Tag: Power
How to prepare for a power outage – practical steps you should take
Power outages can strike at any time, often without warning. Recent events, such as the widespread disruptions experienced in Spain and Portugal, highlight the increasing vulnerability of power grids worldwide. […]
Can You Run Linux on a Power Server?
You might think the only option for running a Linux server system is x86. However, POWER is an excellent option for those striving for ultimate performance and a lowered total […]
Is Bono the Gavrilo Princip of a new era of corporate control and digital oppression?
At the flick of a switch last night, Apple distributed U2’s latest album to over 500m iTunes customers. And without us asking, the very worst example of corporate dad-rock began […]
Nintendo on Wii U power: "Playing will always be more important than raw numbers"
Nintendo have spoke out against detractors claiming that their forth-coming Wii U console isn't a true next-generation gaming machine as it appears to be underpowered. While neither confirming nor denying the claims anonymous developers slamming the new machine, Nintendo kept…
Wii U "50% more powerful than a PS3"
Nintendo's Wii U console was the highlight of this year's E3 gaming conference thanks to its mad touchscreen controller and HD graphics update. However, while it was a significant jump in graphical fidelity over the original Wii, the general consensus…
Nokia admit N8 power failures
A pocket of owners of Nokia's latest flagship smartphone the N8 have been complaining that the handset has a tendency to shut itself off unexpectedly. Nokia have now released a video statement acknowledging the power fault. "Through our customer care…
Griffin launch the PowerBlock reserve for iPhone and iPod
Though carrying an iPhone around is like having everything but the kitchen sink in your pocket thanks to all its maps and apps, its Achilles heel is its relatively low battery life. You'll get a little over a day's worth…
In Soviet Russia, nuclear reactor goes on truck
If you needed further evidence that the Soviets were more than a little barmy, then here it is. They built a nuclear reactor onto a truck. Thats it, up there. They were used in the more distant corners of the country, presumably because in the more distant corners, fewer people would be irradiated when they used the things.
After the Chernobyl accident, the use of these things was discontinued, but crikey. Imagine seeing one of those things rolling up the main road of your town, village or hamlet. I’d run for my sodding life, wouldn’t you?
DIY solar batteries *nearly* work
There’s something so wonderfully simple about this concept that I wish it would work better than it does. Ni-MH batteries that have a flexible photovoltaic cell wrapped around them, so that they recharge by just being left on a windowsill.
Unfortunately, the solar cells currently only charge the battery with a tiny, weak trickle, but if they were built into a proper unit, combined with capacitors and the electronics to up the efficiency of the energy conversion, then they could do considerably better.
On a related note, how many devices do you have that still use traditional batteries? Very few, I’d wager – perhaps just a TV remote and a set of portable speakers. Everything’s rechargable these days, and a jolly good thing too.
Panasonic rescuing the reputation of plasma TVs – thinner, more efficient models on the way
Poor old plasma TVs, which have long been tagged as the energy-sucking, gas-guzzlers of the lounge, might be about to have their reputations saved – thanks to Panasonic’s new range.
Panasonic reckons it’s managed to get the energy consumption of a standard plasma TV down by HALF – a move which it’s hoping will boost sales of its TVs by 50% over the coming year, as modern energy-aware shoppers start paying a bit more attention to the numbers on the back of boxes when they buy stuff…
