Top Accessories Guide

The current trend in mobile technology is the elimination of anything that limits your freedom of movement. Cables and cords are disappearing fast, replaced by a wide range of accessories. Bluetooth is the current technology of choice for wireless connectivity, but wireless USB is coming soon to a smartphone, PDA or accessory near you. It has advantages over the Bluetooth, including faster connection speeds and less power consumption. We'll have to wait and see if wireless USB becomes as mainstream in the mobile arena as Bluetooth has.

This Guide to Accessories looks at a number of the top wireless accessories, as well as adapters, chargers, carrying cases, and more. It's based on our Board of Experts accessory picks and my Editor's Hardware Picks, but includes other great accessories. The Guide gives a brief description of the accessory, its price, where to find it online, and comments from members of our Board of Experts if they picked it as a favorite accessory.

Adapters

ORA USB Car Charger Adaptor

$12.95 (mobileplanet.com)

Make sure you're never without power with this USB car charger. It can be used for any hardware that charges through a standard USB port. Simply plug it into your car's cigarette lighter, and then attach your USB charging cable (not included) for the all the power you'll need while on the road.

VersaCharger PRO

$44.95 (boxwave.com)

Designed with new features and improvements, including an intelligent universal voltage conversion circuit that allows use in all countries.It has been designed to natively support one of two outlet plug styles, so it frees you from the need to use an additional adapter for U.S. or European power outlets.Additionally, because of the improved USB port location, it doesn't occupy two wall outlets when plugged in.

VersaCharger Pro is a single charging device capable of providing power to multiple devices. It makes life easier on the road, and you can use your devices' USB connectivity cables to charge your different units. It's lightweight and versatile, and it can be used in a wall socket or vehicle. (Remzi Semsettin Turer: sems.org)

Gomadic Dual Rapid Charger

$19.95 (gomadic.com)

The Gomadic Power Bundles allow you to charge your device in the car, from an outlet, with your computer, or with four AA batteries. It's compatible with TipExchange Technology that enables utility with hundreds of mobile devices.

This accessory charges devices in half the time and has dual charger leads with swappable tips, which reduces the number of charging cords when traveling. Inexpensive tips are available for thousands of devices. (Andy Mason: aximsite.com)

Gomadic QuadCharger

$29.95 (gomadic.com)

Using TipExchange Technology, you have the freedom to pick any 4 gadgets to charge. You simply plug and unplug the removable tips, which are custom-made for virtually thousands of devices.

The QuadCharger allows you to charge four devices at the same time. The four cables use Gomadic's TipExchange system, allowing them to be quickly adapted to fit the vast majority of portable electronic devices. And if you buy a new device, all you have to do is get an inexpensive tip to charge it. This is by far the best universal charging system I have found. (Doug Goldring: justanothermobilemonday.com)