Is this the world's first universal battery pack for Apple 12" MacBook?
Is looking for an outlet to charge your MacBook, about to become a thing of the past? According to the (so far) 205 backers of HyperJuice, the chances are looking pretty good. HyperJuice’s IndieGoGo campaign has already raised almost $25,000 of the $50,000 set as the goal to create the world’s first truly mobile battery back, capable of charging all MacBook models, through a variety of adapters and battery sizes.
Hyper, a Sanho Corporation company, has been working on ways to develop battery packs for MacBooks since 2009, even as Apple sued the company, complaining that Sanho, which at the time marketed its batteries and chargers under the name HyperMac, infringed on at least 6 battery patents belonging to Apple. Apple and Sanho eventually settled, and the battery maker upgraded its products until its latest iteration, which is currently $25 thousand dollars away from being a commercial reality.
The battery pack, in its smallest iteration, can deliver a 12W charge, capable of recharging a 12 inch MacBook Retina, as well as the 60W version. Bigger versions of the battery raise the bar up to 222Wh, enabling the battery to power a MacBook Pro, using a MagSafe connector.
So far, Hyperjuice comes in 4 sizes: 60Wh, 100Wh, 150Wh, and 222Wh, covering the entire spectrum of MacBook models.
The company is also working on creating a “Magic Box” adapter that is able to convert a MacBook’s MagSafe connector, not only to plug into HyperJuice, but also into a car’s power outlet, and also to use the MagSafe power adapter to charge HyperJuice’s battery.
Portable batteries for MacBooks are extremely difficult to make, as portable USB batteries can’t deliver the right output necessary to charge a MacBook, which can result in damage to the device.
As the company’s CEO testifies, Sanho is “...no strangers to crowdfunding, this being our 9th crowdfunding project. Our previous crowdfunding projects, HyperLink, CloudFTP, iStick, Pearl Kickstarter, Pearl Indiegogo, iPin for iPhone/Android, iPin for iPhone, HyperDrive for MacBook have altogether raised close to US$2 million....”.