Microchip Technology Inc. will showcase its expanded RISC-V-based devices and design tools including a new BeagleBoard hardware and system-on-module (SoM) at the upcoming 2023 RISC-V Summit. According to Microchip, to create complex intelligent edge ...

RISC-V Summit: Microchip to debut BeagleBoard hardware

"Our new remote management card is ideal for more sophisticated networking environments such as enterprise data centers, governments, and schools-giving organizations the speed and performance they need to manage,

CyberPower Releases High-Speed Remote Management Card for UPS Systems

Vancouver----Ocean Power Technologies CEO Philipp Stratmann joined Steve Darling from Proactive to to share some exciting news. OPT has secured a substantial volume order from Sulmara, a prominent pla

Ocean Power Technologies announces multiple WAM-V 16s vehicle order from Sulmara

Esmond Goei, Power Hero CEO and founder, said: “Since the inception of this fruitful partnership in 2019, Power Hero Corporation has had the privilege of working closely with Arrow Electronics, witnessing their exceptional dedication and engineering support to our product development initiatives."

Power Hero Corporation Strengthens Partnership with Arrow Electronics

Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine has recently bestowed the prestigious Platinum Honoree Cabling Innovators Award upon the Panduit Fault Managed Power System in the 2023 competition. This accolade, the highest level of recognition, celebrates innovation within the information and communications technology industry.

Panduit Fault Managed Power System World's First Class 4 Power System Certified by UL Solutions

CCC® Amplify Helps Repairers Launch Customized Websites in Minutes and Strengthen their Online Presence CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC), a leading cloud platform powering the P&C insurance and co

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Reports carried recently by newspapers in South Africa confirm International Container Terminal Service Inc’s (ICTSI) positive view of the future for Durban Pier 2, the facility where it was selected by Transnet to partner with it to optimise the container terminal’s operations and business potential.

ICTSI confident of DCT’S Pier 2 potential and how to unlock this

PENDLETON — Pendleton Parks and Recreation and the Wallowa Land Trust are among the recent recipients to receive grants from the Pacific Power Foundation. This round of grants — the foundation offers four grant cycles each year — focused on community ...

Pacific Power charges up Pendleton Parks & Rec's after-school program

HERSHEY, Pa. - Pierrick Dubé scored a pair of goals and Clay Stevenson turned away 32 shots as Hershey shut out Lehigh Valley 4-0 on Saturday at Giant Center. The Phantoms were 0-for-8 on power play opportunities and didn't fare any better on 5v5 action as Stevenson earned his first shutout of the season.

Phantoms struggle on power play in 4-0 loss at Hershey

Powercode

powercode

What do automation, remote working, and the knowledge economy have in common? All three are among the typical answers to the question, “what is the future of work?”, and they all depend on emergent technologies. The tech sector has been a great disruptor of the labor market and a range of industries. But too often this has been accompanied by . increased surveillance, data harvesting and precarious labor For all their disruption, the one thing Silicon Valley has not touched is the ownership and governance structure of a typical capitalist firm. If tech development is seen as the lever for disrupting labor markets and future economies, dependence on that development is hardly surprising. Predicting a future without a focus on high tech would break tradition, and seem as disappointing as . our lack of flying cars These predictions are hardly new. For Marx, gains in productivity caused by capitalist industrial efficiency would create a more developed stage characterized by self-chosen activity where "... society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic." [1] In the 1930s the sought to build on the attainment of the 8 hour workday through a "... !". John Maynard Keynes, neither Wobbly nor Marxist, would make a similar prediction. Industrial Workers of the World four hour day, four day week and no wage cuts In his 1930 paper , he asserts: "We are being afflicted with a new disease of which some readers may not yet have heard the name, but of which they will hear a great deal in the years to come — namely, technological unemployment." Later he concludes: "We shall do more things for ourselves than is usual with the rich to-day, only too glad to have small duties and tasks and routines. But beyond this, we shall endeavour to spread the bread thin on the butter-to make what work there is still to be done to be as widely shared as possible. Three-hour shifts or a fifteen-hour week may put off the problem for a great while." Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren [2] Where does the trope of "The Future of Work" fit into a world unwittingly accelerating toward "something worse than capitalism"? In the video above, writer and scholar McKenzie Wark talk about the new ruling classes spawned by the IT age, techno utopian apologists and the agency over the mutations of exploitation. These three — automation, remote working, and the knowledge economy — are among innumerable, similar examples of projections about the effects of technological, and also political, change. Liberation from menial labor would be all but inevitable, and our focus could be turned toward more worthy, elevated pursuits. So what happened? A relevant truth to acknowledge is that technology is never neutral. Technology enables affordances, or the qualities that define its possible uses. Its outcomes are determined at the design level by "architects" — coders, designers and researchers — and always according to the will of its investors. It may be created to serve those interests, but it can also simply be appropriated and turned to the benefit of the powerful. A clear example is the Internet itself, once thought to be a free zone, “cyberspace”, complete with its own . Then came Web 2.0, surveillance, lock-in and with them, a reshuffling of the power balance. manifestos and utopian ideals Is blockchain technology one of the most relevant of our times? Its would argue so, although there certainly are and sensibilities. But many people remain confused and feel a bit intimidated by the topic, so we attempt to answer it here: What is the blockchain and where did it come from? passionate proponents other viewpoints [3] In an early post describing their invention, Bitcoin's enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, wrote: "The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that's required to make it work. The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust. Banks must be trusted to hold our money and transfer it electronically, but they lend it out in waves of credit bubbles with barely a fraction in reserve. We have to trust them with our privacy, trust them not to let identity thieves drain our accounts." The 2009 publication of the , with its cautionary tales about centralized structures appropriating technologies, stated that people's trust in banks had become obsolete. [4] Bitcoin Whitepaper [5] The Bitcoin network was the new "trustless" technology, enabling transactions over an untrusted network of P2P linked computers. Bitcoin accomplished this through several means: It introduced an incremental improvement on previous cryptographic data structures and it introduced a protocol for verifying the data written to the network. This new cryptographic data structure was called a blockchain and made it easy to verify all of the data contained within it. In particular, Bitcoin implemented the first distributed ledger on these cryptographic data structures. [6] Distributed ledgers allow parties to or single points of failure. They are the underlying accounting technology that allows cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to operate without a central bank. In this way, they are not dependent on corruptible (read, human) overseers: all transactions are consensually validated by all nodes in the network. transact securely without centralized databases . What is blockchain? Still baffled? Above is a short video explanation . Want even shorter explanations, each with their own biases. You can also view this video or this other one too Accounting technologies have been vital in historical economic transformations. There is a theory that the development of modern in Genoa, Florence, and Venice during the 13th to 15th centuries enabled the transition to capitalism and the rise of the merchant class. From clay tablets in Mesopotamia to the knotted strings of the , accounting is a technology and its power to change derives from its embedded values and affordances. double-entry bookkeeping [7] Inca Quipucamayoc [8] [9] The affordances of trustlessness (removing the need for centralized, State or 3rd party validation) would expand the scope of the blockchain. Beyond Bitcoin, the new cryptographic, digital ledgers spawned a new type of organization that would maximize the possibilities of trustlessness. This is the , or DAO. Decentralized Autonomous Organization [10] DAOs are blockchain-based entities that can operate autonomously to execute payments, levy penalties, and enforce terms and contracts with minimal human interaction, like a virtual robot that can automate governance processes and execute investments and payments for an individual or organization. While this may be a simplification of blockchain and DAOs’ possibilities, it is still important to understand the values behind them, and here is where it gets problematic. While there are many exciting aspects to this technology, DAO projects have mostly focused on , tokenization and outsized promises of , while reproducing many of the of the normative systems they aim to disrupt and decentralize. The bitcoin community, for example, is , while . speculative assets disruption power dynamics 91% men 96% of Ethereum users are male There is also a notable lack of political and historical of the movements that prefigured the dynamics of decentralization, which could benefit from the advantages offered by DAOs. awareness [11] [12] Explanations of DAOs (like blockchains) often range from too deeply technical to over-simplified and incomplete. The short video explainer above by The Blu Mantic strikes a happy middle ground. By design, DAOs can earn their own money, and contract and pay for services — they can actually create and wield their own economic power, according to the interests of their programmers. As mentioned before, technology doesn’t develop itself, it’s built by people and companies with specific worldviews and intentions which underlie the aims of the code. With being made by mega-corporations like IBM, HSBC, Facebook, Goldman Sachs and others, there is a very real danger that the future of these decentralized autonomous organizations will reproduce and amplify existing inequalities and power dynamics. blockchain investments in the billions of USD Imagine DAOs that automate and augment mass surveillance, economic tyranny and the suppression of dissent. Sound dystopian? Take a look at some of the investors listed above and engage in some speculative thinking about their means, motives and objectives. And while DAOs and the blockchain are being hailed as the next big disruption to our economic realities, this supposed disruption is still limited by several key factors. It’s difficult to navigate the proliferation of immature technologies. Uses of blockchain and DAOs do nothing to address the basic structural realities; in fact, they may even reinforce them. Early investors with their associated privileges, and highly tech literate individuals are given undue advantage. [13] The promise of decentralization fails as the networks and implementations form centrally around those investors. Meanwhile, the three pillars of present centralization and hierarchy, i.e., the patriarchy, capitalism and colonialism, are rarely acknowledged or addressed. Developed (and invested on) unchecked, the affordances of the blockchain and DAOs could usher an algorithmically executed political economy, where legal recourse, human realities and divergences from the code can simply be ignored. Sometimes, the more things change, the worse they get. To use disruptive technology for a wider benefit, we need to leverage the positive aspects of DAOs for radically different economic and social ends. Our proposal is the DisCO form of distributed cooperative organization. counter-cultural alternatives Next on the The DisCO Elements: In the next chapter, we will explore the basic features of DisCOs by revisiting the main points illustrated on . We will also see how DisCOs are designed to be significantly more horizontal, P2P-oriented, intersectionally feminist, cooperative and socially conscious than DAOs. the DisCO Manifesto About this article This article is the first chapter of which is currently being serialised on Hackernoon. The is by . for full image credits. DisCO stands for "Distributed Cooperative Organization" and it is a feminist, cooperative and commons-oriented alternative to the mainstream DAOspace. is a non-linear introduction to the "hows" of DisCO. to download the full PDF or EPub with extra content, visit for more resources or watch the video trailer below: Groove is in the Heart: The DisCO Elements , featured image Terence Faircloth Click here The DisCO Elements Click here DisCO.coop Footnotes Marx, Part I “Feuerbach,” . The German Ideology Keynes, . Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren At the risk of constant self-referencing, the goes into these exclusions, whether convenient or unwitting, in depth. It also features a deeper exploration about our many issues with blockchain normativity, summarized in the following paragraphs. DisCO Manifesto Nakamoto, . Bitcoin open source implementation of P2P currency For a political analysis of the Bitcoin Whitepaper we thoroughly recommend Jaya Klara Brekke's . You can also listen to , featuring Jaya with Ben Vickers and Paul Mason. The Whitepaper this podcast on The Whitepaper For more insight into what is meant by trustless, there are two articles to read: and Building Trust In The Trustless: Blockchain's Best Asset Is Holding It Back ELI5: What do we mean by “blockchains are trustless”? Agbi, Ogwiji, The Double Entry Book Keeping (Deb) System And The Emergence Of Ethics And The Spirit Of Capitalism Walker, Stephen P. " ." The Accounting Historians Journal 32, no. 2 (2005): 233-59. Accessed July 15, 2020. ACCOUNTING IN HISTORY Given Wikipedia's status as the entry level default for layperson's to learn about certain subjects, we are saddened to see that it's page on the , is majorly focused in Europe, ignoring China and Indigenous accounting. Time for some Wiki editing from the DisCO side, perhaps! History of Accounting This is a gross simplification. For a more in-depth look at Decentralized Autonomous Organizations we recommend by Primavera de Filippi. this critical overview adds: “‘Decentralization’ in computer science is about the physical configuration of the machines and networking in relation to how they store and process data. It has nothing to do with any of the past connotations of it in an economic or governance sense (though in a historical sense, they have similar origins in the human organization of work since computers used to be humans). If a computer algorithm or data storage happens over multiple computers, it’s ‘distributed’. If it happens over multiple computers and physical locations, it’s ‘decentralized’. That’s all that meant by it.” Jill Ada Burrows Advantages can include lowered transactional costs for social interactions within commons-oriented organizations and the potential for value sovereignty. I.e., when done right DAOs can make countercultural, anti-capitalist processes cheaper and more efficient. adds: “It is hard to know what stage of development the DAO technology ecosystem is currently at. Because some say it’s like the Internet in the mid 1980s and others say late 90s and this is another reason not to rush to technical builds.” Ruth Catlow

How to Account for the Future of Work: Automation, Blockchain, and the Knowledge Economy

An Undervalued Blockchain Market in China is Good News for You

243 Stories To Learn About Virtual Reality

153 Stories To Learn About Vr

The Anker PowerCore and VR Power from Rebuff Reality are some of the best Oculus Quest battery packs for added comfort and longer play sessions. With the Oculus Quest, Facebook managed to bring to the masses by providing a lightweight and easy-to-use standalone VR headset. The Quest is used by both hardcore gamers and complete newbies alike. However, for those who find themselves in virtual reality for extended periods of time, the internal Oculus Quest battery just doesn’t cut it. VR How long does the internal Oculus Quest battery last? With just 3648mAh of battery capacity, playtimes can range anywhere from 1.5 - 3 hours depending on the demands of the games you’re playing and your device settings. Even if you are taking breaks in between and putting the headset down every 30 - 40 minutes, you’ll be surprised how quickly the battery runs out. Oculus Quest Battery Packs List For extended play sessions, many hardcore VR gamers have turned to external power banks to charge the headset throughout play. A simple DIY Quest head strap mod can improve comfort by adding a battery pack counterweight to the head strap and give you a power source to charge the headset as you play. But what portable chargers work well as an external battery for the Oculus Quest? In this article, we’ll introduce 5 of the best or most popular ones out there: Anker PowerCore ($31.99 USD) FosPower PowerActive ($49.99 USD) Vena All-in-One Power Bank ($59.99 USD) VR Power from Rebuff Reality ($59.99 USD) No-Name Portable Chargers ($13.99 - $25.99 USD) All prices listed are correct as of the writing of this article and are subject to change. Please be sure to check prices on your own and compare before purchasing. (13,000 mAh) 1. Anker PowerCore When perusing Reddit, Facebook and other forums for the most popular external Oculus Quest battery packs out there, many people kept mentioning the Anker PowerCore. I’ve chosen to highlight the 13,000 mAh model in this article, as I think it provides the best value and the size of it works best for the DIY Oculus Quest comfort mod. Price: $29.99 USD Power Capacity: 13,000 mAh Weight: 255g With 13,000 mAh, the Anker PowerCore should be able to charge the Oculus Quest to full battery three times and still have some juice left in the tank. (10,200 mAh) 2. FosPower PowerActive When it comes to tech, I’m a lover of all things rugged. I don’t know why, but when a device is waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof, it’s just much more appealing to me. Price: $49.99 USD Power Capacity: 10,200 mAh Weight: 220g The FosPower PowerActive portable charger is bulky, so attaching it to the back of your Quest may be a little tricky, but once you do it works great. I had the opportunity to personally test this power bank and it worked perfectly with the comfort mod, but may require longer velcro straps to attach. This power bank can act as more than just an external Oculus Quest battery pack. For those of you that are campers, hikers, or travelers, the FosPower PowerActive can double as your go-to portable charger when you’re out and about. (10,000 mAh) 3. Vena All-in-One Portable Power Bank The Vena power bank is slightly pricier than the other ones on this list, as Vena focuses on manufacturing both convenient and stylish portable accessories. Price: $59.99 Power Capacity: 10,000 mAh Weight: 226g I must admit that the sleek black color matches the original Oculus Quest perfectly and it is the power bank that I currently use on my device. Its thin design with decent weight (226g) help counterbalance the front of the headset while not adding any discomfort to the back of your head. Another benefit of the Vena power bank is that it has both lighting and type-C charging cables built into the device. So if you plan on using this as both your Oculus Quest charger and portable charger for when you’re on the go, this charger could provide good value for your money. (10,000 mAh) 4. VR Power from Rebuff Reality Another popular Oculus Quest battery pack is VR Power from Rebuff Reality. It is a counterweight and battery pack designed specifically for the Oculus Quest and Quest 2, so no mod is needed to attach this to your device. While I didn’t get a chance to review this one myself, the installation process looks pretty straightforward and the Youtube reviews have been generally positive. Price: $59.99 USD Power Capacity: 10,000 mAh Weight: 420g If you don’t need your battery pack to double as a portable charger for your phone or other devices, then this is one of the best options out there. The company also provides a free 1-year warranty on their website. (up to 30,000 mAh) 5. No-name/Brandless Chargers Just search “portable charger power bank” on Amazon and you should be able to find a multitude of power banks created by companies neither you nor I have ever heard of. Price: range from $13.99 to $29.99 USD Power Capacity: range from 10,000 mAh to 30,000 mAh Weight: vary per device The benefits of brandless power banks is that they are much cheaper, can work just as well as branded options, and often provide much more battery capacity at a lower cost. For example, on Amazon.com, I was able to find a . 30,000 mAh power bank for just $19.99 As long as the charger is around 5-6 inches long and 2 - 3 inches wide, it should be fairly easy to attach to the back of your Quest head strap. We hope that this list of 5 Oculus Quest battery pack options can help you in your for longer play sessions. quest : I have no vested interest in any of the companies mentioned above. I have not been paid for the review of these products. Full Disclosure Lead image via Rebuff Reality

5 Best Oculus Quest Battery Packs for Extended Play Sessions

Los 5 mejores paquetes de baterías de Oculus Quest para sesiones de juego extendidas

Wireless VR headsets are fast becoming the new standard in virtual reality hardware—and for good reason. Since VR environments are all about immersion, nothing zaps immersion like being in the middle of an exciting firefight, only to trip and fall on a cumbersome wire while trying to duck for cover. One of the most promising products (the official HTC VIVE Wireless adapter) had everyone waiting excitedly for its release, but due to tech issues, this adapter won’t be released in Japan. That means that the TPCAST is the only wireless adapter legally allowed for use in Japan. The good news is, is an excellent piece of hardware, and by all means a great option. TPCAST While there are some minor issues around the TPCAST’s functionality (which is to be expected as a first-generation commercial product of this kind), the article below outlines several methods to improve usability, and resolve some of the frustration around using TPCAST. Making Changes To The Firmware One major issue many TPCAST users encounter is its unstable connection—leading to instances of failure, which is definitely a big con when trying to enjoy your VR experience. Now, once the TPCAST connects successfully, users will enjoy a reliable connection until the device restarts. However, encountering issues when trying to establish an initial connection is frustrating at best, and prevents you from enjoying your VIVE at the worst. Fortunately, there is an unofficial firmware, known as OpenTPCast, currently in development. When testing it out, a stable connection was created (for now.)—and the reason may lie in the fact that the original frequency isn’t high enough. Much like a mini raspi-PC (with a battery that mounts from a microSD), the TPCAST’s USB device can only transmit video using a wireless LAN connection. OpenTPCast offers an easy installation process since it is disassembled and exchanged with an OpenTPCast-branded microSD. Please Note: There is a possibility that microphones that are normally disabled via traditional TPCAST may function with OpenTPCast. A software option to work in unison with OpenTPCast is FlexiHub, a tool that recognizes USB devices. This is a fantastic alternative to the OpenTPCast software, as it’s reliable and very easy to set up. It does cost $14/month, but can turn devices into device servers (allowing for USB devices to connect wirelessly), meaning it has a plethora of use cases that make it a worthwhile investment. FlexiHub Utilizing Integration To Enhance Comfort And Usability With a cable that connects from the top of the headset, the TPCAST’s miniature PC and battery are designed to attach separately to belts or pockets. This is an excellent design choice, as it ensures the headset is lighter and more comfortable to wear, which contributes to longer playing times and better experiences for users. But, pending on the user's preferences, the battery and mini PC can be integrated with the headset. Conveniently, 3D printer owners can access the mount data on Thingiverse, and have a few different options to choose from. And for those who don’t have 3D printers, don't worry. You can just as easily fasten the battery using zip ties, rubber bands, etc. As seen in the example below, this battery pack was attached with non-slip rubber bands. Enhancing Power Switches There are no power switches on a TPCAST. Once the batter and mini PC connect, the hardware turns on automatically, and the only way to turn it off is by disconnecting the battery and mini PC. As one would assume, if the battery and mini PC are left plugged in, the headset will continue to run until the battery life is used up. That means it’s very important to always disconnect it each time to maximize the lifespan of the battery. Additionally, power cannot transfer to the battery because the charging port is blocked when the headset, battery, and mini PC are connected. This inconveniences many users, but there is a simple solution. As an example, one can attach a bifurcated USB cable and USB-style power switch between the TPCAST and its battery—allowing users to power off the headset without having to disassemble the battery. Fast-Charging And Pleasantly Light-Weight Regarding the TPCAST’s battery life, the PowerCore 20100 (by Anker) is utilized without any addons or enhancements. With a clean and organized design, the PowerCore 20100 is housed within the TPCAST box. One drawback is that the power core isn’t compatible with quick charging capabilities, so a full charge can take up to 12 hours. An easy fix is simply replacing the PowerCore 20100 with the PowerCore II 10000. This reduces output to a single port, and also functions normally via bifurcated connections. Operating time using a standard 20100mAh is 5 hours. However, this varies heavily on individual usage. Being that some may not even use VR for 5 hours, any inconveniences could be minor. Alternatively, if the user spends a majority of their playtime in less physically demanding VR experiences (like in VRChat or for use in distribution), they may find it problematic. Being that it only functions as a power supply, it’s totally compatible with mobile batteries developed by other brands. Users can also try out a similar configuration involving two smaller batteries arranged on the left and the right. Please note: For those just looking for a spare battery, it isn’t necessary to purchase the same model as the attached battery because of the PowerCore II 20000. Magnetic Charging Being that it is very frustrating to connect and disconnect the micro USB for battery charging, using a magnetic charging option could eliminate some of the irritation.  All the user needs to do is attach a basic magnet connector into the battery charging port. Just bring the cable close to the battery, and charge via connecting the magnets together! Removing The Router When introducing TPCAST, formal instructions dictate that users should place the TPCAST router ​​between the PC and the current router. In reality, this setup makes a big impact on the network’s wireless configuration, and is way too complicated for no reason. With that in mind, many users think there really aren't any pros to doing it that way. The TPCAST instruction manual neglects any further explanation in this regard, but it’s believed that this setup is intended for USB device-oriented transmissions via the network. If a PC has two NICs, users can just connect the TPCAST router into whichever one they’d like. Please Note: Even if users have a connection destination between the TPCAST and a pre-existing router, it functions as it should (OpenTPCast gives users the ability to configure their preferred connection destinations.) Many believe this has to do with compatibility problems, over-simplified instructions, and router performance. However, if everything operates successfully using a pre-existing router, then there’s no need for the additional TPCAST router. Additionally, TPCAST routers appear to have a specification defining that reset buttons are attached to an easily accessible location, but it won’t connect upon reset, and a postscript caution paper reading "Do not press" is included. The mini PC’s SSID/PASS is fixed, and looks as though it matches the settings on the router side (so there’s a possibility that that side perhaps won’t match.) Please note: The Remaining Hurdles Yet To Be Solved Some report that when the TPCAST ​​is off, it’s treated like a monitor that lacks HDCP connection support. This means users encounter issues when trying to use apps that need HDCP. Some have attempted to remove the HDMI cable or shut off the link box, but this leads to unstable/unpredictable performance results when using a remote control or switch. All In All, The TPCAST Is A Great Piece Of Hardware While there are many adaptations that improve the experience, the default TPCAST product offers vastly improved usability. All of the VIVE’s standard hardware (body, video reception unit, audio strap, battery, mini PC, switch, and the cable for 11 connectors between the devices) are all attached, so it can be a bit cumbersome to move around in. However, all cables are connected on top of the head, which means the usability is still pretty impressive. While there are definitely cons to the TPCAST, the wireless connection is very comfortable. If users can adapt to the various unpolished details and design elements, it’s a worthwhile product to consider.

TPCAST Wireless VIVE Adapter Customization Options

245 Tools & Resources for Travelers and Digital Nomads

Universal travel adapters are bulky. We’ve got a USB cable (if not two) for every device we own, and power cables with a single-country-plug-type are unavoidable intermediaries. I wrote this post because I often found that while one-baggers are quick to offer advice on how to shed that extra pair of jeans or which well-rounded pair of shoes to buy, we rarely address one of the sneakier aspects of living in the modern world: charging things. Things stack up when you’re not looking Even as a one-bagger, the things we don’t necessarily pay close attention to have a funny ability to multiply when we aren’t looking. One nomad I chatted with once mentioned finding some dozen USB keys he didn’t know he had when emptying his bag out to clean it — apparently he just kept forgetting they were there, and bought more. I generally thought myself to be avoiding similar situations by regularly taking stock of my things (creating the section of this blog helps with that). However, after my latest inventory, I realized I’ve been glossing over one thing in particular — my bag of charging supplies. I’m embarrassed to admit that it had gotten a bit out of hand. packing list And as I later discovered, this wasn’t all of it. I can partly forgive myself — I’m a software developer, after all, and travel with more than a couple electronics that need plugging in once in a while. After counting properly, however, I decided there’s just not much excuse for a self-declared minimalist (myself) to have two three duplicates of the same 1m USB cable… and one cable for a device that I don’t think I actually own. How did this happen? It’s likely rooted in the same thinking that gets most people into trouble when it comes to letting stuff accumulate: “I should hang on to this, because it ” I think it’s easy to let that thought go by and assume it comes from a place of pragmatism — but I’m lately beginning to believe that it instead is based more in a scarcity mindset. The simple phrasing “might come in handy later” in itself tells us we don’t need the item In these modern times, few items are so rarely available that we couldn’t at any point pick one up, if and when we need it at this mythical point of “later.” (Maybe if you’re going bushcrafting in some lonely part of Africa, you could argue that a 1m USB cable would not be readily available — then again, if you’re going bushcrafting in some lonely part of Africa, you likely have other priorities.) might come in handy later. now. While we could make the argument that it’s wasteful to give up potentially useful, functioning things that we need later, I’d caution against this thinking as that way lies a slippery slope. There’s a plethora of things I need tomorrow — they don’t all fit in any bag I’d want to have to carry. Instead, I’d address wastefulness by doing something useful with the item I’m giving up — donating it to a local charity, usually, or . might might experimenting with giving it away Leaning out my charging supplies I did still have the practical aspects to address in terms of my charging set up. I travel frequently to different countries, so plug adapters are a necessity; and I have several different electronics to charge, so different USB charging supplies are necessary. As always, I prefer any gear that helps me to travel with a compact, light load, and I don’t mind investing in quality items that are likely to help me do that for a long time. After some thought, I came to the conclusion that an ideal minimalist charging set up has three main components: A universal travel adapter with high-speed charging USB output Durable, high-quality charge and data sync cables A powerful but lightweight portable battery With that in mind, I got myself a super lean, minimalist charging set up. It’s just five components and charges all my electronics in every country. My new minimalist charging set up consists of: CARD Travel Adapter 4-Pro (Type C+3 USB Ports) Anker PowerLine USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 Cable with Power Delivery Anker PowerLine Micro USB — Charging Cable Anker Powerline II Lightning Cable MFi Certified Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 Power Bank It charges all my electronics, which are: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (5th Gen) iPhone 8 Apple Watch Series 3 Google Pixel XL ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with trackpoint JBL Reflect Mini Bluetooth Sport Headphones Anker SoundCore nano Bluetooth Speaker BlitzWolf Bluetooth Tripod/Monopod Pencil by FiftyThree Olympus PEN EPM-2 Mirrorless Camera Not a bad ratio as far as I’m concerned! Most important: a universal travel adapter and USB fast charger in one It always baffled me that so few solutions exist for international travel when it comes to adapting to wall outlets. Until now, I’d only ever seen kits of 4–6 single-plug AC adapters that required their own bag to keep together, or large and bulky all-in-one universal adapters with different pins that slide in and out. Perhaps the closest to a real minimalist adapter I’ve seen would be the , which has a pretty small footprint. However, its function is limited since it doesn’t sport any USB outputs. Plugging in an additional AC-to-USB charger to the Road Warrior adds a bit more bulk and distance from the wall than I’d prefer. Road Warrior Adapter I was pretty happy to find the . Not only does it plug in anywhere, it provides a 45W USB-C output that can charge my laptop, and three other USB-A outputs that will fast charge my iPhone and other devices. For my camera battery charger, there’s a front-facing universal socket. It packs a lot of utility into a small, slim package, and weighs just 155g. CARD Travel Adapter 4-Pro For more photos and an in-depth review, . read this post Durable, high-quality cables Cheap cables are widely available, but their low cost often comes with compromises in quality and durability. By the time you’ve replaced your third one after it either stops working or the covering fails, you may as well have spent your money on a higher quality and more durable cable. I’m a fan of Anker. Their customer service has been top notch, and they make good-looking and durable electronics. I’m especially impressed with the they offer on their . I wish this warranty extended to their other cables, but is still nothing to shake a stick (or cable) at, and a much better offer than the 12 months (if at all) you’ll get from most other suppliers, including Apple. lifetime warranty PowerLine II Lightning Cables 18 months From left to right: (41g) Anker PowerLine USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 Cable with Power Delivery (32g) Anker PowerLine Micro USB — Charging Cable (23g) Anker Powerline II Lightning Cable MFi Certified Each of the cables I chose is 3ft, or almost 1 metre long. When it comes to cables, I’ve come to conclude that having fewer, longer, higher-quality cables is the most sustainable minimalist approach. Having one cable for each type of USB you use will cover your needs without excess. The only exception that I can think of would be having two of the same type of device that you frequently charge at the same time, in which case, two of the same cable is not unreasonable. Just be aware that plugging two devices into the same charger at the same time usually reduces the output that each device receives, because the total output of the charger is shared between the devices. If it’s a fast charge you’re after, you may get better results charging your items one at a time. A single long cable covers a variety of situations, and is less bulky in total than having more cables of different lengths for different situations. Anker PowerLine II cables come with a well-made hook-and-loop fastener strap to keep the cable tidy. Alternatively, you can repurpose stretched-out hair ties or rubber bands as a super fast cable tie. I posted some photos that show how in my . post about inexpensive travel items A powerful and lightweight portable battery If your travel is mainly through major cities, a power bank is one of those items that you might carry around for weeks and never need to use — until the day you do. Whether it’s finding yourself in a busy cafe when all the outlets are taken and you’re down to %15, or boarding your 8-hour flight to discover that the USB outlet at your seat doesn’t work, you’re bound to find yourself in a situation where having portable power is suddenly more than worth the effort of carrying it around. The sweet spot, of course, is being able to have a lot of power without a lot of weight. For my ideal solution, I again turned to Anker. They make the — a beautiful, slim power bank that I can hold in one hand while holding my phone. It packs 10,000mAh into just 210g — enough to fast charge my iPhone 8 more than three times over. Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 Power Bank This is a minimalist’s portable battery. All power, slim and sleek, no fuss. For more photos and an in-depth review, . read this post Keeping it lean Even with a new charging set up, there’s nothing to prevent things from piling up again if I don’t continue to pay attention. Charging clutter could accumulate if I forget I already own something and buy it again, or by acquiring new cables and chargers when I buy a new device, or by some inexplicable force of the universe that seems a direct opposite effect to losing socks in the dryer. For these reasons, I’ve moved from storing my charging kit in an opaque dopp bag to keeping it in one of my Minaal packing cubes, which has a mesh top, and is made of a grey nylon. It’s much easier to see my (all black) cables and chargers in this storage configuration, which should help to keep me aware of what’s there. After revamping or whittling down your charging set up, I think the highest contributing factor to keeping your kit lean — like with minimalism in general — is simply to pay attention, and not let things stack up. Thanks for reading! For more on how I live full-time as a one-bag nomad, check out heronebag.com .

The key components of a minimalist’s charging kit

This past year, I have lived in . All this while working a full time job, remotely. 6 continents, 17 countries, 7 time zones and 21 cities Work is my primary goal. Work is what enables me to live this life. So obviously, being connected is the center of my focus. Additionally, I am part of the Infrastructure team at BuzzFeed, which means, I have to be oncall for a week every month and be generally available 24/7, at other times. So, what do I carry around? To be honest, what I carry around changes a lot! Anything that goes into my backpack has to earn its place there and needs to be used at least once a week for it to keep its place. For the first part in this series, I will attempt to break down . what tech is usually in my backpack Preface: None of this would be possible without my trusted powerhorse, my Apple iPhone 7 Plus . Honestly, its the driver of my existence. Takes photos that aren’t too shabby ( instagram.com/sricola ), lives up to battery life expectations and the large screen means I can read, write or watch anything on the go. — this is my go to device when I want something larger than my iPhone but don’t want to pull out my laptop — to check my email, read, watch videos or pretty much anything else. With T-Mobile’s data service on it, I get high speed internet while in the US, Canada and Mexico — and manageable, albeit slower speeds outside the North American continent. iPad Pro 9.7 (4G LTE) with Smart Keyboard ( ) — keeps my devices charged and the gigantic 20,100 mah battery means there is plenty to go around. It also has a USB-C charge port which means I can also with it! That in itself is a huge selling point to me. Anker PowerCore+ external battery link charge my MacBook Pro ( , we both get $20 if you sign up)— this is my secondary phone. I use it to get high speed internet while roaming at the not-so-great-but-also-not-so-terrible price of $10/GB. Savior when you need that bit of fast , no matter where you are — Bali to Tokyo to Santiago — wherever you go. The phone is also unlocked meaning I can pop in a local SIM if needed. LG Nexus 5x with Google Project Fi link internet ( ) — I mean, all these devices are finger print magnets and nobody wants a dirty screen. What can I say? I am obsessed with clean screens. MicroFiber Cloth link ( ) — I love and hate this little laptop. Battery life is hit or miss, glitchy af on graphics, overheats BUT it’s light, and can be charged using the aforementioned battery pack. I have come to love the lower profile keyboard. MacBook Pro, Non Touch Bar link ( ) — Bose makes solid acoustic devices. They aren’t my ideal sounding pair, but the bluetooth functionality and noise cancelling makes this a god send on flights or in a noisy environment. Battery life gets me through 8 hour flights with ease. Bose QC35 Noise Cancelling Headphones link — okay, this was a hard sell to me. They are also hard to find since can’t figure out the supply chain. Apple’s older wired EarPods never stayed in my ear, and I was skeptical about these. But, without the dangling wires of the old style, these actually stay in my ear! I wouldn’t dare to jaunt across the street with them in my ear, but they’re great for casual listening. They stow away easily and the battery life is decent. Apple AirPods Apple ( ) — this is the swiss army knife of my life’s power needs. Not only is it a multi port USB and USB-C charger, it also has a built in battery that charges itself. The in-built battery is on the smaller side, but its good enough to charge my iPhone 7 Plus up at least once. Anker PowerCore Fusion link Other Honorable Mentions US Power Strip — I have a mini 3 outlet power strip. Top Tip: With this, you only need one outlet and one convertor to plug in all your devices. Cables — I mean, there is no way around this. You end up with a tonne of cables. will

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