ZipKord: A Better Car Charger

All car chargers are the same, right? No.

I picked up the top-of-the-line Micro Tip, iPad & iPhone Dual USB Car/Wall Charger from ZipKord at CES last month and it seems to have everything.

The main charger unit has a retractable two-prong AC wall plug as well as the DC cigarette lighter plug. It has two powered USB plugs which deliver one amp each or two amps for just one plug. All car chargers have a fuse but only some, like the ZipKord's, are replaceable. If the charger fails, make sure to check the fuse by unscrewing the cap.

The kit also includes a retractable micro-USB adapter cord that extends to 40 inches. There have been cords like this for a long time, but ZipKord says its is "double injection molded at both ends of the plug so that the wires are secure and can be pulled over 2000 times." I know I'll have lost the charger long before that. Finally, there is a simple micro-USB-to-Apple 30-pin connector.

ZipKord lectured me that you need to be careful with such retractable cords always to pull both sides at the same time. When you only pull one, that's when they get messed up. There is a warning on the casing of the cord about this. Remember, it's Important.

Even the very best products in this category are cheap and they're available online for even less. In this case, I don't think it's worth saving a couple of bucks.

Name: ZipKord Micro Tip, iPad & iPhone Dual USB Car/Wall Charger

A high-quality car charger kit for phones and other gadgets. For a few bucks more, you can have the best.

Price: $24.99
Pro:

• Two USB ports.
• Micro-USB and Apple 30-pin connectors.
• Charger can plug into AC wall socket, too.
• High-quality retractable USB extension cable.

Con:

• A little pricier than other chargers.