Frequent flyers, rejoice. An accessory you didn’t even know about will soon become a staple in your travel bag.
Twelve South’s PlugBug is a wall charger that attaches to the MacBook power adapter. But its genius lies in a very simple concept: include a USB port to charge your iPhone, iPad or other peripherals. You can simultaneously power up multiple devices, or use the PlugBug as a standalone charger.
At 10 watts, the PlugBug provides the fastest possible charge for the iPad, which requires twice the power of a typical USB charger, the company says. This is especially handy given the fact USB ports on most MacBooks don’t charge at full speed. At home, you can leave your iPad charging all night, but between flights or meetings, you probably don’t have that luxury.
I hadn’t even thought of this fact until the PlugBug came along: The MacBook is my most expensive charger. We use computers as an extra battery pack, and even charge it just so we can juice up other devices. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it does lead to wires taking over your desk.
For travelers, the PlugBug’s design means a decluttered hotel workspace. It is such a simple concept I’m actually surprised we haven’t had something like this until now. International travelers will have to wait just a little longer, as a global PlugBug is expected to debut early next year.
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