Code in Latest iOS 12.2 Beta Suggests AirPower Launch Coming Soon

[69Mustang]

This is EXACTLY my same use case. I have to put my watch charger across the room or have a spiderweb of junk on a desk in a hotel room because of the way USB ports may or may not be built into the facility. Sometimes, I have to plug in my laptop and then run the charging cables from there for watch and phone, and then a separate charger for another item like a Kindle. It's maddening. I literally have a special pouch of chargers for every item due to business travel.

The only thing that seems special about your use case is the tortured description of what you go through for travel. Pretty sure every traveler has a pouch/compartment/bag for chargers. AP won't change that. It may reduce the number of power bricks you carry, but it would increase the surface area of the charger you'd carry. AP is not a small device. I'd bet it's no smaller than the smart surge protector I carry in the bottom of my travel backpack.

I understand you're trying to make a point. But it's always funny when people try to make a point by turning pedestrian activities into Sisyphean tasks. You like AP. That's totally fine. You don't have to make charging a "maddening" prospect to justify liking it. If charging really is maddening, you should really look into a smart surge with usb. Get's rid of most power bricks... or just wait on AP to see if it solves your issues.

 

[realtuner]

Is it one of the most delayed Apple products?

I think what happened is the engineers had a working prototype and seriously underestimated how quickly they could work out the kinks and mass produce it.

From my understanding this device does some type of beam forming to direct the charging current to the device. As such you don't need to place your iPhone in a specific spot like you do with other charging pads.

I'm betting this is what caused the delay. Anyone can make a "regular" charging pad.

 

[BarrettF77]

They may have a lot of engineering costs to overcome but if they price it high this late in the game where Apple stores have been selling 3rd party devices for how many years? I think it's just a tall ask for it to be priced high unless it has additional functionality. Otherwise it'll be an awfully niche market not to dissimilar to the HomePod. I do love the HomePod for many reasons. But look at the market share.

 

[realtuner]

I understand you're trying to make a point. But it's always funny when people try to make a point by turning pedestrian activities into Sisyphean tasks.

On the flip side I see many people here take bizarre use cases or features and try to make them out as "game changing" such that they can condemn an entire product for missing this one feature.

 

[69Mustang]

On the flip side I see many people here take bizarre use cases or features and try to make them out as "game changing" such that they can condemn an entire product for missing this one feature.

That's not really the flip side though. It's still the same type of unnecessary hyperbole used to bolster a point. Whether it be for or against a position that Apple has taken is immaterial. "I must have split screen on my phone so I can't use iPhone" is just as janky a reason as "charging is maddening". We (me included) use hyperbole as a crutch far too often. Instead of strengthening our point, more often than not it just makes us look kinda silly.

 

[McTool]

Airpower? What’s that? Never heard of it.
How’s battery life?
[doublepost=1553025241][/doublepost]

As I’ve seen this comment so much, for some I guess there isn’t a value. However, for me, I travel multiple times per month. Just this last weekend I was away from Friday to Sunday. I had to unplug my iPhone wireless charger, my Apple Watch charger and my AirPods charger. I utilize them to the point where I need to charge them at least every other day. Then in the hotel I have to spread the chargers out for different outlets and I understand that it’s not the end of the world but having one charger now for all three products will just save that extra hassle every time I have to travel.

So I hope Apple continues to see the value in this product, a product I’ve been anticipating since 2017.

Unplug your wireless charger? You can use the cable from your Airpods.
Hassle 1 solved.

 

[goobot]

So tomorrow, New iPod touch, AirPods 2 and Airpower. Both iPod Touch and AirPods can now be charged on the airpower. and the iPod touch can utilize the AirPods.

Unless the new iPod touch has a glass back (which I doubt it will) it won’t have wireless charging.

 

[deebinem]

Airpower? What’s that? Never heard of it.

WHAT!? It's only like one of the BIGGEST airshows in Europe!

Just sluggin' Red Bulls and Jaeger while threading the needle! WOOOO!!!!

 

[chfilm]

It's gonna be released on the 25th.

 

[sd70mac]

Wake me up when it's available to order.

When I'm wiser and I'm older...
[doublepost=1553026370][/doublepost]

Enable third party wireless charging devices? Are they not already "enabled"? I've been charging my iPhone 8 on third party wireless charging pads for months now. Unless I misunderstood what you said?

I was thinking that the enabling would be on the Apple AirPower charging pad, making it possible to use it to charge other Qi devices not made by Apple, so it would only be necessary to buy the Apple charging pad to charge any device.
[doublepost=1553026416][/doublepost]

It's gonna be released on the 25th.

I hope so. It's been way too long.

 

[ke-iron]

I don't see the value in such a product.

You don’t? I guess you don’t have an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPod.

I do and my girlfriend does as well. 6 cables and chargers. That’s excluding our iPads and MacBook pros, plus the extra charging cables in the living room when we need to charge in there.

So even if you can’t see the value, there are people like me who are on edge waiting for the release of AirPower. It has tremendous value in its ease of use and convenience. I’d pay up to $150 for one of these and I want 3, 2 for the bed room and one for the living room. Not to mention how easy packing chargers when traveling will become.
[doublepost=1553029090][/doublepost]

The only thing that seems special about your use case is the tortured description of what you go through for travel. Pretty sure every traveler has a pouch/compartment/bag for chargers. AP won't change that. It may reduce the number of power bricks you carry, but it would increase the surface area of the charger you'd carry. AP is not a small device. I'd bet it's no smaller than the smart surge protector I carry in the bottom of my travel backpack.

I understand you're trying to make a point. But it's always funny when people try to make a point by turning pedestrian activities into Sisyphean tasks. You like AP. That's totally fine. You don't have to make charging a "maddening" prospect to justify liking it. If charging really is maddening, you should really look into a smart surge with usb. Get's rid of most power bricks... or just wait on AP to see if it solves your issues.

Lmao your comment. It’s simple, we want a single charger that can charge all our devices, set down and forget it. When I get home from work, I set my watch down, my phone and my AirPods in the same place on a single surface, done, finished. No need to physically plug in my phone and AirPod, and set the watch on a separate surface.

It’s simple and convenient, we like simplicity and convenience, and what you propose is quite the opposite.

There is a want and demand for AirPower. The creators of many of our technological devices use the same devices we use so that puts them in a unique position to understand our wants, needs and frustrations. They’re able to do something about it because they have the required skill set.

AirPower will sit nicely on my dresser for my iPhone, AirPod and Apple Watch, it will do the same on the night stand for my girlfriend, it will also be welcomed in my living room on the side table when we need to charge our cellphones or guests cellphones.

Edit:

This is how Charging my 3 devices look like now.

This is how I and many others want it.

If you still don’t see or understand how others see the value, simplicity or convenience in this, then you don’t want to see it.

 

[44267547]

18 months to launch a product they hyped at a keynote..

This is not true at all. They never ‘hyped’ the Airpower. The only marketing was during the September 2017 fall keynote (Where it was briefly discussed by Schiller) and on their website, that’s it. Unless you’re aware of any other marketing that I am not, please, elaborate. Otherwise, Unnecessary hyperbole by you saying they hyped this product, when they in fact, did not.

 

[WinterWolf90]

I don't see the value in such a product.

it would be cool for my watch and phone, but im not sure I will be willing to sport the high price

 

[jezbd1997]

Can’t wait for it to finally be released even though I have 0 interest, just so these ridiculous posts saying “it will be released very soon”
Although I’m interested in a pair of the new gen AirPods

 

[69Mustang]

You don’t? I guess you don’t have an iPhone, Apple Watch and

Ha! @DNichter is the poster child for Apple users.

Not to mention how easy packing chargers when traveling will become.

Will become? How difficult is it for you to pack chargers? This is exactly what my comment is about. Unnecessary pretend hardships.

Lmao your comment.

If you still don’t see or understand how others see the value, simplicity or convenience in this, then you don’t want to see it.

You probably should have spent less time laughing and a bit more time actually reading and understanding what I wrote. My comment isn't about denying the value others may see in AP. Like I said in my comment, liking AP is totally fine ← it is literally right there in the comment. It's about not needing to create dramatic pain points to justify liking the product. Also literally explained in my comment.

So if you still can't see or understand how you completely missed the entire point of my comment, then you don't want see it. ← I'ma just put a small emoji instead of gigantic pics.

 

[deebinem]

If charging really is maddening, you should really look into a smart surge with usb. Get's rid of most power bricks...

Any recommendations? I like the idea of one plug/multiple devices.

Yeah I know I can search but I figure I would engage a bit more (READ: lazy)

 

[69Mustang]

Any recommendations? I like the idea of one plug/multiple devices.

Yeah I know I can search but I figure I would engage a bit more (READ: lazy)

Here's a really small Belkin surge.
https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-SurgePlus-Protector-Charger-rotating/dp/B00ATZJ5YS?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

I use a much larger surge that fits perfectly in the bottom of my travel backpack.
https://www.amazon.com/HOLSEM-Outle...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PTJT9N6RRF9TKJ22NJTS

 

[cgibson190]

That's totally fair. I more so am thinking about the cost vs the value it brings. Similar products already exist on Amazon so it really depends where Apple comes in. I'd say $99 is the top end, and even that may be stretching it.

Here is a link if needed for some options.

https://www.gearbrain.com/apple-airpower-wireless-charger-alternatives-2604589158.html

I’m not sure if you have actually checked out any of these products. The first three have below a 3 star user review on Amazon, with the most common complaint being, this stopped working in X amount of days. The fourth is a “charging station” to which the owner just provide cables, so still at least three cables coming out, and not a great solution. The fifth is an indigogo project that is 3 to 4 months past its projected delivery. Zero good options.

 

[citysnaps]

Is it one of the most delayed Apple products?

It is what it is. Nothing to lose sleep over. And *much* better than releasing a product that isn't ready.

 

[coolkid93]

At this point... it will be the 2017 version
Not interested

 

[Radeon85]

 

[Macaholic868]

It'll probably be bargain priced at $199.95.

Magical and brave at the same time!!!!

 

[PickUrPoison]

Magical and brave at the same time!!!!

The word you were looking for is “courageous”!

How could you forget that, it’s only been posted by approximately 3,847,209 people already

 

[Macaholic868]

They may have a lot of engineering costs to overcome but if they price it high this late in the game where Apple stores have been selling 3rd party devices for how many years? I think it's just a tall ask for it to be priced high unless it has additional functionality. Otherwise it'll be an awfully niche market not to dissimilar to the HomePod. I do love the HomePod for many reasons. But look at the market share.

I think they’ll price it at $149.99 but wouldn’t be shocked if it debuted at $199.99 because, well, it’s Apple. If it’s $149.99 or lower I’m in. If it’s $199.99 or higher I’ll wait for refurbished units to debut at a lower price or buy a used one on eBay from an owner with buyers remorse.

 

[DNichter]

I’m not sure if you have actually checked out any of these products. The first three have below a 3 star user review on Amazon, with the most common complaint being, this stopped working in X amount of days. The fourth is a “charging station” to which the owner just provide cables, so still at least three cables coming out, and not a great solution. The fifth is an indigogo project that is 3 to 4 months past its projected delivery. Zero good options.

I haven’t. Just saw options.
[doublepost=1553040998][/doublepost]

it would be cool for my watch and phone, but im not sure I will be willing to sport the high price

Yup, I get why such a product would be valuable, but the cost is going to be too high.
[doublepost=1553041051][/doublepost]

You don’t? I guess you don’t have an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPod.

I do and my girlfriend does as well. 6 cables and chargers. That’s excluding our iPads and MacBook pros, plus the extra charging cables in the living room when we need to charge in there.

So even if you can’t see the value, there are people like me who are on edge waiting for the release of AirPower. It has tremendous value in its ease of use and convenience. I’d pay up to $150 for one of these and I want 3, 2 for the bed room and one for the living room. Not to mention how easy packing chargers when traveling will become.
[doublepost=1553029090][/doublepost]

Lmao your comment. It’s simple, we want a single charger that can charge all our devices, set down and forget it. When I get home from work, I set my watch down, my phone and my AirPods in the same place on a single surface, done, finished. No need to physically plug in my phone and AirPod, and set the watch on a separate surface.

It’s simple and convenient, we like simplicity and convenience, and what you propose is quite the opposite.

There is a want and demand for AirPower. The creators of many of our technological devices use the same devices we use so that puts them in a unique position to understand our wants, needs and frustrations. They’re able to do something about it because they have the required skill set.

AirPower will sit nicely on my dresser for my iPhone, AirPod and Apple Watch, it will do the same on the night stand for my girlfriend, it will also be welcomed in my living room on the side table when we need to charge our cellphones or guests cellphones.

Edit:

This is how Charging my 3 devices look like now.
View attachment 827204

This is how I and many others want it.
View attachment 827205

If you still don’t see or understand how others see the value, simplicity or convenience in this, then you don’t want to see it.

I have all of them. I just don’t think it’s worth any more than $99 as most to charge devices. It’s not all that challenging to me as is today.
[doublepost=1553041115][/doublepost]

Sorry, not the same thing at all. The one annoying thing about Qi charging right now is that you have to place the device pretty precisely on a particular spot on the mat. The poducts you linked to are exactly like that, only multiplied. The promise of the Airpower, besides charging multiple devices at the same time, is that you can place your device(s) anywhere on it, not only some small spot/area.

That’s fair. Just saying that Apple’s option will likely cost too much for, what I consider, pretty minimal improvement.