Charging ahead with multiple devices

I have many gadgets.  Fortunately, most portable gadget manufacturers have settled on USB as a standard for data and charging.  And several supporting tech companies have realized that people need intriguing ways to charge the myriad devices we all have.  Personally, I have several Belkin products, but the computer desk in my office is always a mess of wires and cables running around for all my gadgets.

Belkin has solved my problem while simultaneously cutting down on power consumption with a nifty multi-device charging dock.  Cables are neatly stored under the platform and after 4 hours the power shuts down.  The dock is smart enough to know that when no devices are connected, it doesn't need to be powered up. And it's also wily enough to allow more time for charging when a new device is connected. Now, if I could just get it to take out the trash...

Check out the Belkin F7C008 Conserve Valet USB Charging Station

The Almost mobile phone: Battery woes

Ah, the never ending cycle of charge and deplete.

I recently attended a brunch gathering with some friends a restaurant in the Sunset District of San Francisco.  It wasn't long until the conversation turned to our phones. After much talk of how each of us had dropped the device and either cracked or destroyed the screen, the conversation turned to power (or the lack thereof).   Everyone had their charging cable with them, either in their car or presently in their pocket. Three members of the group had confiscated access to nearby outlets already.  

I've tried several power management apps, but finally resigned myself to acceptance of the fact that battery technology is still science-in-progress.   It's great that the battery can last longer than 2-3 hours (like a notebook), but it won't last 16+ hours, or even 24+.

Alas, I don't have a good solution for this problem.  I've continued to use JuicePlotter to track my usage, and gave up on another battery saver, JuiceDefender (even after having purchased the Pro version).  JuicePlotter is a must for me, despite the built-in battery monitoring feature of Android 4.0.  JP gives a great chart of the use-intensity and charge/ discharge rate.  Plus it offers a widget that displays a very accurate, estimated time to depletion.