After a few years when they were all but forgotten, it would seem that hand-cranked devices are making a strong comeback, since an increasing number of companies have come up with such items as of late. And one such vendor is SharperImage, who's been presenting since the first half of 2007 the Eton Porsche Design AM/FM/SW Aluminum Hand-Crank Radio, a device that provides quite a plethora of functions in a very attractive external casing.



Thus, the first thing that draws the user's attention to this device is the Eton Porsche Design, as the radio features a cast aluminum housing, machine bolt treatment and a cast aluminum crank handle with a magnetic lock. Moreover, it sports a black rubberized speaker grill and precision knurled knobs and tuning wheels with extruded aluminum metal teeth.



However, this device provides a lot more than a pretty face. Thus, it features an AM & FM/Shortwave aerial antenna, but also uses dual conversion super-heterodyne technology, ensuring accurate reception, even on the European and Japanese frequencies. Moreover, it sports an ultra bright dual white LED flashlight, a red LED flashing emergency light with siren as well as a built-in dynamo cell-phone charger.



As the name itself suggests, the device is powered by a hand-cranked dynamo, which provides four different power options, including: dynamo hand-cranking, rechargeable NiMH battery, plug-in AC adapter or 3 AA batteries. Moreover, it allows the users to recharge their cell-phones, as they can purchase a special adapter that connects to one of the device's power outlets.



The Eton Porsche Design AM/FM/SW Aluminum Hand-Crank Radio retails for around 200 US dollars, which is way too expensive, even for a multi-talented and multi-functional designer's device such as this one.