I'm loving the form of Eton's FRX3+. It's their American Red Cross Multi-Powered Weather Alert Radio, and the designers have packed a lot of functionality into a compact, striking-looking package.
The top of the handle features a glow-in-the-dark bezel so you can find it during a blackout. That bezel surrounds a small solar panel you can use to charge it.
You can also charge it by cranking it, and the device's 2600mAh battery can in turn be used to charge small items via USB. There's an LED flashlight on one side. The two knobs on the side are for volume and tuning. It's got a built-in alarm clock. The antenna is tucked away in the rear.
These run $60.
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Comments
This thing looks like an ergonomic nightmare. Something a first year ID student would cook up. The knobs inside the frame? Probably not pleasant to turn. The crank handle that scrapes against the other hand holding onto it? I'll pass.
Some years back, I bought a similar Eton product with excellent design and seemingly excellent features. I had experience with similar radios from Kaito, but, for some reason, I bought this Eaton radio. It was being peddled on a radio program I listened to regularly, and, perhaps, I thought I should buy something from them. Just to say thanks.
I have one of these and I never got to second think the design of the device, but I think they really put effort in the ergonomics of it. For instance while holding it with both hands in front of you, you can turn the knobs by using your index and thumb fingers. It can also be easily held with one hand with the device laying on its back and then you can crank the lever with no obstruction. The overall build quality is average at best, but I can testify the thing is sturdy. All things said, it is a fairly good product, meant to be cheap, not the best.
Hmm mini-usb in is super-archaic, full-size usb-a out is barely better. The ergonomics for cranking look interesting, my instinct is that it'd be nicer to be able to hang the crank off the side and place the body flat on a rock/stump/picnic table for any serious amount of cranking.