Ampy Uses Movement to Charge Your Smartphone
Our smartphone batteries just can't keep up with us. But one startup wants to change that while encouraging you to get up and move.
Ampy is a square device that tracks your movement, storing the kinetic energy you generate. So you can charge your smartphone with it when you need extra juice. Ampy claims 10,000 steps can give you an extra 3 hours of smartphone battery life - a pretty significant boost.
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This clever gadget doesn't require any setup. All you have to do is keep it on your person and move to charge. Amy acts as a makeshift fitness tracker, monitoring your steps and calories. Download the companion app to see how far you've moved during the day, and how much battery life that translates to.
Ampy can be used to power up any device that users a USB port to charge, including wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers. The device itself is about half the size of a typical smartphone, so it's a little bulky to strap on your arm or leg. The accessory pack includes a protective sleeve, an adjustable armband and a hip clip, giving you many ways to keep Ampy on you at all times.
The creators of Ampy claim this technology could eventually be embedded into smartphones, but that's years away. For now, you can pre-order Ampy for $95, or get a combo pack that bundles Ampy and its accessory kit for $125.
Valentina Palladino is a senior writer for Tom's Guide. Follow her at @valentinalucia. Follow Tom's Guide at @tomsguide and on Facebook.
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