Arstechnica has carried out a few battery life tests on Apple’s new MacBook Air and has discovered that by installing Adobe Flash onto the system, the battery life of a full charge can be reduced by as much as 33 percent.
Originally discovered by accident on a MacBook with Flash installed, websites loaded in Safari with Flash-based ads kept the CPU running far more than seemed necessary. This excessive CPU usage resulted in the battery life lasting only 4 hours with Flash installed.
The Impact of Flash on Battery Life
After deleting Adobe Flash Player, the battery life increased to over 6 hours. This significant improvement highlights the impact that Flash can have on a device’s performance and battery longevity. Apple has wasted no space in the new MacBook Air design and reduced the Air’s logic board to an absolute minimum to squeeze in the six Li-ion cells in the 11-inch model, located under the trackpad and keyboard. By comparison, the 13″ MacBook Air uses four larger Li-ion cells totaling 6500mAh.
The discovery by Arstechnica underscores the importance of optimizing software to ensure efficient power usage. Flash, known for its resource-intensive nature, can significantly drain battery life by keeping the CPU active even when it is not necessary. This is particularly problematic for portable devices like laptops, where battery life is a critical factor for user experience.
Optimizing Battery Life on MacBook Air
To maximize battery life on the MacBook Air, users can take several steps beyond just uninstalling Flash. For instance, using Safari’s built-in features to block unnecessary ads and plugins can help reduce CPU usage. Additionally, keeping the operating system and all software up to date ensures that any performance improvements and bug fixes are applied.
Another effective strategy is to manage background processes and applications. Users should regularly check the Activity Monitor to identify and close any applications that are consuming excessive resources. Adjusting system settings, such as reducing screen brightness and disabling Bluetooth when not in use, can also contribute to longer battery life.
Moreover, Apple has introduced several energy-saving features in macOS, such as App Nap and Power Nap, which help conserve battery life by putting inactive applications to sleep and allowing the system to perform background tasks efficiently. Utilizing these features can further enhance the MacBook Air’s battery performance.
More information about the Flash discovery can be found on the Arstechnica website.
In conclusion, while the MacBook Air is designed to be a highly efficient and portable device, the presence of resource-heavy software like Adobe Flash can significantly impact its battery life. By understanding and managing the factors that contribute to battery drain, users can optimize their MacBook Air for better performance and longer usage times.
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