Only a single day after Apple released the iOS 10.1 Beta for developers, the iOS 10.1 Beta is now available for the general public, without the need for a developer account.
The most notable feature of the 10.1 Beta is the addition of “Portrait” mode in the camera interface which is exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus, since it makes use of the second camera. This mode allows users to make really cool bokeh effects which put focus on the subject, while subtly blurring the background.
9to5Mac has listed a few things about things you should know about Portrait Mode: It doesn’t work well in low light, so the best photos will come from scenes with lots of light and room to play around with. For the best results, you’ll also need to be at least eight feet away from your subject (about 2.4 meters).
Note that this is still in “Beta” mode, which means there could be bugs and inconsistencies, or limited features (such as inability to record video in this mode) when using the iSight Duo camera in Portrait Mode. Although the feature was not ready at launch, Apple is taking its time with the feature instead of rushing it, which is also why it is only available in Beta now.
To sign up for the iOS 10.1 Beta program, you’ll need to go to beta.apple.com on your Apple device, Tap “Sign up”, then log into your Apple ID associated with the iOS device. Next, you’ll be prompted to install a profile that will allow you to download the OTA update. Make sure you fully back up your device before installing the Beta as there is always even a tiny risk of your device becoming a paperweight.
Dell joined the Intel Kaby Lake party and announced that the latest update to its XPS 13 notebook PC will feature the new 7th generation (Kaby Lake) processors. The company will also offer a developer version of the lightweight laptop that comes loaded with Ubuntu, and the XPS 13 received a new color option in the form of Rose Gold.
The Dell XPS 13 is the company’s thinnest and lightest laptop offering, weighing in starting at 2.7 lbs. and coming as thin as 9mm. The machined-aluminum and carbon fiber chassis, along with the display’s Corning Gorilla Glass, gives the device a durable, yet sleek construction.
Intel’s Kaby Lake processors have been making their way to a variety of vendors and devices, and Dell is following suit by offering the Intel Core i3-7100U, Core i5-7200U and Core i7-7500U as options in the new XPS 13. The laptop can be configured with 4, 8 or 16GB of LPDDR3-1866, and storage options include a 128GB SATA-based SSD or 256GB, 512GB and 1TB PCIe SSDs.
The 13.3-inch display comes in two different flavors: an FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge anti-glare screen or a QHD (3200 x 1800) InfinityEdge touchscreen. Dell also upgraded the battery to a larger, 60 Watt-Hour version that offers increased longevity away from the wall. The battery provides up to 22 hours runtime on an FHD display or up to 13 hours on a QHD version.
The XPS 13 sports a new Rose Gold finish option. Although this color variant has been a favorite of many manufacturers recently, it’s the first time Dell is offering the luxurious tone in the XPS 13. However, the Rose Gold finish will only come in two variations, with either a 7th generation (Kaby Lake) Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, both with 8 GB of memory and a 256 GB PCIe SSD. The i5 version features an FHD display; the i7 has the QHD touchscreen.
Furthermore, Windows 10 won’t be the only OS option for the XPS 13. Dell is offering a developer version of the laptop loaded with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, giving Canonical enthusiasts a powerful (on paper) option for their Linux-based workloads and applications.
The Dell XPS 13 will be available starting October 4, starting at $799. The Developer Edition (Ubuntu) starts at a steeper $949.
Product
Dell XPS 13
Processor Options
- Intel Core i3-7100U
- Intel Core i5-7300U
- Intel Core i7-7500U
Memory Options
- 4GB LPDDR3-1866
- 8GB LPDDR3-1866
- 16GB
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620
Display Options
- 13.3” FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge
- 13.3” QHD (3200 x 1800) InfinityEdge Touchscreen
When you’re buying a laptop, don’t assume it offers good battery life. If a manufacturer isn’t touting the battery, it’s probably best to skip that notebook. You need to check the battery rating before you buy.
The best laptops never leave the user hanging. They have enough battery life to last an entire workday. After all, even if you bought a notebook with top-of-the-line specs, it’s a useless chunk of metal when the battery runs out.
My hunt for laptops with the best battery life shows there isn’t a clear answer. That’s because manufacturer battery ratings and real-world tests don’t always match up. So I relied on a combination of my own experience, hardware knowledge, third-party reviews, and user reviews to come up with this list.
The Toshiba Chromebook 2 still gives you about 12 hours of real-world usage, which is fantastic in any case. That’s despite an Intel Celeron processor, while other laptops at this price go for the low-performance Intel Atom processor.
Despite that, it has arguably the best battery life among all laptops running Chrome OS, with only the Acer Chromebook 13 (read our review) giving it some competition. Dell’s laptop lasts for 14–15 hours of real-world usage, and might go a little more if you dim the screen brightness a bit.
Multiple reviewers say the Vivobook E403SA should last for around 10–12 hours of real-world usage. That’s impressive in its own right, outpacing the MacBook Air, among others. But the cherry on top is the USB Type-C charging port on the E403SA. If you use a USB-C phone, you can charge your laptopand smartphone with the same cable. Convenience at its best!
The Asus Zenbook UX305 is a personal favorite. I even bought it after testing it, so the 9–10 hours figure comes from personal experience. This sleek laptop perfectly balances portability, performance, battery life, and features. It also packs a solid state drive, since SSDs are better for battery life. In fact, the Zenbook proves you’re wasting money if you buy an expensive laptop.Are You Wasting Money If You Buy An Expensive Laptop?Are You Wasting Money If You Buy An Expensive Laptop?The average consumer buys a laptop that costs about $600, a behavior that’s persisted for years. Yet there are also laptops on the market which cost two or even three times as much. Are they...READ MORE
However, there’s one thing to know. The Zenbook UX305 comes in several variants, and you need to buy the model with the Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display. There’s also a high-res QHD model, but its battery life suffers due to the screen resolution. Stick with the Full HD version and you’ll be happy.
The 13-inch variant of the MacBook Air is still the best laptop to buy under $1,000. A big reason for that is the battery life. The MacBook Air 13 was the battery king for a long time, after all.Best Laptops Under $1,000 in 2016Best Laptops Under $1,000 in 2016Unlike desktop PCs, you are unlikely to upgrade your laptop by fitting in a couple of new parts. That's why when you're purchasing a new notebook, paying a premium makes sense.READ MORE
You can expect this battery life on the Intel Core i5 version. The Intel Core i7 version drops the battery rating by a couple of hours, which is still excellent if you need that extra power.
I’ve long said that the MacBook Air is an excellent value-for-money laptop. But if you’re planning on buying one, wait if you can. Apple is expected to refresh the line with new 6th generation Intel Skylake processors, which will again boost the battery slightly.
When it first launched, the XPS 13 actually didn’t have great battery life. But subsequent iterations have fixed this issue, and the 2016 version has been rated to last for 14–15 hours of real-world usage.
You need to purchase the non-touch XPS 13 to avail of this battery boost. The touchscreen version still has good battery, but it drops to about 9–10 hours.
The company recently updated the Blade Stealth to improve the battery life. Razer says you can expect nine hours on a single charge, so real-world usage should be about seven hours, going by the previous record. The laptop hasn’t been tested yet, so we can only guess.
If you want to play games on a laptop, you’ll need to sacrifice battery life to some extent. In that aspect, I find the Blade Stealth to be a better idea, since you can use the Razer Core external GPU with it too. That said, buy this only if you want a gaming machine.
Isn’t it nice when most reviewers agree on something? Almost every single user and reviewer has said that the ThinkPad X260 has the best battery life among all laptops today. It’s also good that this comes with the most reputed laptop brand in the world. Just remember to watch out for malware on Lenovo laptops.Now It's THREE Pre-Installed Malwares on Lenovo LaptopsNow It's THREE Pre-Installed Malwares on Lenovo LaptopsFor the third time in a year, Lenovo have been caught shipping customers computers laden with privacy-unfriendly malware, showing that they haven't learned the lessons from the public outcry over Superfish.READ MORE
The ThinkPad X260 is light enough to be portable while managing about 18 hours of battery life in most tests. Lenovo has one internal and two external batteries for this one. There’s a 23 Whr battery built in, and a 23 Whr external battery that can be plugged to the laptop. Lenovo also packs a 48 Whr external battery. You can swap the external batteries when you want. That’s some long battery life!
If you’re a working professional who needs a laptop that won’t die on you, and can do every office task you ask of it, the ThinkPad X260 is what you want.
We’re already at a point where you can go a full day without needing to charge your notebook. Do you need more battery life than that? What do you think is the ideal or minimum battery life needed from any laptop?
