How long can your new smartphone truly last?

Smartphone Lifetime Kati Volitich

While smartphones aren’t designed to last forever, you expect them to last for a reasonable time given their price and the technology behind them. But how long should you expect your smartphone to work well before selling it and upgrading to a new one? Here are some tips to consider. Kati Volitich.

Your smartphone can probably last two to three years; Apple, on the other hand, is confident that new iPhones should last three years at a minimum. But your unit is probably at its end of life once you are no longer able to download software updates or new applications. At this point, even the accessories for the phone aren’t likely to be available anymore. There are more nuanced signs, such as the three we will be discussing below. Kati Volitich

First is battery life, where you start to notice a significant decrease in battery capacity. It seems that your phone is no longer able to last the day on a full charge, only holding a charge for a couple of hours. Consider battery life a major indicator of the overall health of your phone. Kati Volitich.
Then there’s the condition of your screen, where a shattered one makes it impossible for you to read it. While you can still seek screen repair, there are degrees of damage that can affect other parts of your phone, including the camera or audio system. Kati Volitich.

The third sign are operating issues, where you are faced with a buggy operating system, crashing programs, random turning on and off of the smartphone, and unprovoked actions. This goes back to the inability to download software updates, at which point your phone has likely reached its maximum lifespan. Kati Volitich

Don’t sleep on these top wearables of 2019

The advanced technologies of the world have allowed consumers to wear their gadgets comfortably, either to track fitness or to replace analog watches. Apple and Samsung are among the big brands that make wearables for their consumers.

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For the gamers, the Oculus Rift Headset and Controllers bring their gaming experience to the next level. These VR headsets are the best in the market and are adored by gamers of all levels. Athletes are among the top consumers of wearable tech. The Garmin Forerunner 735XT Tracker is for the serious athlete who needs top-notch tracking for their fitness and race goals. Kati Volitich mixes tech and style with the Skagen Falster Smartwatch. This smartwatch is perfect for those who want to rock a wearable tech while still looking stylish.

Image source: wareable.com

The Withings Move ECG is the newest addition to the brand’s arsenal. It features an electrocardiogram monitor for identifying irregular heartbeat. The Apple Watch Series 4 also has an ECG integrated onto its system. However, it is way expensive than the Withings Move ECG, and is exclusive for the iOS.

For those who are not willing to shell out a few hundred bucks on wearable tech, the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 and Mi Band 3 are great workout and sleep companions. Kati Volitich says that the brand is quick to adapt to the needs of their consumers. The Whistle 3 Pet Tracker is a must-have for pet parents to be certain about their furry best friend’s whereabouts.

Hi there! My name is Kati Volitich and I’m a computer engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley. Today’s world revolves around technology and how it makes our lives more convenient and more connected to our families, friends, and colleagues. For more updates, head over to this blog.

The best laptops for programmers

Programmers need laptops that are built for their coding needs. Without a mighty device to use, there can be delays in the delivering products to the consumers. Specs are highly imperative in an effective coding machine. A programmer must always consider the processer, RAM, hard disk, display and graphics, and the keyboard of a laptop.

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The MacBook Pro may be an unlikely choice for some programmers, but this laptop packs a punch when it comes to the display and processor. This laptop comes with an Intel Core i5 processor set at 2.3GHz, with an 8GB memory for easy multitasking. Kati Volitich says that this laptop is the best for iOS development. The Asus VivoBook F510UA is among the top contenders in Windows-based development. While it lacks a touchscreen display, it’s powered by an Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz processor and 8GB of DD4 RAM, all under $500. With a 15.6-inch Full HD display and a 1TB SATA hard drive, it’s hard to miss out on this one.

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The MSI GP73 Leopard-609 is the best laptop for game development currently available in the market. This laptop is a powerhouse, built with an 8th generation six-core i7 processor and 8GB of DD4 RAM. According to Kati Volitich, it has a memory that’s upgradable to 1TB HHD. The Dell XPS 13 is the most powerful laptop for coding. The Dell XPS series remains a favorite among programmers. The laptop is competitive when it comes to its features and its price range. It has the same specs as the rest, only with a slightly smaller screen.

Kati Volitich is a computer engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley. She loves all things tech. For more updates, head over to this blog.

Rules when bringing your gadgets on a trip

I’m Kati Volitich. Being a computer engineering student, I’m very much partial to anything that has to do with technology. I spend a lot of time at the mall, marveling at the many new gadgets. I also make time to go to tech conventions. They’re like my Disneyland. I even travel cross-country to attend these events.

Image source: Pixabay.com

Speaking of travel, I noticed that during the last convention I attended – in November of last year – I spoke to a fellow techie who shared her own thoughts on a very interesting subject matter. We talked about simple rules of thumb when bringing electronic gadgets along on a trip.

While my traveler friends often caution me to leave most of my gadgets at home, I just can’t. I’m the sort of person who needs her gadgets with her at all times. So, this new friend of mine said, it’s okay to bring gadgets as long as I remember few important things.

Image source: Pixabay.com

First, set their connectivity switches on so they can access Wi-Fi hotspots as soon as these spots are detected. This can save gadget users a lot of time and hassle.

Next up, I should never forget the importance of bringing batteries and chargers. I have three power banks, which I always bring along and keep fully charged. Everyone should have at least one power bank. They’re more than an okay investment.

Finally, all my gadgets should be in shock-resistant casing. Travel involves a lot of movement, and sometimes a certain jolt may be enough to damage a gadget. A casing prevents that.

Kati Volitich is a lover of all things tech. She is a computer engineering major at UC Berkeley, and a fan of tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Amazon, and Google. For more tech reads, visit this page.

What Apple fans should expect from the brand this 2019

Apple purists are set to experience an exciting ride this 2019. The future only looks bright for the brand, after receiving much praise from the tech world for releasing cheaper variations for the iPhone X.

Image source: imore.com

Apple fans might see a few additions to the iPhone line this year. There have been reports that Apple will be employing a much newer technology for its processors, to bulk up the phone’s power, memory, and overall performance. Mystery has always been a part of what makes Apple a beloved tech brand. Being secretive is a strong purchasing factor that—according to Kati Volitich—drives consumers to keep buying from the brand.

Image source: macworld.com

In 2019, the iPhone line might include an iPhone 11 and a newer and better version of the SE, both equipped with iOS 13. Another product that is well received by fans across the globe is the AirPods. The world is likely to see an updated version of the pods, probably with better connectivity and a more ergonomic fit for the ears. The iPad seems to be a complete gadget already. However, there can be additions to the product line by the end of the year.

New MacBooks and the next MacOS are set to be released this year, notes Kati Volitich. While Apple’s computers are highly dependent on Intel’s processor strategies, the brand can definitely lead the product line to carry a better OS. The new Mac Pro will be hitting the stores this year, and it obviously possesses more muscle than its predecessor.

Hi there! My name is Kati Volitch, and I’m a computer engineering major at UC Berkeley. I’m a fan of all things tech. Subscribe to my blog for regular updates.

Top laptops for your 2019 upgrade

If your old laptop is already conking out or you simply want to get a more powerful device for your work and personal needs this 2019, we’ve made a list of some of the best to choose from in the market right now. The prices vary, depending mainly on brand popularity and features, but we’ve got you covered.

Image source: razer.com

 Razer Blade
Simply put, if you want an attention-grabbing beast of a laptop that doubles as the obvious alternative to the MacBook Pro, last year’s version of the Razer Blade is the top choice. It’s best for high-end gaming and creatives looking for a slim laptop with a large screen, smaller bezels, and powerful graphics (it comes with either a Nvidia 1060 or 1070). LED lighting on the keyboards adds to the eye-candy appeal. The Razer Blade starts at $1,710.

2018 Apple MacBook Air
Probably the most user-friendly laptop out there, it is a definite upgrade from the previous year’s version: lighter, smaller, a wider touchpad, and high-resolution screen. It has great battery life too and fast processors (even though Apple decided to keep the dual-core setup).

Lenovo Yoga C930

Image source: wired.com

This Lenovo model is being hailed as the best two-in-one laptop you can get at the moment, unique in having rotating 360-degree hinges (hence the name Yoga) that work as a speaker system. It comes with an active pen that is conveniently placed in the laptop’s body, as well as a webcam that can be tucked away when not needed. This is one of the most stylish options out there, and the price is not bad at $1,170.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The Surface Pro 6 is arguably the top mainstream laptop choice for any non-Apple user. Microsoft’s sojourn into laptop manufacturing continues to lead to great success with this two-in-one tablet PC. It’s a top-tier machine deserving of its $1,689 price tag, thanks to the all-new quad processor system that offer significant, easily noticeable gains in performance when compared to other options in its price range.

Kati Volitich here, a Computer Engineering student at UC Berkeley. Computers have touched our lives in more ways than we can imagine. As a future computer engineer, I aspire to become a part of a company that strives to improve technology in all manners for all industries. More on me and my interests on this site.

Should you upgrade your graphics card to start the new year?

Image source: windowscentral.com

First off, the big issues involving the ridiculous pricing of graphics cards or GPUs in the past couple of years are a result of the rise of cryptocurrencies and the so-called “Bitcoin-mining.” The process of mining digital money involves the use of the fastest graphics hardware on the planet.


However, finally, things are looking brighter. It’s safe to say that this month leading to July will be a great time to consider finally upgrading your aging GPU. This is because prices are now stabilizing as cryptocurrency values begin to dip. Digitimes was even quoted as saying, based on a comprehensive study of the market, that prices will drop by an average of 20 percent in the first half of 2019.

Image source: eteknix.com

More and more smaller companies are considering leaving the crypto-mining industry due to the steady drop in the price of Bitcoin. Nvidia itself, which has benefited most from the mining revolution, reported that it expected GPU sales to crypto-miners to go down by as much as two-thirds during the last quarter of 2018.


All in all, these next few months may just be the window we’ve been waiting for if we are to commit to upgrading our graphics cards. After all, cryptocurrency is not going anywhere and should rise again soon. We should take this current and most-likely temporary drop in price to grab that shiny and powerful new GPU.


Kati Volitich here, a student at the University of California, Berkeley currently studying Computer Engineering. My field of study specializes in areas such as digital systems, operating systems, computer networks, software, and more. Click this link for more computer-related posts.