The iPad mini is charging slowly. Is it bad if your iPad charges slowly? The controller is out of order

The famous Apple gadgets are the dream of many people. Their wide capabilities, innovative design, high technologies win the hearts of domestic buyers. As you know, "apple" devices are distinguished by a high level of reliability and a long service life. However, unforeseen problems can occur, for example, the iPad does not charge. Of course, such a breakdown makes the owner nervous.

By connecting the power adapter to the device and seeing a message on the screen stating that charging is not taking place, you immediately start to panic. But professionals do not recommend running to a service center. First you need to find out the reason why such a failure occurs in the system. To do this, it is advisable to test not only the charger itself, but also the iPad. Correct diagnosis is a guarantee of stability.

Within the framework of this article, the most common reasons will be considered when it is impossible to charge an "apple" device. We will also offer several ways to solve this problem.

IPad won't charge - what to do?

All gadget owners know which icon is displayed while charging. There is a battery icon on the main screen. A lightning bolt appears when the charger is connected to the iPad. If one day this did not happen, then it is necessary to look for the reason.

Studying the reviews of both ordinary users and professional craftsmen, we can conclude that the most common problems are problems with the adapter, wires or outlet. Also, do not exclude the banal clogging of the connector. Sometimes a problem with charging can arise due to mechanical damage or moisture penetration into the device. And finally, the most serious breakdown cannot be ruled out - the failure of the power controller.

So let's look at each reason in more detail.

Looking for the reason in the wire

If then the first action of the owner should be to check the charger, or rather the cable. It is necessary to inspect it for damage. This must be done carefully, as insulation failure can be microscopic. It is also recommended to check the contacts in order to exclude the presence of problem areas.

Another important point is the cable brand. All Apple devices recognize only original accessories. If they are not MFI certified, the system will automatically lock the iPad.

In order to exclude this reason, you need to check the cable by connecting it to another device. If charging does not take place on it, then it is necessary to replace the wire with a new one. But if a message appears on the iPad screen stating that this accessory is not supported, then most likely the cable is simply a fake. It is recommended before buying to pay attention to the inscription on the packaging: Made for iPod, iPad, iPhone. This label is used when the product is manufactured by another company that is an official Apple partner.

We check the performance of the socket and adapter

If everything is in order with the cable, and the iPad does not charge, then you need to continue looking for the causes of the breakdown. Sometimes it can be so banal that it sometimes becomes very funny. The fact is that in their reviews, users often describe situations when a non-working outlet was used to charge the gadget. In order to exclude this, it is necessary to connect through it another device that is in a working state.

The adapter is a little more difficult. If possible, then you need to try it on a smartphone or other tablet. You can also disassemble the adapter in order to visually check the condition of the contacts.

The controller is out of order

One of the serious breakdowns when the iPad stops charging can be a broken power controller. Most often, such a malfunction occurs with those tablets that are connected to an uncertified cable.

Unfortunately, this repair will cost the owner a lot. We can say that he will be very lucky if the gadget is still under warranty.

Damage to the tablet

There are many different situations when the iPad won't charge. The reviews that are presented on the Web often describe situations in which the tablet received mechanical damage. This happens quite often. Many users have encountered this problem. In this situation, there can be only one solution - to go to the service center.

Also, problems with charging in the iPad can occur if moisture gets inside the case. Contacts begin to oxidize, which leads to breakdowns. In such a situation, you need to be on the lookout, since moisture can provoke a malfunction that will completely disable the device. As in the first case, the owners will have to seek help from qualified craftsmen.

Charging from a computer

On the web, users often raise the topic that the iPad is slowly charging from the computer. This problem does not arise due to breakdown, but due to technical characteristics. The fact is that a tablet requires a lot more power than a smartphone. When the screen is on, the charging will be in place.

If the owner is interested in the time period for which the battery restores its resource up to 100%, then it is recommended to abandon this method by switching the device into an outlet. Otherwise, you can leave the tablet connected via a USB cable, but do not forget to turn off the screen. This method of charging the battery will take a very long time.

IPad shows it is charging but not charging

Having kept the gadget connected to the mains all night, users may find in the morning that it simply has not charged. In such a situation, the reason must be sought in the battery. As a rule, you will need to reconnect the gadget to power in order to make sure whether the charging icon appears or not. If everything is displayed in standard form, then you need to wait about one hour. Then check if the charge value has changed. If this does not happen, then you need to go to the service center. It will carry out diagnostics and determine exactly what the problem is: the battery or the electronic part of the gadget.

So, having figured out the reasons why the iPad does not charge, you need to try to fix the breakdown. The first thing that can help with this issue is cleaning the charger connector. Professionals advise using a regular toothpick for this. All actions must be very careful, since it is quite easy to damage the contacts. However, if this did not help, and all other methods have already been tried, then you will have to go to the service center for qualified help.

While the iPad Air is the best 10-inch tablet on the market, it also has its drawbacks.
Here we've rounded up all of the most common iPad Air problems and their solutions.

You can find solutions to the problems associated with the new iOS 8 firmware.

Problem: tablet charges slowly

Several iPad Air owners were surprised at how long it takes to fully charge the tablet. Average charging time should be three to four hours, and if your tablet takes longer to charge, you should try the following:

Crutch:

While the phone is charging, try turning on offline mode and not using the device. You can also turn off your tablet completely.

Possible solutions:

  • Make sure to use the original cable and charger that came with your iPad Air. Other chargers may have inappropriate voltage limiting the charging rate.
  • Use a charger and an outlet, as USB charges your tablet more slowly.
  • Make sure the charger connectors are clean.

Problem: Safari Tabs Refresh

Safari's constantly refreshing tabs are an issue that plagues many iPad Air owners. People with two or more Safari tabs open will notice that switching between apps or even between different Safari tabs will refresh all tabs. There are many discussions of this problem on the Internet, and most people agree that this problem is due to a lack of RAM.

Crutch:

  • Hold the Sleep / Wake button and the Home button until the iPad restarts.
  • You can try using a different browser. Some people prefer Dolphin, Atomic, or Chrome.
  • You can improve the situation by going to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset] and deleting all settings, but the problem may reoccur.
  • Try not to use many applications and open tabs at the same time.

Bluetooth connectivity issue

Sometimes you may encounter problems connecting to other accessories (such as a keyboard, speaker, or headset) using Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in the settings menu before taking any action.

Possible solutions:

  • Remove the paired device from the list of available devices and set up the connection again.
  • Try restarting your iPad Air and then try connecting again.
  • If possible, try restarting the second device. Also, make sure it is charged.
  • Some Bluetooth devices can only have one active connection at a time, so you need to delete existing connections to connect to it.

Problem: no sound

If you find your iPad Air is missing audio, start by checking your volume settings and make sure you don't have headphones plugged in.

Possible solutions:

  • Double click on the Home button and close all open applications.
  • Try resetting. To do this, simultaneously hold down the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons until the iPad restarts and the Apple logo appears, which will take about 10 seconds.
  • Make sure the screen position is not the problem. Go to the [Settings\u003e General] menu and check the "Switch on the side panel" section: there should not be a checkmark next to the "Mute" item.
  • Pull up from the bottom of the screen to access Control Center and make sure Silent is turned off. You also need to turn off AirPlay and Bluetooth to make sure your iPad Air is not connected to another device and is not trying to play audio through it.
  • Try plugging and unplugging the headphones and cleaning the earphone jack to make sure nothing is stuck there.
  • Go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset\u003e Reset All Settings] and check if there is sound after that.
  • If none of the above helps, then contact an Apple Service Center.

Problem: the camera won't load or freezes

Some iPad Air owners have already found that their camera refuses to work properly. For some, it does not start, and for others, it often fails.

Possible solutions:

  • Double click on the Home button and close the camera and other applications that might be using it. Restart the camera and check if that helped.
  • Restart iPad Air.
  • Go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Restrictions] and make sure you don't have restrictions on the use of the camera and other applications.
  • Go to the [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset] menu, reset all settings and check if that helped.
  • Also you can try to do backup and restore. Go to [Settings\u003e iCloud\u003e Storage & Copies] and select Back Up. When the backup is ready, go to the [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset] menu and delete the content and settings. Before restoring data from backup, check if the camera is working.
  • If the problem persists with the camera, contact an Apple Service Center - it may be a hardware error.

Problem: the touchscreen is not responding to your actions

Some people are faced with the problem of the iPad Air touchscreen: periodically, either the entire tablet screen or a certain part of it does not respond to user actions, and sometimes iPad Air captures touches that were not there.

Possible solutions:

  • Try pressing and holding the Sleep / Wake button until a slider appears on the screen to turn off your tablet. If the touch screen does not work and you cannot turn off the tablet using the slider, then press and hold the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons for 10 seconds to force a restart.
  • While iPad Air is off, gently wipe the screen with a damp microfiber cloth.
  • Tablet screen protectors can also cause touch screen malfunctions.
  • Press the Home button three times, or go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Accessibility] and make sure that you have turned off the speaking function.
  • You can backup and restore data using iCloud and [Settings\u003e iCloud\u003e Storage & Backups\u003e Back Up] and [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset\u003e Erase Content & Settings].
  • If the problem persists, then you better contact an Apple Service Center.

Problem: screen orientation does not switch

For some people, iPad Air gets stuck in landscape or portrait orientation and doesn't respond to user input.

Possible solutions:

  • First of all, make sure your iPad Air's side switch isn't the problem: go to [Settings\u003e General] and under Sidebar Switch, uncheck the “Orientation Lock” checkbox.
  • If this is not the problem, try restarting the tablet using the Sleep / Wake and Home buttons (simultaneously hold these buttons until you see the Apple logo on the screen - this will take about 10 seconds).
  • Finally, go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset] and select “Reset All Settings” and restart your tablet.

Problem: freezes, malfunctions and restarting the tablet

For some people, iPad Air periodically freezes, and sometimes spontaneously closes all applications and shows a home or black screen; someone's tablet reboots itself. This usually happens in an open application, or when you try to open it; and neither the screen nor the Home button responds to your actions. Many people think that the problem with the tablet is a lack of RAM.

Crutch:

To bring your iPad Air back to life, try restarting it. After that, the tablet should work, but there is a possibility that the problem will reoccur.

Possible solutions:

  • Make sure the problem is not due to insufficient memory: go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Statistics] and close any unnecessary applications. Also, remove any apps you no longer use from your tablet.
  • Get in the habit of periodically closing all unused applications.
  • Try resetting the settings using the [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset\u003e Erase All Settings].
  • One of your apps might be causing the problem. To test this hypothesis, you can delete all applications and, after making sure that the tablet no longer freezes, start gradually restoring them. After installing each application, you will need to test your tablet for a while to make sure it doesn't freeze again. To make this process easier, you can back up and then delete your settings and content. Then you can selectively install the applications you want.
  • For some people, this issue is related to Bluetooth keyboards and other Bluetooth accessories. You can easily check if this is your case: unplug the accessory for a while and see if the tablet continues to freeze. If the problem is with the connected Bluetooth accessories, then you should contact the manufacturer for a replacement device.
  • If your iPad Air continues to freeze and restart after deleting all content and settings, contact your store or supplier for a replacement device.

Problem: recovery takes years or doesn't work at all

When transferring your data to the new iPad Air, you may also have problems. For some people, this process takes too long, for others it stops altogether and offers to start all over again.

Keep in mind - if you transfer a large amount of photos or videos, the recovery process will take a long time anyway.

Possible solutions:

  • If you think the process has stopped, try restarting your iPad Air. Some users note that when the tablet was turned off and on, the data recovery process started from where it stopped and went much faster.
  • Try restarting your router.
  • If you have problems recovering from iCloud, try to recover data using cable and iTunes.
  • If that doesn't work either, reset your iPad Air. Back up your data first and then go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset\u003e Erase Content & Settings]. After that, create a new account on your Mac or Macbook, give it administrator rights, restart your computer and log in as a new user. Connect your old iPad to your computer and use iTunes to back it up. When the copy is ready, plug in a new iPad Air and try to restore again, but from a new backup.

Problem: overheating

All modern mobile technologies are prone to overheating under certain circumstances, because, despite their relatively small size, they contain large batteries, screens with 1080p resolution, and processors are working at their limit. Aside from a couple of scary stories out there, Apple has an excellent track record in this area and typically the iPad only heats up under heavy load. However, if the tablet gets too hot, a warning appears on the screen and it turns off automatically.

Crutches:

  • Cases and covers can cause your tablet to overheat. Try not to use them.
  • If you are in a hot place (for example, in a car under the scorching sun), you may want to move to a cooler place or turn on the air conditioner if possible.
  • If you play resource-intensive games for a long time, then sooner or later the tablet will heat up. Try to take breaks from the game.

Possible solutions:

If your iPad Air heats up frequently and for no apparent reason (you are in a cool room and do not load it), then you should contact an Apple Service Center for inspection.

Fault: dark stripes and / or a yellow tint appeared on one side of the screen

Some iPad Air owners have complained about tablet display issues. Reports indicate dark vertical or horizontal streaks that appear primarily on the left side of the display. We also faced complaints about a noticeable difference in color between different parts of the screen - the left side takes on a yellow tint, which is clearly visible if the display has a white splash screen.

Decision: this problem is related to the hardware of the device, so the only thing you can do is get a replacement from the store where you bought it.

Problem: Safari crashes

Many people experience persistent crashes in the Safari browser - most often this happens when they try to open new tabs in the browser; although for Safari to crash permanently, sometimes just trying to switch to another tab is enough.

Possible solutions:

  • Go to [Preferences\u003e Safari] and select "Clear history" and "Clear cookies and data".
  • Try restarting your iPad.
  • If that doesn't work, go to [Settings\u003e iCloud\u003e Storage & Copies] and select Back Up. When the backup is ready, go to the [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset] menu and delete the content and settings. Then restore the data from the backup.
  • Download the Google Chrome browser.

WiFi issue: tablet won't connect to network or connection is very slow and keeps dropping

This is a common problem in modern mobile devices. If your iPad Air won't connect to Wi-Fi, or your connection keeps dropping, you can try the following solutions:

Possible solutions:

  • Reboot your router and your tablet.
  • Turn iPad Air offline, go to [Settings\u003e General\u003e Reset], and select Reset Network Settings. Now disable offline mode and reconfigure the connection.
  • Check your router settings and update the firmware - you will find detailed information on how to do this in the instructions for your router. Try switching frequencies and other router settings that may affect the quality of the connection (including switching from automatic channel selection to a specific setting can increase the speed).
  • Try backing up and restoring your iPad using iCloud.

Issue: battery runtime

This is another common problem with all modern tablets, but compared to the competition, the iPad Air should have reasonably attractive battery life.

If your tablet runs out of power quickly, even with light use, try the following:

Possible solutions:

  • Do you have any doubts about some resource-intensive application? If you have a specific application installed that is causing a bunch of problems, then check if there are fresh updates for it. After using this app, always close it so that it does not consume extra energy.
  • Try to force restart the device by simultaneously holding the Sleep / Wake button and the Home button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
  • If your iPad has a cellular connection, then when you are in an area of \u200b\u200bpoor reception, it can consume a lot of power while searching for LTE or 3G networks. Try to turn off your cellular connection when you don't need it.
  • Back up and restore your iPad Air with iCloud.
  • If the situation does not change, and one charge of your tablet is not enough for 9 hours, then this may be a hardware problem. If this happens, try contacting an Apple Service Center.

One of the most common problems with Apple technology is the situation when the iPad is slowly charging - sometimes a whole night is not enough for the iPad to fully charge the battery.

Battery charge rate can vary for various reasons: tablet battery status, charger and software status, and so on. In some cases, you will be able to fix your device yourself.


Causes of malfunction (external factors)

If the tablet takes a long time to charge or does not turn on for a long time on charging, first try changing something in the standard approach. When it takes an unreasonably long time to charge the tablet, the problem is not a device breakdown, but external factors:

  • you charge your tablet from a laptop or computer
  • you are not using the original charger, but an unsuitable analog
  • you are using a faulty USB cable
  • the model of the "charger" does not match the tablet
  • the socket does not work correctly
  • iPad hasn't been used for a long time

In order for the battery to fully recover quickly again, it is often enough, for example, to change the charger or the outlet.


Causes of malfunction (software)

If your iPad is charging very slowly, the problem might be a software issue. The following are possible settings that negatively affect battery performance:

  • battery power is absorbed by high screen brightness. It is enough to lower it for the device to recharge faster. Go to the settings, then to the item "Screen and brightness" and adjust it using a special slider
  • iPad does not hold a charge and recharges poorly due to the fact that a new firmware was installed, in this case it would be best to go back to the previous version
  • the iPad started to charge very slowly due to the use of numerous resource-intensive applications: Bluetooth, WiFi, notifications, auto-lock. Bluetooth, WiFi and app notifications can be turned off completely, and auto-lock can be set to optimal mode (2 minutes)

There are special tips in the instructions, in case the iPad does not turn on right away when charging or is too slow to fully charge. The manufacturer recommends to proceed as follows:

  • make sure the cable is intact
  • check if the device is correctly connected to the outlet
  • clean the charging port, and then connect it to the outlet more tightly
  • hard reboot. To do this, simultaneously for ten seconds (until the Apple logo appears), hold down the sleep / wake and home buttons

Yudu specialist services

If you've followed the steps above but still can't fix the problem and your iPad is charging slowly, you should seek professional help. Experienced craftsmen will diagnose, find the cause of the breakdown and fix it. It is possible that for the device to stop restoring battery power very slowly, it will take a complex one.

The specialists registered in Yuda will cope with the work efficiently and in a short time, each of them is a professional in their field. The work will use special tools and original spare parts.

Also, any Yuda performer will find a solution if other problems have appeared with the battery of the Apple tablet:

  • the tablet does not turn on for a long time on charging
  • the device does not reach full charge, but only up to 70-80 percent of the charge
  • the device does not hold a charge or does it very badly and others

If the iPad is slowly charging, stopped turning on while charging, or started to discharge quickly, contact Yuda's specialists, they can effectively fix the breakdown.

the iPad takes longer to charge compared to the iPhone, and the explanation is very simple. The tablet has a larger diagonal, which means that it is more gluttonous, and accordingly, it needs a more capacious battery. Well, the larger the battery capacity, the longer it takes to charge. An iOS smartphone can be charged in a couple of hours, but an Apple tablet needs 5-6 hours to fully charge the watch (from a wall outlet! iPad will charge much longer from the USB port of a PC!).

However, as a result of this or that problem, the gadget may charge much more slowly. Has your iPad been charging from a wall outlet for over 6 hours and still far from 100% charge? So, something is wrong here, let's figure out what the problem might be.

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind if the iPad is charging slowly is the thought, and is the battery "dying"? The thought is very logical, however, before blaming all the bumps on this short-lived element, let's still think about how justified our suspicions are.

Modern batteries do not last long - this is true, and you can understand them - their life is not easy - they have to "pull" super efficient processors and large bright displays. Fuel is added to the fire by users who are not averse to turning on Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth together and in addition launching a couple of dozen more applications in the background. "Cherry on the cake" - zero discharge, which is so disliked by modern lithium batteries. That is why, when the charge level reaches 20%, a notification about a low power level appears on the display of the gadget - it is at this moment that it is best to start charging the device.

In aggressive mode, the battery will begin to show signs of "fatigue" after a year of operation, careful use will give it another year. However, one way or another, the regression in this situation will be gradual - that is, the battery will discharge a little faster every day and charge a little longer. If in your case everything is different, that is, everything was fine yesterday, and today the iPad suddenly takes a long time to charge, then the battery is hardly to blame.

Failed or not certified charger

Who then? The second suspect is the charger you're trying to charge your iPad with. There may be two situations - you are using an old charger or a new one. Let's look at both cases.

If you use the same charging as a power source as always, but the charge level creeps up more slowly than a turtle, and there seems to be no reason to blame the battery, properly inspect the cable - whether the insulation has frayed, whether it has broken ...

In addition, pay attention to the contacts - whether they are dirty - both on the side of the wire and on the side of the smartphone. Dust gets into the connectors perfectly and if you don't clean it regularly, the electrical contact, and hence the charge, can be interrupted from time to time. Result? iPad takes a very long time to charge.

In that situation, if you are using a new charger, ask yourself the question - did I buy it in a safe place? Apple guarantees the correct operation of i-technology only with native accessories or certified ones - the latter should have a label - MFI (Made for iPad).

A native charger for an iPad costs 1,500 rubles, a certified one - about 500 rubles.

By the way, to the question of why the MFI-wire cannot be much cheaper than 500 rubles. The fact is that certified sellers are required to pay Apple a certain tax for the presence of the prestigious Made for iPad label on their products, and this tax, of course, affects pricing. A certified cable for 150 rubles is something from the realm of fantasy, the seller will never trade at a loss.

If you bought a cheap charger, then it's not MFI, and of course not made in Apple factories. This means that correct operation is not guaranteed and such a power source can easily afford to charge for a long time and badly.

And by the way, slow charging is perhaps the most innocent consequence of using cheap power supplies. Failure to comply with the modes of currents and voltages can lead to much more serious consequences ...

Power controller and other microcircuits

... for example, failure of the power controller. And now this is a more serious situation, if this microcircuit has suffered, the repair will have to be done in the service, and it will not cost cheap. By the way, Chinese 100-ruble chargers can "kill" other fragile electronic components of the iPad. So when deciding to save on a charger, think not even twice, but three times. It is better to pay 300-400 rubles more than to get to the repairs of many thousands or even to hear the harsh "cannot be restored".

The best solution is to contact the service center!

So, as you can see, there are tons of reasons the iPad might start charging more slowly. What can be summed up?

  • If the regression is sharp, then the battery is hardly to blame.
  • If the charger perfectly charges another iPad (namely the iPad!), And yours refuses, then it’s not the problem.

What's left? Nothing good - most likely more important internal components are out of order. But wait, get upset - perhaps, after all, the matter is in the battery, which decided to die not long and painfully, but quickly and effectively (and this happens!). To check for sure, contact the service for diagnostics.

By the way, great news - in most i-technology repair shops this service is free!

And is this a big problem? Let's figure it out... At some point, happy iPad owners are faced with the problem of a lack of charge on their device. The iPad won't charge, and at first this begs a logical question - why isn't it charging? Or there is no contact in the cord, or something is broken in the gadget, etc. No need to panic.
When faced with this kind of situation, of course, you do not need to fly anywhere headlong, since everything is normal with the device. The reason that the ipad does not have a charge from lies directly in the computers themselves.
"Apple" tablets need more energy to charge than, for example,. That is why the iPad can take charge from the computer only in standby mode, blocking.

IPad not charging, what to do?

The owners of MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iMac, MacBook, who saw the world from 2011 onwards, do not face such a dilemma. Their devices are equipped with powerful ports that provide the iPad with the amount of power it needs. Well, in parallel, you can play games.
The USB port, in standard mode, is capable of operating all connected devices with a power consumption of up to 2.5 watts. This power is not enough for that, because its charge is provided by a power supply unit with a power of 10 watts.
When the charging time of the iPad does not matter, you can safely connect it to your computer. He will take charge slowly, but do not forget to press the sleep mode key (display lock), otherwise the problem pops up again - why is the ipad not charging?

What to do if your iPad is slowly taking charge

Try connecting the USB cable to all available ports on your computer. Therefore, you should know exactly the characteristics of all USB connectors that your computer has. Modern hardware comes with three types of USB. Two of them, 2.0 and 1.0 , provide amperage up to 500 mA, and 3.0 the USB port gives out almost twice as much - within 890 mA. Naturally, from a 1.0 USB, the iPad will take a charge for a while, and from a 3.0 port, charging will be much more efficient, especially in terms of time.
You can purchase a double USB adapter - this is a Y-shaped wire, because it makes it possible to take 2 times more energy.
This kind of adaptation solves the problem of practicality and mobility at the same time. Its name is dictated by the fact that the device has 2 inputs - for data and supply, but there is only one output. It looks like letter Y.
To solve the problem when the ipad has no charge, the manufacturer has modified its motherboards. Special programs were also released. They are able to switch the USB port to a different mode, respectively, thus providing the necessary power.
Based on all of the above, it is worth remembering:
- all iPad devices take charge from the computer rather slowly;
- the appearance on the iPad display of the icon that "no charging" is not a breakdown of the cable or device. When the ipad does not charge, it can be solved.

Video on why iPad won't charge