Back in 2014, CloudGate exhibited at the rAGE Expo as part of its launch, aiming to introduce South African technology enthusiasts to a new form of affordable, energy-efficient desktop computing.
Of particular interest was the level of attention that the device got, not only as a slick alternative to the bulky PC but as a multi-purpose media and entertainment centre for the home.
CloudGate is capable of full HD video playback, and speakers can be connected via USB or Bluetooth. Just plug it into an HD TV, add a keyboard, mouse and internet connection, and there you have it – a powerful Smart TV experience at a fraction of the cost.
Apart from just using the device to play your collection of videos, or streaming video content from YouTube, CloudGate has another trick up its sleeve for users: if you have a DSTV Premium PVR subscription, you can install the DSTV Now app and have access to movies, TV series, live sport and even your DSTV Catch Up content.
This is especially great if you have more than one TV in the house, and you want to watch something different from what the kids are watching. What’s more, you can also use the app to remotely record your favourite shows to your connected PVR – if you’re not at home, you can use your smartphone to do this too.
The CloudGate uses only 10 watts of power, meaning it’s a far more energy-efficient option than a traditional home theatre PC – plus there is no noisy system fan to disturb your cinema experience.
More than just a media player
But the greatest thing about the CloudGate is that it’s also capable of so much more – since you can use a keyboard and mouse, it’s a cost-effective alternative to the desktop PC and is designed for work, play and education.
So you don’t just turn your TV into a Smart TV – but a full-on Android computer that also gives you access to your email, social media networks, cloud storage, the use of productivity apps, games, and much more.
The Android operating system is intuitive and easy to use, while the quad-core processor, 2GB of high-speed RAM and 8GB of solid-state storage keep things ticking over nicely. If you want more space, there’s a mini-SD slot that can be used to expand storage by up to 32GB. You can also plug in flash drives and external hard drives that have been formatted in FAT32.
It is small and lightweight (it only weighs 225g), so it can simply fit in as part of your entertainment centre setup and you can easily take it with you and plug it in somewhere else. If you’ve stored your data in the cloud, you can access it from your other devices too.
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