Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Late to the party and another product failure by Apple. Same as Homepod.
It seems like lately Apple has been focusing on getting overpriced crappy products.

Except for Watches, iPhones and iPads...

Computers... what's a computer??
 
They should've started with a mat that's designed for one device at a time and sold it for $59. People who want to pay the Apple tax on a Qi charger (that's also compatible with the Apple Watch) will gladly pay it, and people who don't will buy third-party Qi chargers for much less. Apple should've worked up to the 3-device charger -- not started there.
 
Personally I prefer this never launches than it launching as a sub par product.

so does Apple which is apparently why it hasn't released yet. but I'm not sure I buy these doom and gloom claims by some random blogger who makes his money off page hits anymore than I would believe them from a stock analyst who makes money by driving down the share price before a release so he can buy low and sell high
[doublepost=1537197973][/doublepost]
I've not read the article, but you'd have thought they'd been like 90% of the way into testing before announcing this thing.

and they probably were. it's that last 10% that caught them up
 
Last edited:
I'm fine with using a cable for charging so it's not a big deal for me. If it does come out, most likely I won't buy it since Apple would charge a lot for it anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ineedamac
Makes you wonder why they never announced the apple car, which won't be coming either. :)

there likely isn't an Apple Car as much as Apple creating the onboard system for other car companies to use. which means that they have to have partner companies signed on and those companies will have equal legal liability if **** happens so they are going to be super picky about what Apple gives them. and that takes time. this project is only what 3 years old that's not enough time to get something ready for prime time.
 
Steve would had made it happen.
Just screaming at a team of people. GET IT DONE!!!!!!!!
You can go home when it’s COMPLETE!
 
Meh. They overplayed their hand and screwed up with the initial announcement. Really doesn't change how I use of feel about Apple products. Wasn't going to shell out the $ anyway.
 
I'm disappointed, but they shouldn't release a flawed product. This was incredibly ambitious, going beyond what any wireless charging mat can currently do. Wireless charging still has a ways to go.
 
The only thing I know of with overlapping coils is the Wendelstein 7-X: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendelstein_7-X

It's massive, and while it was conceptualized in the 50s (last century), it took supercomputer-power to calculate the shape and position of the coils and the advanced engineering of the 21st century to actually build this prototype.


John Gruber calls it "Truly ****ed".
 
The AirPower mat is almost the definition of a first world problem.

I’d rather that they put their energies into the QI consortium and work with people like Starbucks etc to put charging mats in all of their cafes.
 
Word is that they wanted to redesign it to be one large pad with two smaller peripheral pads, but were immediately issued a cease-and-desist by Disney lawyers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Feenician
The AirPower mat is almost the definition of a first world problem.

I’d rather that they put their energies into the QI consortium and work with people like Starbucks etc to put charging mats in all of their cafes.
They’ve explicitly said that they’re trying to include some of the tech they’ve developed into the Qi standard, of which they are a member.

What you’re asking for is exactly what Apple is working towards in the future, the AirPower being a first step towards that.
 
Wireless charging as it is now I find completely useless. There is no difference for me if i place phone or watch on the mat or hook it up via cable. I charge overnight anyway. Not to mention that efficiency is very low what directly translates to loss of power.

Even standard Qi chargers are about 85% efficient. Finer tuned chargers with higher wattages can get into the high 90s.

Announcing a product well in advance of a possible release seems like it is doomed to fail.

The iPhone was announced (and demo'd) while it still only worked for just a few minutes at a time, six months before it finally went on sale.

Of course, Jobs was also still around to kick butts :)
 
This is the dumbest product ever anyhow. If you think the HomePod flopped, just you wait for a charging pad for $199...get the same one on Amazon for $8.99 in white.
 
This is the dumbest product ever anyhow. If you think the HomePod flopped, just you wait for a charging pad for $199...get the same one on Amazon for $8.99 in white.

Except, Apple never confirmed a price for the Airpower, so you’re just insinuating this “$199.00” price point. It very well could have been priced lower than this.

And can you link the Amazon charging unit you’re referring to that you claim is the “same one”? I would like to see that.
 
It feels to me like everything about the Airpower is highlight exactly where Apple is going wrong with their designs in general.
 
Oh I was looking forward to this but it’s not suprising considering it’s been so long since it was announced. However what’s happened to the new airpods case.
 
They aren’t making a car. They’re making software for cars. :p
I’ll be happy with better CarPlay. I’m upgrading to a CarPlay radio this weekend and I’m pretty stoked.
[doublepost=1537201048][/doublepost]
Apple just buy out Tesla!

And then dissolve the Automotive division, and just loot the company for a good working wireless battery charger tech! :D
Sell the automotive division to Mercedes! Then I’d buy one of those too!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mabus51
This was such a low risk product, there was zero harm in announcing it and killing it. It has had absolutely impact on them by not bringing it to market.
It’s not the produce per se, it is the way the company is handling things, but keep repeating everything is fine, it might work.
 
Personally I prefer this never launches than it launching as a sub par product.

I'd prefer it never launch than be an average product, even. If Apple doesn't see the need to be in displays, printers or wireless routers I don't think they need to be in wireless charging mats either.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.