iPhone Battery Weakness: fueltank UNO Opens The Door To New Computing Scenarios

by Bill French on 08/12/09 at 4:03 pm

Bill French is an information architect specializing in Internet applications. He is also the co-founder of MyST Technology Partners and Senior Editor for iPhoneCTO.

I’ve been on safari in South Africa a number of times and adequate power was always a big issue, especially given my chosen profession which dictates that I be in touch on a daily basis. I can recall many situations where my trips to Africa and many remote Asian destinations would have been far more enjoyable if I just had more stored power to bridge between those destinations .

iPhone’s battery issues are well-known and if you feel like they might as well have shipped a lemon battery with it, you’re not alone. I’m pretty fortunate (as an iPhone user); much of my day I’m anchored to a desk or in a car. But when I travel I barely make it from point to point without draining the device, so I often wonder how true road warriors are getting along with iPhone.

The fueltank UNO (from callpod) is a lightweight battery storehouse that (according to the manufacturer) is equal to about three times the power storage capacity of the average mobile device. It’s only 3.5 oz and it’s also pretty agile; with its multiple adapter connection design it can charge many devices including all iPhone models, iPodTouch, and all iPod devices. While you can only charge one device at a time, callpod also offers a fueltank DUO for optimum charging while traveling. The DUO (for example) allows you to charge a bluetooth device and your iPhone simultaneously.

In my own limited tests, I charged UNO and then purposely ran my iPhone 3Gs down to 10% charge remaining. With just 90 minutes connected to the UNO and while intermittently using the phone, I was back up to 100% and drained only 2 of the six LED indicators off the UNO charger. This corroborates the manufacturers claims of about three times the charge capacity of the device.

UNO retails for $39.95 (DUO is $49.95) and comes with two commonly used adapters that work for most devices. The manufacturer includes a third adapter (of your choice) from a selection of adapters that support up to 3,000 different mobile devices.

The form-factor and weight of the UNO is ideal for back-packing and other multi-day adventures. Depending on how important communications and iPhone use is, the DUO (estimated at 7 ounces) wouldn’t be such an easy decision to add to your pack for a 10 day, 125 mile trek. Serious back-country enthusiasts avoid adding even an ounce of additional weight without good reason.

Road warriors will love this product. Instead of deplaning from a cross-country red-eye in New York with red eyes and less than 20% power remaining on your iPhone, you could start your day with a fully charged phone and Bluetooth earpiece. While the obvious use case for fueltank seems to be on a plane between destinations, fueltank also opens up some interesting opportunities for iPhone in industrial and construction applications especially where recharging opportunities are constrained or power itself is unavailable or intermittently available.

But the bigger issue for iPhone battery life involves heavy and repeated dependency on the device for your job’s tasks. iPhone apps in industry and construction trades have just begun to reach for the possibilities that may place continuous workload demands on the iPhone. As more complex and deeply integrated applications emerge for stringent operational use cases, power consumption will accelerate. The ability to recharge during lunch or breaks could be the catalyst to seeing iPhone applications displace notebooks or netbooks.

Near Field Communications (NFC) applications are also setting the stage for greater industrial use of mobile devices. iPhone is not likely to be left out of this opportunity even if Apple never integrates NFC compliant communications support. The Register recently reported those who can’t wait for the next iPhone, or believe Apple lacks the nerve to add Near Field Communications internally, now have the ability to add NFC support. The iCarte is fully NFC compliant, which means it can read and write RFID tags as well as pretending to be one. It is compatible with Oyster*, Octopus** and other RFID systems of this nature, when a suitable application is eventually developed – and we know it will be. iCarte’s hunger for power is relatively low – just 90 mA in RFID read/write mode, but it’s a non-trivial power requirement.

With the emergence of ubiquitous cloud storage and personal Wifi services that easily integrate as web services with iPhone apps, industrial use of iPhone in roles that involve video may also surge. Imagine the safety, inspection, and documentation possibilities that will likely emerge in industrial field settings given available power of course. GPS, push, and video applications (both capture and display) are by far the most power-hungry apps you can run. But these are the apps that will transform iPhone into an industrial workhorse; external power sources are absolutely critical for iPhone to play envisioned roles in industrial settings.

Pros

Lightweight; 3.5oz, about 8oz with AC adapter
LED indicators show five levels of charge granularity
Agile; works with many devices, even ones you haven’t purchased yet
Charge your device while you’re using it
Relatively inexpensive

Cons

Recharge cord is short; makes it difficult to use the device while charging (see this)
Plug recepticles and test charge button not clearly marked; had to read documentation to make sure I was connecting properly
No rubber feet; device slides too easily on slick surfaces
Cinched velour travel bag not compact enough; needs a small, tight vinyl case

Overall this is a highly functional and useful recharging option for your mobile devices. With a price tag under $50 it’s well worth a few field tests in your enterprise. Take a minute to complete the pole concerning your iPhone power requirements and leave a comment about your power consumption experiences and tricks.