USB Energy Saver Cuts Standby Power, Saves Planet

Saving the planet with new gadgetry is so 2008. TrickleStar, a relatively unknown Hong Kong company, claims to have the "world's first" power-saving device that can slash as much as 12% from your utility bills by cutting standby power and that presumably can reduce the same amount on your electricity use. (We hate to break this news to you, but CheckTap has beaten you to the world's first title.)

Here's how energy saver works. The TrickleStar PC Standby Power Saver connects to a PC via a USB cable and continuously checks the power status of the computer. There's another power extension cable that daisy-chains to your regular power strip with all your peripherals plugged in. When the PC is switched off, the TrickleStar's current sensing circuitry will cut power to the peripherals. Conversely, when a PC is powered on, the accessory devices will be switched back on. The power saver is due in January 2009.