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Apple Watch Shown Charging Through 6-Pin Diagnostic Port in New Video
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The port's going to be removed for the Apple Watch 2.
And then those who bought a battery bracelet will be
It's also entirely possible that Apple will completely disable that port with a firmware update. Or modify the case or plug to make it harder to access, or simply remove it.
Good, I hope this feature can be used soon because I still haven't figured out how to charge my watch with the inductive charger that comes with it. My battery died the day after I received mine and it's been dead ever since, because MacRumors hasn't written a good how-to article on how to charge the watch.
While I DO think Apple will disable it with a firmware update to the general public, I don't see them removing it because that creates two problems.
1. Apple NEEDS a hard-wired way into the device should anything happen for diagnostic purposes. Unless they find a way to transfer data while being fast enough through the MagSafe, this port is gonna stay.
2. It limits the future of potential smart bands from Apple and third parties. This can be a huge market that Apple can, and I'm sure will tap into.
You're the lucky one; at least you got a day's use out of it.
Think of all those who haven't even managed to take it out of the box due to MR's refusal to write an unboxing guide.
And then how you gonna charge the band without taking the watch off?
I know maybe I am jumping to the question too fast, but what I really need for charging should be either solar or kinetic.
I know maybe I am jumping to the question too fast, but what I really need for charging should be either solar or kinetic.
Exactly. It's just an interesting side note. Being able to charge while wearing the Watch is the real point.
People buy lots of battery packs for their devices, so they can go longer. Hikers, campers, climbers, first responders, travelers, military, late night partiers, etc.
With this, Apple Watch users can swap in a charged band and continue with their life, instead of having to take off the watch and wait while it recharges from a battery pack and the long wired Apple inductive puck.
Even standard Qi chargers are about 85% efficient. Finer tuned chargers with higher wattages can get into the high 90s.
I would think so. The port itself is backed by a circuit film that's held in place inside by a screwed in bar.
I remember how much trouble iFixit had opening up this port. Does anybody know how they've found out how to easily open it from the outside now?
It's nothing like the SIM card slot; it's fastened by two screws accessible only from the inside.
The outer-facing connection pins are secured from the inside. The port cover itself, is not.
Yes, as noted by nutmac in a previous post:
Unless you forgot to put it on the iCharger (Inductive charger) or power from wall not working for whatever reason, or maybe a child was having fun base?
Then you have options with this band
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The face area of watch is too small for solar, and being a display too.
I am estimating but in full sun all day it would about 30 min run time.
Kinetic more viable.
I said the same thing today when I saw the video. There is no way this band is worth $250, more like $75-100 tops.
I was. I think it is impressive that that Apple was able to have the inductive charging system be just 5% (ish) slower than conductive charging.
I was expecting a 1.5-2x charging rate.
The reasoning was:
Conductive charging is pretty simple. Just a power source (DC) and wires for the basic charging. The batteries naturally know who to charge, and there you go.
Inductive charging relies on AC to transmit the power from the charging coil to the inductive pickup coil, turn it to DC, then charge the batteries. It's not that much more complex, but there is more power lost in the transfer, so Apple set it up well.
We all should bear in mind that this example is conductive charging from a rather small battery strap, not from a 1 Amp (5 Watt) mains-powered electrical supply like the inductive method normally uses.
So I'd say the opposite: it was impressive how quickly the battery strap charged the watch.
For direct comparisons of conductive with inductive, it would make more sense to use the same power supply for both methods.
As for inductive charging speed in general, the Apple Watch takes longer to charge inductively than the Moto 360 (2.5 hours vs 1.5 hours), even though the Moto has a larger battery (205/246 mAh on Apple vs. 320 mAh on the Moto).