The systems are offline, the production lines are at a standstill: the battery manufacturer Varta is forced to take drastic measures after a cyber attack.
In addition to private individuals, companies are a particularly attractive target for cybercriminals. After all, the sale of stolen data is promising Dark web or ransom payments as a result of a ransomware attack for quick profits. Now Varta AG has apparently fallen victim to a serious hacker attack, which is even forcing the German battery manufacturer to shut down production.
All businesses shut down
This comes from a current one Report of the company. Accordingly, the IT security incident occurred on the night of February 12, 2024. The cyber attack affected parts of the IT systems with an impact on all five of the manufacturer’s production plants and its administration. For security reasons, these have now been temporarily shut down and disconnected from the Internet, said Varta.
Varta checks damage
Varta does not reveal what type of cyber attack it was in the statement. The specific effects are still being examined, and the actual damage caused cannot yet be named. Cyber criminals repeatedly target companies. Fraudsters recently stole extensive insured person data Thuringia Accident Insurance Fund. In addition to data theft, ransomware attacks are one of the most common attack methods. The malware hijacks the IT systems and only releases them again after a ransom is paid. Private individuals can also fall victim to such an attack. You can find out how to protect yourself here counselor.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 has been in our pockets in recent weeks and we have extensively tested the flagship. Read here how the smartphone performs and find out whether it is for you.
This is the Samsung Galaxy S24 review
Flat, smooth and packed with artificial intelligence: that’s what Samsung promises with the Galaxy S24. The manufacturer has updated the smartphone in terms of both hardware and software, including a larger battery, new chip and brighter screen. All this for a suggested retail price of 899 eurosfive bucks cheaper than its predecessor.
We have extensively tested the new entry-level of Samsung’s top devices and you can read our experiences in this review. This way you know whether the Galaxy S24 is for you.
Samsung Galaxy S24 review
Design Hardware Screen Software
Cameras Battery and charging Conclusion Buy
Subtle custom design
It is clear at first glance that the Galaxy S24 speaks the same design language as other Samsung devices. This is due to the flat glass back, metal sides and the three separate cameras on the back. Samsung has made minor adjustments, because the sides are now almost completely flat, except for a subtle rounding towards the back.
Combine this with the handy size of the regular S24 and the device fits comfortably in the hand. Unfortunately, the smartphone offers little grip due to the matte back, making it easier to let it slip out of your hands.
Furthermore, the device is again equipped with clear stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, buttons on the right and a SIM card slot. All in all, this is a housing that you would expect from a high-end smartphone.
Hardware performs surprisingly well
It may be a bit of an exaggeration that the Exynos name strikes a chord with Samsung fans. However, processors from Samsung’s own kitchen were not exactly popular in the past. Fortunately, you have little to complain about with the Exynos 2400, because the chip is very smooth.
Playing games, switching between apps and opening large 3D files goes smoothly on the S24, which feels smooth, especially with the 120Hz screen. The Exynos 2400 seems to be a lot less energy efficient than the Snapdragon chips. You can read more about this later in this review.
Furthermore, the Galaxy S24 is available in two variants, both with 8GB of RAM. The cheapest model has 128GB of storage, which in combination with a cloud subscription will be more than sufficient. Want to store more photos, apps or files locally? Then there is also a 256GB version.
Screen you want to look at for hours
A Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ colors, a maximum brightness of 2600 nits and protection by a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus 2. That is not only a mouthful, but they are also the ingredients for a screen of very High Quality. Samsung has outdone itself once again.
Although the Galaxy S24 ‘only’ has a Full HD resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels, the compact size of 6.2 inches makes it sharp enough. In addition, the screen edges are incredibly thin and symmetrical. The brightness automatically adjusts to show HDR images clearly, but at the same time keeps the menus dim.
Software packed with Galaxy AI
During the launch of the S24, Samsung paid the most attention to Galaxy AI. This name covers several useful artificial intelligence functions that the manufacturer has incorporated into the One UI 6.1 shell of Android 14. In our experience, there are mainly a lot of small functions that you use occasionally, but certainly not all of them.
There are various language functions with AI, including Live Translate that can translate calls and messages between different languages. This works fine and also on WhatsApp, but Dutch is not yet supported. Chat Assist can also help you write messages in a different tone, but these often appear to be written by AI.
In collaboration with Google, the Galaxy S24 also features Circle to Search. This allows you to draw a circle around an object you encounter on your smartphone at any time, after which information will appear. In practice you won’t use the function too often, but it is certainly useful to have. However, do you use swipe gestures instead of a navigation bar? Then activating the Circle to Search mode is quite inconvenient.
OneUI 6.1Circle to SearchResults
Furthermore, the One UI shell is exactly what you have come to expect from Samsung. For example, menus look a lot different than on stock Android and you have exclusive access to the Galaxy Store. In addition, Samsung provides the Galaxy S24 with seven years of software and security updates, so you can use it until 2031.
Cameras take more realistic pictures
The set of cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S24 is identical to those on the predecessor. The new flagship is again equipped with a 50 megapixel main camera, 12 megapixel wide-angle lens and the optical telephoto lens has a resolution of 10 megapixel.
Pictures on the S24 are especially striking because of the natural colors. The smartphone does not take photos too colorful and the contrast is lower than its predecessor. Photos on the S24 also seem to be sharpened less. This applies to the main and wide-angle lens. The zoom camera does smartly sharpen objects, especially if you zoom in further than the optical ‘3x zoom’.
Wide angle lensMain camera3x optical zoom10x digital zoom
The cameras don’t perform particularly well in the dark unless you hold the phone still for long enough. Unfortunately, movement often means a blurry photo and again the flash still cannot be used with the wide-angle lens.
Portrait modeWide angle lens3x optical zoomMain camera
Of course, Samsung also brings AI to the cameras. In this way, artificial intelligence combines the different cameras for the sharpest picture and the best quality. You can also edit photos better with the AI.
Use Samsung’s Gallery app to straighten photos, generate missing parts and remove reflections from windows. All in all, the functions often work well with simple photos and good lighting conditions. However, we don’t think you’ll use them often.
Battery for a (busy) day and charging
Let’s start with the facts with the battery: the battery has grown from 3900 mAh to 4000 mAh, it still charges at 25 Watts and can charge other devices (wirelessly). The increased capacity is of course minimal, which means that in practice you will not see a major improvement compared to its predecessor.
To be honest, the battery life of the Galaxy S24 is quite disappointing. On average, we get a measly five hours of active screen time from the phone. That’s fine if you don’t use the smartphone much, for example on a busy working day. Do you want to play games for an afternoon or do you use the device a lot during the day? Then you probably need to recharge in the evening.
The charging speed of the S24 is again a maximum of 25 Watts. Samsung does this to keep the battery in good condition for as long as possible, but this does mean that it takes about an hour and a half for the smartphone to charge from 0 to 100 percent. You should take this into account a little more before you leave the house.
Wireless charging is again possible at 15 Watts and takes almost two hours. Reverse wireless charging of other devices is even slower, but is especially useful in emergencies.
Conclusion Samsung Galaxy S24 review
With a recommended retail price of 899 euros, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is in a different price range than the S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, but it is equipped with a very bright screen with a high refresh rate, an extensive set of cameras, a smooth chip and the same smart software functions.
In our opinion, the only thing you really need to cut back on is the battery, because it simply won’t hold up to intensive use. Do you not use your smartphone all day long, but do you want a high-end device when you do use it? Then the Galaxy S24 is definitely recommended.
Do you like the design of the S24, but do you want to be sure of an all-day battery? Then take a look at the Galaxy S24 Plus. Do you prefer the best of the best and are you willing to pay extra for it? Then you’ve come to the right place at the S24 Ultra.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S24
Will the Samsung Galaxy S24 be your new smartphone? Then make sure you get it for the best price through the most affordable provider. You can easily find the best deal via our price comparator.
Microsoft is investigating the Xbox CMOS situation to prevent problems in the future.
The discussions about CMOS batteries in consoles came to light earlier this year when Sony announced that it would be closing its digital stores for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The CMOS battery powers a console’s internal clock. So when a game is launched on the console, the internal clock checks the date and time on a remote server to ensure that users can play their game.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer says Microsoft is investigating the CMOS battery issues on Xbox hardware:
“The hardware team is hearing the message that our consoles should enable an ongoing relationship between players and the content they own. “So we’re hearing the message and the teams are looking at things,” Spencer said.
In theory, if an online feature like PlayStation Network or Xbox LIVE isn’t working properly, the console won’t be able to connect, meaning games won’t be able to be played. Now it looks like CMOS batteries in PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 no longer have this problem as Sony has released some updates. Microsoft will investigate the Xbox CMOS situation to prevent future problems.
The latest version of Android 11 debuts a way to improve the battery in the background: now you can cancel the execution of cached applications. In this way the useful life is extended after a charge, although with a drawback: use of multitasking worsens.
Android always had the sambenito of high power consumption, not in vain it had to run applications in a virtual machine. Over the years Google significantly improved the runtime environmentIt also included improvements for background use and even an intelligent energy saving system (Adaptive Battery). Despite the satisfactory evolution, there is always room to further reduce consumption, a point on which the latest Android 11 novelty affects.
Battery improvement, somewhat slower multitasking
Activation of the suspension system of cached applications. Images by Mishaal Rahman
Android’s application execution system caches unused applications so that user can switch to them quickly in case you are using multitasking. These cached apps continue to access the processor cycles and also the other components, such as modems, to use the communication data. This implies an additional energy expenditure since, in theory, the user does not need that application that is kept in cache.
Google began testing a system of ‘freezing’ cached applications with the beta 2 of Android 11, a system that is starting to go live in tests for some users of the stable version. This is confirmed by XDA Developers (via @MishaalRahman), we have not yet appeared on the Google Pixel.
As detailed by XDA Developers, the new system freezes the applications that are in the device’s cache to prevent them from working while not in use. This saves battery, you can also help keep mobile data consumption at bay. All with a trade-off: since the cached apps are frozen, in the event that the user wants to return to them, Android 11 will have to put them back into operation, an action that involves a some delay in reactivating the app. Of course, it will always be less than loading the application from scratch since, likewise, it is kept in cache no matter how long it is suspended.
This new suspension system for cached apps slows down the switching between apps, with the consequent effect on multitasking
The new feature of Android 11, named as’Suspend the execution of cached applications‘, has appeared in tests within the developer options of some users. By default it is adjusted according to the device: in this way it is the system that is in charge of canceling the execution. We will see if it really manages to scratch a few mAh to energy consumption.
New storage solutions should make it possible to use even more electricity from the balcony power plant itself. We tested three storage systems for balcony power plants in a practical test.
Who a Balcony power plant sooner or later the question will probably arise: Can I add storage to my system? Using balcony solar systems is the easiest way to generate electricity yourself, but they have a weakness: often only a small part of the energy is used at the time they produce it – the rest goes to the network operator as a gift . And in the evening, when the television is on, the system does not generate any electricity.
Bigger Solar systems, which aim for high self-consumption, ultimately solve the dilemma with an electricity storage system that holds the energy for later use. But this was not previously planned for balcony solar systems with their maximum output of 600 watts. Their simple microinverters usually don’t even have a second connection for electricity storage – unlike hybrid inverters. Some manufacturers have now developed storage solutions specifically for balcony power plants. The three battery systems differ. Anker and Zendure can be mounted on an existing balcony power plant. EcoFlow, on the other hand, builds the concept around the in-house power stations.
Practical test winner Zendure SolarFlow
Like Anker, Zendure’s SolarFlow system belongs between the solar modules and the inverter. SolarFlow but consists of two parts. A box, the so-called PV hub, forms the control center. It is connected on one side to the solar modules of the existing balcony power plant, and on the other to the Zendure AB1000 storage unit (839 euros including PV hub) with 0.96 kWh and the inverter of the balcony power plant. Four batteries can be combined (600 euros each). The practical test showed that the system is set up quickly. All cables are included in the package but must be hidden on the balcony. The app offers many functions. Everything can be set by hand. Their consumption can also be prioritized using an additional Zendure socket. The exciting function of first charging the storage until it is full and then feeding the solar power completely into the house was also available after an update.
All in one device: Anker Solix solar bank E1600
The Anker solution is based on a new in-house electricity storage system for balcony power plants called Solar bench E1600 (999 euros) with 1.6 kilowatt hours (kWh), the capacity of which can be increased with a second solar bank. It is plugged between the solar modules and the inverter of the balcony power plant. If you already have a balcony power plant, you can easily expand it with a battery using the Anker Solix solar bank E1600. This allows excess solar power to be used when the sun is not shining. Ideally, the storage is sufficient to cover the basic load of half a day in the household without complex controls. Installation is easy, the battery can also be left outside on the balcony (in the shade).
All about the power station: EcoFlow PowerStream
Anyone who already has a mobile EcoFlow electricity storage system can convert it into a storage system for a balcony power station. This essentially requires EcoFlow’s new PowerStream inverter (276 euros), which is connected to compatible solar modules, an EcoFlow power station and the power grid. In theory, the EcoFlow app promises great control, but in practice it is not yet fully developed because the system does not always carry out the settings in practice, but rather thinks about protecting the battery.
This is how the controls work
The structure of the three systems may be different at the hardware level, but in all cases they are controlled via an app on the smartphone. When setting up the system for the first time, the manufacturers guide the apps automatically; the three testers managed it very easily. Another similarity: The systems communicate via Bluetooth and 2.4 gigahertz WLAN. The respective app displays the flow of electricity and enables the energy to be controlled. The following guardrails can be set for all three systems:
Power requirements: How much energy does the household need permanently? Unlike a large photovoltaic system including smart meter data, the tested balcony power storage systems do not communicate with the electricity meter in the house and do not know what is actually being consumed. Instead, users themselves determine what power the house network should maintain at a constant rate, although with Zendure control is only possible in 100 watt increments, while with the other two systems it is possible to control it in 10 watt increments.
The energy flow can also be controlled by all three schedules Mistake. EcoFlow and Zendure also offer smart sockets. These are used to determine the needs of the devices connected to them and to add this power requirement to the amount of energy to be fed in. So if you hang the smart socket(s) in your home office, for example, you increase the amount of electricity you need by its requirement value. The EcoFlow Smart Plugs beeped a bit in the test, but the manufacturer sent us a newer batch that only made a barely audible beep. Good: With Zendure, Shelly accessories (previously the 3EM current sensor and the Plug S smart socket) can also be integrated into the app. This is intended to enable smart energy control that is based on the actual total consumption in the household.
Prioritization: Does the home network or storage have priority? This can be determined more or less for all three systems. At Anker the principle applies: as simple as possible. Everything here is done by entering the required house electricity, the rest goes into the storage. Anyone who changes the setting needed a little patience during our test under beta software. EcoFlow takes a granular approach: You determine whether the storage or home network has priority, but at the time of testing the focus was on the charging and discharging status of the battery. Users determine the limits within which the storage state should be. The EcoFlow control system was sometimes stubborn and did not accept the setting. With Zendure there is also the option to set the storage status and assign priorities: for the battery or the smart socket.
Full memory: With EcoFlow, anyone who has completely filled up their electricity storage on a sunny day will be surprised at what happens next. In the practical test, EcoFlow capped the power and only continued to feed in as much power as previously set. Zendure initially had the same problem, but after an update the “battery priority mode” worked as intended and allowed the solar harvest to flow directly into the house when the battery was full. Anker supplies surpluses up to the 600 watt limit applicable to balcony power plants completely to the house network.
Control on the go: For all three systems, the data can be displayed on the go using an app. Anker and Zendure can also be controlled remotely. With EcoFlow it’s not that easy. Who one FritzBox uses a trick – using the WireGuard protocol to remotely control smart home devices. You can find out how to set up the necessary VPN connection to access PowerStream remotely in our counselor.
Working without mains power
Many people are interested in a (balcony) solar system because they want to continue to be supplied with electricity in the event of a power outage. But the small power plants per se are not intended to bridge this emergency. The inverters need the grid frequency to work. Exception: The EcoFlow storage solution makes it possible to power important devices even in the event of a power outage. The in-house ones Power stations supply external devices via their sockets and USB ports – even without a network.
The Anker solar bank Solix E1600 does not have such connections. But at least there is a way to charge some anchor power stations smartly using a balcony power station. According to the manufacturer, this has so far been possible with the Anker Solix F1200 (around 1900 euros). This works via app control and by users simply connecting the power station to a socket in the house.
Save more money with storage?
One goal of operating a balcony power plant is to reduce the electricity bill. After a few years, the purchase of a plug-in solar system (around 400 to 1200 euros) will usually pay for itself. In order to clarify the question of whether a balcony power storage system potentially increases savings, as the manufacturers promise, the following must be considered:
Counter type: Anyone who has an old Ferrari electricity meter will lower their electricity bill when the meter turns backwards because the balcony solar system generates more electricity than the household uses. This practice is illegal, but widespread and lucrative. Mathematically, no storage is worthwhile for illegal operation. Modern electricity meters should be installed in households across the board by 2032 at the latest – and then what already applies to legally registered power plants will apply to all balcony power plant operators: in order to benefit from self-generated electricity, a high level of self-use is important. You can find out more about electricity meters for balcony power plants in the relevant section counselor.
Usage behavior: If the sun is shining and the washing machine, dishwasher and home office use electricity at the same time, a household uses a high proportion of the balcony power plant electricity even without storage. If little electricity is used during the day and the balcony power plant is properly connected to an electricity meter with a backstop, a storage system helps to increase your own consumption. But: It is at least as expensive to purchase as the balcony power plant itself. Therefore, those interested should analyze their own consumption behavior and think carefully about whether it is worth buying it.
Lifespan of the balcony power plant storage
In addition to the purchase price of the storage unit, you should also include its expected price in the calculation lifespan. Anker and Zendure promise a 15-year lifespan and 6,000 charging cycles and give a ten-year guarantee. With EcoFlow, the promised service life depends on the power station model you choose. The Delta 2 series comes with a five-year guarantee and 3000 charging cycles.
Conclusion
The idea of a storage system for balcony power plants immediately makes sense: Thanks to it, self-produced electricity can be used regardless of the sun – whether in the evening or on a rainy day. However, such storage makes installation more expensive. And in practice, energy control doesn’t always work optimally – even if the apps are beautifully designed and they constantly receive updates. No system has yet taken total consumption into account, but EcoFlow and Zendure do take some consumption data into account. Zendure impresses with the best-functioning control system and, like Anker’s storage system, can be hung on an existing balcony power plant. The EcoFlow inverter is worthwhile for owners of their own power stations.
Huawei introduced the Honor 8C smartphone. It is made in a plastic case and is equipped with a 6.26-inch LCD screen with a cutout at the top and a resolution of 1520×720 pixels that is more than modest for its size.
Honor 8C became the world’s first serial smartphone built on a single-chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 platform, which combines eight Kryo 250 computing cores, an Adreno 506 graphics accelerator and a Hexagon 546 DSP. The configuration includes 4 GB of RAM, 32 or 64 GB of internal flash memory, hybrid GPS/GLONASS receiver, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.2 wireless adapters. A fingerprint scanner is installed on the back panel of the case.
The front camera resolution is 8 megapixels. The main camera of this model is dual: a 13-megapixel sensor is complemented by a two-megapixel sensor; each one works in tandem with its own lens. An LED flash is installed nearby.
The device has two slots for SIM cards and a separate one for a removable microSD memory card.
The smartphone is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh.
The new product comes with Android 8.1 (Oreo) OS, which is complemented by the proprietary EMUI 8.2 graphical shell.
Honor 8C case dimensions: 158.72 x 75.94 x 7.98 mm; weight – 167.2 grams. You can choose from four color options: black, blue, lilac and gold.
The start of retail sales of the new product in China is scheduled for October 16. Prices for modifications with 32 and 64 GB of internal memory will be about $160 and $200, respectively.
Powercom has announced the expansion of its line of maintenance-free lead-acid batteries (batteries) designed for use in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Now it features seven 12-volt models with nominal capacities from 5 to 17 Ah.
The manufacturer has met all the requirements for products in this category: sealed housing, corrosion resistance, high discharge capacity and low self-discharge level, which allows them to be used after long-term storage without mandatory recharging.
Powercom batteries are universal and can be used in UPSs not only from Powercom, but also from other manufacturers. In addition, these batteries are suitable for use in emergency lighting systems, fire and security alarms, communications and automation, telecommunications equipment, as well as in power plants and electrical substations.
The new products are characterized by a long service life, high reliability and safety level, as well as maximum ease of installation and maintenance. Brief information about the models is given in the table:
More detailed information can be found on the manufacturer’s website by following this link.
