Here is a hands-on video of the Compaq Airlife 100 smartbook. Weighing ess than 1kg, the gadget features a Li-polymer battery that provides a 12-hour battery life (with Wi-Fi and 3G on). This lightweight smartbook also has a 10-inch display (matte, resistive multi touch), a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, Android OS, a 16GB SSD, an SD Card reader, a built-in 3G, a mini USB, and a headphone jack. Video...

A new nanoscale material developed by researchers at Imperial College London could eventually act as both the battery and body of electric cars.  The mix of carbon fiber and polymer resin can charge and release electricity like a battery and is hard as steel too. The advantages of the material are pretty exciting.  Lithium-ion batteries are heavy and generate electricity through chemical reactions, which eventually...

The saga of startup electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and their battery partners has its own twists and turns. Batteries are a significant component for EVs. So it should not be surprising that the marriage between vehicle manufacturer and battery supplier can take on the characteristics of a soap opera. Earlier this year, EnerDel and Fisker Automotive terminated their plans to work together on the Fisker...

Scosche Industries, an award-winning innovator of iPhone and iPod accessories, has announced its solBAT II – a solar-powered charger and battery backup. <> The solBAT II works with almost any handheld device that can be charged via a USB cable and feature’s a simple two light indicator that lets users know when the solBAT II it is charging from the sun or a USB cable (red), and when it is passing...

It’s been a long, long while since we’ve seen any life from the OMAP4 labs at Texas Instruments, but with the sudden resurgence of the tablet, now seems just about right for the company to start showcasing the platform’s prowess once more. TI is expected to have a mind-bending showcase at Mobile World Congress later this month, but Slashgear was able to get a sneak peek at what’s to...

Priced at $599, the new ExoPC Slate tablet PC comes jam packed with a 8.9-inch multitouch display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, Windows 7 OS, a 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 32GB SSD with SD card expansion and a 4 hour battery life with the included user-replaceable battery. The ExoPC Slate 8.9-inch tablet will be released in March 2010 for $780 each. [NexGadget]

Hey, remember back when Steve Jobs said “people don’t read anymore” when discussing why the Kindle would be a failure? Heh, funny story: turns out Apple just released a device called the iPad and, at its unveiling, spent an awful lot of time showing off what a great reader it is. However, when comparing it to Kindle (as we did here) you have to think about that battery life figure: 10 hours...

MSI has recently announced the worldwide availability of the MSI Wind U135. Priced at $309.99 upwards, the netbook adopts a 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N450 processor with a 10-inch 1024 x 600 display, an Intel GMA3150 graphics, up to 250GB of hard disk drive, WiFi, and a 3 or 6 Cell battery. To help users manage the battery life, MSI has included a utility that lets one choose between several modes including Gaming,...

Remember when Stanford University turned mere paper into a proper battery? That was just the beginning. The same team, led by Yi Cui in the Department of Engineering, now wants your pants to be an electrical storage device. They’ve managed to dye fabric with carbon nanotube ink, still allowing the cloth to stretch and move like normal but also giving it the supernatural ability to hold a charge. Imagine...

British electronics e-tailer Clove has started listing a new £53 ($86) HD2 accessory that should be of interest to everyone who owns or plans on owning the device. We always thought that generous 4.3-inch screen could do with some backside support, and indeed the new kickstand-equipped extended battery will provide just that. You’ll also get a nice energy bump, as the new accessory is set to double...