Gurman: Apple Aims to Release AirPower By September

[Rogifan]

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

Right, like the white iPhone 4.

 

[The Game 161]

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

Not really though as there’s nothing like this on the market at all that can charge watch and phones.

 

[Rogifan]

And in another thread, people are literally bemoaning Apple’s continued silence on the state of the Mac Mini...

I assume this is in reference to new products not one that has existed for years and all people want is upgraded internals.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Apparently, this little freaking project required the full disengagement of the MacPro, MacMini, MBAir, iMac, MBPro, AirPort engineering and development staff. 10k employees yanked around looking for each other, hopping over from/to Cupertino rambling over their cross-functional assignments and themselves.
Leading to the unparallelled success only Cook can achieve...
Sadly I already bought a few at Ikea instead.

LOL! I was trying to be a bit more ... diplomatic... but I like the way you put it.

Haven't tried the Ikea myself, but have looked at them. Any issues with the iPhone (8/x) or Watch?

 

[bbeagle]

Serious question.... why is this so difficult to design/manufacture/release? It’s a charging mat. Is there something unique about Apple’s over third party offerings?

There isn't a single charging mat that I've seen which can charge more than 1 device that isn't really something like 3 mats put side-by-side so they look like 1 mat.

In those 3-in-1 chargers, there are particular spots you must place your devices. And most require the same amount of charge (you can't have different power requirements for each of the spots).

In Apple's version, you can put the phone, watch, AirPods, whatever, anywhere you want on the mat and they'll charge, each matching their own power requirements.

 

[Baymowe335]

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

Right. No on will ever buy another charger.

This also appears to have quite a bit of tech inside. They said 2018. If you thought that meant Jan 1, that’s your problem.

Love how everyone here declares products “too late” as if the game is over. People will buy this to work with their Apple products just like always. It will likely be the best product of its kind with some bonus feature too.

 

[Smartass]

So after one year, Apple will finally produce and start selling a wireless charging pad? Amazing!

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Not really though as there’s nothing like this on the market at all that can charge watch and phones.

True... and the idea of having a single charging pad is certainly appealing, though I see two potential issues:

1. Will the price-point justify the 'convenience' of a single device? Assuming separate charging pads and power supplies @ $25/device plus $50 for the Watch, for $100 I can charge everything I've got... and the real price is likely much less. So anything more than $100 is just the over-engineered Apple Tax.

2. Acknowledging that the idea is 'cool', is this really a problem? Given that we're in the middle (IMO) of an evolutionary jump in power management / charging capabilities... how quickly will this become obsolete? For example, assuming the AirPad supports a maximum iPhone charge rate of X. What happens next year with the iPhone 11 supports a charge rate of 2X?

 

[Smartass]

Right, like the white iPhone 4.

We dont talk about that one here.

 

[Steve121178]

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.

Backlash? It's just a charging pad, who cares? I bought a wireless fast charge pad for my iPhone X last September and got on with my life.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

A little strange that people are so mad Apple because THEY wrongly guessed the release date. This September is "in 2018", which was and still is the only release date Apple has officially announced.

Yeah... people do tend to get worked up over everything Apple!

However, in this particular case at least a small bit of that is justified. When announcing the iPhones 8 and X, wireless charging was considered a big deal. At the same time Apple announces the AirPower charger... which made sense. And yes.. they told us the AirPower Charger wasn't coming until 2018. The unspoken expectation was that the AirPower would be 'coming soon' to support the iPhone 8/X's just released. Sure.. they didn't specifically set a date, but by waiting until mid-2018 (or later) Apple is aligning the AirPower closer to the 8s/Xs models. IMO this is a feature disconnect.

Edit: My bad. Don't know why I was writing "AirPad" instead of "AirPower". <sheepish grin>

 

[Scottsdale]

Let’s use our heads now, Apple Engineers, USB-C and NOT Lightning.

 

[rmoliv]

They’re more focused in developing Memojis than actual useful products...

 

[Rychiar]

if they remove the ports no ones CarPlay will work except the few models that actually have wireless CarPlay....

 

[Abazigal]

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.

Remind me again of that lesson, and the consequence?

 

[zapnyc]

Oh lordy. This is why I wait till at least Generation 2.... ....was just looking at Qi chargers in BestBuy...if this thing is more than $120, it's gonna be laughed at.

 

[McTool]

As I remember, Apple said for the AirPower charging mat, you don't need to put the phone in a specific location to start charging. I think this is the difficult part.

No, it’s not. I use Zens charging mat which has 7 coils in it. Throw your iPhone on it and it charges. No matter the position it’s in.

 

[az431]

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.

What's the difference? The only backlash is from self-entitled whiners.

 

[blacktape242]

And a price?

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

I'd guess between 99 and 149

When it was announced i called 199, im still sticking by it.
[doublepost=1529589551][/doublepost]

Serious question.... why is this so difficult to design/manufacture/release? It’s a charging mat. Is there something unique about Apple’s over third party offerings?

they cant be bothered with it, they are busy working on streaming content.

 

[minimo3]

They should have courage and remove the lightning port with the next iPhone. After all wired charging is over a hundred years old! You’ve spent $1000 on the phone what’s another $299 for a charger

 

[pmau]

They’re more focused in developing Memojis than actual useful products...

I know people who cannot write a coherent sentence without autocorrect.
I strongly believe that they will rely on Memoji to express basic emotions.

Like todays LOL, XOXO, HDGDL, etc.

 

[Khedron]

There isn't a single charging mat that I've seen which can charge more than 1 device that isn't really something like 3 mats put side-by-side so they look like 1 mat.

In those 3-in-1 chargers, there are particular spots you must place your devices. And most require the same amount of charge (you can't have different power requirements for each of the spots).

In Apple's version, you can put the phone, watch, AirPods, whatever, anywhere you want on the mat and they'll charge, each matching their own power requirements.

In Apple's version you can put your Apple iPhone 8, Apple iPhone X, Apple AirPods in the new case, and/or Apple Watch Series 3 anywhere you want on the mat.

Most other companies' charging pads are fully functional with more than 4 products (and only 3 of which are currently available).

 

[pete2106]

"before or in September,"

Which year?

 

[grobik]

Kinda tough to have confidence in a product that's been pushed back for a year.

 

[jiggad369]

Why is this such a complicated thing? Does it do something aside from charging gadgets?

Maybe you should read the article...