What Is Retina Display?

Retina Display is the name given by Apple to the high-resolution screen technology used on various models of the iPhone, iPod touch, and other Apple products. It was introduced with the iPhone 4 in June 2010.

What Is Retina Display?

Retina Display gets its name from Apple's claim that screens made with the technology are so sharp and high quality that it's impossible for the human eye to distinguish individual pixels.

Retina Display smoothes the jagged edges of the pixels that make up images on screens.

The benefits of the technology are visible in many uses, but especially for displaying text, where curved font edges are substantially smoother than on previous display technologies.

Retina Display's image quality derives from a number of factors:

l A high density of the pixels that make up the device's screen

l Higher contrast ratio than previous models to create brighter whites and deeper blacks

l In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology to improve the angles from which the screen can be viewed

l Chemically treated glass over the screen and LED backlighting to improve the quality of the image.

The Two Factors That Make a Screen Retina Display

Here's where things get a little tricky: There is no single screen resolution that makes something a Retina Display.

For instance, you can't say that every device with a resolution of 960 x 640 (like the iPhone 4) has a Retina Display.

Instead, there are two factors that create a Retina Display screen: pixel density and the distance from which the screen is normally viewed.

Pixel Density refers to how tightly packed the screen's pixels are. The greater the density, the smoother the images. Pixel density is measured in pixels per inch, or PPI, which indicates how many pixels are in one square inch of screen.

This is based on a combination of the device's resolution and its physical size.

The iPhone 4 had 326 PPI thanks to a 3.5-inch screen with a 960 x 640 resolution. This was the original PPI for Retina Display screens, though that changed as later models were released. For instance, the iPad Air 2 has a 2048 x 1536 pixel screen, resulting in 264 PPI. That, too, is a Retina Display screen. This is where the second factor comes in.

Viewing Distance refers to how far away users generally hold the device from their faces. For example, the iPhone is generally held fairly close to the user's face, while a Macbook Pro is generally held farther away. This matters because the defining characteristic of a Retina Display is that the pixels can't be seen by a human eye. Something that's seen from much closer up needs a greater pixel density for the eye not to see the pixels. Pixel density can be lower for things seen at a greater distance.

Other Retina Display Names

As Apple has introduced new devices, screen sizes, and pixel densities, it has begun to use other names for different Retina Displays. These include:

Retina Display—used on the iPhone 4, among others

Retina HD Display—used on the iPhone 6 Plus, and others

Retina 4K Display—used on the 21-inch iMac

Retina 5K Display—used on the 27-inch iMac

Super Retina HD Display—used on the iPhone X.

l  HP PCA222 Computer Power Supply

l  Blackberry TLP025A2 cellphone battery for Blackberry STJ100-1/Z3 

l  Sony LIS1594ERPC cellphone battery for Sony Z5 compact Z5C Z5 mini E5823

l  Clevo P157SMBAT-8 battery for Clevo 6-87-P157S-427

l  HP HS04 battery for HP 15 15q 15g Notebook

Google Phones: A Look At The Pixel Line

Pixel phones are the official flagship Android devices from Google. Unlike other Android phones, which are designed by a variety of phone manufacturers, Pixels are designed by Google to showcase the capabilities of Android. Verizon is the only carrier selling the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in the U.S., but you can buy it directly from Google. The phone is unlocked, so it will work with all major U.S. carriers and Project Fi, which is Google's own cellular phone service.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

l Manufacturer: HTC (Pixel 2) / LG (Pixel 2 XL)

l Display: 5 in AMOLED (Pixel 2) / 6 in pOLED (Pixel 2 XL)

l Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 441ppi (Pixel 2) / 2880 x 1440 @ 538ppi (Pixel 2 XL)

l Front camera: 8 MP

l Rear camera: 12.2 MP

l Initial Android version: 8.0 “Oreo”

Like the original Pixel, the Pixel 2 features metal unibody construction with a glass panel on the rear. Unlike the originals, the Pixel 2 boasts IP67 dust and water resistance, which means that they can survive being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes.

The Pixel 2 processor, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, is 27 percent faster and consumes 40 percent less energy than the processor in the original Pixel.

Unlike the original Pixel, Google went with two different manufacturers for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. That led to rumors that the Pixel 2 XL, manufactured by LG, may feature a bezel-less design.

That didn't happen. Despite being manufactured by different companies (HTC and LG), the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL look very similar, and they both continue to sport fairly chunky bezels.

Like the original phones in the line, the Pixel 2 XL differs from the Pixel 2 only in terms of screen size and battery capacity. The Pixel 2 has a 5 inch screen and a 2,700 mAH battery, while its larger sibling has a 6 inch screen and a 3,520 mAH battery.

The only real cosmetic difference between the two, other than size, is that the Pixel 2 comes in blue, white and black, while the Pixel 2 XL is available in black and a two-tone black and white scheme.

The Pixel 2 includes a USB-C port, but it doesn't have a headphone jack. The USB port supports compatible headphones, and there is also a USB-to-3.5mm adapter available.

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL New Features

1. Active Edge: Squeeze the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL to launch Google Assistant.

2. Google Lens: Point the camera at objects, like landmarks or the text on a movie poster, to pull up relevant information.

3. Now Playing: Listens for music and displays the song and artist without sending or receiving any data.

4. Always-On Display: An always-on features shows the time, notifications, and other information.

5. Highly rated camera: The rear camera received a rating of 98 from DxOMark, the highest yet for a smartphone.

6. Free Google Home Mini: Early adopters receive a free Google Home Mini smart speaker.

l  Dell HD438 battery for Dell Inspiron 1300 series

l  Clevo W540BAT-6 battery for Clevo W155U W540eu W54eu

l  Lenovo BL192 cellphone battery for Lenovo A529 A680 A590 A300 A750 A388T

l  Samsung EB-BN920ABE cellphone battery for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Internal

l  LENOVO PS-5281-01VF Computer Power Supply

Apple is ‘looking into’ why some iPhone 8 batteries are swelling

Apple seems to have an iPhone 8 battery problem on its hands, and it’s not clear yet whether it’s occurring in just a handful of edge cases or in a larger batch of phones.

Over the past week, reports have been coming out about iPhone 8s that have split apart either on arrival or after several days of use. What appears to be happening is that the battery inside the phone is swelling, bending the front of the phone and separating it from the body of the device. So far, there haven’t been any fires — just ruined phones.

Apple has a short statement on the matter: “We are aware and looking into it.”

The first report came out of Taiwan, where a woman is said to have found her iPhone swollen apart after plugging it in to charge. Someone in Japan then posted photos of a split-apart phone on Twitter. And in the days since, there’ve been cases in China, Canada, and Greece.

There appear to be only six or so reports so far — certainly less than a dozen that have been publicly identified — so the issue seems to be quite small in comparison to the millions of phones that Apple has likely already sold. In any manufacturing run that big, there are going to be occasional issues, so on some level seeing a few broken iPhones is expected.

But after Samsung’s Note 7 fiasco, there’s reason to be concerned about what’s happening here — especially since it’s a battery issue. Batteries shouldn’t be swelling in any number, and it’s not clear what the half-dozen iPhones that are having this problem have in common. While it seems to be rare, there’s obviously good reason to want to know what’s going on.

“[Swelling is] very unusual for a brand-new battery and leads toward the direction of there's something fundamentally wrong with this battery,” says Sam Jaffe, managing director of Cairn Energy Research Advisors, in a phone call with The Verge. Jaffe, a battery industry analyst, says manufacturers have reached a limit with lithium-ion battery capacity and could end up producing designs with a bigger risk of short circuiting in an attempt to store more power.

For now, he says, it’s too early to know what’s happening with Apple’s phones. “It could be just a random distribution,” he says. “Just a random event, and it's only a few.”

Jaffe suspects Apple’s executives are “in crisis mode” over the potential damage that battery issues could lead to. But while we’ve seen a few swollen batteries already, he says, it doesn’t mean the problem will necessarily elevate into a Note 7-style crisis with phones starting to produce smoke.

“Swelling is always a precursor when there is a battery fire, but the percentage of actual fires are pretty rare,” Jaffe says. “In the Galaxy Note case, there were probably a couple hundred battery failures of one sort or another, but there were only a handful of fires — so that gives you a sense of the proportion of actual fires.”

l  Dell HD438 battery for Dell Inspiron 1300 series

l  Clevo W540BAT-6 battery for Clevo W155U W540eu W54eu

l  Lenovo BL192 cellphone battery for Lenovo A529 A680 A590 A300 A750 A388T

l  Samsung EB-BN920ABE cellphone battery for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Internal

l  LENOVO PS-5281-01VF Computer Power Supply

Google Pixel 2 News: Release Date, UK Price, New Features & Specs

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have officially been outed as the new Google phones for 2017. Here's everything you need to know about the new features, specifications, UK price and launch date.

Google has unveiled its Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The new Google phones are available to pre-order immediately and will go onsale on 19 October and 15 November respectively.

Read our hands-on reviews of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL for our first impressions.

When is the Google Pixel 2 release date?

The Pixel 2 is available to pre-order now (via Google or EE) and goes on sale on 19 October.

The Pixel 2 XL is also available to pre-order now (via Google or EE) and goes on sale on 15 November.

EE is the exclusive network partner at launch. It is now accepting preorders on the Pixel 2 in Just Black, Clearly White and Kinda Blue, and the Pixel 2 XL in Just Black or Black & White. Both come with either 64- or 128GB of storage.

Those who pre-order from Google or EE before 2 November for the Pixel 2, or 14 November for the Pixel 2 XL, will get a free Google Home Mini.

How much does the Google Pixel 2 cost in the UK?

The Pixel 2 costs £629 with 64GB of storage, and £729 with 128GB. The Google Pixel 2 XL costs £799 with 64GB storage, and £899 for 128GB.

If you're buying it on an EE contract in the UK the Pixel 2 is £9.99 on a £47.99/month 4GEE Max plan, which offers unlimited minutes and texts, and 8GB data.

The same plan costs £57.99 per month for the Google Pixel 2 XL.

Google Pixel 2 features and specifications

Highlights in the gorgeous new Google phones are their vibrant OLED screens with always-on displays, with the larger Pixel 2 XL offering an 18:9 FullVision display. These screens are said to be twice the resolution and offer 10 times the contrast ratio of phones that use a standard LCD.

There's also a squeezable active edge - on both models - that instantly calls up the Google Assistant for quick access to all your phone's most commonly used features, and an improved camera that has the highest ever recorded score for a smartphone camera by DXOMark.

It can achieve the same things as a dual-camera but with a single lens, and the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the first phones to build in Google Lens.

Google made a point of the fact you'll get the same features in either phone, with nothing reserved for the larger, more expensive model. That means you'll get the same hardware too.

The key difference between the two is the 5in full-HD (1920x1080) 16:9 screen on the Pixel 2, and the 6in Quad-HD (538ppi) 18:9 display on the Pixel 2 XL. They offer a wide colour gamut, and have been optimised for VR - both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are Daydream-ready.

A new feature is the always-on display, seen previously in flagship phones from Google and LG. Google's version, like those, offers an at-a-glance readout of the time and date, reminders and whether you have any emails or notifications. But they also include a Shazam-style feature that can recognise any song you're listening to - without sending your data to Google's servers - and when you tap on this the Google Assistant will pop up and offer to find it on a music-streaming service or the web.

They share the same premium design - now waterproof, with an IP67 rating - with an all aluminium body that has a refined glass visor that transitions seamlessly into the metal body. The fingerprint scanner is said to be the fastest you'll find in any smartphone, and falls naturally under the finger on the back. Google has also added a splash of colour on the power button.

The new Google phones do away with the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack, but you do get a USB-C adaptor in the box. Or you can use a pair of wireless headphones (Google has also announced a version of its own that build in the Google Assistant) or use the stereo speakers.

The primary camera is a 12.2Mp f/1.8 model with 1.4um pixels and OIS. While the original Pixel scored 89 in DXOMark, this new camera acheives 98 - the highest ever recorded in a smartphone camera.

Although it's a single-lens camera, Google's Dual Pixel sensor is able to generate a true depth map that enables the phone to create bokeh-effect (blurred background) photos just as a dual-camera might. This portrait mode works on the 8Mp selfie camera too.

Other new features include AR stickers, with Star Wars versions reportedly coming soon, and Google Lens. We first heard about the latter back at Google I/O. It's a smart feature that works a bit like Bixby Vision, giving you more information on whatever you're looking at. It can read email addresses, phone numbers and more.

In video the Pixel 2 supports both OIS and EIS, thanks to new 'fuse video stabilisation', and Pixel 2 owners will be pleased to learn Google is extending its offer of free Google Photos storage of all their full-resolution photos and video.

In terms of core hardware you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and either 64- or 128GB of storage. There's also Bluetooth 5.0 and the latest wireless connectivity.

A fast-charging battery (2700mAh in the Pixel 2 and 3520mAh in the Pixel 2 XL) can last all day, but offers up to 7 hours of use from a 15-minute charge.

Despite the larger screen and bigger battery, Pixel 2 XL is only slightly wider and taller than the Pixel 2. It measures 3x6x0.3in, while the Pixel 2 is 2.7x5.7x0.3in.

The software is obviously Android 8.0 Oreo, and the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be the first to get any OS updates. Google has moved the Google bar to the bottom of the home screen where it finds it a better fit. You can also squeeze the edge of the handset to bring up the Google Assistant.

l  Replacement for Acer AC14B18 Laptop Battery 3220mah/6-Cell 11.4V

l  4850mAh/54WH 11.1V New Battery ACER AP12A3i For Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra U M3-581TG M5-481TG AP12A4i

l  Original AC Adapter LITEON PA-1800-01HK 24V 5A Charger Cord

l  Replacement Notebook Adapter for HP PPP012C-S 100-240V 50-60Hz 19.5V? 4.62A 90W Laptop Adapter

High Quality VGP-AC19V56 Adapter for Sony Vaio VPCL2 24inch PCG-21612T All In One PC Series 19.5V 9.2A 180W

WIRELESS CHARGING - HOW DOES IT WORK?

Certain smartphones these days offer the useful function of wireless charging. For some people, this feature is essential, others think it's pointless. One question remains unanswered though: how is it possible to transfer energy without a cable?

Fast charging and electromagnetic induction

To fully understand how wireless charging works, you need to understand the concept of an electromagnetic field and, more generally, electromagnetic induction, which you may already be familiar with if you have an induction cooker in your kitchen. What is the link between an induction cooker and a smartphone, you ask? Electromagnetic induction is an energy transfer system, meaning that it can be stored (as in the case of the smartphone) or used.

So how does this energy get transferred? Well it's a question of forces. Imagine two people holding opposite ends of a rope: if one person decides to make waves with the rope, the other person will receive the waves as they travel down the rope. This is a very generalized way of explaining electromagnetic induction: a force sends energy from one point to another. The base unit (powered by electricity) transmits energy to the smartphone via electromagnetic fields. The sensors on the smartphone recover the energy and channel it to the battery for storage.

How is the charging speed calculated?

Again, it's all about the forces. As the energy is transmitted through electromagnetic fields, the speed depends on these fields. The bigger they are, the faster it will be. The problem is the fields are pretty small because the smartphone (because of the material (metal etc.) it's made from) leads to limitations.

Your smartphone therefore has a limited transfer speed for which the manufacturer specifies the voltage. The charger also emits energy at a regulated speed, as shown below.

What's Qi?

Qi is the most popular wireless charging technology. It is not restricted to a particular manufacturer, in theory all manufacturers can use it on their devices. Samsung and Apple are probably the most well-known brands that use it. Qi seeks to standardize wireless charging technology, which involves several safety rules that must be respected. These rules include power of the devices, which obviously plays a role in the charging speed.

Thanks to Qi, wireless charging technology has made considerable progress. Charging speed has increased considerably, and electricity no longer causes the unit to heat up significantly. Qi does not only use electromagnetic induction charging technology but also magnetic resonance technology.

Is my device compatible with induction charging?

Perhaps you've given it some thought and you want to give up on cable charging and opt for wireless charging instead. A question arises: is your device compatible with this technology? If you have a high-end Samsung smartphones, from the Galaxy S or Note series, then your device is probably compatible and Samsung has its own charger. The new iPhone 8 is also compatible with wireless charging, though if you have a less recent iPhone you can also use wireless charging but you'll have to buy a receiver such as the QInside Qi2001 first. Some Lumia, Motorola, Xperia and HTC smartphones are also compatible with Qi technology, as well as several Nexus phones (Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus).

l  Replacement for Acer AC14B18 Laptop Battery 3220mah/6-Cell 11.4V

l  4850mAh/54WH 11.1V New Battery ACER AP12A3i For Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra U M3-581TG M5-481TG AP12A4i

l  Original AC Adapter LITEON PA-1800-01HK 24V 5A Charger Cord

l  Replacement Notebook Adapter for HP PPP012C-S 100-240V 50-60Hz 19.5V? 4.62A 90W Laptop Adapter

l  High Quality VGP-AC19V56 Adapter for Sony Vaio VPCL2 24inch PCG-21612T All In One PC Series 19.5V 9.2A 180W

Does the iPhone 8 have a battery problem?

It hasn’t even been two weeks after the release of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and new owners are reporting to be what looks like a serious battery malfunction.

Two reports claim that the iPhone 8 Plus, which was made available to the public on 22 September, began to split at the sides when charging.

According to Taiwanese media, a woman purchased a £799 64GB rose gold iPhone 8 Plus and had used it for five days before it had unexpectedly cracked open. Ms. Wu was charging her device with an Apple-issued charger; however, after approximately three minutes charging, the front panel swelled up and completely lifted from the device.

The phone was allegedly collected by the carrier and shipped to Apple, who according to the The Independent was investigating the two reports. Apple declined to comment further on the incident.

Another Japanese consumer reported having received his iPhone 8 Plus in a similar state, as it arrived in delivery with a partially detached screen.

If you’ve already purchased an iPhone 8 Plus or are interested in purchasing one, don’t feel the need to rethink your decision. The reports of faulty devices are mixed across Taiwanese and Chinese media. It’s likely that the two malfunctions are unique to their owners particular devices and not indicative of a trend for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus also had reports of exploding devices, yet millions of units were sold, functioning without issue - well, an exploding battery issue.

There are, however, ways to avoid and prevent failures, explosions or fires of any electronic device you may own, such as using the correct charger and avoiding direct sunlight, among others.

l  Replacement for Acer AC14B18 Laptop Battery 3220mah/6-Cell 11.4V

l  4850mAh/54WH 11.1V New Battery ACER AP12A3i For Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra U M3-581TG M5-481TG AP12A4i

l  Original AC Adapter LITEON PA-1800-01HK 24V 5A Charger Cord

l  Replacement Notebook Adapter for HP PPP012C-S 100-240V 50-60Hz 19.5V? 4.62A 90W Laptop Adapter

High Quality VGP-AC19V56 Adapter for Sony Vaio VPCL2 24inch PCG-21612T All In One PC Series 19.5V 9.2A 180W