Several unusual options are available to help people keep their devices running. Among them are the SideWinder cell phone charger ($24,95, www.istdesigns.com) for folks whose stuff has run out of juice while far from an electrical or car outlet. The 2.5-ounce device features a small hand crank, and two or three minutes of churning will produce enough power for six minutes of talk time or a half-hour of standby time.

Low-on-power portable electronic devices also can benefit from the HYmini ($50, www.hymini.com) from Miniwiz Sustainable International Ltd. The universal charger/adapter uses the wind for recharging. An hour outside on a breezy day will charge it up enough for two hours of MP3 play time. Strap it to your arm while bike-riding for an hour and you'll have enough juice for more than 50 digital photos or about 15 cell phone minutes. Drive at 40 mph with the HYmini mounted on a car window and you'll be able to talk on your cell phone 40 minutes more or listen to more than eight hours of MP3 music. Optional solar panels allow the HYmini to get power from the sun. The base unit and accessories package costs $80, with extra solar panels costing $25 each.

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E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com