Technology
Top 10 tips to maximize your iPhone’s battery life
There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of money on a nice new phone only to have a shortened battery life, curtailing its usefulness. Various factors can impact your iPhone’s battery life quality and quantity.
“Hi, if your iPhone is plugged in and finishes charging, does it damage [the] phone or charger if it is left plugged in at 100% during the night? Also, does leaving the charger plugged in when not in use hurt the charger? Thank you.” — Gail, Clifton, NJ
The short answer to your question is, “Yes,” Gail. While it may not damage your iPhone, it can impact the lifespan of your phone’s battery. Leaving your phone plugged in overnight is not a bad idea, as phones are smart enough to prevent an overload. Charging stops once the internal lithium-ion battery hits 100% of its capacity. However, if you leave your phone plugged in overnight, it will use a bit of energy by constantly trickling new juice into the battery every time it falls to 99%. That is eating into your phone’s lifespan.
As for your second question, leaving your charger plugged in when not in use does not damage it. The charger will only draw power when connected to a device that needs charging, so you can leave it plugged in without worrying about damaging it.
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A person holding a phone with a dead battery. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How do batteries work?
Most modern mobile phones are powered by lithium batteries, which are lighter, last longer, charge faster and have more power density. Battery life depends on its chemical age, based on its temperature and charge history. As the battery life chemically ages, the amount of charge the battery can hold is reduced. By staying mindful about how and how often you charge your phone, you can extend the life of your battery. Below are some ways to take care of your phone’s battery.
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How to protect your iPhone’s battery health
Maximize your iPhone’s battery life and performance with these 10 essential tips to keep it running efficiently and safely.
1. Do not let your iPhone overheat through external or internal temperature exposure. Make sure your phone isn’t overheating in its phone case while charging. If so, take it off to ensure enough ventilation around your phone.
2. Try not to use your iPhone while it is charging. If you can wait until it is sufficiently charged, do wait because using your phone while charging can cause it to overwork, increasing the phone’s temperature and causing stress or damage.
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3. Avoid buying cheap wall plug chargers. While buying the ones half the price is tempting, the officially branded wall plug chargers are manufactured with circuits specially created for your phone that prevent overcharging, breaking or overheating.
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4. I recommend not downloading battery performance apps from third parties. Most phones already come with this data, and these additional apps are draining their batteries. They can also be a risk for malware, viruses and bloatware.
5. Be sure to turn off ‘Background App Refresh’ for apps you don’t need running all the time or selectively when your battery life is low.
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Battery charger and iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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6. Use only official chargers and cables. If you must shop third-party brands, make sure they are Apple MFi certified for non-Apple accessories and USB-IF certified to replace Android accessories.
7. Use the optimized battery charging option on your iPhone. It will help reduce the wear on your iPhone’s battery by lowering the time it stays fully charged. When this option is utilized, it will prevent your phone from charging past 80%. It learns your battery use habits to determine how long it takes to charge your phone. It’ll give you a scheduled time, which you can turn off if you need it charged fully sooner.
8. Check which Apps and processes drain your battery. Most mobile devices include battery-use data. Once you can determine which apps or activities eat up most of your battery life, you can close them or use them less when you need to conserve battery life.
iPhone being charged. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
9. Be careful of what portable battery chargers you use on the go. While they can be powerful and helpful in a pinch, some can cause damage. Buy from reputable Apple MFi-certified brands for non-Apple accessories and USB-IF certified to replace Android accessories.
10. Adjust screen brightness. It is a simple way to conserve battery life by turning down the brightness on your phone.
MORE: BEST PORTABLE PHONE CHARGERS OF 2024
Kurt’s key takeaways
There are many ways to preserve your phone’s battery life. While most steps are free and straightforward, some require purchasing new gear. By following these do’s and don’ts, you can enjoy a healthier battery life.
What features do you wish to see in future mobile devices to enhance battery performance and longevity? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Roland’s Go:Mixer Studio turns your phone into a mobile music studio
Roland now offers a more capable audio mixer for phones and tablets with the launch of the Go:Mixer Studio. The Go:Mixer audio interface lineup has always been a bit limited, better suited for scrappy live streams and capturing quick demos on their phones than professional recording. The Go:Mixer Studio is an attempt to actually reach that lofty goal, with more inputs and outputs, built-in effects, and up to 24-bit / 192kHz audio. There’s even an iOS app that allows you to capture video and multitrack audio simultaneously.
Streaming and social video are still the major use cases here. The Go:Mixer Studio can even be mounted on a mic stand so you can keep it in easy reach during a live session. The screen and knobs allow you to control all the parameters on the Go:Mixer Studio directly, but there’s also a desktop app for Windows and MacOS that gives you complete control of the mixer remotely.
There’s plenty of connectivity, including two XLR inputs on the back with phantom power, a 1/4-inch instrument input for directly connecting a guitar or bass, stereo 1/4-inch line-in jacks, and an aux input. There’s also 1/8-inch TRS MIDI in and out, two headphone jacks, and stereo line outs for connecting to studio monitors. Each audio input has a dedicated EQ and compressor on the channel. The XLR and instrument ins also have reverb available.
The Go:Mixer Studio is available now for $299.
Technology
Alexa.com brings Alexa+ to your browser
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
For years, Alexa mostly stayed in one place. It lived on kitchen counters, nightstands or living room shelves. That setup worked for music and timers, but it also limited when and how people could actually use the assistant. Now that is changing.
Amazon has rolled out Alexa.com, which brings Alexa+ directly to your web browser for Early Access users. Instead of relying on a speaker or phone, you can now open a laptop and start using Alexa like any other web-based AI tool.
This shift is less about new tricks and more about access. Alexa can now follow you throughout your day instead of waiting for you at home.
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Amazon’s Alexa is no longer tied to a smart speaker, with Alexa.com bringing the assistant and Alexa+ directly to the web browser for Early Access users. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
What Alexa.com actually is
Alexa.com is the browser-based version of Alexa+. You can type questions, explore topics, plan trips, organize tasks, or create content without touching a smart speaker. The biggest difference is continuity. Alexa keeps context across devices, so conversations carry over whether you are on your laptop, phone, Echo, or Fire TV. You do not have to repeat yourself every time you switch screens. That makes Alexa feel less like a command tool and more like an assistant that remembers what you are working on.
Who can use Alexa.com right now
Alexa.com is not open to everyone yet. To use it, you need:
- Alexa+ Early Access
- An Amazon account linked to a compatible Echo, Fire TV, or Fire tablet
- A US-based Amazon account
- Device language set to English, United States
Child profiles are not supported on the browser version. Older Echo devices will continue using the original Alexa.
What Alexa.com cannot do yet
Because Alexa.com is still in Early Access, it has limits that matter for everyday users. Right now:
- You can only type to Alexa in your browser
- Voice interaction is not supported on the web
- Music playback is not available
- Smart home controls are limited compared to Echo devices
Amazon says features will roll out gradually. Alexa.com is meant to complement your devices, not fully replace them yet.
Meal planning without juggling tabs
One area where Alexa.com feels genuinely useful is meal planning. You can ask Alexa for a full week of meals and set preferences like high protein, low sugar, or kid-friendly lunches. Alexa generates a plan and turns it into a shopping list. From there, items can be added directly to Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. Instead of bouncing between recipes, notes and carts, everything happens in one place.
Organizing everyday life in one place
Alexa.com also works as a lightweight life organizer. You can upload documents, emails and images so Alexa can pull out key details. That includes appointments, reminders and schedules you would otherwise forget. Instead of searching your inbox, you can ask Alexa when the dog last went to the vet or what time practice starts tonight. The information stays available across devices.
Smart home access, with limits
Alexa.com keeps your smart home controls visible next to your chat window. While full smart home control is still limited in the browser, Alexa.com lets you check status, review activity and continue actions on your Echo or Fire TV devices. It is most useful as a bridge. You can start something in the browser and finish it at home without starting over.
Recipes that follow you into the kitchen
Alexa.com also simplifies cooking. If you find a recipe online, you can paste the link into Alexa and ask it to adjust for dietary needs. Alexa can save it, convert it into ingredients and add everything to your shopping list. When it is time to cook, Alexa can pull the recipe up on your Echo Show, guide you step by step and manage timers so your hands stay free.
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Alexa.com lets users type questions, plan trips, organize tasks and create content without relying on an Echo or smartphone. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Finding something to watch faster
Decision fatigue hits hard at night. On Alexa.com, you can explore movie themes, get recommendations and save picks for later. When you sit down, Alexa remembers your choices and sends them to your Fire TV. That cuts down on scrolling and family debates.
What about privacy
Using Alexa on the web raises natural privacy questions. Amazon says Alexa+ includes built-in protections and user controls. Still, it is worth taking a minute to review your settings, especially if you plan to upload documents or personal information. A few smart habits can help:
- Check your Alexa privacy settings and review stored activity
- Avoid uploading sensitive documents like IDs or medical records
- Use strong antivirus software to protect your device. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
As with any AI assistant, convenience comes with trade-offs. Staying aware helps you stay in control.
How much Alexa+ will cost
Alexa+ is free during Early Access. When Early Access ends, you will not be automatically charged. After that:
- Alexa+ stays free with a Prime membership
- Non-Prime users can subscribe for $19.99 per month
This makes Alexa.com more appealing for Prime members and a tougher sell for everyone else.
What this means to you
For most people, Alexa.com is about convenience. If you already use Alexa at home, the web version makes it easier to use during the day. You can plan, organize or look things up from your computer and then pick up later on your phone or Echo. It also puts Alexa in the same category as other browser-based AI tools, but with deeper ties to shopping, smart home features and entertainment. Whether you stick with it will likely come down to how often you want Alexa to help you during your day.
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Amazon says Alexa.com allows conversations to carry over across devices, giving users continuity between laptops, phones and smart home screens. (Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Alexa.com does not reinvent Alexa. It simply makes it easier to use where people already spend time. By bringing Alexa+ to the browser, Amazon is betting that continuity matters more than novelty. For some users, that will be enough to make Alexa feel relevant again.
If Alexa followed you from your laptop to your living room, would you actually rely on it more, or would it still feel optional? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Technology
A second US Sphere could come to Maryland
The second US sphere would be built in an area known as National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Located along the Potomac River, National Harbor currently features a convention center, multiple hotels, restaurants, and shops. While Abu Dhabi plans to build a sphere as large as the one in Las Vegas, the National Harbor venue would be one of the first mini-Sphere venues announced last March.
Its capacity would be limited to 6,000 seats instead of over 17,000. But the smaller Sphere would still be hard to miss with an exterior LED exosphere for showcasing the “artistic and branded content” that helped make the original sphere a unique part of the Las Vegas skyline.
The inside of the mini-Sphere will feature a high-resolution 16,000 by 16,000 pixel wrap-around screen, the company’s immersive sound technology, haptic seating, and “4D environmental effects.” For the AI-enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz currently playing in Las Vegas, audiences experience effects like wind, fog, smells, and apples falling from the ceiling.
The mini-Sphere will potentially also be cheaper to build than the $2.3 billion original, but its construction is contingent on the “receipt of certain governmental incentives and approvals from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.” Sphere Entertainment says the project “would utilize a combination of public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives,” but would potentially generate millions of dollars in revenue for the country and state while supporting over 4,700 jobs once it opens.
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