STACK #198 Apr 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE TECH LIFE

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STACK ’ s Tech Tip How to preserve your smartphone battery

APRIL

COOLTECH for MUM

A re you looking for something a little different for Mum or the special person in your life this coming Mother’s Day? Well, as we always say here at STACK , you can’t beat a new bit of tech in your life. In so many ways, technology is making our extremely busy lives easier to manage – from keeping track of our fitness and health statistics through a smartwatch, to staying connected with friends and loved ones via a tablet or smartphone. This month, we’re taking a look at some of the cool tech available at JB that your mum will love. On top of that, hair care comes into focus for us for the first time in Life We look forward to our May issue like children on Christmas Eve. Why? Because it’s the first time we get to talk about all the new developments in TV technology across all the major brands. Although some new models are already beginning to trickle through to stores, May is when the deluge begins and there are some interesting new tech developments to talk about. So whether you’re looking for an extra TV for the theatre room or buying your first new TV in years, our 2021 ultimate guide to the latest and greatest in visual tech will be unmissable. On The Radar

Tech! Along with making some great gift idea suggestions, we recruited an experienced hair and make-up artist to put the Aussie-owned Silver Bullet range of hair tools to the test. In 2021, robot vacs are the ultimate home assistants that everyone needs around the house – and they’re no longer just at the pointy end of the price scale. Our guide this month will give you a good understanding of what’s out there and what you get for your money. And finally, we get the skinny on the brand new Oppo Find X3 smartphone series, and take the unusually designed yet extremely portable Himo H1 ebike/escooter hybrid for a spin!

W e rely on our smartphones more than ever and at the heart of it is a healthy battery. Age will inevitably decrease the battery's effectiveness over time, but you can take some steps to delay its decline. Some phones do offer an optimised battery-charging option, but should you choose not to use it or your model doesn’t have that feature, here are some tips to keep the battery in good shape. Lithium-ion batteries love short charges as opposed to a full 0 to 100 per cent once the battery has run flat. In fact, ideally you don’t want the battery to get lower than 20 per cent. Keeping it between 50 and 80 per cent periodically is the safest way to maintain good battery health. Your smartphone battery also dislikes extreme temperatures, so don’t take it out on the piste when you head to the snow this winter. And on hot days, avoid leaving your smartphone on the dash of your car. Over time, battery degradation is unpreventable but you can certainly extend its life by following the advice above. is optimum and pumping a five or ten per cent charge

What was the hottest tech in… 1986 Today, we take mobile communication for granted but back in 1986, the best- selling Bravo Flex pager was cutting edge

technology. Like a precursor to SMS, messages of up to 24 characters were sent to the Bravo Flex, although the user could not reply. Instead, they would head to the nearest phone and respond to the transmitted message. Pagers are still used in some hospitals to this day.

30 APRIL 2021

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