Chris Matyszczyk
for Technically Incorrect
| June 11, 2021 — 13:34 GMT (14:34 BST)
| Topic: Apple
What is all that?
Screenshot by ZDNet
Jony Ive took one look, cursed very quietly and grabbed a perfectly designed wine glass.
Welcome to my MacBook Air, Low Power Mode. In Apple’s words, this “reduces system clock speed and display brightness to extend battery life.”
In my words, it’s been a savior on many occasions when I’ve forgotten to charge my phone or the battery has been suddenly sucked of its strength by an iOS software update.
Should you not be familiar with this modest little thing, your battery icon turns yellow — a very, very muted yellow. Your screen becomes more muted too. But the feature allows you to carry on using your device for some time longer, likely at the very time when you actually need it most.
When I work, I tend to untether my Air and move around the house. I do the same when a Zoom or Teams meeting has gone on a little too long. It’s a subconscious signal that it’d be nice if it ended.
Occasionally, my battery dips into the danger zone and I find myself rushing back to my power cord like a three-legged vole sent back to his hole.
Now, I can dip into Low Power Mode and make-believe the meeting is slowly fading away.
Many might wonder, of course, why this hasn’t been available on MacBooks for years. Perhaps it’s something to do with the relatively poor state of MacBook batteries for far too long.
Finally, though, here it is.
And I, for one, am excited. Well, pleased. Well, relieved.
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Chris Matyszczyk
for Technically Incorrect
| June 11, 2021 — 13:34 GMT (14:34 BST)
| Topic: Apple