Roundup: Wireless charging options for Apple's iPhone
Apple holds a bevy of patents on methods for broadcasting power to devices wirelessly, but the technology has yet to make its way into a shipping product from Cupertino. For anxious cord cutters, AppleInsider rounded up some of the most promising third-party solutions.
Duracell's system consists of two parts: the AccessCase iPhone case with an inductive coil that sits just below the device's Lightning port and the Powermat itself, which comes in three sizes to accommodate charging one, two, or three devices at once. The cases, created by famed designer Yves Behar, add approximately 0.5 inches to the height of an iPhone 5 or 5s, though they weigh just 1.05 ounces, and a two-part design allows access to the Lightning port even with the case on.
After ensconcing your iPhone in the AccessCase, Duracell says that their system will charge "at speeds comparable to wired charging." All Powermat-based systems are interoperable with one another, so Duracell's case will also allow you to wirelessly top up your battery if you find yourself waiting for a delayed flight in the departures lounge at Chicago O'Hare or attending a Knicks game.
Duracell's AccessCase is available in black or white for $49.99 and a single-device Powermat is priced at $39.99. Duracell also sells external batteries and battery cases, similar to Mophie's popular Powerstation and Juicepack lines, that work with Powermat.
The iQi Mobile charger is a thin Qi receiver designed to be small enough to slip underneath a soft iPhone or iPod touch case. A flexible ribbon cable runs from the iQi to a Lightning connector, allowing the receiver to remain plugged in when folded behind the device.
At its thickest point --?the Lightning connector --?the iQi is just 1.4 millimeters thick, with the bulk of the receiver coming in at less than 1 millimeter. The iQi's backers say that users who already shroud their device in a soft case will note a barely perceptible difference.
One issue with the iQi is lack of access to the Lightning port once the device is installed?--?though we haven't yet been able to test the iQi, unplugging it without removing the receiver from the case appears to be a daunting task that could potentially damage the iQi thanks to the ribbon cable's thin design.
The iQi is a Qi receiver only, meaning that a transceiver -- the base station half of an inductive charging duo -- must be purchased separately. Like Powermat, Qi devices are interoperable, so any Qi transceiver will work with the iQi.
The iQi team is funding manufacturing through a campaign on crowdfunding site Indiegogo which runs until Dec. 30. An iQi Mobile receiver and case package sits at the $25 reward level, and backers can add a transceiver to the set for $65. Larger packages with additional receivers and transceivers are also available.
Nokia's DT-900 wireless charging plate is a well-reviewed Qi transceiver wrapped in an attractive package that matches the company's Lumia series of devices, though its good looks come at a premium --?the device's $54.99 price tag is much more expensive than competing offerings from the likes of Lerway and RAVPower.
Qi-enabled cases hover around the $20 mark, with Evotouch and Choetech providing some of the most popular units.
Consumers who prefer the Powermat standard have essentially one choice --?Duracell's products --?for home use. Powermat's status as a commercial technology, as opposed to Qi's standing as an international standard, has restricted the third-party market.
Duracell Powermat
The Duracell Powermat system is the most popular standalone implementation of Powermat's inductive charging technology, which is quickly gaining popularity. Heavily-trafficked places like Chicago's O'Hare airport and New York City's Madison Square Garden have added Powermat support, and General Motors will integrate the technology --?first introduced in Chevrolet's Volt --?into more members of its fleet in 2014.Duracell's system consists of two parts: the AccessCase iPhone case with an inductive coil that sits just below the device's Lightning port and the Powermat itself, which comes in three sizes to accommodate charging one, two, or three devices at once. The cases, created by famed designer Yves Behar, add approximately 0.5 inches to the height of an iPhone 5 or 5s, though they weigh just 1.05 ounces, and a two-part design allows access to the Lightning port even with the case on.
After ensconcing your iPhone in the AccessCase, Duracell says that their system will charge "at speeds comparable to wired charging." All Powermat-based systems are interoperable with one another, so Duracell's case will also allow you to wirelessly top up your battery if you find yourself waiting for a delayed flight in the departures lounge at Chicago O'Hare or attending a Knicks game.
Duracell's AccessCase is available in black or white for $49.99 and a single-device Powermat is priced at $39.99. Duracell also sells external batteries and battery cases, similar to Mophie's popular Powerstation and Juicepack lines, that work with Powermat.
iQi Mobile
Powermat's main competition for wireless charging ubiquity is the Qi standard, backed by a diverse array of companies from semiconductor giant Qualcomm to mobile device makers like Sony and Nokia. Like Powermat, Qi stations are beginning to crop up at major airports, like New York's John F. Kennedy International, while national coffee chain The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is adding Qi charging hotspots in stores. Qi is also the technology used by Google and Samsung for the wireless charging functionality in their flagship handsets.The iQi Mobile charger is a thin Qi receiver designed to be small enough to slip underneath a soft iPhone or iPod touch case. A flexible ribbon cable runs from the iQi to a Lightning connector, allowing the receiver to remain plugged in when folded behind the device.
At its thickest point --?the Lightning connector --?the iQi is just 1.4 millimeters thick, with the bulk of the receiver coming in at less than 1 millimeter. The iQi's backers say that users who already shroud their device in a soft case will note a barely perceptible difference.
One issue with the iQi is lack of access to the Lightning port once the device is installed?--?though we haven't yet been able to test the iQi, unplugging it without removing the receiver from the case appears to be a daunting task that could potentially damage the iQi thanks to the ribbon cable's thin design.
The iQi is a Qi receiver only, meaning that a transceiver -- the base station half of an inductive charging duo -- must be purchased separately. Like Powermat, Qi devices are interoperable, so any Qi transceiver will work with the iQi.
The iQi team is funding manufacturing through a campaign on crowdfunding site Indiegogo which runs until Dec. 30. An iQi Mobile receiver and case package sits at the $25 reward level, and backers can add a transceiver to the set for $65. Larger packages with additional receivers and transceivers are also available.
Mix-and-match
Because the Wireless Power Consortium, the standards body in charge of certifying Qi devices, has done well in ensuring device interoperability, purchasing receivers and transceivers from different brands is a low-risk proposition for consumers who wish to do so for cost, location, or aesthetic reasons.Nokia's DT-900 wireless charging plate is a well-reviewed Qi transceiver wrapped in an attractive package that matches the company's Lumia series of devices, though its good looks come at a premium --?the device's $54.99 price tag is much more expensive than competing offerings from the likes of Lerway and RAVPower.
Qi-enabled cases hover around the $20 mark, with Evotouch and Choetech providing some of the most popular units.
Consumers who prefer the Powermat standard have essentially one choice --?Duracell's products --?for home use. Powermat's status as a commercial technology, as opposed to Qi's standing as an international standard, has restricted the third-party market.
Comments
There's not much convenience in wireless charging so long as it requires 1) a charging pad that takes up precious desktop/table space and 2) a power cord for the charging pad. If you must have something plugged into your computer and that something must take up space on your desk for the device to charge on - well you've just described a charging dock, with the only convenience being the ability to place the device on top of the charger instead of sliding it into a cradle. Not exactly a showstopper feature.
For a wireless charging solution to truly make sense, it would have to be seamless and invisible. One possibility is that the technology becomes so ubiquitous and inexpensive that it can be built into a variety of furniture. A second possibility is that the technology advances to the point where a single power transmitter in the home can be designed to charge devices several feet away in a truly wirelessly fashion without the need for a charging pad or station (not sure if the physics support this.)
At the moment, though, everyone's just jumping on a technology that sounds really cool without really providing any convenience for the user. I suspect this is a primary reason why Apple has yet to implement the feature in any of their products.
Inductive charging is a solution in search of a problem.
There's not much convenience in wireless charging so long as it requires 1) a charging pad that takes up precious desktop/table space and 2) a power cord for the charging pad. If you must have something plugged into your computer and that something must take up space on your desk for the device to charge on - well you've just described a charging dock, with the only convenience being the ability to place the device on top of the charger instead of sliding it into a cradle. Not exactly a showstopper feature.
For a wireless charging solution to truly make sense, it would have to be seamless and invisible. One possibility is that the technology becomes so ubiquitous and inexpensive that it can be built into a variety of furniture. A second possibility is that the technology advances to the point where a single power transmitter in the home can be designed to charge devices several feet away in a truly wirelessly fashion without the need for a charging pad or station (not sure if the physics support this.)
At the moment, though, everyone's just jumping on a technology that sounds really cool without really providing any convenience for the user. I suspect this is a primary reason why Apple has yet to implement the feature in any of their products.
I agree, although I would not go so far as what you suggested would work. Using AW4P, or Rezenze, which uses magnetic resonance, you would not have "several feet" of charging, but you would get a pad which can charge multiple devices at once, without the alignment needed for Qi charging, and also a bit more distance allowed than Qi (which would allow it to be built invisible into furniture).
Another main advantage of wireless charging is the fact the device could potentially be without any connectors. This will allow easier water-resistance (a feature I quite like from the Sony phones/tablets) and ofcourse will save some space on the internals (note, the charging will take up some more space, not sure what the net effect will be)
I disagree.. having used it.. It's a godsend not having to plug and unplug, loose cables falling behind a desk or night stand. For me, since I use my phone as my alarm, not having to fumble in morning or at night with cables is really very nice!
It wasn't searching for a problem, it solved a problem for me. You get wear and tear and it allows you to setup base stations at home, work, etc w/o having to think twice if the cable is in or worried about breaking the connector off (I've done twice now..)
For me it simplifies my life.
As for the whole furniture thing, thats just silly. wow..
I agree, although I would not go so far as what you suggested would work. Using AW4P, or Rezenze, which uses magnetic resonance, you would not have "several feet" of charging, but you would get a pad which can charge multiple devices at once, without the alignment needed for Qi charging, and also a bit more distance allowed than Qi (which would allow it to be built invisible into furniture).
Another main advantage of wireless charging is the fact the device could potentially be without any connectors. This will allow easier water-resistance (a feature I quite like from the Sony phones/tablets) and ofcourse will save some space on the internals (note, the charging will take up some more space, not sure what the net effect will be)
While devices that can charge without the need for power connectors sounds great - and precisely the sort of feature Apple would drool over - the magic would fail the moment you need to charge the device in your car, at the office or anywhere else away from home. You will still need power connectors until/unless some standardized wireless charging technology becomes ubiquitous.
Now if Apple could come up with a wireless travel charger that wasn't too much bigger than today's chargers, that would be amazing.
Inductive charging...
"Prior to the release of the iPhone 5, rumors circulated that Apple would bring wireless charging to bear in that handset, but Apple marketing exec Phil Schiller said after the unveiling that the perceived convenience of such systems was questionable, since charging mats would still need to be plugged into an outlet.
In September, an Apple patent application emerged demonstrating a "realistic and practical approach to wireless power, providing over-the-air electricity to low-power devices within a distance of one meter.
As for the whole furniture thing, thats just silly. wow..
Yeah I guess you're right. Why would anyone ever design furniture with built-in power? No one would want or use such a silly feature.
Yeah I guess you're right. Why would anyone ever design furniture with built-in power? No one would want or use such a silly feature.
And what do all of those have in common? They’re hideous.
Know what a real solution is? Instead of plugs in the wall, replace the sockets with a wireless power transmitter. BOOM DONE HOLY COW SO DIFFICULT. It’s not like the power works over 6 feet away, anyway.
And what do all of those have in common? They’re hideous.
Know what a real solution is? Instead of plugs in the wall, replace the sockets with a wireless power transmitter. BOOM DONE HOLY COW SO DIFFICULT. It’s not like the power works over 6 feet away, anyway.
Two of those examples hide from view completely when not in use, which means they're no longer "hideous".
The point, which you missed, is that there is a demand and a market for furniture with integrated power solutions. We're talking office furniture, not necessarily your dining room table. And since there's already a healthy market for this sort of thing, it makes sense that at some point in the future we might see furniture with built in near field charging - so you don't need one of these "hideous" things on your desk:
That is, unless someone comes up with truly wireless charging, as described in Apple's patent application.
I've never understood why people want wireless charging. I just don't get why it's such a difficult task to plug in the Lightning Connector once every how many days? I CAN see it as being useful at places like the ones mentioned in the article, airports, sports arenas and such. That I get.
Two of those examples hide from view completely when not in use, which means they're no longer "hideous".
Completely, huh. I don’t see a single one that does that. The aesthetic is broken in all of them.
Because wireless power doesn’t exist. No one actually wants their furniture bloated by this stuff.
I’m sure you’d say that people really want furniture with Ethernet and RJ-45 ports in them were this 1999.
Again, you don’t need pointless complexity, cost inflation, and discomfort with furniture if you have real wireless power.
Leave the electricity in the walls where it belongs. Swap plugs for transmitters. It’s REALLY not that hard. No one wants to plug in their table just to have a few feet of charging radius for their phone.
Written in TextEdit.
BTW Do NOT put your wallet on one of those charging stations - it's inductive (meaning magnetic current) and can erase your credit card mag strips with ease...
Oh and to the guy that wants the wireless charging at a distance (so Robert Heinlein btw)... Yes they could make one but it would also heat / cook you or at least cause cancer quickly. Strong Magnetic / Inductive fields cause cellular and blood flow (your blood has iron in it folks) issues... No thank you!
And what do all of those have in common? They’re hideous.
Know what a real solution is? Instead of plugs in the wall, replace the sockets with a wireless power transmitter. BOOM DONE HOLY COW SO DIFFICULT.
Where's Nikola when you really need him, eh?I agree that the wireless charging station just is an expensive & redundant docking station - and it can't even transfer or sync files!
BTW Do NOT put your wallet on one of those charging stations - it's inductive (meaning magnetic current) and can erase your credit card mag strips with ease...
Oh and to the guy that wants the wireless charging at a distance (so Robert Heinlein btw)... Yes they could make one but it would also heat / cook you or at least cause cancer quickly. Strong Magnetic / Inductive fields cause cellular and blood flow (your blood has iron in it folks) issues... No thank you!
Ouch. I didn't even think about the blood issue. That doesn't sound fun AT ALL!
I think there are chargers that first detect the proper item before charging. I suppose these could be made more intelligent by directing current to various smaller cells on the charging surface so that keys, wallets, jewelry, etc. would feel its wrath.
There is a recent rumour (I don't think AI has covered it) of an Apple smartphone that will have inductive charging. I think this makes sense for a watch that can't go weeks, months or years without charging. Even if uses some sort of kinetic movement to generate power I highly doubt power consumption for a proper smart watch is low enough for this to be more than a small supplemental offering. I believe the rumour stated it would be a 100 mAh, which is less than the Pebble's battery at 130 mAh but much less than those feature phones with wrist straps, like the Galaxy Gear.
And what do all of those have in common? They’re hideous.
Know what a real solution is? Instead of plugs in the wall, replace the sockets with a wireless power transmitter. BOOM DONE HOLY COW SO DIFFICULT. It’s not like the power works over 6 feet away, anyway.
To do that the transmitter needs to be extremely powerful. Not to mention anything made of similar metal within that area will also likely be heated and/or catch fire.
And never mind the efficiency (or lack thereof) of an inductive charging device. Lots of energy will just be broadcast out to dissipate unused in the environment.
Wireless charging brings more upsides than downsides. Its implementation would be a plus nonetheless. You gain a few seconds every time you plug and unplug the phone. Just like touchID makes unlocking seamless. When you put your phone somewhere you are already using some 'precious space' and I'd rather put the phone on its own charging station instead of having to put a cloth under it like I do to avoid scratched.
You don't own an iPhone. The battery is fine but I still need to charge it daily.
You could have said the same thing about touchID.
It depends on what you're changing. I'd say that wireless charging for a notebook would have more downsides than upsides with the known state of the art, but with a wrist worn device that has an extremely small battery I'd say it could possibly have more upsides. For a phone, I also think it could bring more upsides but I also think how inductive charging is achieved still needs to be tweaked to make it as convenient as TouchID is to unlocking your phone quickly.