WSJ Says Apple Approved Production of AirPower Earlier This Year as Previously Rumored

[cesarbm]

Why do they insist on calling inductive charging wireless??? Can't they see that the mat has a cable that has to connect to the electric grid? Then the device has to make contact with the wired pad to charge! The day that we have over the air charging, that can be called wireless charging!

 

[eroslws]

I just don't understand the wide coverage of an anticipated release of a wireless charger. There are several Qi wireless chargers out there that are gonna be most likely cheaper than the AirPower, yet every article on here is about the excitement and anticipation, the accurate or inaccurate reporting of when and how it's gonna look like, and of finally releasing a wireless charger just because Apple's name is behind it?

I'm probably on the minority on this one but what is really the big deal (real curiosity)?

A lot of people will say stuff about the multi-device tech and syncing and whatnot. It's not that special, you're right. Honestly, the real deal would be if they could release this at a price point such as $99 and just blow the market away. I don't expect this to be the case (hasn't been since the iPad 1) so I'm just hoping it sells for $149-$199.

Or people just want a first-party wireless charger. That tax.

 

[enc0re]

Will the new iPad Mini support it? That might get me to upgrade.

 

[confusedpurple]

Can't help but feel this thing's not going to be as good as expected. They clearly messed up massively with it, and if its taken this long theres a high likeihood they've given up trying to get round whatever limitation they hit, and instead bodged it to get it out there.

 

[nburwell]

Guys! AirPower is coming... Soon.

 

[flygbuss]

Why do they insist on calling inductive charging wireless??? Can't they see that the mat has a cable that has to connect to the electric grid? Then the device has to make contact with the wired pad to charge! The day that we have over the air charging, that can be called wireless charging!

Well, you can charge your device(s) without using a wire.. Sounds wireless to me.
It's not called contactless charging.
The term Airpower might be a little more misguiding though.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Why do they insist on calling inductive charging wireless??? Can't they see that the mat has a cable that has to connect to the electric grid? Then the device has to make contact with the wired pad to charge! The day that we have over the air charging, that can be called wireless charging!

Or it can be called OTA charging. And, it actually is.

 

[justperry]

Or it can be called OTA charging. And, it actually is.

OT but related.
This statement got me thinking, is QI charging working in a vacuum, as in space, if it does the name shouldn't be Airpower.

 

[fumi2014]

Clearly they must have had some challenges, and I do hope they figured out how to make it work nicely.

Me too. I'm not too worried about the price as long as it functions really well and gets the job done. Will most likely have tighter iOS integration than other charging mats. Apple is always expensive but they at least make quality products. I'm hoping the delay is because they couldn't engineer it at the standards they required until recently.

 

[phoneme]

yawn nothing new here. that hasn't already been done.

 

[Beyo]

Nobody notices new Airpods?? if they are wirelessly charged it;s obvious AirPower will be premiered on Friday

 

[Peace]

This whole Airpower drama makes me think two things.

1. Supply chain problems and
2. Indecisiveness on the part of Tim Cook.

Neither one are good.

 

[flygbuss]

OT but related.
This statement got me thinking, is QI charging working in a vacuum, as in space, if it does the name shouldn't be Airpower.

As far as I know induction works indeed in a vacuum. There are air sealed induction furnaces in metal industry to avoid oxidation.

 

[thebeans]

So is it coming out or not

Yes, absolutely.

 

[phoneme]

Nobody notices new Airpods?? if they are wirelessly charged it;s obvious AirPower will be premiered on Friday

why notice something that's already been done. now if apple could make the next iphone do reverse wireless charge so iphone users can use there iphone to charge the pods that would be a first and game changer..err or atleast iphone users will think so.

 

[Khedron]

Why do they insist on calling inductive charging wireless??? Can't they see that the mat has a cable that has to connect to the electric grid? Then the device has to make contact with the wired pad to charge! The day that we have over the air charging, that can be called wireless charging!

"Wireless" routers also need to be plugged in, usually to both power and a network, hence doubling the number of wires compared to a single-wire ethernet connection

 

[44267547]

A lot of negativity about this product. And there really shouldn’t be, because if someone doesn't see the interest in a product like the Airpower, then simply just choose to not purchase it. I think the Airpower has its potential for those who do you want to multi- charge their devices _and_ place the device anywhere on the mat to charge, so the benefit is there, it’s just a matter if someone sees the value in a product like this, and what Apple charges for it.

 

[Teddysjam]

Again, how would you charge your watch with a sport loop?

I’m assuming twisting or sport loop around so it exposes bottom of watch and not resting on the band?? I’m guessing here.

 

[Ian4Mac]

Only one model? Apple should make AirPower mini, air, pro, and Max.

 

[oldmacs]

how they're at the intersection of making money and screwing people over

This is the most accurate thing i’ve heard on here for a long time hahahah

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I would be surprised if Apple do release AirPower. If they were going to release it then today would be the day. Right now, thousands of customers ordering second-gen AirPods and wireless charging cases will be adding non-Apple wireless chargers to their basket. If AirPower was ready then Apple would have released it so that customers order it alongside their wireless AirPods and cases today rather than order a charger from other manfufacturers.
if AirPower was ready in the next few days then Apple would have delayed the launch of the second gen AirPods to release them on the same day.

 

[BuddyTronic]

You raise a point that I have been thinking about all day. "an Apple made Chi (Qi) charging mat". Is this what Airpower will be? If so what about the Apple watch. Notice the removed picture from the Airpods page today. No watch. It does not make any sense to make the design of this product much more complicated (there have posts about how complex the product is, was the reason for the delay) by including the watch and it's non standard charging requirements.

How about this. We see the Airpower -just as pictured in today's removed photo. A charger for iPhone's and gen 2 airpod charging cases. NO WATCH. Then in September the Series 5 watch changes the charging standard to Qi. Then it all works as was envisioned.

Could be, but I’d wager some $ against such malarky too, with a good chance of winning such a bet. Also, if it means I buy all new stuff in 6 months, I also don’t mind doing so. I’m easy to please, just give me the best - that kind of thing.

I guess the Apple Watch not using Qi (chi) charging standards could be another thing - but standards don’t matter to the end user all that much as long as Apple provides the charging solution. It’s a bit complicated, I agree with you there.
[doublepost=1553118037][/doublepost]

Totally unknown and unregistered guy on the internet says Apple approved the production of Airpower sometime before like, right now.

I’m just as accurate as WSJ!

Yah. WSJ does not always know what they write about, ive seen them get things wrong on AAPL several times - perhaps intentionally. Some guy in a yacht orders it to be this way I think - Thirston Howell III - that’s the man behind the curtain.
[doublepost=1553118107][/doublepost]

I’m assuming twisting or sport loop around so it exposes bottom of watch and not resting on the band?? I’m guessing here.

That would be bad eh?
[doublepost=1553118367][/doublepost]

yawn nothing new here. that hasn't already been done.

Try producing it while respecting all regulations for radio and electromagnetics and heat and don’t even ask about cross currents new ager aura cellular vibrational voodoo stuff. Apple is probably trying the best they can to make this AirPower thing and made some discoveries about unexpected challenges.

When you say it’s been done already yeah maybe in Futian SEG market district I can buy one for three dollars already, but without the real engineering. I can also buy an electric car without abs brakes or airbags - same sort of bad comparison that reveals a lack of understanding what value is.

 

[StyxMaker]

You remove the Watch from the band?

At least on one side.

 

[chfilm]

I’m worried too tbh. Looking at Belkin that sells comparable, but less featured multi-device wireless chargers around $150, there’s no way this will be less than $199. $249 is realistic.

Agree! 250!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

OT but related.
This statement got me thinking, is QI charging working in a vacuum, as in space, if it does the name shouldn't be Airpower.

)gasp!( THAT’S RIGHT!!