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Apple has never been the "de facto standard" for any of its products, nor does it want to be. There are over 1.5 billion Apple devices in use worldwide, and those users are more likely to use Siri and HomeKit than the alternatives.

You make a valid point. It just would make so much sense if they introduced HomeKit in such a way that third parties would have more easily supported it. And made it more robust and reliable. That would have strengthened the position of their iOS devices. Instead, they let Amazon and Google introduce cheaper devices that are more easily supported by third parties. I would assume Apple is scared of that. After all, there missing out on a USP for their devices, and letting the smart home market slide. But what do I know, they’re the biggest tech company in the world. Meanwhile, I have 7 apps for smart devices not working together.
 
I don't think is has something to do with hardware and software with Apple releasing this product. I just can't imagine what causes them any trouble in putting this product together. I think the only reason why Tim is having trouble releasing is the pricing. There's no way Apple will be selling this for $79 that's a tough sell and I don't think Tim would sell this below $129. This is where Apple starting to struggle, pricing their product when people started to notice how ridiculous it is.

Wildly varying current draws depending on what is being charged and how many-as well as how close- 2 devices are, induction charging which can mean heat issues, and consumer safety laws and standards make this a difficult product to do when you aren’t working in a price is no object situation. I get that this isn’t simple. I work in industrial controls and have had customers ‘modify’ things our company has to think of ways to prevent those mis-uses from being dangerous.
 
You can call it whatever you want. But anyone that would try to make the argument that Apple doesn’t have better product quality than most similar products on the market is just not being very genuine.
And anyone that’s been to business school would recognize that Apple clearly is not differentiating themselves on price. They are differentiating themselves in quality of product, and perception of product superiority. It’s up to consumers to decide if that quality difference justifies the price difference. Ridiculing it, or calling it names... doesn’t really do anything to help the conversation, other than make you personally feel better about your decisions I guess.
Well said.
 
By far the worst thing about them not releasing this product is how much we have to hear about it. I must have listened to hours of pointless blathering on podcasts about what could possibly have gone wrong. As the product would remove the nightstand functionality of the watch, it always seemed completely useless to me. Having to hear about it forever more only makes this worse.
 
I've got to place my Max perfectly on the wireless charging pad I have for it to work. I can't imagine what they would have to do to make it so three things could easily charge on the mat without having to scoot each item around waiting for the charging indication. That being said, I would love to have a mat that charged as long as the item was on it.
 
6S / 7 didn't release with outdated tech.
Oh boy, here we go. What exactly is "outdated" with the XR? The screen? Both my wife an I have repeatedly compared her 7 Plus screen to my XR screen, and it is very difficult to see any difference in resolution. Color accuracy? The best LCD to date. True Tone. Wide gamut. 120hz touch refresh. Cameras? Same Face ID and Wide Angle as XS models, which are considered quite large upgrades over previous iPhones. Same A12 processor and graphics. Same wireless charging as XS. IP67 rated. Much better stereo speakers. Same ability to record stereo as the XS models. Essentially every feature but absolute pixel density and IP67 rating is a massive upgrade from the 6S (which didn't even have IP67 rating) and even the 7 Plus. There is not one thing "outdated" on the XR.
 
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We all know what went wrong, it's the Apple Curse thanks to Mr Ive
Form over function.
Apple trying to cram electronics into cases/designs too thin/small to have correct cooling so it's all running near it's thermal limits.
Just make it thicker you numb-nuts so it will run lovely and cool.
They won't do that of course.
:(
 
Okay, I can accept that. What are they trying to deliver?

A pad that can charge multiple Apple devices, no matter where you place them on that pad. The pads that exist have dedicated areas: put the phone in this area, the watch in this area. Put them in the wrong area nothing will get charged. I think you can put multiple phones and multiple watches on the pad, so if you and a SO both put items on the pad they will charge. Of course, the more items charging might mean that they all charge more slowly as there has to be a current limit.
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We all know what went wrong, it's the Apple Curse thanks to Mr Ive
Form over function.
Apple trying to cram electronics into cases/designs too thin/small to have correct cooling so it's all running near it's thermal limits.
Just make it thicker you numb-nuts so it will run lovely and cool.
They won't do that of course.
:(

Possible. I do think since they were trying not to have dedicated places to set specific items that current draws and thermal heating of units physically close to each other isn’t easy no matter what, if you are working with maximum cost per unit constraints.
 
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Welcome to Tim Cook’s Apple. Announcing products years in advance but fail to have it materialize.
Yeah, it’s a really pivotal product and there are so many other examples of unreleased products with detailed announcements.

Just stop.

Tim Cook’s Apple just put up the best year in business history.
 
Okay, I can accept that. What are they trying to deliver?
A multi-device charger that -and here's the key difference- allows you to place your devices anywhere on the charger. All current multi-device chargers still require precise placement over the transmitter coil. They all have a side-by-side coil layout. Apple is attempting overlapping, variably sized coils to facilitate "place anywhere" capability. Rumor has it, excessive heat build up and signal interference are the major hurdles to bring the product to market. Hope that helps.
 
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I was excited about this back in 2017. Now I have so many charging pads around the house and office, I could care less about another overpriced Apple product.
 
I recall Steve Jobs saying (in response to competitors’ challenges; e.g. Creative Labs), “Deliver first. Then talk about it.”

Today’s Apple put the cart before the horse instead.
 
Do you really think that AirPower is just a regular charging mat that any dollar store company can produce? Use some common sense.

This is clearly something more ambitious. From what we know about AirPower, devices don't need to be placed in any precise location like regular Qi chargers. Apple is clearly aiming for true wireless power. Even if the first iteration might still require devices to be near the source, the fact that they don't need to be in a precise location is evidence that Apple is planning to deliver true wireless power which can eventually be scaled to farther distances.

When wireless power eventually makes it to the mainstream, it'll absolutely be world changing. It's worth waiting for them to get it right.
Thats not the point, here. Of couse its not regular charging mat as its Apple we are talking about here.
I was simply trying to illustrate that Apple has gone downhill recently and new products are not as exciting as they used to be. So yeah, use common sense.

Or is there actually anyone who like the touchbar MBP, keyboard, inflated prices, notch, inferior materials on new iPad, mac pro/mini update cycles etc.?

I think 2014 was the tipping point for Apple and since then it went slowly downhill. And if charging mat is so technically challenging that it requires so much work etc. (which I'm sure it does) then I would really really want Apple to focus on their product line first as that is more needed than a charging mat.
 
Logitech seemed to have cracked this, with the whole area of their mouse mat being able to charge there mouse wherever it is on the pad, and even still charge it, whilst the mouse is moving.
Sounds amazing and just what Apple would love to achieve.
I'm guessing the problem is possibly you can't transfer enough power to charge something like a phone quick enough?

Brilliant though:

 
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Oh boy, here we go. What exactly is "outdated" with the XR? The screen? Both my wife an I have repeatedly compared her 7 Plus screen to my XR screen, and it is very difficult to see any difference in resolution. Color accuracy? The best LCD to date. True Tone. Wide gamut. 120hz touch refresh. Cameras? Same Face ID and Wide Angle as XS models, which are considered quite large upgrades over previous iPhones. Same A12 processor and graphics. Same wireless charging as XS. IP67 rated. Much better stereo speakers. Same ability to record stereo as the XS models. Essentially every feature but absolute pixel density and IP67 rating is a massive upgrade from the 6S (which didn't even have IP67 rating) and even the 7 Plus. There is not one thing "outdated" on the XR.

Sure, a just released device with better hardware then previous ones. As for what is outdated? it sounds like you are living it, so great for you.
 
Logitech seemed to have cracked this, with the whole area of their mouse mat being able to charge there mouse wherever it is on the pad, and even still charge it, whilst the mouse is moving.
Sounds amazing and just what Apple would love to achieve.
I'm guessing the problem is possibly you can't transfer enough power to charge something like a phone quick enough?

Brilliant though:

Can it charge multiple devices simultaneously anywhere on the pad?
If not then no, Logictech didn’t “crack” it.

This is what Apple is trying to achieve:

“Apple gave a sneak peek of AirPower, an Apple-designed wireless charging accessory coming in 2018, which offers a generous active charging area that will allow iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X customers to simultaneously charge up to three devices, including Apple Watch Series 3 and a new optional wireless charging case for AirPods.”
 
It's too late. A lot of people don't care about this product anymore. They took too long. Everyone has a wireless charger or two already.

So everyone who makes a wireless charger should simply discontinue making them because everyone who needs one has one? This is stupid. When AirPower comes out, if it is compelling and priced reasonably, it will sell. It might not sell to you, but it will sell and if wireless charging is the future for Apple, they should try to innovate in this space.
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They also killed the sale of AirPods to people like me who were looking for wireless earphones but didn't want to wait on the new vapourware edition.
Your loss, AirPods are great!
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Thats not the point, here. Of couse its not regular charging mat as its Apple we are talking about here.
I was simply trying to illustrate that Apple has gone downhill recently and new products are not as exciting as they used to be. So yeah, use common sense.

Or is there actually anyone who like the touchbar MBP, keyboard, inflated prices, notch, inferior materials on new iPad, mac pro/mini update cycles etc.?

I think 2014 was the tipping point for Apple and since then it went slowly downhill. And if charging mat is so technically challenging that it requires so much work etc. (which I'm sure it does) then I would really really want Apple to focus on their product line first as that is more needed than a charging mat.

Yes, I like the Touch Bar, no I would like lower prices, yes I like the notch and no the materials are not inferior, the design just was willing to compromise strength for size (not sure if this was a bad choice or not yet) and the Mac Mini update was very nice thank you.

So, AppleWatch, AirPods and more regular refreshes to MacBooks pros have been nice but Apple has to figure out where the Macbook/macbook air are going. Looking forward to new Mac Pro but the iMac Pro was very nice. Educational iPad 9.7 (selling for less than $250 this Christmas) was a nice change. HomePod rocks and probably sold well also at $250 this Christmas.

So, sure there are things I'd change at Apple, but it has not been all down hill for the past 4 years and this charging mat isn't some sign that things have gone south!
 
Even very small vendors can design and successfully manufacture these, but Apple can't sort out overheating issues. This company is nothing but amusing lately and not in a good way!
 
Sure, a just released device with better hardware then previous ones. As for what is outdated? it sounds like you are living it, so great for you.
Your response is nonsensical. You seemed to have contradicted yourself. The XR is a better phone in basically every way vs the 6s/7 and is priced less than comparable storage options of both Plus models were when launched.
 
By far the worst thing about them not releasing this product is how much we have to hear about it. I must have listened to hours of pointless blathering on podcasts about what could possibly have gone wrong. As the product would remove the nightstand functionality of the watch, it always seemed completely useless to me. Having to hear about it forever more only makes this worse.

So, you listen for hours about this issue on the podcasts and then complain about too much coverage. Make up your mind.
 
Your response is nonsensical. You seemed to have contradicted yourself. The XR is a better phone in basically every way vs the 6s/7 and is priced less than comparable storage options of both Plus models were when launched.

:eek:
 
So everyone who makes a wireless charger should simply discontinue making them because everyone who needs one has one? This is stupid. When AirPower comes out, if it is compelling and priced reasonably, it will sell. It might not sell to you, but it will sell and if wireless charging is the future for Apple, they should try to innovate in this space.
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Your loss, AirPods are great!
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Yes, I like the Touch Bar, no I would like lower prices, yes I like the notch and no the materials are not inferior, the design just was willing to compromise strength for size (not sure if this was a bad choice or not yet) and the Mac Mini update was very nice thank you.

So, AppleWatch, AirPods and more regular refreshes to MacBooks pros have been nice but Apple has to figure out where the Macbook/macbook air are going. Looking forward to new Mac Pro but the iMac Pro was very nice. Educational iPad 9.7 (selling for less than $250 this Christmas) was a nice change. HomePod rocks and probably sold well also at $250 this Christmas.

So, sure there are things I'd change at Apple, but it has not been all down hill for the past 4 years and this charging mat isn't some sign that things have gone south!
mac mini is nice i agree but it took them almost 5 years to update it and the result is nothing spectacular. Nothing that would warrant 5 years delay. All they did was SSD instead of HDD and put recent CPU/GPU and thats it. They could have updated it 2x before this one.
Macbook is pointless when we have Air now. One of them has to go as there is really no need to keep both.
iMac Pro was nice. Apple Watch is fine but needs more sensors.
Homepod - not for me. Mac Pro + Displays would be awesome but I fear that its not gonna be the same as before. The 30" ACD was by far the most stunning display at a time and it was priced ok (I think it was $1200 eventually).
Regardless, MBP needs redesign, the touch bar is gimmick and I still haven't found a good use for it as its just simply much faster with a mouse as most of the time when you work, you have one hand on a keyboard and other on pencil/mouse so taking it off is just a slow down.
iMac needs redesign badly (new thermal system like iMac Pro at least)
iPhone - well, I hate the notch and don't see OLED as superior technology to LED especially with the flicker.
iPad is great but can they use stronger aluminium for crying out loud.

iOS needs revamp - all this power in iOS devices and no support in software. Especially iPad needs its own iOS system as its not just bigger iPhone (as Apple like to treat it that way)
 
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