The Tech-Pert: Cut The Cords With The Idapt i3 Charging Station

By Rick.Broida
Saturday March 27, 2010

If your desk/kitchen counter/nightstand is anything like mine, it's covered in messy, always-in-the-way chargers and charging cables. I guess that's the price we pay for our cell phones, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets, and other power-hungry gear--but I'm tired of looking at that snake's nest!

That's why my new favorite gizmo is the Idapt i3, a compact charging station that eliminates all but a single power cord.

The i3 relies on interchangeable tips for charging up to three gizmos at a time. It comes with six of them--one each for microUSB, miniUSB, iPhone/iPod, Nokia, SonyEricsson, and Samsung. Of course, Idapt also sells tips for a variety of other devices, including the iPod Shuffle, Palm Centro, and even rechargeable AA/AAA batteries.

And here's a nice option: If the stock six-tip bundle doesn't include everything you need, you can instead order the i3 with four tips of your choosing. That was my preference, as we have two iPods and a Palm Centro in the house.

When you order directly from UK-based Idapt, the i3 will cost you 39.95 (GBP), or about $59.95 in U.S. dollars, plus shipping. However, the six-tip version of the Idapt i3 is also available from U.S.-based Abt for $49.99 shipped.

That may seem a little steep, but once you free yourself from the aesthetic nightmare of gadget-charger cords, you'll wonder how you ever lived without the Idapt i3. I'm loving mine.