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Foxconn Testing Wireless Charging For iPhone 8 (trustedreviews.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the wireless-charging dept.

One of the first big secrets regarding Apple's upcoming smartphone has been spilled. According to a report from Nikkei Asian Review, Foxconn, the firm responsible for assembling iPhones, is testing wireless charging modules for the iPhone 8. TrustedReviews reports: Citing 'an industry source familiar with the matter,' the report states the wireless charging feature could appear on the next Apple handset, but it depends whether the company can produce enough satisfactory units. The source told Nikkei: "Whether the feature can eventually make it into Apple's updated devices will depend on whether Foxconn can boost the yield rate to a satisfactory level later on." The yield rate refers to the 'number of satisfactory units in the production of a batch of components,' and if it's found to be too low, the wireless charging feature could be left out of the iPhone 8 according to the report. It's also claimed the wireless tech could make it into some versions of the iPhone 8 and not others. Nikkei is also reporting that Apple's next gen smartphones are expected to arrive in three different sizes -- 4.7-inch, 5-inch and 5.5-inch -- all of which will come with glass-backed bodies. The Next Web reports: "Nikkei further suggests out of the three new iPhones will be a premium model with a curved edge-to-edge OLED display; the other two models will likely have standard LCD displays. Here's what Nikkei's source said: "Apple has tentatively decided that all the 5.5-inch, 5-inch and 4.7-inch models will have glass backs, departing from metal casings adopted by current iPhones, and Biel and Lens are likely to be providing all the glass backs for the new iPhones next year.

63 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Yield problems? by thegarbz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would have thought the best tech company in the world (tm) would have no problem copying the many successful designs already on the market. Or maybe the yield that they are talking about is interoperability. Can't have a device accidentally get charged by any old generic charging station.

    1. Re:Yield problems? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wireless charging is a fad, it is such a loss of efficiency that scaled up the value of a charger and worst case even adding a power strip still pays for itself.

    2. Re:Yield problems? by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      250ma/500ma from inductive charging is easy. it's when you ramp up to 1Amp where things get dangerous for consumers. you cant have some idiot user throw their keys on the thing and let it start a fire, so I am betting they are working with some NFC tech to make the phone talk to the charging plats so that it only starts charging if an iphone is on it, plus look at the load and turn off charging if some idiot threw teir phone and the keys on it.

      Everyone else's inductive charging is very low amperage, no way in hell I would want to charge a modern high battery capacity phone at 250ma, I dont have 12 hours for it to charge completely.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    3. Re:Yield problems? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      I would have thought the best tech company in the world (tm) would have no problem copying the many successful designs already on the market. Or maybe the yield that they are talking about is interoperability. Can't have a device accidentally get charged by any old generic charging station.

      I dunno. I would prefer to have a plug in charger than a wireless one. Not tor the almost irrelevant earphone jack reason, but because wireless charging is inefficient, and places the second half of the transformer and the power suply inside the phone.

      While this isn't the reason for the Samsung catastrophe. That will have an impact on interior space, making for less space for the battery, leading to more shaky schemes to extract more power out of a smaller battery.

      As well, I'm expecting that the wireless units will be running at fairly high frequency for transformer size reduction. I'm wondering if a lot of these wireless chargers will make for a lot of RFI. http://www.edn.com/design/comm....

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    4. Re:Yield problems? by SoCalChris · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Wireless charging is great. You can have a charger/stand on your desk, one on your nightstand, wherever you want. Just leave it there and your battery is always topped off when you go. You can pick it up and reply to messages without a cable getting caught on things. That was my biggest disappointment with the latest Nexus and Pixel phones, was that Google discontinued that feature. Hopefully if Apple puts it in and Samsung keeps it in their flagships, the next Pixel phones will have it as well.

    5. Re:Yield problems? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Other phones inductively charge at 1A, have done for years. LG and Samsung both sell phones capable of 1A wirelessly, although many chargers only deliver 750mA max. I have an official LG one and a Panasonic one that do 1A.

      My guess would be they are working on some kind of alignment system. Google used magnets for the Nexus line, LG and Samsung rely on the shape of the charger and my Panasonic has motors to move the coils.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re:Yield problems? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You jest but that is Apple's SOP. Throw in some mildly useful addition and charge 5x as much for it. Reversible Lightning cables, the special pairing chip in their headphones, that sort of thing.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    7. Re:Yield problems? by Chris453 · · Score: 4, Informative

      You literally have no idea what you are talking about. I'm surprised someone with such a low ID is spouting such nonsense as fact. It doesn't take 12 hours to wirelessly charge.

      http://www.androidauthority.co...
      Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge battery size: 2600mAh, charging time on WIRED cable: 80 minutes 0-100%
      Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge battery size: 2600mAh, charging time on Samsung Wireless Qi: 160 minutes 0-100%

      http://bgr.com/2016/10/12/ipho...

      Just for comparison the iPhone 6s plus (2750mAh which is the closest to the above), it takes 168 minutes to charge 0-100%. So basically it takes roughly an equal amount of time to wirelessly charge an S6 Edge as it does to charge an iPhone 6s plus using the wired charger.

    8. Re:Yield problems? by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      250ma/500ma from inductive charging is easy. it's when you ramp up to 1Amp where things get dangerous for consumers. you cant have some idiot user throw their keys on the thing and let it start a fire, so I am betting they are working with some NFC tech to make the phone talk to the charging plats so that it only starts charging if an iphone is on it...

      As an added bonus. Apple gets to start a "certified for iPhone charging" program for third-party chargers.

    9. Re:Yield problems? by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      250ma/500ma from inductive charging is easy. it's when you ramp up to 1Amp where things get dangerous for consumers. you cant have some idiot user throw their keys on the thing and let it start a fire, so I am betting they are working with some NFC tech to make the phone talk to the charging plats so that it only starts charging if an iphone is on it, plus look at the load and turn off charging if some idiot threw teir phone and the keys on it.

      Yeah didn't I say exactly that? Copying everyone else's design.

      Everyone else's inductive charging is very low amperage

      ooooh man are you going to be pissed when you get to 2016 and realise that Donald Trump is a presidential candidate. My only recommendation is stay in 2011 for as long as possible man, other than every wireless charging standard delivering over 1A, 2016 has nothing good to offer.

    10. Re:Yield problems? by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      I would have thought the best tech company in the world (tm) would have no problem copying the many successful designs already on the market.

      Other reporting on the news did a better job of providing some insight into why copying may not be possible and why yields may be a problem. Namely, the rumor mill has been indicating since at least January that Apple was going to try to be the first company to bring extended range wireless charging to market (i.e. just need to have the phone within a few feet of a transmitter, rather than in physical contact with a pad).

      We've known that they've been working on it for years, so it's just been a question of when, not if. Even before the iPhone 7 was launched the rumors were already pointing towards a 2017 debut for the tech. With the pace of patent filings picking up recently and Apple buying out a number of startups doing work in the field, it seems that the rumors of the 2017 debut may bear out.

    11. Re:Yield problems? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Go easy on the old timer/low UID. Tech was different back then, what with trying to do wireless power transmission with glass tubes and what-not.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    12. Re: Yield problems? by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      More likely, Apple wants to ensure that products are made to a satisfactory quality

      So what, make it white, curve the edges, emboss the logo and ship it out? That's apples idea of quality, they don't really give a shit if it works as well as it good or even well.

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    13. Re:Yield problems? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I'm surprised someone with such a low ID is spouting such nonsense as fact.

      Obligatory You Must Be New Here

      I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched low UID slashdotters post abject troll shit in thoughtful conversations. All those moments will be lost on the internet, like archive.org content from a domain with a regressive robots.txt. Time to die.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    14. Re:Yield problems? by omnichad · · Score: 1

      many successful designs already on the market

      Well I'm sure it won't use the same standards, like Qi. Apple have gone full-Sony and won't use something that someone else has already used first.

    15. Re:Yield problems? by tsqr · · Score: 1

      it's when you ramp up to 1Amp where things get dangerous for consumers. you cant have some idiot user throw their keys on the thing and let it start a fire

      Unless your keys are somehow magically resonant at the charger's frequency (100 - 200kHz), nothing will happen if you throw them on the charger. If they are resonant, the most that will happen is the keys will warm up a little. Possible even enough to feel.

    16. Re:Yield problems? by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      I would have thought the best tech company in the world (tm) would have no problem copying the many successful designs already on the market. Or maybe the yield that they are talking about is interoperability. Can't have a device accidentally get charged by any old generic charging station.

      Just because it works doesn't mean it works WELL.

      I know the Samsung ones plain suck - you have to put it on the charger in a particular spot before it works and every other spot it won't charge. Such finickiness is just not good at all. It needs to either self-locate on the spot, or the spot needs to be widened so you can put it roughly in the right spot to charge.

      Then there are some chargers that barely work - cheap knockoff wireless chargers that perform even worse.

    17. Re:Yield problems? by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      The QI standard allows for high power charging, it uses a communications mechanism to authorize higher charging currents, so that the risk Lumpy is speaking of just doesn't exist in actual implementations.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      In fact, Qi apparently has standards up to 1kW now, which would be a quick charge in theory, but I am not sure you could use the phone afterwards.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  2. lol by fubarrr · · Score: 1

    The next big thing: a phone without any plugs lololo

  3. glass by avandesande · · Score: 1

    It's a 3000BC technology. I like having a plastic back I can replace for less than 10$

    --
    love is just extroverted narcissism
    1. Re:glass by clonehappy · · Score: 1

      And my next car will be a used Kia because why spend $50k to replace a Lexus if you crash it when you can drive a $4k econobox instead?

    2. Re:glass by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 1

      And my next car will be a used Kia because why spend $50k to replace a Lexus if you crash it when you can drive a $4k econobox instead?

      Poor analogy, as bumpers and many other car parts can be easily replaced (by guys who learned their skills in high schools) for a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire vehicle. And $20k to $30k cars outsell $50k by a wide margin without being shitty "econoboxes" (same for $15k-$25k used cars, which is where the value/quality sweet spot is). A piece of glass in place of a piece of aluminum or stainless steel does not turn a phone into the equivalent of a $50k Lexus, compared to a phone with a plastic or other back.

      Glass backs, despite looking nice, subjectively, make no sense in terms of durability or heat dissipation - they're just stupid.

      --
      This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
    3. Re:glass by avandesande · · Score: 1

      Lexus has plastic bumpers (at least mine does). How about glass bumpers?

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
  4. Re:barely out... by unixisc · · Score: 1

    There's no written or unwritten law that you have to buy every generation. I just bought a 7 - previously had a 5s, and the only reason I did was to have a storage upgrade as well as support for Apple Pay. I have no plans to buy a successor phone - this phone has 128GB, and I don't see it running out.

  5. Re:barely out... by cfalcon · · Score: 1

    Every year there's a new iphone. They may stop this cycle eventually, but they don't have a particular reason to. If you are an Apple user, just jump in when the next iphone sounds like it works for you. That really doesn't seem unreasonable. Fun fact: rumors of wireless charging for the 8 predate the 7 launch by months!

  6. Dumb by sexconker · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I don't know who the fuck is behind wireless charging and water proofing. It sure as fuck isn't customers.

    Wireless charging is fucking stupid because you still need a wire to plug the charging pad in, and the charging pad takes up more space than a simple cable would. And you still need a charging cable and port because the world isn't filled with wireless charging pads. Then you have all the incompatible versions and brands. Then you have the fact that's it's inefficient, slow, and potentially dangerous. And remember - if the next iThing has wireless charging Amazon will be filled with shitty Chinese knock off charging pads with zero safety testing and the absolute minimal design to get it functional.

    Water proofing is stupid as well. It typically means more glue and a less-serviceable phone with the way they're doing it. My phones are already water resistant for everything but full immersion, and even with the IP-whatever rated phones you're limited to x time at y depth for a promise of it not shitting the bed. Plenty of those rated phones still fail (see the Slashdot article about Consumer Reports taking a certain manufacturer to task), and even those that don't fail are only rated to not "permanently fail". That is, turn it off and dry it out and it should be fine. Only a handful of phones are actually intended for (brief) use under water. A plastic bag would serve the same purpose and act as a flotation device if you're really using your phone in the ocean, lake, or pool.

    My guess is wireless charging and IP-rating against water is being pushed by carriers and manufacturers as an effort to keep people upgrading even though hardware progress isn't as significant as it was a few years ago. Seal the battery in even tighter, remove the SD card slot, hell, even solder on the SIM card, and get rid of the charging port and the headphone port. You now have a seamless, unserviceable brick with a 18-24 month lifespan.

    1. Re:Dumb by markdavis · · Score: 2

      >"I don't know who the fuck is behind wireless charging and water proofing. It sure as fuck isn't customers.?

      You are wrong on lots of levels, mostly by assuming people would ONLY use it the way you do. I have enjoyed wireless charging for many years now, starting with the Palm Pre and it is WONDERFUL.

      1) There ARE standards for charging- QI being the most important. But of course Apple won't use anything standard because that will eat into their innovation, I mean profit.

      2) Some of use DON'T CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO CHARGE. So being slow won't matter to us when it is more convenient.

      3) Nobody is forcing anyone to use wireless charging, it is a useful OPTION. Pick what works best for you.

      How I use it is- when I get home I slap my Nexus 5 on the pad and it immediately starts charging. 99% of the time I have no alignment or other issues, it just instantly works and I get audible feedback that it works, too. If I get a message or want to use the phone, I pick it up, mess with it (without having to mess with a cord in the way or disconnecting and reconnecting it) and then slap it back on the pad when done. I don't carry it around with me at home. It is extremely convenient to not have to mess with cords and connectors.

      Now, for people who want to charge as quickly as they can so they can get the phone back on their person ASAP, they are free to use the cord/connector option- no problem. But to think it is "dumb" just shows that you can't possibly put yourself in other peoples' shoes.

    2. Re:Dumb by krray · · Score: 2

      > Wireless charging is fucking stupid [...]

      I have to respectfully disagree. Yes, you still have to plug something in somewhere (usually usb)... But beyond that it just gets so simple.

      I still have to put my phone down -- before I was hunting for a cable, or always had a cable draped over something. Ugly. Now I put the cable away, plug it in (once) and decide where the charging pad is to be. I still have to put my phone down / charge it at night -- now it's easy. I rarely have to go hunting for it either it seems.

      The car charger / holding dock has saved me a few times too. There have been nights I forget to charge and in the morning the phone is at 9%. Instead of leaving in my pocket as I usually do -- just dock it in the car and it's almost fully charged by the time I get to work. It's also a great location to hold the phone when using it for navigation (rare for me).

      And the other benefit is I've never worn a plug (on the phone) out like so many around me seem to do all the time. Once every so often I'll have the need to plug directly in for iTunes, sure -- then just unplug the case from the phone (good cases won't require you to remove them from the phone IMHO) and plug in for iTunes (my choice :). Easy.

      I gone as far as to add Qi receivers to old unsupported iPad's -- they're ugly as fuck stick on the back of the device / one size fits all ... but they sure do work. Just set the iPad down under the monitor (here) and it's charging. iPhone and old iPhone now used as a remote for TV more than anything too.

      Ugh -- I'd always be unplugging and plugging shit in all day long. Instead I just set them down [charging]. Too easy.

    3. Re:Dumb by aXis100 · · Score: 1

      Maybe you don't like it but I sure as hell do.

      I leave my phone near the bed and use it as an alarm. It sits on a phone stand so that I can read it, so replacing that with a wireless Qi charging base takes up no more space. It's super freaking convenient and works great.

      Better yet, I'm not wearing out the USB plug with hundreds of matings.

    4. Re:Dumb by thegarbz · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Wireless charging is fucking stupid because you still need a wire to plug the charging pad in, and the charging pad takes up more space than a simple cable would. And you still need a charging cable and port because the world isn't filled with wireless charging pads. Then you have all the incompatible versions and brands. Then you have the fact that's it's inefficient, slow, and potentially dangerous.

      Holy shit there's so much 2011 in that post I felt like I've gone back in time. But to clue you in on what happened in the past 5 years:

      - Consumers have liked the idea of wireless charging to the point that there's a lucrative side market for wireless charging accessories.
      - People realise the benefit of wireless is not that there's no cable but rather that there's no reason to constantly connect and disconnect every time you get to your charging point.
      - Common household devices now charge your phone like the SELJE nightstand from Ikea with built in Qi charger. Or the desk lamp at the last hotel I stayed at in Chicago with a built in Qi charger. So no they take up zero space. And yes the world is filling up with charging points, kind of like at O'Hare airport last time I stayed in Chicago.
      - There's only 2 common standards, Qi and A4WP, with one minor standard PMA, and several brands of chargers and common chipsets support charging any of the above standards.
      - Given that wireless chargers are almost universally fed with 5V they can have as low of a safety standard as they want. If they manage to kill you or burn your house down then that is just a sign from the universe.

      Water proofing is stupid as well. It typically means more glue and a less-serviceable phone with the way they're doing it. My phones are already water resistant for everything but full immersion, and even with the IP-whatever rated phones you're limited to x time at y depth for a promise of it not shitting the bed. Plenty of those rated phones still fail (see the Slashdot article about Consumer Reports taking a certain manufacturer to task), and even those that don't fail are only rated to not "permanently fail". That is, turn it off and dry it out and it should be fine. Only a handful of phones are actually intended for (brief) use under water. A plastic bag would serve the same purpose and act as a flotation device if you're really using your phone in the ocean, lake, or pool.

      - Given the number of phones which experience accidental full immersion there's a lot of ways to describe water proofing. Stupid is hardly one of them.
      - That certain consumer report you cite was one single model from one single manufacturer.
      - The rating for partial submersion is sufficient.
      - It takes a special kind of person to think that these ratings are for swimming with your device (hint, they are not, if they were they wouldn't be IP rated), and then have the audacity to call the idea stupid.

      My guess is wireless charging and IP-rating against water is being pushed by carriers and manufacturers as an effort to keep people upgrading even though hardware progress isn't as significant as it was a few years ago. Seal the battery in even tighter, remove the SD card slot, hell, even solder on the SIM card, and get rid of the charging port and the headphone port. You now have a seamless, unserviceable brick with a 18-24 month lifespan.

      - Wireless charging and waterproofing sells. Companies produce products that people want. News at 11.
      - My phone is IP rated, has a wireless charger, a removable battery, an SD card slot, a headphone port, and a SIM card. But good work though, I don't get to say hyperbole very often but now I get to say hyperbole twice in one sentence thanks to your inspirational post.

    5. Re: Dumb by FunkSoulBrother · · Score: 1

      Really, you don't think if apple does this that wired port will be gone?

      And I say that as a relative Apple fanboy, by Slashdot standards anyway

    6. Re:Dumb by naughtynaughty · · Score: 1

      It isn't slow, it isn't inefficient and it isn't dangerous.

      But don't let that stop you from enjoying your daily digging around looking for the charging cord to plug into.

    7. Re: Dumb by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 1

      Really, you don't think if apple does this that wired port will be gone?

      And I say that as a relative Apple fanboy, by Slashdot standards anyway

      Spot on. They've already tried to do away with headphone jacks against the wishes of most, because they make phones "bulky," so why would they keep a charging port once the add wireless charging?
      Full disclosure: I have never owned an iphone, and will not in the foreseeable future, though I do understand some of the appeal.

      --
      This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
    8. Re:Dumb by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Physics says it's slower and less efficient than a cable. China says they'll be dangerous when they're popular and people are buying cheapos off Amazon.
      I don't have to dig around for a cable. It's on my desk, waiting, like a charging pad would be but in a much smaller footprint. I can also hold my device while charging it.

    9. Re:Dumb by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Fuck off, shill.

      You admit that there are different incompatible standards, yet you pretend it's not an issue? And this is before Apple even enters the game.

      You talk about consumers liking the idea and it being in certain products. More people bought 3D TVs than wireless chargers. How did that turn out?

      You ignore the physical issues with induction charging and blame it on a sign from the universe? WTF kind of argument is that?

      You say both of these things:
      "Given the number of phones which experience accidental full immersion there's a lot of ways to describe water proofing. Stupid is hardly one of them."
      "The rating for partial submersion is sufficient."

      So which is it? Are fully submersing their phones or not?

      And this gem:
      "It takes a special kind of person to think that these ratings are for swimming with your device (hint, they are not, if they were they wouldn't be IP rated), and then have the audacity to call the idea stupid."

      How about the fucking ads showing exactly that?

      You claim wireless charging and waterproofing sell, yet you provide no evidence. I could say 3D sells TVs.

      What model of phone do you have? What features does the successor have (or not have)? Is it made by Apple or Samsung (the only manufacturers who matter in the industry, unfortunately)?

    10. Re:Dumb by adolf · · Score: 1

      My S7 is IP-whatever rated, does wireless charging, has an easily-accessed SIM and SD slot, a headphone jack, and an exposed micro-USB connector.

      It's a real motherfucker to change the battery, though. And I don't know whose cock got sucked by Corning to have them make the back cover out of curved glass because that's about the stupidest idea ever. Then again when my previous S5 died of other causes its battery was still performing about like new, so I'm not too worried about the battery itself shitting the bed.

      But I digress. The wireless charging has, so far, been a useful tool for me. It keeps my phone charged at my desk if I bother with taking it out of my pocket, and I don't have to futz with cords spilling my water/beer/coffee/whatever all over the place.

      I don't worry about charging this phone, really. It (usually) gets plugged in when I sleep, occasionally charges on the desk during the day, and also in the car if being used for GPS (because that's a universal battery-suck).

      So far -- and it's been a few months -- that's been good enough, which is way better than any previous Android phone that I've had (going back to the OG Droid).

      --
      Kid-proof tablet..
    11. Re:Dumb by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Waterproofing is for two reasons:
      1) Have you not noticed how every phone has a moisture detection strip inside? They're the ones denying warranty claims and getting class action lawsuits settled against them ($53M) for not covering phones that sustained water damage.

      2) Have you ever taken electronics outside on a hot humid day when the electronics are cold from air conditioning? That can condense a LOT of water inside some very sensitive areas.

    12. Re:Dumb by tsqr · · Score: 1

      You seem awfully angry. You do understand that you don't have to use wireless charging if you don't want to, right? Unless you're an Apple user and they remove the Thunderbolt port, which would be a real dick move that would piss off a lot of people who like to use portable battery packs when they're on the go. If you're concerned about the added cost of a feature you won't use, if you're buying a premium phone the difference is in the noise.

      If you see a few incompatible wireless charging standards as a problem, how do you feel about Lightning vs. micro USB vs. USB-C? Throw in the old Apple 30-pin connector for good measure. My old Samsung Galaxy S4 and my Tab S both have replaceable batteries, but they're not interchangeable. What a fucking nightmare!

      Wireless chargers dangerous? I haven't been able to find any stories about fires caused by wireless chargers, for what that's worth. There are a few complaints about phones getting hot; most of them appear to be related to the use of cases containing metal foil; sort of like microwaving something in a metal container. My own anecdotal experience with a pair of extremely inexpensive Chinese chargers has been completely problem free.

    13. Re:Dumb by apoc.famine · · Score: 1

      My last two phones were in the 2-3 year old range when the micro USB port failed. I jumped on wireless charging for that reason alone. I'd have happily kept one as a throw-around mini-computer if I could still charge it. I'm hopeful that by the time I'm ready to replace this phone I haven't broken it and I can keep it for random dorky uses.

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
    14. Re:Dumb by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Fuck off, shill.

      Who am I shilling for? Apple? Samsung? Ikea? Maybe your mythical Consortium of Evil Wireless Charging and Waterproofing Magnates? Or do you not know what the word means and have been using it to sound cool?

      You admit that there are different incompatible standards, yet you pretend it's not an issue?

      Yep, two, and with charging pads compatible with both at the same time. woes fucking me just how will I live with all that interoperability. Though if Apple do join in an incompatible way then fuck em.

      You talk about consumers liking the idea and it being in certain products. More people bought 3D TVs than wireless chargers. How did that turn out?

      Hard numbers please. No one is buying 3D TVs, it's a technological dead end.

      You ignore the physical issues with induction charging and blame it on a sign from the universe? WTF kind of argument is that?

      No, I ignore your worthless and completely ignorant comments made without basis in electrical engineering, claiming it's a hazard, and blame that ... well ... that one is on the education system.

      So which is it? Are fully submersing their phones or not?

      That was a typo, but your assertion that IP rating isn't needed because people don't go swimming with their phones is just again showing ignorance of what an IP rating is and when it applies. People aren't swimming with their phones. People aren't intentionally submerging them. Yes IP ratings are still a very good thing which is needed.

      How about the fucking ads showing exactly that?

      You believe everything you see on TV? I suppose if you go to Japan you'll think those candy bars will make you be able to grab a set of bananas and use them to fly in the wind too. How about IP ratings having strict definitions. Read them.

      You claim wireless charging and waterproofing sell, yet you provide no evidence. I could say 3D sells TVs.

      What model of phone do you have? What features does the successor have (or not have)? Is it made by Apple or Samsung (the only manufacturers who matter in the industry, unfortunately)?

      IDC figures for major waterproof and wirelessly charging figures show that. S5, and has all the features you listed. The S7 has all of the features you listed except a removable battery and no one really gave a shit about that.

      Now please who am I shilling for again? I'm still going with Ikea. That RIGGARD desk lamp with built in wireless charger in the base means you don't even need to give up a wall socket to charge your phone. How awesome is that!

    15. Re: Dumb by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      It'll be annoying for me if they do get rid of the port. In the morning when I get up I connect my phone to my Mac so that it can charge and sync at the same time. But since they offer the capability to sync wirelessly Apple won't have a problem getting rid of the port. They like making things more complicated to use lately.

  7. Which one? by krray · · Score: 2

    I started out using Powermat -- had it on everything. Desk chargers, car chargers, garage, bookshelf, other office, etc.. Everywhere. I got tired of [still] waiting for a case / receiver for the iPhone 6s specific. iPhone 7 is out and still no 6s case.

    Just got done switching all devices over to the Qi standard. Depending on what Apple does I could see opting out of their charging [if not Qi] option and ... wait for a Qi case to show up on the market. Or make it myself. :)

  8. And Apple say: let there be wireless charging by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I'm so glad Apple finally decided to invent wireless charging! That's one less port we need on the next iPhone!

  9. Re: barely out... by hsmith · · Score: 1

    Not apple writing this. This is just shit posting "journalists" writing bullshit rumors

  10. Eliminate all I/O by tchdab1 · · Score: 1

    Are the rumors true that the iphone 9 will do away with speakers?

    1. Re:Eliminate all I/O by MountainLogic · · Score: 1

      There is an old joke about universities in the south: The college president going around telling the faculty they have to build a school the football team can be proud of. So often things get turned on their head and phones are are going that direction. Perhaps you kids will one day ask you, "in the olden days, did cell phones really have person to person voice communications without an app?"

  11. About time... by mspohr · · Score: 3, Informative

    Wireless charging is great. Just set the phone down on the pad and it charges. No fiddling with a plug and socket.
    Of course, Apple probably will want to invent their own charging pad so they can charge big bucks for it and stop others from making competing chargers (lots of charge in that sentence). Everyone else has settled on Qi standard. I have these in the car and several spots at home and they work great.

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    1. Re:About time... by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      I get the draw of adopting an existing standard, but what if Apple comes up with something better? I'm not saying that they will, and I don't know what it would be if they did, but adopting standards for the sake of adopting standards could have a stagnating effect.

      If they do it right, they could support Qi, and do their own thing. That way you can interoperate with all the Qi stuff out there (airports, 3rd party integrations) for a base functionality, and then do your "Magic Charger (tm)" that has some extra special Apple-y shit.

      Unfortunately, that's the path that Apple hardly takes.

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  12. Glass back? by Varenthos · · Score: 1

    They'll all have a glass back? So now they can charge you $300 per side to replace the glass when you drop it? Sounds pretty awesome to me!

    1. Re:Glass back? by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 1

      They'll all have a glass back? So now they can charge you $300 per side to replace the glass when you drop it? Sounds pretty awesome to me!

      Hey, why not increase the chances of a short drop breaking something from near 50% to near 100% if you can? Progress!

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      This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
    2. Re:Glass back? by avandesande · · Score: 1

      Don't you butter both sides of your toast?

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
  13. I have a name for it by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

    The one with the curved edge to edge display could be called the iPhone 8 Edge
    They could increase the screen to phone size ratio by making the home button shorter

    I've even got a mock-up for them: here

    1. Re:I have a name for it by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 1

      The one with the curved edge to edge display could be called the iPhone 8 Edge They could increase the screen to phone size ratio by making the home button shorter

      I've even got a mock-up for them: here

      How about the iPhone S 8 Edge v2 Turbo Pure Edition with Siri2? That has a nice ring to it.
      And I don't know how crabapple haven't increased the screen to body ratio on devices that are so universally lauded for their designs. Their phones are still way bigger than they need to be, and ports aren't the problem. You only need to go so thin, but wasted space around the screen should be minimized.

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      This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
    2. Re:I have a name for it by omnichad · · Score: 1

      They're so thin that they have to shrink the screen to make room for all the ports at the sides/edges. Probably the reason for getting rid of the ports - the obsession with thinness.

    3. Re:I have a name for it by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      and now they're so bendy the flexing lifts the touch screen controller chip from the board, aka "iPhone Touch Disease"

    4. Re:I have a name for it by omnichad · · Score: 1

      That's why they're encasing their new phone in glass. Glass isn't as bendy.

    5. Re:I have a name for it by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      It is a lot more shattery though. Glass is reasonably strong when you compress it, but lacks tensile strength.

      With a layer of glass and plastic or metal, when bending the plastic or metal stretches or compresses while the glass just bends.
      With two layers of glass, one layer is compressed and the other stretched. It won't flex nearly as much, but it will break with less flexing.

  14. Easy way to predict features next iPhone will get by JoeyRox · · Score: 1

    Just look back what came out five years ago on Android phones and that is what's coming next for iPhones.

  15. Re:Glass backed bodies... by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 1

    For when you want an 8 inch fall to break the front AND back of your phone.

    For when you want an iphone to be as iphoney as possible. Maybe when Gorilla Glass 38 comes out it will deliver as promised?

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    This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
  16. No ports at all by RightwingNutjob · · Score: 1

    not even a charging port. You can buy a giant charging pad and keep it in your pocket when you're on the go. It'll even double as an ass warmer if you're by an outlet but you're phone's already topped off.

  17. Mine works fine by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    My Samsung wireless charger works just fine, and more importantly, I STILL don't own a Apple product.

  18. Re:barely out... by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

    Yeah, because no other company starts working on the next version of a successful product after launching the current one. They just sit back and enjoy the breeze.

    Are you cracked?

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    Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
  19. Don't know much about the iPhone by CauseBy · · Score: 1

    iPhones don't have wireless charging? Whoa. Did iPhones ever get widgets? How about hosts files? Non-proprietary cables? Heck, can you sync your music over bluetooth yet?

    How many decades will it take Apple to get these features?

    Well, hey, at least iPhones don't have headphone jacks anymore, I know everyone wanted to get rid of those.

    I was a Mac user since 1989 but I got off the bus in 2008 when I saw the writing on the wall. Things have gone downhill since then and it's been a lot of fun to join the Apple haters club. I still use a Mac for work, though, and it's nice for what it is. But I wouldn't buy one for myself and I don't have any Apple gear in the house newer than 2008.