Technology

How Qantas' free, fast Wi-Fi might ease turbulence

Currently pilots update maps and data on their iPads just before take-off.

New service will feature speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional on-board Wi-Fi, meaning you can not only stream movies and TV shows, but the Qantas Flight Operations and Engineering teams are looking at how they can use the connectivity in more beneficial ways.

When it comes to pencils, Apple takes the lead

The Pencil is comfortable to hold and responds well to pressure.

Just don't call it a stylus. "If you see a stylus, they blew it," said Steve Jobs in 2010. But the Apple Pencil looks like a pencil and has the familiar feel of a pencil, but updated. It's sleek, round and white, with a smart silver band at the top.

Lenovo shows off bendable phone

Bendable

Lenovo is adding experimental technologies to its smartphones in a bid to grow its business, trying to overcome declining PC shipments and a competitive phone market.

Techknow - Portable Gadget Chargers

Comsol 6600 MAH dual port power bank charger.

PORTABLE GADGET CHARGERS If your gadgets are feeling run down at the end of a long day then consider throwing a portable charger in your carry bag. Keeping a portable battery in your bag makes it easy to top up your smartphone or tablet when there isn't a power socket within reach. Even if your devices hold enough charge to make it through the average day, a portable charger can be a lifesaver when you're travelling and relying on your smartphone for navigation and other power-draining features. Depending on its capacity, your portable battery might recharge your handheld device several times before it needs a recharge. Capacity is measured in milliamps and around 2000 mAh is enough capacity to completely recharge your average smartphone. Unfortunately once your portable battery runs flat it can be very slow to recharge, which means you need to plan ahead to ensure it's ready to go. This is where a rapid-charging portable battery can come to your rescue, recharging from the wall socket in minutes rather than hours – a godsend when you're waiting to rush out the door. VERDICT The ASAP Dash isn't cheap but might be money well spent for regular travellers who need a quick charge 'n' go before they dash out the front door. The slender design is easy to slip into your pocket. If you don't need rapid charging then it's hard to go past the Comsol in terms of value for money, especially if you'd benefit from the dual USB ports. COMSOL 6600 MAH DUAL PORT POWER BANK CHARGER $39 It's not as slender as some chargers, but in terms of bang for your buck it's hard to go past this 6600 mAh Comsol charger. It features two USB ports, one supplying 2 Amps to offer faster-charging for power-hungry gadgets. The battery features four LED lights to indicate the remaining capacity, but once it's dead-flat it takes about six hours to fully recharge from a power socket. ASAP DASH $125 With a 5000 mAh battery it doesn't hold as much charge as the Comsol, but the trade-off is that you can completely recharge a flat ASAP Dash in 15 minutes. Even a five-minute top up should be enough juice to recharge your phones once. The battery outputs up to 3.1 Amps to satisfy power-hungry devices. The Australian-backed ASAP Dash comes from a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, with orders shipping in August. CHECK THIS OUT Portable chargers aren't just for handheld gadgets, you'll also find larger portable batteries designed to recharge your laptop so you can keep working while you're off the grid. If you're bound for the wilderness you might invest in a solar charger for your tech, but keep in mind that things are much slower to recharge when relying on the sun rather than a power socket.