I know I'm not the only one who's left on my PS3, justified it through Folding@Home, but really just wanted to recharge the USB controllers. I know I'm not the only one because today Sony has announced their solution. They are releasing a two-port USB AC adaptor that will allow gamers to recharge controllers from a wall socket. The plug will be available mid-December in Japan for about $US30 (there's no US release date at this time). And yes, it's a complicated solution to a problem that shouldn't exist. [Engadget Japan via Engadget]

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The Gadget: Oncore's 6-Bay Macbook or iBook battery charger that really only charges three batteries at one time because it's a cluster of charging bays and not six individual chargers. Once the first battery in a single charging bay is full it will switch charging to the other battery which allows for six batteries to be fully charged over time.

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USB hubs, schmUSB hubs: jam this 5-in-1 charger cable into the back of your machine and you'll be able to charge-up/sync five different gizmos at once. That's if you have an iPod, a PSP, a Nintendo DS, aGBA and a device that connects via mini-USB. Not rocket science by any means, but a handy way of simplifying your desktop wiring clutter, and good for computers with few USB sockets (I'm looking at you, Mr. MacBook Air). Out now for $US14. [Gadget4All via BoingBoingGadgets]

Swedish designer Peter Thuvander likes yo-yo's so much that he designed an iPhone charger concept around them. Called the iYo (what else?), the device charges its lithium ion battery cell with an OLPC crank that's turned using the spinning power of a yo-yo. "The remote control needs only 30 cranks—which is nothing when you yo-yo," he said. Just 30 cranks and your dignity, Peter. I kid, of course, being someone who sleeps with a Duncan yo-yo under his pillow. The video demonstrates what a good idea this is:

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Sometimes one mobile phone isn't enough for a real man. Why not two, or three...or eight? If you collect mobile phones like Imelda Marcos collects shoes this USB multi-cellular phone charger is for you. It features 8 different connectors for Motorola, Nokia, Samsung , Siemens and Sony Ericsson phones—and it is guaranteed to poke and stab you and anything you put in your luggage unless you remember to pack it in the handy travel bag. Available for US$18. [Brando]

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Brando is known for quirky and offbeat gadgets, but they deliver their fair share of useful devices as well. Case in point, this ballpoint pen that can also be used as an emergency mobile phone charger. According to the description, it averages a 100 minute charge time, 20 hour standby time and 2 hours of talk time on one AA battery. It also features five connectors (Sony Ericsson Fast Port, Nokia 2.5mm, 3.5mm, mini USB and Samsung). It makes sense because many of us already carry around a pen, and it's not a bad deal at US$18. [Brando]

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I don't know what to say about the Polygon Bike, a concept that has an iPod-compatible charger powered by yourself. On one side, the bike-dock combo is just way too much. On the other, it may be actually useful for those days that you forget to charge it at home. The bike also has other useful features.

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Great concept from designer Vivien Muller for a modular, Lego-like little bonsai tree with 54 mini photovoltaic panels as leaves to soak up juice from the sun and charge your gadgets. Adapters get tucked away beneath a nice little tray, and your gadgets lay on top, basking in the shade. Vivien can you make this, please? I can't keep a real plant alive worth a damn, but this I think could place in the windowsill and be just fine with. More shots of the detachable pieces follow.

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Wireless power for charging gadgets has been among the more vapourous of developments we've been hearing promises of for years. While there are a few working instances of the tech on the market, its large-scale adoption still feels miles away. So the appropriate scepticism should be applied to this NY Times report claiming Intel will announce a major wireless power breakthrough today at the Intel Developers Forum, but the details do seem enticing this time around for one of the holy grails of the CE world soon becoming a bit more feasible. UPDATED: Pics of Intel's IDF demo from today have been added.

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Brando has a new universal battery charger available, working on the same jaw-grip/adjustable electric contacts principle as Thanko's version before. This time though, the gizmo is designed to be portable and draw its power from a USB source and it's got "high capability switch power supply with efficient transforming." It's even keyring mountable. So if you're constantly charging up a variety of batteries for all your gear, and don't fancy hauling all the power bricks around this might be an elegant solution. Can be yours now, for US$12. [Brando]

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