13 Tips to improve laptop battery life

June 25, 2016

by Karan Makharia with No Comment Laptop Sony Tips/Tricks

Laptop battery life gets degraded over time mostly due to overcharging and various other factors. Though some of the people may find this as a myth that overcharging affects battery life. Let me tell you that we have performed some tests and it does affect the battery life. Apart from that laptop battery life is the only thing you will rely on when you have to work on the go. I have seen many laptops with a dead battery so they have to be plugged in like PC all the time. So today I will give you some tips to improve laptop battery life. These tips will help you to last longer with the battery you have.

Tips to improve laptop battery life:

Before starting with the tips let me tell you that every rechargeable battery has a certain number of charge cycles. In simple terms, if your battery has 1000 cycles then you can charge and discharge it only 1000 times. After that, it will not charge or maybe it will hold less current.

1.If possible don’t use your battery

If you have an option of removable battery then I would suggest that you avoid using the battery. I know this may sound like a crazy option but trust me it worked great in my case. That means just plug in the charger and slide the battery out. If you don’t have the issue of power fluctuation then this is the best way to ensure that you don’t waste your battery’s charge cycles. For the first 2-3 years, I practiced this and my battery quality was at excellent(shown by a Sony Vaio utility). But now from the last year, my Laptop is just plugged in all the time and suddenly my battery quality rating is Good. Plus the battery backup has reduced substantially. If you are removing the battery then do ensure that it is not completely empty, charge it till 80% and then keep it aside. You must have seen the laptops showcased at an offline store in malls are often kept without the batteries. Again do it at your own risk, mostly it should not have a negative effect. Also, don’t keep the battery unused for a longer period of time. Plug it in once in a while and use it for some time before removing it again.

2. Calibrate the battery

Sometimes the electronic circuit inside your battery may miss out some values due to prolonged charging. This happens when you don’t let your laptop battery go low. So first fully charge your battery. Then unplug the laptop charger and fully discharge the battery. Keep it discharged for like 2 hours and then again charge it from 0 to 100%. Voila! This is how you calibrate your battery so that it can hold maximum charge possible. Though I will suggest calibrating your battery once in a while and not frequently as draining the battery to 0% often will also decrease the battery life. So always charge your laptop when your battery percent reaches 30%. Do not let it go below 30%.

3. Reduce the heat

Every battery has a range of operating temperature and batteries do not perform well at high temperatures. So if your laptop is getting heated up continuous, then this will affect your battery life gradually. You need to reduce the heat and to do that make sure that your air vents are not blocked. Always use your laptop on a flat surface and not on the bed or pillow. Clean your CPU fan for dust and make sure you apply the heat sink gel timely. You can refer the video below on how to clean CPU fan of any laptop and apply heat sink gel.

4. Avoid overcharging the battery

Many people say that this is a myth, but I know that overcharging will kill your battery gradually. If you don’t believe me, then try overcharging your smartphone the whole night for a month and you will get to know the difference. So never keep your charger plugged-in when your battery is fully charged. As soon as the battery is charged, remove the charger and use the battery backup. If you have an option of removable battery then follow the first tip.

Now we will move on to the tips where you can save battery life and last longer on battery backup. This is the case where the utmost priority is to save battery life in order to use it for a longer time.

5. Reduce brightness/Use dark theme

The first thing that most of you will follow is reducing the screen brightness. I can say that screen will consume most of the battery, so the first priority thing to do is reduce the brightness to the minimum. This will save a hell lot of battery. Try to use the dark theme and dark wallpaper which will also help in saving battery.

6. Disconnect any peripherals

If you have connected any peripherals/accessories which you are not using then remove it – External mouse/keyboard/hard disk etc. They all consume power over the period and will decrease the battery power.

7. Disconnect Wifi/Bluetooth

Disconnect all the wireless connections that are not in use. Switch to ethernet from Wifi if possible as it consumes a lot of battery. Best way is to disable the wifi adapter as it will stop searching for Wifi signals. Also, disable Bluetooth as most of the time we never use it and it is left turned ON.

8. Eject Disc

If you have any CD/DVD inserted in your laptop then remove it after the work is done. Do not keep it inserted as it will use power to rotate the disc at high speed.

9. Reduce the background tasks

Close down all the background tasks that are not in use. There are many applications at the right-hand side of the taskbar which are always running in the background. Make sure you close the unnecessary stuff like torrent client, skype, onedrive/dropbox, any other monitoring utility. Imagine every background task is going through the processor each second for processing and that is consuming power. So multi-tasking is not the greatest way to go with when you have to save the battery.

10. Turn ON the power saving mode

Turn on the power saving mode from the control panel. It will take care of the most of the tips mentioned above. Configure it properly so that it doesn’t affect your normal laptop usage. You can also install additional battery manager software that will help you save and improve battery life.

11. Defragment hard drive

Defragmentation will clear out the dead sectors of the hard drive and will increase the speed of the processing. Things will take less time to load which means low power consumption.

12. Shift to SSD

Buying an SSD will surely improve the battery life as all the mechanical parts are now removed. In the traditional hard drive, there is a mechanical arm plus the magnetic disc which spins at high speed to read the data. They are at motion continuously eating up all the power which is not the case with the analog components present in the SSD. While this option is a costly one, but it will substantially improve the speed of processing and increase battery life.

13. Buy a second battery

There is always an option to carry an extra battery, again if you have a removable battery option. You can always carry an extra battery with you for more power. Alternatively, if there is a bigger/higher capacity battery available for your laptop then you can go with that.

So these were some tips to improve laptop battery life and sustain longer on the battery backup. Using these tips you can ensure a longer life for your laptop’s battery. Trust me you will thank me one day in the case of emergency when your laptop will not give up on you. If you have any doubts regarding the above tips then do post them in the comment section below. Also, if you have any other tips or different views then also you are welcome to share with the rest of us in the comments.

Sony launches premium ‘Extra Bass’ wireless wonder for audiophiles

October 8, 2014

by Karan Makharia with No Comment Sony Technewz

New Delhi, 8th October, 2014 – Sony India today announced the launch of a strikingly stylish ‘Extra Bass’ Bluetooth headphone NFC wireless MDR-XB950BT which can also be teamed as the ultimate fashion accessory for true music lovers.

The latest headphone MDR-XB950BT from the audio stable of Sony is designed in line with its commitment of best quality sound. Alongside, providing the acoustic characteristics needed to superbly reproduce today’s music and the optimum fit that is a crucial element for a comfortable listening experience when using headphones.

MDR-XB950BT headphone is perfect for those who enjoy listening to music with extra bass in style with a frequency response upto 28,000Hz. MDR-XB950BT is a 40mm dynamic driver unit that delivers high quality powerful sound while keeping the bass level high for all the music lovers with its Electro Bass Booster that instantly accentuates lows to club-like levels.With a charge of 4 hours, the headphone delivers foot tapping music for upto 20 hours at a go.

* Extra bass Bluetooth NFC wireless headphone

* 40 mm dynamic driver unit for powerful sound

* Built in Micro phone

* 20 hrs music playback

* Portable, swivel folding design

* Pressure relieving ear pads

The headphone comes with NFC that offers a One-touch connection with smartphones allowing user to listen to rich wireless sound with soaring highs and rich, solid lows that bring every performance to life. Further, it also feature a built-in microphone, letting the audiophiles to also take calls and chat hands-free while on the move.

In addition to the high music quality, MDR-XB950BT sports a slim, swivel folding style allowing for convenient storage in a bag, briefcase or backpack. The new acoustic design and pressure relieving earpad fitting ensures extended comfort for long commutes. The powerful headband-style headphones made for serious bass lovers, is constructed with an uncompromising design and high end material such as the metal comfortable fitted head-band.

As a limited period special offer, the audiophiles can also get a premium leather carrying case exclusively with MDR-XB950BT.

Model	MRP	Availability
MDR-XB950BT	Rs 12,990/-	Available

Sony boosts “Selfie” trend with the launch of Xperia™ C3 – the world’s best Selfie smartphone

August 29, 2014

by Karan Makharia with No Comment Mobile Sony Technewz

25th August, 2014, New Delhi – Sony India today launched Xperia™ C3, the ultimate new smartphone for selfies and social sharing thanks to Sony’s leading digital imaging technology and interactive camera apps. Xperia C3 is a unique new smartphone from Sony, created to offer the ultimate social sharing experience with a new powerful ‘PROselfie cam’. It also presents a combination of the best of Sony, with leading digital imaging technology and brilliant specs and performance all for a mid-range price

Fit more in the frame with our best ever ‘selfie cam’ smartphone

The Xperia C3 produces perfect selfies wherever, whenever with a 5 MP wide-angle front camera (25mm with 80 degree field of view) that allows you to capture more in the frame. With a unique soft flash, you can take flattering photos day or night by simply double tapping the back cover or using Smile Shutter, which you can then share with friends in three clicks. Thanks to
the front camera’s Superior Auto mode, pictures are automatically adjusted for suitable lighting conditions and the auto scene recognition function, which works together with HDR and LED flash, makes sure you can capture the best selfies and selfie videos in any light.

To enhance your pictures further, the Xperia C3 comes loaded with selfie camera apps. AR effect incorporates themes that let you easily add fun graphics and animations – like pirate hats, horror faces and laser eyes – to your selfies and selfie videos. Portrait Retouch is another innovative app that allows you to have a real-time makeover of up to two people from a combination of choices from 10 different beauty styles, 10 DECO frame options and magic beam for 6 eye reflection pattern changes. All these features allow you to elevate your images to a new level, to impress your friends via your favourite social media channels.

Enjoy Sony camera expertise

Created with Cyber-shot leading camera expertise, the Xperia™ C3’s impressive 8MP main camera, featuring an Exmor RS™ for mobile image sensor, captures perfect pictures even in challenging lighting conditions. With SteadyShot™ all of your videos will come out smooth and distortion-free. The front camera also makes video calls with Xperia™ C3 crispy clear, with exceptional image quality on the large 5.5” HD display

Discover apps that open up new experiences

Xperia™ C3 comes loaded with innovative camera apps – developed to enhance your mobile experience with social – and fun ways to create and share:

Superior Auto – on both main and front cameras. From illuminated night views to backlit selfies, Superior Auto recognises four scene types on C3’s front camera and up to 36 scenes by the main camera and adjusts the settings automatically, to help you get the best photos anywhere, in any light. As the default camera mode, Superior Auto turns HDR on or off depending on your scene. HDR mode takes multiple shots with varied exposures and then merges them together to make your photos look natural – even in backlit conditions.
Portrait retouch v.2 – style your close-ups in real time. Portrait Retouch makes sure you’re captured looking your best with features including real-time makeover, DECO frame options and magic eye beam (light reflection) effects. Portrait Retouch offers a choice of 10 different beauty styles – including four natural looks for the guys – and the ability to retouch portraits of up to two people per image. You can see changes in real time, before capturing the shot to ensure a photogenic finish.
AR effect – a different angle to your photos and videos. Switch your front selfie camera to AR effect mode and see your viewfinder come to life as a carnival or Halloween parties with yourself and friends wearing fun masks, Caribbean pirate hats and Mummy wraps.
Timeshift-burst – always get the best picture. Timeshift-burst captures 31 frames in just 2 seconds – starting even before you press the shutter. Consumers can then scroll back and forth amongst the 31 frames to select the perfect image, or even keep them all.
Picture effects – create the best picture. Apply a wide selection of creative effects to your photos and change colours, add image trails or apply mirror effects. These adjustments enhance your images and open up a world of possibilities.
Movie Creator – create videos to be proud of. The new movie creator application allows you to trim and crop your videos so that you can easily edit what you want to share. Insert dramatic slowdown effects at one or more places on the timeline of the video so that you can preview your movie before you save and share.
Social live – broadcast your precious moments live. Social live lets you broadcast every moment as it happens live via Facebook. Get your friend’s response right on the screen and keep the conversation going, all in real-time, and go beyond social sharing as you know it.
Sweep Panorama – Take a panoramic photo by just sweeping the camera.

Speed that goes on forever

Xperia™ C3. Powered by an efficient Snapdragon Quad-core 1.2 Ghz processor and with 1GB RAM and 8GB Flash memory, Xperia™ C3 enables ultra-fast performance with breath-taking graphics.

Lightweight and slim, for life on the go

At just 7.6 mm and a mere 150g, this slim and sleek smartphone is perfect for people on the go. Built with leading Sony technology the Xperia C3 has a stunning screen that offers an unrivalled experience. Its large, beautiful 5.5” HD IPS display optimised with BRAVIA® technology that offers great viewing from any angle. The Xperia C3 features an easy-toggle keyboard for one-handed input. In addition, its Simple Home mode offers a simplified home screen with larger fonts and loaded with the most used apps and speed dial features.

Enhanced battery life

The Xperia C3 provides extensive usage to ensure you get most out of your smartphone. On top of this, Battery STAMINA Mode 3.0 saves you wasted battery drain by recognising when you’re not using your display and automatically turns off the functions you don’t need, while keeping the notifications you want.

Dual SIM, no compromise

Sony’s latest generation of dual-SIM technology allows users to set up both SIM cards independently with custom ring tones and easily choose between SIMs before making calls or sending texts, whilst Sony’s dual SIM management technology means that users can keep both SIMs active and never miss a call, even when talking on one of them.

Xperia C3 will be available across all Sony Center, Sony Smartphone Lounge and major Mobiles & electronics stores across India.

Model	MRP	Availability	Colours
Xperia C3	Rs 23,990	1st September 2014	Black, White and Mint

BEST Features:

The world’s best selfie[1] smartphone fully-optimised for selfies featuring a powerful new ‘PROselfie cam’and selfie apps
Create and share the best selfies with a 5MP wide-angle front camera withSuperior Auto mode and a soft LED flash in any light by simply double tapping the back cover
Have unlimited fun with AR effect on the front camera or use thePortrait Retouch camera app to style your close-ups in real-time and post pictures in one of 10 different Deco frames
Present the best of you and enjoy best in class video calls on a 5.5” HD display
With its super lightweight, slim design and powerful Quad-Core processor , the Xperia™ C3 can go everywhere with you
Dual SIM gives you the flexibility to use two SIM cards in the same phone, so you never miss a call

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Sony launches new high speed SD card – UZ Series

August 26, 2014

by Karan Makharia with No Comment Sony Technewz

New Delhi, 19^thAugust: Sony India today announced the launch of its new Ultra High Speed SD card UZ series, with fast data transfer speed and 4K compatibility for smartphones and cameras. The new card is ideal for professional or semi-professional photographers and videographers as with the enhanced speed, transfer time will be minimized and workflow speed and efficiency will be improved.

Available in storage capacity of 32GB and 64GB, the new memory card comes with data transfer speeds of 95MB/s (read) and 90MB/s (write) to guarantee fast and efficient transfers. It also features an Ultra-High Speed (UHS Speed Class 3) rating so that speed and quality will not be compromised in the images captured, resulting in smooth 4K recordings as well as minimal buffering when capturing still images in Burst, multi-frame or panoramic modes.

SD Card UZ Series – reads up to 95 MB/s speed & writes up to 90 MB/S
Supports 4K and full HD video recording
Water-proof, Temperature-proof, X-ray-proof and Dust-proof

Akin to the previous version, the new memory card continues to feature the Sony File Rescue software, the first in the world to support 3D movies and photos. This software allows users to recover accidentally deleted precious photos and movies.

The newly launched SD cards are equipped with high reliability and protected with molded resin, the memory card is remarkably durable, shockproof and resilient to extreme temperatures.

UZ SD series is available across all Sony Center and major electronic stores across India.

Model	Price	Availability
SF-32UZ/T1 IN	Rs. 5,339	Already available
SF-64UZ/T1 IN	Rs. 9,942	Already available

Sony Vaio Flip hybrid laptop launched in India [Hands-on]

January 26, 2014

by Karan Makharia with No Comment Laptop Sony Technewz

Hybrid laptops are the new fashion in the world of technology, and Sony has launched its new Vaio Flip models in India. It has 3 variants F13N, F14N, & F15N which differ in screen sizes and specs. The new Sony Vaio Flip can be transformed from laptop to tablet and has different views. All the laptop models have high performance and are made with the idea of sharing. Also the light weight of the Ultrabook makes it highly portable.

Design

vaio flip views

The unique design of the Sony Vaio Flip enables us to flip the screen and convert it into tablet. There are three modes viz. Laptop mode, Viewer mode, and the tablet mode. Each time you need to flip the screen to change the modes. While the laptop and tablet mode have now become common, but the viewers mode is quite unique and helpful to all types of users.

vaio flip chassis

Despite of the flipping 2nd hinge mechanism, it is still highly durable. The chassis has a brushed aluminium hair line finish and diamond cut logo. Inside it has backlit keyboard, and large palm rest for comfortable typing experience.

Display

Triluminous display

It is powered by a Triluminous Display which reproduces colors on screen to give more sharpen picture quality. The display is full HD along with Sony’s super resolution technology. You can see the display quality in the image above.

Hardware specs

All the three Vaio Flip models are powered by 4th Generation Intel i5 processor except the F15N17 model which has i7 processor. Storage consist of SSD for F13N and hybrid drives for F14N and F15N. The F15N has auto-switchable Nvidia graphics while others have Intel HD 4400 for high end gaming experience. The weight of F13N, F14N, and F15N is 1.31, 1.96 and 2.29 Kg respectively. All the model supports USB 3.0 and a HDMI port along with bluetooth,Wi-Fi, and NFC support.

Sound, Camera and Battery life

Back camera 8 MP

Vaio Flip is equipped with Sony’s unique sound technologies like Clear Audio+ TM, xLoud, Clear phase, S-Force front surround 3D. Along with it there is a sub-woofer attached at the bottom to enhance the sound experience. Talking about the camera, it has a Front facing camera, along with a back camera of 8MP for the tablet. Also there is a CMOS sensor on the back to reduce noise in the low light conditions. The battery life is quite good ranging from 5hrs to 7.5hrs depending on the model.

Additional features

Additional charging option

It has dedicated USB port for charging devices even when the laptop is at sleep mode or completely shutdown. The laptop adapter also has a slot for charging other devices which is quite new feature.

Sleep and charge

The touchpad supports multi-gesture which can perform functions like scrolling, zooming and rotating. It also has a quick boot feature with Rapid wake technology which can be seen in previous Vaio models. It also has accidental damage cover, international warranty and on-site warranty all free for 1 year duration.

Along with all this you get a complementary premium headphones MDR-XB910A worth Rs. 12,990/- (Limited time Offer). The sound experience was nice and specially the headphones were very comfortable.

MDR-XB910A

Pricing

Sony Vaio Flip models will be available from 29th January 2013 across selected Sony Centers and the pricing is as follows.

sony vaio flip price

If you are looking for a stylish, portable, hybrid (laptop+tablet), high performance laptop, then you should definitely go for it. I liked the new Flip feature which sony has introduced newly in the market. Though the price is little high, but as always Sony has premium products.

All models in all views

Vijaysingh Jaiswal – Head, IT Division, Sony India

What are your views on this new Vaio Flip Models, do share with us in the comment section below.

Show Press Release (857 More Words)

Sony Introduces ‘VAIO® Flip- The New Standard’

Mumbai, 23rd January, 2014 – Bringing a new form factor to the design of VAIO® notebooks, Sony today introduced the new VAIO® Flip F13N/F14N/F15N, increasing its touch portfolio, featuring a unique hinge that provides users with a variety of new ways to use their mobile PCs while still enjoying the full functionality of a traditional clamshell laptop. The new VAIO® Flip aims to suit the computing needs of everyone and is available in 13-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch sizes.

VAIO’s original- Unique Design

VAIO® Flip’s revolutionary design concept is based on essence of ‘sharing with others’. Its unique line design makes it capable of flipping and converting between laptop, tablet and viewer modes by flipping the display over the hinge. The laptop mode comfortably accommodates highly productive work, the same way as conventional notebook PCs. In tablet mode, it is best utilised for touch, browsing the web, taking pictures etc. Lastly, with the viewer mode, the display can be flipped over so that you can share the experience of watching a video or movie with another person or give instant presentation anytime, without worrying for connecting a projector. This makes the VAIO® Flip adaptable for any use, be it for businessmen, professionals, students or the everyday PC user.

It’s is a masterpiece to hold in hands. Structured in a stylish, functional design; its thin chassis is constructed with brushed aluminium hairline finish. It’s innovative 2nd hinge mechanism, smooth & curved edges and diamond cut logo adds to your personality. The touchscreen notebook comes with Opti-contrast panel, large touch pad and bigger palm rest to give users a comfortable typing experience, as well as a backlit keyboard which allows for work in low-light conditions.

The Most Magical Colour Experience

TRILUMINOSTM Display for mobile allows for a more vivid reproduction of colours on screen and ensures the sharpest picture quality. It also provides access to a wide palette of rich natural colours thanks to Sony’s BRAVIA expertise. Combine this with a full HD display and Sony’s super resolution technology, X-Reality for mobile; and users are in for a treat to experience life like details. X-Reality for mobile analyses each image and reproduces lacking pixels to optimise quality for the sharpest videos. VAIO® Flip has Opti-contrast panel to add to its beauty element as monolithic design.

Amazing Audio Experience

VAIO® Flip is engineered to provide great sound experience through Sony’s unique sound technologies such as Clear Audio+TM, xLoud, Clear phase, VPT, Voice Zoom and S-FORCE front surround 3D to offer soul-shaking clarity, resulting in an unmistakeably rich audio experience.

The Clear Audio+TM mode incorporates a variety of Sony’s own signal processing technologies to deliver dynamic bass and soaring highs without distortion and provide unsurpassable audio quality, with different sound and equaliser settings that can be activated with the touch of a button. VAIO® Flip is also tuned to provide optimized sound experience with Headphone through Sony Walkman’s technology.

Made for high performance

VAIO® Flip is designed to deliver high performance as it is powered by 4th Generation Intel Core i5 & i7 processors. SSD (F13N) and hybrid drive (F14N/F15N) gives an added advantage to enhance performance and reliability. VAIO Flip F15N is also powered by NVIDIA auto switchable graphics to delivers amazing computing experience to you.

Enhanced Mobility

Made to enhance work on the go, VAIO® Flip F13N weighs just 1.31 Kg making it amongst one the light weight Ultrabook as multi-purpose laptop. VAIO® Flip F13N’s battery is made for your long travelling hours and lasts up to 7.5 Hrs. F14N and F15N battery lasts for 6 Hrs & 5 Hrs respectively.

Additional Unique features

VAIO® Flip has dedicated USB port inside charging adaptor for quick smartphone charging. This provides instant charging without blocking USB ports on laptop. With VAIO’s unique sleep & charge technology, you can charge your smartphone, even when your VAIO® Flip is shutdown.

Capture world around you

Incorporating the best of Sony’s digital imaging expertise, the Exmor™ RS for PC imaging sensor found on the VAIO® Flip makes it possible to take high-resolution images of documents. The back-illuminated CMOS sensor also ensures that there is reduced noise in low-light situations. VAIO® Flip F13N has 8mp rear camera which helps you to capture images instantly.

VAIO Headphone bundle offer

With VAIO® Flip, customer will get a complementary premium Headphone MDR-XB910A worth Rs. 12,990/-(Limited period offer till stock last). Tying Note with MDR, VAIO® Flip will deliver incomparable sound experience, Sony is known for.

Unlimited songs download

With VAIO® Flip, you can download unlimited* songs for 3 months from Sony Music- ‘Jive’ directly on your VAIO® Flip from a huge collection of more than 1.5 million songs.

Accidental Warranty

With VAIO® Flip you don’t have to worry for uncertain damages as it comes with one year Accidental Damage Protection to keep your VAIO® safe.

+2 year Extended Warranty

Buy VAIO® Flip and buy +2 Years Extended Warranty at a sensational price of Rs. 999/- only (Offer applicable from 15th Jan’14 to 31st March’14).

6 month EMI Offer

VAIO® Flip has an attractive finance plan, 6 months EMI on select credit cards with zero processing fee.

The new VAIO® Flip F13N/F14N/F15N will be available starting 29th January, 2014 across select Sony Center, VAIO® flagship stores and major electronic stores across India.

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