iPhone users can wirelessly recharge at Starbucks via 100K Duracell Powermats coming to coffee chain

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 80

    Thank you mstone! Seriously, the idea of wireless charging is so freaking stupid. Why does everyone seem obsessed with this dumb idea? Just plug the damn phone into the connector and continue to use it normally without being glued to a mat or forced to use it in a table-top position. The only thing more stupid than this idea is wireless charging in the car, GOD!!!

     

    Imagine how idiotic it would be to actually talk on the phone with your head down to a charging mat? Not that anyone ever uses phones to converse anymore, but seriously, can you all just stop this nonsense? Just put USB/AC power—many of them—at every table etc. like this:

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mstone View Post

     

    Stupid idea in my opinion. Why not power up a lot of USB jacks and AC outlets at all the seating locations? It would cost less, charge faster and not require a bulky expensive wireless charging case. Oh, and why not serve some higher quality coffee while you are at it?image


  • Reply 22 of 80
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    mstone wrote: »
    Stupid idea in my opinion. Why not power up a lot of USB jacks and AC outlets at all the seating locations? It would cost less, charge faster and not require a bulky expensive wireless charging case. Oh, and why not serve some higher quality coffee while you are at it?<img alt="Hubbell-USB-Charger-Receptacle.jpg" id="user_irc_mi" src="http://www.vistaviewrv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Hubbell-USB-Charger-Receptacle.jpg" style="line-height:1.4em;margin-top:56px;width:242px;" name="user_irc_mi">

    What's the amps on that? I've found that anything below 1.5 will not charge fast enough especially if you're using the device.
  • Reply 23 of 80
    kkerstkkerst Posts: 330member
    Meanwhile, everyone who uses this gets cancer; effectively getting slowly microwaved. I think this is a stupid idea.
  • Reply 24 of 80
    ifij775 wrote: »
    I'm hoping iphone 6 has integrated wireless charging

    I'm hoping iPhone 6 has integrated Android, Tizen, NFC, KFC, PVC, TLC, DVD, BPA, DED, and every other kitchen sink feature built in, so I can impress my friends. Wait, did I say iPhone 6? I meant Samsung Galaxy S6: Now with more more.
  • Reply 25 of 80
    wubbus wrote: »
    Would seem to make more sense to have unobtrusive 30-pin and Lightning connectors at each seat/table, so all iPhone users could take advantage, not just the handful that own a Duracell case???

    Hard to see many iPhone users swayed towards a Duracall case just because they can now wirelessly charge at a Starbucks.

    Perhaps it was Duracell's plan all along. And it's not a bad plan.
  • Reply 26 of 80
    kellya74ukellya74u Posts: 171member

    I adopted a good idea from someone else, for use at airports, but it applies to Starbucks. Bring with you a 6-8  plug power strip. That way, if you are one of the lucky ones to actually get an outlet, you can share it, as opposed to, 'I've got mine, too bad, so sad, sucks to be you (without one).' The power strip fits at the bottom of my computer bag & allows me to charge my iPhone ,iPad & laptop for 20 mins, while offering power to others. The only down side  might be, if you had 5 others plugged onto your power strip & vacate, you leave the one outlet for them to decide who gets it. If computer users showed up at Starbucks with power strips, how many more 'customers' could they fit in the store, to stand there while they eat their lunch & charge their gear.

  • Reply 27 of 80
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,384member
    Stupidest fucking idea I've ever heard. I'm not planning to put my phone in a shitty Duracell case, nor are many others.
  • Reply 28 of 80
    This is the strongest indication the iPhone 6 will have wireless charging. 

    Or that Duracell said to Starbucks: "we got this idea to increase adoption of our power mats, and you get to offer your customers a new service."

    Assume Apple doesn't share its secrets with ANYONE.
  • Reply 29 of 80
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post

     
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mstone View Post



    I have a friend who owns some high end coffee restaurants and he doesn't have outlets or even wi-fi. He is trying to create a more social environment, encouraging people to engage in conversation, so in that regard, he doesn't really care how long people stay. The longer the better for his business model.




    I'm at Starbucks right now and I'm socializing with you. image

    But this communication that we have does not in any way help to project a welcoming and friendly social environment at the restaurant which is what my friend is trying to do at his. All people see at Starbucks is intellectually isolated, unapproachable, headphone wearing, social media texters, not exactly inviting if you are trying to make your restaurant a community gathering place.

  • Reply 30 of 80
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post



    What's the amps on that? I've found that anything below 1.5 will not charge fast enough especially if you're using the device.

    USB 3 Amp, 5VDC

     

    USB 1.1/2.0/3.0 devices, including Apple Products

     

    Complies with USB BC1.2

     

    Meets UL94 for 5V flammability rating

     

    Full Load Current - 3.23A per hour

     

    Full Load Watts - 19.7W per hour

  • Reply 31 of 80
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    mstone wrote: »
    But this communication that we have does not in any way help to project a welcoming and friendly social environment at the restaurant which is what my friend is trying to do at his. All people see at Starbucks is intellectually isolated, unapproachable, headphone wearing, social media texters, not exactly inviting if you are trying to make your restaurant a community gathering place.

    I see your point but I can, with extreme accuracy, say that conversing with you in text form from across the globe is considerably more thought provoking and engaging than what I was hearing around me.
  • Reply 32 of 80
    mladdmladd Posts: 2member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kellya74u View Post

     

    I adopted a good idea from someone else, for use at airports, but it applies to Starbucks. Bring with you a 6-8  plug power strip. That way, if you are one of the lucky ones to actually get an outlet, you can share it, as opposed to, 'I've got mine, too bad, so sad, sucks to be you (without one).' The power strip fits at the bottom of my computer bag & allows me to charge my iPhone ,iPad & laptop for 20 mins, while offering power to others. The only down side  might be, if you had 5 others plugged onto your power strip & vacate, you leave the one outlet for them to decide who gets it. ....


     

    Or, I use a Mophie case, and a 10k mAh battery pack with a 3 foot USB extension cord in my bag and keep walking and charging to wherever you are going without needing an outlet at all.

  • Reply 33 of 80
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,284member



    Two years is not bad when you think about it. All of the tables in each location will need to be replaced and/or modified to accept the mats and the power requirements. A time-consuming and expensive process that the franchisees will need to finance. I would prefer just a USB or AC outlet at each position. That way anybody can use them without regard to the case on the phone. I understand why Duracell wants to be there. Not sure how Starbucks would benefit. I would venture to say the most people don't have compatible cases and wouldn't use them anyway.

  • Reply 34 of 80
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,284member



    Just need a USB jack so anything could be charged.

  • Reply 35 of 80
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,284member

    I would prefer just a USB or AC outlet (or combo outlet) at each position. That way anybody can use them without regard to the case on the phone. I understand why Duracell wants to be there. Not sure how Starbucks would benefit. I would venture to say the most people don't have compatible cases and wouldn't use the pads anyway.

  • Reply 36 of 80
    bugsnwbugsnw Posts: 717member

    The narcissism is beyond anything you can imagine. People sit at SB for hours on end, working on huge spreads of god knows what. It's not unusual to see one person sitting at a table for four, papers spread out, laptop atop the entire mess. A home away from home. Hard-working people with important jobs, obviously.

     

    I'm being facetious but I wonder if these are the same people who jog on major roads in the rain...

  • Reply 37 of 80
    kaipherkaipher Posts: 24member
    Should really add the official video to the article:
  • Reply 38 of 80

    I've been using a Duracell Powermat case on my iPhone for several months. The Powermat mats and accessories were extremely expensive, but now it looks like it's all on fire sale on ebay. This is probably their last-ditch effort to stay relevant; the technology is sound, slightly better than Qi (it uses positioning magnets, a nice feature) -- but unlike Qi it's not built into any devices and cannot be added to any device without also adding bulk (Qi is built into Nexus 4 and can be added to Samsung Galaxy and Note phones via an inexpensive internal tag or a replacement back cover).

    Finally, the Duracell Powermat iPhone cases SUCK. They're expensive, their design is ridiculous, and they offer only very marginal protection to the phone. BUT... having said that, I must admit I'm addicted to wireless charging, and I wish it were natively available on my iPhone.

  • Reply 39 of 80
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mstone View Post

     

    I have a friend who owns some high end coffee restaurants and he doesn't have outlets or even wi-fi. He is trying to create a more social environment, encouraging people to engage in conversation, so in that regard, he doesn't really care how long people stay. The longer the better for his business model.


     

    That's dumb. When I go to spend long periods of time at a coffee shop, I'm ALWAYS there to do work or study on my laptop.

     

    I never go to a coffee shop just to socialize with random strangers.

     

    Kudo to him for letting people loiter though, that's legit.

  • Reply 40 of 80
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post





    What's the amps on that? I've found that anything below 1.5 will not charge fast enough especially if you're using the device.

    Also - i bought two similar products (not exactly the same - but very close) and the whistling from the built in switcher on both was awful. I tried to live with it - but the wife would not - (whistled differently but just as bad under load as off load)

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