Bluelounge’s Refresh: a better recharging station

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Earlier this morning, my colleague David A. Keeps blogged about Drinn, a clever little piece of rubberized plastic that can turn any electric socket into a cellphone charging station. At the other end of the technological spectrum are the designs of Pasadena-based Bluelounge. A year ago we reported on Bluelounge’s Sanctuary, a device that’s capable of recharging an astounding 1,500 different types of mobile devices. Now the company has released the follow-up, Refresh, which in many ways is more appropriate for the times: smaller, sleeker and less expensive.

Refresh is a plastic tray with a false bottom that lifts up to reveal six ports: two for iPods or iPhones, one mini USB, one micro USB and two standard USBs. I used to think charging stations were idiotic, but after two weeks of using Refresh at home, I have to admit there is something beautifully efficient about docking an iPhone, an iPod, and a Blackberry in the same little tray powered by a single cord to the wall socket.

Last week the New York Times Home section beat me to the punch with its take on Refresh. The write-up noted that the product wouldn’t work with a reporter’s 4-year-old Samsung phone, but compatibility with old devices seems less of an issue to me than price. Yes, Refresh costs $40 less than the earlier Bluelounge charging station. Even so, the retail for Refresh is still $89.95. If I had a 4-year-old Samsung, I think I’d skip the $90 charging station and invest $99 in an iPhone.

-- Craig Nakano