Gurman: Apple Aims to Release AirPower By September

[MacRumors]

Apple aims to release its multi-device AirPower charging mat "before or in September," after facing a handful of technical challenges with its hardware and software, according to well-connected reporter Mark Gurman.

An excerpt from his Bloomberg News story:

Apple didn't say when in 2018 it would release AirPower, but engineers hoped to launch the charger by June. The aim now is to put it on sale before or in September, according to one of the people. In recent months, some Apple engineers have ramped up testing of the device by using it as their charger at the office, another person said.

Apple first previewed the AirPower alongside the iPhone X in September 2017. At the time, the company's marketing chief Phil Schiller said it would be available in 2018, as reflected on Apple's website. Pricing has not been disclosed.

Gurman says Apple engineers initially hoped for a June launch, presumably at WWDC 2018, but noted the AirPower has been delayed due to technical challenges, including the potential for overheating, complex multi-device charging circuitry, and software bugs with the accessory's on-board firmware.

AirPower is said to include a custom Apple chip running "a stripped down version of iOS" for power management and pairing with devices:

The AirPower charger is also more advanced than the current competition because it includes a custom Apple chip running a stripped down version of the iOS mobile operating system to conduct on-device power management and pairing with devices. Apple engineers have also been working to squash bugs related to the on-board firmware, according to the people familiar.

AirPower is an oval-shaped mat that can inductively charge multiple Apple devices at once, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and Apple Watch Series 3 models. It will also be able to charge AirPods when they are placed in a new, optional charging case set to launch alongside AirPower.

AirPower's ability to charge multiple devices is derived from propriety technology developed by Apple. Apple said it will work to have its technology become part of the universal Qi standard, supported by the latest iPhones, so that other third-party manufacturers can release multi-device charging mats.

AirPower is another step towards Apple's goal of a wireless future. Gurman says Apple designers eventually hope to "remove most of the external ports and buttons on the iPhone," noting Apple even considered removing wired charging from the iPhone X, but decided wireless charging was not yet fast enough.

Of course, the AirPower is not truly wireless, as power is supplied to the mat with a charger connected via Lightning cable.

Article Link: Gurman: Apple Aims to Release AirPower By September

 

[Appleaker]

It will be in September.

 

[alex00100]

Lol, hopefully.

 

[BulkSlash]

I reckon it will launch along with everything else in September. I wouldn't be surprised if the wireless AirPod case ends up being exclusive to AirPods 2 as well (as an extra incentive to upgrade).

 

[Andres Cantu]

So why announce it in September of 2017? They should have just waited until it was ready and avoid the backlash. They haven't learned their lesson...yet.

 

[Piggie]

And a price?

$49 ?
$99 ?
$149 ?
$199 ?
$249 ?
$299 ?

I'd guess between 99 and 149

 

[Nicksd84]

The future is here now, but it’s in the future so it’s on time. Duhhh!

 

[brendu]

I miss the days when Apple waited to announce things until they were ready to launch within a month of that announcement.

 

[phillytim]

Yeah September, probably the day before (or the day of) the yearly iPhone event. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ yawn

 

[imgroot]

I had forgotten about this; assumed it just went the way of the dodo bird. Anyone who wanted an inductive charger would have purchased one by now from another vendor? I sure didn't wait around.

 

[rpat701]

Honestly, does it really matter? It's a little late to the game.

 

[democracyrules]

Apple aims to release its inductive AirPower charging mat "before or in September," according to well-connected reporter Mark Gurman.

An excerpt from his Bloomberg News story:Apple first previewed the AirPower alongside the iPhone X in September 2017. At the time, the company's marketing chief Phil Schiller said it would be available in 2018, as reflected on Apple's website. Pricing has not been disclosed.

Gurman says Apple initially hoped for a June launch, presumably at WWDC 2018, but noted the AirPower is "taking longer to make due to a series of technical hurdles," including the potential for overheating, complex circuitry related to its multi-device charging functionality, and firmware bugs.

AirPower is an oval-shaped accessory that can inductively charge multiple Apple devices at once, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and Apple Watch Series 3 models. It will also be able to charge AirPods when they are placed in a new, optional charging case set to launch alongside AirPower.

The mat's ability to charge multiple devices will be achieved with a propriety technology developed by Apple. Apple said it will work to have its technology become part of the universal Qi standard supported by the latest iPhones.

Article Link: Mark Gurman: Apple Aims to Release AirPower By September

I am soooooooooo excited. The best charger in the market is coming. Awesome!!!!!!!

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

As much as I like the idea of this... it's a bad look for Apple to be literally a year late with a product launch. They shouldn't have announced it last year.

 

[Glockworkorange]

It will be in September.

September 30th. 10:00 PM

 

[MBAir2010]

is that safe for cats?

 

[Glockworkorange]

And a price?

$49 ?
$99 ?
$149 ?
$199 ?
$249 ?
$299 ?

I'd guess between 99 and 149

But how much for the AirPod charging case?

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

And a price?

$49 ?
$99 ?
$149 ?
$199 ?
$249 ?
$299 ?

I'd guess between 99 and 149

No way below 100. I say 189

 

[NightFox]

I had forgotten about this; assumed it just went the way of the dodo bird. Anyone who wanted an inductive charger would have purchased one by now from another vendor? I sure didn't wait around.

Yeah, I’d forgotten too. That’s really not good for Apple if the time between announcement and release is so long that people actually lose interest and forget

 

[Attirex]

Bought a cheapie Anker mat for my X months ago from Amazon. Works great, I’m good.

Everyone: that’s an amazing story.

Me: it is!

 

[sulpfiction]

It’s a wireless charger puck for God’s sake. Should have been out a year ago.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

is that safe for cats?

lol not likely. They'll knock everything off of it. I switched from wired to wireless on my nightstand because they kept trying to eat the cable. Now, they knock my phone off my charging pad.
[doublepost=1529583902][/doublepost]

Bought a cheapie Anker mat for my X months ago from Amazon. Works great, I’m good.

Everyone: that’s an amazing story.

Me: it is!

I too bought Anker Power Wave chargers. With their launch coupon, so they weren't as expensive as they are now.

 

[nwcs]

I was interested when it was first announced but now I have enough wireless chargers around that I don’t need it. I am curious, though, to see how much they’ll charge for it. Now, if it can charge two iPhones at the same time maybe but not if it’s ridiculously overpriced.

 

[jbachandouris]

Too little. Too late. Don’t need another charger.

 

[Braderunner]

Hopefully, it has some magical feature that we don't know about. I mean, it's a charging mat.
Yes...I know...you can place your phone, Watch, and AirPods on it to charge at the same time. Buuuut, that just doesn't seem that amazing to me.

 

[MacKenzie999]

No way below 100. I say 189

or $289 for Rose Gold