Apple Researching Wireless Charging Ecosystem for MacBook, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch

[furou]

That’s cool and all but I wish Apple fixed iCloud not syncing across devices before they get charging across devices...

 

[NokX]

Sooo... how can you comfortably type on your laptop if you have your phone and watch where your hands are supposed to rest?

 

[jmgregory1]

It’s interesting that this type of charging other devices off of MacBooks now makes far more sense given the long battery life that new M1 Macs offer. It wouldn’t make sense if you were going to lose a third or half of the MacBooks charge just to charge your iPhone, for example. Whether it makes sense for having to give up the palm rest or only be able to charge when none of the devices is being used is the bigger issue, imho.

 

[aesc80]

Please bring it! This is such a innovative feature.

M1 - Silicon Chip + Wireless Charging Mac = Pure Innovation.

Right? It would be amazing to have that ability. Granted, it would knock out any place where you could put your hands for typing, and it might get a wee bit toasty, but it would be a neat idea to see come to fruition.

 

[aesc80]

View attachment 1707317
First thing that popped into my mind.

I commend Apple for researching something innovative like this, but the veritable matryoshka dolls of devices all charging through and within each other gives me pause right now.

Images that you can hear!

 

[DanTSX]

This is a much better use case than buying more charging cables that snap onto the back rather than snapping into a hole.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Physics.

That response only works as long as you omit the sentence before where I talk about how there have been demonstrations of power being transmitted several feet for nearly a decade now. So the physics don't appear to be a problem.

 

[DanTSX]

Just don’t close the clamshell lid while charging!

 

[DanTSX]

That response only works as long as you omit the sentence before where I talk about how there have been demonstrations of power being transmitted several feet for nearly a decade now. So the physics don't appear to be a problem.

And what are the constraints or inefficiencies of throwing power several feet to charge a phone? Is it the same thing as present solutions?

 

[ArmPol]

Just don’t close the clamshell lid while charging!

Exactly, I see so many posts where someone has left something on their laptop keyboard and closed the lid - cracked screen.

 

[citysnaps]

And what are the constraints or inefficiencies of throwing power several feet to charge a phone? Is it the same thing as present solutions?

Depends the distance and whether it's isotropic or shaped (and to what extent).

 

[seetheforest]

How in the hell isn't the iMac base the #1 option for this feature? Literally unifies form and function.

 

[Apleeseed84]

I think it’s also about having control over their own proprietary connector. There might even be security implications to putting all their devices only USB-C. We don’t know the full reasoning behind apples decision to stay with lightning and they have reason to be hesitant, for if they ever did go all in on USB-C there would not be any going back to proprietary connectors without mass protest. This way they are finding their own proprietary replacement for lightning which seems to be looking like MagSafe

It’s always been that way; Apple makes money from their lightning technology by having third party manufacturers pay Apple. If they use USB C Apple has to pay for using it on their devices and considering how much idevices are out there, that’s a lot!!
Feels like they are testing waters with iPads and macs

 

[Eorlas]

He didn't miss the point. Apple are doing this in part because they're working on erasing ports entirely, which remains a bad idea, and in part to "unify" charging processes, which could be achieved by putting a standard connector on all devices.

It was a relevant observation.

im vehemently against the notion of going complete wireless, and i think apple will also recognize this is not a good plan, it is quite user unfriendly. right now it's just a rumor that they're going this route anyway.

dream phone next year is the entire lineup gets usb-c and the pro division gets 120hz promotion display

 

[topdrawer]

does this bring us closer to a good spell checker?

 

[maxfromdenmark]

Sooo... how can you comfortably type on your laptop if you have your phone and watch where your hands are supposed to rest?

Not on the keyboard unless it’s scissors one 😀

 

[lazyrighteye]

This sound interesting. I'm certainly interested in more charging options for all these charge-needing devices.

 

[DanTSX]

does this bring us closer to a good spell checker?

Capitalization must be mastered first!

 

[skitidetdu]

Nice idea but if that is a 13 inch laptop the phone would be no bigger than the original iPhone.

 

[Logic368]

200W adapter not included. New PD-4.2a, $150.

I know you said this as a joke, but I recently witnessed a friend’s gaming laptop that has a 230w GIANT power brick. Didn’t even know that existed.

 

[yurc]

Weeew....it mean converting hand rest into something hot...so your phone and watch are getting the way while typing..what Apple thinking here?

 

[VictorTango777]

What is all this "wireless charging" nonsense where everything has to physically touch.

Cordless screwdriver:

 

[BornAgainMac]

I wonder if the diagram of the Apple Magic Mouse charging was ever posted before it was released? That was a really bad design and the diagram would make it obvious.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Call me paranoid but this doesn’t sound safe.

I agree with Mr. Paranoid. It also don't look real world practical.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

Engineers like to get patents and companies encourage patents during development or trade secret certifications. It doesn't mean they will implement this.