Samsung issues a recall for its fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphone last year and as of January the company had reported that about 96 percent of phones sold had been returned. But if you’re still holding onto a Galaxy Note 7 for some reason, now might be a good time to return it. Korean news […]
batteries
Tiny batteries could simultaneously power and cool chips
Flow batteries are rechargeable batteries that use a liquid fuel source. And while they’re typically used in large-scale applications, researchers at IBM and ETH Zurich have found a way to make tiny Redox Flow batteries that can provide power to chips. They can also be stacked in between chips to cool the processors while they’re […]
Samsung says battery issues caused Galaxy Note 7 fires, 96 percent of phones returned
Samsung has announced the results of its investigation into the cause of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones catching fire and, as expected, the problem has to do with two battery flaws. The company used batteries from two suppliers, and in one case the batteries were too small to safely fit all the components, which led to […]
Researchers develop batteries with built-in fire extinguishers
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone was on fire last year… literally. Following a massive recall of the smartphone, next week Samsung is expected to reveal the results of it investigation into what caused some phones to catch fire spontaneously. According to Reuters, the problem is battery-related, which is a totally vague, but unsurprising conclusion. Lithium-Ion […]
ChargeTech Plug is a 48,000 mAh battery with two AC wall outlets (for charging nearly anything)
Portable battery packs that you can use to recharge your smartphone are a dime a dozen. OK, not really, but there are plenty that you can buy for a few bucks or more. But what if you want to power your laptop on the go? Or a TV? Maybe even a microwave. There are big, […]
FAA warns passengers not to use Galaxy Note 7 while flying (maybe you should take advantage of that voluntary recall)
Samsung says only a relatively small percentage of the 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones sold to date suffer from a defect that can cause the battery to explode and catch fire. But the company has issued a voluntary recall and will either replace phones you send in with either a new, non-exploding version or […]
SolidEnergy’s batteries could make smartphones thinner (or longer lasting) in 2017
Most existing smartphones use Lithium Ion batteries… which are based on battery technology that hasn’t really changed much in recent years. So while phone makers try to improve battery life by choosing energy efficient components, the best way to make a phone last longer is to use a bigger battery. But starting in 2017, there […]
MediaTek’s Pump Express 3.0: From 0 to 70 percent battery charge in 20 minutes
Sure, the companies that make smartphones and their components have been trying to enable longer battery life by producing phones with massive batteries and energy efficient chips. At the same time, we’re seeing a lot of technologies aimed at easing the pain of batteries that don’t last long enough, including some tools that help us […]
Future batteries might be rechargeable for decades
If you have a laptop or smartphone with a non-removable battery, you’ll probably notice that battery life degrades over time. After a few years of constantly recharging the battery, it holds less capacity, which may be a key reason you decide to buy a new laptop or phone every few years. But researches at the […]
AnkerBox is a portable battery rental service
Anker makes some of the most popular portable battery packs sold on Amazon. Now the parent company of Anker is trying something different: instead of selling you a portable battery that you can lug around all day, AnkerBox will let you borrow or rent one just when you need it. Here’s the idea: need to […]