An Evil Downside of Better Mobile Devices: More to Carry and Choose

5, which fits in a pocket. So now I have yet another device to either carry or choose from, not just because of functionality, but because of form, weight and other factors.

Amid continuing advances in technology, one theorem still holds true for mobile devices: every single one of them is a product of compromise. Want your laptop to run longer? That can be done but you’ll either have to give up processing power or be stuck carrying an extended battery. Gotta have your latest videos filmed in 1080p? You’re not doing that on a smartphone yet, so you’ll need to tote a separate camera.

Devices are getting better and everything is moving away from the desktop as consumers want to enjoy apps and services on the go. But for some reason, I feel like all of the improvements in mobiles are just weighing me down. Put another way: my mobile needs used to be met with a laptop and a phone. Now my hardware stack is getting so big, that I can’t carry it all. Am I alone in the quest for the perfect set of just a few gadgets that can really everything I need?

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Let Your Friends and Relations Choose How to Use Their Gift Cards This Holiday Season

/01/bizspark2.gif">This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Tango Card

Quick Pitch: Say bye-bye to a wallet full of unused gift cards — the Tango Card allows the recipient to shop where he/she wants, donate any portion of the balance to charity or even redeem it for cash.

Genius Idea: Oh, awesome. Your grandma gave you a gift card this Christmas that will score you $50 worth of meals at the local Rib Shack, and you’re a staunch vegan. Re-gifting, anyone?

Although gift cards make pretty good presents, it can be hard to choose the right one for any given friend or relation. That’s where the Tango Card comes in. This gift card allows the recipient to choose where they want to shop, donate money left on the card to charities (including America Scores, Grameen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, InSTEDD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, National Park Foundation, Summer Search, USO) and redeem any balance left on the card for cash.

Yes, there are a limited number of locations you can choose from when it comes to shopping, but two of the top three most-wanted cards are included in the mix: Target and Amazon. The rest are Gap, Home Depot, Nike, Pottery Barn, REI, Rixty, Spafinder, Starbucks and Zappos.

Recipients can even download a free iPhone app [iTunes link] that will help them keeps tabs on card value and store card info for online shopping.

Like Cardpool — an online marketplace for users to buy, sell and trade giftcards — Tango Card aims to make the gifting process easier and more rewarding for everyone involved. It’s a simple solution, but one we think will certainly come in handy this holiday season.

Image courtesy of Flickr, mmlolek

BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

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