QuickerTek's iPad Charge Monitor can give you a good idea of what's going into your iPad. No, it's not a content filter. This handy in-line Charge Monitor will let you know exactly how much power is coming out of your USB ports and into your power hungry devices. Just plug this flash drive-sized adapter into a USB port and insert a USB cable into the other end and 4 LEDs light up depending on what level of current is going into your gadget. The iPad is notoriously power hungry and only a few PC models supply enough power to effectively recharge its battery.
This device may seem trivial, but actually quite necessary due to the recent variety in current supplied to the USB port by different systems. Knowing what you are getting when you plug your device in to charge could help a lot during troubleshooting process. The current provided by USB 2.0 is around 500mA, but recent entrants have ramped up to 1500mA (or 2700mA for
USB 3.0). In comparison, you need at least 1000mA to charge an Apple iPad. This difference could keep your cell phone from being charged at all or allow you to pick the port that's going to charge your
PMPs in less than an hour. As long as there's no consistent labeling on the ports, one of these little critters could just become your best friend. $29.95 gets you an introduction to a new friend that won't send you Mafia Wars requests.
