Month: September 2017

Common Issues with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Over the past several years, lithium-ion batteries have been the preferred technology, not just for laptop batteries, but also for a number of electronic devices such as cell phones and MP3 players. Some of the main reasons for their popularity are that they are inexpensive to manufacture and that they don’t exhibit many of the issues that plague older technologies, such as the “memory effect” which can cause a dramatic decrease in capacity. Lithium-ion batteries can still have problems, however. Here, we will explore a few of the main issues that can affect lithium-ion batteries.

Decreased Capacity

The main problem with lithium-ion batteries is that they tend to lose some of their capacity over time. This is caused by deposits that form inside the electrolyte of the battery, which eventually inhibits the transport of ions. Eventually the battery loses a large amount of its capacity and needs to be repaired or replaced.

Overheating

Lithium-ion batteries tend to heat up when being charged or discharged. Generally, this is not enough heat to cause any concern, but if the battery malfunctions, it may cause a large amount of heat. In extreme cases, batteries may even bulge or catch fire, though these cases are very rare. Li-ion batteries have many safety features to protect against these kinds of malfunctions.

Not Charging When Plugged In

In some cases, a laptop battery will not register as charging even when the laptop is plugged in. Check to make sure the battery is correctly inserted and that the AC adapter is connected securely to the laptop and the wall outlet. In most cases, this problem is caused by a bad AC adapter or a defective DC jack on the laptop instead of the battery itself.

Despite the few issues mentioned above, lithium-ion batteries tend to be very robust and reliable. Lithium-ion will continue to be the battery of choice for quite a few more years, even as it is slowly replaced by newer technologies.

Anatomy of a laptop battery

While most people would consider a laptop to be a very complex machine, a laptop battery is a very complex device as well. It has many components that combine to give users the portable power they need. Here we will look at what makes up a modern laptop battery.

The most common type of laptop batteries in use today are lithium ion batteries. A lithium ion battery has three main components. There is an anode, which is made from carbon or graphite, a cathode, made of metal oxide, and an electrolyte, which is lithium salt in a solvent. When the laptop is drawing power from the battery, it is known as discharge. When discharging, the lithium ions carry current from the negative electrode to the positive. When recharging, the lithium ions carry the current in the opposite direction, from positive to negative.

Laptop batteries are somewhat susceptible to damage if mistreated. For example, lithium ion batteries are sensitive to heat, and can fail or even swell or burst in extreme temperatures. For this reason, it is imperative to read and follow all safety instructions for your laptop and battery. There are a number of safety features required for laptop batteries in order to protect users from harmful accidents. Batteries must be equipped with a thermal interrupt, which protects from overcurrent and overcharging. They also must have a vent, which allows heat and pressure to escape. There is also a shut-down separator for shutting down the battery if it gets too hot, and a “tear-away tab” for releasing internal pressure in a dangerous situation.

Laptop batteries have gotten some negative press in the past few years, due to manufacturing problems that caused many batteries to fail, which prompted many recalls and repairs. These were mainly manufacturing problems, however, and laptop batteries with the safety features included should be very safe to use and operate, as long as safety guidelines are followed.

Sony Laptop Batteries

As one of the largest companies in the world, Sony has a reputation for quality. Sony’s laptops, especially their VAIO series, are often chosen by high-end users who need quality and style in their laptop.

Sony is one of the few laptop manufacturers to make their own laptop batteries. In fact, they also make laptop batteries for many other manufacturers. The majority of the batteries they make use lithium-ion technology. Lithium-ion is chosen for its long battery life, its large power-to-weight ratio, and lack of the “memory effect” that affects older battery technologies.

When shopping for a replacement for a Sony laptop battery, you should carefully remove the old battery to look for a model number or serial number that will help identify the replacement. First, shut down the laptop and disconnect its AC Adapter and power cord. Turn the laptop over and find the release slider or button that releases the Sony laptop battery, then carefully remove it.

The easiest way to find a replacement for your Sony laptop battery is to use a parts locator tool, or a part number search, available at many online retailers. This tool allows users to enter their laptop or battery model number, and will then display compatible parts for replacement. Since many laptop batteries are only compatible with specific models, it is important to ensure that the Sony laptop battery you buy is compatible with your exact model.

When shopping, you may be given the option of buying an OEM battery or a compatible battery. A compatible laptop battery is one made with the same specifications of the original battery, but at a lower price, since it is not made by the manufacturer of the laptop. When buying compatible batteries, ensure that you are buying from a reputable seller that guarantees the quality of their products.

Once you have your new battery, simply replace it in the same way you removed your old battery, power up your laptop and ensure that your new battery is working.

Apple MC556LL/A Laptop AC Adapter Review

The Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter is the highest wattage available in this line of Apple MacBook AC adapters. It is designed for use with any 15 or 17 inch MacBook Pro models.

These MagSafe Apple laptop AC adapters bear the companies landmark magnetic design. Rather than plugging into a jack on your MacBook, these adapters instead latch onto your machine via a magnetic connection. Aside from giving your machine a very cool design factor, this is actually a very functional design. First, this design is as efficient as any DC jack connection. However, this magnetic connection is much faster, easier, and more convenient to attach and remove. Also, it doesn’t require any more parts on your machine, which means there’s less to break or require repair.

This is actually a safety feature of the machine as well. A common source of damage to both typical laptop AC adapters and DC jacks is caused when someone trips over or hits the cord connecting the adapter to the machine. In a DC jack connection, this connection is rigid, and the force can bend pins or jacks, or cause stress on the cord and connections themselves, which can damage or outright break your components. With this magnetic connection, the cord simply falls away, with no damage to either component, and even without any kind of accident, a much longer lifespan for your adapter.

Just like Apple’s innovative laptop batteries, these adapters also bear an LED light indicator indicating to you the status of its charging or running state. An amber light indicates your battery is charging, while a green light tells you your battery is fully charged. These adapters are designed with a unique shape as well, meant for the cord to wrap neatly and securely around its own cube designed plug, for convenient storage and portability.

How to Make Your Cell Phone Battery Last Longer

  1. Turn the phone off. Only do this if it’s going to be for several hours; turning a phone on/off actually uses a massive amount of power itself. This will probably be the most effective and simple way of conserving your battery’s power. Why? This will help conserve energy and also charge your phone. If you don’t plan on answering the phone while you’re sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. Do the same if you are in an area with no reception (such as a subway or remote area, since constantly searching for service depletes the battery fairly quickly).
  2. Stop searching for a signal. When you are in an area with poor or no signal, your phone will constantly look for a better connection, and will use up all your power doing so. This is easily understood if you have ever forgotten to turn off your phone on a flight. The best way to ensure longer battery life is to make sure you have a great signal where you use your phone. If you don’t have a perfect signal, get a cell phone repeater which will amplify the signal to provide near perfect reception anywhere or simply turn on flight (airplane) mode (as said previously).
  3. Do not follow the method of full charge and full discharge. Avoid letting your cell phone’s battery run all the way down. Unlike nickel-based batteries (such as the NiCd or NiMH rechargeable AA batteries seen in most supermarkets), lithium-based batteries are designed to be charged early and often, and letting them get too low can damage the battery. With lithium-based batteries, doing shallow discharges and frequent charging prolongs battery life.
  4. Switch the vibrate function off on your phone. Use just the ring tone. The vibrate function uses additional battery power. Keep the ring tone volume as low as possible.
  5. Turn off your phone’s back light. The back light is what makes the phone easier to read in bright light or outside. However, the light also uses battery power. If you can get by without it, your battery will last longer. If you have to use the back light, many phones will let you set the amount of time to leave the back light on. Shorten that amount of time. Usually, one or two seconds will be sufficient. Some phones have an ambient light sensor, which can turn off the back light in bright conditions and enable it in darker ones.
  6. Avoid using unnecessary features. If you know it will be a while before your phone’s next charge, don’t use the camera or connect to the Internet. Flash photography can drain your battery especially quickly.
  7. Keep calls short. This is obvious, but how many times have you heard someone on their mobile phone say, “I think my battery’s dying,” and then continue their conversation for several minutes? Sometimes, the dying battery is just an excuse to get off the phone (and a good one, at that), but if you really need to conserve the battery, limit your talk time.
  8. Turn off Bluetooth. It will drain your battery very quickly. Only turn Bluetooth on when needed.
  9. Same goes for WIFI, GPS, and infrared capabilities, if your phone has these features built in. Keep them off except when you need them.
  10. Turn the brightness of the display to the lowest setting possible.
  11. Adjust your network settings when possible. Use 3G (HSPA, HSPA+, UMTS) or 2G (GSM) rather than 4G (LTE). Using your phone in 4G will drain the battery quicker than if you just use 3G or 2G. Turn 4G (LTE) off when there is weak to no 4G signal in your area. When using 4G, both the 3G and 4G radios are turned on therefore it will use a lot of power. You may also turn off 3G and use 2G if there is weak to no 3G.
  12. With a smartphone, avoid using moving or animated pictures or videos for your background. Animated backgrounds will drain the battery faster.

How to Choose a Tablet Computer

Choosing Your Operating System

  1. Look at what you currently use. When it comes to buying a tablet, the main choice you will need to make is the operating system. The operating systems for tablets fall into three basic camps: Apple (iOS), Google (Android), and Microsoft (Windows). The one you pick will be based a lot on the kind of things you do on your regular computer and smartphone.
  2. Consider the pros of iOS. Apple’s iOS is what powers the iPad, the device that kicked the tablet market into high-gear in 2010. iOS is known for it’s intuitive interface, and Apple products are revered for their construction quality.
  3. Consider the pros of Android. Google’s Android operating system is the most popular mobile operating system on the planet, thanks in large part to the massive number of devices that can run it. Android used to be a bit more finicky than iOS, but updates have brought a large number of improvements over the years.
  4. Consider the pros of Windows. Windows isn’t available on as many devices as iOS or Android, but it can be a good choice if you work heavily with Office and other Microsoft products. Windows 10 is currently the main Windows mobile operating system, and some versions are as full-featured as a regular computer.
  5. Set a budget. Low-end tablets start at around $200 USD, while the highest-priced iPad will set you back $800 USD. A lower price usually means less processing power and limited storage. The quality of the display will also suffer on the low-end models.
  6. Look at the app selection. Apps are the main point of having a tablet, and the selection of apps will dictate a lot of what your device can do. You can browse each operating system’s app stores using your web browser. Take a look through the app stores and see which operating system has more apps that appeal to you and your app budget.

Looking at Tablets

  1. Try tablets out in a store first. Even if you’re planning to buy online, see if you can try out a few different tablets at a retail store. This will give you a basic feel for how the models perform, and can help drive your purchasing decision. Just don’t let the salespeople try to talk you into something you don’t want.
  2. Test to see how the tablet handles loading and closing apps, as well as switching in between open apps. Try out a graphically intensive game (if one is available on the demo model) to see how the tablet handles a high load.
  3. Check out the specifications. There are a few different specs that you’ll want to pay attention to when shopping for tablets. Different specs will be relevant for different tablets. For example, if you’re deciding between iPads, the processor won’t make a difference since all new iPads share the same processor. When comparing Android tablets from different manufacturers, however, processor and RAM specifications become much more important.
  4. Check out the camera. If you plan on taking a lot of pictures with the tablet, check out the camera options. Generally, tablets do not have the best cameras, though some models make a point of touting powerful cameras. Most tablets have a camera on the back and a less-powerful camera on the front for video chatting.
  5. Choose a size. Tablets generally come in two different sizes: 10-inch and 7-inch. Screen size is a personal preference; larger screens allow for easier video watching and typing, while smaller tablets will generally be more portable. Apps generally work with both 10-inch and 7-inch tablets, though some are only optimized for one size.

Advantages & Disadvantages of the Mobile Internet

Over the last few years, many cell phones have become available that allow users to access the internet while on the move. This mobile internet is enabled via technology, such as WiFi (Wireless Local Area Network) and WAP (Wireless Access Protocol). Recent figures from analysts at the Internet Data Center suggest that some 450 million people in the world use mobile internet.

Stay Up-To-Date

Perhaps the biggest advantage of mobile internet is always having access to the latest facts, figures and information as it happens. This information might range from breaking news delivered by news sites, to stock and shares prices or other business information, to travel updates and the latest weather forecasts in your area. Having up-to-date info allows you to make decisions with all the correct facts at hand.

Find Yourself

Another practical use of mobile internet is to find information regarding the area around you. For example, you might want to find the nearest restaurant, gig or bar and your mobile internet could tell you with a quick look on a search engine. You could then get recommendations and find a map. Many phones also come set up to utilize GPS (Global Positioning System), which uses satellites to locate the phone’s user and provide information based on their location. This means the info you obtain using mobile internet can be personalized for you and is thus more helpful, especially if, for example, you are lost on the road and need directions home.

Go Social

With many people now using social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, mobile internet can only make engaging with contacts on these sites easier. In particular, having the net on your cell phone allows you to update your status or check what your friends are up to at the touch of a button—handy for organizing your social life.

Money Matters

Something to consider is the added cost of mobile internet. For some phones, depending upon your phone network or carrier, having your phone enabled for the internet may cost an extra $7 to $10, while a monthly subscription for a smartphone—let’s say the Nexus One, for example—might get you unlimited access to the internet, but will also set you back around $79.99 per month.

Privacy Issues

There are privacy issues to consider, too. With more and more people accessing the internet through mobiles, it’s easy to forget that five of the major search engines archive the search histories of their users on a regular basis, according to a report from the Center for Democracy & Technology. So individuals may be giving away more information than they realize through their increased net usage.

How to Maximize the Charge of an Apple Battery

You can take some easy steps to prolong the charge of your Apple Macbook battery. Here are some simple settings and steps you can take to get the most out of your MacBook, MacBook Pro 13 inch (33.0 cm) battery , MacBook Air, iBook G4 or PowerBook G4 battery.

  1. Optimize your battery settings in Energy Saver preferences (1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences. 2. From the View menu, choose Energy Saver. 3. Click Show Details. 4. Choose Battery or Battery Power from the ” Settings for” pop-up menu. 5. Choose Longest or Better Battery Life from the Optimize Energy Settings pop-up menu.)
  2. Set your screen brightness to the lowest comfortable level (1. Press the F1 (dimmer) and F2 (brighter) keys to dim the 2.screen until the brightness is as low as possible and the screen is still comfortable to look at.)
  3. Turn off unused features and technologies.

Google kicks off Android One in the U.S. with the Project Fi-equipped Moto X4

Google is finally bringing its Android One program to the U.S., but not in the way you think. Instead of a super-low-priced phone with bare-minimum specs, the first U.S. Android One phone is actually the Moto X4. And it’s a Project Fi exclusive.

The Android One Moto X4 is essentially the same phone as the one you get direct from Motorola, with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 630 processor, 3,000mAh battery, dual rear cameras (12MP and 8MP), and fast charging. What’s different is all on the inside.

For one, it will run on Google’s Project Fi network, which until now was limited to Pixel phones. It will also run what Google describes as a “pure Android experience with a clean software design and a carefully curated set of preinstalled apps to give you just what you need.” That means you’ll be leaving Alexa behind, as well as Moto’s suite of proprietary apps. But you will get timely updates.

Eventually, anyway. The Moto X4 Android One phone will ship with Nougat 7.1 installed, but Google is promising to deliver Android Oreo before the end of the year. It also said that the Android One Moto X4 “will be among the first phones” to receive an upgrade to Android P next year, presumably alongside the Pixel and Pixel 2 phones. The Moto X4 is certain to follow the standard Google upgrade guarantee, with two years of version updates and three years of security patches.

You’ll also need to sign up for Project Fi if you want a Moto X4. For $20 a month, you get unlimited U.S. calls and texts as well as international texting in more than 135 countries, and you can add data on top of that for $10 a gig. Whatever you don’t use will be returned to you in the form of a monetary credit. So, if you use 2.4GB of your 3GB plan, you’ll get $6 back on the following month’s statement. Project Fi isn’t available everywhere, however, so Google lets you check availability before purchase.

The Moto X4 Android One will cost $399 and is available for preorder today in blue and black. Previous Nexus users can also take advantage of a new trade-in program that offers up to $165 in credits. Also, users who sign up before Oct. 5 will receive $50 in Fi credits.

Why this matters: While it’s only one phone, the Moto X4 Fi edition represents a significant expansion of the Android One program. Until now, Android One was a little-known international program offering low-priced phones that were forced to adhere to strict minimum hardware requirements for RAM and storage (and of course, OS and updates). Basically, it was to make sure that people buying inexpensive phones weren’t throwing their money away on garbage.

By bringing the Moto X4 to Android One, Google is signaling a willingness to work more closely with manufacturers to offer pure Android on higher-end hardware that isn’t made by Google. Now, we’re not likely to see an Android One Galaxy S8 (but seriously, how great would that be), but the more phones that get timely Android updates, the more pressure it puts on Samsung and others to push out updates more quickly to their own devices. And that’s good for everyone.

How to Protect Yourself when Using a Cell Phone

The World Health Organization has announced on May 31, 2017 that cell phones can possibly cause cancer and as a result, have listed cell phones as a “carcinogenic hazard”, in the same category with lead and engine exhaust. The peer-reviewed study consisting of 31 scientists from 14 different countries found evidence for an increase in some brain cancers (Glioma and acoustic neuroma), cancers that take a while to develop and the scientists fear that long-term usage could result in more of these types of cancer.

Cell phones communicate using signals in the microwave spectrum. The invisible stream of RF (radio frequency) signals penetrate our bodies when the device is held close, and as well as the long-term potential for cancer, there is also the potential to impact cognitive memory functions and to cause disorientation and dizziness. This article explains how to take precautions when using your cell phone.

  1. Balance the safety and convenience. While there have been ample studies showing that there may be side effects to cell phone usage, there have been many studies refuting the health impacts, causing a large level of uncertainty and misunderstanding. It’s human nature to keep using something that works for us unless proven hazardous, so this uncertainty has worked in favor of continued, increased use of cell phones. Understandably so too – cell phones are convenient, they allow you to find people fast, do business anywhere, and stay in touch around the world. However, they are also a “massive human experiment”, with more than 2-4 billion people in the world experiencing 70 to 80 percent of the cell phone’s energy penetrating the skull, with unknown long-term outcomes. When weighing up this convenient tool with the questionable health impact, do you want to take this risk with your health? Choosing to err on the side of caution and taking measures to reduce your exposure to radio frequency (RF) emissions from your cell phone is a good preventative health action over which you have control.
  2. Return to the cord phone or land-line phone. Try taking most of your calls using the “old-fashioned” way of a phone plugged into the wall. If you like pacing as you talk, get a longer cord. At least make a large effort to take calls that you know will last a long time on a corded phone for your day-to-day communications.
  3. Limit the length of your calls on your cell phone. Prolonged extended use of cell phones increases your exposure to the radiated signals from your device; even a two minute call has been shown to alter your brain’s natural electrical activity for up to an hour afterward. By reducing the amount of time spent of the cell phone and by relegating it to emergency use, you can reduce your exposure to it. Turn it off and keep it in a carrying bag, away from your body but handy should you need to use it.
  4. Use a hands-free device or wireless headset to increase the distance between the phone and your head. The best approach to using a cell phone to create distance between you and the radiating phone. When speaking, place the phone on speakerphone. The speakerphone option is a good one because it allows you to hold the phone away from you as you speak.
  5. Stay still when using a cell phone. If you keep moving around with it, more radiation is emitted because the phone needs to keep track of you. This covers walking and being inside a vehicle; as you move, the phone continues to scan to keep up with the changes in position.
  6. Turn the cell phone off when not in use. A cell phone that is in standby mode is still emitting radiation. When it is off, this ceases. Do not carry the cell phone next to your body; instead, keep it in a bag. This is especially important if you have become used to wearing it in a pocket next to your groin; research has shown that men wearing cell phones next to their groin have up to a 30 percent reduction in sperm count. Keep it away from all vital organs (heart, liver, etc.).
  7. Consider either not giving cell phones to children or limiting their usage to emergency circumstances. Keep in mind that children are more susceptible to the radiation emitted from the cell phone. Their skulls are thinner and their brains are less developed. Moreover, since they are growing, their cells divide at a much faster rate, which means that the impact of radiation can be a lot worse.
  8. Look for products designed to shield you as a cell phone user. There are several devices on the market offering their own claims. Read the information accompanying the products and decide what is likely to work best for you. Some of the possibilities include:
  9. Purchase a cell phone that rates as low as possible on the scale of radiation emissions. Some cell phones are definitely better than others on this scale, so as a consumer, vote with your purchase power and let cell phone companies know that less radiation is what consumers demand.