The three off brands I have seem fine. Two are from mainstream vendors, the third is a no name Chinese brand. They all charge seemingly as fast as the Apple charger, and about twice as fast as with a 1 amp iPhone charger. In fact, one charger two USB ports, one 2 amp, the other 1 amp, and I can tell the difference.

Ok they just look like AA batteries, and provide 2400 mAH each, which is isn't even impressive compared to a good AA battery. But saying there's no use for being able to charge 4 iPads doesn't begin to cover how the original suggestion of using a device that provides 4800 or 9600 mAH at 1 amp is off target. Neither will charge ONE ipad at full speed or to 100%. This device can charge an ipad, iPhone and iPod without breaking a sweat, or at least it would have.

If you wanted to find something cheaper, you can, but not for $20, especially if you actually want to charge an ipad, and do it at regular charging speed.

So look, if you can't find the value in something like this, that's great, but it doesn't mean $20 and 4800mah works in all situations.

I don't see how what you linked to was well enough. It doesn't have enough juice to charge an iPad, and has a weak enough output to charge at half the speed on top of that. It also can't charge more than one device at a time, and has questionable recharge time for it's own batteries. For many uses, including mine, it's not NEARLY well enough. I travel with enough supplies to charge two iPads via wall power at full speed, and enough battery juice to charge one of them outright off battery. Two AA batteries really doesn't do much of anything for me.

iPads ship with a 10 watt power adapter specifically to allow them to charge faster, given the massive size of the battery. Yes, they highly, highly take advantage of it. Even iPhone will charge about twice as fast with a 1 amp charger versus a standard USB connection.

Not with any of three chargers I use.

Way to link to something just under 1/5th the capacity and with inferior electronics that pushes out a maximum 1amp, you know, a little under half what's required to charge the iPad at regular charging speed. But yeah, it's cheaper.

There are many chargers providing 2 amps out.

The Kickstarted project had a 26000 mAH battery, could output 2.1amps on each of four cables (enough to charge four iPads simultaneously at full speed), and was going to have built in, retractable cables supporting micro USB, 30 pin dock and Lightning connections.

The product you linked to takes two AA batteries. You suggest a battery with a MODEL NUMBER of 18650, but a mAH rating of 2400 mAH, for a total of 4800. 9600 if they bought the four battery model you suggest. It has *ONE* USB port, no built in cable, and can only output 1 amp, or roughly the bare minimum to charge one iPad.... SLOWLY.

For me, I'd have taken the Kickstart project. As it is, I carry a high powered battery. I find in hotels, when I want to charge things and lock them up in a safe, it's ideal. Battery and tablet in safe. Charged when I get back. I bought a 10000 mAH battery on Amazon for $50. Has three USB ports, 1 is 2.1 amp, the others 1 amp each. 10000 mAH isn't quite enough when you have a thirsty iPad plus an iPod charging, and maybe a digital camera as well. And I have to travel with lots of cables.

Your link may work to charge *A* cell phone, but that's not really the same target audience as someone who wanted a device that could charge a couple of iPads at the same time to 100% and still have ports left for a phone and an MP3 player.

So get a Windows machine. Or a Mac machine. Or a TV with built in Internet apps. Or a BluRay player with built in Internet apps. Or an Apple TV. Or an Android tablet. Or an iPad. Or just about any smart phone. Or a $50 Roku box. Or a $99 Google TV box. Or a Wii. Or a PS3. Or an Xbox. Or a TiVo. There are other options, but I think the point is clear. It's stupid easy to have Netflix, but if you don't have just about any modern, mainstream connected device, then I guess you'll have to go without.

Yes, because once EVERYBODY starts pirating, and NOBODY has to pay for ANYTHING, I'm sure there won't be any ramifications. People will keep making movies and TV shows for fun. Maybe we can develop some technology to blur out product placements, so we see NO advertising, ever. This way, we don't see commercials, we don't see product placements, and we don't pay for access to the content.

I need to find a way to steal my neighbors Internet too, why do I pay for Internet, when I could get it for free?

Some people (such as myself) pay for cable and Netflix because we perceive value in what we get, and would rather not just "take" it for free.

You REALLY think Netflix doesn't pay attention to what people watch on Netflix? They have no studies? No analytics? No reporting? No analysis at all? Just because things are missing (hint: online content deals are hard to cut) doesn't mean they aren't paying attention. PS: Everyone was up in arms when Starz and Netflix failed to cut a deal and tons of Disney stuff disappeared. Now, they signed a deal with Disney direct, and cut out Starz. You don't think they did that because they knew how many kids wanted to stream Disney movies?

The comment said:

It didn't say I can't believe you once needed this software.

Discounting the iPod Nano/Shuffle (not iOS) what makes you think you 'need' this software? On an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, you can do the following without plugging into iTunes:

* Activate a new device or previously wiped device
* Update iOS on a device
* Buy/download/update apps
* Buy/download music
* Buy/download TV shows or Movies
* Download/stream podcasts
* Backup to iCloud / restore from iCloud
* Download/backup photos and videos
* Stream to compatible AirPlay devices

I have an iPhone 5 that's never been plugged into a computer, except occasionally for an emergency charge.

Yup! Sure has been mono until now. Even the iPod Touch is mono. The Nano DOESN'T EVEN HAVE SPEAKERS TO PLAY MUSIC! It's almost like nobody gives a crap and everyone who listens to TV, Movies or Music on their portable devices uses speakers or headphones.

iOS 2? 3? 4? 5? 6? The one you know they are working on now? I remember an iPhone running an OS that couldn't handle Retina graphics, tablet sized displays, Bluetooth stereo, cut and paste, Exchange support, voice control, AirPlay, third-party apps, wireless sync, background operations, persistent notifications, didn't have driving directions or their own map content, folders, Game Center, MMS, high definition video, HDR, panorama photo shooting, video calling, 4G/LTE, and a few other things.

Each generation of iOS has a real, measurable (but not released to the public) development cost. Which needs to be recouped, and of course is a part of the cost of offering iOS devices.