Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/editorial-thin-laptops-mainstream-ultrabook-battery-life-changes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/editorial-thin-laptops-mainstream-ultrabook-battery-life-changes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/editorial-thin-laptops-mainstream-ultrabook-battery-life-changes/#comments all day laptop battery life

Bandwagons, trains and Tranes. Can't say that these three have a heck of a lot in common in most regards, but one thing's for sure: trying to stop this trio would be a Herculean task. And so it goes with laptops -- once upon a time, it was good enough to have something that resembled a portable tower, but these days, the ability to even see the chassis at all feels like a negative. I exaggerate, of course, but the proverbial race in the laptop world is hardly about price; it's about thinness. Intel's unstoppable quest to plaster the Ultrabook term as far and wide as possible has led to a change in the way consumers are viewing portable machines, and Apple's devilishly thin MacBook Air certainly played a role, too. What we're left with is a very curious priority list, and I'm wondering if too many OEMs have stopped to wonder if the "obvious" is indeed the "right."

I'll be the first to confess that I love the look of thin. Samsung's Series 9 and Acer's Aspire S5 might just be two of the sexiest machines to ever be built, and Dell's original Adamo was primarily of interest due to one thing: its jaw-droppingly thin frame. But there's some saying about putting form before function that seems to apply here, particularly when keying in on battery life. I've no doubt that the marketing and research teams for PC makers far and wide understand the realities of the market place, and perhaps the average consumer really doesn't need more than four to six hours of life on a single charge. Five years ago, squeezing that much life from machines under an inch thick would've required some sort of wizardry that exists only in a rarely visited corner of West Hollywood. But today, I'm a dreamer. And I'm dreaming of a laptop with "all day battery life" -- something that could be screamed from the rooftops, and honestly, something that could probably be accomplished tomorrow if our laptop options weren't on such a diet.

Continue reading Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?

Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerappleaspire s5AspireS5asusbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifeeditorialenvyenvy 14envy 14 spectreEnvy14Envy14Spectrehplaptopmacmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirnotebooksamsungseries 9Series9thin and lightthin-and-lightThinAndLightultrabookWed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy S III battery tested by GSMArena, lasts as long as your tablet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-battery-tested/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-battery-tested/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-battery-tested/#comments Image

Samsung made much ado over the Galaxy S III's 2,100mAh battery, but we've been wondering whether or not that power pack was a major perk or just a necessity to offset that hefty Exynos 4 Quad. One of what looks to be a growing number of escaped pre-release devices was put through the ringer in battery tests and came out looking spic-and-span: it lasted for just over 10 hours for video and voice, or long enough to make even a tablet like the new iPad or Transformer Prime break a sweat. Web browsing wasn't quite so hot, though, which at a bit over five hours was well behind the seven hours of an iPhone 4S. Don't expect the seemingly infinite battery of the Droid RAZR Maxx, and don't be surprised if final devices handle differently, but those with the international Galaxy S III should make it through at least a few interminable meetings watching their favorite reruns... not that we'd condone such a thing.

Samsung Galaxy S III battery tested by GSMArena, lasts as long as your tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidAndroid 4.0android 4.0 ice cream sandwichAndroid4.0Android4.0IceCreamSandwichbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifebenchmarkbenchmarkscellphonecellphonesexynosexynos 4 quadexynos 4412Exynos4412Exynos4Quadgalaxygalaxy s 3galaxy s iiiGalaxyS3GalaxySIiiIce Cream SandwichIceCreamSandwichmobilepostcrosssamsungsamsung galaxy s 3samsung galaxy s iiiSamsungGalaxyS3SamsungGalaxySIiismartphonesmartphonesMon, 14 May 2012 09:11:00 EST<![CDATA[University of California, Riverside runs entire building floor off of 1.1-megawatt green battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/university-of-california-riverside-runs-building-on-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/university-of-california-riverside-runs-building-on-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/university-of-california-riverside-runs-building-on-battery/#comments University of California, Riverside runs entire building floor off of 1.1-megawatt green battery

We're used to batteries powering a lot of devices, but the University of California, Riverside is upping that a notch by charging up a whole floor's worth. The school's Winston Chung Global Energy Center is walking the eco-friendly walk and has started using a huge bank of rare earth, lithium-ion batteries from Balqon to produce 1.1 megawatts, enough to keep Winston Chung Hall's entire first floor humming along while tapping renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. The batteries bank their energy overnight, keeping the throngs of students happy without having to recharge as much or use the regular power grid as a fallback. While it's considered a testbed, the university's giant battery is considered a blueprint for cellular towers and the green power sources themselves -- the combination of which could keep your smartphone up and running with a lot less of an environmental hit.

[Thanks, Justin B]

University of California, Riverside runs entire building floor off of 1.1-megawatt green battery originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balgonbatteryCell TowerCellTowerCellular TowerCellularTowersolarsolar powerSolarPowerUniversity of Californiauniversity of california riversideUniversityOfCaliforniaUniversityOfCaliforniaRiversidewindwind powerWindPowerFri, 11 May 2012 21:39:00 EST<![CDATA[USPS goes postal on lithium ion batteries, refuses to ship smartphones overseas]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/usps-battery-ban/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/usps-battery-ban/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/usps-battery-ban/#comments Image

The USPS has announced that it'll refuse to ship any gear containing lithium ion batteries overseas. The postal service believes combusting power packs have caused two fatal cargo plane crashes since 2006 -- hence the ban, which takes effect from May 16th. Anyone wishing to ship the latest tech to those living or serving overseas will have to use another shipping company -- although the ban might be relaxed in 2013, once safety testing has been carried out.

USPS goes postal on lithium ion batteries, refuses to ship smartphones overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatteryBattery ExplosionBatteryExplosionExplosionFireLithium IonLithium Ion BatteriesLithium Ion BatteryLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesLithiumIonBatteryPlane CrashPlaneCrashPostal ServicePostalServiceUnited States Postal ServiceUnitedStatesPostalServiceUSPSFri, 11 May 2012 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/brookstone-fuel-cell-usb-charger-lasts-two-weeks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/brookstone-fuel-cell-usb-charger-lasts-two-weeks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/brookstone-fuel-cell-usb-charger-lasts-two-weeks/#comments Image

If there's a pain that Engadget writers know all too well, it's running out of battery life for a smartphone when we need it most. Say, at a major trade show. That's why we're enthused to hear of an upcoming fuel cell USB charger that Lilliputian Systems is developing for Brookstone. The lighter fluid-filled tank should provide up to 14 full charges for your phone before you need to spend a few dollars to top up, or two weeks if you power up daily -- we'd call that about two CES' worth in our lingo. Better still, using a solid oxide membrane on silicon not only makes a long fuel cell runtime possible, longer than we've seen for methanol, but makes the phone-sized pack safe to carry on the airliners we ride entirely too often. Pricing has yet to be sorted out, but with Brookstone stores likely to start carrying the fuel cell before the end of the year, it should be ready just in time for our next big trip to Las Vegas.

Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery chargerbattery packBatteryChargerBatteryPackbrookstonechargerchargersFuel Cellfuel cellsFuelCellFuelCellslighter fluidLighterFluidliliputian systemsLiliputianSystemsmethanolmobilepostcrosssmartphonesmartphonessolid oxidesolid oxide fuel cellsolid oxide fuel cellsSolidOxideSolidOxideFuelCellSolidOxideFuelCellsusbWed, 09 May 2012 04:41:00 EST<![CDATA[New metal mix could lead to cheap, plentiful sodium-ion batteries in gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/05/sodium-ion-battery-electrode-research-breakthrough/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/05/sodium-ion-battery-electrode-research-breakthrough/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/05/sodium-ion-battery-electrode-research-breakthrough/#comments Image

Lithium batteries very frequently power our gadgets, but the material itself isn't common and, by extension, isn't cheap. Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science aim to solve that through sodium-ion batteries using a new electrode material. By mixing together oxides of iron, manganese and sodium, Shinichi Komaba and team have managed to get a sodium battery's electrode holding a charge closer to that of a lithium-ion battery while using a much more abundant material. Having just 30 total charges means this simplest form of sodium-ion battery technology could be years away from finding a home in your next smartphone or EV, although it's not the only option. Argonne National Laboratory's Chris Johnson has co-developed a more exotic vanadium pentoxide electrode that could produce 200 charges while keeping the battery itself made out of an ingredient you more often find in your table salt than your mobile gear.

[Image credit: Hi-Res Images of Chemical Elements]

New metal mix could lead to cheap, plentiful sodium-ion batteries in gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2012 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argonne national laboratoryArgonneNationalLaboratorybatteryironlithiumLithium IonLithium-Ionlithium-ion batteryLithium-ionBatteryLithiumIonmanganeseoxideresearchsodiumsodium ionsodium-ionsodium-ion batterySodium-ionBatterySodiumIonTokyo University of ScienceTokyoUniversityOfScienceSat, 05 May 2012 06:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Buying an iPad 2? Here's the rarer, more efficient specimen you need to (somehow) track down]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/rare-ipad-2-variant-32nm-processor/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/rare-ipad-2-variant-32nm-processor/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/rare-ipad-2-variant-32nm-processor/#comments Buying a $399 iPad 2? Here's the rarer, more efficient specimen you need to (somehow) track down

Not all iPads are made equal, even if they're all packaged and branded identically. There's a major new mutation within the 2nd generation tablet and it brings significantly better battery life. Specifically, the fourth and latest production model of the iPad 2 (known as iPad2,4) has not only a lower price tag ($399) but also a new 32nm processor, which is significantly smaller and more efficient than those in previous iPad 2s (which had 45nm chips and an older transistor design). According to AnandTech, this results in an overall 16 percent increase in battery life during web browsing and as much as a 30 percent boost when playing games. Obviously that's worth having, but how can you tell if a boxed-up iPad 2 has the new processor before taking it to the checkout? Here's the downer: you can't. Until retailers' inventories naturally flood with the updated type, the only way to tell is by switching the slate on and running a utility like GeekBench -- and perhaps there'll be circumstances where you can give that a go on the shop floor. Alternatively, if third-party sellers discover that their stock is the iPad2,4, they could pull off a Darwinian win-win by marketing that fact to buyers.

Buying an iPad 2? Here's the rarer, more efficient specimen you need to (somehow) track down originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 May 2012 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>32nm4appleapple ipadapple ipad 2AppleIpadAppleIpad2batterybattery lifeBatteryLifechipefficiencyipadipad 2Ipad2processorsoctransistorvariantFri, 04 May 2012 05:27:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC pats itself on the back for the One X's battery life, has plenty of help]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/htc-one-x-battery-life/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/htc-one-x-battery-life/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/htc-one-x-battery-life/#comments HTC pats itself on the back for the One X's battery life, has plenty of help

If you're a smartphone fan (of course you are, if you're not then you're almost certainly in the wrong place, can we ask how you even got here?) then you've almost certainly been bitten by the bug of a battery that just doesn't last long enough, the normal side effect of a data hungry lifestyle. HTC says it feels your pain however, and thinks it's done quite a bit to lick the issue with its latest flagship phone, the HTC One X. In reports consistent with our experience with the dual-core AT&T iteration, a blog post on the company's site notes several others that have tested it out and come away impressed with the battery life it shows. While our tests with the quad-core global version left something to be desired HTC says the One bests the old Sensation by as much as 147 percent when it comes to talk time, and 39 percent in video playback, while Anandtech had glowing recommendations for both versions. So, are you as impressed with HTC's engineering, or are you still pining for a larger RAZR Maxx-style battery bump?

HTC pats itself on the back for the One X's battery life, has plenty of help originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifedual coreDualCorehtchtc onehtc one xhtc sensationHtcOneHtcOneXHtcSensationmobilepostcrossmobilepostminiquad-coresensationsnapdragontegra 3Tegra3testsThu, 03 May 2012 01:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Project Glass makes a TV appearance on Charlie Rose, flashes its rear for the cameras]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/project-glass-sebastian-thrun-charlie-rose-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/project-glass-sebastian-thrun-charlie-rose-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/project-glass-sebastian-thrun-charlie-rose-battery/#comments Project Glass makes a TV appearance on Charlie Rose, flashes its rear for the cameras

Google fellow, founder of Project X and self-driving car pioneer Sebastian Thrun became the latest to publicly rock a Project Glass prototype (after company co-founder Sergey Brin) on a recent episode of Charlie Rose, and managed to show off a whole new side of the project in the process. While the 19-minute interview was mostly unremarkable product-wise with a focus on higher education and his Udacity project, we did get to see him take a picture of the host (about a minute in) by tapping it, then posting it on Google+ by nodding twice. Also, as Electronista points out, in a brief reverse shot (17:20) of Thrun we see for the first time what appears to be a small battery pack / transmitter portion lodged behind his ear. Of course, we're still not any closer to rocking the latest in bionic man-chic ourselves, but at least we can start getting fitted for one now.

Project Glass makes a TV appearance on Charlie Rose, flashes its rear for the cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealitybatterycharlie roseCharlieRosegooglegoogle plusgoogle+GooglePlusheads up displayheads-up displayHeads-upDisplayHeadsUpDisplayhudproject glassProjectGlasssebastian thrunSebastianThruntransmittertv showTvShowFri, 27 Apr 2012 04:02:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC talks smartphone design: from inception to final product]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/htc-talks-smartphone-design-from-inception-to-final-product/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/htc-talks-smartphone-design-from-inception-to-final-product/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/htc-talks-smartphone-design-from-inception-to-final-product/#comments

At the Frequencies media summit in Seattle over the last two days, HTC walked us through the fine details on how its smartphones are developed, going from the boring rectangular ABS block to the more refined plastic mockups that are presented to carriers and focus groups -- the findings of which then shape the final product. Sadly, we weren't allowed to take photos of the One X mockups that were shown to us, but do read on to learn the general process of how an HTC phone goes from inception to the final product.

Continue reading HTC talks smartphone design: from inception to final product

HTC talks smartphone design: from inception to final product originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryBjorn KilburnBjornKilburncellphoneClaude ZellwegerClaudeZellwegercolordesigneric linEricLinfrequenciesfrequencies 2012Frequencies2012htcmobile phoneMobilePhonemobilepostcrosspeter chouPeterChouphonesmartphonevideoFri, 20 Apr 2012 23:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create incredibly thin solar cells flexible enough to wrap around a human hair]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/thin-flexible-solar-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/thin-flexible-solar-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/thin-flexible-solar-cells/#comments ImageYou've probably heard that the sun is strong enough to power our planet many times over, but without a practical method of harnessing that energy, there's no way to take full advantage. An incredibly thin and light solar cell could go a long way to accomplishing that on a smaller scale, however, making the latest device from researchers from the University of Austria and the University of Tokyo a fairly significant discovery. Scientists were able to create an ultra-thin solar cell that measures just 1.9 micrometers thick -- roughly one-tenth the size of the next device. Not only is the sample slim -- composed of electrodes mounted on plastic foil, rather than glass -- it's also incredibly flexible, able to be wrapped around a single strand of human hair (which, believe it or not, is nearly 20 times thicker). The scalable cell could replace batteries in lighting, display and medical applications, and may be ready to be put to use in as few as five years. There's a bounty of physical measurement and efficiency data at the source link below, so grab those reading glasses and click on past the break.

Researchers create incredibly thin solar cells flexible enough to wrap around a human hair originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellcellselectricelectricityjuicepanelpanelspowerprototypeprototypesresearchsciencesolarsolar cellsolar cellssolar panelsolar panelssolar powerSolarCellSolarCellsSolarPanelSolarPanelsSolarPowersunUniversity of AustriaUniversity of TokyoUniversityOfAustriaUniversityOfTokyoWed, 04 Apr 2012 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx set to hit Europe and Middle East in May]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-europe-middle-east/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-europe-middle-east/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-europe-middle-east/#comments Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx set to hit Europe and Middle East in May
While Stateside folks have been enjoying the thicker, but longer lasting RAZR Maxx for a few months now, those from across the pond have been missing out. Good news is you won't have to wait it out on the sidelines much longer, as Motorola's announced the extra juice-packing Maxx is set to make its Euro and Middle Eastern debut come next month. However, Moto wasn't clear about how much you'll have to shell out to grasp onto this Droid, or which specific countries it'll make the trip toward. Whatever it may be, let's hope it's already been fed that Ice Cream Sandwich we spotted a while back...

Continue reading Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx set to hit Europe and Middle East in May

Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx set to hit Europe and Middle East in May originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbatteriesbatterydroiddroid razrdroid razr maxxDroidRazrDroidRazrMaxxeuropemaxxmiddle eastMiddleEastmobilepostminimotorolaMotorola RAZRmotorola razr maxxMotorolaRazrMotorolaRazrMaxxpowerrazrUKvideoTue, 03 Apr 2012 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung throws in free extended battery with VZW Galaxy Nexus, applies to new purchases only]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/samsung-direct-verizon-galaxy-nexus-free-extended-battery-promotion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/samsung-direct-verizon-galaxy-nexus-free-extended-battery-promotion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/samsung-direct-verizon-galaxy-nexus-free-extended-battery-promotion/#comments
Samsung must be keenly aware that the Galaxy Nexus' battery life takes a hit on Verizon's LTE network: for a limited time, the outfit's throwing in a free 2,100mAh extended battery for first-time buyers (sorry, current Nexus owners are out of luck). To take advantage of the promotion, you'll have to purchase it through Samsung Direct (link below), which means you'll be paying $300 for the device and agreeing to a two-year contract. As Android and Me notes, though, you'd save quite a bit of money picking up the VZW Nexus and accompanying battery pack at Amazon for a combined $134. Suffice to say, then, this isn't a stellar deal, but those of you who disagree can avail yourselves through May 10, or while supplies last.

Samsung throws in free extended battery with VZW Galaxy Nexus, applies to new purchases only originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryextended batteryExtendedBatteryfreeGalaxy NexusGalaxyNexusmobilepostcrossmobilepostminiNexuspromotionpromotionsSamsung GalaxySamsung Galaxy NexusSamsungGalaxySamsungGalaxyNexusMon, 02 Apr 2012 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Conversion kit lets you push your RAZR to the Maxx for $110]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/conversion-kit-lets-you-push-your-razr-to-the-maxx-for-110/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/conversion-kit-lets-you-push-your-razr-to-the-maxx-for-110/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/conversion-kit-lets-you-push-your-razr-to-the-maxx-for-110/#comments Conversion kit lets you push your RAZR to the Maxx for $110Let's pretend you went ahead and purchased a shiny new Motorola RAZR this past November. Now, just for the sake of argument, let's say Motorola -- only months later -- released a new version of that handset with a battery that had some pundits asking, 'where has this phone been my whole life?' Yeah, that happened. But if you've managed to overlook Moto's past transgression, and are willing to sink another $110 into your handset, you too can experience the battery that just won't quit. The Cellphone Repair Shop is hawking a kit that will outfit your plain old RAZR with genuine Motorola RAZR Maxx parts -- battery included. The site recommends that you send your handset to its repair facility for "professional installation," but we're sure some of you are up to the challenge. How about it, RAZR owners, are any of you tinkerers going to try and Maxx-out your handset?

Conversion kit lets you push your RAZR to the Maxx for $110 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaccessoryAndroidbatteriesBatterybattery packBatteryPackCellphone Repair ShopCellphoneRepairShopDROIDDROID RAZR MaxxDroidRazrMaxxMaxxmobilepostminiMotorolamotorola droidMotorola RAZRMotorolaDroidMotorolaRazroempowerRAZRreplacementreplacement batteryReplacementBatteryretrofitsmartphonesmartphonesUpgradeThu, 29 Mar 2012 13:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia's Lumia 800 firmware update juices handsets, banishes battery issues]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/nokias-lumia-800-firmware-update-juices-handsets-banishes-batt/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/nokias-lumia-800-firmware-update-juices-handsets-banishes-batt/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/nokias-lumia-800-firmware-update-juices-handsets-banishes-batt/#comments Nokia updates Lumia 800, is the mythical battery enhancing update you've been waiting forStill holding out on Nokia to squash any lingering battery bugs lurking inside your Lumia 800's beautiful shell? For some of you, today's your lucky day, as Espoo's just released a fresh batch of bits, which bring "significant improvements in battery performance and power management." We've seen version 1600.2487.8107 make the rounds once before, but previously when it was a Vodafone-branded variant -- which you may recall WPCentral discovered was responsible for an impressive 3x improvement (!) in battery life. Enhancements to audio are present in the build as well, with the company tweaking bass for "better voice quality" and your music enjoyment. Those ready to update should peep the Zune desktop software, although Nokia cautions not everyone will will get updated today, as coordinating across multiple carriers in different markets is like "herding sheep," resulting in a multi-stage rollout in the coming four weeks. More details, including a video on how to update, await at the source.

Nokia's Lumia 800 firmware update juices handsets, banishes battery issues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifebattery updateBatteryLifeBatteryUpdateespoolumialumia 800lumia 800 battery lifeLumia800Lumia800BatteryLifemobilepostcrossnokiasoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdatewindows phoneWindowsPhoneWed, 28 Mar 2012 17:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Fisker plans to replace the battery packs on 640 Karma sedans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/26/fisker-plans-to-replace-the-battery-packs-on-640-karma-sedans/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/26/fisker-plans-to-replace-the-battery-packs-on-640-karma-sedans/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/26/fisker-plans-to-replace-the-battery-packs-on-640-karma-sedans/#comments ImageFisker Automotive hasn't exactly had the smoothest of launches for its all-electric Karma sedan, and it's now been dealt yet another small setback. As Wired Autopia reports, Fisker now plans to replace the battery packs on nearly all of the Karmas that have rolled off the assembly line -- apparently due to the same issue that caused the car to break down during Consumer Reports' test of the car. That includes some 640 cars in all (up from 239 in an earlier recall), although Fisker notes that it has only seen the issue on a "handful" of vehicles. If you're the owner of one of those, you can expect to receive a notice in the next few days, along with a software update (unrelated to the recall) that promises improvements on everything form the powertrain to infotainment system.

Fisker plans to replace the battery packs on 640 Karma sedans originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A123A123 SystemsA123Systemsbatterybattery packbattery packsBatteryPackBatteryPackselectric vehicleElectricVehicleevfiskerfisker karmaFiskerKarmakarmarecallMon, 26 Mar 2012 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[What if trees could be used as batteries?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/trees-could-be-used-as-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/trees-could-be-used-as-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/trees-could-be-used-as-batteries/#comments What if trees could be used as batteries?

Yes, our bark-skinned friends are nice and beautiful and we shouldn't mess with them too much. But here's the thing: we already chop them down for paper, so why not use their spare woody meat for batteries too? Like previous attempts at organic energy storage, it all hinges on mimicking photosynthesis. Up to the a third of the biomass of a tree is a pulpy substance called lignin, which is a by-product from paper production and which contains electro-chemically active molecules called quinones. With a bit of processing, Professor Olle Inganäs at Linköping University in Sweden reckons he can turn lignin into a thin film that can be used as cathode in a battery, and he believes it's efficient enough to start industrial-style development of the technology. "Nature solved the problem long ago", he says, and "[Lignin is] a source that never ends". Meanwhile, if you imagine Inganäs as having a long white beard and cloak, then, er, snap.

What if trees could be used as batteries? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryligninLinköping UniversityLinköpingUniversityLOTROlle InganäsOlleInganäsorganicphotosynthesisquinonestreesFri, 23 Mar 2012 08:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: cloning a woolly mammoth, mesmerizing kinetic facade and LED-suited break dancers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/18/solar-power-office-2012-coda-led-auroar-hubble/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/18/solar-power-office-2012-coda-led-auroar-hubble/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/18/solar-power-office-2012-coda-led-auroar-hubble/#comments Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
This week Inhabitat reported on several breaking technological controversies as South Korean scientists announced plans to clone a woolly mammoth and a group of researchers suggested bioengineering the human body to combat climate change. Printing tech also got a green upgrade as researchers developed a laser "unprinter" capable of erasing pages with a quick zap, and scientists used a 3D printer to create the world's smallest F1 car. Speaking of print, the University of Texas in Austin just developed a revolutionary paper sensor that can detect HIV and malaria for less than 10 cents and a group of aerospace engineers created a pacemaker that's powered by the human heart.

In alternative energy news, this week we showcased a solar-powered shipping container office that produces twice as much energy as it consumes, and Arup unveiled its striking net-zero arena for the 2022 world cup. We also highlighted 6 brilliant sun-powered art installations, a pair of massive oil pumps sprang up in Midtown Manhattan, and we brought you a mesmerizing kinetic facade that changes with the wind. President Obama also delivered a speech where he slammed opponents for their single-minded views on energy and a team of researchers developed a ultra thin battery that could power displays on credit cards.

Several groundbreaking green transportation projects launched this week as the first 2012 Coda all-electric sedan hit the streets, and scientists proposed a crazy maglev "Startram" train that could make space travel cheaper and more efficient. We also brought you the latest on the Chevy Volt saga as Bob Lutz went on the defensive for the Volt, Bill O'Reilly got caught red-handed as he flip-flopped his position on eco vehicles, and we got the scoop from Chevy's Rob Peterson about the Volt production shutdown. Last but not least, we published you several dispatches from the field of wearable technology - including a dazzling "Aurora" dress made from 10,000 LEDs, a line of space-age fashions inspired by Hubble photography, and a team of pop-locking LED-suited break dancers.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: cloning a woolly mammoth, mesmerizing kinetic facade and LED-suited break dancers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbatteryChevycloningecoInhabitatkineticLEDmammothpacemakersolarsun-powerthisweekingreentransportationunprintervehiclesSun, 18 Mar 2012 20:33:00 EST<![CDATA[GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/gechic-on-lap-1302-portable-monitor-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/gechic-on-lap-1302-portable-monitor-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/gechic-on-lap-1302-portable-monitor-video/#comments GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)If you've ever felt the burning urge to mirror your smartphone's display onto a larger screen, then you might consider stuffing GeChic's portable, 13.3-inch monitor into the ol' man purse for your next wayward outing. We're not promising that it'll be simple, but in addition to supporting laptops, game consoles and digital cameras, you can also rig up your smartphone to the On-Lap 1302 monitor -- with the assistance of a tangle of adapters, batteries and cords, that is. The product is said to be just 8mm thick, but most importantly, this 1366 x 768 display can be powered either from your laptop's USB port or an external battery pack. It includes proper hookups for VGA and HDMI video connections (via a proprietary 30-pin connector), but laptop users may also purchase a Mini DisplayPort accessory. Throw in Apple's Digital AV Adapter or an MHL to HDMI solution, and boom, you've also got support for your iPhone and many Android smartphones. Okay, so it's a bit convoluted, but the product's video touts this as, "The best idea ever," and along with its homespun production, we think you'll enjoy it for a good laugh -- so just hop the break. Those interested in such gear will find it on Newegg next month for $199.

Continue reading GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)

GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterydisplaydisplaysdual screenDualScreengechicgechic on-lap 1302GechicOn-lap1302laptoplaptopsmobilepostcrosson-lap 1302On-lap1302portablesmartphonesmartphonesvideoSat, 17 Mar 2012 03:24:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM gets funky, patents fuel cell manufacture for mobile devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/14/rim-patents-fuel-cell-manufacture-for-mobile-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/14/rim-patents-fuel-cell-manufacture-for-mobile-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/14/rim-patents-fuel-cell-manufacture-for-mobile-devices/#comments RIM gets funky, patents fuel cell manufacture for mobile devicesIf the engineers in Waterloo have their way, your future mobile handset may be able to recharge itself on-the-go with the help of fuel cells. A new patent from RIM describes a method of manufacture that sandwiches a fuel cell assembly between the keyboard and printed circuit board, wherein the fuel cell ventilates through the keyboard (and likely, channels in the keys themselves). The claims describe the PCB as being formed on the fuel cell -- perhaps in effort to reduce size -- to which a fuel tank is then located beneath the printed circuit board. It seems that users will be able to initiate the fuel cell assembly in some manner, as the claims also describe a conductive, metallic plunger on at least one of the keys that's able to fit through a hole within the fuel cell. One omission we've spotted right off the bat is a lack of description of how the fuel tank is filled, so perhaps we'll learn that tidbit another day.

RIM gets funky, patents fuel cell manufacture for mobile devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryfuel cellfuel cellsFuelCellFuelCellsmobilepostminipatentpatentspowerresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimsmartphonesmartphonesWed, 14 Mar 2012 20:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia Lumia 800 update reportedly triples battery life]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/lumia-800-update-triples-battery-life/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/lumia-800-update-triples-battery-life/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/lumia-800-update-triples-battery-life/#comments Nokia Lumia 800 update reportedly triples battery lifeEarlier this week in Refresh Roundup, we wrote of a Vodafone-branded update for the Lumia 800 with a designation of 1600.2487.8107.12070. Among the enhancements, the new software version was said to provide longer battery life -- a welcome improvement, no doubt -- but we could've never guessed the significance of the gain. The folks at WPCentral recently forced the update onto their own phones and, get this, they assert the new software has nearly tripled(!) their battery life. While our heads are still spinning at the assertion, they claim the improvements are in part due to better management of the screen's brightness and cite an approximate discharge of 70mA when idle. Meanwhile, reports in the forums of xda-developers claim that battery drain is in the neighborhood of 80mA and 90mA when idle -- not quite as stunning, but still a huge improvement in comparison to the approximate 150mA discharge with the previous version. While your mileage may vary, this latest update could prove to be a true godsend for Lumia 800 owners.

Nokia Lumia 800 update reportedly triples battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifeBatteryLifelumia 800Lumia800mobilepostmininokianokia lumia 800NokiaLumia800updateupdatesTue, 06 Mar 2012 23:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Envia's GM-backed battery delivers huge energy density, lower costs, headaches for competitors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/envias-gm-backed-battery-delivers-huge-energy-density-lower-co/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/envias-gm-backed-battery-delivers-huge-energy-density-lower-co/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/envias-gm-backed-battery-delivers-huge-energy-density-lower-co/#comments If you're one of those worried about the battery on your expensive EV running out, look away now. Envia has unveiled a new cell that boasts a record-breaking energy density of 400Wh/kg (most currently offer between 100 and 150). It's estimated that when commercialized, this could bring the cost of a 300-mile range EV down to as little as $20,000. The performance gains come from a special manganese-rich cathode and silicon-carbon nano-composite anode combination. The battery maker is also partly owned by GM, which unsurprisingly means we're likely to see these very cells in its EVs in the future. Perhaps with the right choice of upholstery, we might see even better savings? Want to know more? Tap the fully charged press release parked just after the break.

Continue reading Envia's GM-backed battery delivers huge energy density, lower costs, headaches for competitors

Envia's GM-backed battery delivers huge energy density, lower costs, headaches for competitors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery cellBatteryCelldensityeco-friendlyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleenviaenvia systemsEnviaSystemsevgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsGMLithium Ionlithium ion batteriesLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesWed, 29 Feb 2012 02:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla to owners: Plug it in]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/tesla-to-owners-plug-it-in/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/tesla-to-owners-plug-it-in/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/25/tesla-to-owners-plug-it-in/#comments Tesla to owners: Plug it inEV maker Tesla has come under fire for allegations that its vehicles can be "bricked" when their batteries are completely discharged. Such instances require that the cells be replaced to the tune of $40,000, which doesn't sit well with folks who already forked over six figures to buy a Roadster in the first place. Tesla doesn't deny the charge (pardon the pun), but it does offer a common sense suggestion to avoid the problem: simply plug the car in. Tesla implies this danger is only likely for early adopters, and says it's also made strides to idiot-proof later vehicles with advanced warning systems -- Tesla 2.0 Roadsters can phone home to Tesla headquarters with a low juice alert, for example. Tesla documents safe battery charging practices in the owner's documentation, though, so here's an idea: if you're going to spend $109,000 on an electric sports car, maybe it's a good idea to RTFM (read the freaking manual).

Tesla to owners: Plug it in originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterybattery packBatteryPackbrickelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevissueproblemroadsterteslatesla roadsterTeslaRoadsterSat, 25 Feb 2012 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PlayStation Vita charging accessories detailed in Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/sony-playstation-vita-charging-accessories-detailed-in-japan/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/sony-playstation-vita-charging-accessories-detailed-in-japan/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/sony-playstation-vita-charging-accessories-detailed-in-japan/#commentsSony's website now lists Japanese release dates and prices for two PS Vita power accessories that you're likely to need. The PCH-ZPC1 J portable charger is a 135g (4.8-ounce) unit that takes seven hours to charge to its full 5,000mAh capacity and is then good for around one and half charges of your console -- we reckon that'd equate to over 12 hours of mixed-use sessions or at least seven hours of solid gaming. It'll be out on April 5th for ¥4,500 ($60). Meanwhile, the PCH-ZCA1 J car charger will hit retailers a couple of weeks earlier on March 22nd priced at ¥1,500 ($20) -- and there's really not much more to say about it except that a dead Vita on a road trip would be both a travesty and an oxymoron. Oh, just in case it hasn't already been etched into your memory, February 22nd is launch day in the US and Europe.

Sony PlayStation Vita charging accessories detailed in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaccessories-mainbatterybattery packBatteryPackcar adaptercar chargerCarAdapterCarChargerchargerchargingPCH-ZCA1 JPch-zca1JPCH-ZPC1 JPch-zpc1JPlaySation VitaPlaysationVitaplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaportable batteryportable chargerPortableBatteryPortableChargerpower accessoriesPowerAccessoriesps vitaPsVitasonysony playstation vitasony ps vitaSonyPlaystationVitaSonyPsVitavitaTue, 07 Feb 2012 05:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-review/#comments
Most of today's smartphones, especially those of the LTE-enabled persuasion, have earned a bad rap for exceptionally bad battery life, with large displays and hungry radios that suck the juice out faster than a three year-old can down a CapriSun. The race to construct the thinnest phones on the market doesn't help much either, since whittling down handsets results in less space for generously sized battery packs. The Motorola Droid RAZR is currently the slimmest phone this side of the Pacific, offering a thickness of 7.1mm at its thinnest end, and the title likely won't hold for long as new phones like the Huawei Ascend P1 S aim to knock the RAZR off its throne. But at what point do we stand up and insist on adding a little extra heft for the sake of having a bigger battery?

Enter the Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx. A mere two months after its predecessor was released on Verizon, this new contender came around to challenge the battery life of every single next-gen phone we've ever used. Its back end has been filled out somewhat to make room for a bigger battery, but at 8.99mm, it's still slimmer than a huge number of competing handsets on the market today. So what makes the Maxx different from the RAZR? Is it worth paying $300 with a two-year commitment -- a $100 premium over its original? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Motorola Droid Razr Maxx overview

Continue reading Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx review

Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.3.5Android2.3.5batteryCaprisunAwesomenessdroid razrdroid razr maxxDroidRazrDroidRazrMaxxgorilla glassGorillaGlasskevlarltelte band 13LteBand13maxxmobilepostcrossmotomotorolamotorola droid razr maxxMotorolaDroidRazrMaxxreviewsmart actionsSmartActionsverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvideovzwTue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battery maker Ener1 files for bankruptcy, tied to Think Global's bumper]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/battery-maker-ener1-files-for-bankruptcy-tied-to-think-globals/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/battery-maker-ener1-files-for-bankruptcy-tied-to-think-globals/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/battery-maker-ener1-files-for-bankruptcy-tied-to-think-globals/#comments Nobody was that surprised when EV maker Think Global drove off into the Chapter 11 sunset, but now it's towed an even bigger company along with it. Ener1 invested heavily in Think and also manufactured the lithium-ion batteries for its cars, but all it got in return was a lethal $69 million hole in its balance sheet. The company was de-listed from Nasdaq last month and now it's seeking bankruptcy protection to restructure $81 million in debts. If it fails to get its finances in order, organizers of the 2014 Winter Olympics may need to look for another power source.

Battery maker Ener1 files for bankruptcy, tied to Think Global's bumper originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 winter olympics2014WinterOlympicsbankruptcybankruptcy protectionBankruptcyProtectionbatterybattery makerBatteryMakerchapter 11Chapter11electric vehicleElectricVehicleener1EVLithium-Ionthinkthink globalThinkGlobalwinter olympicsWinterOlympicsTue, 31 Jan 2012 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia clarifies battery update on Lumia 800, promises audio / camera fixes soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/nokia-lumia-800-battery-bug-update-audio-camera-fixes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/nokia-lumia-800-battery-bug-update-audio-camera-fixes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/nokia-lumia-800-battery-bug-update-audio-camera-fixes/#commentsNokia already came clean about the Lumia 800 battery bug, but evidently that just wasn't enough to appease the masses. A community manager in the outfit's own forums has just responded to pages upon pages of comments regarding the most recent update, partly to (re)set the record straight regarding the battery, and partly to address more fixes that are just around the bend. The latest update (1600.2483.8106.11500) was meant to "enhance standby time as well as to bring an improvement to the issue reported by some customers in December," and according to Nokia, said update does indeed address those problems. However, folks that still have concerns regarding audio and camera settings aren't being ignored; those quirks will be worked out in "a series of future updates." Eager to learn more? The full reply is embedded just after the break.

Continue reading Nokia clarifies battery update on Lumia 800, promises audio / camera fixes soon

Nokia clarifies battery update on Lumia 800, promises audio / camera fixes soon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobatterybattery lifeBatteryLifecameraissuelumialumia 800Lumia800mangomicrosoftmobilepostcrossnokianokia lumia 800NokiaLumia800problemstatementwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7.5WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7.5Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:12:00 EST<![CDATA[IRL: the Kindle Touch, a repurposed Army bag and a non-user replaceable laptop battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/irl-the-79-kindle-a-repurposed-army-bag-and-a-non-user-replac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/irl-the-79-kindle-a-repurposed-army-bag-and-a-non-user-replac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/irl-the-79-kindle-a-repurposed-army-bag-and-a-non-user-replac/#commentsWelcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

Hi there, folks. It's that time of the week where we share our close and very personal experiences with various gadget paraphernalia. This week, Brian makes the switch from the Nook Simple Touch to the Kindle Touch, Ben explains why he'd rather replace his own laptop battery, thank you very much, and Don makes the case for a laptop bag that looks anything but.

Continue reading IRL: the Kindle Touch, a repurposed Army bag and a non-user replaceable laptop battery

IRL: the Kindle Touch, a repurposed Army bag and a non-user replaceable laptop battery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmazonAmazon KindleAmazon Kindle TouchAmazonKindleAmazonKindleTouchAppleapple batteryAppleBatterybatteriesbatterybattery replacementBatteryReplacementBen DrawbaughBenDrawbaughBrian HeaterBrianHeaterDon MelansonDonMelansonengadgetirlirlKindle TouchKindle4KindleTouchlaptop baglaptop bagsLaptopBagLaptopBagsWed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Burn baby burn: HP pays out $425,000 to prevent a disco (laptop) inferno]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/hp-425-000-flammable-battery-recall-fine/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/hp-425-000-flammable-battery-recall-fine/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/hp-425-000-flammable-battery-recall-fine/#comments The Haus of Meg will pay $425,000 in order to settle a claim that it consciously flogged laptops with batteries that could overheat or catch fire. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission slapped the company on the wrist for not issuing a recall quickly enough. It claimed that HP knew about 22 incidents involving battery 'splosions by September 2007 -- including one instance of a user being hospitalized, but didn't begin issuing a recall until ten months later. By May 2011, the company had recalled over 90,000 affected units that were prone to the odd bout of spontaneous combustion. If you're concerned you've got a duff battery, check out our list here.

Continue reading Burn baby burn: HP pays out $425,000 to prevent a disco (laptop) inferno

Burn baby burn: HP pays out $425,000 to prevent a disco (laptop) inferno originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatteryBattery RecallBattery SafetyBatteryRecallBatterySafetyConsumer Product Safety CommissionConsumerProductSafetyCommissionCPSCHewlettHewlett PackardHewlett-PackardHewlettPackardHPLaptop BatteryLaptop Battery RecallLaptopBatteryLaptopBatteryRecallPackardProduct RecallProductRecallRecallSafetyUS Consumer Product Safety CommissionUS CPSCUsConsumerProductSafetyCommissionUsCpscTue, 24 Jan 2012 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Chevy Volt safe from fire hazard after all, says government]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/chevy-volt-safe-from-fire-hazard-after-all-says-government/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/chevy-volt-safe-from-fire-hazard-after-all-says-government/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/chevy-volt-safe-from-fire-hazard-after-all-says-government/#comments The Chevy Volt isn't prone to catching fire after all, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The all-electric car came under scrutiny last year after one caught fire following a side-impact crash test. GM offered a buyback program for Volt owners concerned their cars might suddenly immolate, then the company made "enhancements" to the Volt's battery coolant system. That set things right, as far as the NHTSA is concerned: it says "no discernable defect trend exists" in the Volt, and that GM's revisions "reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts." Chevy dropped the Volt's price by $1,000 for 2012, too. So what do you think? Is a $39,000 starting price and less of a chance of burning to death enough to make you go electric?

Chevy Volt safe from fire hazard after all, says government originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobatteriesbatterycarcarschevroletChevrolet VoltChevroletVoltChevyChevy VoltChevyVoltelectricelectric carelectric carsElectricCarElectricCarsfirefire hazardFireHazardgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmhazardNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationNHTSAsafetyvoltTue, 24 Jan 2012 02:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Brutus 2.0 electric bike appears with moody paint job, helmet and goggles not included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/brutus-2-0-electric-bike-appears-with-moody-paint-job-helmet-an/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/brutus-2-0-electric-bike-appears-with-moody-paint-job-helmet-an/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/brutus-2-0-electric-bike-appears-with-moody-paint-job-helmet-an/#comments

Electric bikes just got a cool new poster boy. This deceptively battery-powered bike is a sequel, matching the five-speed transmission found on the original, but now gifted with a shadowy new look and some appealing chrome licks. The Brutus 2.0 also plumps for a lithium battery over the lead battery of earlier models. A chain setup replaces the belt of its predecessor, which presumably helps it power through 0-60 in just under five seconds. Top speeds remain as dark and mysterious as the bike's paint job, but the maker promises that the 500 pound beast will easily blast past the 100 mph mark, with a range of over 100 miles per charge. The electric bike is still being worked on, but until we hear more on a retail-ready model, you can gawp at the moody non-moped in action right after the break.

Continue reading Brutus 2.0 electric bike appears with moody paint job, helmet and goggles not included

Brutus 2.0 electric bike appears with moody paint job, helmet and goggles not included originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybikeBrutuselectric bikeElectricBikemotorbikemotorcyclevideoMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola planning 24-hour Droid RAZR Maxx longevity event for February 6th?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-live-event-february-6th/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-live-event-february-6th/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/motorola-droid-razr-maxx-live-event-february-6th/#commentsMotorola's own website has pointed to a January 26th launch for the long-awaited Droid RAZR Maxx, but it looks like February 6th is the date to really pay attention to. With battery life becoming an even more serious concern due to the proliferation of life-sucking 4G networks, it's become obvious that companies are finally placing those longevity statistics atop their priority list. Samsung itself has already promised to significantly improve battery life in its phones during 2012, and we're now hearing from a trusted source that Moto will be streaming a pretty unorthodox event in order to put its own RAZR Maxx to the test. We're told to expect a 24-hour marathon event, streamed out to the gaping masses, where the aforesaid handset will be powered on and presumably used for a full day -- it's like a David Blaine trick, but for phones. Might as well pencil in 2/6 if you're eager to see if this might actually meet your long-term demands.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Motorola planning 24-hour Droid RAZR Maxx longevity event for February 6th? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifeBatteryLifedroiddroid razrdroid razr maxxDroidRazrDroidRazrMaxxeventlivestreamlongevitymobilepostminimotorolaperformancerazrrazr maxxRazrMaxxsmartphonestreamTue, 17 Jan 2012 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung commits to improve smartphone battery life in 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/samsung-commits-to-improve-smartphone-battery-life-in-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/samsung-commits-to-improve-smartphone-battery-life-in-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/samsung-commits-to-improve-smartphone-battery-life-in-2012/#comments
Sure, we all love having the latest and greatest smartphone from the likes of Samsung, but the power consumption driven by larger displays, LTE, and more use is making it increasingly harder to get through the day. Samsung's vice president of product innovation, Kevin Packingham, said in an interview with CNET that Korea's darling has set the lofty goal that smartphones coming out this year last an entire day under average to moderately heavy use. Samsung's plans include beefing up batteries, but it also intends to look at improving energy efficiency by tweaking the various radios -- LTE, WiFi -- to make them a little less greedy. Motorola has already seemingly caught this wave with the RAZR MAXX -- a slightly chubbier Motorola RAZR -- which is essentially the same set as the RAZR but with enough juice so you can use it instead of spending your day looking for an outlet to charge it. Unfortunately, things could get sticky as the definition of "moderately heavy use" is a pretty tough thing to pin down. Would you put up with a huskier phone to get you through the day or is a slim set more important? Feel free to chime in with your comments below.

Samsung commits to improve smartphone battery life in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifeBatteryLifeMAXXmobilepostminiRAZRsamsungTue, 17 Jan 2012 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[TI's wireless charger for tablets does amazing things with electrons, sticky tape]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/tis-wireless-charger-for-tablets-does-amazing-things-with-elect/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/tis-wireless-charger-for-tablets-does-amazing-things-with-elect/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/tis-wireless-charger-for-tablets-does-amazing-things-with-elect/#comments Either TI has the hots for Arduino in a big way, or its latest wireless charging kit isn't quite ready for mass production. When it does arrive, however, it promises to do away with those cumbersome specialized sleeves and back covers that are currently needed for inductive charging. Instead, it'll deliver efficient in a package that's small enough to be installed as part of a device's internal circuitry. In addition to the Qi-standard 5W version we glimpsed a while back, the company is also working on a 10W variant for the iPad 2 and other tablets, which could wipe the smile off LaunchPort's face and perhaps make MicroUSB 3.0 superfluous before it even gets here.

TI's wireless charger for tablets does amazing things with electrons, sticky tape originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xpal Power (owners partners of Energizer and PowerSkin) has leveraged its battery-tech know-how into the SpareOne, a cellphone that can maintain its charge for up to 15 years on just a single AA battery. It's designed to be used for sponsorship, hotel use and (most importantly) emergencies, to throw into your trunk and forget about until you need to contact roadside assistance. Now at CES we've had a chance to get our mitts on the device to see what it's like in the flesh plastic. If you're just a little bit curious, why not join us for a short trip?

Gallery: PowerSkin SpareOne Unboxing

Continue reading SpareOne cellphone claims 15-year battery life, we go hands-on

SpareOne cellphone claims 15-year battery life, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AA BatteryAaBatteryBatteryBattery LifeBatteryLifeCESCES 2012Ces2012Energizerhands-onmobilepostcrossPowerSkinSpareOnevideoXPal PowerXpal Power Spare OneXpalPowerXpalPowerSpareOneThu, 12 Jan 2012 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Powerskin's SolarCharge still believes in the sun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/powerskins-solarcharge-still-believes-in-the-sun/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/powerskins-solarcharge-still-believes-in-the-sun/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/powerskins-solarcharge-still-believes-in-the-sun/#comments
Remember when Nokia poo-poohed the idea of solar charging as a viable way to keep a smartphone juiced? It seems that no-one told XPal Power, since its PowerSkin brand has just launched a new photovoltaic kit as part of its 2012 lineup here at CES:
  • SolarCharge is a silicone-wrapped brick with a solar panel on one end that'll charge most devices via a microUSB port. The 1000mAh battery tucked inside is rated to pony up around 350 minutes of talk time for your average smartphone. It'll set you back $70 when it arrives in February.
  • KeyCharge attaches to your keychain and can offer a quick boost 90 minutes of additional time on its 750mAh battery, again via its microUSB port. It'll cost a more modest $25 and will be available to order at the same time
Come with us, and you'll be, in a world of pure press releases, after the break.

Continue reading Powerskin's SolarCharge still believes in the sun

Powerskin's SolarCharge still believes in the sun originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidBatteryBlackBerryCESCES 2012Ces2012ChargingEnvironmentalGreenmobilepostcrossPowerSkinPowerSkin KeyChargePowerSkin SolarChargePowerskinKeychargePowerskinSolarchargeSci/TechSmartphoneSolar ChargingSolar PowerSolarChargingSolarPowerUSBXPal PowerXpalPowerWed, 11 Jan 2012 06:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Innergie PocketCell can power over 10,000 USB devices, just not at the same time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/innergie-pocketcell-portable-usb-battery-charger/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/innergie-pocketcell-portable-usb-battery-charger/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/innergie-pocketcell-portable-usb-battery-charger/#comments Between your tablet, phone, GPS and whatever else, keeping powered up on the move is a challenge for us all. Innergie wants to crush that problem with its PocketCell battery pack. Yep, it's a power cell, yes it fits in your pocket, but here's what you might not have worked out from the name: it has a 3,000 mAh capacity, mini / micro USB connectors built-in along with an Apple 30 pin adapter (as it's based on its Magic Cable design we loved so much) and a fast "Smart Charge" function for the impatient. There's five built in protections against unstable voltage, so you can be confident your digital world won't burn out in your hand. The makers reckon you can get an extra 4.5 hours of iPad usage and about 15 more hours on the horn to mom -- though, we're sure your mileage may vary. You can get charging from today for $79.99, which includes the Magic Cable, or touch up the PR after the jump for more info.

Continue reading Innergie PocketCell can power over 10,000 USB devices, just not at the same time

Innergie PocketCell can power over 10,000 USB devices, just not at the same time originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycesces 2012Ces2012chargerinnergieinnergie pocketcellInnergiePocketcellmagic cablesMagicCablesmicro usbMicroUsbmini usbMiniUsbpocket cellpocketcellportable chargerPortableChargerpowerusbTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mophie's ruggedized 6,000 mAh Juice Pack Powerstation Pro: it's for argonauts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/mophies-ruggedized-6000-mah-juice-pack-powerstation-pro-its-f/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/mophies-ruggedized-6000-mah-juice-pack-powerstation-pro-its-f/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/mophies-ruggedized-6000-mah-juice-pack-powerstation-pro-its-f/#comments

Did Mophie's 4,000mAh Juice Pack Powerstation not hold enough extra battery power for you, warrior of the road? Well, today you're in luck. The company has just introduced its new Pro variant, packing a massive 6,000mAh of total juice. Like its older brethren, it'll charge mostly any device over USB (even supplying pass-through power when you need to plug it in), and switches between 500 mAh, 1A and 2.1A to preserve its total capacity. The real kicker, however, is its "impact-restistant" casing, made of steel, aluminum and rubber, along with its "water-tight" USB ports. Notably, the Pro is also IP65-certified -- effectively ensuring a venerable level of protection from liquid, shock and dust. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but we're sure many a journeying LTE user will want one to store in their backpack ASAP.

Gallery: Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Pro

Mophie's ruggedized 6,000 mAh Juice Pack Powerstation Pro: it's for argonauts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6000 mAh6000Mahargonautbatterybattery packBatteryPackcesces 2012Ces2012dust resistantDustResistantimpact resistantImpactResistantip 65Ip65mophiemophie juicepack powerstation promophie powerstationMophieJuicepackPowerstationProMophiePowerstationpowerstation proPowerstationProruggedruggedizedtravelwater resistantWaterResistantMon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SpareOne: a cellphone that can run for 15 years]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/spareone-15-year-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/spareone-15-year-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/spareone-15-year-cellphone/#comments
If your car's broken down, nursing your smartphone's short battery life can be a real nightmare when waiting for rescue. Of course, that might not be much of a problem if Xpal Power (the company behind Energizer and PowerSkin) has anything to do with it. It's developed the SpareOne, a super-cheap phone that runs from a single AA Battery and will reputedly maintain its charge for up to fifteen years. The dual-band GSM phone is designed for emergencies, transmitting its location alongside its call ID, or as a loaner phone for big corporate events. You'll get an Energizer AA battery and a microSIM in the bundle which will set you back $49.99 when it arrives at some point this quarter. At that price, we can imagine throwing a few in the trunk for breakdowns, when we're doing our Bear Grylls routine, or during the Robopocalypse.

Continue reading SpareOne: a cellphone that can run for 15 years

SpareOne: a cellphone that can run for 15 years originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15 Year Phone15YearPhoneAA BatteryAaBatteryBatteryBattery LifeBatteryLifeCellphoneCESCES 2012CES2012EnergizermobilepostcrossPhonesPowerSkinSmartphone Battery LifeSmartphoneBatteryLifeSmartphonesSpare OneSpareOneXpal PowerXpalPowerMon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Boostcase hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/boostcase-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/boostcase-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/boostcase-hands-on/#comments It's a myth that phone cases must choose between form or function. Boostcase, which is currently available for the iPhone 4 and 4S, combines both seamlessly. It's a modular system with a 1900mAh battery pack that doubles the life of your device. And, while it does add some bulk, it has two distinct advantages over similar options like Mophie's Juice Pack. For one, the battery is removable -- so you only need to make space in your skinny jeans if you know you're going to need it. Additionally, since it's modular, you're able to customize it to your liking. Batteries are available in black or white, while the simple plastic cases are available in a veritable cornucopia of hues. The Boostpack charges through standard micro USB, and can actually charge your iPhone directly -- eliminating the need for that pesky proprietary 30-pin connector. A battery and case package is available for $80, while standalone plastic cases cost #35. We're told the batteries will also be sold individually for between $50 and $60. Check out the hands on gallery below.

Gallery: Boostcase hands-on

Boostcase hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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