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Pi Charger Uses Qi Standard to Extend Wireless Charging Reach Beyond Current Mats

PortableLover said:
Now this is a step in the right direction.
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indeed!

my brother went to their website and pointed out the power plug behind the unit. that plug needs a redesign. after all the effort put into their nice industrial design they use an off-the-shelf L-plug. now i’m wondering how bulky is the power brick.

Image.png
 
JaySoul said:
1) There really seems like other problems in the world vastly more important than this

2) Cancer cancer cancer cancer cancer
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Your first point is valid to a degree. Issues like world hunger, clean drinking water, poverty, universal education, modern slavery, etc, etc, etc, are more important. Thing like this, however, are tied into the overall progress of technology and its ultimate goal: the creation of an A.I. that can help solve our problems. Short of that, we aren't going fix half the world's problems. People are simply too stubborn and greedy to use the tools on hand as it is: they'll have to have machines do it for them. (I'm still a bit sleepy so maybe all that didn't come out as coherently as I'd imagined) ;)

As for #2, time and studies will tell. We're all gonna die of something.
 
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My Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 have wireless charging. I place them on a pad, and they charge. They don't charge very fast, though. Plus, if they aren't lined up PERFECTLY, they won't charge at all. The slightest bump, sneeze, or any other disturbance is enough to mess up the charging. They pack a bunch of magnets in the backs of the devices and on the charging pads to try and keep them in place, but they magnets aren't very strong.

The "freedom" of wireless charging has so far been FAR more restrictive than just plugging in a cable.

The "anywhere within 12 inches" feature sounds more promising, though.
 
This is a great step towards the wireless charging path, but I think I can live without paying 200$ for it. If we consider the all-time high price of 1k$ for iPhone X, the charger itself would be 20% the price of the phone.
 
Nothing like having another tanning device in your own home. And for those that want a mobile personal touch, we have these new wireless headphones too, in-which we haven't done any long term human trials on but don't worry we have the FCC and CDC "tobacco science" guys covering us on that. They're as safe as a fridge in a nuclear blast.
 
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I could see someone placing this on their nightstand and not understanding why they wake up every morning with massive migraines and blurred vision. I'm ok, so far at this point, with mat-based wireless charging... It's the devices like this that have me timid...
 
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ILuvEggplant said:
One wonders if this will effect sperm count.

Are there any studies on this BruckU?
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I was literally about to reply that I'm no electrical engineer, but I hope this isn't going to fry my nads.

Maybe we're just unreasonably protective of our junk.
 
Apple blogger said:
Can't wait for the next news "Apple buys company Pi, which designed the Pi Chargers, hinting at their own rumoured wireless charging standards"
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No! Please No! As much as I like Apple that is a bad move for consumers like you. I would love to see this in every possible devices not only Apple iProducts. You're putting a limitation of its future and capability. A lot of accessories not necessarily a phone or tablets can take advantage of this.
 
I love how everyone is scared about RF and electricity, NEWLY scared about it FOR A DEVICE WHICH USES A RADIO TO COMMUNICATE, THAT YOU PUT TO YOUR FACE.

That's right, nothing here will give you cancer, but if there's any risk at all, there's more from the phone itself.

Get a grip people.
 
JaySoul said:
1) There really seems like other problems in the world vastly more important than this

2) Cancer cancer cancer cancer cancer
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3) Turn oversized engineering nerd brains from developing wireless charging to curing the cancer their wireless charger caused.
 
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dannys1 said:
Now that is very nice! (In before the first 3-4 comments mentioning cancer)

I really wish you could buy the raw induction coils with a USB connector so you could make your own in furniture stuff a bit better.

I'm not interested in the charging mat thing at all - but if I can hide induction charges in multiple furniture places and in places in the car, that makes it much more useful.

I don't want to have to buy 5 pad charges to take it apart to cover the entire arm of my sofa though!
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What about this?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30291875/
 
Am I the only one reading "Pi" as "Pee?" If the i has an e sound in Qi why wouldn't it in Pi? Maybe it's just my immaturity showing...

Edit: Nope, I'm not the only one. I see Smith288 thinks the same thing!
 
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Xenomorph said:
My Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 have wireless charging. I place them on a pad, and they charge. They don't charge very fast, though. Plus, if they aren't lined up PERFECTLY, they won't charge at all. The slightest bump, sneeze, or any other disturbance is enough to mess up the charging. They pack a bunch of magnets in the backs of the devices and on the charging pads to try and keep them in place, but they magnets aren't very strong.

The "freedom" of wireless charging has so far been FAR more restrictive than just plugging in a cable.

The "anywhere within 12 inches" feature sounds more promising, though.
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I don't like the flat charging pads because of the reason you cite, however I found the angled inductive charging docks work beautifully, no more issues with lining up or bumps or anything, I currently use this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UGIA0WY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
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reedmo said:
Am I the only one reading "Pi" as "Pee?" If the i has an e sound in Qi why wouldn't it in Pi? Maybe it's just my immaturity showing...
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It was funny when someone else made the joke, first. That's why I didn't tell THAT poster that the reason involves using the letter "Q".

And marketing.

Call it a "pee" charger if that's what really makes you happy.

EDIT: s changes when you add an "h" to it, and c can have a "kay" sound or a "see" sound, depending on context. Actually, I kind of agree, it is confusing when someone does it for marketing purposes. ECMA charger anyone?
 
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This is cool tech, but I'm not interested in this in the slightest. I want to see health studies. We absolutely do not need to be sitting beside these proverbial microwaves.
 
dannys1 said:
Ummm, citation?
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This is MacRumors, not Wikipedia. Generally people ask for links here if they wish to read up more on items. ;) .

There are many entities that have studied and have implemented standards to keep us safe. It is likely the reason why we don’t have consumer microwave magnetron guns to heat up coffee on our table, or, 10000 watt WIFI transmitters in our living rooms. Part of it is for spectrum, but most of it is the old health and safety nanny.

Regulatory
OSHA
FCC
ARRL
IEEE
 
curtvaughan said:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/radiofrequency-radiation.html
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Funny, the very article you mention mentioned this:

Transmitting signals from cordless telephones, cell phones and cell phone towers, satellite phones, and 2-way radios
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I better stop using cellphones! Does Apple make a cellphone free cellphone? :p

EDIT: From that source:

The other main agencies that classify cancer-causing exposures (carcinogens), including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US National Toxicology Program (NTP), have not formally classified RF radiation as to its cancer-causing potential.
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The agency that does recognize RF as carcinogenic (IARC) admits the evidence is "limited". Again, from the source already cited at cancer.org.
 
djlythium said:
What about this?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30291875/
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Even that's too obvious for me, in fact it's an awful product as it doesn't even sit properly flush - you might as well use a charging mat and drill a hole just for its cable.

I want it to be total invisible and you put it anywhere on the arm of your chair and it charges, anywhere on the desk or kitchen work top. Then induction charging (let's be honest, thats what this is, induction charging not wireless charging) would be really useful.
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840quadra said:
This is MacRumors, not Wikipedia. Generally people ask for links here if they wish to read up more on items. ;) .

There are many entities that have studied and have implemented standards to keep us safe. It is likely the reason why we don’t have consumer microwave magnetron guns to heat up coffee on our table, or, 10000 watt WIFI transmitters in our living rooms. Part of it is for spectrum, but most of it is the old health and safety nanny.

Regulatory
OSHA
FCC
ARRL
IEEE
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Correct, you can't have 10000 watt wifi transmitters, they won't give you cancer, they'll just set fire to things.

There's absolutely no tests shown that RF can cause cancer. None at all.

It just makes me laugh when it's things like this but no one mentions it all when it involves putting Earpods in your ear and having RF blasted directly at your head all day. It's a total non issue either way.
 
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curtvaughan said:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/radiofrequency-radiation.html

Just google "rf and cancer" or "rf and health" - most of the studies dealing with everyday RF exposure are inconclusive. It would take many years to establish causal significance. Frequent exposure to high RF signals does have proven health risks.
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Yeah again, there's no proof what so ever - even the over cautious cancer.org has had to admit that there's been no cancer caused by RF.

Seriously it's a total non issue whilst we're breathing in diesel fumes that are legitimately taking minutes off your life off per day every day.

Every day 68 people in London die. EVERY DAY. Directly due to respiratory conditions caused by poor air quality and people here are worried that RF might cause cancer. Priorities people.
 
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dannys1 said:
Correct, you can't have 10000 watt wifi transmitters, they won't give you cancer, they'll just set fire to things.

There's absolutely no tests shown that RF can cause cancer. None at all.

It just makes me laugh when it's things like this but no one mentions it all when it involves putting Earpods in your ear and having RF blasted directly at your head all day. It's a total non issue either way.
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So what is your opinion on exposure limits and regulation?

Also, can you point to where I mentioned cancer, or what my actual health concern is?
 
This is a step in the right direction but I will wait for Apple version when I know it will work right.
 
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