My Kingdom for Portable Device Power
Like most consumers who travel, I pack a charger for every portable device I carry. Keeping all my devices charged so I can stay connected becomes a focal point of my day as I scan the baseboards for wall outlets in every meeting room, restaurant and bathroom I pass through. 
At CES 2010, power is a precious commodity. By late afternoon, iPhone users are scrambling to grab an available outlet and Blackberry addicts start twitching for a charge. Like junkies looking for a fix, attendees looking for a charge will do what ever they have to, from listening to vendor pitches to rearranging lobby furniture.
Power remains a hot topic at CES, and vendors like Case-Mate and EcoSol are looking to grab the hearts and minds of consumers with solutions that will help super-charge their portable lives. The Case-Mate Fuel, Fuel Lite, and Hug aim to provide users with a hassle-free approach to power by removing the leash to wired power.
The Freeloader Pro, which will be available in the U.S. starting next week, is a handheld charger made up of two small solar panels and integrated lithium ion battery. And Yogen claims to produce the world's first 100% green handheld charger, which uses a string pull instead of a hand crank to generate power.
Credit: Engadget
The Hug uses inductive charging, getting its power from a mat onto which the device is placed. The Fuel and the Fuel Lite add an extended battery to the case, which provides supplemental power when the device's built in battery dies.
With all these solutions available in the market today, and all the people tethered to wall outlets in uncomfortable positions, why aren't these products flying off the shelves and into the CES buyers' travel bags?
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