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Quickertek selling solar panel for iPad
Back at Macworld, I checked out a company on the show floor that made solar (photovoltaic) panels. I was hoping to see a panel for sale ready to charge the iPhone, because an easy-to-use panel at a reasonable price would have probably had me opening my wallet on the spot. Unfortunately, they only made custom-designed panels, and nothing mass market (or in my price range), so I was disappointed. But this one might be what I was looking for: Quickertek, makers of all sorts of Mac-related accessories, has adapted its MacBook "Apple Juicz" solar panel to the iPad. This provides 10 watts of sun-based power (reportedly the same as the regular iPad charger) to your magical and revolutionary device. I don't have an iPad yet, and the price of the Apple Juicz (US$250) is still a little steep for me, even though it's probably cheap for what it is. But I am always in favor of using solar technology, and if you're doing something like camping in the middle of nowhere and using your iPad or MacBook a lot, this might be a workable solution. If nothing else, at least we're getting closer. Someday, photovoltaic panels will be so good at grabbing light and batteries will be so good at storing the generated power that all you'll need to do to charge your iPad is go read outside in the sun for a bit. [via Cult of Mac]
QuickerTek iPad charge monitor tests your USB port's output potential
Oh, Apple. Just a few short months ago, a USB port was (largely) a USB port, charging pretty much any gizmo we could find without so much as a fuss. Now, loads of USB ports are throwing temper tantrums when faced with the energy-hungry iPad, with most simply refusing to charge the thing. Apple contends that a 10W USB port is needed to effectively rejuvenate its first tablet, though some sockets will do the trick so long as you have the display switched off. If you're looking to quickly evaluate the strength of every USB port in your home or office, QuickerTek's aptly-titled iPad Charge Monitor ain't a half bad option. You simply plug this LED-infused dongle into a suspicious port, then connect the product you wish to charge to the other end; the device then glows to tell you how much power is flowing out, though there's nothing included to deal with all-but-guaranteed bouts of frustration from seeing too few LEDs light up. It's up for order right now at $29.95, and while you're over there, you can pick up an iPad solar panel and an iPad external battery pack for $250 each. What a bargain. [Thanks, Lan]
The BearExtender n3 gives you more Wi-Fi range at a low cost
It's not often that I've come across a product that works perfectly, does exactly what it says it will, costs a lot less than its closest competitor and provides a real and salient difference in my computing experience. The US$44.97 BearExtender n3 does just that. Roland Saekow, a recent graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, realized that the 'Airbears' campus network wasn't complete enough to allow students to connect from all parts of the large campus, so he developed an external Wi-Fi receiver that can boost the range of a standard Airport-equipped laptop by up to 200%. He partnered with Jason Opdyke of Rokland Technologies and brought his extender to market this past December. I was interested in taking a look, since my home network (comprised of a Time Capsule and several Airport Express units) still leaves a section of my house where I can't get a decent Wi-Fi signal, no matter what I try. I've been told that the only way to solve this is to run RJ-45 cable all around the outside of my house, and get a second router. Doing this would be ugly, inconvenient and expensive, so when I heard about the BearExtender n3, I had to find out if this would do the trick and vanquish my Wi-Fi-challenged rooms problem. Within ten minutes of opening the box I found that it did solve my issues, and in further testing I became even more impressed.
Can having a Quicky boost your Wi-Fi range?
Get your mind out of the gutter! I'm talking about the Quicky Jr II USB wireless signal booster, which is a little USB dongle / antenna that plugs into a USB port on any Mac that is running Mac OS X 10.4 or newer. This little device, from QuickerTek, purports to let you wander up to three times the distance you normally can, and still receive a nice, strong, and encrypted wireless signal.The US$89.95 Quicky Jr II comes with an easily-installed USB driver that lets it work with your 802.11n/g/b networks, including those that are powered by an AirPort Extreme Base Station. While I'm usually dubious of any device that claims to increase wireless range unless it is pitched by the late, great Billy Mays, the Quicky Jr II appears to be just what it says it is; a powered USB Wi-Fi antenna. In theory the larger antenna size and a built-in USB-powered amplifier could help boost the signal, then route it to your AirPort circuitry.Rather than speculate on how well devices like this work, I'd like to ask our readers. Do you have any experience with this or similar products? Do they work as advertised? TUAW wants to know.
Apple Juicz solar charger for MacBook Air
Okay here's one for the deep-pocketed Greens out there (or maybe somebody on assignment to the middle of nowhere). QuickTek is offering a line of solar chargers for the MacBook Air called the Apple Juicz. There are three models of increasing size: 18 watt, 27 watt, and 55 watt. They recharge a MacBook Air in 14, 8, and 5 hours respectively, but all this solar powered goodness doesn't come cheap at $500, $600, and $1000. On the bright side though, they'll throw in a "very cool Element carry bag" for free, which you'll need as the largest one unfolds to 60 x 42 inches.In addition to the solar panels you'll also need a modified MagSafe power adapter. QuickerTek will upgrade yours for $25 or sell you one pre-modified for $100 (which includes car and airline adapters). They suggest that this would be the ultimate gift for a college student, but even as a geek prof I'd be tempted to take the lunch money of anybody I saw on the quad with 17 square feet of solar panel laid out on the grass. But maybe that's just me.[via Macworld]
Quickertek antenna promises to boost Time Capsule's range
It won't do much to complement the Time Capsule's minimalist looks, but if you've been itching to get a bit more range of out thing, you now have a new option to consider from Quickertek, which recently introduced its new TriBand Antenna for the device. Available either as a self-install kit or pre-installed on the Time Capsule of your choice, the slightly janky-looking rig promises a 50% increase in range over a standard Time Capsule, with ample coaxial cabling provided to let you position it just right. As if that wasn't enough, Quickertek is also promising that the antenna will let you reach speeds "much closer to the theoretical yield of 300 megabits per second," although it apparently isn't making any firm claims on that matter. If that sounds like the boost you've been looking for, you can grab the self-install kit now for $130, get Quickertek to install the antenna on your existing Time Capsule for $200, or get a 500GB or 1TB Time Capsule with it pre-installed for $500 or $700, respectively.
QuickerTek intros 802.11n upgrade for MacBooks and iMacs
It looks like those who pounced on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or iMac before Apple snuck 802.11n cards into them now have another option besides simply living with their comparatively slower WiFi innards, with QuickerTek introducing some 802.11n upgrade cards to bring the systems up to speed. Those comfortable with cracking opening their computers themselves can opt for a DIY kit that'll set you back $149, with the more faint of heart able to take advantage of QuickerTek's offer to install the card for you for the premium price of $199 (plus shipping). Obviously, you won't be able to pop one of these into your vintage Bondi Blue iMac, but they should be compatible with all modern 17, 20, and 24-inch iMacs, and all pre-802.11n MacBooks and MacBook Pros, with OS X 10.4.8 the only other requirement.[Via MacMinute]
QuickerTek releases MacBook Handle
QuickerTek, purveyor of cool wireless accessories for the Mac, has released a handle for the MacBook (they also have models for other Mac portables past and present). I had one of these years ago on my G4 Titanium PowerBook and I really enjoyed it. It adds a carry handle to your notebook which swivels down to lift the back of the computer off your desk when you set it down. This supposedly improves the typing angle and also improves heat dissipation (thus saving you from scalded thighs and, if one of those ubiquitous "studies" is to be believed, maybe even sterility!)In any case, it looks like it could be a handy product for MacBookers on the go, but I wonder how it might interfere with your sleeve or case.
