Apple Developing Wireless Charging For Mobile Devices (thestack.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Apple is currently working with partners in the US and Asia to develop wireless charging for iPhone and iPad. Mobile devices with wireless charging capabilities could be released as soon as next year. Apple has not released the specific details on the range that could be available, but as far back as 2010, Apple applied for a patent to use an iMac as a wireless charging hub for distances of 1 meter. In 2014 it applied for a patent on specialized housing for a mobile device with an integrated RF antenna, which would also allow for wireless charging by helping to eliminate the problem of metallic interference with charging signals. Apple would apparently be building on these ideas to create a new iPhone or iPad that could charge further away from the hub, while continuing to be used.

Comments

Why this is special

[JonathanF]

For those who'll say "it's been done before:" no, not like this.

Current wireless charging amounts to dropping your device on a pad. You can't grab your device to use it (since you'll break the power link), and of course this limits just where your device can sit.

The Slashdot post (and the source link) undersells the story. Here, Apple would have wireless charging that doesn't depend on resting the device on a contact pad -- you'd just have to get within range of the charger. Imagine plunking down your iPhone anywhere on your desk and knowing that it'll top up. This kind of technology has been discussed for a while, but hasn't really been implemented on a practical level.

Re:Snapple

[sims 2]

I think it will be good because ive yet to see a non pad type wireless charger in the wild. However I worry about apples rabid lawyers who will probbably sue anyone who try's to make anything similar.

Anyone remember the magsafe connectors? Very few other companies are using similar connections even today.

Decent magsafe type headphone and power connectors for other devices are just now starting to come out this year and I've yet to see any of those in person either.