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CES 2015: The 60 second phone charger and more

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The 60 second phone charger

 

Storedot Flash Battery

As convenient and powerful as smartphones have become, recharging them can be a monumental hassle. Indeed, there are few smartphones currently on the market that can make it through a day without requiring a recharge. This isn't a problem for many of us, but if you've ever been in a rush and have been forced to wait around nervously twiddling your thumbs whilst your phone's battery level slowly seeps up from 10% to 11%, you'll understand what an important step the Israeli start-up company Storedot has made with their new battery and charging dock device.

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At CES yesterday, a modern Samsung smartphone was given a full charge in less than the time it takes to boil a kettle with the new Storedot Flash Battery. This might sound too good to be true, and there are a few trade-offs to consider, but in all, this technology has the potential to revolutionise how we use our portable devices (Storedot's plans don't begin and end with mobile phones). The device can't (unfortunately) be retrofitted to support existing devices, but Doron Myersdorf, Storedot's CEO, has said his company have already been in talks with undisclosed phone-makers in the US, South Korea, China and Japan, and have meetings at CES this year with “All of the major players” in the industry.

A modern Samsung smartphone was given a full charge in less than the time it takes to boil a kettle

The bespoke device uses a completely new type of battery with specially synthesised organic molecules. Myersdorf said; “We have reactions in the battery that are non-traditional reactions that allow us to charge very fast, moving ions from an anode to a cathode at a speed that was not possible before we had these materials.” Of course, the science goes (largely) over our heads, but the idea of having your phone charged with such speed and efficiency is rather exciting, right?

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Playstation Now – The future of gaming?

 

Introducing Playstation Now

Sony used this year's CES to show off their groundbreaking new Playstation Now service. Well, technically it's not breaking new ground (anyone who has ever used On Live will tell you that much), but it is the first time a major entertainment company has delved into the world of online video game streaming. Initial reports from CES have been very positive indeed, with players noting no noticeable lag and only a slight visual blur marring the experience.

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The basic idea behind Playstation Now is that it's essentially Netflix for gamers. Users pay a monthly fee (currently set at $19.99 in the US) in order to stream games from the extensive Playstation 3 back catalogue through their Playstation 4's, Smart TV's and an array of other devices such as the new Playstation TV box. The lineup of games currently sits at 102, and includes such blockbuster titles as The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite. The library of available titles is set to grow exponentially alongside the service, and will also eventually include classic Playstation 1 and Playstation 2 titles.

The basic idea behind Playstation Now is that it's essentially Netflix for gamers

The idea of being able to play three generations of classic games without a games console (all is required is access to a PS Now equipped device and a Playstation controller) is truly remarkable, and could bring the world of Playstation to many who would otherwise not consider themselves gamers. Whether or not the service lives up to its lofty expectations remains to be seen, but initial reports seem to suggest it could represent a sea change in the way we consume our video games in the future.

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