Batteries


Occasionally, people don't empty their pockets fully and later find them in the washing machine after all the cycles are complete.

...Even more amazing is the fabled "battery gauge." How does it really calculate how long it will be until your device hasn't enough juice to work?

...For example, my digital camera takes rechargeable AAs. My camera was used to take about 356 pictures yesterday*, on 4 batteries. The first pair lasted for 238 of them, the last 199 of which were taken within the same 2-hour span. So, my camera was on almost continuously for that time, during which I took about 50% of them with flash. And throughout that whole while, it warned me of a low battery.

...On the other hand, my cell phone has a 3-bar gauge in a cute battery-shaped icon. 3 means something like 100% to 10% charge.... And 1 Red Bar means THIS PHONE WILL EXPLODE.

...So, how long does my phone actually last?... And like today, I occasionally run out of juice.

Batteries are interesting things. They hold charges. Occasionally, people don't empty their pockets fully and later find them in the washing machine after all the cycles are complete. Er...I may have drifted off-track there.

Even more amazing is the fabled "battery gauge." How does it really calculate how long it will be until your device hasn't enough juice to work? I think it's by magic.

For example, my digital camera takes rechargeable AAs. My camera was used to take about 356 pictures yesterday*, on 4 batteries. The first pair lasted for 238 of them, the last 199 of which were taken within the same 2-hour span. So, my camera was on almost continuously for that time, during which I took about 50% of them with flash. And throughout that whole while, it warned me of a low battery. For 2 hours? Oh, no. Panic.

On the other hand, my cell phone has a 3-bar gauge in a cute battery-shaped icon. 3 means something like 100% to 10% charge. 2 bars means 20-30 minutes left. And 1 Red Bar means THIS PHONE WILL EXPLODE. (Well, eventually.) No, no. It means like...6 minutes.

So, how long does my phone actually last? I don't know, because I don't quite charge it every day. And like today, I occasionally run out of juice. Oops.

*Actually, 367, but I threw 11 away.

Posted: 木 - 9月 28, 2006 at 08:42 午後          


©