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Apple Reportedly Testing Wireless Charging Coils for iWatch Ahead of Fall Launch

I'll just leave this puzzle piece here:

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...ster-details-of-wireless-charging-system.html

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mdridwan47 said:
That's a godawful mockup.
This is much better.

Image
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I agree that there is lot to like about this design, however I'm not sure how practical this is. Our wrists are not round, how is it expected to stay in place? It is more like a bangle. Bangles tend to be lose and rotate around on your wrist at will. I just don't see this working well at all.

I rather like the round face design shown in this article plus I see it being more comfortable and more practical.
 
pmau said:
Regarding battery life I always wondered why the "clock" part of the display couldn't be passive.
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Well, by using OLED screens, particularly with anti-relfection tech like that of Nokia (see "ClearBlack"), even a low-power iWatch could continuously and actively display the time with white numbers on a black background.

On the OLED-based Nokia N8 and 808, this all work wonderfully. Those phones don't really need more frequent recharges if you just leave the default "clock is always displayed" functionality intact. Paired with a tech like Nokia's ClearBlack screen (which is still the best active color screen WRT outdoor use), those clocks are perfectly readable even in bright sunlight.

That is, it is certainly feasible to have an always-on watch if, say, a recharge every 32 hours (assuming an at least 500-800 mAh battery - both Nokias have an 1400 mAh one) is acceptable.

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IGregory said:
Those are fighting words mister. Back up and get ready to draw. ;)
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Regrettably, Apple is clearly behind the competitors in many respects:
- OIS
- stereo or even 5.1 (see Nokia 1520 / 930) audio recording in video
- high-dynamics audio recording perfectly usable even in loud rock concerts (see Nokia 808) - in those, all iPhones miserably fail due to distortion
- NFC (absolutely wonderful and useful even in "old" models like the early 2012 Nokia 808)
- Qi (gorgeous on the Nexus 7 2013 and a lot other devices)
- flawless HDMI output (that of Lightning is a joke)
- OLED (it does have some serious advantages over LCD; see my above post on always-displayed clocks / status and the like)

etc.
 
I'm very interested in this but very much in the camp of "why the hell would I want one of these?" exactly where I sat in before the iPhone launch, I hope I'm wrong again :)
 
If wireless charging is getting tossed in, I'm going to have to revise my price guess. Anything below $399 will shock me now.

Why you (didn't) ask? The "failure" of the 5C "proving" that people don't want inexpensive Apple devices. I still don't see any evidence that Apple thinks their prices were still $150 too much for the 5C at launch, with that being the reason people just put up a bit more for the 5S.

I think Apple sees it as entirely a customer base problem, not a price point problem which to me means the bean counters will say: "Cheaper doesn't sell for Apple, so lets charge more".

If, and thats a big big "if" since I'm just a schlub with a keyboard, it does come out at $399 and still sells enough to be successful, you can expect a $100 minimum hike on anything that they include wireless charging on.
 
JarScott said:
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Apple won't include wireless charging until the technology is useful enough. For example, rather than charging your device by placing it onto a charging 'pad' (barely anymore useful than just plugging your phone in), Apple would rather allow you to charge your phone wirelessly from wherever you are in your house regardless of where the 'base' is. THAT'S useful.
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Agree.

Also, I'm beginning to be a little skeptical that an "iWatch" will be released this year. Which is fine by me.
 
If Apple makes a watch, then wireless charging would certainly be an attractive and useful feature.

In other news, one week before Apple planned to make an announcement, Samsung announced it's Sami health platform, a new health monitoring watch, quad copter Sami delivery drones, the Samsung Self Driving Car, plus a really ginormous CURVED TV.
 
gnasher729 said:
That's a rather ridiculous assumption. If all testing had been done, it would ship tomorrow.
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The word "Ridiculous" made me react to your posting...

Is it ridiculous to assume that products are ready and that now Apple could be working on:
- Building inventory,
- Preparing product launch
- Media plan and presentation to the press
- Having the products on the fields in some Tech journalists for them to prepare articles (they do this with every product before launch)

So no, i do not think there is anything "ridiculous" in assuming that products are ready... There is something ridiculous however in assuming someone else is...
 
gwelmarten said:
It looks like Tim's got an iWatch and is hiding it! :)
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Yup! you can even see the black wrist band on the higher resolution ones.

I've cropped the watched from the highest res version Google will find, and it looks like it is shaped in that rounded square shape that's on the WWDC banner, it's kinda visible in Cue's shirt sleeve, but it's the most visible in IOVine's pocket.
 

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powers74 said:
Agree.

Also, I'm beginning to be a little skeptical that an "iWatch" will be released this year. Which is fine by me.
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Hmm, I fully believe we'll see an iWatch announcement and release before the festive season. It'll be a great seller as a Christmas gift provided they get the pricing right. The iWatch has been a long time coming and there was evidence Apple were working on it like 2 years ago. Along with recent acquisitions and all sorts, I think it's quite safe to say we'll see some hint of an iWatch from Apple this year.
 
gnasher729 said:
All things that are done in parallel.

You test up to the day before you plan to ship, and hope to find no problems that would keep you from shipping in the last days. You still test. If there's a huge problem, it's better to have tested and delay shipping than to have a recall.
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No, you don't. You test before you put into production. For hardware, anyway.

Simple business sense. Why would you make millions of an untested product?
 
They would do better to introduce solar charging and this for accessories and as well as the phone itself the next iphone 6 may be. It would look like a wireless solar panels.

__________________
nouvel ipad air
 
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bumblebritches5 said:
yup! You can even see the black wrist band on the higher resolution ones.

I've cropped the watched from the highest res version google will find, and it looks like it is shaped in that rounded square shape that's on the wwdc banner, it's kinda visible in cue's shirt sleeve, but it's the most visible in iovine's pocket.
Click to expand...

Enhance!
 
gnasher729 said:
That's a rather ridiculous assumption. If all testing had been done, it would ship tomorrow.



It's a proven fact that some people get headaches and other problems when they believe that WiFi is turned on near them. The point being "when they believe". Whether WiFi is turned on or not doesn't make a difference, it is the belief that creates the headache.
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Hardly. That's your personal view about it, not a scientific fact. That's the problem, scientist also give different views on these matters, yet those are more interesting then just an personal opinion from those whom have zero authority on these matters of course.

The truth is in the eye of the beholder, you say you're right, these people getting headache say they are right. The only certainty is that you both are not right. I'm just curious when scientist, who are investigate these matters, will come out with a final conclusion. In France it's forbidden to let children make use of smartphones under certain age, based on conclusions that it could damage there brains. And even tough this might sound funny, I'm curious on what thesis these conclusions are based.

Again, scientific reports will have my interest, common personal views about these matters from common people not.
 
JarScott said:
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Apple won't include wireless charging until the technology is useful enough. For example, rather than charging your device by placing it onto a charging 'pad' (barely anymore useful than just plugging your phone in), Apple would rather allow you to charge your phone wirelessly from wherever you are in your house regardless of where the 'base' is. THAT'S useful.
Click to expand...

Until you leave your house.
 
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