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Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

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Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#81
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it's obviously snake oil. If you had a technology that increased the charge-cycle lifetime of a battery by any substantial amount, you wouldn't be marketing a stupid plastic box for mactards. You'd be cashing billion-dollar checks twice a day.

if you read the article, you'd see they're working on OEM deals to get the tech into batteries across the board. The Box is just a nice consumer demo so people can get their hands on it now. Actually a pretty smart PR move. Also, the patent: https://www.google.com/patents/WO2013142964A1

p.s. It appears pulse-charging lithium batteries has been around since at least 1997, judging by all these patents [1]

[1] https://www.google.com/search?tbm=pts&hl=en&q=Lithium+ion+fa...

Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#82
post #54
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the strategy for when Apple disallows sales based on the Magsafe adapter? This happened to HyperMac (now HyperJuice) batteries back in 2011. I still have mine, ordered before Apple lawyers went after them. It's wonderful. Edit: Adding link to Wired article: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/hypermac-is-back-with...

I don't remember the details, but IIRC they are Apple proof.

I have a feeling that if it can connect to a MagSafe port and work, Apple has control over it.

Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#83
I think all laptops can extend the battery life-span significantly with just smarter software. I manually cycle my laptop battery regularly & do not keep it charged at 100% all the time even if the laptop is plugged in (some Thinkpad models allow that). Even after 2 years of daily use, I've got greater than 80-90% battery capacity left.

Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#84
This looks like a great idea. We are applying to the upcoming class with a different approach though. Instead of owning batteries (however spectacular they are), we think it's about creating a network to share batteries. Think bike share for batteries.

Would love to chat about using Gbatteries in such a network.

Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#86
Many companies have been trying to produce external Macbook batteries (e.g. http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice/External-Battery-for-Mac...), but the major stumbling block has been that Apple does not allow third parties to use the Magsafe interface. Has Gbatteries found a way around this problem?

Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#89
post #66
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is straight up not possible. Lithium-ion batteries degrade irreversibly as they're used - the only way to reduce capacity loss is to reduce the depth-of-discharge: add more cells, and discharge them less per cycle. Unless they're fiddling with the actual chemistry of the cells, it's unlikely they've changed anything.

Did you read the linked article? > Batteries are typically charged and discharged through a constant stream of power, which causes problems like SEI layer formation that causes the battery to degrade over time. The BatteryOS system, by contrast, takes an active role in managing what’s happening inside a Li-ion battery, which not only lengthens the life of the battery, but also gives it the ability to store 10 percent…

Active power management is nothing new to lithium ion batteries.

Re: Gbatteries (YC W14) Launches BatteryBox, A 50Whr Backup Battery For MacBooks

#90
post #54
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the strategy for when Apple disallows sales based on the Magsafe adapter? This happened to HyperMac (now HyperJuice) batteries back in 2011. I still have mine, ordered before Apple lawyers went after them. It's wonderful. Edit: Adding link to Wired article: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/hypermac-is-back-with...

I don't remember the details, but IIRC they are Apple proof.

Hopefully, but color me skeptical. I don't see how anyone can be X-proof, where X is a company that has over $100 billion in their bank account.
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