Smartphones, tablets and smartwatches need power. And this power comes from the internal battery. However, the battery needs to be charged, at least once a day. And if you are a person who is constantly on the move, and continuously using your smartphone or gadgets, you may need to charge it more than once. In order to recharge on the move, you need to use a power bank. But they are bulky, need to be wired up to your smartphone, and worst of all, they too need to be charged.
What if you never had to charge your smartphone for long periods? What about—never? A project has been in the process of making this a reality. Well, it is not that the smartphone will never need to be charged ever. It will still need to be charged, but not with your charger or a power bank. Simply cranking your smartphone for one minute will give you a good 40 minutes on your smartphone or five hours more on your smartwatch.
Ampware, has developed a "revolutionary" new charging case technology. Now you can charge on the go, no matter where you are. The product is CrankCase and it is a simple case for your smartphone that contains a cranking arm on the rear, along with a few electronics and gears within it to keep your smartphone powered for as long as you need it to.
The project is also developing CrankBox, which is not a case, but a crank charger for other USB devices.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
CrankCase incorporates the smallest and most powerful electric dynamos. It is redesigned to fit the most popular mobile devices. The efficient, electric dynamo produces AC current and converts this power to DC through a circuitry. Our circuit is tuned to pick up the most power from the cranking cycle. The more you crank, the more power is generated and delivered to your device; giving you backup talk/text time when you have no access to power.
WHY WAS AMPWARE DEVELOPED?
In 2005, Gabriel and Durr, the co-founders of Ampware, were both directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Separated from loved ones, they relied solely on their cell phones to keep in contact with friends and family. This circumstance became the inspiration for CrankCase, a way to keep a smartphone powered in any situation.
CrankCase can also be used as a kickstand for your smartphone, so you can enjoy your videos and movies when placed on a table.
CrankCase is estimated to sell for around $50, while CrankBox will be soon available for $30. These prices are initial, and are discounted prices for those who support the project. Prices will go up for regular retail in stores (later) by almost 60 per cent each.
