Apple did not finish 2017 with a flourish. Once news broke that it was intentionally slowing iOS devices down when the battery health fell without letting users know, the company was accused of nobbling older devices in order to coerce them into buying new devices. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has revealed that an upcoming update will giver users more control over this "feature".

HP has recalled the batteries in over 50,000 notebook computers over concerns batteries in selected models can overheat and potentially catch fire. The recall affects computers in several different portable PC ranges. HP has provided a tool for assessing whether your computer is affected asn has instituted a replacement program that comes both user replaceable and internal batteries.

There's been a long-held suspicion, or conspiracy theory depending on your point of view, that Apple deliberately slows down older iPhones in order to drive their annual sales push when new models are released. But it seems that the reason older devices perform poorly is related to battery health. Apple has admitted that as batteries age they deliberately, through software, limit the amount of current the device can draw in order to stop sudden shut downs. In other words, they slow the device to preserve the battery.

Apple is looking into claims that a battery issue with the new iPhone 8 Plus is causing devices to swell and split. There have been two reported instances that the company says they are investigating.

Panasonic has recalled battery packs from a number of its ruggedised tablet and notebook products. The defect may cause devices to overheat, produce smoke and potentially ignite. There are number of different models affected, with a number of specific battery packs made after March 2013 subject to the recall.

Mac: Apple might have pulled the battery life indicator out of the MacBook, but there are plenty of third-party ways to bring it back. If you're looking for something a little more fun than just a number, Juice let's you set your own customisable icons for different battery levels.

Android: It's easy enough to glance at your phone and see where your battery level is at. However, if you want another fun, handy option, check out Energy Bar. It's a free app that turns your phone's status bar into a battery indicator.

Android Doze is an unsung hero, saving your battery when you're not using your phone. Third-party apps like Greenify, ForceDoze and Naptime can squeeze even more juice out of your phone, but they can do a whole lot more if you tweak them.

Spoiler, the answer is yes: If your battery needs charging, go ahead and charge it overnight while you sleep. The reason it's even a question has to do with outdated battery technologies, old fears solved by modern smartphones and other concerns that this Android Authority video addresses in good order.

Android: A recent server-side update to the Facebook and Messenger apps caused a bug that rapidly drained users' batteries even more than those apps usually do. Fortunately, it's been fixed, but you'll need to restart your apps.

Want to learn about batteries? Adafruit has a great guide for picking the right battery for your DIY projects, but if you prefer video, they have got you covered there as well.

It doesn't take much for your camera's battery to fade, even if you started with multiple, all fully charged. If you're running on empty, either because it's been a long day or you just forgot to pack a backup, these tips will help you make the most of the charge you have left without sacrificing your photos.

Your smartphone does so much that it feels impossible to get through the day on a full charge. It doesn't have to be that way, though. Android's Doze feature, introduced in Marshmallow and refined in Nougat, keeps battery drain low when you're not using your phone. Here's how it works, and how to make the most of it.

Unfortunately, computers don't last forever. The most common area of a laptop that generally fails first is the battery. Battery failure can occur at any time and sometimes without warning. Other times you have some pre-warning signs that you can look out for so you can upgrade before your computer becomes unusable. For those who own a laptop, there are ways to find out if your battery needs replacing. Let's take a look at the different signs to watch out for.

Ever find yourself with a dead smartphone battery when your friend has a full charge? Make Magazine shows you how to make your own USB cable that will allow you to recharge your phone from another phone.

Windows/Mac/Linux: Opera has rolled out another update to its browser, this time introducing a power saver mode that supposedly gives you a 50 per cent boost in battery run time.

Android (6.0+): Doze mode on Android Marshmallow is a miracle worker that can extend your device's battery by a ton, whenever it's been sitting still for a long time. Greenify can crank those savings up even further.

Back in May, 2015, we crunched the payback figures for the Powerwall, based on an assumed Australian cost and example electricity prices. Now there are local installed costs available, we have broken out the calculator and gone over the figures. The question is, can the Powerwall give a decent payback time?

Android (5.0 and up): Android has a pretty powerful tool that allows you to see what's been using your phone's battery since it was last charged. If you're using it often, this shortcut makes it easier to get to.