Griffin's PowerJolt is the USB version of the company's FireWire-based PowerPod auto charger for the iPod. Like the PowerPod, the PowerJolt plugs into your car's accessory ("cigarette lighter") jack and provides power to any device connected to its port. However, unlike the PowerPod, which featured a FireWire 400 port, the PowerJolt provides a USB port. You can charge an iPod shuffle by plugging it directly into the USB port, or you can charge a 4G or later full-size iPod or an iPod mini using the included USB dock connector cable. (The PowerPod can charge any dock-connector iPod via an included FireWire dock connector cable.)

Although at $25 the PowerJolt is more expensive than some of the other auto chargers we've seen, it's not really that pricey when you consider that it includes a 4-foot USB dock connector cable, a version of which Apple sells for $19.--Dan Frakes

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