Tuesday, March 15, 2005
New HP Technology Helps Batteries Last Longer
Posted by Jon Westfall in "HARDWARE" @ 08:06 AM
"Hewlett-Packard researchers have come up with a new method for mobile devices that reduces power usage and at the same time, enhances usability as well. The display is the component that consumes the most battery -- HP developed an energy-aware solution that dims parts of the screen when not in use."
Apparently, by only lighting up the portions of the screen that the user is actually reading, HP has extended battery life between two and 12 times normal. While the gains may be big, it seems to me that this would require a bit of user adjustment that may scare some users away from this feature. After all, when have we ever seen a screen that is only lit where we are reading? But if its easy to adjust to, reasonably priced, and delivers what it purports to, this may help us alleviate some of the battery paranoia many of us seem to suffer from!
Apparently, by only lighting up the portions of the screen that the user is actually reading, HP has extended battery life between two and 12 times normal. While the gains may be big, it seems to me that this would require a bit of user adjustment that may scare some users away from this feature. After all, when have we ever seen a screen that is only lit where we are reading? But if its easy to adjust to, reasonably priced, and delivers what it purports to, this may help us alleviate some of the battery paranoia many of us seem to suffer from!
