Go Green with Accessory Genie

A common misconception about "going green" is that it has to be a drastic, life-altering change made over night. But the truth is that if we all take little steps to living a greener life, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprints and contribute to maintaining and saving our planet.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 39% of all the energy used in the United States is used to generate electricity. When we use energy more efficiently, we can reduce the amount of fuel used to produce energy, therefore reducing the amount of polluting emissions in our atmosphere.

One way to cut down on your electricity use is to replace your regular light bulbs with energy efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs. According to trehugger.com, an LED light bulb can reduce energy consumption by 80-90%. Although they are initially more expensive than incandescent or CFL light bulbs, LED lights save you money in the long run, lasting around 100,000 hours, which adds up to over 11 years! If every American replaced one light bulb with an LED bulb, 2.5 million homes could be lit from the energy saved. Using dimmable LED light bulbs can also help reduce the amount of energy in use because it allows you to control and only use the amount of light you need.

Using a solar charger to power up your small electronic products can also reduce the amount of energy you use. The ReVIVE Series Solar ReStore is a great option when considering a solar charger, providing a full charge to most Smartphones, mp3 players, and other small USB powered devices. A quality that makes this solar charger a popular choice is that it can also charge your products through regular AC and DC outlets.

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is by replacing single-use alkaline batteries with rechargeable batteries. According to the EPA, Americans use about 3 billion batteries a year to power electronic like radios, toys, phones, cameras, and other devices found around the house. Unfortunately, of those 3 billion, 180,000 tons are improperly disposed of. Batteries contain heavy toxic metals that can contaminate the earth and water when not disposed of properly. Rechargeable NiMH batteries, like our truCELL batteries, are designed to have an extended run time and replace hundreds of single-use batteries a year.

Of course, there are many other habits you can pick up to reduce your energy consumption, like making sure to turn off all of the lights, radios, televisions, and any other electronics that are not in use when you leave a room, even if you'll only be gone for a few moments.

Also, electronics that stay plugged in when not in use, like kitchen appliances and electronic chargers, use up energy even though they are turned off. Make it a point to unplug these electronics when they are not in use. Or plug all electronics into a power strip and simply turn off the power strip when you don't need it anymore.

By using simple tricks like these to reduce your energy consumption, not only are you contributing to a healthier planet, but you are also saving yourself money.

For more information on LED lights, solar charges, rechargeable batteries, and other energy efficient products, visit http://www.accessorygenie.com/.

-Jinni

These Are A Few Of Our Favorite Things

Accessory Genie employees all have one characteristic in common: restraint.

Restraint because day after day, we get the opportunity to witness how useful, fun, and innovative our products are and we have to remember to control ourselves and avoid spending the entirety of our paychecks on Accessory Genie products.

I know we all feel the same way, so I decided to go around the office and ask my co-workers what their favorite Accessory Genie products are and why.

Max's story was one of the most interesting. Luck was not on his side when he decided to take his new car out for a ride through the mountains. His clutch blew out, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a dead cell phone battery. Luckily, Max had purchased his Solar ReStore earlier that week and had it in the car for an upcoming camping trip. "I was able to charge my dead cell phone with the sun and call for help," he says. "If it hadn't been for my Solar ReStore, I would've ended up hiking down the road another mile to reach a call box and then hike up the hill to get back to my car."

Our Panda Pal is another product that is extremely popular because of its versatility, cute appearance and unexpected powerful performance. Aaron originally bought the Panda Pal for his wife and was so blown away by the sound quality that he bought himself one the next day! "Cuteness aside, this speaker is serious business, especially for its size. Plus there is something to be said about having Rammstein blasting at full volume and full clarity through this Panda speaker." Aaron also bought his father-in-law two Panda Pals, who connects it to his Evo Shift 4G at the racetrack and uses NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile to listen to the race, driver radio chatter, and watch in-car video of the race while he's at the track.

Aaron also bought the GoCharge USB Battery Pack with the intention of using it to charge his HTC Evo Shift 4G and his Nook Color, but he finds himself using it more to power his Panda Pal speaker. "I have run the Panda Pal at top volume for 6-8 hours at a time using the GoCharge, and have yet to run it out of juice. Plus I can charge either my cell phone or my Nook Color at the same time."

Todd prefers the great sound and isolation his AUDIOHM ear buds provide. "I use them daily for listening to Graphic Audio novels and they bring the narrator and actors voices to life. The sound isolation is great and they block out most of the background noise so I can concentrate on the story," he explains.

Alex's favorite product is the Flexsmart X2, our very popular wireless Bluetooth FM transmitter. "The sound quality and clarity that this transmitter produces is just incredible. And it's nice not to have to take the time to connect my iPhone to any wires just so I can listen to music," Alex says. He especially likes it because of the auto-tune feature, which he says is great when you're driving long distance because it makes it so easy to find the best station to connect with.

With so many great products being flaunted in front of us on a daily basis, how could we not treat ourselves to a product or two?! What's your favorite Accessory Genie product?

And don't forget to Like us on Facebook and get 10% off your next AccessoryGenie.com purchase!

-Jinni

My CaseScenario and Headrest Mount Protect my Ipad and My Sanity

While on a family road-trip last weekend, my niece and nephew decided that they absolutely had to ride in the car with me. Their mom had given me the Are you sure? look when I agreed, clearly not understanding what I was getting myself into. Ten minutes later, we were on the road, and twenty minutes later, I was ready to start pulling out my hair.


I tried asking them to settle down at first, which only made them bicker and start pointing fingers at each other with accusations of who was the most annoying. In attempts to settle them down, I pulled the car over with some tricks up my sleeve.

When I finally met up with the rest of the family at our destination, my sister was in awe when she saw that her kids were quietly snuggling in the backseat watching a movie. How'd you do it? she asked in amazement. I simply pointed at the mount I had installed on the back of my passenger seat headrest with my iPad attached to it.

The USA Gear Vehicle Headrest Device Mount is a mount for the first generation iPad that is great for rear-seat entertainment like watching movies and browsing the web. With its adjustable grips, the mount easily attaches to any metal headrest neck, and has an articulating neck and 90 degree rotating head for users to view the iPad in their desired position. The iPad easily attaches to the mount with the included hard-shell case that also keeps my iPad well-protected while attached to the mount.

When Im done using the mount, I can easily slide my iPad out and install it into my CaseScenario, a faux-leather folio that uses the same hard-shell case as the mount. This folio case provides protection as well as comfortable and convenient portability for the iPad. The CaseScenario has several features that offer ultimate protection for the iPad. The folio comes with a sleek hard-shell case that can be used alone or easily installed into the folio for added protection. Its scratch-resistant interior protects the iPad's screen while the padded faux-leather exterior further absorbs impact from drops and bumps.

In addition to providing safe and portable storage for the iPad, the CaseScenario is also designed for comfort. The folio folds into several different positions, providing added comfort for the user depending on what the iPad is being used for. When securely snapped into the folio, the iPad can rotate 360 degrees to be positioned in the user's desired position, making watching movies, playing games, and browsing the web as comfortable for the user as possible.

Together, the USA Gear CaseScenario and Headrest Mount are designed to provide easy and secure portability, allowing users to maintain the iPad in the secure hard-shell case while switching between the portable folio and the headrest mount.

The CaseScenario and the Headrest Mount are sold separately and each includes its own hard-shell iPad case. In addition, the Headrest Mount is also sold without the case for users who already have the CaseScenario.

For more information on the CaseScenario and the Headrest Mount, visit http://www.accessorygenie.com/!

-Jinni

Finding YOUR Perfect Tablet

If youre like me, you have no idea what details and specifications to look out for when buying a tablet. So before going shopping, I decided to ask someone who would know what to look out for: Alex Rocha, Senior Business Development Manager at Accessory Power. The details a person prefers their tablet to have varies depending on what their wants and needs are, Alex says. Here are some specifications he believes tablet hunters should look into.


Size

Tablet screen sizes range anywhere from 7-inches to 10-inches. Like many reviewers, Alex believes that size is a significant factor, saying When buying a tablet, shoppers should consider where they will be using their tablets the most and for what. Avid movie and TV fans would probably prefer a bigger screen for a more enjoyable viewing experience, like the iPad 2 or Motorola Xoom , while someone who is always on-the-go might prefer a more compact and lightweight tablet, like the BlackBerry Playbook or Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Performance and Storage

For tablets, performance refers to a tablets speed and memory. A tablets processing speed and memory capacity is the decisive factor regarding how your tablet performs. If youre interested in running several apps simultaneously, like listening to music while browsing the web, or if you plan to use your tablet when playing games or to watch videos, a stronger processor would ensure the best performance. With its Dual-core 1GHZ processor, Motorola Xoom is arguably a great option for fast and efficient performance.

Depending on what youll mostly be using your tablet for, storage space can be a significant factor, Alex says. For example, if youre planning on downloading a number of apps, music, and movies, more storage space may be of interest to you.

Connectivity

Although WiFi can be found on most tablets, other connections, like Bluetooth capabilities HDMI-out capabilities that allow you to connect your tablet to an HD TV or computer monitor, arent included in many tablets. These features are nice to have but arent necessarily for the everyday user, Alex explains.

3G connections are also important to take into consideration when buying a tablet, especially if youre planning on using the tablet when youre on-the-go and not restricted to locations where there is a WiFi signal. Some tablets offer cellular connectivity through wireless carriers like AT&T, Verizon, t-Mobile, and Sprint. Again, this feature is nice to have but may not be worth the monthly payments if youre tablet is always within WiFi range.

Apps

Availability of apps is also an important feature to keep in mind. Depending on the tablets operating system (OS), the number and types of apps available for a tablet will vary. Although all operating systems have a variety of apps available, You should keep in mind that Android OS and iOS (Apples operating system) are the most developed and offer the largest selection of apps, Alex comments.


All of these factors are important to keep in mind when on the hunt for the perfect tablet for you. But before you go visit stores, do a little bit of homework. Decide for what and where you would most often be using the tablet, and make a list of what features you want, and which you think you need. This will hopefully make finding the right tablet for you an enjoyable adventure.

Whichever tablet you decide fits your wants and needs best, Accessory Genie has the perfect case, stand, or any other accessories!

Happy hunting!

-Jinni

Win Your Very Own Flexsmart X2 Wireless Bluetooth Transmitter

After discovering that my brand new iPhones case was slightly too big to properly plug my FM transmitter into, I went on the hunt for a good quality transmitter that was reasonably priced and would let me talk on the phone through my car speakers.


Even with the larger than usual case, I was able to find several transmitters that would allow me to plug in my iPhone with the case still on. However, they were bulky themselves, and significantly expensive for transmitters with limitations.

And then I found the GOGroove Flexsmart X2, a wireless FM transmitter that uses its Bluetooth capabilities to connect to other Bluetooth enabled devices, like my iPhone.
This FM transmitter easily plugs into any DC car outlet and syncs with your Bluetooth enabled media player, whether its a smartphone, MP3 player, or even a tablet. Its Auto-Tune feature quickly finds the best free FM station and clearly displays it on the screen, making it easy for you to know what station to change your radio to. The built in microphone and hands-free calling capabilities are also great to have, especially for someone like me who is always on-the-go.

Accessory Genie is giving away a FREE Flexsmart X2 Wireless Bluetooth FM Transmitter to a lucky winner! All you have to do to enter is click here to go to the contest page and fill out a short form.

The winner will be announced on April 5 on the Accessory Genie Facebook Page as well as personally notified via email.

For contest details and to enter for a chance to win your own Flexsmart X2 visit the Flexsmart Contest Page.

-Jinni

Universal Chargers Save My Day! AND Devices!

After reading emails, updating my social media pages, checking the weather, listening to music, text messaging and talking on the phone all day, my phones battery icon quickly empties out until all that is left is a single red dash signifying the imminent death of my battery. Coincidentally, my mp3 player, e-reader, tablet, and any other electronic devices that I may carry with me also end up with a low battery level by the end of the day, cutting off any connections I had with the world.

As a solution, I could purchase and carry around chargers for each individual item if I was okay with all of the extra weight and bulk it would add to my bag. Not to mention how much more money it would cost me to have 2 individual chargers for each item: one for AC adapters and one for the DC adapter in my car.

If only there was a much more sensible, comfortable, and affordable alternative, like a single charger that could pull power from several different outlets and provide power to all of my devices through USB cords.

Lucky for me, there is!

Universal chargers, like those in the ReVIVE Series, are specially designed to charge multiple devices and draw power from different sources, making these universal chargers extremely convenient, affordable and hassle-free.

Solar ReStore

The ReVIVE Series Solar ReStore offers many options when in need of a power source. In addition to plugging into AC and USB outlets, the Solar ReStore also has an internal back-up battery from which you can power your electronics when no outlets are present. The innovative charger can also charge your electronic accessories with solar power, making it a great option for charging your everyday devices.

Much like the Solar ReStore, the goCHARGE also charges your devices from internal batteries, USB and AC outlets, as well as from DC car outlets. This universal charger is perfect for storing in the car and for travel, even letting you charge two devices at the same time!

The Trans4m also offers you many alternatives for power sources in a compact design with its flip-out AC and DC power adapters. As a backup power source, the Trans4m can also charge your devices with two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries or a 9V battery!

Like the goCHARGE, the DoubleUP USB Charger can also charge two devices from a single power source when plugged into an AC or DC outlet. Its compact and lightweight design makes the DoubleUP a great option for charging your devices when traveling.



Trans4m

These ReVIVE Series Universal Chargers are the perfect solution for charging your many electronic devices with a single charger. Not only are they convenient for everyday use, but are perfect for traveling or to have in handy in emergency situations. I never have to worry about having a low battery or charging any of my devices now that I always have my universal charger ready to go.

For more information on universal chargers and other electronic accessories, visit http://www.accessorygenie.com/!

-Jinni

Accessory Power introduces truCELL AA batteries to its line of rechargeable batteries

If you have yet to make the transition from single use batteries to rechargeable batteries, here's a little insight to get you facing towards the right direction.

Did you know that Americans use about three billion dry-cell batteries a year? And of those three billion, about 180,000 tons end up improperly discarded in our landfills, raising the high possibility of heavy metals and toxic substances polluting our water stream and air.

If you're one of the few that does take the extra effort and recycles your used batteries, we thank you. But we still believe that we may be able to change your mind about using single-use batteries. Everyone likes to save money. And luckily rechargeable batteries, especially truCELL Rechargeable AA Batteries, are specially designed to have an extended run time as well as recharge up to 1,000 times. What does this mean for you as a battery consumer? That's hundreds of AA batteries that you wont have to buy and replace every year.

Single use batteries thrown into landfills can have serious effects on the environment, leaking heavy metals and toxic substances like nickel and cadmium into the air and water. By choosing to use and properly dispose of rechargeable batteries, consumers are reducing the number of single-use batteries and toxins the environment is exposed to.

truCELL Rechargeable Batteries recognizes that the transition from single-use batteries to rechargeable batteries may be a difficult one to make. Accordingly, truCELL offers a variety of options each aiming to satisfy a different consumer category interest and make this transition a smooth and comfortable one. One option is the truCELL Precharged Rechargeable Batteries, which have the ready-to-use design of single-use alkaline batteries with the benefits of high-power NiMH cells. The 2200mAh minimum capacity of the batteries supplies long-lasting power to low-drain devices, including remote controls, clocks, flashlights, video games and more.

truCELL 2700 Series Rechargeable AA batteries are designed to power high-power electronic devices including digital cameras, portable music players, portable video game consoles, and other high-drain devices used by the everyday consumer. The truCELL 2900 Series Rechargeable AA batteries offer twice the power and a fifty percent longer life span than standard NiMH batteries and are designed to power the high-drain devices of professionals who depend on high-power energy.