Help on knowing what to buy: samsung s4 cable for hdmi connection to TV

[Darrell KSR]

I THINK I understand correctly from this article:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420138,00.asp

that I need a MHL adapter. I already have a HDMI cable hooked into both TVs; and occasionally stream something from a laptop to the TV. Now I want to stream things from my phone to the TV.

I did a search on Monoprice for MHL adapter, and this is what came up:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...rd=mhl+adapter

Is THIS what I need?
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Thanks...man, wish I understood this stuff.

[Darrell KSR]

Also--I know what 6-foot micro-USB cables to order, since it is a re-order (will now be 14 cables I have bought from them to charge phones--WHO is eating them?).

But does anyone have a recommendation from Monoprice on their USB wall chargers?

This one looked really good, but it is not in stock currently.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product/?c_...format=2&res=2

This looked good, too, but not rated as highly.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

And if beggars can be choosers...I'd love to see a recommendation here for....

a) rechargeable batteries? Those enerloops or something from the other thread?

b) portable battery chargers. I really need one of those for my phone when I am on the go, but not in my car or at my office (or home).

[BigBlueBrock]

All the cables you posted should work for what you want to do. The only warning I'd give is that cheaper micro-USB cables can sometimes be made poorly and can damage the inside of the micro-USB connector on your phone. I had it happen to me on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus - I had a cheap car charger that bent the metal tooth on the inside of the phone connector and shorted the phone.

As far as a spare battery and charger:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...bxgy_cps_img_y
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Batter.../dp/B00BW0XZO0

I'd definitely stick with Samsung branded for the battery, especially since a standard battery is just $9 on Amazon.

[Darrell KSR]

BBB, if you have never tried monoprice cables, you need to. They are freaking outstanding. Best quality you will see. Heavy rubber, gold plated connections, and just feels like a rolls royce of cables. All the ones I have I have owned for more than two years now, and are incredible. We fight over them at home, which is why I am getting more of them. Credit to Pedro, who put me on to monoprice and its cables.

I probably didn't explain very well on the battery thing. I don't want a battery, I want one of those extra power boost things, like a power stick, that will charge a dead phone.

On the hdmi thing, do you think that adapter thing is what I need?

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[BigBlueBrock]

Yeah, the MHL adapter is what you need. I didn't realize Monoprice made the cables, I just thought they were a reseller. I'll definitely have to check them out in the future.

Is this what you're looking for in regards to a portable battery charger? http://www.amazon.com/GearPower-Capa.../dp/B005IY8AZ0

It's 6600mAh, which is a little more than twice the capacity of a standard capacity S4 battery.

[Darrell KSR]

Yeah, the MHL adapter is what you need. I didn't realize Monoprice made the cables, I just thought they were a reseller. I'll definitely have to check them out in the future.

Is this what you're looking for in regards to a portable battery charger? http://www.amazon.com/GearPower-Capa.../dp/B005IY8AZ0

It's 6600mAh, which is a little more than twice the capacity of a standard capacity S4 battery.

Yes, that is what I'm looking for, thanks very much. Does that come in a stick form? That capacity sounds great.

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[BigBlueBrock]

You can get those battery boosters in a smaller form factor, but you're obviously going to lose capacity.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Compact-...attery+charger

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Exter...attery+charger

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Compact-...attery+charger

going by the reviews, people love these

[Darrell KSR]

Down to 40% battery power on my phone, with 3-1/2 hours of SEC Media Days remaining today. This is why I need one of those boosters. Kentucky doesn't even arrive for another couple of hours.

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[PedroDaGr8]

Down to 40% battery power on my phone, with 3-1/2 hours of SEC Media Days remaining today. This is why I need one of those boosters. Kentucky doesn't even arrive for another couple of hours.

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They also make battery cases. They make your phone thicker but they autocharge your phone when it drops below 50%.

[Darrell KSR]

Those reviews are terrific.

I just happened to be in Staples today, and for convenience--plus SEC Media Days, plus Big Blue Madness, plus Pelicans-Wizards--I saw a "Halo" charger for $29.99. It was only a 2800mah, but very small in size, about what I was looking for--and convenient. The price rang up at $22 instead, which made it even better.

I don't think it is as good as the ones linked above, but it had the advantage of being available for 3 days where I might need it, and the others didn't. I haven't used it yet, although it was available today if I needed it. I got a plain, black satin one, nice metal, good weight but small and can easily ride in my pocket.

I really like that Anker 5600mah you linked above for $29.99. That looks "small enough," although it's probably not as small as the one I have, and double the power.

The lady at Staples told me to try it--said no problem if I didn't like it, and wanted one of those others, I could return it no questions asked within 14 days. I will give it a try and see if I like it well enough. At $22, it's not exactly horrific if I could get the same thing a little cheaper, and at that price, I might get something else, too and give one to my wife.