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There are some app “genres” that boggle my mind, some categories where it seems like one app is just as good as any other in the same family. On some level, aren’t all battery monitoring apps created equal? While I’m fairly happy with a combination of Apple’s native battery icon and iStat Pro to monitor my battery health, I’ve also dabbled with apps like Battery Guard. Wondering if maybe there was a better option out there, I decided to check out a Mac App called simply “The Battery.”
What is it and what does it do
Main Functionality
The Battery is a Mac app used to keep tabs on your battery’s health and current charge level.
Pros
- Solid UI
- Advanced Tips section within the app has helpful tips for prolonging the battery life of your Mac
- Helps users track battery charge level, number of cycles/charges over the life of your battery, temperature, power usage, and maximum capacity
- Runs from your status menu bar, or right from the application dock
Cons
- While UI is definitely solid, it isn’t the sexiest-looking battery app out there
- During testing, app failed to launch a couple of times
Discussion
The sheer amount of information The Battery presents is quite impressive. In addition to current charge, cycles, and health, you can also see your battery’s manufacturer, manufacture date, and serial no.
You can also get estimates for how long your current charge will last on standby, or while performing tasks like browsing the web, watching a movie, or listening to music. I haven’t had a battery app installed on my Mac that could do that before, and it’s a really nice touch.
What I think makes The Battery really special, however, is the advanced tips section. With so many other battery apps, there is no additional documentation. Chances are, if you’re keeping taps on your battery’s health, it’s because you want it to last for a long time. Replacing a battery is a pain in the butt, and the tips given here are quite helpful. The tips make this app both useful and educational.
The UI is solid and sturdy, though I have also seen other battery apps that were more smoothly and elegantly crafted. If you tend to put style over substance, you may dislike the UI here, despite the cracking good data you get. I do like that it runs from either the dock, or from the menu bar.
Conclusion and download link
The Battery is a great app for monitoring your battery’s health and current charge level, but it’s also a really great resource for tips on how to extend your battery life. It’s a solid tool that has a few issues here and there, but is otherwise fully recommended for anyone who wants to keeps tabs on their Mac’s battery. Definitely give this Mac app a spin, even if you’re reasonably happy with the battery app you’re using now.
Price: Free
Version reviewed: 1.8
Supported OS: OS X 10.6 or later
Download size: 1.0 MB
