Report: AirPower Has Entered Production and Coming Soon

[blackdogaudio]

However, this ‘Publicity’ doesn’t reach the mass market for the average consumer that has no idea anything about the Airpower possible future launch, yet, you have ‘tech’ members who are aware of the possible re-release of the Air power in the future, because they pay attention to sites like this. Those are two things that are very much different. Apple didn’t publicize anything, it’s these factories in China that are leaking any information that may/or may not be valid.

Google still caches it for all to ponder once Apple officially releases it so it still serves as publicity by virtue of being published on a tech site.

(Accuracy doesn't matter with respect to the source of this particular article. It's all about the usual Noise, Frothing and Hand Wringing over something relatively unimportant in the big scheme of things ;-)

 

[Tech198]

This could be good, however i wish these sources were were strict... Can't get it from the big guy, then get it elsewhere..

The problem is they can't keep a secret either..Its probably just a coincidence both the charging case and Airpower both re "connected" to the same thing... Thus, you can't charge one without the other... as apposed to Airpods where you need a lightening cable connected to a USB port or possible adapter.

Both of them still says, its not wireless,, not TRUEly wireless anyway.... Router based Wi-fi is TRUE wireless.

 

[blackdogaudio]

This could be good, however i wish these sources were were strict... Can't get it from the big guy, then get it elsewhere..

The problem is they can't keep a secret either..

LOL..it's all a tempest in a teapot. If it's released and I'm happy with the price, I'll buy one and keep it. If not, I won't buy it or will send it back if I don't like it and continue to just live life. No harm done either way.

 

[Packers1958]

$5 in parts, $150 price. The Apple way.

 

[Mac 128]

Disagree - Apple stopped including cradles for a reason, no one was using them. And the Apple lightning dock hasn’t been updated since 2015. I haven’t bought a cradle once the iPhone stopped supporting my universal iPod stand and I doubt most people miss them.

I want to get one of these for my iPhone XS and I don’t even have AirPods or a compatible Apple Watch.

I have a multiple cradles. I prefer them to just plugging the phone in and laying on whatever surface is nearby. I’ve had one since the original iPhone came with one. I also like the convenience of being able to handle the phone with one hand, and just dropping it onto the cradle and it starts charging.

As for the pad, my original point was that if it sells for $150+ a person who has multiple devices will get more value for their money than someone who could buy a cheaper Qi pad or stand. I’m not sure what other value Apple brings to the table with this device otherwise. Why would you prefer this to Qi charging mats already in the market?

$5 in parts, $150 price. The Apple way.

And a billion dollars in R&D. I don’t mind paying the Apple premium when they bring something of real value to the table. This is breakthrough next generation technology which will change peoples lives. $50 for a rubber watch band is overpriced as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Juan007]

Are you completely unaware of the iPhone 6 touch disease that was indeed a real issue? Or how about the fact that people are actually getting bent iPads out of the box (and not some small barely noticeable bend) and being told at the apple store that they won’t cover it? Or how about the MacBook keyboards?

I’m all for apple, but my god do you have to be a blind fanboy to deny apple has issues like any other company.

When you sell 10x more devices than anyone else, the microscope is on you like nobody else. And anytime someone drops their iPad from 4 feet off the ground and it bends slightly, the media picks up the story and runs with it. So you have "400 micron gate", probably the stupidest "gate" story ever invented by the anti-Apple media. And you have fallen for it, good job.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

The conspiracy theory part of my mind is telling me this delay has something to do with Apple's recent battery issues, but who knows? It's not like my guess could be worse than anybody else's.

 

[ipponrg]

What gets the people here excited, such as new Macs, I really have little enthusiasm in.

It's because you don't do much in depth work . You have a workflow that works for you. That doesn't discount your experience, and that certainly doesn't discount theirs.

While the iPad gets much flak for lacking access to a file system or mouse support, that hasn’t support me from using it to help me teach since 2012. I love that it runs ios, amongst other things.

Which is again great for you, not so great for others who are in more technical positions that requires file system access.

It does make me wonder at time. Whether it is indeed Apple who has lost the plot, or if it is the long timers here who are the ones unable / unwilling to keep up with the times, and they either just don’t realise it, or don’t want to admit it.

If you consider yourself ahead of the times, it'd be fun to see how far the average technical unbiased Macrumors reader is ahead of you.

And am I the only one excited by Apple’s rumoured foray into transportation?

It's never making it to NYC in the short term. It might be great for California and few cities in the U.S., but not where Apple can really make a difference. They are solving problems that don't really exist for the average person.

Expect wireless charging MacBooks in the not to distant future.

Nobody has this tech, because it’s a ludicrously hard engineering problem. Even with a full year of heads up not one competitor has even attempted this, instead taking the dullard route of just spacing out coils and marketing them as if it’s comparable tech. It’s not.

Agreed. Looking forward to having more electromagnetic radiation run through people's bodies.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

And a billion dollars in R&D.

I think you are over estimating what Apple is doing here (It's a wireless charger Apple didn't invent it)

 

[I7guy]

It's because you don't do much in depth work . You have a workflow that works for you. That doesn't discount your experience, and that certainly doesn't discount theirs.



Which is again great for you, not so great for others who are in more technical positions that requires file system access.



If you consider yourself ahead of the times, it'd be fun to see how far the average technical unbiased Macrumors reader is ahead of you.



It's never making it to NYC in the short term. It might be great for California and few cities in the U.S., but not where Apple can really make a difference. They are solving problems that don't really exist for the average person.

There are valid points here, but the use cases for all of the supposed 250 million Apple customers are all over the map. Maybe ios 13 will be bring the changes that some of the posters have vocalized such as file system access. Who knows.

Agreed. Looking forward to having more electromagnetic radiation run through people's bodies.

This has already happened and will continue to happen with or without Air Power. There is a preponderance of QI chargers on the market. Human kind will have to start building Faraday cages.

 

[falainber]

The entire point of the technology, from reading through the patents on it, is to solve that exact problem you’re describing. It delivers peak charging efficiency regardless of orientation.

If you’d like to peruse:
https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/inductive-wireless-charging/

We'll see. These are patents. Patents don't overrule the laws of physics.

 

[NT1440]

We'll see. These are patents. Patents don't overrule the laws of physics.

...the laws of physics are exactly why the device uses so many different coils and only activates the ones that are in the optimal location for charging.

 

[cmaier]

Sorry Apple, I got one from walgreens for like 15, or 20 dollars, and it glows blue when charging, works well on all wireless charging phones. Not going to pay some ridiculous amount for the same thing with an Apple icon on it.

I’ll pay extra for one that does not glow blue. Since when does an annoying blue light on your nightstand count as a feature?

 

[darksithpro]

I’ll pay extra for one that does not glow blue. Since when does an annoying blue light on your nightstand count as a feature?

It lets you know it's done, It's not that big of a deal. Sheesh it's not like it's glowing so bright you cannot sleep.

 

[Ghost31]

When you sell 10x more devices than anyone else, the microscope is on you like nobody else. And anytime someone drops their iPad from 4 feet off the ground and it bends slightly, the media picks up the story and runs with it. So you have "400 micron gate", probably the stupidest "gate" story ever invented by the anti-Apple media. And you have fallen for it, good job.

“Fallen for it”? Fallen for what? The fact that my friend literally got an iPad that was bent out of the box with ripples in the metal? Stop trying to sound “woke” just because being a fanboy is more fun for you. You’re not anymore enlightened than anyone else because you wanna call “fake news” on some stuff apple nor any other company shouldn’t be getting away with

 

[falainber]

...the laws of physics are exactly why the device uses so many different coils and only activates the ones that are in the optimal location for charging.

Well, it does not have that many coils. I am not very familiar with this tech but as I understand the optimal location for charging is the one that is perfectly centered (on a coil). Having multiple coils provides multiple optimal locations but that's not the same as placing the device anywhere on the pad. Information about AirPower overheating may indicate that Apple was trying to compensate for lousy power transfer (in sub-optimal locations) by pumping more power. That's just a speculation on my part, of course but I will remain skeptical until we'll see the result. I remember huge excitement on this site about the rumors that Apple would use the chargers that "beam" the power anywhere in the room. How did that pan out?

 

[silvertech]

No longer interested

I very much doubt that

 

[joelhinch]

Well, it does not have that many coils. I am not very familiar with this tech but as I understand the optimal location for charging is the one that is perfectly centered (on a coil). Having multiple coils provides multiple optimal locations but that's not the same as placing the device anywhere on the pad. Information about AirPower overheating may indicate that Apple was trying to compensate for lousy power transfer (in sub-optimal locations) by pumping more power. That's just a speculation on my part, of course but I will remain skeptical until we'll see the result. I remember huge excitement on this site about the rumors that Apple would use the chargers that "beam" the power anywhere in the room. How did that pan out?

The patent suggests that the AirPower pad will have 22 coils.

 

[44267547]

I think you are over estimating what Apple is doing here (It's a wireless charger Apple didn't invent it)

Who is contesting what Apple invented? Point is that member made, the amount of R&D invested into the Airpower makes this product unique enough for the consumer who has multiple devices, it does _not_ require direct placement, the device can be set any where on the pad to charge. Not sure why others can’t grasp what separates the Airpower from other ‘Wireless chargers’.

 

[Ed217]

I've been using Qi charging for a umber of years now. My first pad was 10-15$, used with an iPhone 6, and still works today. I have night stand versions for both the watch and iPhone X...and similar versions for the wife's watch and phone. They are inexpensive and work well. I have similar stand versions for the desk area as well. Charging speed is not much of an issue as they charge to 100% in way less time than the sleep cycle.

Almost everyone I know has an iPhone or other smartphone of some sort. Only a tiny percent have an Apple watch and I don't know any who have Airpods. Most used wired chargers and know little about the inexpensive options for existing Qi devices.

If they ever do release this product, they will probably sell a bunch to unsuspecting customers. They will pay 5-10 times the cost of existing devices they could have bought 3 years ago that were more than good enough.

 

[PLondon]

This is false. With the Airpower, you can set your device _anywhere_ on the mat to charge. With other charging mats, it has to be a specific contact point that you have to set the device on in order for it to charge properly. Where as the Airpower, it doesn’t require direct placement.
[doublepost=1547326309][/doublepost]

This is the problem with those who don’t actually understand the Airpower, This is _not_ like the other wireless charging mats on the market. The Airpower, you can place the device anywhere for it to charge, where as if you have a third-party charging mat, it requires direct placement.

This is only true for charging mats, not stands.

I've never once thought about where I place my iPhone XS Max or my Google Pixel 3XL on the Google Pixel stand. It just works.
[doublepost=1547458105][/doublepost]

I don't look at my phone/watch while it is charging overnight, i'm sure there will be others like that too.
Vertical docks have their disadvantages too

Please can you say what you think those disadvantages are? Just curious.

I love have my phone on a vertical stand next the bed. Using Google smarts it automatically sets itself to do not disturb during my sleep cycle and also blacks out the screen. I can use the morning light feature where the screen slowly lights up with a yellow light before the alarm goes off to wake you up more gradually. Having a flat charging mat doesn't really make sense for modern smart phones where we need to access to view the screen on a regular basis. And not at all on iPhone X as face ID won't work...

 

[AnthonyG6]

I will buy AirPower only if/when Apple releases AirPods with a wireless charge case, otherwise I don't need this.

 

[PLondon]

I’m more curious about this one. Yes all are slow but wondered if this one will be faster?

I can fast charge my Pixel 3XL just fine on the Google Pixel Stand. It chargers at 10W with Google fast charge. iPhone XS charge at 5, with no fast charge function...

Besides, I generally just charge my phone overnight and then I don't need to charge it again until the evening. I usually go to bed with 25% + battery. So one charger does it all and you never have to plug your phone in again. For very heavy users, get two, one for bedroom and one for work.

 

[Neodym]

AirPods were released only three months after they were announced, and were priced competitively.

AirPower was announced with a TON of hype almost 18 months ago.

So Apple has faced unexpected technical challenges. Well yeah - the marketing obviously had been prematurely.

Based on Apple's pricing of their own USB-C chargers, this thing will be expensive as hell. All the while, everyone who purchased an iPhone 8, 8+, X, Xr, Xs, and Xs Max have been buying up $15 Qi chargers on Amazon this entire time.

Ummm - no. I'm convinced that quite a significant portion of people wanted to wait for Qi charging to mature and/or did not like the optics/haptics of that $15 Qi chargers on Amazon.

AirPower will never be in the same league as AirPods. My opinion is not snarky; it's a harsh lesson for Apple.

I can't judge whether your opinion is "snarky", but it is very ... self-confident to determine something "a harsh lesson for Apple", when the product in question is not even available in the market.

This ship sailed away long ago and Apple missed the boat.

This remains to be seen. For now I would consider that just a singular opinion of someone on an Internet forum.

I could imagine that people with multiple iPhones, AppleWatches and the odd AirPod wireless case would prefer to have one mat with ONE cable instead of multiple cables running to multiple Qi chargers, which might have been inexpensive, but looking less nicely (which is always very subjective, of course).

Sure - wireless charging is slower and not necessary, when there's a way to charge via Lightning cable already. But it's convenient and with a mat like AirPower, that may look better than multiple Lightning cables dangling around freely.

And I'm pretty sure Apple is testing the waters and collecting experience with wireless charging, so they can eventually release an iPhone without Lightning or USB(-C) connector (I'm already looking forward to the outcry on the Internet :-D). Remember Ive's ultimate goal? "A slab of glass".

Removing more and more physical ports contributes to that goal. After Lightning gone, the Sim port will eventually be redundant by having eSim established. And then there's only the openings for speaker and microphone left. I'm sure there will be technical solutions to overcome the need for those sooner or later (e.g. by using (a part of) the glass body as resonance surface - think of a refined version of the simulated trackpad "click" on recent MacBooks).

 

[Ifti]

I've been using the ChoeTech wireless charging pad, which has 5 coils. I've been able to place my phone pretty much anywhere on the pad and it charges perfectly fine. It also charges 2 devices simultaneously.
How will the AirPower (other then colour) be any different? The ChoeTech is probably a fraction of the cost, does the same job, and is in black, rather then a 'stand out too much' white.

Either way, the delay with the Airpower will hit its sales. Many have moved on and have settled with their wireless solutions. The rest should be contemplating the cost of something that is now new and not revolutionary......