Kickstarter bKey could be most compact smartphone batter charger

bKey is a cable-free emergency smartphone battery with built-in USB tip to charge it and micro-USB or iPhone tip to charge your phone on the go. The Kickstarter project is Montreal-based, has been in the making for two years and hopes to be the most compact smartphone charger which is no larger than a keyfob can fit in your keychain. The project is currently being backed by 470 people and is very close to getting to its $25,000 goal.

Samsung Galaxy S4 reportedly caught fire and melted while owner slept

Another alarming incident involving a smartphone battery igniting and catching fire has surfaced. A Samsung Galaxy S4 reportedly caught fire and melted completely while its owner, Texas teen Ariel Tolfree, slept. Source of the fire is likely being attributed to the a faulty battery. Samsung has responded by requesting to examine the charred remains of the Tolfree's phone, which they will replace together with the ruined beddings that the incendiary phone damaged. This is the latest in a series of fire-related incidents involving the Galaxy S4. A UK user found her smartphone sizzling as it was plugged in for the night and a Hong Kong resident claims ina CNet report that his Galaxy S4 exploded and caught fire in his hands. Hopefully whatever is causing these freak accidents can be sorted out and quickly.

Source: Mashable

Update on Monday, July 28, 2014 at 10:31PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

According to the Mashable report, "A Samsung spokesperson told Fox that Ariel's phone had a replacement battery instead of the original Samsung component, and said its products are safe. What's more, the S4's user manual warns that covering a phone with bedding can restrict airflow, and cause a fire or explosion, though some consumers are unaware of this risk."

Review: SEIDIO's Innocell adds battery life for iPhone5/5S

By Sonya Davidson

I am a heavy user. There. I said it. Some would say I’m addicted to my iPhone5S but most of us are dependent on our mobile devices. We swear it would be the first thing we grab (aside from our family members) in case of an emergency. Here's how Seido's Innocell stacks up to our use case.

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Use the force to power your smartphones with ‘Star Wars’ mobile power chargers

Mimoco is bringing more Star Wars into your mobile life with new mobile battery packs. The Boston-based company collaborated with Lucasfilm directly to create these officially licensed characters. The 5200mAh battery pack is first available in R2-D2 and Darth Vader forms. The charger works with DC 5V 1A input and DC 5V 2.1A output and has a 500-charge life-cycle. It comes with a USB charging cable and various converter tips, including microUSB, Apple 30-pin, Apple Lightning, and mini USB. It also has a carrying case. Charging time for the battery pack is somewhere between three and four hours. The Star Wars mimo PowerBot series is up for pre-order with a starting price of US$69.99. The initial price is $10 off though so you can get them now for $59.99.

Source: SlashGear