Why don't they invest more?

[Deleted]

It seems companies don't want to invest to solve some of the basic tech problems.

For example, with the rise of higher and higher video formats out there, the next being the 4K, the file size is huge. I am talking about 40+ GB for one standalone movie.

Another example are smartphone batteries, where they seem to last less and less. Now I know they tried to hotfix it by having shorter recharge time, but still use a smartphone for 3-4h and it's almost out.

[Deleted]

they will invest when its profitable not when its useful/needed

[Gamdwelf]

It seems companies don't want to invest to solve some of the basic tech problems.

For example, with the rise of higher and higher video formats out there, the next being the 4K, the file size is huge. I am talking about 40+ GB for one standalone movie.

Another example are smartphone batteries, where they seem to last less and less. Now I know they tried to hotfix it by having shorter recharge time, but still use a smartphone for 3-4h and it's almost out.

Because solving those problems are not as simple as just throwing money at them.

[Elegiac]

Why?

For the same reason they don't sell long-lasting tires, lightbulbs, or razors. They have the technology to make them cheaply, but they don't; because if they lasted for a long time, they wouldn't be able to sell you new ones.

[fengosa]

It seems companies don't want to invest to solve some of the basic tech problems.

For example, with the rise of higher and higher video formats out there, the next being the 4K, the file size is huge. I am talking about 40+ GB for one standalone movie.

Another example are smartphone batteries, where they seem to last less and less. Now I know they tried to hotfix it by having shorter recharge time, but still use a smartphone for 3-4h and it's almost out.

Essentially consumers value quality over simplicity. Morse code requires little to no data encryption but it makes for a shitty movie. Similarly any gains in battery life has probably been countered by designs which call for bigger screens with higher resolution. Pixels don't power themselves and your battery is still the best way to do it. That second core on your smartphone, yeah it uses power too.

---------- Post added 2013-06-05 at 03:49 PM ----------

Why?

For the same reason they don't sell long-lasting tires, lightbulbs, or razors. They have the technology to make them cheaply, but they don't; because if they lasted for a long time, they wouldn't be able to sell you new ones.

Batteries are typically rechargeable so I'm not sure if this really applies.

[Skippy88]

It's more profitable because you sell more items of the lesser quality. Think of cars that are made to last 100 years. That's great for us but not so great for the car industry.

[Elegiac]

Batteries are typically rechargeable so I'm not sure if this really applies.

Rechargeable batteries do not last indefinitely. They last longer than the average disposable battery, yes. But in terms of useful life? Not a massive increase.

[Daveon]

Why?

For the same reason they don't sell long-lasting tires, lightbulbs, or razors. They have the technology to make them cheaply, but they don't; because if they lasted for a long time, they wouldn't be able to sell you new ones.

Actually they do make long-lasting light bulbs. There are LED light bulbs on the market right now that can last up to 20 years. They just cost more because the technology is new. Within 10 years, it's likely they will become the majority of bulbs sold once the price is where CFLs are today.

And most things that involve friction (e.g. tires and razors) will wear out with usage. It's hard to come up with something that is safe, effective, and will last a long time when its main use involves friction. Incidentally tires do last longer (and are safer) today than they did 50 years ago.

Back to the topic of smartphones, phones use much more power these days because of the many many apps that people regularly run that use power... Do you really need Zynga poker notifying you someone you know is playing RIGHT NOW? That takes processing power (and network usage), and therefore battery life... Get an app that will tell you what apps are sucking your power, and kill those apps...

[Kathandira]

Battery Tech has not really moved much in quite a few years. Simply because there is no answer. At an IT job I had a few years back, I had to provide support for a conference about exactly this. There were some amazing minds at work in this conference, but all they can do was toss around ideas. There were no solid answers to the battery life issue.

Every time battery capacity is increased, we find a new things to add to our devices to use that power. Battery tech literally can not keep up with the power demand from our devices.

Razors can be used over a long period of time. But that depends on the sensitivity of your skin and thickness of your hair. Some people must change their razor every week. Others every month. Myself, I use the same razor head for about 4 months. I have extremely thin and light hair, and I only need to shave weekly.



As for longer lasting things not being sold due to the profit made off of selling short lasting disposable items. This is true and also untrue. It depends on the company. GE had put out longer lasting lightbulbs, but they were not cheap. Their price has gone down, and more people buy them then in the past. Regular light bulbs are slowly being phased out.

Tires last far longer than they used to as well. When I first started driving, I had to replace tires annually, Now I replace them every two years. Their quality doubled in 15 years.

[Rukentuts]

Because they have to make technology consumers will actually pay for.

[Deleted]

I'm way more surprised why they don't invest in proper education, healthcare and rooting out corruption.

Potato, potato: They wan't to make money off it.

[Kathandira]

Actually they do make long-lasting light bulbs. There are LED light bulbs on the market right now that can last up to 20 years. They just cost more because the technology is new. Within 10 years, it's likely they will become the majority of bulbs sold once the price is where CFLs are today.

And most things that involve friction (e.g. tires and razors) will wear out with usage. It's hard to come up with something that is safe, effective, and will last a long time when its main use involves friction. Incidentally tires do last longer (and are safer) today than they did 50 years ago.

Back to the topic of smartphones, phones use much more power these days because of the many many apps that people regularly run that use power... Do you really need Zynga poker notifying you someone you know is playing RIGHT NOW? That takes processing power (and network usage), and therefore battery life... Get an app that will tell you what apps are sucking your power, and kill those apps...

Yo dawg, I heard you like to watch your battery life and are concerned about Apps....Here is an app that will watch your apps and monitor your battery while using your battery.

[Daveon]

Yo dawg, I heard you like to watch your battery life and are concerned about Apps....Here is an app that will watch your apps and monitor your battery while using your battery.

I know you're just being funny, but you only have to run the monitor occasionally to check what's going on... once you "fix" your battery life issue, you can remove the app until your battery life is suffering again.

[Kathandira]

I know you're just being funny, but you only have to run the monitor occasionally to check what's going on... once you "fix" your battery life issue, you can remove the app until your battery life is suffering again.

Yeah I was just messin with ya. I live by my task manager. Every hour I check to see what apps are running, and kill them. I also clear my RAM at that time. It's amazing how quickly 500MB of Ram will build up. I have 1GB of RAM, about 368MB is used by the OS. I find myself with all but 200MB left at least once a day if I do not clear it regularly.

With this practice, My phone pretty much lasts all day. Unless I am in an area with crappy service, my battery doesn't drain so terribly.

[Reg]

One thing with smartphones, make sure to turn the WiFi off when you aren't using it. It drains the battery because it constantly searches for a signal.

[Deleted]

Battery Tech is catching up but it's ignorant to demand such improvements.

Efficient, powerful and reliable forms of energy storage are a bit of a fantasy as batteries are all about trade offs.

If you can produce a cost effective battery which can provide more power over a longer time period than the current lithium-ion/polymer batteries then congratulations, you better get writing that nobel prize speech.

[Endus]

It seems companies don't want to invest to solve some of the basic tech problems.

For example, with the rise of higher and higher video formats out there, the next being the 4K, the file size is huge. I am talking about 40+ GB for one standalone movie.

That's because, if you double the dimensions of the screen, the actual image is four times larger, meaning it will generate a file size four times as large. This isn't a "problem", particularly as storage is getting larger and cheaper faster than file sizes are increasing.

Another example are smartphone batteries, where they seem to last less and less. Now I know they tried to hotfix it by having shorter recharge time, but still use a smartphone for 3-4h and it's almost out.

Batteries have multiple concerns going into their makeup, charge time is only one of them. Size/weight is another big one. If people keep wanting smaller/slimmer/lighter phones, they're going to keep skimping on battery to accomplish that.

[fengosa]

One thing with smartphones, make sure to turn the WiFi off when you aren't using it. It drains the battery because it constantly searches for a signal.

This is correct but if you are in a wifi area use that over you're cell network since it's more efficient.

[Romeo83x]

The last scientific breakthrough in battery technology was in 1800. So far all attempts to develop a new battery have failed.

Increased battery life nowadays usually comes from lowering the consumption (low voltage processors for example) rather than increasing the battery itself.

[theWocky]

They're working on a 3 technologies at the moment - 1 is longer battery life (different polymers), 2 is longer battery durability (protecting the decomposition of the + and - terminals), 3 is quicker charge (a lattice system has been suggested). I've seen articles on all 3 different areas pop up as "tech" flip-board articles in the last six months with speculation of product delivery in 2~3 years or so.

So, yeah - don't know where you coming from that no-one wants to invest.

Other science: What about the breakthroughs year-on-year in solar energy? Heat + Light used for power from the panels

Did you even know that they have successfully doubled the life of a mouse and just last month announced huge advancements in restorative medicine.

Just because you're not keeping up to date and reading doesn't mean nothing is happening. Technology advances all the time.

~ just because you're not reading about it doesn't mean it isn't happening. These ideas take time to perfect.

---------- Post added 2013-06-05 at 08:14 PM ----------

Why?

For the same reason they don't sell long-lasting tires, lightbulbs, or razors. They have the technology to make them cheaply, but they don't; because if they lasted for a long time, they wouldn't be able to sell you new ones.

Of course they make long-lasting tyres compared to years ago with superior grip, lower fuel consumption, better grip, better engines, (LED lights want to have a word with you regarding life) - some items are consumable as there is a necessity of friction involved.