Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech) announced today the slim NuPower ViDEO+ rechargeable battery Pack for the iPod® Video, with the lowest priced/longest battery life on the market for only $49.99. The NuPower ViDEO+ battery pack attaches to the iPod Video to significantly extend iPod run-time for a whopping 80 hours of music listening or 16 hours of video viewing – or over 5 three-hour movies on just one charge!

The lightweight NuPower ViDEO+ is priceless wherever you go — on an airplane, beach, or anywhere you’d like to relax with your iPod Video without worrying about finding a power outlet to enjoy your music and video. “NuPower ViDEO+ battery pack is great to bring on a vacation or business trip for hours of continuous uninterrupted entertainment on even the longest international flight, layover, or delay,” said Lawrence O’Connor, President & CEO, NewerTech. “NuPower ViDEO+ makes sure you’ll never run out of power in the middle of your favorite video or song.”

Developed by NewerTech, the first company to offer a complete line of internal battery replacements for the Apple iPod line, NuPower ViDEO+ also doubles as a portable charger, delivering up to three charges to the iPod Video’s internal battery. NuPower ViDEO+ includes the battery pack, stand, docking station, and belt clip for the freedom to take your video and favorite tunes wherever you go. When you finally need to recharge the NuPower ViDEO+, simply attach an iPod charging cable (included with your iPod Video) to power up.

Just place the battery pack on the back of your iPod Video and push down to connect. For the iPod Video 30GB model, use the included spacer pad for a snug fit. You can also attach the included belt clip around the sides of your iPod Video for portable convenience. Press the power button and an LED will illuminate to indicate Power On and Battery Charge Status.

NuPower ViDEO+ Features:

Provides 80 Hours of Music or 16 Hours of Video.

• All-in-one design: rechargeable battery pack, stand, and docking station.
• No extra charger needed. Uses standard iPod Video Charger.
• Built-in Dock Connector for using all your existing iPod accessories.
• Plug-and-Play ease-of-use.
• Provides up to three full charges for iPod Video internal battery.

The NuPower ViDEO+ battery pack is compatible with the Apple iPod Video 30GB, 60GB and 80GB models. It includes the rechargeable battery pack, stand, docking station and belt clip and is available immediately for $49.99 through exclusive distributor Other World Computing at www.macsales.com or www.newertech.com or through the retail channel. See http://www.newertech.com/products/vidplus.php for more info.

When I grew up as a kid — not dating myself here — Tonka trucks where made of metal and bathed in a healthy coat of lead based paints. Yellow paint. Today, you find cheap plastic, flimsy parts, and horrible sticker placement. But it doesn’t even stop there, apparently. Nope.

Not even a month after the opening of my sons Tonka fire truck from his Uncle and Tia, the batteries died with moderate play time. When I flipped over the truck to surgically remove its belly to gain access to the battery compartment, I was stunned to see AA batteries within its haul instead of the C cells specified by the cover! Using some cheesy plastic holders to keep the AA’s centered on the terminals, Hasbro deemed it necessary to save a few cents (maybe a buck,) with the lesser capacity battery than going with it’s recommendations. Incredible.

You know, I don’t mind purchasing products made in China to save a dime or two, but doing something like this doesn’t save me money in the end. It saves Hasbro. That’s weak. Bring back my Tonka, Hasbro!

ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB), a leader in renewable energy innovation, announced today that it has struck a deal with Victory Multimedia for distribution services of its new Recharge-It-All battery line for mobile electronic devices and laptop computers. These new products power and charge cell phones, smart phones, digital cameras, MP3/iPods, portable games and more.

Victory will provide entry into large distribution customers like Ingram Micro. ZAP expects its renewable energy line to be available in the Ingram Micro channel from Victory Multimedia in early January.

ZAP’s new Recharge-It-All Battery for Laptop Computers is a big part of the new deal with Victory Multimedia. The 49-watt battery will power or charge a laptop computer for up to 8 hours. “At about $140 suggested retail price, every business traveler will want one,” says Randy Freedman from Victory Multimedia. “I’m personally tired of traveling with three or more AC adaptors when I go on a trip.” The M48 from ZAP has a USB out for powering other low power mobile electronic devices as well as a laptop.

“We really like Victory Multimedia’s commitment to its vendors and customers,” says Melissa Brandao, Director of Power Systems at ZAP. “Victory Multimedia made it seamless for ZAP to tap into the technology channel through Ingram Micro.”

ZAP makes Portable Energy called iZAP, designed specifically for the iPod line. Victory will carry the iZAP RO8-IV for the iPod video. This stylish battery will power the 30G or 60G multimedia players in video mode for up to 10 hours.

ZAP is attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January where they will showcase its new Recharge-It-All battery line for 2007. Find the ZAP booth at the Sands Convention Center #73039.

iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Voxred International released a little helper today and his name is iTurbo. Yup, the small “i” should be your clue that it’s another accessory but the turbo part doesn’t mean it’ll play your music faster. The turbo actually means it’ll charge the internal battery of the iPod fast. Bringing the name all together, this is a rapid charger for your iPod with a dock connector that runs off a single AA battery. Perfect for when your iPod has drained itself and your miles away from a wall outlet. The turbo gets the iPod running immediately.

You can grab your own iTurbo that’s small enough to put in any pocket on your person for $29.95 direct from iTurbo’s site. This may just be the perfect after Christmas gift for all you iPod video owners ready to do a spree of Lost on your plane trip to Macworld!

Wow, we really need to fix our MacBook Pro battery issue before things really get bad.

We first reported our troubles with our beloved Mac notebook last week and then the new week started with a replacement program from Apple, direct, explaining our problem. Well, we’ve been just a wee-bit busy here at SOT and haven’t had a chance to fill out that dandy form.

Today when we pulled out our MBP from our Swiss Gear backpack today, we found a bulge on the bottom of the unit. That bulge was from the the battery and it appears it gained some weight and blew up, as in expansion. No evidence of fire or sparks anywhere which made us all happy here at SOT and the Mac booted right up. In fact, it wrote our last session to disk (ala hibernate of Windows XP fame) and put us right back where we started from. Very nice!

After our heart beat came back down to a normal pace, we picked up the phone and called AppleCare (all good Mac-heads slap down the big bucks for this right?). About 30 minutes later a nice young man helped us get a new battery our way. About three days is what we’re told on getting the new puppy and do note, our AppleCare representative didn’t seem a bit surprised with our issue. Seems we’re not the only ones with this problem.

After just posting our odd behavior with out MacBook Pro battery, Apple makes it official today with its voulentary battery recall. If you purchased your MacBook Pro between February and May, then looks like you’re in the cutting-edge boat and will get a brand new spanking battery shipped to you free of charge. You’ll have to fill out a form and then sit waiting by your door for Mr. UPS (actually, doesn’t Apple use DHL?) to drop off that battery that won’t just shut your system off when it feels like doing so. Good times.

Dude, what up? Why is my MacBook Pro just shutting off by itself? No warning, no pop-up from OS X, no nothing. Just off!

Seems like I’m not the only one having this problem as the battery looks to be the issue. Sean Bonner has been reporting his problem for some time now and even has an account of an Apple Store employee tipping his hand that they know about this problem…without actually admitting it is a problem.

In my particular case, I’ll be working and off goes my MacBook Pro. At first, I just assumed my battery was dead and I had ignored the warnings. But when it happened after yanking the green lit MagSafe power cord, I knew something was up and turned over my MBP to find a full row of green lights on my battery. ‘I knew it!’ I thought to myself.

Now it’s happening more often than not while running on battery and it’s becoming annoying. The problem with this is if I call Apple Care, I’m afraid of losing my Mac for a week. Ugh, a whole week without my Mac? Heck, a half working Mac is still better than a fully working PC! But, I want this fixed and maybe I’ll complain about the whining, too, and get a new fan and logic board. We’ll see.

I’ll keep you posted how this turns out and let me know if you’re seeing this on your MBP.