Don’t expect any big feature upgrades here. The new modules don’t add support for Bluetooth or multi-date formats, with the LED backlight being the only major change. That said, the more efficient LED light does improve the battery life slightly for all three models. For instance, the GW-6900U is now rated for up to 10 months of operation without solar charging, up from nine months on the original 2009 model. There are definitely fans who prefer the old EL panels for the retro vibe and that...

An Indiana police officer was arrested Wednesday night on a domestic battery charge. An arrest report says that Ryan Miller, 32, allegedly assaulted a pregnant family member, the Times of Northwest Indiana reported. Miller is a corporal in the Chesterton Police Department who received and Exceptional Service Award just last month for rendering first aid to a man with a severe cut on his arm in June. Miller was arrested in the town of Portage, and Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson told the T...

Kenneth Cheung/Getty Images Modern smartphones are as powerful as ever, and you’ll often see companies leaning on this fact as a way to sell you their new model. Almost every company is talking about how powerful its new phone is. But if you’ve used smartphones long enough, you know how battery life is a huge challenge. That’s why there are tons of articles on the web giving you tips on how to improve your smartphone’s battery life. If you feel that your phone’s ba...

OnePlus is unveiling the Turbo 6 and Turbo 6V on January 8, and the brand has already revealed some of their specs a few days ago, along with two videos. Now OnePlus has also confirmed the handsets’ oft-rumored 9,000 mAh battery capacity, along with an interesting detail. The Turbo 6’s camera island protrudes just 1.7mm on top of its rear. It’s not quite flush, RedMagic-style, but very, very close. Obviously, the Turbo line isn’t focused on camera quality (one could argue...

LG Xboom 2026 portable speaker lineup. Top left: Xboom Stage 501, top right: Xboom Blast, bottom right: Xboom Mini, bottom left: Xboom Rock. (Image source: LG) LG is expanding its Xboom lineup with four new portable speakers designed for parties, outdoor adventures, and everyday listening. The new models promise up to 220W of output, AI-powered sound tuning, and as much as 35 hours of battery life on a single charge. While CES doesn’t start until January 5, LG has already begun showing off the...

Published:January 1, 2026 Reading Time:2 min read CATL is rapidly scaling battery swapping across China, cutting EV energy costs to as low as $0.014 per kilometer while building one of the world’s largest swap networks. December 31 — CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) announced that it has completed the construction of 1,325 battery swap stations in just one year, far exceeding industry benchmarks and accelerating the large-scale commercialization of battery swapping. Accordi...

We’ve recently seen a surge in smartphones from Chinese brands packing 8,000mAh or larger batteries. Now, a tipster claims that Samsung SDI is testing a massive 20,000mAh dual-cell battery for smartphones. Samsung isn’t exactly known for pushing battery capacities in its smartphones. Even its latest flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, comes with a 5,000mAh cell. However, according to a tipster, Samsung SDI is currently testing a dual-cell silicon–carbon battery with a massive 20,000mAh capacit...

By Alex Kimani – Dec 31, 2025, 5:00 PM CST The graphene hype has faded while graphite demand is surging. U.S.–China tensions are reshaping graphite markets, with punitive U.S. tariffs on Chinese anode-grade graphite boosting investor interest in non-Chinese suppliers. Domestic supply remains a bottleneck, leaving U.S. battery makers exposed to higher costs and supply risks. Following the Nobel Prize for graphene’s discovery in 2010, the gee-whiz nanomaterial has been lauded as a &#...

By Michael Kern – Dec 31, 2025, 2:00 PM CST The market for ultra-high-purity (UHP) graphite, essential for EV anodes and nuclear reactors, is projected to hit $1.43 billion by 2030, masking structural friction in the global energy transition. The vast majority (86% in 2024) of UHP graphite is synthetic, requiring a massive industrial footprint of fossil fuel feedstock and staggering amounts of electricity for high-heat graphitization furnaces. Two massive, well-funded industries—transpor...

Mike ReissDec 31, 2025, 01:08 PM ET Close Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is facing a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery on a household/family member, according to court documents. The charge stems...