iPhone 8 May Use Apple's In-House Inductive Wireless Charging Rather Than Technology From Energous

[smoking monkey]

Am I the only person who sees absolutely no point to wireless charging? As long as you have to stay within a certain proximity of a wireless charging station, how does this free you up in any way? Might as well plug a cable in and get it over with.
No thanks.

Because it means one less cable stuffing around on my table. Sure you'll still need to plug the wireless charger in somewhere but that can be well hidden. I'm all for anything to get rid of the bane of my table's existence... the cable.

And for those who were worried about charging and listening to music via lightning EarPods on an iPhone, it solves that problem.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Because it means one less cable stuffing around on my table. Sure you'll still need to plug the wireless charger in somewhere but that can be well hidden. I'm all for anything to get rid of the bane of my table's existence... the cable.

And for those who were worried about charging and listening to music via lightning EarPods on an iPhone, it solves that problem.

So how is that really any different than a dock?
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I can't imagine it happening any time soon. And what would worry me is no user accessible way to restore a device if needed (like the watch currently is).

Same thoughts regarding USB-C. Though for charging (including AirPods), I feel like they've really invested in Lightning at this point, especially for accessories (Siri Remote, Pencil, Keyboard, Trackpad, Mouse, AirPods). Never quite understood that chatter about the port on the AirPods being shaped for USB-C. It looks identical to the Lightning port on my iPhone?

I'd imagine the solution to restoring to devices would be a wireless enabled bootloader. I know I've used them somewhere before but can't recall right now.

 

[A MacBook lover]

sure - better is great but why not make it cross compatible?

ILuvEggplant - Part time engineer, full time troll
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Am I the only person who sees absolutely no point to wireless charging? As long as you have to stay within a certain proximity of a wireless charging station, how does this free you up in any way? Might as well plug a cable in and get it over with.

Now, if we could wirelessly charge while walking down the street or while on an airplane, that would be something truly useful.

But as long as we are tied down to a radius of 10 feet, I'd rather just use my 9-foot-long lightning cable.

This is even more true with "inductive charging." What benefit does this bring at all? It's just like plugging your phone in, but instead of plugging, you are placing it on a mat? How does this help anyone? Seems to me like people will just have to spend tons more ca$h on Apple's "inductive charging pads."

No thanks.

If it can charge up to 10 feet away that's amazing and game changing.

Everyone seems to carry battery packs these days to give their phone juice.

Now they could just keep that in their pocket/purse/backpack and not have to worry about tethering it into their phone.

It's like walking around with an Ethernet port in your phone and suddenly you have a wifi hotspot. Sure you gotta stay in range, but it's much more convenient than connecting a cable. And if it's always with you, range isn't an issue.

 

[Tycho24]

Lol, where are all the people that were previously claiming Apple surely has the "real" wireless charging in store and the inductive one that has been in other phones for a long time is only a gimmick?

Ummmmm.... as near as I can tell we're all here still saying that.
That's like, the majority sentiment here- w/ a small group saying they're excited even if it's just a pad.
To most of us; that sounds like a useless expensive gimmick.

 

[spacebro]

another standard.. 😡

apple - why dont you make it compatible with QI

Qi (pronounced CHEE; IPA: /tʃiː/, meaning "natural energy") is an open interface standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium

All the qi implementations I've seen suck. It doesn't work if its 1mm off from the 1 tiny point where it works. I traced an outline of my phone in the exact place it worked and still had to mess with it to get it to work. It made me not want to disturb the phone so it wouldn't mess up the qi connection. I finally realised that a usb cable is much easier to deal with.

 

[DVNIEL]

I could really care less about wireless charging because I've decided to be responsible about charging important things. Prepare my clothes and gym gear before bed, plug everything in while you're at it. I drive a car, charge my phone while driving. Working at my desk, get a nice dock that charges multiple things. On the go? Get a battery pack that can charge things other than an iPhone. Carry one less cable? Are your pants really that tight that you can't be bothered with a cable? Nomad sells a great carabiner and keychain cable... try that.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

So how is that really any different than a dock?
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Because it's a standard. Because you can hide a Qi mat easily if you don't want it to be seen. Qi is available where docks are not.

And you don't have to use it if your don't want to. Sure, like a dock you could just plug one cable into a device and then never have to bother, but apparently the preference is either a dock or having wires lying around that need to be plugged in every single time.

Honestly the only reason people are complaining about this appears to be because Android phones have it and iPhone users don't want to acknowledge it's a feature they don't have.

It doesn't make other phones more expensive so the argument that it would make the iPhone more expensive is basically an argument against Apple. The cost of incorporating Qi is negligible at this point too so if you are already willing to pay for an iPhone and it's other "gimmick" features then the added cost for more functionality and versatility shouldn't be a big deal.
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I could really care less about wireless charging because I've decided to be responsible about charging important things.

So don't use it then.

And maybe the day you forget or lose your cable and your phone is dying you could just drop it on the table at whatever restaurant you are in and charge it that way. Or if you are in a terminal and your adapter is in your checked bag you have a way to charge it without having to beg for the use of someone else's cable. As I have seen happen.

Extra features? Who needs them? I don't take selfies so maybe they should scrap that front facing camera. Just bumps up the cost and isn't as good as the rear camera anyway.

 

[lordofthereef]

I can't imagine it happening any time soon. And what would worry me is no user accessible way to restore a device if needed (like the watch currently is).

Same thoughts regarding USB-C. Though for charging (including AirPods), I feel like they've really invested in Lightning at this point, especially for accessories (Siri Remote, Pencil, Keyboard, Trackpad, Mouse, AirPods). Never quite understood that chatter about the port on the AirPods being shaped for USB-C. It looks identical to the Lightning port on my iPhone?

Some people smarter than me suggested one port would somehow handle lightning and USB c. IDKJ how feasible that is.
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The only reason I can imagine Apple switching to inductive charging (and I'm pretty confident they won't be using RF charging) is to eliminate the Lightning port.

I'm pretty sure the reason Apple hasn't gone with wireless charging so far is because it offers no real benefit over the wire. If they take the wire away though, to improve water resistance for example, then wireless charging allows them to do that.

I'd be pretty shocked if they dumped Lightning for USB-C. It would be pretty disruptive for very little practical benefit.

More disruptive than USB C (and not lightning) on Macs? IDK if I agree with that. Certainly wouldn't be MORE distruptive than dumping the port completely.

I think complete elimination of the charging port would have me dump the iPhone for good. I've already given up more than enough control with iOS.

 

[Tech198]

"Very impractical" ? at least u don't have to place your phone in one spot while it charges...

I was not hoping for something every other manufacturer has done..... laying their phone, or connected to to something in order to charge.

Inductive charging is good on the Apple watch because it's a device u take off anyway.... (similar to non-smart watches),

but an iPhone ?

Apple just wants to do this because the Apple watch does it.... and keeping it all 'in-house' makes more sense to then, than going astray on some product with using other technology from outside.

"In addition, such schemes may pose hazards to objects or people that cross or intersect the beam when modest to high amounts of power are being transmitted."

Apple just wants to use fast charging always as the excuse for everything don't they. They could use RF if its was low efficient,and took more time to charge,, but no one wants to wait around while their phone charges. They would instead prefer not to waste anything they use, even at a convenience to the user.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Will this indeed be ready for iPhone 8 or are we speculative at this time?

That's a definite : MAYBE!

Why is everybody on this bandwagon? I can see many reasons why a cable is just better.
Lived all my live charging that way.

This looks like a solution looking for a problem.

I would prefer if they worked on a quick charge solution.

Hook up cable, wait 2 minutes 100%. Something like that.

 

[Tycho24]

I think complete elimination of the charging port would have me dump the iPhone for good. I've already given up more than enough control with iOS.

Well.... I think we all know it's eventually coming, but I think you're safe for a good 4-5 years.
Right now; iPhone is Apple's cash cow. They are NOT going to replace a commonplace, cheaper than dirt, available at every gas station & quickie mart for $5, ubiquitous cable- like lightning, for an expensive docking solution that I'm sure wouldn't work well in the car, etc.
It may be an option, but the only way to charge your phone??
Come on now people... let's get serious.

However, if it truly IS a "fifteen feet away" solution, they may spend the next 4-5 years making it as common as lightning is now; and at that time, pull the plug (pun intended) ;0)

 

[bigchief]

The top of the console on my 2016 Chevrolet LTZ pickup truck has a place for wireless charging but I have an Apple iPhone. Many new vehicles have this option and it would be great not to mess with a charging cord. Come on Apple stop dragging your feet.

 

[bushman4]

Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. Wattup has a nice product but it seems after introducing it 2 years ago at CES its still not ready for real time based on various reports.
Wireless inductive charging is O.K. but no great shakes as it requires keeping your phone on a charging pad.

 

[DevNull0]

I'd imagine the solution to restoring to devices would be a wireless enabled bootloader. I know I've used them somewhere before but can't recall right now.

Yep, those work. Just yesterday I had to deal with a corrupted bootloader in an embedded device I'm working on. Luckily it does have a programming header, so it was 5-minute fix. Your way, best case is having to visit an Apple store and waste your time while not having access to the device. Worst case is your device is out of warranty and not worth the minimum fee for a service visit. So garbage when it's a simple fix with a cable.

 

[falainber]

Don't know how many times I need to explain the benefits of BLE - NOTHING you just listed cannot be done by using the proximity functions of Bluetooth. In fact, Apple uses it with their Apple TV when you tap your phone to it - pairs wifi, grabs all your account info, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if you're using Bluetooth functions on some of these devices when tapping and don't even know it because you assume NFC is the only technology that works that way...just like you assume Apple hasn't duplicated that functionality without needing NFC.

I'm not stuck in any walled garden, these are the assumptions that lead to these sort of misguided comments. I own every smartphone platform, work for Apple's competitors, am a telephony consultant, and have been using NFC since the mid-90's when it was simply RFID.

While BLE might be suitable for home use (no security concerns), it's not the case for mobile use (smart phones and cameras) because BLE range is too wide.

 

[TallManNY]

The top of the console on my 2016 Chevrolet LTZ pickup truck has a place for wireless charging but I have an Apple iPhone. Many new vehicles have this option and it would be great not to mess with a charging cord. Come on Apple stop dragging your feet.

Can you buy a wireless charging case for your iPhone and then use your truck?

 

[Analog Kid]

More disruptive than USB C (and not lightning) on Macs? IDK if I agree with that. Certainly wouldn't be MORE distruptive than dumping the port completely.

I think complete elimination of the charging port would have me dump the iPhone for good. I've already given up more than enough control with iOS.

The change on Macs was disruptive, but moved towards a goal of simplification. Removing the Lightning port would be disruptive, but also move toward simplifying the device (toward a glass lozenge). I'm not saying you need to agree with Apple's goal, but it would be consistent with Apple's philosophy.

From that point of view, removing one port and replacing it with a different port is just disruption with no benefit.

 

[Roadstar]

Am I the only person who sees absolutely no point to wireless charging? As long as you have to stay within a certain proximity of a wireless charging station, how does this free you up in any way? Might as well plug a cable in and get it over with.

Now, if we could wirelessly charge while walking down the street or while on an airplane, that would be something truly useful.

But as long as we are tied down to a radius of 10 feet, I'd rather just use my 9-foot-long lightning cable.

This is even more true with "inductive charging." What benefit does this bring at all? It's just like plugging your phone in, but instead of plugging, you are placing it on a mat? How does this help anyone? Seems to me like people will just have to spend tons more ca$h on Apple's "inductive charging pads."

No thanks.

Effortlessness. Plugging in is a two-handed operation in most cases, but inductive wireless charging requires just dropping the phone on the mat and picking it up when you're going elsewhere. Both take one hand only, and as I take my phone out of my pocket and put it on the table anyway when sitting down in front of my computer, I might just as well drop it on the pad and have a topped-up phone to grab without any additional unplugging acrobatics when I'm going somewhere else. Tidiness is another thing. I'm actually considering getting a new nightstand from IKEA with an integrated wireless charger. That way I could use my currently secondary phone (S7 Edge) as an alarm clock with no wires in sight and still have it fully charged in the morning. I also have a Qi charger in the car, and being able to tuck the cable powering it neatly away or route it behind the dash is an improvement compared to when I charge my iPhone in my car with the Lightning cord hanging there in the way and getting tangled around the gear stick.

If Apple had some truly revolutionary wireless charging method, I'd be OK with it being proprietary and get some new chargers. However, if it's just yet another inductive charging method, meh. Qi or GTFO when inductive is concerned.

 

[epicrayban]

If this proves true, Apple will once again be playing catch up.

Since they're late to the wireless charging scene, I was hoping they'd leap frog the current technology to some form of proximity-style charging.
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Effortlessness. Plugging in is a two-handed operation in most cases, but inductive wireless charging requires just dropping the phone on the mat and picking it up when you're going elsewhere. Both take one hand only, and as I take my phone out of my pocket and put it on the table anyway when sitting down in front of my computer, I might just as well drop it on the pad and have a topped-up phone to grab without any additional unplugging acrobatics when I'm going somewhere else. Tidiness is another thing. I'm actually considering getting a new nightstand from IKEA with an integrated wireless charger. That way I could use my currently secondary phone (S7 Edge) as an alarm clock with no wires in sight and still have it fully charged in the morning. I also have a Qi charger in the car, and being able to tuck the cable powering it neatly away or route it behind the dash is an improvement compared to when I charge my iPhone in my car with the Lightning cord hanging there in the way and getting tangled around the gear stick.

If Apple had some truly revolutionary wireless charging method, I'd be OK with it being proprietary and get some new chargers. However, if it's just yet another inductive charging method, meh. Qi or GTFO when inductive is concerned.

Not only is wireless charging convenient, but you're also always topping off your battery. You don't have to worry about your battery life as much with a wireless charger. Anytime you set it down, you're topping it off.

There are some people who simply won't understand or appreciate the feature until Apple does it. I mean this quite literally.

 

[trifid]

Please please please don't do proprietary inductive charging 🙁

Also inductive charging almost a decade late, after Palm did it first so beautifully in 2008/2009, it's sad 😛

 

[sidewinder3000]

sure - better is great but why not make it cross compatible?

Because better is better than compatible.

 

[lordofthereef]

The change on Macs was disruptive, but moved towards a goal of simplification. Removing the Lightning port would be disruptive, but also move toward simplifying the device (toward a glass lozenge). I'm not saying you need to agree with Apple's goal, but it would be consistent with Apple's philosophy.

From that point of view, removing one port and replacing it with a different port is just disruption with no benefit.

My thought process was moving towards a ubiquitous cable.

 

[Roadstar]

So how is that really any different than a dock?

Better compatibility with cases? Inductive charging has worked through most cases I've had, but too many docks require removing the case first or using some kind of a port extender.

 

[Nevaborn]

This should be taken with a shovel of salt. Yes past patents would suggest in house options are being explored and at the time wave charging was not viable. However look at how many patents Apple has not to this day actioned on and also since those patents were submitted Apple would not of formed a partnership if it did not feel there was some sort of benefit to be had from this newer wave technology.

 

[Sedulous]

Because it means one less cable stuffing around on my table. Sure you'll still need to plug the wireless charger in somewhere but that can be well hidden. I'm all for anything to get rid of the bane of my table's existence... the cable.

And for those who were worried about charging and listening to music via lightning EarPods on an iPhone, it solves that problem.

And yet you'll still have the cable connecting the charging mat sitting on your table and it will take twice as long to charge. No thanks. True wireless charging would be interesting but not inductive charging mats.