My iPhone XS Case: Goodbye Zizo, Hello ZeroLemon

For $1000, the iPhone XS is too fragile to use outside naked, especially for how costly repairs can be. I’ve been a big fan of Zizo cases, but when their customer service fails to address a significant issue, it’s time to move on. Thankfully ZeroLemon was able to help a tech reviewer out…

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Friendly Reminder: You Have Two Months Left to Replace Your iPhone’s Battery for $29

Just got my iPhone SE back from the Geniuses, and all is right with the world.

Apple got into trouble for throttling performance on iPhones as their batteries aged. It was a reprehesible business practice disguised as a consumer experience “benefit”. Apple installed a meager battery capacity, basically the bare minimum size battery your phone would need to last the day brand new. As those batteries aged, they would no longer power your phone completely through the day.

Instead of disclosing this, Apple’s “solution” was a special (low) performance mode baked into iOS. Apple activated this mode with no user notifications or permissions. At around the one year mark, your phone would get slower based on the wear and tear on the battery. Right around the time you might be looking to shop a new phone, if you like to stay on the leading edge of Apple hardware…

This was a consumer hostile move towards planned obsolescence, and it isn’t the first time Apple has had issues with phone batteries. This manufacturer ignored iPhone 5 problems until the weight of a class action lawsuit forced Apple to address the issue out of warranty. Of course, by the time the iPhone 5 issues had been disclosed, the iPhone 6 had already launched. Wouldn’t it just be EASIER to get a shiny new phone then deal with a battery warranty issue on your OLD iPhone?

The situation with performance throttling was a bigger deal still, spanning SEVERAL generations of iPhones. The resolution? A cheaper out of warranty replacement for anyone affected (basically everyone who owned an iPhone).  From the iPhone 6 to the iPhone X, you can get your battery replaced for $29, instead of the normal price of $79. The price on this repair jumps to $49 after December 31st on all phones except the iPhone X which jumps to $69.

Of course, Apple hasn’t made a lot of noise about this replacement program. Your phone doesn’t alert you in any way. You have to dig into the iPhone settings to see your battery health, but it’s not like there’s a link to schedule a service appointment there. You have to know where and what you’re looking for on the Apple Support site to get the right info, which I’ll just go ahead and link directly, right here.

There was a brief flutter of discussion about this issue in the general media. Tech enthusiasts held on to this conversation a little longer. What’s disturbing though, this replacement program has reached NONE of my family and friends using iPhones.

Aunts. Cousins. Grandparents. I’ve sent roughly twenty people to the Genius Bar, but each one of them had to be told and reminded about this situation individually. Every single one of them has decided to hold off on a future iPhone purchase. Before the replacement they were all complaining about terrible performance. With a new battery, it’s like their phones are brand new again. Why spend more money on a new phone, when their old phone FEELS new again. It’s almost like you could make a business model out of breaking a consumer’s gadget, and charge them to fix what you broke… Apple would never do that right?

If you’re reading a cranky editorial like this, you’re probably a  little tech savvier than the average bear. It’s also VERY likely that you’re a resource for your family and friends when it comes to making future tech purchases. I think all of us gadget enthusiasts have a responsibility here. The message on this battery replacement program really didn’t break through to general consumers. With only two and a half months left for this program, I would highly encourage all of us techie folks to reach out to our family and friends. Make sure the people we know personally are aware of this program, and are able to take advantage of it before the price hikes.

Everyone I’ve encouraged to do this replacement has felt better about a $30 battery, than having to buy a more expensive new phone.

Travel Tech Prep: The Best Battery for Your Trip?

Alternate title: WATT to look for when buying a battery. The best battery for your adventure? Technology is a crucial aspect to travel these days. We can barely survive a day without our phones, but if you’re in a foreign country, it’s even more difficult to get around if your phone is dead. Here a couple quick tips on how to shop for a good travel battery. Make sure you don’t get stranded! Pack MOAR POWER!

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Outdoor Tech Platypus Review: The Best Rugged Car Charger Battery I’ve Ever Used!

Outdoortech is one of my favorite companies for building rugged gadgets. The Platypus is a great combo gadget, adding a small battery to a car charger, packed inside a water resistant shell. Living in an Earthquake prone state, we’re always on the lookout for good support gadgets especially to power medical equipment.

Shop for the Platypus on Amazon http://amzn.to/2vGv24g

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Chargetech Plug Pro 54K Battery Review – Mother Of All Batteries

THIS THING IS HUGE! Do you need to power a gaming laptop while on the go? This might be your jam! A crazy 53,600mAh capacity, outputting up to 250W, and with a pair of international outlets for all cables, chargers, and connectors. It’s a MONSTER. Let’s check it out!

Chargetech IndieGoGo Plug page https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pl…

I wrote a book! If you want to take your smartphone photography and video skills up a notch, you’ll want to read my book! ‘Take Better Photos: Smartphone Photography for Noobs!’ is now available – http://amzn.to/1LZMa52

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Android Battery Optimization Sucks!

Mobile phone usage is getting more demanding, and battery technology is having a difficult time keeping up. Increasingly we’re turning to software tricks to manage power drain on our phones, but Google’s latest efforts are kind of terrible…

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Autopsy: What caused the battery to explode?

Samsung’s official press conference will stream live on January 23rd, but reports from investigators paint a picture of what might have gone wrong with this phablet.

AENHub:

Behind the scenes of exploding smartphones

UPDATED! LG Offering Free Spare Battery and 32GB Memory Card for G4 Owners

***Update!***
LG is extending this promotion! You’ll be able to land a spare battery and a MicroSD card until June 30th! Pretty great incentive to shopping their newest flagship phone. If you were on the fence, you can check out our mega collection of G4 videos, or you can jump straight to shopping the LG G4 online.

lg g4 free battery memory card promotionLG seems to be sticking it to Samsung in two areas where the Galaxy S6 can’t compete: swapping the battery and expanding the storage.

For a limited time, people who have purchased the G4, or folks who will be buying the G4, can receive a free spare battery, a battery cradle, and a 32GB Sandisk MicroSD card for free. The promotion runs through July 6, and most outlets should be carrying the G4 in early June.

Carrier pricing for the G4 hasn’t been revealed yet, though T-Mobile’s contest values it at $600, well under the price of the 32GB Galaxy S6. As the G4 already has better battery life, will doubling that run time and storage for free tempt you over Samsung’s 64GB Galaxy S6 at almost $800? Drop us a comment below!

LG Promotion Page
LG G4 Full Review