Last fall, I published a post which discussed the Apple rechargeable batteries. They aren’t manufactured by Apple, of course. These rebranded goodies are actually Sanyo Eneloops. They cost more when they come in the Apple packaging, definitely. The question of the day is whether or not they work better than other offerings on the market.

By all accounts, these batteries do work better than most of the others you could buy. They last longer – and cost less – than the Energizer or Duracell equivalents. Using any rechargeable batteries is a much better idea than using disposables. You’re saving money in the long run, absolutely. You’re also helping the environment by not having these little suckers fill up the landfill. They don’t exactly break down into an organic compound when they sit for fifty years.

Lithium-ion polymer batteries pack in a higher power density than nickel-based batteries. This gives you a longer battery life in a lighter package, as lithium is the lightest metal. You can also recharge a lithium-ion polymer battery whenever convenient, without the full charge or discharge cycle necessary to keep nickel-based batteries at peak performance.

The length of time that any battery will power your device depends on you more so than the battery brand. Watching DVDs will eat up your go-go juice much faster than using a word processing program. Similarly, gaming for hours on end sucks down battery power ten million times (slight exaggeration there) faster than watching YouTube videos.

Did you know that your environment can play a role in how long your batteries live? Extreme temperatures will definitely affect performance. In temps higher than about 95F (35C), your battery capacity can become permanently damaged. It won’t then power your device for very long on a “full” charge. You can actually damage it even more if you charge the batteries in these temperatures. Simply storing a battery somewhere really hot can also irreversibly hurt it.

Likewise, using your device in freezing temps will decrease battery life. Fortunately, this is only a temporary condition – quite the opposite effect of hot temps. Once the batteries warm back up, they will return to their regular capacity.

What type of batteries do you use in your devices? How well do they work?

Apple Rechargeable Batteries

After watching my video review of Apple’s Magic Trackpad yesterday, Tomi wrote in to give me the 4-1-1 about the “Apple” batteries I mentioned. The record has been set straight: they are not “Apple” batteries. They are rebranded Sanyo Eneloops. Tomi uses these in a Canon PowerShot SX1 IS camera and loves them. Apparently they have a much better life than many of the rechargeable counterparts on the market.

The funny thing is that if you buy the batteries through Eneloop, you’ll spend about half as much as you would buying them through Apple… for the same exact batteries. By all accounts, these batteries do work better than most of the others you could buy. They last longer – and cost less – than the Energizer or Duracell equivalents.

Using rechargeable batteries just makes sense. You’re saving money AND saving a little space in our landfills. I personally haven’t used disposable batteries in quite some time now. What about you?

Is Apple Really in the Battery Business?

I’ll tell you when I can use it again. Battery life on the Evo is perfect if your workday only lasts two hours.

Apparently, I’m not the only one with battery problems (as further detailed in a post about Android ecosystem problems).

HTC Evo 4 Android Phone Second Impressions

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The people at Zagg asked me if I wanted to take a look at the ZAGGsparq.Their claim is that it is the world’s most powerful battery backup and charger. They aren’t kidding, folks. This thing packs 2000mA hours inside of it! The 6,000 mAh Lithium Polymer Battery has enough juice in it to fully charge an iPhone four times.

The ZAGGsparq plugs into a regular old wall outlet and allows you to charge two devices by way of USB while plugged in. The cool thing, though, is that it will hold charge inside when you unplug it from the wall. You can throw it into your pocket or bag and then use it to charge any personal electronic device that requires a USB plug for connectivity. It’s small and lightweight, so it’s easy to take with you when you’re traveling or attending a conference. If you fully charge your ZAGGspark before you head out for the day, you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet to recharge your gadgets while you’re busy and on the run. Just pull out the ZAGGspark and get the go-go juice you need.

The ZAGGsparq does have UK adapters in case you’re traveling abroad. There is also a lighted indicator on the side that will tell you exactly how much juice you have left. This thing will definitely be a part of my accessory kit from now on. I’ve done reviews on what I use when I’m moving around, and this is going to be a perfect addition to the mix.

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Zagg Your Way to Extra Power for USB Devices

The Department of Homeland Security has discovered that Energizer’s Duo USB charger left Windows computers open to remote control, thanks to a back door in the product’s battery monitoring software. The DUO is a USB and AC charger for NiMH batteries. The software that comes with the product allows one to see how much oomph is left in their batteries. Apparently, though, the Windows software for this device had a lovely little bug in it.

The software installs a backdoor that allows remote access to your computer. That includes “the ability to list directories, send and receive files, and execute programs,” according to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. If you downloaded the Mac counterpart, you have nothing to worry about. If you have downloaded this software for Windows, you’re going to need to execute a couple of steps in order to secure your computer.

• Uninstall the software! his will remove the Windows registry value that executes the Trojan when starting Windows.
• Reboot your computer after the uninstall has finished.
• Navigate your way to C/Windows/system32/arucer.dll. This is the file that is the backdoor component itself. Delete this file, empty your Recycle Bin, and reboot once more.
• To add one additional layer of protection, you can have your firewall block access to 7777/tcp. Energizer doesn’t list this step as necessary. It’s just an extra step for safe computing.

The DUO itself is a good product. The hardware is still available through Amazon. However, the software download has been discontinued. The product’s main function of charging by USB or AC still works. However, if you own one of these devices and would like to complain, I suggest you get in touch with them through the Energizer Contact Page.

Get Rid of the Trojan From the Energizer DUO

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Aside from communicating with the opposite sex, what is a Geek’s greatest fear? I’d have to say it would be the fear of losing power! We are always worried about our batteries dying just when we need them most! Due to this, I spent a bit of my own money to buy a Solio Universal Solar Hybrid Charger. That’s right… it can charge from the Sun!! It also has a proprietary cable (ARGH!) that you can use, as well, in case you happen to live where the Sun never shines.

I can use the Solio to charge any number of things, including my iPod. I had to buy some iGo tips to attach to the end of the cable, but it worked like a charm. The Solio, by the way, is compatible with the Universal iGo tip system for use with hundreds of different portable electronics. I can leave the Solio sitting on a windowsill in order to keep it full of juice. It won’t charge as fast that way as it would if it were outside.

It takes about four hours in the Sunlight for the Solio to obtain about 2 hours worth of talk time on a cell phone! So, 5 minutes will give me about 15% of battery life. That’s not too bad, eh? What a great (and economic!) way to charge things!!

I will absolutely be carrying this with me from now on. If I happen to run out of battery, I will hopefully be able to find my way to the Sun!

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Solar Power Battery Charger

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I own only one iPod at this point. How many do you have? You may have two, or you may be with someone who also has one. To connect to charge them may be a bit of a challenge, since only one can go into the dock at a time – unless you get a Dual Dock.

You’ll get one compact charging station that can charge any two iPhones or iPods at once. It fits any of them, except for the iPod Shuffle. The blue LED trim ring lights up when you connect your iPhone or iPod. If the light bothers you, it can be switched off. Since I love things that glow, we all know I’ll be leaving it switched on.

I’m going to keep this located in the center of my house, instead of in my office. This way if anyone is over visiting, they can easily charge their devices – even if I’m already charging mine! It works very well, and it’s compact (therefore easy to travel with). What more could you ask for?

Heck, I can even charge my iPhone with the case still on. For me, that’s a huge plus – I no longer have to mess with removing the case to charge!

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How to Charge Two iPods Simultaneously with a Dock

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I couldn’t help doing my impression of the way my iPhone eats up battery life. It’s insanity, really, how fast the charge is just gone. I’ve yet to make it through a day of average use without having to recharge it. Either I have to charge all the time, or I have to have an external battery pack.

A few months ago, I reviewed the Richard|Solo backup battery. If you recall, my only real complaint was that it didn’t latch properly. I would put it into the iPhone, and it would just… fall out. Even when sitting on the table, it wouldn’t recharge unless I had the iPhone sitting in a certain way.

After I posted that review in all its honesty… Richard himself emailed me. He thanked me for my candor. He told me some of the things he was working on, and asked me for further feedback. That seriously impressed me. We’ve been exchanging emails ever since, and I’m happy to announce that the feedback is now likely included in the new Richard|Solo 1800.

There’s nothing quite like it. It has 1800 mAh of capacity, which is enough to completely charge your iPhone, and have reserve power left over. It is the only battery available that actually “latches” onto your iPhone, and a support brace is included to make it super secure.

In the kit, you get a complimentary 110-240 volt AC Wall charger, and also a dual-USB car charger, and a retractable USB cable. So you can charge it at the wall, in your car, from your computer, and you can charge them both at the same time. Connect the RichardSolo to the iPhone, then connect the RichardSolo to the charger, and charge both with one charger.

At night, snap the battery and iPhone together, and charge them both overnight with our charger. You’ll wake up in the morning with both fully charged. When you travel, you don’t need the Apple charger. Just take this one.

My primary complaint from the original one is no longer valid. The new 1800 attaches perfectly, and won’t come out until I make it. It will charge a completely “dead” iPod, too! No more only charging if the battery has 20% charge at least still.

Richard… thank you. You listened to what your community had to say, took it to heart, and ran with it. There are not many people these days who do the same. That is something to be proud of. Your product is excellent, and the “customer service” is, of course, outstanding.

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How Do You Extend Your iPhone or iPod Battery Life?

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As I quickly came to discover, the iPhone 3G has relatively lackluster battery life. It has been said that of all the 3G phones out there, it does well. That doesn’t help me much at the end of the day. Some people tell me to turn off WiFi, but then what is the purpose for having upgraded at all? I also have run into iPhone issues that have nothing to do with the battery life… such as the stability of the new operating system. Every third party App I try to launch, it will crash. Even if I try to launch the iPhone remote… crash. But, back to the battery life. It’s something you’re going to have to deal with. There are a variety of external battery packs available, thankfully.

The Richard|Solo Backup Battery is one that has been recommended by many different people. What’ unique about it, is that you can plug it into your iPhone, and then into a USB port on your computer. You can then charge your iPhone at the same time as the battery pack. Therefore, if you charge this overnight, you’ll wake up to a fully charged iPhone and a fully charged backup battery.

One thing about this battery is that it’s small but powerful. In fact, it’s the most powerful battery of its size available. Keep it in your pocket, purse, or briefcase, and snap it on to keep going all day — and night! You can charge while simultaneously using your iPhone. You can charge both the battery and the iPhone together.

There’s nothing quite like it. There are other batteries, but they’re disposable AA’s, or they’re big, or have lots of cables, or are made of cheaper plastic that scratches easily. Or they are not certified, or use gray market parts, or may even damage your iPhone. Ours is the only one that is a high-quality aluminum case, which is light, but extremely tough and virtually scratch-proof. One of the best features of this product is that at night, you snap the battery and iPhone together, and charge them both with the included charger. You’ll wake up in the morning with both fully charged. So you are getting a wall / USB charger for free. When you travel, you don’t need the Apple charger. Just take this one.

This is a great accessory to keep with you all the time. The polymerized lithium-ion battery can be recharged over and over again for several years and will not develop “memory”. There are three color LED lights to show you the status of the charge. However, please remember to charge it completely for the first two nights to make sure the lithium-ion battery gets to full capacity!

The only drawback for me is that it doesn’t snap in tightly. I’ve lost it three different times now. This stinks, because there really are no alternatives. Hopefully, this is something that can be addressed. My suggestion for now is to save your money and wait for something better. It does work as advertised. The problem is is that it doesn’t take any effort to pull it out. It will just fall right off, and that can cause you some headaches.

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What Do You Do to Extend iPhone Battery Life?

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I’m testing my batteries with a simple little battery checker. I simply slide the battery in, make contact on both ends, and it will tell me how much charge is left on them. The problem is that not all of these batteries have the same amount of charge left. I could just recharge them, of course. Or, I could use a LaCrosse BC-900 Battery Charger. It’s not just a simple battery recharger. The features include:

• Works with all NiCd and NiMH “AA” and “AAA” Rechargeable Batteries
• LCD shows capacity for each battery when charging is complete
• Charges AA & AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously
• Will not charge defective batteries
• Select different charging current for each channel
• Automatically switches to trickle charge when charging is complete to ensure maximum battery capacity
• Automatically defaults to 200mA charge (the optimal setting for prolonging battery life)
• Overheat detection to protect over-charging
• 7 Easy to Use Function Keys
• Charge Mode (charging current)
• Discharge Mode (discharging current)
• Refresh Mode (time elapsed)
• Test Mode (accumulated capacity)

Using one of these will extend the life of your batteries by quite a bit of time. Why not pick one up today? You’ll be happy you did, because you’ll save a ton of money in the long run.

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Do You Condition Your Rechargeable Batteries?

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Several blogs have reported that the battery life of the iPhone 3G and the original iPhone running 2.0 have put a damper on the phone to last all day. Despite the fact that the battery life of the 3G is bad, it’s still better than other phones like it. It’s true that it drains fast. What are you gonna do? You could carry a cord around with you wherever you go, or get some kind of external battery pack.

I’ve had my Lenmar external battery pack for awhile, and never really used it much. It’s an excellent device though. It’s a high-capacity external battery that will charge any USB device, so long as you have the proper cable. That would includes a DS, PSP, iPhone, iPod, Zune.. anything that charges via USB. Yes, it’s as big as the iPhone itself, but not nearly as heavy. It does the job, though, which is what matters.

When you’re traveling, using one of these just makes sense. Why carry tons of separate chargers with you? Simply take an external battery with you, and charge all your devices with it. It has a mini USB connection, and a regular one. There’s an indicator light that will tell you whether anything is charging or not, and turns off when the device is fully charged.

These aren’t cheap to buy, but it’s actually saving you money. Think of buying 3 or more separate chargers for devices. Keep in mind, as well, that even proprietary chargers still charge via USB. Using this helps me get through the day, and doubles my charge on my iPhone. I’ll be looking for an external battery made specifically for an iPhone. So, pass along your recommendations!

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What’s the Best External Battery for the PSP, iPod, or iPhone?

Chris Levo is the President and Chief Editor of Nteract Solutions. He sent me the following email after watching my video about charging my iPhone on the go. It’s excellent information, so you should read it carefully.

I was watching your video about leaving your house with your iPhone, and needing to charge it if it runs out of juice. You mentioned a car charger being a very good idea and what should be done (retract, iGo, whatever you want to call it). Any charger that goes into the car is bad for the device battery. Why? Because the power is not regulated like in your home. In my line of work, I have seen many batteries die because people use their car chargers WAY too much. A car charger should be a LAST resort. I try to explain to customers that when they get home they obviously (well I guess 99.9% of the world) take out their wallet, keys, coins, or whatever is in their pocket before going to sleep. Make it a habit to charge your phone with your home charger.

The same goes for purchasing cheap home chargers just to save a buck. Many customers frown at $30 for a home charger because they lost theirs and say they will just go to the “flea” market and get one for $10. The ones for $10 are worse then the vehicle/12v charger port (not called a cigarette lighter in any vehicle anymore because the lighter portion does not come with the car unless you add the option. That is another answer to a question you had at the beginning of the video).

I’m tired, it’s late, but I just wanted to get this out and make you aware of the fact that using a car charger can kill the length of the battery by as much as 50% (if used more then the home charger). Just something to think about before you go plugging in your expensive device in your car charger or don’t feel like running upstairs or where ever it is in your home to plug in your device because you might be too tired. Take the extra 2 minutes and plug it into the home charger.

The moral of the story here is to be proactive when it comes to keeping your mobile device charged. Use the proper home charger. Trying to save a few bucks or some time now will end up costing you far more down the road.

Are Mobile Car Chargers Good for Phone Batteries?

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If you use your MP3 player a lot, you likely go through batteries very quickly. Here are some great tips that can help you extend your battery life… and save you some money.

• Backlight: You can change the setting on your iPod to adjust how long your backlight stays on. You can also set it to stay off permanently, to save the battery even more. Just changing the backlight on-time from 10 seconds to 5 can make all the difference. If you are in a well-lit area, turning it off all together can help as well.
• Drain the battery Purposely run down your battery every once in awhile to increase life. You should fully run the battery down, and then charge it fully. You can easily run the battery down by pressing “play” with the volume up full, and leaving it to run if you dont have time to listen to it.
• Play your music at a lower volume. Turn it down to a level where you can hear it over conversation and other noise… but set it so you can just hear the iPod a little bit more. By doing this, you can not only help preserve your hearing but also save alot of battery life.
• Use lower-quality music files and changing albums To reduce access to the disk drive on hard disk ipods, there is a certain amount of cache memory for the music files to be loaded. This increases battery life and increases speed between the changing of song. It also acts as jog protection.

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Battery Saving Tips for iPods and Zunes

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There are a few tips I have when it comes to keeping track of your battery health and performance. You can do these things from inside your Macbook, or by using a great little application I discovered.

On the battery itself, there is a tiny little ‘button’, for lack of a better word. If you push this, a guage will light up, telling you how much charge is left in the battery. This works whether the battery is installed in the machine, or taken out of it like I have here.

Inside your Macbook, you can go up to the left hand corner, and click the Apple logo. Choose the “About this Mac”, and head to the System Profiler. Once there, click on the “Power” section. You’ll see all the battery information listed to the right. You can find out about:

• Charge information
• Charge remaining
• Full charge capacity
• Battery health
• Voltage
• Amperage
• Exact model information in case a replacement is ever needed

There’s also a program available called coconutBattery. coconutBattery isn’t just a tool which shows you only the current charge of your battery – it also shows you the current maximum capacity of it in relation to the original capacity your battery had as it left the factory.
You also get information about the battery-loadcycles (how often did you fully load your battery), the current charger (coconutBattery even warns you if you plugged in a wrong charger for your Notebook) and last but not least information about the age of your Mac. Best of all, you can save the current state of your battery, and then track its performance over time. Oh… and did I mention this program is absolutely free?

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Apple Macbook Battery Help

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Have your meeting online, with GoToMeeting. You can get a free 45-day trial at GoToMeeting.com/ChrisPirillo.

When I posted an email recently from TheDub, I received a lot of negative feedback. My answer remains: if your laptop doesn’t run well after upgrading to Vista, you can always go back to XP. TheDub also sent me a new email, telling me about a free tool to help with Vista performance on laptops.

Vista has been out for about a year now. It’s good for some, ok for others, and not-so-good for still others. I’m disappointed in Vista, but not because of performance issues. For me, it’s more about what Vista should be… but isn’t.

This time around, TheDub said in his email that he found a great free tool that helps his laptop run better while using Vista. VistaBattery causes your laptop to automatically do a couple of different things when the power cord is unplugged from the wall. This tiny program will save up to 70% of your battery by disabling those nice, but greedy Vista features. It will automatically change your power scheme to “power saving” mode, and disables the Vista Sidebar, Aero, and Desktop Search. All of these nifty features can be resource hogs… and that includes your battery.

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Get Better Vista Performance on a Laptop Computer