Afternoon Tech Talk: Add-On Batteries for Your Phone or Tablet

You know the drill... It's the end of a long afternoon and suddenly you realize your phone or tablet is, well, how do I put this gently? Dead! Add-on batteries are a big help when you need emergency power or longer battery life. They come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are a few ways you can keep your personal device energized and available. 

Mophie's Juice Pack: This well built battery booster is sleek and professional looking while offering a modest boost in battery life. 
Pros: small, pocket friendly, with well hidden 30 pin connector. 
Cons: No pass through charging
Cost: $34.95 
Link: http://www.mophie.com/default.asp  

iogear GearPower Mobile Power Station: Inexpensive, relatively small portbale battery pack for mobile devices. Sporting dual usb ports, one for lower power devices and one for juice hogging devices, this battery pack is truly versatile.
Pros: Juice = 20 hours on smartphone or 5 hours of iPad video. Portability
Cons: Separate power adapter
Cost: $59.95
Link:  http://www.iogear.com/product/GMP6600P/

Energizer XP4001: Low cost, portable and relatively high capacity charging make this mobile battery pack one of the best in our roundup. There are two USB ports on one side for it to charge devices, along with AC and mini-USB charging ports to replenish the battery on the other side.
Pros: Great capacity with ability to handle higher end devices..
Cons: Kind of on the larger side
Cost:  $39.95
Link: http://amzn.to/e7GxbB

Scosche FlipCharge Burst: The FlipCharge Burst is a portable battery for your iphone or ipad that can help you get a small charge when you're in a bind. 
Pros: Small, very portable device. Built in carabiner and pass through charging and sync.
Cons: Expensive for its battery size.
Cost: $29.99
Link: http://bit.ly/13OoRf1 

TyIt Energy: The Tylt Energi is a very convenient way to charge up any phone or tablet with a USB or MicroUSB port. The size is right, but won't handle tablet producing power needs.
Pros: Convenient, good power for smartphones.
Cons: Capacity not large enough for tablets
Cost: $39.99
Link: http://www.tylt.com/energi/ 

Zagg ZaggSparq 2.0: Need a lot of power to charge your phone or tablet? Zagg's ZaggSparq 2.0 is a powerful, elegant, and, at $99, pretty costly portable battery that can run an iPad all day long. 
Pros: High capacity, will run larger devices, built-in ac adapter
Cons:  Quite hefty, little expensive.
Cost: $69.95
Link:  http://amzn.to/ZxVDrZ

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Have a technical question? Maybe we can help! Email: techtalk@emmaclark.org

Want to see what the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library has to offer? Call us at: 631-941-4080, email us at: reference@emmaclark.org or stop in at: 120 Main Street, Setauket, NY 11733. Have a smart device? Download our mobile app at:http://emmamobile.emmaclark.org or look for it in your app store or marketplace.

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Bob Johnson is the Manager of Information and Technology Services at the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library.