News for Friday, 12 December 2008

Even though we spoke a lot about fuel-cell batteries during 2008, as yet there is no concrete example in the public domain. The first will be probably the universal charger that MTI Micro intends to market in 2009.

The Mobion functions thanks to cartridge containing the methanol and will be able to reload via a USB connector the majority of the nomad apparatuses. A methanol load should make it possible to reload fully a mobile phone about ten time. Admittedly, it is rather large, but it is the first example of the beginning of the next revolution for the nomads in the coming decade.

On December 17 the council of competition should consider the complaint lodged by Bouygues Telecom which reproaches Orange for its contract of exclusiveness in sale of the iPhone. If the council considers that this exclusiveness is abusive, Apple will be obliged to offer its telephone to the other operators.
Orange certainly has most to lose with the ending of this contract of exclusiveness even though it had at least the merit to start again the commercial war (a little) between the 3 operators.

At the beginning of the year, we have spoken about the batteries made by Boston Power.

Thanks to new combinations of alloys, these batteries make it possible to store approximately 40% d' additional energy, and importantly to be recharged to 80% of their capacity in only 30 minutes. The first manufacturer who will equip his machines with them will be HP. We do not know if Apple is going to also use these (lets hope so), especially as Quickertek markets an external battery now intended for MacBook and using the components of Boston Power. It allows an increase of battery life of the MacBook to a more comfortable duration of 8 to 12 hours, but has a rather significant volume of 23x15x2,54 cm with a weight of almost 1,5 kg.