With a third of the funding goal already raised on Kickstarter, a group located in Amsterdam has developed a “smart bag” that allows users to charge their gadgets when on the go. Called the Phorce, the bag can charge up to three devices through USB at the same time and it can be used as a messenger bag, briefcase or backpack. For instance, a Phorce owner could charge a laptop, smartphone and digital camera all at the same time.
When the 54Wh battery is at full capacity, it can charge an iPhone 5 completely up to eight times and the Samsung Galaxy III up to six times. Regarding tablets, an Apple iPad Mini can be charged twice and a fourth generation iPad can be fully charged once. A GoPro video camera can be fully charged eleven times and a typical set of noise-cancelling headphones can be charged up to sixty times.
When it comes to laptops, the creators are offering details in regards to how long the battery will be able to charge specific Apple laptops. For instance, the MacBook Pro with the 15-inch Retina display can be charged for 3.5 hours. However, the MacBook Air in either screen size can be charged for seven hours. The creators are developing a version of the smart bag that specifically increases MacBook charging time.
The laptop pocket within the standard bag can store Windows laptops up to 14 inches and the Phorce bag for Mac users can store the 15-inch MacBook Pro. There is foam padding throughout the bag to protect devices and the fabric has been designed to help clean electronics like tablets and smartphones in order to keep the mobile devices fingerprint free. The outside of the bag is completely waterproof to keep expensive electronics completely dry.
In order to see the remaining power left within the Phorce smart bag, the creators have developed a smartphone application for the iOS and Android platforms. Linking to the bag over Bluetooth, a Phorce owner can view the remaining power left within the bag as well as how the power can be used to charge your gadgets. In addition, the user can turn on notifications that indicate when the battery within the smart bag needs to be recharged.
Interestingly, pairing the Phorce smart bag to a smartphone also enables a handy security feature. If a Phorce owner is in a hurry and happens to leave their bag behind by mistake, a notification will appear on the smartphone as soon as the phone leaves the range of the smart bag.
To date, the creators of the Phorce smart bag have raised approximately $55,000 of the $150,000 goal to get manufacturing up and running. If the Kickstarter campaign happens to hit $750,000, the creators have promised to increase the battery capacity by ten percent without increasing the overall weight of the smart bag.
The standard version of the bag is currently priced at $219 on the Kickstarter page, but will eventually retail for $349. The version of the bag for Mac users is currently priced at $299, but is expected to retail for $449. According to the timetable, the bag will be delivered to Kickstarter backers by May 2013.
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