Month: November 2019

Does your laptop battery die in the middle of work? Sometimes, you have no choice but to give it up. Generally, you could sell old laptops for an upgrade. More than that though, you’ll want a laptop with battery life that can withstand long hours of work and gaming. Luckily, you have a wide selection to choose from, and we gathered five of the best ones.

Apple Macbook Pro 15-Inch

With an 87-watt battery, the 15-inch Apple Macbook Pro promises 10 hours of battery life for web browsing and video streaming. The large battery wattage also powers the Macbook Pro’s high-resolution screen, dominant graphics processor, and Intel Core i7 or i9. This means that unless you need to use more than 16GB of memory, it’s best to limit your computer needs to the Core i7. This consumes less power, maximizing your laptop’s battery for an extended life.

Dell XPS 13

Dell XPS 13 has a battery life of 8 hours with its 4K panel and 12 hours with its 1080p model, with specs ideal for video editing. However, it does tend to push more pixels, affecting battery life. Unless you work in creative media, best to stick to the 1080p. In addition, the laptop features the Intel Whisky Lake Core i7-8565U, as well as a power profile that allows it to work efficiently for daily tasks such as online browsing, video conversion, research, and various office functions.

Lenovo Yoga C930

Both Lenovo Yoga C930’s Intel Core i5 and i7 use the same amount of power. Dealing with daily computing tasks can get you nine hours of battery life. However, streaming can take a toll and reduce the battery standard to just five hours. The good news is that the Lenovo Yoga C930 uses a USB-C form port, which easily provides more charger alternatives in case you leave your laptop charger at home. Moreover, this Lenovo unit charges quickly from completely dead to 50% in just half an hour.

Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1

Featuring an 8th generation Whiskey Lake processor, Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 is the perfect on-road companion, particularly for IT professionals. It boasts an impressive 18-hour battery life that can go toe to toe against extremely powerful brands like the Qualcomm Snapdragon PC. This 14-inch Dell Latitude packs enough power to last hours of continuous online surfing. The laptop, however, doesn’t run its Turbo Boost once the power and temperature exceeds a certain limit, so best to manage expectations when running through the last few hours of your work.

HP Spectre x360

The HP Spectre x360 is notable for its 12-hour battery life, easily outlasting many of its contemporaries. This proves to be true even when the device continuously plays a looped 1080p video. Moreover, the HP Spectre can perform exceptionally well on continuous web browsing and even when tasked with a heavy workload. While it is not a gaming or video editing laptop, it can still accommodate modern gaming at a low setting. For graphics-heavy work, the HP Spectre x360 requires the help of a discrete GPU to deliver more processing power.

Boost Your productivity by using your iPad as a second screen for your Mac.

Prior to releasing macOS Catalina, you could have a second display for your Mac with the help of your iPad on thrid-party software.

With Sidecar, the new feature on macOs Catalina an IpadOS 13, you can now have your Mac display extended or mirrored on your iPad.

The Sidecar feature can turn iPad into graphics Tablet using the Apple Pencil. With it, you can also run macOS apps such illustrator, Final Cuto Pro, and Zbrush.

What You Need

Before getting too excited about Apple’s latest productivity offering, here are some basic things to remember:

• You need a compatible Mac that runs on macOS Catalina. Note that while most Macs since 2012 can run Catalina, not all Macs support the Sidecar feature.
• You need an iPad running on iPadOS 13.
• You should be logged in to the same iCloud account (for both your Mac and iPad).
• If you’re thinking of connecting your devices wirelessly, your iPad should be within 10 meters of your Mac.

Before we delve into the details, here are some of the Mac and iPad models that support Sidecar:

Macs

• iMac 27-inch (late 2015 version or newer)
• 2018 MacBook Air or newer
• 2019 Mac Pro

iPads

To use Sidecar, your iPad must be able to support Apple Pencil (1^st or 2^nd generation). Here are some of the compatible iPad models:

Apple Pencil

• 3^rd gen iPad Air
• 5^th gen iPad mini
• 6^th gen iPad or newer
• 1^st–2^nd gen iPad Pro 12.9 inch

2^nd Generation Apple Pencil

• 3^rd gen iPad Pro 12.9 inch
• iPad Pro 11 inch

Turning Your iPad Into a Second Screen

The process is pretty straightforward. You just have to make sure that both your Mac and your iPad meet Sidecar’s system requirements.

1. You can connect via Bluetooth to use Sidecar wirelessly, as long as you’re within 10 meters of the Mac. Alternatively, you can connect your iPad to your Mac using your charging cable.
2. To connect your devices, click on the AirPlay icon (rectangle icon with a triangle in the middle) found on your Mac’s menu bar.
3. If you wish to mirror your Mac display (Mirror Built-in Retina Display) instead of extending it (Separate Display), go back to the AirPlay menu. Click on the option for mirror display.
4. To finish your Sidecar session, simply click on the “Disconnect” button on your iPad’s sidebar. Alternatively, you can return to the AirPlay menu and click “Disconnect”.

Other Uses for Old Devices

If you’re thinking of upgrading your devices to further boost your productivity with Apple’s new Sidecar feature, don’t think of throwing out your old iPads or Macs just yet.

You can choose to refurbish your old tablet and turn it into a digital photo frame, for instance. Or you can also sell tablet units online or through a yard sale. Selling is a great way to keep old devices from the landfill while bringing extra cash into your pockets.

Nearly everyone has a smartphone these days. If you rely heavily on yours for everyday activities, you can use up your battery before the day even ends. To replenish your power, you will need a compatible charger, and of course, an outlet.

However, there are other methods you can use in case you misplace or forget to bring a compatible charger. Technically, you can use fruit to replenish your phone’s battery, but you need a whole lot of it. On top of that, you will need extra. Needless to say, it’s neither convenient nor practical.

Thankfully, there are less tedious ways to power your phone without its charger.

Look for a Compatible USB Port             

Remember that the USB port must be compatible with your phone. If you brought your iPad’s USB charger, you can use it to power your phone. You can plug one end into your phone and the other into a USB port.

At work, you can plug the other end into a desktop or laptop computer. For those who are on the go, public spaces such as coffee shops, hotels, and airports usually have USB charging stations, where guests can replenish their batteries for free.

Use Your Power Bank

It’s always best to pack a power bank for emergencies. Most of these battery packs can store enough power to last you throughout the day.

Just make sure to charge your power bank before any trip. Keep it in your bag so you can charge on-the-go. All you need to do to replenish your phone’s battery is plug the device’s cable into your phone and wait until it is fully charged.

Charge Your Phone in Your Car

Most modern cars come with a built-in USB port for charging all kinds of mobile devices. However, if your car isn’t new, you can connect an adapter to the lighter port to charge your phone.

Start your car or place it in accessory mode. Plug one end of your charging cable into an adapter or a USB port. Then, plug the other end into your mobile device.

Place Your Phone on a Charging Mat

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in the digital era. To cater to the needs of their employees, companies often offer charging pads. These things can charge nearly every mobile device, including smartphones.

The best part? There are no messy cables. All you have to do is place your phone on the charging pad.

If your company doesn’t provide such a convenience, you might want to consider investing in one. You can keep it in your cubicle at the office, so you won’t have to worry the next time you forget to bring your phone’s charger.

Not all mobile devices support wireless charging. To enjoy these modern conveniences, your phone might need an upgrade. Instead of tossing aging smartphones in a drawer, sell cell-phone units for profit. You can use that money to buy a high-end smartphone and maybe more advanced accessories.

Samsung is on a roll. With foldable devices forecasted to be the future of mobile phones, rumors have already spread that a new Samsung Galaxy Fold model will be launched in April 2020 even if the current model entered the market just two months ago.

Especially since this year’s originally scheduled launch of Galaxy Fold was delayed so Samsung could address issues with its screen. Reviewers who got hold of the smartphones for testing in the run-up to the April 2019 release reported that their units’ displays easily got scratched and pierced.

Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG)

Rumor has it that instead of the transparent plastic polyimide (PI) protective layer used for the screen of the original Fold, a scratch-resistant UTG layer will be used for the upcoming Galaxy Fold 2.  UTG is said to measure below 100 micrometers or just 3% the thickness of glass traditionally used for smartphone screens.

Design

This October 2019, participants got a preview of Fold 2 during the Samsung Developer Conference when the mobile phone developer showed a video of a new foldable phone “concept” with a clamshell or vertically folding design, a modern version of the old-school flip phone.

This “pocketable” square phone will, therefore, come close to the Motorola Razr, a reboot of the RAZR V3 sold in 2004, which also recently just went on sale.

Like the Razr, Fold 2 may also have a small display on the folded phone exterior to show important updates, such as the time and message notifications. This is the Fold 2’s smallest display at 4.6 inches. This external screen that allows you to use the phone even when it’s folded.

It will reportedly feature a 6.7-inch folding touchscreen and will be similar to the Galaxy S10 when opened. Meanwhile, the largest 7.3-inch main screen of the original Galaxy Fold is revealed once it is unfolded lengthwise as a tablet-sized display.

Selfie camera

Like the Galaxy Note 10, Fold 2 reportedly features a hole-punch selfie camera at the top of the inner display.

Insiders interviewed by  Bloomberg also said that the 2020 Fold will have two cameras that will serve as front cameras when folded and as rear ones upon being flipped open.

Pricing

Galaxy Fold 2 is expeted to sell for $1,500, compared to the first-generation Fold that’s worth $1,980. However, there are also speculations that Fold 2 might be sold over $1,500 due to UTG display.

Color options

Reports said that the new foldable product will be available in black, purple, and white.

Insiders say that Samsung codenamed its foldable phone growth strategy “Bloom” and aims to sell as many as six million units in 2020. That’s double IHS Markit’s projected global phone market growth of three million for the said year but just a million more than the forecast of Display Supply Chain Consultants.

Armed with lessons learned from its launch of the first Galaxy Fold, the phone maker is expected to sell cellphones with more confidence in 2020.

For Samsung to hit its growth target next year, Fold 2 must not only be as durable as its non-folding counterparts but also more reasonably priced than the Galaxy Fold.

Choosing a laptop can be challenging, with several different factors other than price to consider before buying.

Determining which Laptop is the Best for You

When choosing which laptop would be the best for you, consider elements such as:

Size

It’s important to choose the right size, which will depend on your lifestyle. Laptops are usually categorized into the following display sizes: 11-12 inches, 13-14 inches, 15 inches, and 17-18 inches.

CPU

The type of CPU will depend on what you’re going to be doing with the laptop. The type of processor you will be getting will determine your laptop’s performance and will depend on your usual tasks.

RAM

The minimum for RAM is 8 GB and could go all the way to 32 GB if you want serious power. The more RAM you have, the more applications you can run. Your system can also process and retrieve data faster.

Battery life

If you’re planning on taking your laptop with you wherever you go, a unit with 8+ hours of battery life is a good choice to start.

The Best Laptops for 2019

The Best Overall Laptop: Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 seamlessly combines power, beauty, and price to give you optimal performance. Starting at around $900, this 13-inch unit runs on an 8^th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and can have 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM.

The Best Budget Laptop: Acer Aspire E15

Starting at $698, this laptop gives you good performance without breaking the bank. You can effortlessly multitask as this is powered by an 8^th generation Intel Core i5 processor. The Acer Aspire E15 also has up to 15 hours of battery life, giving you more time to do what you need to do.

The Best Laptop for Students: Asus ZenBook 13 UX333

Starting at $850, this laptop doesn’t sacrifice build for its quality and features. It runs on an 8^th generation Intel Core i5 processor and has 8 GB RAM. This is a lightweight, powerful, affordable option that can keep up with the demanding needs of school.

The Best Business Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme

The ThinkPad range has often been associated with the business market. The ThinkPad X1 Extreme, which starts at $1799, shakes things up with its super fast six-core Intel Core i7-8750H processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, which gives you more power to do more demanding work.

What to Do With Your Old Laptop

Sell It

You can sell used laptop units for extra cash instead of letting it collect dust at home. It’s an eco-friendly solution to getting rid of old tech, too. When you sell used laptop units, you’ll be able to give old tech a new lease on life.

Repurpose It

Another great solution is to repurpose old laptops. Turn an old unit into a media center or even an emergency Wi-Fi hotspot!

It is important to consider your needs and you Budget. While need to work out a compromiso as not all laptops will fit each criteria that you might have in mind this list hopefully points in the right direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been an eventful past few weeks for OnePlus users out there, with recent releases and future model leaks keeping the community abuzz. The Chinese smartphone giant unveiled the OnePlus 7T model last September to rave reviews. With the inclusion of the 90Hz refresh rate display previously found on the 7 Pro variant, faster charging, and camera improvement, the phone is considered a major upgrade over its OnePlus 7 predecessor, which hit the market last May.

The 7T Pro, released a few days after 7T, had a more subtle difference in comparison to the 7 Pro model. This led to mixed reviews, with some debating whether to head to the nearest shops that sell cell-phones and buy it or wait for its next iteration. With fans recently getting an unauthorized sneak peek of OnePlus 8, we now also have a few information about OnePlus 8 Pro thanks to Twitter user @OnLeaks and 91Mobiles.

Punch-hole Display

Similar to the previously leaked OnePlus 8, the 8 Pro variant will also have a punch-hole display in addition to curved edges. The 7 Pro and the 7T Pro models also achieved a clean, bezel-less look thanks to the use of a pop-up selfie camera. Some may view a punch-hole in the upper-left portion of the screen as a downgrade, especially with Oppo recently unveiling the world’s first under-screen selfie camera. Ultimately, it should be a matter of personal preference as some may not find this as big of a deal.

Quad-Camera Setup

The 8 Pro will be the first of OnePlus phones to feature a quad-camera setup. Competitors like Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi recently released phones with a similar camera set up so it was expected for OnePlus to follow suit. The main, telephoto, and wide-angle sensors are vertically aligned in the middle back portion of the phone. The 3D Time of Flight (ToF) sensor and other supporting camera sensors are found on the left side of the three main cameras.

Other Specs and Features

The 8 Pro will retain the 90Hz refresh rate of the 7 Pro and 7T variants, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. OnePlus intends to keep this impressive feature for the foreseeable future. In addition, the 8 Pro model will include a USB-C port, located in between redesigned speaker grilles in the phone’s bottom portion. It will have 8GB of memory to go along with 128GB of storage. It hasn’t been confirmed whether it will support 5G but it likely will.

Release Date

We don’t know yet when the OnePlus 8 Pro will be available to the public. The 7 and 7 Pro models were released in May while the 7T and 7T Pro variant came out in September and October, respectively. With that in mind, expect an early 2020 release, perhaps during the second quarter, for the 8 and 8 Pro models. With all these leaks coming out, stay tuned for more information about the OnePlus 8 Pro in the coming months.