the notoriously poor battery life of the iPhone 3G, some people will be tempted. They should resist and opt for the Super Bass-o-matic '76 instead.
To use the backup battery you must have it plugged into your iPhone (and who needs a battery spare for an iPod?) and you get minimal additional airtime. So if you were on a Himalaya and needed to have one last word with your biographer, it might be acceptable, but odds are good that you couldn't finish your final soliloquy before it ran out of steam. Additionally this thing takes three hours to charge.
The device comes with the world's least utilitarian caps on either end. Normally I would say that the caps would soon be lost, but given that there is no key ring hole, the whole unit is likely to be lost before you'll have time to misplace a cap.
As a sync cable and flash drive it works just like a sync cable and flash drive. This does not redeem product in my book. I have never been short of flash drives or sync cables, and each is available at costs dwarfing this new Pod-o-matic '09.