Review: Mophie Juice Pack Offers iPod A Touch Of Energy

Now mStation, Paw Paw, Mich., is bearing fruit from that acquisition, including a sleek new battery-life extender for the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms by that very startup-turned-mStation business unit: Mophie.

Founded in 2005 in Burlington, Vt., by Inc.'s 2007 "30 under 30" entrepreneur Ben Kaufman, Mophie makes cases, clips and other accessories for the iPod.

Previously known by many as the creator of affordably priced iPod speakers, Mophie is quickly becoming well known for a product it calls the Juice Pack.

Currently available for the first- and second-generation iPhone and iPod Touch, the Juice Pack is designed to double the battery life of the devices. The iPod easily slides into the Juice Pack, which is essentially a lithium-polymer battery enclosed in an attractive case, where connectors inside the bottom of the unit plug into Apple's proprietary jack and the headphone jack.

On the outside, there is a headphone jack and a standard USB-mini port that allows you to sync the device with iTunes using the included cable. The same cable also serves to charge the Juice Pack alone or simultaneously with the iPod.

When slipped into the Juice Pack, the iPod functions as if it were plugged into a charging adapter. If the iPod is fully charged, the secondary battery is used first. If the iPod is not charged all the way, its internal battery will charge from the Juice Pack. This functionality ensures that the iPod is always fully charged and ready to go should you choose to remove it from the Juice Pack.

Built-in circuitry prevents shorting and overcharging, and battery status is displayed by four blue LEDs on the back of the Juice Pack that are activated with the simple press of a button.

The Juice Pack has a no-slip, rubberized grip and doesn't add too much bulk to the slim devices. At $99, it's a worthwhile accessory for those who use their iPhone or iPod Touch around the clock.