Monthly Archives: November 2011

Holiday shopping season is in full gear and electronics once again top the list of “wishes” for gifts people would love to receive. Black Friday and Cyber Monday has come and gone by now, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t great specials still to be had. In fact, chances are great you may even be able to get a better deal in the coming weeks through careful research and waiting for that perfect deal to pop up.

Consumer studies show continued interest in online shopping. Buyers like the convenience of being able to compare prices from the comfort of their own homes and then looking for extra special deals like free shipping to sweeten the deal even more. A growing number of people will shop the stores to find the exact item they want, but then will write down the model number and do research about the product and read customer reviews before making the purchase.

When choosing a new electronic product, whether it is a laptop, phone, scooter, toy, or something bigger like a golf cart

Apple this week has announced an iOS 5.0.1 update, which includes a fix for the battery problem plaguing many iPhone 4S users, who are reporting a battery life of less than half of the prior model. So, why are we announcing the news on this blog?

In today’s technologically-driven marketplace, the performance (or lack of) can directly impact the success of a consumer product. Not only is enough today to have an amazing electronics item with lots of bells and whistles, but the battery that powers the device better work in a way that meets customer expectations as well.

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales quickly approach, you’ll want to do your research before making an electronics purchase about the battery life of a product you are about to buy. Whether it is a toy, laptop, camera, smartphone, or a wide array of equipment or sports items on your list, it is important for the battery to have the life and strength to support the device. Or, why bother?

A good example of this is electronics

Lithium-ion batteries are considered the solution to making electric cars possible. But, which kind? A recent article in ConsumerReports.org talks about what’s next in the lithium battery landscape.

Seth Fletcher, editor of Popular Science magazine and author, describes the key technologies of today and what lies ahead. Here are excerpts of his take on develops, as reported by Eric Evarts.

• The first-generation lithium batteries are made from lithium-cobalt oxide. These are the batteries widely used in consumer electronics today. These batteries have good power, but they are less stable than other kinds. While lithium-cobalt oxide batteries are readily available, commercial versions are not set up for cars. They are mainly made by Sony.
• The second-generation lithium batteries, developed for the Chevrolet Volt, are made of lithium-manganese oxide. But lithium-manganese stores less energy, which limits the range of electric cars.
• The third-generation lithium-based batteries use lithium-iron

One of the biggest letdowns when it comes to the holiday unwrapping frenzy is for batteries to be forgotten, and as a result, battery-powered electronics and toys purchased may not be useable until stores reopen. It happens every year around the family celebrations, but you can ahead now and stock up on typical sizes needed and even add them to your list for Santa.

If you are buying a toy for a child, do your child a special favor and purchase the batteries (remember they are typically not included) and tape them onto the box. That way, they can be installed immediately so your child will be able to enjoy the item that was purchased rather than just “looking” at it. If you are buying a child a more elaborate battery-operated riding toy, be sure to read up on the directions ahead of time and know how long the battery needs to be charged. What child won’t want to ride the toy, so having it charged and ready for action will add to the holiday magic for the lucky child.

The same holds true