• Tweet ^[1]
• Share on Tumblr ^[2]
• Email ^[3]

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show ^[4] is over, but there are still a number of nifty devices trickling into our inboxes. One of our favorites is the RCA Airnergy ^[5], a USB-connected device that converts Wi-Fi antenna signals ^[6] into usable power for your gadgets. The device is completely self-sustaining — it automatically charges whenever a Wi-Fi signal is close by and stores the power in a lithium-ion battery.

The Airnergy’s recharging time depends on the quality and number of Wi-Fi signals nearby, but an RCA spokesman at CES said ^[7] that it was possible to fully charge a Blackberry at 30% power in just 90 minutes using ambient signals.

RCA’s technology isn’t new, but this is the first time it has been used in a commercial device. The Airnergy is relatively cheap, too, with an expected price of $40 when it goes on sale later this year. We love the idea — while it may not be practical for emergency charging in the woods, the Airnergy could be invaluable in on-the-go situations when your cell phone ^[8]‘s power is petering out.

Via Popular Science ^[5]