Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle

Kogan have announced an "Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle", will be available from 31 July 2012 for $99. 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 would 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 for school, vocational or university studies.

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 off their own "Android Deluxe Wireless Keyboard & Trackpad", but this is too small for serious typing.

The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 with Multi-Touch Touchpad would be more useful. I recently purchased on of these. Despite the "Touch Keyboard" name it has a conventional keyboard, plus a large large touch pad (where the numeric keypad would normally be). This is small enough to sit on the lap but large enough to type comfortably on. Alternatively a low cost USB hub could be plugged in and desktop keyboard and mouse used (I recently purchased a hub, keyboard and mouse for less than $15).

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.

Technical Specifications

Connectivity

Wi-Fi

802.11 b/g/n

Display

Resolution

1920 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®

1

Hardware

GPU

Mali 400