Solar charging stations with Apple Lightning & 30-pin connectors come to New York

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  • Reply 21 of 47
    carthusiacarthusia Posts: 585member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jungmark View Post





    Most people won't need it. Not sure what you want, 8MM charging stations?



    No one will try to break into those "secure" kiosks for phones. /s



    If I'm charging my phone in public, it is not leaving my personal space.


    I get your point, but I live in Manhattan and often carry my iPhone charger in my pocket when i don;t have a briefcase with me. I would definitely use one.


     


    Also, I did mention that a good option would be an attended vendor, much like the newspaper and candy vendors on the sidewalks and in the subway stations; and the person using a "secured" kiosk won't be required to leave the area, but they could. 


     


    Even if most people won't need it, in a city of over 8 million people (very many of whom carry small devices) a million or two in Midtown, downtown or Times Square is a pretty decent market.

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  • Reply 22 of 47
    leonardleonard Posts: 528member
    LOL! The mayor of New York complains about Apple's devices causing crime to go up and then does something stupid like this! What a hypocrite.
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  • Reply 23 of 47
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    geekdad wrote: »
    yep...looks like a crime waiting to happen huh?

    Without a doubt.
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  • Reply 24 of 47
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post





    Without a doubt.


    Well it does depend on where they site them. There's many locations around NYC with an essentially constant police presence.

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  • Reply 25 of 47
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Leonard View Post



    LOL! The mayor of New York complains about Apple's devices causing crime to go up and then does something stupid like this! What a hypocrite. 


    LOL! Bloomberg isn't the mayor of AT&T, Goal-Zero or Pensa, who are the ones who "did this". Gotta free from that socialist mindset that everything is done by the government.....image

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  • Reply 26 of 47
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    dasanman69 wrote: »
    If the amperage is at the highest the device can handle one can get a decent charge in 20-30 minutes. Standing around NYC for half hour isn't a bad thing you might even see a supermodel or two.

    If there is an example of hell on earth it would be NYC.

    As for standing around I'm sure that is exactly what people want to do while their phone charges. The whole concept is not bad, that is public recharging stations and even solar powered has its merits. It is the implementation that sucks.

    Beyond that what is with the 15 watt solar panel. 15 watts is likely under optimal conditions so it would be easy for modest use to keep the battery in the machine from charging at all. So if the station is there to help support cell phone users during disasters most likely it will lead to frustration and confrontation as it would never keep up with demand. If this is to be a solution to emergencies it really needs a surplus of power under less than optimal conditions.
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  • Reply 27 of 47
    zoetmbzoetmb Posts: 2,657member
    geekdad wrote: »
    Great point about the 5 minute recharge....but at the same time it shines a spotlight for a potential thief and paints a target on your back when you walk away....
    No more than walking down the street using your phone. And my phone does pretty well with a 10 min charge, so in an emergency, great.
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  • Reply 28 of 47
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    jfc1138 wrote: »
    Well it does depend on where they site them. There's many locations around NYC with an essentially constant police presence.

    You do realize that in vast portions of the USA there is no police presence and no crime. The fact that there is constant police presence indicates that you are in a high crime area and are at risk. Worst yet if there is a crime and you report it there is almost zero chance of real punishment taking place due to the corruption in NYC. Think about it a bit, when was the last time someone was executed for a crime in NYC? What is even worst NYC is so perverse that if you try to defend yourself during the commission of a crime they try to turn you into the criminal.

    In any event we can probably debate this forever but is you think a police presence makes you safe you really ought to ask why those police have to be there in the first place. Compared with millions of other places in the USA NYC is nothing more than a hell hole.
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  • Reply 29 of 47
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post





    You do realize that in vast portions of the USA ....


    I also realize there's no cell service in large portions of North America. While, even absent Google balloons, Bryant Park has free WiFi! http://bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/wireless.html


     


    image

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  • Reply 30 of 47
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member


    I think it is pretty good. They give you a little workspace table. If your phone is getting low you can plug in and still work, call people, etc. It probably doesn't have a cord but you can use the speaker phone. An iPhone can pick up a pretty decent charge in just a few minutes. Standing is good for you anyway. I have a friend who has a standing height desk in his office.

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  • Reply 31 of 47
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post



    You do realize that in vast portions of the USA there is no police presence and no crime. The fact that there is constant police presence indicates that you are in a high crime area and are at risk. Worst yet if there is a crime and you report it there is almost zero chance of real punishment taking place due to the corruption in NYC. Think about it a bit, when was the last time someone was executed for a crime in NYC? What is even worst NYC is so perverse that if you try to defend yourself during the commission of a crime they try to turn you into the criminal.



    In any event we can probably debate this forever but is you think a police presence makes you safe you really ought to ask why those police have to be there in the first place. Compared with millions of other places in the USA NYC is nothing more than a hell hole.


    Wow. There are criminals in every large city, anywhere in the world. I like New Yorkers. They are pretty good people, The criminals that would rob your iPhone are not real New Yorkers, they are just criminals.


     


    You want to see some dangerous cities, try any of the larger Latin American cities. Forty of the top fifty most dangerous cities in the world are in Latin America. You'd get robbed and murdered faster on the desolate north shore of Costa Rica than just about any city in the world. I don't know why you are picking on NYC.

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  • Reply 32 of 47
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    wizard69 wrote: »
    You do realize that in vast portions of the USA there is no police presence and no crime. The fact that there is constant police presence indicates that you are in a high crime area and are at risk. Worst yet if there is a crime and you report it there is almost zero chance of real punishment taking place due to the corruption in NYC. Think about it a bit, when was the last time someone was executed for a crime in NYC? What is even worst NYC is so perverse that if you try to defend yourself during the commission of a crime they try to turn you into the criminal.

    In any event we can probably debate this forever but is you think a police presence makes you safe you really ought to ask why those police have to be there in the first place. Compared with millions of other places in the USA NYC is nothing more than a hell hole.

    Have you ever been to NYC?
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  • Reply 33 of 47
    jonshfjonshf Posts: 90member


    The solar panels should be bigger and create a rain umbrella over the charging tables. With the extra power a meak wifi hotspot can be added so while people are waiting around for their phones to charge they can check their email etc. A video camera above to record thefts might also be a good idea.

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  • Reply 34 of 47
    I suppose this is where Fandroids hangs out, eh ?
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  • Reply 35 of 47
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    So basically you stand there for hours while your device charges. You can't leave, because it'll obviously be stolen. You can't go there without a gun, because you'll get mugged standing there in the first place. You can't use it in any sort of weather whatsoever, because you're outside and it's unprotected and the device will be destroyed. And after the first rain, the entire station will be destroyed because the plugs will be ruined. Anyone trying to use a rusty plug will damage their device physically and electrically.

    What in the name of frick is the point of these things?!
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  • Reply 36 of 47
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    So basically you stand there for hours while your device charges. You can't leave, because it'll obviously be stolen. You can't go there without a gun, because you'll get mugged standing there in the first place. You can't use it in any sort of weather whatsoever, because you're outside and it's unprotected and the device will be destroyed. And after the first rain, the entire station will be destroyed because the plugs will be ruined. Anyone trying to use a rusty plug will damage their device physically and electrically.

    What in the name of frick is the point of these things?!

    Maybe he invented a mirror before but didn't like the way it looked ¿
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  • Reply 37 of 47
    joelsaltjoelsalt Posts: 827member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post



    So basically you stand there for hours while your device charges. You can't leave, because it'll obviously be stolen. You can't go there without a gun, because you'll get mugged standing there in the first place. You can't use it in any sort of weather whatsoever, because you're outside and it's unprotected and the device will be destroyed. And after the first rain, the entire station will be destroyed because the plugs will be ruined. Anyone trying to use a rusty plug will damage their device physically and electrically.



    What in the name of frick is the point of these things?!


    To assume AT&T hasn't thought of these things is ... well, characteristic.


     


    Why would you stand for hours? What kind of person needs to go from 0% to 100% before moving on with his or her day?  I commonly charge my iPod for 5 or 10 minutes when I'm getting low and it adds plenty of juice, especially if I needed say, to use my GPS or something while running low on battery.


     


    What we really need is grapheme transistors that can charge almost instantly - then these things will be mint

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  • Reply 38 of 47
    inklinginkling Posts: 783member
    Between vandalism, cloudy days, and that battery fading away after a couple of years, this idea makes little sense to anyone who's not a politician posturing as a green.

    Much better would be more AC outlets in parks and public areas. Limit them with a 5-amp breaker is electricity costs are an issue. They'd be far more reliable and much cheaper to maintain than this solar silliness. You could also use them with laptops and to fast-charge a tablet.
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  • Reply 39 of 47
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,928member
    inkling wrote: »
    Between vandalism, cloudy days, and that battery fading away after a couple of years, this idea makes little sense to anyone who's not a politician posturing as a green.

    Much better would be more AC outlets in parks and public areas. Limit them with a 5-amp breaker is electricity costs are an issue. They'd be far more reliable and much cheaper to maintain than this solar silliness. You could also use them with laptops and to fast-charge a tablet.

    How often do you carry your charger? These are meant for quick 5-10 min charging not 0 to 100% charging.
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  • Reply 40 of 47
    I just came up with the idea earlier that AT&T providing its wifi at these would be another convenience.
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