Nothing makes my heart tingling more with joy than having electronic devices that aren’t so depending on the traditional power sources. For an instance, keyboard that is powered by solar cells would be something that I won’t hesitate in having to yearn for. Now, my heart just a tad happier than usual since there is now a Kindle cover which uses solar cells for powering the Kindle, and this solar-powered Kindle cover will make its appearance in CES 2012.
I’m a Kindle user, and my Kindle rocks in term of lasting for days if not a week before I even think about recharging it. Nonetheless, the idea of prolonging the Kindle’s battery life per charging cycle even much much more, to a point of forgetfulness is almost making my heart sings. Why almost? Unfortunately, this solar-powered Kindle cover will cost around $79.99. You can check out this solar-powered Kindle cover at solarmio.com/en/.
Check out this cool USB dongle which Always Innovating claims it will bring Android to your old school flatscreenTV. Of course, your flatscreen TV needs to have HDMI port to be able to use this dongle, but I cannot imagine that there is a flatscreen TV without an HDMI port. The dongle uses USB cable to power itself. It’s unclear though will the USB connection would allow this dongle to transfer data to computer/laptop or not. Usually, USB cable is capable of such thing, but I do not want to claim that I know since I don’t have this dongle in my vicinity to test it out.
Here is one drawback about this dongle is that some flatscreen TVs will not carry USP ports, but usually this means these flatscreen TVs are old school. Still, the whole selling point of this dongle is to allow users to stream movies and video games through Android OS on many old school flatscreen TVs that are capable of projecting contents at 1080p. Nonetheless, I think this drawback can be fixed quickly if you are willing to spend around $20 bucks or a little more or less, depending on how skillfully you are with shopping around for bargains on USB chargers and extenders. Quick look on Amazon and I see that there is a Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger goes for $12. Adding USB extender cable for some bucks, and then I guess you can really extend the USB cable of this dongle to plug to a wall outlet for powering the dongle this way.
The specifications for Alaways Innovating HDMI dongle are ARM Cortex-A9, 256 MB up to 1 GB of RAM, built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, NFC module, and an accelerometer. If you watch the videos right after the break, you will see that this USB dongle can stream movies from Netflix, Hulu, and so on. Since Android is a complete operating system for mobile, expect that you can surf the Internet on your old school flatscreen TV with this USB dongle.
Engadget suggests this Always Innovating HDMI dongle goes for $79. Expect this little gem to make an appearance at CES 2012. CES 2012 will go live in couple days more. In my opinion, this USB HDMI dongle from Always Innovating is one awesome product. This gem might lead the way for the future where everyone just needs to carry their own personal dongle so they can bring their TV everywhere. Oh, let not forget this little gem right now can already allow you to play video games anywhere. Well sort of, as long that anywhere means that somewhere has a stationary flatscreen TVs or computer monitors that would accept HDMI connection.
I can see a future where people would not need XBOX 360 console (Live) or even PS3 console (Playstation Network) to enjoy video games and movies. In fact, I think mightier dongles with more capabilities might even allow users to be able to install different operating systems onto them; users might use such dongles as mini-computers, set top boxes, and video game consoles — all on the go. Talking about mobility for electronic/digital forms of entertainment on another whole level right? Of course, no such thing as a mightier dongle exists yet, but at least now we have the so called Always Innovating HDMI dongle.
Will you buy Always Innovating HDMI dongle when it comes out? I think I might want one, but as Engadget suggests, they don’t really know when this dongle will be available for customers to buy. Let hope Always Innovating releases their HDMI dongle to the market very soon. For your entertainment, check out the videos of Always Innovating HDMI dongle right after the break.
Back in the early November, I had mentioned of Republic Wireless which offered $19 unlimited wireless plan per month, but I also pointed out how Republic Wireless $19 unlimited wireless plan could only truly be unlimited if users hogged their Wi-Fi networks so users would not have to be throttled when limited minutes, texts, and data are running out. Well, Republic Wireless has just turn up the heat by offering truly unlimited, $19 unlimited wireless plan per month. I feel I’m in love again.
According to Gizmodo‘s article “That Unbelievable $19 Unlimited Data/Voice/Text Plan Is Truly Unlimited,” Republic Wireless is now allowing customers to use the minutes, texts, and data as they see fit without having to worry about getting throttles, and the plan is still only $19 per month. I do somewhat worry what if Sprint decides it doesn’t like this idea some months down the road? After all, Republic Wireless is piggybacking Sprint’s wireless network.
Oh, never mind, don’t you worry too much, because if you are worrying about Sprint, then you never know how good it might feel when having unlimited minutes, texts, and data for your smart phones. Did I use smartphone as in its plural form (i.e., smartphones)? See, even if you get two or three smartphones with Republic Wireless, it seems you are saving so much money still that you might just have to give them customers of AT&T-Verizon-other-big-wireless-carriers your arrogant smirks, because you can do so. So, don’t hold back you smirky, you.
Update: I forgot to tell you that you don’t have to sign a contract to use Republic Wireless $19 unlimited wireless plan! Give me five!
Vinh Nguyen
