charging

Our mobile devices have indeed become faster and more powerful but their batteries are having a hard time catching up. The usual solutions involve bigger batteries or power banks or cases, both of which tack on bulk, weight, or inconvenience to otherwise slim smartphones. While we're still a far away from being able to almost magically charge our devices over the air, engineering researchers from Ohio State University have invented what could probably be the next best thing: a way to charge phones using otherwise wasted energy from radio signals.

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Cue inappropriate jokes. MediaTek is really putting the heat on Qualcomm, more so after seeing a chink in its armor courtesy of Samsung. Just recently it tried selling the idea of a three-tier deca-core mobile processor even while Qualcomm has just gotten started with 8 cores. Now with its own "Pump Express Plus", it is taking aim at Qualcomm's fast charging technology, Quick Charge 2.0, that is slowly snaking its way into the latest flagships and quickly becoming a much wanted feature in smartphones.

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The purpose of the Apple Watch's diagnostic port, hidden behind the watch strap, largely remains a mystery, especially why the port remains in retail versions of the device. But for now, some rather enterprising accessory makers are willing to take advantage of its existence to provide something that other accessories might not be able to: faster, wired charging. One of these is Reserve Strap, who is redesigning their strap accessory to utilize that port for charging, instead of relying on Apple's sanctioned magnetic charging port.

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Now that the Apple Watch is arriving for customers around the world, and all the dust from the unboxing madness is beginning to settle, it's time to talk about some of the smaller, overlooked details of the new device's launch. That includes the real star of the Watch's launch in the UK: the new folding prong power adapter! While Apple's new 5W USB power adapter still performs the same function as before, namely to charge your new Watch or iPhone, the folding pins design is new.

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Acclaimed mobile device accessory make Griffin has a new product in the works, but it is going about things quite differently this time. The Cove is more than just a charging dock. It is also meant to masquerade as a stylish piece of furniture inside your (presumably stylish) house. It is, so to speak, a home for your myriad mobile devices in your house. But more than just that, Griffin is taking a different spin in actually making the product, preferring to go first to its customers instead of straight into the manufacturing plant.

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Last time we shared how you can significantly prolong your iPhone 6's battery life without gimmicks or accessories. It all boils down to corralling your apps and keeping them under your control, never letting them do stuff without your consent, like access data or incessantly trying to grab your attention. You can do the same for your Android smartphone, with almost exactly the same steps, of course in different places. And we're going to show you how, plus some other steps you might have to take on Android.

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Echo's Connect Plus is a "Y"-shaped USB connector with a standard USB connector on one side, and both a micro USB and Apple Lightning connector on each arm. This allows both Apple devices and gadgets that use micro USB to be charged without carrying around separate compatible cables, and the addition of flexibility means it can be re-adjusted and bent to work with different gadgets that might have unusual port placements. In addition, the device is small enough to fit on a keychain, and includes a keychain loop.

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If Santa brought you an iPhone for Christmas, you’re likely still in love with your new iDevice. Of all the knocks on any iPhone, battery life is among the most notable, with the small-ish battery of an iPhone tending to need a charge daily. In my experience, though, the iPhone 6 can last quite a bit longer than your work day and commute home. I’ve even been able to take it on weekend jaunts without needing to plug it in. Here’s how.

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Tesla is keen to get more charging stations positioned throughout the country, which will allow Tesla owners to charge their cars at appropriate way stations without ever running out of power. With 312 existing Supercharger stations so far, Tesla is on the way to providing a true network of power for their owners. Now Tesla is testing an even quicker method for getting back on the road, allowing Tesla owners in central California to swap batteries instead of plugging in.

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Keeping your devices charged can be a hassle, depending on how often you're out and about. Most issues are solved by carrying around a USB cable for those opportune moments when a charging slot is available, but the cable itself is unwieldy. You can go with a spring-loaded charging cable to reduce the bulk, but if you forget to put it back in your bag or grab it before going out, you're back to square one. That is where the new inCharge charger comes in.

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Charging cables are cheap enough to lose, but that's beyond the point: they're priceless when lost somewhere a replacement isn't easily obtained, and that makes them a precious commodity at times. It is easy to forget your charging cable, however, and by the time you realize it is back in your hotel room or at the airport, turning around to recover it isn't feasible. You spring for an over-priced replacement from the convenience store or gas station, and after paying a massive markup, the perks of having a cord that shrieks when you forget it begin to look appealing.

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For the Android and Windows phone faithful, wireless charging is fast becoming a must-have spec sheet checklist item. If that new phone doesn’t have it, we start to dismiss it as second rung many times. the problem with wireless chargers is that they’re often proprietary, and some chargers kind of work with others, but really don’t. TYLT, a leader in the realm of external battery packs and chargers, has stepped in to bring some foundation to wireless charging with two new products. There’s even a wireless charging cradle for your car!

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