Why You Should Never Charge Your Phone Overnight

It is a widespread opinion that phones should not be left connected to a power supply for long hours, especially during the night. But why is that? What's the logic behind it? Is it even a fact, or is it just a myth made up by our parents? To many people's surprise, forgetting to turn the charging switch on or accidentally leaving your mobile data working is not the worst that could happen. In fact, I usually am a bit careless when it comes to taking care of my Spectrum mobile data and leaving it on most of the time. But I avoid charging my phone overnight. And you know what, phone companies like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei also recommend you that. So, do you want to know why? Here are three of the most significant reasons why it is a bad idea to leave your phone charging overnight: 

1. 100% Battery Is Not Your Goal

According to the most popular smartphone companies, the goal should be to keep your phone adequately charged, not fully charged up to 100%. According to Apple, the battery health of an iPhone can be affected if it remains fully charged for extended lengths of time. Similarly, Samsung and other Android phone companies state that leaving your phone connected to a charger overnight or for long hours is a bad idea. Huawei suggests that you keep your phone's battery level near 30% to 70%. So, generally, all smartphone manufacturing companies suggest that you keep the phone's battery around the middle. Both high and low extremes should be avoided.  

2. Your Battery Life Will Be Affected 

Smartphones have a lithium-ion battery, and these batteries charge themselves faster than conventional ones. When we plug our Android or iPhone smartphones into their charges, it only takes them about 2 hours to charge fully. When we leave these phones charging overnight, we are increasing their exposure time with the charger and electricity. This way, we degrade the battery's capacity in a much faster way. When one buys a new phone, the battery will start to decay the minute they start using it. It means that over time and with increased usage, these batteries will eventually lose their capability to hold a charge. And when you let our smartphones charge overnight, you will quicken the battery's aging process. 

3. The Phone Might Blow Up

You see, when lithium is fully charged, the charging stops. This means that when your phone will reach 100%, the charging will stop, and it will fall to 99% in a few minutes. Once the battery level falls, it will continue to charge again and go back to 100% since it is connected to the charger. This cycle will continue for quite a while, and it is called trickle charging. 

Trickle charging can significantly damage your battery, but they also generate quite a lot of heat. This heat can be dangerous and can lead to your phone overheating. When the smartphone reaches excessive heights of temperatures, that's when a smartphone can potentially blow up, damaging items and people around it. Apart from that, if your phone is under your pillow, high temperatures can make you very uncomfortable while you sleep. And lastly, an overheated phone can even damage low-quality cables and wires attached to the charger. 

What Should You Do?

So, if you are not to leave your phone to charge overnight, what is it that experts suggest? Here are some things that you can do to make sure that your phone's battery lasts longer. 

● Instead of waiting for your phone's battery to hit 0%, plug it into the charger when it's around 35 or 45%. Doing this preserves your phone's battery life and slows down its aging process.

● Keep your phones in cool temperatures. Avoid placing your charging smartphones in a room that is already hot. Ensure a sound ventilation system and air conditioning if necessary. 

● Remove the case from your smartphone when you plug it into the charger. It is also recommended that you leave the phone charging on a coaster or a saucer while you are away. You can use any other metal as well to make sure that all the heat is dissipated. 

Conclusion

We have all been scolded for leaving our phones charging overnight at some point in our lives. However, as it turns out, it wasn't just a myth, and charging your phone overnight can be a horrible idea. Now that you know what you should and should not do, make sure you take more care in the future. It is recommended to charge your phone during the day while you're awake.

Top 5 Laptops in 2021 You Should Buy if You’re Looking for a Long Battery Life

If you’re on the lookout for a quality laptop, finding one with a good battery life must be one of your key concerns. Along with other good features, a laptop that can last for days without a recharge is a blessing. Thankfully, there are many laptops out there that come with well-performing batteries. With a battery that lasts long and a good internet connection from reliable ISPs like Charter Spectrum, you can work from home without breaking a sweat.

All the top companies that manufacture laptops are releasing them with better battery timings. Google, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, and Dell have some great products for your consideration. Read on below to find out more!

 

Google Pixelbook Go

The Google Pixelbook Go is one of the best Chromebooks at the moment. This device is power-packed and just as stylish as any other laptop. Furthermore, the premium features of the device with its economic price offering make it a very strong contender in the market. This laptop has one of the best battery timings. You can use it for days before you need to recharge it. This means that you can carry it anywhere with yourself after a full charge without a worry in the world.

 

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 misses out on a few important things yet it is a powerful laptop. The laptop would have been amazing with a webcam and a Thunderbolt 3 port. Regardless, this gaming laptop delivers quite the performance with its AMD Ryzen 4000 processors. The Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card takes things to the very level. Therefore, you can play games that come with high-definition graphics! When it comes to gaming laptops, one does not want to plug in the charging cable every now and then. Rest assured that you can play your favorite game without worrying about the charging issues. With a 120Hz refresh rate, this long-lasting battery device is your best bet for a gaming laptop!

 

Acer Chromebook 314

Acer is one of the best companies manufacturing laptops in the market. If you’re looking for a laptop that has a long-lasting battery and comes with crisp display capabilities, then Acer Chromebook 314 may find a place among your current considerations. The laptop has a sufficient 14-inch screen and the touchpad on this device comes with several multi-touch capabilities. The company markets a battery time of up to 10 hours after a single charge. This is a pretty long duration and you can use the device to do your complete day’s work if you’re working from home! Furthermore, the device performs other functions quite well too!

 

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

Lenovo is one of the best companies in the computing world and its Chromebooks are well-performing devices. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook comes with the Chrome OS and takes usability to the very next level. Because the laptop is not too heavily priced; this is a plus point for those who strictly want to get their work done. Others may not like the small keyboard or the fact that the headphones and charger have only one mutual port. For some, this may be a big concern.

However, if you’re looking for some long-lasting battery timing then worry not. This device will give you an impressive battery time of up to 22 hours. You can easily complete all your daily tasks with a single charge.

 

Dell XPS 13 (2020)

Dell is known for its exceptionally well-performing devices. The Dell XPS 13 (2020 version) is a flagship device that comes with a screen size of 13 inches. The sleek laptop comes with the 10th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. It also supports an extremely beautiful bezel-less frame! If you’re looking for a device that is both beautiful and comes with good battery timing, then go for the Dell XPS 13. The laptop’s battery can easily last for up to 18 hours. You don’t have to carry a charger wherever you go. One charge will definitely get you through three to four days if your usage is normal!

 

The above laptops are quite famous in the tech world for their battery life right now. They will serve you well if you’re looking for good battery life as well as other great features.

5 Things to Know About Quantum Computers' Error Correction : A New Dream

Most people assume that getting Cox customer service and installing remarkable home security devices is the extent of technology. However, they couldn't be more wrong! Even after the internet, artificial intelligence, and all this fantastic revolutionary technology, there's more: Quantum Computers!

Luckily, scientists were able to figure out how to make quantum computers. However, despite solving remarkably complex problems, it had a big problem. Quantum computers made errors, and these errors could potentially be devastating. Only recently, Quantum experts have figured out a solution to this problem. And it's called Quantum Computers' error correction! 

5 Things to Know About Quantum Computers' Error Correction

In the simplest form possible, here are the most important updates on Quantum Computers and their self-error correction: 

#1. Quantum Computers Can Make Errors

Despite the hype around quantum computers, these technological machines are still machines. And like any other computer, they also make mistakes and errors in calculations. In fact, the chances of an error are specifically higher in quantum computers. Why? Because They perform more complex calculations. The more complicated this problem, the higher the chances of mistakes in the results. Hence, despite what many people believe, quantum computers are powerful, but they are not error-free. 

#2. The Obstacle of Building a Large-scale Quantum Computer

The potential solution to this problem (high number of errors in Quantum calculations) is by combining multiple qubits and merging their power into one. According to scientists and experts, doing so can potentially reduce the error problem and make calculations more accurate.

Typically, scientists utilized nine individual qubits and made a single one. This resultant qubit is supposedly an improved version: the logical qubit. The difference between a logical qubit and the parent qubits is that one can probe the former and check it for mistakes. This demonstration is a critical development in creating a large-scale Quantum computer.

#3. Self-Error Correction

Self-error correction refers to the phenomenon of computers fixing their own mistakes without making any new ones. Since researchers have developed this solution to their problem, there are no fundamental obstacles between them and building a practical, usable Quantum computer.

But despite figuring out this solution, the path to implementing it is still a very long and complicated one. Scientists have to increase the number of qubits in quantum machines by a dramatic scale. And even though it sounds relatively simple, it can actually take a really long time for them to accomplish. Hence, self-error correction for Quantum machines has been figured out, but will it become a reality soon enough? 

#4. Bacon-Shor Code

To make logical qubits a reality, researchers are now using the Bacon-Shor code technique. They applied this technique to individual qubits made from ytterbium. These ions hover over ion-trapping chips placed inside vacuums. Scientists can then manipulate this setup using lasers.

Researchers have also recently designed the individual operation sequences to help them minimize the chances of uncontrollable multiplication of errors. Such a phenomenon is called "Fault Tolerance'' which can potentially be avoided. As a result, the resultant logical qubit will potentially have a reduced error rate than the flawed parent components. But how far are scientists on this path, and how long will it take to solve this problem altogether? 

#5. The Quantum Dream Is Close to Being A Reality 

Every day, quantum computers are becoming more and more practical. They are becoming more usable, accessible, and applicable in everyday lives. Companies have started investing in these quantum devices, including Intel, Google, IBM, and other renowned names in the market.

Experts claim that complete error correction in quantum computers is almost achieved. Tiny steps are slowly completing the ladder towards this dream becoming a reality. The only things standing in the way of ultimately hitting this target are financial limitations, time restrictions, and the availability of funds. However, slowly but eventually, experts will be able to overcome these obstacles and turn the impossible into possible! 

Conclusion

If quantum computers successfully achieve error correction, their usability and functionality will increase by several folds. Finally, this powerful technology will become usable by companies, industries, and the regular public. The goal of making quantum computers a mainstream technology, like smartphones, seems more and more achievable every day! 

Can I Build a Desktop Computer Without a Graphics Card?

 

Gaming PCs are specialized computers for playing games. Companies like Alienware, AMD, and Corsair are developing some heavy-duty gaming PC equipment. But most people build their own. Professional gaming is more than just a way to a pastime as gamers take it very seriously. You would need a TV and internet deal, a gaming console, or a custom PC to become a gamer. Even then, there is so much competition that only the fittest survive most tournaments.   

Most gamers build their PCs with customized hardware settings. They know which graphics card to get and how much RAM they would need. Moreover, they might also need custom processors and CPUs with liquid cooling. So, it can be expensive for beginners to build a custom PC. Some newer processors allow you to build a PC without a standalone graphics card. So, you can use an integrated card within your CPU, and it will do just fine.  

Dedicated vs. Integrated Graphics Card  

Many gamers use a dedicated graphics card that fits in the PCIe slots on the motherboard. These cards are standalone pieces of equipment and can be expensive. Serious gamers could opt for a dedicated GPU because they are more powerful. So, you can potentially add a lot more intensity and stable frame units to game graphics.   

On the other hand, an integrated graphics card can do the same primary job. They are not standalone units and can be a part of your CPU already. You might need supporting processors and RAM but won’t have to buy a separate GPU. These can be great for people who are on a limited budget. iGPUs can also add similar video and audio ability to your PC.  

Building a PC Without a Dedicated GPU  

So, now that we know we don’t necessarily need a dedicated GPU, let’s dig deeper. There are some nitty-gritty details that you should know about iGPUs.  

#1: CPU   

The most important part of a computer built like this could be the CPU. If you were going to get a dedicated GPU, you would only look at CPU performance. So, mainly the single-core and multi-core performances would be important.  

But now, you also need to look at the integrated graphics card performance of the CPU. Since you are not investing in a standalone card, your CPU should perform well with an iGPU. Otherwise, you might end up having to buy a graphics card anyway.   

Major PC building companies have a wide range of CPUs that perform well with integrated cards. Almost all Intel desktop versions come with an integrated GPU. Only the ones with an F suffix don’t have one. Unlike Intel, only some AMD computers support iGPUs. The ones that do are called APUs and have a Vega graphics card built into the system.   

#2: Motherboard  

After you have decided on a CPU, the next concern should be a motherboard. For a build like this, any newer motherboard with the latest chipset should work fine. A common rule of thumb is that the motherboard should cost half the price of your CPU.  

You can get one from Intel or AMD and make sure to follow these pointers:  

• Check for all the required video output ports to connect to the display.  
• Choose the right chipset.  
• Keep in mind the number of expansion slots, USB ports, and PCIe lanes.  
• Look out for budget-friendly brand names like ASRock or Biostar.  
• Choose a suitable form factor such as the Micro-ATX or Mini-ATX.  

#3: RAM  

One of the most important things to consider is how much RAM you want. The more RAM you choose, the more you could exceed your budget. So, if you are building a PC for gaming only, an 8 GB DDR RAM should be fine. Moreover, you should not worry about single or dual stick RAM as they don’t make much difference.  

However, with 8 GB RAM, you might not be able to play AAA titles at high texture settings. You might need a bigger RAM or a dedicated graphics card for higher quality. So, if you find some flexibility in the budget, you could get 16 GB DDR RAM.   

#4: Hard Drive  

For much faster performance, you should get an NVMe SSD hard drive. Before, they were expensive and only suitable for high-performance gaming computers. But they have come a long way now and could be your best option considering costs per GB. The costs are still at least three times more than a regular HDD, but it is worth it. You can enjoy the best performance of your gaming PC with an SSD as it is faster and much more efficient. 

That's it see you in the next post.