BATTERYFORPC BLOG
This Post-Prime Day Deal Drops the M1 MacBook Air Back Down to All-Time Low
Though most of the Prime Day savings have dried up, you've still got a chance to grab this 2020 MacBook for $249 off. Even though the M1 MacBook Air is now a few years old, it's still one of our overall favorite laptops on the market thanks to its premium lightweight design, solid battery life and smooth performance. With a $999 starting price, it's already relatively affordable for a Mac, and ri ... Read more
2023-07-20 20:43:33
iOS 17 StandBy Mode and iPhone Stickers Live Up to the Hype
The public beta version of iOS 17 is out. Here are some of my favorite parts so far. On my home desk is an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17 on a MagSafe charger. The screen shows a giant clock that every so often fades into an alert for a new message from my friend. I can swipe up and down to change the style of the clock between one that looks chic to one that's more artistic and another that's stra ... Read more
2023-07-20 20:42:57
Samsung Unpacked: How to Watch the Galaxy Fold 5, Flip 5 Live Reveal Event
Samsung's next wave of foldable phones are expected to debut next week. Samsung is likely revealing a new generation of foldable phones -- presumably the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 -- at next week's Samsung Unpacked event on Wednesday, July 26. The event is going to be the first Unpacked event that Samsung will hold from Seoul, Korea, making for a very early launch event if you're watchi ... Read more
2023-07-20 20:41:05
How Batteries Can Unlock the Full Value of Your Solar Panels
Batteries put you in control of the energy your solar panels pull from the sky, but they're also a big investment. Here's how you can make them work for you. For years, the biggest appeal of putting solar panels on your roof was the opportunity to feed the energy you produce into the grid, zero out your utility bill or perhaps even get paid for producing your own home brew electricity. But not ... Read more
2023-07-20 20:39:00
Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals
Apple says it will remove services such as FaceTime and iMessage from the UK rather than weaken security if new proposals are made law and acted upon. The government is seeking to update the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016. It wants messaging services to clear security features with the Home Office before releasing them to customers. The act lets the Home Office demand security features are ... Read more
2023-07-20 20:37:34
iOS 16.5.1 (c): You Need to Download This iPhone Update Now
The update addresses a security vulnerability and patches an issue some people had with previous updates. Apple released iOS 16.5.1 (c), a Rapid Security Response update, on July 12 to address a security vulnerability that may have been actively exploited and a bug some iPhone users ran into with a previous update. To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Ins ... Read more
2023-07-19 21:37:30
Should You Bring a Camera When You Travel or Is a Phone Enough?
Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Ultra or mirrorless camera: Here's what it's like to shoot travel photos with each. For most travelers, the smartphone in your pocket works just fine for taking photos of adventures. But what are you missing by relying on your phone alone? I used my recent trip to Germany to explore when a casual sightseer would benefit from having a dedicated camera or if their phone ... Read more
2023-07-19 21:36:54
Samsung Hints at 'Slimmer and Lighter' Foldable Phones Ahead of Unpacked
The tech giant may announce the next Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold at the July 26 event. Could Samsung be slimming down its foldable smartphones this year? T.M. Roh, the company's head of mobile, seemingly teased an upcoming redesign in a blog post Tuesday, just ahead of Samsung's Unpacked event on July 26. The next generation of the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip phones may be lighter and thinner. ... Read more
2023-07-19 21:35:22
Apple Has Created Its Own AI Chatbot, Report Says
"Apple GPT" is being used internally, Bloomberg reports. Apple has created its own generative artificial intelligence tools to compete with ChatGPT, according to a Bloomberg report Wednesday. Apple built its own framework that can create large language models, called "Ajax," as well as a chatbot service that internal engineers are calling Apple GPT, according to Bloomberg ci ... Read more
2023-07-19 21:34:11
Renters Have EVs Too. What They Don't Have Are Enough Charging Options
Apartment buildings are notoriously lacking when it comes to home charging. Some EV advocates are trying to change that. Last August, Chicago-based writer Art Friedson bought his first fully electric vehicle, a Kia EV6. Friedson and his wife live in a 30-unit condominium in Lakeview that he estimates is two decades old. Since there were already two EV chargers in the building, he assumed adding ... Read more
2023-07-19 21:33:24