Apple Has at Least Five Different Groups Working on Wireless Charging Ahead of iPhone 8

[mi7chy]

it would be amazing if someone from the media stated THIS IS NOT WIRELESS CHARGING. I don't care if there is no plug, if there is a wire from the wall that connects to the phone in any way (like the apple watch and Samsung Galaxy) then this is induction charging or inductive charging, but unless there is NO CABLE this is NOT wireless charging.

Using that logic 4G LTE and upcoming 5G aren't wireless either. The radio tower has a fiber cable backhaul.

Doesn't detract the usefulness of wireless connectivity and inductive charging. Much more convenient to have inductive charging when getting in and out of the car/home/office often without having to deal with connecting wires.

 

[jamezr]

Please Apple stick to the QI standard and keep it compatible with all the existing Qi wireless chargers. Don't tweak it just to sell more over priced wireless accessories........

 

[ConfusedChris]

"Here Fred. How many groups do you think Apple have working on wireless charging?"
"Dunno. Several maybe?"
"Is 'several' less than or more than 'a few'?"
"Oh just put 'At least five.'"

 

[travelsheep]

1 TECH GROUP, 4 GROUPS CANCER SPECIALISTS

 

[Macman08]

I don't get it. It's a dock. It's not wireless... not fussed about it. I'd rather my wired EarPods didn't stop functioning every six months.

It does make it look cleaner.... but yes, it is a dock.

 

[ksnell]

With wireless networking I can walk around and use it on my devices. There's a tangible benefit.

With the current wireless charging tech, it's more of a hindrance than wired chargers.

Still not sure what your point is.

Point is if you can release the tech to at least cover a small room, I see the appeal. It would be a first gen tech and would only get better from there. If I can plug a hub in my master bedroom and wife and I can just set our phones anywhere in the room to charge, that would be nice. Not to mention leaving Apple Watch on (and charging) for sleep tracking.

 

[McCool71]

True wireless charging - as in being able to move freely around your home while the phone charges - will not be available anytime soon. And if it ever does, it will not be in the form of a tiny little device you just plug in to a socket.

Stop dreaming people, the only major difference when Apple launches wireless charging will be that it will not be compatible with the established QI standard that is already available in tons of different form factors and even built into things like desk lamps and furniture and thus 'invisible' and non-intrusive.

There is one potential issue: you have to not mind being in a room constructed mostly of aluminum, that includes the walls, ceiling and floor. There's a copper pole in the middle of the room, and 15 discrete high quality factor capacitors that separate the magnetic field from the electric field.

https://www.cnet.com/news/disney-builds-prototype-room-with-ubiquitous-wireless-charging/

 

[niceandeasy]

There is one potential issue: you have to not mind being in a room constructed mostly of aluminum, that includes the walls, ceiling and floor. There's a copper pole in the middle of the room, and 15 discrete high quality factor capacitors that separate the magnetic field from the electric field.

But I won't ever have to go to the trouble of plugging a charger in again you say? Doesn't sound too bad.