Apple's Battery Charger Sets New Standby Usage Benchmark

[tivoboy]

18650

LOL, you think the Tesla runs on "AA" batteries??

the 18650 is essentially the size of the AA.

higher density and capacity though

 

[pmz]

This is an awesome new product. Because Apple made it.

 

[Master Chief]

Great product, but how can Apple claim to "set a new industry standard" with this:

"The Apple Battery Charger sets a new industry standard: It has one of the lowest standby power usage values — or "vampire draw" — of any similar charger on the market. 1 – Testing conducted by Apple in February 2010 on a selection of similar leading NiMH rechargeable battery chargers."

You either set a new standard, by using the lowest amount of standby power and claim it, or you don't.

 

[JAT]

Am I the only one who is rolling around the floor laughing at a battery charger from a company that does not allow you to change the batteries in it's devices?

Yes, because this is for a different device.

Should Honda stop making lawnmowers because they do not use their car batteries?

 

[DylanLikesPorn]

Here... let's make that decision just a little more difficult, shall we?

These require no additional charger at all-- just a USB port:

That's an unbelievably stupid product.

 

[glavoie84]

the 18650 is essentially the size of the AA.

higher density and capacity though

18650s are much bigger than AAs...

 

[Citizen Dildo]

They could have a zero 'vampire draw' if it had a physical switch on it. It could even have some sort of (mechanical?) trigger that turned it on when cells were inserted next.

LOL - Try getting that passed the design goons at Apple.

 

[alhedges]

Pros and cons

Pros:

1. Apple is encouraging people to use rechargeables.

2. Apple's charger is offering the right technology - low-self-discharge (LSD) batteries and a smart charger.

NOTE 1: Li-ion batteries do not come in AA - you can buy some in that form factor, but the voltage is too high and you can't use them in a device that requires AAs.

NOTE 2: For most purposes, a 2000 or 2100 mAh LSD battery is a better choice than a battery with, say, 2500-2800+ mAh, as the 2500+ cells will lose all of their charge in 4-6 weeks. While this is not a disadvantage in all cases - if you are a frequent photographer and always charge your batteries the night before, for example - it is a disadvantage if you are using the batteries in a low power situation. Such as in a mouse, keyboard, remote, etc.

3. Apple's solution is only slightly more expensive than other alternatives.

Cons:

1. Apple's solution is more expensive than other alternatives - for $30 on Amazon, you can buy 8 Eneloops and an Eneloop 4-battery smart charger.

2. A 4 battery charger is better (specifically, more convenient, useful, and flexible) than a 2 battery charger.

 

[Corey213]

This is an awesome new product. Because Apple made it.

people that are excited about this are pure fan boys. I would applaud apple if they would market it to beat Duracell and the other batteries to make other battery chargers use less energy but they will just sell it as an accessory to their computers and such.

 

[tbrinkma]

the 18650 is essentially the size of the AA.

higher density and capacity though

Close, but not close enough.
AA: 51mm x 14mm x 1.5v
18650 : 65mm x 18mm x 3.7v

And most people aren't even aware of 18650 being a *type* of battery, much less where to find another set. For everyone complaining that they didn't go to LiIon cells, you'd have a dozen complaining that Apple was using a 'proprietary' type of battery. And hundreds of normal users complaining when they can't go to Wal-Mart and find a replacement battery for the one they lost.

 

[stompy]

I have a lower quality solution, you really like the little digs dont you, how could you posibly say mine is a lower quality solution?, they are rechargeable batteries you charge them, use them and recharge them. plus I cant say I have ever noticed a significant drop in charge, perhaps if I left them for a year but over a few months there is no percieved loss

Non-lsd batteries will lose about 25% of their charge within a month. When you consider that the majority of the time, your batteries are just sitting there--even when in a device, you have to recharge your batteries more often than JAT. That is a lower quality solution.

 

[HONDAxACURA]

Anyone know the mAh rating? I'm still guessing it is operating at 1.2v....

 

[ibjoshua]

LOL - Try getting that passed the design goons at Apple.

I know, but in today's energy-strapped 'enlightened' world we shouldn't be settling for any non-essential kit that has a standby power draw. It wouldn't have to be ugly - just imagine a little spring loaded slider on the top looking something like an ipod lock.

I don't know what my current charger draws, and yes I do often forget to switch it off at the wall, but I'd need a bit more from Apple to get me to switch to theirs than what they've offered so far.

 

[kernkraft]

That's an unbelievably stupid product.

Your avatar is "DylanLikesPorn and your quote is "Please educate yourself". I wonder why you think that a USB-charged battery is stupid. I think it's a very clever idea.

 

[Tronic]

Hmm. This:

Or this:

Gee... Tough Decision

So people are starting to care how aesthetically pleasing their battery chargers are now? Sure Mahas are the best looking things around, but they have been proven, over the years, to charge batteries correctly. Function definitely wins this competition.

 

[dXTC]

That's an unbelievably stupid product.

Your avatar is "DylanLikesPorn and your quote is "Please educate yourself". I wonder why you think that a USB-charged battery is stupid. I think it's a very clever idea.

I think I can answer for Dylan here, as I made the suggestion half in jest.

The idea of charging an AA battery via self-contained USB port is nifty in concept, but perhaps a bit unwieldy in execution. Two examples...
...starting with the iMac. Somewhat limited number of USB ports, and they're on the back, not terribly convenient. The user would have to run a powered USB hub to charge the batteries, which takes away from the whole wireless iMac aesthetic.
The other example is with a MacBook Pro. The user is essentially draining the MBP's battery to charge the USB batteries.

Now, couple this with a solar-to-USB charger and you might have something marginally useful in the wilderness...

EDIT: One other reason for looking elsewhere is that the room taken up by the USB port on the battery takes away room for holding charge. These hold maybe 60% the energy a regular rechargeable AA holds, so they run out more quickly/don't last as long per charge.

 

[cube]

I sometimes forget I put bread in the toaster on a busy day

If the charger has a fan you won't forget about it.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

I may seriously buy it for my Xbox controllers. Much better than hitting the dollar store every few months. I can recharge batteries right in my own home with no waste and no special trips to buy a pack of batteries.

Eh, and you haven't been doing this already because?

My 15 minute charger for $12 keeps my controllers in use for months.

 

[Arran]

...Now, couple this with a solar-to-USB charger and you might have something marginally useful in the wilderness...
.

I'm waiting for these to get into production. Just throw them somewhere sunny and they'll charge themselves.

 

[dalen3]

This is the way to go:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KCQVVZAJNSMGR4VBB0Y

 

[Stella]

Apple could make their wireless devices more efficient.

Some Logitech mice can run on a single battery for more than 6 months - abeit, they do use USB rather than BT.

Pros:

1. Apple is encouraging people to use rechargeables.

2. Apple's charger is offering the right technology - low-self-discharge (LSD) batteries and a smart charger.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

people that are excited about this are pure fan boys. I would applaud apple if they would market it to beat Duracell and the other batteries to make other battery chargers use less energy but they will just sell it as an accessory to their computers and such.

So all it would take for you to approve the device is to mass market it as an alternative to other chargers and not as a targeted accessory , but otherwise fundamentally the same?

Oy, I need a drink.

 

[3282868]

All this kibitzing

Does anyone know if they are worth the $29? Are they superior to rechargers already on the market?

All this kibitzing about form and function blah blah blah. $29 for those who don't have rechargeable batteries (esp. true for the average consumer who may not be aware of good rechargeable batteries it is easy for them to grab when buying a wireless product at Apple, remember, we're mostly techies on here) is not a bad deal. Everyone seems so quick to quibble and be subjective instead of objective. Lawd. I guess if you like anything Apple these days you're automatically a leper.

Oy, I need a drink.

Seriously. People need to breath...

 

[dXTC]

I'm waiting for these to get into production. Just throw them somewhere sunny and they'll charge themselves.
<pic of rechargeable batteries with solar cells wrapping their exterior>

Now THAT's nifty!

If only solar cells were more efficient in converting light energy to electricity...
Don't get me wrong, I think solar is a turn in a positive direction, but it still has a bit of a way to go before it hits mainstream because of the relative inefficiency of solar power conversion technology as it stands today.

 

[miamialley]

This makes me wonder what in the world I use AA batteries for anymore...