Few things are more frustratingly useless than a dead cell phone. When it's got power, it's your connection to the world. When it's out of juice, however, it's a symbol of your poor planning and charge management. Now you can't call anyone until you go home. Who knows what sorts of things you're missing out on!

Well, this wind-up phone charger will put some uselfulness back into your phone even if you're nowhere near a wall outlet. Simply plug in, crank up, and you'll be set with some juice to let you at least check your voicemail and make sure you didn't miss out on that job offer or marriage proposal or whatever else you're terrified of missing. In fact, with a minute of cranking providing 30 minutes of talk time, you can just take those calls yourself. No stress required. — Adam Frucci

Uberphones, via Ecofriend