[LINK] Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle

[Tom Worthington]

Kogan have announced an "Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle", will be available 
from 31 July 2012 for $99: 
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/agora-smart-tv-hdmi-dongle/

This is a tiny desktop computer designed to plug into the HDMI video 
port on a digital TV (or computer monitor) to turn it into a Google 
Android computer. This could be useful to have at home to complement an 
Android smart phone. While intended for entertainment, with a keyboard 
and mouse (or touch-pad) this would be sufficient for undertaking some 
online courses and would make sense if web based applications and "Apps" 
are being used for education.

The device has WiFi, a full size USB socket and a microSD slot. It is 
powered via a miniUSB socket. One feature lacking from the Dongle is 
Bluetooth for a remote keyboard, although a TV type hand-held remote 
control is provided.

To use the Dongle as a desktop computer, a keyboard would be needed. 
Kogan offer their own "Android Deluxe Wireless Keyboard & Trackpad", but 
this is too small for serious typing: 
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/dlx-android-wireless-keyboard-trackpad/

Agora is the brand name Kogan give their low cost computer range. I have 
the Kogan Ultra Portable Agora 12" Laptop, which has proven very 
reliable and useful: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2011/06/kogan-agora-laptop-at-sydney-linux.html

Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle Technical Specifications

Connectivity

Wi-Fi			802.11 b/g/n
Display Resolution	920 x 1080
General Dimensions	9.045 x 3.396 x 1.55cm
OS Android		4.0 ICS

Hardware

CPU Cortex		A9 1GHz
Internal Storage	4GB
RAM			512MB

Inputs

Card Reader		microSD up to 32GB
			USB 2.0	USB drives up to 32GB
			miniUSB Power only

Outputs			HDMI	
Hardware		GPU Mali 400


-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation

Adjunct Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/