At least in Japan, the PSP is now able to get another four hours of life when the standard charger isn't available, and the DS a whopping 22.5. This is thanks to the Thanko (pun accidental) bracelet, which provides instant power to either device.

The charger bracelet has a cable with an interchangeable tip that allows it to work with both handhelds and a number of other portable electronics. I suppose being multifunctional might make the 4,980 yen ($48) price tag more acceptable.

However, to get any use out of the charge bracelet you have to remember to charge it in a USB port, carry around the correct tip and wear it.
| More
Additional sources:
Images about this story:
Register as a member to subscribe comments.
  • 0
    R1DDL3S May 5, 08
      $48 for a bracelet is high and it looks a bit big to just carry around on your wrist. But for those times when a charger is far away and you really can't stop, I could see it being worth it.
  • 0
    Synergized May 6, 08
    Syn: Sorry about both posts. My post didn't show so I had to post again, but now it's showing.
  • 0
    Synergized May 6, 08
    Holy shit, 22 and a half hours for the Nintendo DS! That's a lot, but I don't think I'd buy it, especially since I only have a PSP and it's battery life is rather short. I could live with it.
  • 0
    StarJet May 6, 08
    Somehow, I don't think this is going to be a very successful thing. Anyway, 22 hours for the DS? O___O
    Does the DS consume so little power?
    • 0
      Gogetenks May 6, 08
      Relatively. I believe a fully-charged DS Lite can last about that long (if not more, I'm not sure) if it is on low brightness, but nobody really plays it in that setting. It isn't really as energy-demanding as the PSP, most likely due to the PSP's more advanced technology.

      Seems to be awfully expensive, though. It supports quite a few devices, but is it worth $50? A $20-$30 price point would be worthwhile for the DS or PSP, but $50 is just too steep. It is essentially a bracelet with a battery built into it.
  • 0
    InnerDemon May 6, 08
    I could use it, but I probably wouldn't use it as a bracelet. Would maybe just keep it somewhere on me and use it when needed.

    This also reminds me of something I saw in a magazine. I think it was like a flash drive or something that you can plug in and get instant power. Seemed weird.
  • 0
    Enhance* May 6, 08
    Add on a watch to the face of that thing to give it some style and I would totally buy it. I'm always running out of battery watching videos on my iPhone when I'm on trips and if I could have a compact backup such as this one it would great.

This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.