The U-Socket: USB charging from the wall

Whatever happened to wireless USB? I don’t doubt you can get it, but it does seem that most of the gadgets that are powered via USB are still very much wired.

How annoying is it when you don’t want to charge up your electronic items from your laptop’s USB ports, but you also don’t want a load of bricks sticking out of regular power sockets?

Enter Fastmac’s U-Socket wall outlet. Pictured is a US version, though I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to install it on international power sockets either.

Yes, it has two USB ports: one on each side of the power sockets. It costs $19.95 and is available to pre-order, though it sounds as if it still needs to pass various regulations, which is just as it should be for power-related products.

Now, two is not nearly enough for my liking, and I think some manufacturer should take things a stage further and provide a nice little ledge on which you could place the gadgets you’re charging. I don’t particularly want to have my iPhone and camera dangling from a wall socket.

Hey, how about integrating it with the home’s Ethernet network and allowing remote syncing of your iPod without having to be near your computer?

Via