In celebration of Throwback Thursday, let’s go way way back, like DeLorean status, and take a look at some tech products that were pretty revolutionary at the time. What can we say, these things have come a pretty long way, but hey, everything had to start somewhere.

Laserdisk Player

Before Netflix, before DVDs, before VHS, and even before BETA, was the Laserdisck. Built in 1978, Laserdisc players were designed to play video and audio stored on Laserdisc. Laserdisc was the first optical disc format marketed to consumers.

These things were pretty big…

Cassette Tape Recorders

The power to record your voice or another song onto a cassette tape. That was awesome. Now, people just push an app on their phones, but back then these things were the shit.

Walkman

Walkmans were awesome! You could take your cassette tape, stick it in this little thing and listen to your music anywhere! It was completely revolutionary.

Floppy Discs

You know that little Micro SD Card in your phone or camera that stores zillions of documents or pictures? Well, these things were the first. The big block floppy disk was 8″ big and held two documents!

Dial Up AOL

“Beee, booop, skaweeet, reweeet…. sound familiar?

In the beginning, AOL came on a CD in a cereal box. Ya, instead of a toy, you got free hours of internet!

Polaroid Cameras

Remember your bedroom wall being covered in faded, yellowed Polaroids? Those were the days! The idea that you could develop an image right there and then was crazy! So, all you 15-year-olds taking “selfies” left and right…. we did that way before you!

8-Track Tapes

Want to listen to music in your car? You could put an 8-track tape in! In 1965, Ford was the first to introduce pre-installed 8-track tape players in all their 1966 models!

Got anymore to add to the list? Let’s hear them!

You are a business person. You have e-mails to check, calls to make, and meetings to attend. You live on the go, never wanting to miss an opportunity or chance to shake a hand and make another connection. For most of the day, your cell phone is your life, and you need it’s life to be on point, too, just as you are. As we all we all know though, battery life isn’t always accountable as you wished it would be. One emergency meeting, extra long phone call, or cab ride might just do your battery in, and there is definitely nothing suave about that.

Luckily, PowerSkin has been keeping you in mind and has two different, powerful life extending external mobile battery cases to keep you going all day long.

First, PowerSkin’s line of black, one-piece silicone, soft-touch cases provides power and protection. Cases slide and wrap effortlessly around your mobile device, while providing tough, shock-proof protection. These cases are light, and durable with very little added bulk. 1500 mAh of battery power add up to 70% more talk and use time depending on your phone, is charge and sync capable, and is NFC enabled. These smart, sophisticated cases are available for Samsung SIII, iPhone 5/5S, Blackberry Z10, and several other smartphones.

Second, PowerSkin has a new line of sleek, ultra-thin battery cases called Spare. Currently available is the first product of this line- the PowerSkin Spare for Samsung Galaxy S®4

Featuring the thinnest battery on the market, PowerSkin Spare is the new life loving partner for your Samsung Galaxy S® 4. The luxuriously slim design fits seamlessly with the phone’s natural shape. Weighing in at only .49 lbs, the contemporary, one piece polycarbonate case is sleek and sophisticated, featuring electroplated bezels and two colors (black and white) for a smart touch of style. The Spare ads up to 70% more battery life to your phone.

These two powerful cases keep you work savvy all day long, without loosing points on style! Keep in touch with us, because in the very near future, we will be releasing a few very exciting products which I guarantee will be must haves for your office, briefcase, or computer bag!

Check back regularly on our blog for product updates or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

You are a runner, a walker, an avid gym goer, a tennis player, a dancer, or cyclist. You love the feeling of the wind in your hair, the sweet burning in your legs, a pounding heart, sweat on your skin, and the sense of pride and accomplishment when done. You are a no nonsense go-getter and nothing will slow you down, especially not a dead phone battery.

Your music, your books, your lectures, and even your phone calls are all part of you and your daily routine. You run to the beat of Justin Timberlake, petal hard to Rush, walk listening to your sister’s latest tale of the guy next door, and jog on the treadmill while being inspired by Ted Talks. You have your whole day planned out and ready to go, but what happens if an unexpected phone call leaves your battery lower than you want? Or what if extra meetings means it’s been hours since you last powered up and your phone won’t have enough life left to make it through the next hour? You’ve all been there… stranded with your smartphone… wondering what you should do. Skip today’s exercise and make up for it tomorrow? Dare to workout out of routine?

Luckily, there is a solution. For quick, on the go power that easily fits into a gym bag, running belt, or pocket, PowerSkin Pop’n is a great hybrid mobile power solution for your workout.

What makes Pop’n special is its patented suction cups. Completely unique to Pop’n and like nothing else in the industry, Pop’n suctions right onto the back of nearly any iPhone or micro USB phone or smooth case. Pop’n is actually pretty small and doesn’t take up much additional real estate at all.

The detachable flexible tip fits right into your charging port and gives your phone up to 70% more battery life. In the event Pop’n doesn’t fit over your case, just remove the case and suction it right onto the back of your naked phone. With a quick little pop, Pop’n comes right off, mark free. You can then throw it back in your bag and be on your way.

This is a great solution for you exercise aficionados looking to not only get the most out of your workout, but the most out of your battery life as well. PowerSkin Pop’n will keep you moving, keep you motivated, and keep you going further, faster, harder, stronger.

If PowerSkin Pop’n sounds like a mobile battery solution for you, check out more info about it HERE.

This image is property of Engadget.

So what do you think? You’ve read the reviews, seen the highlights, the tech world is abuzz with iPhone S5 chatter, but what are your views?

Does a stray from traditional black and white to stylish metallics do anything for you? What about the funky colors of the iPhone 5C and its quirky, futuristic rubber cases?

Do you really think the iPhone 5C is the new value phone or has this new comer already been branded “iPhone 5Cheap”?

They say there is some pretty revolutionary processing power inside the the new iPhone 5S and that the camera is pretty awesome. A 64-bit A7 processor and an image stabilizer for photos, as well as burst more. I like the sound of that.

We will have to wait and see if once the new iPhones reach consumer hands, how will the new upgrades perform? Will the iPhone S5 be everything and more iPhone users have come to love about the phone, or will it’s shiny exterior eventually dull, giving way to a lackluster phone that leaves users with much to desire?

XPAL Power, our fearless leader, and the technology giant behind SpareOne™, PowerSkin® and Energizer® Energi To Go® brands will showcase its latest lineup at IFA 2013 in Berlin!

I don’t think I’ve introduced PowerSkin’s siblings, so let me do that.

SpareOne is the recipient of the Taiwan Excellence Award, CES Best of Innovations Award, and Computex Best Choice Award, SpareOne, the world’s only emergency mobile phone powered by a single AA battery has recently launched the highly anticipated, next generation SpareOne Plus.

SpareOne Plus runs on a single AA battery, but also has the power to locate the phone’s approximate position on a map, send emergency alerts, and enables customizable speed dial numbers and SOS button!

There’s also Energizer® Energi To Go®. The Energizer XP3000A rechargeable slim and lightweight portable charger is guaranteed to provide smartphones up to 1 full charge and more. It comes with a built-in Apple® lightning cable and an output USB port to support charging two devices at once.

And, of course PowerSkin will be there! We’ve got a little surprise to show you there, too!

XPAL Power will be on display at Messe Berlin GmbH Hall 9, Booth No. 101-17, September 6th-11th

Stop by, say hi. Chat a little!

IFA Berlin 2013 kicks off this week and there are many exciting things to look forward to. Our buddies in the mobile world, Samsung, were show stoppers last year with their Note II and it looks to be the same this year. Samsung’s “unpacked” campaign went off without a hitch today and they pulled out all the stops. Here are some of their newest products.

The lightly anticipated, faux LEATHER, Galaxy Note 3.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

The, again faux LEATHER backed, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

So what do you think about the faux leather backing on their phone and tablet? I’m sure it is their answer to concerns about fingerprints and grip. We’ll see how long the white is able to stay clean. Maybe it’s easily washable. Also, hope it’s durable.

The different mediums in backing, apart from the normal glossy plastic, seems to be a current trend. The Moto X is also experimenting with more personality, possibly including actual wood backs to their phones.

We’ll have to wait and see how this trend does. Will it soar, paving the way for completely new materials and skins or is traditional glossy plastic or metal the way to go? Only time will tell.

This year, really turn some heads with your back to school gear! Powerful, efficient, sleek, and bold, these products are sure to get you noticed and keep you organized and on track throughout the whole year. These are the top must haves for college 2013!

LG Optimus G Pro

This phone’s 1080p display features crisp, vibrant images and good viewing angles. It has a 13MP camera and is quite affordable. If you are looking for a phone with a large screen, a good value, and can play with the big kids out in the sandbox, this is the phone to get! This phone starts at $100.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p high-perf laptop

This15-inch Y510p is a powerful machine. Even with the lower end of the range you get some top-tier specs, like a 1080p screen, quad-core Core i7 Haswell processor, 1TB of storage and a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU. Move up though, and you can get twice the RAM, along with a 24GB SSD to pair with that hard drive. I will warn you though, with power comes price. This beauty starts at $999.00.

PowerSkin Pop’n

PowerSkin PoP’n battery chargers provide 70% more talk and use time in a revolutionary design. Quickly and securely attach PoP’n to your smartphone, even over existing cases. This is a must for long days that turn into even longer nights! Retails at $79.99.

Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus

Now, I’ll warn you in advance… this one ain’t cheap, but if you want the best and you got the $… you want this. From a pure technology perspective, Samsung’s 13.3-inch ATIV Book 9 Plus reigns supreme. It has a 3,200 x 1,800, fold-flat touchscreen, your choice of Haswell-based processors, and a A 12-hour battery. Sold! This retails at $1,400.

Microsoft Surface Pro

The Microsoft Surface Pro is the ultimate Windows 8 machine. Its magnesium alloy body and high-res display means it will be sure to get noticed. Thanks to a full-size USB port, users can hook up a keyboard or use the surprisingly useful type covers — meaning you’ll never have to finish a term paper with fingers on glass!

There you have it… the top 5 college tech gear for 2013! What do you think? Must haves for you, too?