Gadget Info for normal people: How to Get More Life Out of Your Old Laptop Batter...

Gadget Info for normal people: How to Get More Life Out of Your Old Laptop Batter...: "Everybody has to deal with batteries nowadays. Lithium ones are great, but they only last for a couple hundred recharges. Some people re..."

How to Get More Life Out of Your Old Laptop Battery

Everybody has to deal with batteries nowadays. Lithium ones are great, but they only last for a couple hundred recharges. Some people remove the battery if the laptop is plugged in. This is a great idea, but it is too much work. Having to remove the battery every time can cause more wear and tear to the lock and battery latches.

So, what do I do with a old 10-minute laptop battery? Store it in the freezer! Say what?!? I'm not joking. This may sound strange, but lithium battery can be rejuvenated if you put it in a very cold place every 30-40 recharges. First of all, it is not miracle. At most, you extend the battery life for a good 30-40% and it will stay that way for a couple of weeks. Just remember to wrap it with some plastic bag to prevent water damage.

How long should I put it inside the freezer? Well, a laptop battery should be there for at least two or three hours. Take note of room temperature when you pull it out from the freezer. Don't plug it in to your laptop right away. Let it warm up to room temperature for at least 45 minutes. Trust me when I say battery leak.

There you go! Get that piece of junk of a battery working again. If all else fail, get your battery repacked. Now, what is battery repacking? Simply put, it is replacing the batteries inside your laptop battery with the ones you can find in hardware stores. In fact, the thing that makes a laptop battery expensive is its casing and circuitry. If you use the same casing and circuitry with the new batteries (buy branded ones if they are available), it is going to work like new.

One last thing... This only works with Lithium based batteries. Don't try to freeze dry cell and alkaline batteries. It will only cause it to leak hazardous chemicals into your freezer.

Best Camera Phone Under $300

Nokia N82: The Great Camera Phone

Nokia is the worldwide leader in cellular technology. The company sells more cellular phones than any other manufacturer in the world. From its humble beginnings in Finland, Nokia has become the multinational conglomerate with factories all over the world.

The N82 was first introduced in November 2007. When it was released, the phone was highly praised for its amazing picture quality. Even though 5 megapixels is not considered as high-end when it comes to standalone digital cameras, the phone was able to capture the entry-level enthusiasts market.

Unlike other camera phones, the N82 sports a Carl Zeiss Optics Tessar Lens. It does not use an image optimization to improve picture quality like Sony’s Cybershot camera phones. What is the advantage of hardware over software when it comes to cameras and overall picture quality? One of the first things one can notice when using the phone is faster auto focus speed and better low light picture taking capability.

The N82 can take pictures at a maximum resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. At this resolution, one can print A4 sized pictures without worrying about stretching. In addition, the phone is also a great substitute for camcorders. It can record videos up to a maximum resolution of 640x480, which is relatively higher than most camera phones in its class.

Without a doubt, the N82 is nothing short of amazing. The combination of both superb picture quality and user-friendliness makes it the ultimate camera phone contender to other camera phones. When it was first released, it costs around $550. Its current market price is now around $200, which makes it very affordable and a great digital camera substitute. The N82 truly deserves its place as Nokia’s flagship phone for 2008.