USB Power Pot Uses Excess Heat to Charge Your Gadgets

"Energy Harvesting" will be practical when devices consume virtually no power. Which, by the way, will be the point in time that they require so little energy it won't matter. Consequently, IMHO, it will never be practical.

After it harvests the 400mAh, does it just quit? If so, that's some of the most expensive electricity ever produced.

Once again, some "scientific reporter" is confused about electrical units.

Even if it produces 400mA continuously, the payback period is likely to be infinite on account of extraneous heat escapement.

Being an outdoors enthusiast and loving getting out away from all civilization, I can see how this could have a purpose if it charged a GPS or emergency locator beacon. There is no point in charging an iphone out there as there are no cell towers and I fight to keep it that way. A cell phone ringer ruins quietness and the point of being out there.

Unless you are going somewhere you have fire but no sun, a solar panel would me much cheaper.

And preferred and faster and easier to use! My vote was for solar to begin with.

You can always turn it on "air plane mode" which stops the device from looking for signal. I love the outdoors, but some jams in the tent before sleeping is always nice. Solar is the way to go for sure, but I thought this was still a pretty cool idea.

I've been using a windup charger while camping, cost about £15 a few years back, has seen me through 3 different phones. it also keeps me warm (the effort of winding).