New Product Reviews | Electronics Warehouse

Archive for the 'New Product Reviews' Category

Nov

Does NiZn Really Outperform NiMH Rechargeable Batteries?

Categories: New Product Reviews and Rechargeable Batteries

PowerGenix NiZn Rechargeable Batteries

NiZn rechargeable batteries claim to have higher capacity and longer life than NiMH rechargeable batteries. But for the extra cost, are they really worth it?

If you’re a digital camera, gadget, or electronics enthusiast, then you know that the rechargeable battery market never stands still — there is always a new kind of battery technology seeking to replace the status quo. For years, NiCd dominated the rechargeable battery landscape, until NiMH offered a higher quality, more eco-friendly replacement. And for quite a long time, NiMH has remained the standard for most consumer-based rechargeable batteries. Even many hybrid automobiles use NiMH rechargeable batteries.

In recent years, however, LiON batteries have come into vogue, particularly for high-profile gadgets like SLR digital cameras, some of which take AA batteries instead of digital camera battery packs. AA LiON batteries, however, are often not offered as rechargeable, meaning that camera hobbyistys and professionals alike run into the age-old problem of constantly having to invest in disposable batteries again, or otherwise using NiMH rechargeable batters for cameras that call for LiON.

A new kind of rechargeable battery technology, however — NiZn — has sought to replace NiMH rechargeable batteries as the next step toward the output of LiON. PowerGenix has come out with the first mainstream NiZn rechargeable batteries and battery charger, claiming big claims against standard NiMH rechargeable batteries. According to Steve’s Digicams, a reliable website on battery technology, “Their unique NiZn (Nickel-Zinc) batteries offer better voltage output when compared to NiMH rechargeable cells at about 1.6 volts (NiMH average around 1.2V). This means NiZn cells can deliver more than 0.4V of additional voltage (about 30% more than NiMH), whether at open circuit or under load.” As a result, PowerGenix says that you get higher power density in a smaller, lower-cost package, and in the end, they outperform NiMH rechargeable batteries.

But is this really the case?

Continue reading ‘Does NiZn Really Outperform NiMH Rechargeable Batteries?’

Oct

Did Apple Improve the Rechargeable Battery on the iPhone 4S?

By electronicswarehouse 0 Comments

Categories: Mobile Gadgets Living, New Product Reviews and Rechargeable Batteries

Apple’s new iPhone 4S uses the same form factor as the old iPhone 4, while boasting some powerful, new components. But did they increase the power of the battery to handle the new performance levels?

This week has been a disappointment for Apple fans worldwide. The announcement of a refreshed iPhone 4S instead of an iPhone 5, together with the death of Steve Jobs, has cast an unusual pall over the usually optimistic glow of Apple. For iPhone users, the death of Steve Jobs perhaps helps to put Cupertino’s decision to merely refresh the iPhone into better context, assuming that his passing will undoubtedly have some short term negative consequences on the image of the company he helped to make so successful.

In spite of the disappointment, the iPhone 4S is an impressive new iPhone, to be sure, much in the same way that the 3GS improved on the 3G’s design performance-wise. The inclusion of iOS 5 and iCloud, as well as Siri and the A5 processor, all make the iPhone 4S the most powerful, versatile iPhone ever.

Granted, iPhone users really wanted a larger screen more than anything: most of the iPhone’s natural competitors all boast 4″+ screens, and many expected the next iPhone to be an “iPhone 5″ with a larger screen and new form factor. But that’s not what we got. Perhaps one of the reason — from a technical perspective — why Apple was reluctant to increase the iPhone’s screen size this time around was their unwillingness to overhaul the rechargeable better on the iPhone?

From our observations, the iPhone 4S not only borrows the form factor of the iPhone 4 — it also uses essentially the same LiON rechargeable battery pack. Comparing the battery specs for the iPhone and iPhone 4S side by side, they read almost the same: talk time on the 4S up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM), which is a one-hour increase from the iPhone 4 for 3G; video playback up to 10 hours; and audio playback up to 40 hours.

There are, however, some areas where the iPhone 4S has seen a reduction in its battery performance as well. Whereas the iPhone 4′s specs for internet use boasts up to 6 hours on 3G and up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, the 4S is rated at up to 6 hours on 3G, and up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi. And while the iPhone 4 offers 300 hours of standby time, the iPhone 4S only features “up to 200 hours.”

Why has Apple gone backwards with battery technology on the iPhone 4S?

The answer is simple: they have sacrificed battery power for performance. The A5 chip, iOS 5, and the new Siri Voice Assistant technology all sap the iPhone 4S of its battery juice, in spite of Apple’s impression LiON technology. In particular, the A5 chip really puts a lot of pressure on the battery while the iPhone 4S is on, which is why there is such a dramatic difference in standby times.

It remains to be seen what the unintended consequences will be for the iPhone 4S with less rechargeable battery power. It very well may be that the 4S will have significant rechargeable battery issues, in spite of the fact that Apple is boasting of the A5 chip’s ability to run on a moderate amount of power. And because the iPhone still does not allow users to easily replace the battery, having spare rechargeable batteries for the iPhone 4S is still not an option.

Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading our article! If you’re looking for great deals on rechargeable batteries, be sure to check out Electronics Warehouse! As an added bonus, use promo code EWBLOW at checkout for an additional 10% off your purchase, plus fast, FREE shipping Australia-wide, just for reading this article!

Feb

Are Hybrid Rayovac Rechargeable Batteries Really “Hybrid?”

By electronicswarehouse 0 Comments

Categories: New Product Reviews and Rechargeable Batteries

Rayovac is making a pitch for the rechargeable batteries market with their Hybrid Rechargeable Batteries in Canada. Find out what makes these rechargeable batteries “hybrids,” and when they might reach Australia.

The term “hybrid” has become a buzz word in the world today — especially when it comes to energy. Nearly every top automobile manufacturer now features at least one hybrid car model, which utilises a combination petrol and rechargeable battery power plant to getting you to where you want to go. These engines are of course referred to as “hybrids,” since they are somewhere between a traditional combustible engine and a next-generation electric motor.

And to be perfectly honest, auto manufacturers’ main reason for employing hybrid technology is monetary. People around the world are looking for new, renewable means of energy and transportation that is both cost-effective and good for the environment — and they’re willing to pay a premium for this type of technology. In this way, anything that has the “hybrid” tag can rake it the profits. (No wonder eco-friendly technology is called “green” technology.)

Now, Rayovac is looking to cash in on the hybrid buzz word with their Hybrid Rechargeable Batteries. But the question is, what makes these batteries “hybrid?”

Continue reading ‘Are Hybrid Rayovac Rechargeable Batteries Really “Hybrid?”’

Feb

What HDMI Do You Need? Get The Facts Here!

By electronicswarehouse 0 Comments

Categories: New Product Reviews

There is a common misconception that all HDMI cables are created equal. This is not true. As digital media players, such as DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital Cable improve, as well as the display features of television, the cables that connect them together have had to improve as well. While every iteration of the HDMI plugs may look the same and fit into the same outlet, they are vastly different depending on the media they are plugged into.

To avoid paying for a cable you do not need, or buying something inferior, here are some helpful guidelines to choosing the perfect HDMI for your home theatre system.

Continue reading ‘What HDMI Do You Need? Get The Facts Here!’

Jan

Use an iPhone FM Transmitter to Make Your Car’s Stereo Into a Music Hub

By electronicswarehouse 0 Comments

Categories: Mobile Gadgets Living and New Product Reviews

Love your collection of Apple mobile gadgets? Now you can use an inexpensive iPhone FM transmitter to get the music from your iPad, iPhone, iPod or any gizmo with a headphone jack into your car’s stereo!

For the millions of people in the world today who love and buy Apple electronics, one of them is not enough. In addition to sporting an iMac or MacBook at home, they are also quite likely to use an iPad, iPod, and/or iPhone when they’re on the go.

Perhaps you’re one of them?

If so, then you know that virtually all of Apple’s electronics make for great digital jukeboxes. Loaded with their groundbreaking iTunes platform, everything from a MacBook Pro to iPod Touch allows you to buy, store, and listen to music virtually anywhere. The problem, however, has always been that Apple’s mobile devices are largely designed to play music through earbuds or earphones. While that is an important option for many iPhone, iPod, and iPad users, many others wish they could simply plug in to their car stereo and listen to music through their booming speakers and subwoofers.

Enter the trusty iPhone FM transmitter!

Digital On Digital: iPhone FM Transmitters Broadcast Directly Into Your Car Stereo

Now, for a modest investment of around AUD$20, every mobile gadget in your Apple arsenal can be easily driven through your car stereo, thanks to advancements in digital technology. Early designs for plugging personal music devices into your car stereo involved cumbersome cassette tape inserts that never sounded any good and often managed to break the cassette player function in car stereos. This downside, combined with the fact that few if any car stereos come equipped with cassette players anymore make an iPhone FM transmitter the obvious next-generation choice for converting iTunes-powered music collections into something that can be listened to safely while driving.

The new technology in iPhone FM transmitters is purely digital: just as your car’s FM receiver can digitally tune in radio stations, so too does an iPhone FM transmitter tune in frequencies to broadcast the audio signal from your iPhone, iPod, or iPad. The precision of your car’s stereo and the iPhone FM transmitter both locking in to the same frequency digitally, together with Digital Phase Lock Loop (PLL) transmission technology that helps reduce interference, assures digital-quality transmission of the signal; the broadcast signal itself is not digital, but the tuning is.

Universal Usability

There are a wide range of different iPhone FM transmitters on the market today, many of which are proprietary and need to be interfaced with the iPhone’s dock. But if you have a ton of different mobile gadgets, look for an iPhone FM transmitter that interfaces with devices using a 1/8″ (3.5mm) connection. While docks, plugs, and connectors can vary from device to device, the 1/8″ (3.5mm) jack continues to be universal for listening to music, from your iPhone 4 to your old Sony Walkman.

The only downside to an iPhone FM transmitter that uses a 1/8″ (3.5mm) connector is that it will most likely need to be powered either through your car’s cigarette lighter jack or a set of batteries — it will not be able to run on USB or any other kind of phantom power. This also means that a universal-fit iPhone FM transmitter might have a few extra cables — one that attaches the transmitter to your device, and one that attaches the transmitter to the car’s cigarette lighter.

But this is a minimal downside considering that an inexpensive iPhone FM transmitter can work with all of your favourite devices!

Thanks for reading our article? Did you know that EW carries some of the best-quality iPhone FM transmitters at great prices? Take a look at all of our iPhone FM transmitters. As an added bonus, use EWBLOG at checkout for 10% off your purchase, plus fast FREE shipping Australia-wide!

Jan

What You Need To Know About HDMI Component Cables

By electronicswarehouse 0 Comments

Categories: New Product Reviews

One of the most frustrating aspects of modern technology is knowing how to get the most out of your devices. Even if you are an expert in 1080p, LED, pixel density, and all the other forms of hardware, it can still be easy to get confused as to what cable connection to use for your devices. Whether an HDMI cable is best, or if all you need is a component set. If you don’t know what you are doing, after a few hours of trying to decide which cable connection is best, the only thing you may want to use the cable for is hanging yourself in frustration.

But don’t despair! While figuring out these things isn’t always easy, it need not drive you to extreme measures. Check out our guide on understanding the differences between DVI and HDMI:

Continue reading ‘What You Need To Know About HDMI Component Cables’

Jan

New iPhone FM Transmitter Offers Same Quality & Features as Griffin’s iTrip at Half the Price!

By electronicswarehouse 0 Comments

Categories: Mobile Gadgets Living and New Product Reviews

iPhone FM transmitters allow you to get your tunes out of your earbuds and into your car’s speakers. But why spend the money on name-brand iPhone FM transmitters like Griffin’s iTrip when there are lower-priced alternatives?

There’s no doubt that the iPod and iPhone completely revolutionised the way that we buy and listen to music. With a few finger strokes and a set of earbuds, your entire music collection is available at a moment’s notice in a compact, sophisticated mobile device.

But what about those of us who want to quickly and easily play our iPhone music collection on our car stereo? After all, there’s a big difference between listening to music on earbuds and having it thunder through speakers. If you want to get the music on your iPhone into your car, you’re going to need an iPhone FM transmitter.

Continue reading ‘New iPhone FM Transmitter Offers Same Quality & Features as Griffin’s iTrip at Half the Price!’

Nov

Sanyo Eneloop Product Line, Prices Continue to Increase

By electronicswarehouse 1 Comment

Categories: Battery charger, Mobile Gadgets Living, New Product Reviews and Rechargeable Batteries

Photo from CNET.com

More and more Sanyo Eneloop gadgets are hitting the market, giving consumers new and innovative ways to use rechargeable battery technology. But are the prices of these newfangled Sanyo Eneloop gadgets eliminating the savings of using rechargeable batteries altogether?

Up until recently, when you saw the name “Sanyo Eneloop,” you typically thought of their industry-leading rechargeable batteries or one of their AA battery chargers. However, the past year or so has revealed a new research and design effort on the part of the Sanyo Eneloop brand to expand the use of its rechargeable batter technology and brach out into new and sometimes unusual new gadgets that go beyond a simple rechargeable battery or AA battery charger.

For example, we reported a while back about the Sanyo Eneloop Stick Booster, which allows mobile gadget users to recharge their devices using nothing more than simple AA Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries. The more recent and exotic Sanyo Eneloop invention is its slight odd battery-powered bicycle, which uses rechargeable battery power to assist the rider on slopes and hills. Continuing on this trend, Sanyo Eneloop has now released yet another rechargeable battery-inspired gadget for guitarists: Pedal Juice.

For those of you who may not know, guitarists often use a series of effects pedals that plug in between the electric guitar and amplifier, which alter and enhance the tone of the guitar signal. The vast majority of these effects pedals use 9 volt batteries, and so many guitarists spend time and money before each gig changing out batteries in their pedals, which proves to be cumbersome. However, most effects pedals feature an AC adaptor jack, and many guitarists opt to “plug in ” their pedals instead of using batteries.

Continue reading ‘Sanyo Eneloop Product Line, Prices Continue to Increase’

Sep

Sanyo Eneloop Stick Booster Brings AA Rechargeable Battery Power To Mobile Gadgets

By electronicswarehouse 2 Comments

Categories: Battery charger, Mobile Gadgets Living, New Product Reviews and Rechargeable Batteries

Sanyo Eneloop’s new stick booster is a new take on the standard ideas of what a battery charger is, letting the lowly AA rechargeable battery boost any mobile device with a dying battery.

In the world of batteries, there is nothing more ubiquitous than the AA battery. Although I have no quantitative data to back it up, the vast majority of battery powered devices in the world today take AA batteries. Even many C and D batteries are nothing more than AA batteries that have been “repackaged” into one larger cell. While Lithium Ion battery packs are certainly more sophisticated and offer a longer lasting charge, there is nothing more straightforward than AA rechargeable batteries.

Sanyo Eneloop knows this well, since they are the clear product leaders in the rechargeable batteries market.

Their newest offering, the Stick Booster, allows gadget users to wield the power of the AA rechargeable battery in order to give a quick, albeit temporary boost to the gadget of their choice.

Continue reading ‘Sanyo Eneloop Stick Booster Brings AA Rechargeable Battery Power To Mobile Gadgets’

Aug

5 iPad Accessories That Aren’t a Waste of Money

By electronicswarehouse 2 Comments

Categories: Mobile Gadgets Living and New Product Reviews

Most of the iPad accessories out there are pointless at best, and border on being absurd. While apps are probably the best “ipad accessories” you can invest in, there are some physical, tangible accessories that you just shouldn’t go without.

Over the past decade, there has been a growing trend in the computer accessories market, where apps and software are being seen more as “accessories” and the physical, tangible additions to your gadgets are more and more like “novelties.” This is especially true with the iPad. We’ve explored some of the absurd iPad accessories on the market today in an earlier article, acknowledging that the most innovative and useful additions to your iPad will most likely be app-based.

However, we were able to find a few key iPad accessories that do not occupy cyberspace and are actually worth investing in. Here is our quick rundown of 5 iPad accessories that aren’t a complete waste of money:

Continue reading ’5 iPad Accessories That Aren’t a Waste of Money’