Mophie Juice Pack Wireless Charge Force Review

Quick First Look Hands On Review of Mophie Juice Pack Wireless and Charging Base

A video posted by Mike Mu (@mikemuonline) on Aug 18, 2016 at 1:22pm PDT

Let's just get it out of the way, the Mophie Juice Pack Wireless is the best implementation of the Qi Wireless standard and battery pack together all-in-one that I've ever tested.  It solves several issues for me:

 

  1. Extended battery life.
  2. Charges with sufficient power to handle GPS and charging battery at same time.
  3. Qi and Powermat Charging compatible.

 

To my knowledge, its currently the only product on the market capable of doing the three things above, for that alone its worth a 'recommended' from me.

However, its not perfect.  One annoying thing is that in a quiet room, with the phone next to you charging from the battery or Qi or both I hear an electric pulsing sound.  It is annoying enough that I don't want it charging next to me in my home office.  I think this will go away with age (of the user) and the ability to hear higher frequencies.  I really don't know if its a defect with mine or if they are all like that as I don't hear anybody else complaining about this in any other review.  I will write Mophie about this and see what they say.

Second thing I see a lot of reviewers have issue with is the magnetic mount.  You have to get their system in order to have it mount properly.  That means either the desk mount, or the car mount (at the time of this review).  The included base does not have enough magnetic properties to mount on the wall and that is by design.  If the magnets in the base were as strong as those on the car/desk mount, you'd life the base right up ever time.

The above two mounts should work just fine.  I bought the desk mount, and converted it to a car mount / desk mount hybrid by using it with an Ottie system so that mine attaches via suction cup and microsuction to surfaces and windshields.  The case itself has some magnets, which then align with the magnets in the Mophie mounts to create a solid magnetic connection.  Having used it the past 2-3 weeks now, it works as advertised.

One final thing is that the kit does not come with an AC Adapter to USB that works with it.  You need to find and use your own, and the one from the iPhone will not cut it.  Get an iPad capable one, that puts out 2 Amps and you will be fine.

Une Bobine for iPhone 5s Review

Fuse Chicken Une Bobine Charge Cable and Stand is a very special iPhone dock, charging cable, synching cable, and stand all-in-one device.  In fact, its the most flexible product of its kind I've ever tried.  No wonder the Kickstarter campaign last year was so successful! 

$233,921 pledged between all 3 versions
4,955 Total Backers
13,000 Une Bobines shipped as rewards
Kickstarter Rewards shipped to 80 countries

$233,921 pledged between all 3 versions 4,955 Total Backers 13,000 Une Bobines shipped as rewards Kickstarter Rewards shipped to 80 countries 

Its so simple, its genius!  Take a coil of flexible tubing, make it nearly indestructible, run a Apple certified lightning cable, and a simple docking clip on the end and you got the most flexible stand and dock in the world.

So, how functional is it?  

Read More

Nomad ChargeKey Lightning Cable Review

I'm always looking for a charge cable for my smartphones.  For my Apple iPhone 5S, its something that I have to find and plug at least twice a day depending on the amount of usage I get.  Sometimes I forget my cable somewhere and then I have to limit the use of my smartphone till I'm sure I can get safely to a charger.

Things I use a lot which eat up a lot of energy are the GPS, camera, wifi tethering, and speakerphone - particularly in areas of poor cellular reception.  

So having a cable or means to charge regularly is a high priority for me, which is why I carry a variety of battery packs to go and a solar charger just in case in the car.  It's all fine until I forget my lightning cable.

Enter the Nomad Chargekey - its a tiny little dongle sized cable with all the right parts of the USB A port, and a licensed certified lightning head on the other side.  It fits on the keychain, and I love it - if anything for the assurance that I can always charge up and its always with me.

 

Read More

Logitech k760 Bluetooth Keyboard Review

Unboxing:

More coming soon...

GNS 5870 MFI GPS Bluetooth Receiver for iPhone, iPad Review

Photo Gallery Here.

I bought this unit for use on a month long trip abroad in Asia, hoping to use it with both an iPad (no GPS) as well as iPhone for better reception while traveling, for navigation, GPS geotagging, and trip logging.

Why I chose this unit over the competition:

Read More

Clear iSpot 4G Review

Monster Cable Leather Charging Case for iPhone Review

Monster Cable Leather Charging Case for iPhone retails for $99.99.  I would typically say that Monster Cable products are overpriced for what they do, but seeing as most of the competition that makes iphone batteries are about that price they don't seem out of line.

 

First, the important stuff.  Does it work?  Yes, it brought my less than 10% battery left iPhone 3G to full and had power to spare.  The official rated capacity printed on the packaging is 1800 mAH.

It is heavy, and noticeably thick after everything is inserted, and measured.  I compared it to the iphone and total thickness appears to increase by 4x.  About 3x if you don't count the non-detachable (but rotatable) belt clip.

The case feels very well constructed.  The leather is well stitched on all seams.  Inside there is a suede soft surface that covers your screen when the cover is velcro'd over the unit.  On the front there is the Monster logo embossed.

Altogether the entire package has a high quality weighted feel to it - it feels and looks expensive if a bit bulky.

The charging cable is a USB cable that is a bit more difficult to find, but not impossible.  Its the same connector used by some of the newer smaller cameras.  One such cable is provided.

So far I give the unit two thumbs up.  Just don't pay full retail for it!