Computer,Music,Books

Griffin PowerBlock Micro for iPod and iPhone (Black)

List Price: $29.99
Price: $13.49 ( Click to see lower price ! )
You Save: $16.50 (55%)

Product Features:

100-240 V 1 Amp AC charger for iPod and iPhone in a super-small design

Non-polarized, fold-flat blades fit most outlets and power strips

EnergyStar certified

Includes detachable USB dock connector cable

Made for iPod/Works with iPhone certified

( Click here for the latest details... )

Technical Details:

( Click here for the latest details... )

Customer Reviews:

Best Value, BEST for Travel, WARNING on How to Release Connector

I have the much larger regular Griffin power block with dual USB power outlets Griffin Technology PowerBlock for iPad, iPhone and iPod, 2 amp - Black and on the basis of the reliable performance from that unit just purchased this Micro edition for travel. Compared to the official Apple unit (which appears to be available only at Apple Store and bricks and mortar retailers like Best Buy and not on Amazon), I prefer this unit for 3 reasons:

* The power prongs fold into the unit. On the Apple unit, they do not, and will "poke" into other gear and whatever pouch you are using to hold your "kit." Yes, the metal could potentially scratch an unprotected Touch put in there too. The Griffin Micro avoids this problem with its folding prongs. [2-17-11 update: The folding power prongs are REALLY essential for travel. I took an international flight and the seat back came with a power socket. So instead of stowing the Griffin in its own compartment in my overhead bag, I tossed it into my seat-side pack. Being able to retract the prongs so they wouldn't scratch my iPod or wear a hole in my pack or hang up on the mesh of the side pocket on the pack was awesome. Don't underestimate how helpful the folding feature is, compared to the one from Apple.]

* This includes a nice docking/power cable. Since these are expensive from Apple, and since some inexpensive 3rd party cables often don't work (or work only for charging and not for synchronizing), this really improves the value of this package.

* It was ten bucks cheaper than an actual, authentic, retail version Apple power charger at my time of purchase, and the Apple charger DOESN'T include a power/synch cable.

* Griffin appears to be the only "name" company making an accessory cube, although there are obviously a lot of counterfeit Apple cubes out there.

There's not much else to say about a simple, small power supply that does its job except to add a couple of caveats (warnings) for potential purchasers:

First, with respect to this Griffin, unlike ALL the other "white" cables I have (both those from Apple but also some accessory purchases from non-Apple vendors), this cable will only release from the body of the player WHEN YOU PINCH ITS SIDES IN. That is actually a GOOD thing, the cable won't come loose or accidentally separate from the Touch, but keep in mind that Apple connectors and accessory connectors don't "lock" in the dock on the Touch like this one does, which means most of us users aren't trained to pinch the sides to release the cable to release it. That meant my wife was trying to forcibly "wrestle" the Griffin power cable out of her Touch and was just about to damage the docking port on the Touch! It took even me a couple of moments to finger out you need to squeeze the ends of the Griffin cable to release it from the docking port.

Second, do NOT purchase "Apple" oem power supplies, often at ridiculously low prices, on Ebay or here on Amazon. I have purchased a few and all of them turned out to be counterfeit - either down to Apple logos and details, or without logos and writing, but in Apple "trade dress" which is to say they look exactly the same except for the small print markings. MOST of these SEEM to work well, but we have several 3rd and 4th gen Touches, and I ran into two interesting problems: on one Touch, one of the units simply wouldn't work and I got an error message on the screen of the Touch. On another Touch, it seemed to work fine (charging wasn't a problem) but when I tried to operate the unit while charging, the capacitive screen was responding weirdly to my touch inputs - misreading my password entries, for example.

I suspect that the regulator circuitry in some counterfeits simply isn't up to spec. It is either overcharging (the touch screen problems) or undercharging (the error message about an incompatible charger). While no counterfeit has actually "fried" any of my Touches, the problems I've had make me suspicious of all of them. I'd rather have a charger from either Apple or a reliable, responsible company like Griffin. I have been told that battery life on Touches is very dependent on NOT overcharging them - that the regulator circuitry in both the charger and the Touch have to work together to turn off charging short of "maximum". To me that means that even if there isn't immediate damage, a no-name 3rd party charger could be bad for the long term life of my Touch. So please consider getting either an authentic Apple charger from a RELIABLE source with APPLE packaging, getting an old but authentic Apple charger from someone upgrading their iPhone (iPhones come with chargers, Touches don't), or buying one like this from Griffin.

A word on my accessory docking/power cables: I have purchased accessory docking/power cables from Marketplace sellers here, too. Some won't fit all my Touches! The quality control leaves a lot to be desired. So getting the "free" one from Griffin is good. I am also glad it is in black, so I will know its the one that requires pinching to release.

I would like to see Amazon stock and sell OEM Apple chargers in retail packaging. Until they do that, please be careful when looking at so-called "Apple" chargers from Amazon Marketplace sellers, and also on Ebay.

This Griffin will also power other USB-port powered devices. A caveat with respect to some cellphones that have USB ports though - although my Motorola cellphone has its own USB charger (which I have successfully used to charge non-Motorola USB powered devices), the Motorola cellphone itself will NOT accept a non-Motorola USB charger (like this Griffin) - apparently the proprietary-minded engineers at Motorola (may there be an e-waste circle of hell for them) put an i.d. code in their cellphone charger which and if my Motorola cellphone is hooked up to a different (i.e., non-Motorola) charger, the cellphone itself displays an "unauthorized charger" message on its screen and refuses to charge, even though voltage/amp/polarity/plug specs are otherwise identical. While I hate an excess of government regulations, Europe has a much better approach, requiring all new cellphone chargers to be interchangeable and standard (the standard being USB).

( Click here for more customer reviews... )