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Anything to put an end to the stupid Lightning connector. I seem to get only a year or two before i have to take my iPhone into the store, because it will quit making contact in there or something. Or the cables themselves will get a worn contact. My iPhone6 just started doing it, so time for an upgrade i guess. My old iPod 3 charges just fine (though, it doesn't hold the charge for more than 10 seconds).
Most of the time that I've had a problem with it not charging right (constantly thinks it's being plugged/unplugged) there has been pocket lint in the port. You can't really see it because it's so packed in there it just looks like the bottom but if you take a toothpick or something else not conductive and dig around you can get it out. I've fixed other people's phone issues by doing that as well.
 
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Nikola Tesla is rolling in his grave.
More like he is happy about it. Tesla made a fortune licensing his AC current patents to Westinghouse and did a lot research with inductive recharging. However, even he could not break the 1/r^2 attenuation you get with any RF power source with the electrical materials he had at in his time now just over century ago. There have been some success with inductive recharging over distances more than a few millimeters but that has involved directional antennas and very tightly matched electrical impedance of the transmitter and receiver. Curious to see their approach.
 
More like he is happy about it. Tesla made a fortune licensing his AC current patents to Westinghouse and did a lot research with inductive recharging. However, even he could not break the 1/r^2 attenuation you get with any RF power source with the electrical materials he had at in his time now just over century ago. There have been some success with inductive recharging over distances more than a few millimeters but that has involved directional antennas and very tightly matched electrical impedance of the transmitter and receiver. Curious to see their approach.
Funny you mention that:

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...ster-details-of-wireless-charging-system.html
 
It would be great if Apple can beat everyone to this, but Samsung will probably have extended range charging later this year.
I've been watching both companies patents for a few years now. I do think Samsung will release it first, what's funny however is that both companies are taking almost literally the same approach.

What I do think will be different however, is Apple is looking to tie this into an ecosystem (I'm predicting the Airports and Apple TV's will be base stations in the future) while Samsung from what I can tell is just looking to stuff it into the S7 and see where to go from there.
 
Well, the S model is supposed to fix any shortcomings with the non-S model. That's why some people only get that model.
Nah, the S model introduces new technologies and tests them in a fixed design language. The following model perfects it. The iPhone 5s introduced TouchID, but only the 6 used it for Apple Pay.
It's called evolution.
Try calling it progress.
The Motorola DynaTAC was a great phone, but what killed it was the lack of an "App" Store.
Rubish, Nokia and others had already killed it by being smaller and thinner™.
 
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I find this way more useful than the charging pads of other companies because I could be using my device while it is charging, as I can while it is plugged in in its current form.

As a former employee, when we set up a new store, the NSO team would allude/joke about wireless charging when we did cable management under/inside of the tables. The cable management of Apple visual standards are pristine.
 
Just wondering: is this really more convenient and elegant than charging your iPhone via a Lightning cable plugged into your Mac?
 
Just wondering: is this really more convenient and elegant than charging your iPhone via a Lightning cable plugged into your Mac?
Well it would mean being able to set my phone in front of me at my office desk and know it's charging without having to plug/unplug as I go to meetings.
 
Is anybody asking for a thinner iPhone? Anybody at all?

I think no one has ever asked for thinner phone (at least since original iPhone) because they seem thin enough. But almost every new version of iPhone comes thinner and people seem to love it more. When it comes to stuff I have to carry in my pockets, I say the less bulk, the better.
 
Wireless charging is a dumb gimmick.
Until you overcome its shortcomings.
And wireless charging would not mitigate the idiotic removal of the headphone jack, which means you can't charge your phone and listen to music if you're not in the electrical field of yet another proprietary piece of Apple junk.
With bluetooth headphones and wireless charging you can load and listen and have a free port left for something else. All you need is to make wireless technology reliable.
 
I think no one has ever asked for thinner phone (at least since original iPhone) because they seem thin enough. But almost every new version of iPhone comes thinner and people seem to love it more. When it comes to stuff I have to carry in my pockets, I say the less bulk, the better.
While I'm board with the "less bulk" comment, it would be a bigger improvement to remove the home button/rearrange the front of the phone to reduce the overall size while keeping the screen size as it stands, than make it thinner.
 
...orrrrr this brand new, not-fully-realized-yet technology simply might not be ready for prime time mass market deployment in 2016.

Geez. Does everyone on the Internet have to be so damn cynical and jaded?

Please, don't tell me that you believe companies will always release a new technology when it's ready to be deployed without any consideration of the marketability of future products that would benefit more to be the first to sport that new tech, aka the S-model iPhone.
 
And you have to be told that pulling a cable from the "cable" part migh damage it? I always wondered why they made a plastic part to begin with, now i know!!!! Speachless.....

To be fair, the shroud is tiny, smooth, and slippery. Zero ergonomic sense. I don't pull on my cables but I can see why some would have an issue.
 
I agree, I hate the fragile lightning connectors. They "turtle neck" and fray VERY easily for me, even though they literally never leave the outlet they're plugged into.
What are you doing with your chargers that causes them to break so soon????? I've had my Lightning charger for 4 years and it's still PERFECT! Don't abuse your cord and you won't have this problem.
 
Nah, the S model introduces new technologies and tests them in a fixed design language. The following model perfects it. The iPhone 5s introduced TouchID, but only the 6 used it for Apple Pay.

More likely each model improves on the previous one like you would expect, sometimes very subtly and not really that noticeable, sometimes enough to give some owners of the previous model buyer's remorse. As for TouchID, the 2nd gen version on the 6s/6s+ is a big improvement over the 1st gen on the 5s/6. Apple Pay is still very far from reaching anything resembling full potential, but that's not the fault of Apple or the hardware. 3D Touch seems to work much better in its first variant than TouchID did. Anyway, I could go on but I don't think it would accomplish much.
 
Is anybody asking for a thinner iPhone? Anybody at all?
Gimme a smaller and lighter iPhone.
Gimme a smaller and lighter iPad.
Gimme a smaller and lighter iMac.
Gimme a smaller and lighter MacBook.
Gimme a smaller and lighter Mac mini.
Gimme a smaller and lighter Mac Pro.
Gimme a smaller and lighter Apple Watch.

Strike that, I actually don't care about the watch.
 
To be fair, the shroud is tiny, smooth, and slippery. Zero ergonomic sense. I don't pull on my cables but I can see why some would have an issue.
I don't argue with ergonomics....or the lack of it, because you are spot on, and I usually pull from the cable just like the majority, but i know it might damage the cable itself, I do not need to be told that!
 
time to wrap your head and nuts in aluminum foil. apple will sell the aluminum gear along side the wireless charger for double the price. it will be license to fruit-of-the-"lum". now that's how you generate more revenue tim. i should be in their strategy department.
 
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Nah, the S model introduces new technologies and tests them in a fixed design language. The following model perfects it. The iPhone 5s introduced TouchID, but only the 6 used it for Apple Pay.
And yet the original 5 and 6 introduced large screen displays, among other significant features. The 3G introduced ... 3G, and GPS. The 4 introduced a gyroscope, and CDMA, HSUPA, HD Video, LED flash, front camera, 5mp photos.

I don't really think anyone can say that the "S" is absolutely this or that, as significant improvements have been introduced on every device.
 
Great, finally they can get rid of that ridiculously large Lightning-port.
No they can't. Wireless charging will require an optional accessory like the iPhone Lightning Dock for $39. It won't be included and it won't be the only way to charge your phone. Besides, Lightning is also needed as a data port.
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And yet the original 5 and 6 introduced large screen displays, among other significant features.
The screen is part of the outer design of the phone, it only updates with the natural numbers. Same goes for the antenna system and the buttons which are tied to the case.
 
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