Battery Backup Chargers

 

Have you ever been in a situation where your phone, tablet or other electronic device has run out of battery juice? Well it has happened to me plenty of times.

Sometimes you’re in luck if at home and can plug the device into a wall charger or even in the car with the dashboard-lighter charger. I have even brought a USB wall charger with me while waiting at the airport and tried to sit next to an AC plug. However, once you’re on the plane there are no chargers at your seat. Hopefully, your laptop, tablet or game device has a long charge still left.

Last month I took a boat trip from Ft. Myers, FL to Key West, FL. The round trip was about 3.5 hours long in the morning and almost 5 hours back at night. Although we had fun on the island the boat trip was very teadious. However, you could pass the time talking and seeing the sights or having a snack. But as I looked around a lot of passengers had their tablets out reading or playing a game. My iPod Touch soon ran out of juice but some passengers had a little “Thingy” on a wire hanging on their tablet. Curious, I asked and found out that it was a Battery Charger.  When I got home, I looked into getting my own “Thingy” and found a whole assortment of choices and a range of prices from reasonable to expensive.

I then saw a TV Ad showing a device where you placed your iPhone or iPod on a power mat and they charged up without any wire connection. It was called the Duracell Powermat and sold for about $97.00. That’s kind of steep for my taste. For info see the web link below …

Duracell Powermat CSA4B1 24-Hour Power System for iPhone 4/4s - Black

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082YVBO0?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

I then looked on Amazon.com and found several choices. The least expensive was the Stitchway Backup Battery Charger for iPhone and iPod Touch and it was only $ 5.13 including shipping. That’s more to my liking. For info see the web link below … 

Stitchway UltraPower 1900 mAh Backup Battery Charger for iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4G, iPod, and iPod touch - External, Portable, Rechargeable (Black) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035R2QS4/ref=pe_175190_21431760_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

Although I was sceptical about the cheap price, I bought the Stitchway Backup Battery Charger and so far I am pleased with its capabilities. After charging up the Stitchway with a USB wall charger I plugged it into the bottom of my iPod Touch and had full power all day.

However, I was still looking for a backup charger for my other electronic devices.  I looked online at Walmart and found the Rayovac Power Pack PS60. It has a USB power chord with three adapters for Apple 30 Pin and a Mini and Micro USB.  The adapters plug into an iPhone, iPod Touch, Cell Phone, Digital Camera, Tablet or Lap Top and provide about 3 hours of extra power.  It cost about $ 17.97 and is available online or at the store.   For info see the web link below …

Rayovac Powerpack (iPhone, iPod Touch, Cell Phone, Digital Camera, Tablet, Lap Top)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rayovac-Platinum-Lithium-Ion-Power-Pack-Charger/17510694#Item+Description

Now I am all set with my Stitchway or Rayovac chargers, especially for those long trips. We have all become quite dependent on these beasty little electronic gadgets.  I wonder what Abe Lincoln would think today about the iPod, while he read his book by candle light.

Comments always welcome …..  markryan82@comcast.net

An iPhone (Alternative) – With Mi-Fi

 

 

I just love the iPhone.  It has all those cool APPs and gadgets as well as being a real cell phone.  A lot of my friends and family have the iPhone and rave about all its wonderful uses.

One of the new APPS is the SIRI Voice Recognition software. You need to have the new operating system IOS 6.0 for this APP to work. The SIRI Voice APP recognizes your voice requests and returns quickly with an answer.  You can ask it anything like: What is the weather like today? Call home. Where is the nearest coffee shop? Get me direction to the local library, etc., etc. …  There are also thousands of other APPs that you can get from the APP Store and many of them are free.

Although I like the iPhone, I just can’t justify the two year contract and the monthly phone bill which is about $80.00 for voice and a data plan per month or $960 per year.  That’s a lot of money to browse the web, read emails and make a few phone calls.  Of course if you use the phone all the time for work or school maybe you need the constant connectivity that you get with a contract plan.

One way around the monthly bills is to buy an iPod Touch. It costs about $200 one time and no monthly fees.  The iPod Touch has all the same APPS as the iPhone and can even make phone calls with the SKYPE APP and a Wi-Fi connection. However, it does not have GPS if that is a primary need.  There are Wi-Fi hotspots in most Malls, Hospitals, Schools, Airports and Restaurants. Every McDonalds and Starbucks has a free Wi-Fi connection. You can wirelessly connect your lap top or iPod to the internet at any of these hotspots.

Unfortunately, you may be too far away from the nearest hotspot for the free Wi-Fi or you may be in the car moving along the highway (as a passenger) or at a restaurant that doesn’t have Wi-Fi.  In this situation, you can always wait until you get home or stop and find the nearest hotspot.

However, if you can’t wait you can buy a small device called a Mi-Fi. This device acts as your own hotspot and can wirelessly connect five or more Wi-Fi devices to a phone network and the internet.  It’s the size of a small cell phone and connects to the nearest cell phone tower through a 3G or 4G network and a provider like ATT, Verizon or Sprint.

Some cell phone providers sell the Mi-Fi device for over $100 and you have to buy minutes or data packages by contract or pay as you go. I bought my Mi-Fi through Wal-Mart for about $80 and it’s called “Internet On The Go” and connects to the Sprint phone network.  The minimum pay as you go package is $10 for 500 MB and no contract. This data package is equivalent to receiving 10,000 emails over your Mi-Fi device. It’s good for one year and will probably last me several months with my limited usage.   You can see some info and data plans at the web link …..   http://www.internet-go.com/

I then connect my Mi-Fi to my iPod Touch and can use it just like an iPhone.  This allows me to browse the internet, get my email or make a phone call (just like an iPhone) with no contract and no monthly fees.  However, just like any cell phone you need to have a cell phone tower in the area to make a connection.  Even the best cell phones loose connections in rural areas or dead spots.

You can compare other Mi-Fi plans at the website below.  Scroll down to middle of the article and browse the table of providers.……  http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/best-mifi-plans.html  . From the table you can see that the True Connect plan is the best for no contract. Even though it says $4.99 per month, it is now no contract.  Just buy the device at Wal-Mart with a $10 Data card and follow the directions to register your Mi-Fi. I found that it works everywhere in my local area.

Another consideration is the service area coverage you get from the provider. The Sprint network is available in my area and suits my needs.   You can see a comparison chart for coverage and some maps at the web site …  http://www.cellreception.com/search.php?zip=01887&page=1  .  Just type in your zip code to check the coverage in your area and see which provider meets your needs.

Comments Always Welcome …. Markryan82@comcast.net