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All Three New 2017 iPhones To Feature Wireless Charging, Says Analyst (macrumors.com)
In late October, Nikkei Asian Review released a report claiming Foxconn was testing wireless charging modules for the iPhone 8. Another report has surfaced recently that further reinforces those claims. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now claims that all three new iPhones expected to launch later this year will feature wireless charging. MacRumors reports: Kuo said wireless charging increases the internal temperature of smartphones, so he expects the rumored iPhone 8 with an OLED display and glass casing to have a new 3D Touch module with "additional graphite sheet lamination" in order to prevent the device from malfunctioning due to overheating. An excerpt from Kuo's research note obtained by MacRumors: "While we don't expect general users to notice any difference, lamination of an additional graphite sheet is needed for better thermal control and, thus, steady operation; this is because FPCB is replaced with film, which is more sensitive to temperature change of the 3D touch sensor in OLED iPhone." The new 3D Touch module could be up to $5 more expensive for Apple to procure per phone. While that is a minimal increase, it lends further credence to a report claiming the high-end iPhone 8 could cost upwards of $1,000 in the United States due to a significant redesign and the use of premium parts.
This is why people pay, they are simply the best out there - try copying that SmamSmung!
The iPhone isn't the in thing it once was. I'm surprised to see them making it dramatically more expensive.
Let's see if it pays off.
Wireless charging is the next step toward eliminating the charging port. I've been using wireless charging for about 4 years now and I've only ever plugged in to upload music. I'd guess most people don't even do that.
'Wireless charging' is ridiculous nonsense and I can't believe anyone is actually going to market a major product that uses it. Apple needs to check it's tap water for lead contamination, apparently.
Nt
Exploding wireless charging batteries will be hilarious.
You know what would have been courage? Giving the iphone 7 wireless charging. Then they could say, no more ports. I think that would have been way more receptive to the audience. The downside would be charging would be a whole lot more complicated.
I don't think that word means what you think it means... No plug in the phone maybe, but wireless?
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
Android phones: this is our new feature... This is our new phone. Ios: this is our new feature, we remove these features, we force you those patches. 6 months of analysts' articles, journalists' articles, thousands of comments and a lot of wasted time apple releases a 2 or 3 year old feature in one of the most ezpensive phones out there.
The Nexus 4 had QI wireless charging a few years ago but the Nexus 6 was the last Google phone to have it. I have refused to buy a Nexus 6P or Pixel due to the lack of wireless charging. If Apple introduces wireless charging they will, for the first time, be making a phone that I consider technically better than Google's offering. It would not be enough to get me to change to closed Apple eco system but may sway others.
I note the linked articles make no indication of what wireless standard they will use. Given that QI is used by almost everyone I would hope that is the standard they will follow, but Apple, being Apple, will probably see the need to introduce a new incompatible standard. I hope I am wrong about that,
First, who wants that? Wireless charging is actually incredibly inconvenient under most circumstances. First, you can't use the phone sensibly while it's charging. Yes, you can pick up the phone and interrupt the charging to use it, but that does just that: It interrupts the charging process and drains the battery, increasing the time considerably that the phone spends on the charger, which is already longer than it would remain plugged in in the first place. Then, taking that charger with you to use it, e.g. at work or at a friend's place, is inconvenient to say the least. With the standardization of power adapters in phones today (ok, not with Apple, I know, but with pretty much any other phone), I don't even have to take my charger with me at all, it's near impossible that there isn't one where I am going to go. I would not count on that with this charging system.
And second question, does that mean Apple now plans to get rid of the power (plus whatever else) socket, too? Because then the aforementioned problem would sure be more than just a nuisance which could be avoided by simply using a normal data/power cord to charge them.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Of course, you will just need a dongle and white gold Android-to-iPhone-converter-inductor-plate for $69.99 -- except for the the black Qi chargers, they wont work at all.
Cue the apple worshipping minions who will now be here to tell the rest of us how awesome wireless charging is. And ya, they are pretty sure apple invented it.
"...the high-end iPhone 8 could cost upwards of $1,000"
A thousand bucks for a phone? Ha ha ha ha ha ha...no. I'm not gonna spend that much on a phone even if it comes with a blowjob attachment.
Also, won't this graphite sheet add ~0.00001mm of thickness to the phone? How will Apple users ever manage to put up with this outrageous increase in thickness? Won't someone please think of the Apple users?
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
How does one know how to align such a phone w/ a microwave?
Lol at headline. I prefer anal to vag myself, but I don't think that makes me an expert on iFruit accessories, or does it?
I note the linked articles make no indication of what wireless standard they will use. Given that QI is used by almost everyone I would hope that is the standard they will follow, but Apple, being Apple, will probably see the need to introduce a new incompatible standard. I hope I am wrong about that,
I've owned a number of Qi devices, and while I love wireless charging, Qi is too limited. Too slow, placement is too precise, distance is too small (even a thin case slowed charging). I'm using a USB-c Nexus now; less convenient but fast charging and a plug which doesn't just piss you off.
I really hope that Apple goes with a far better charging system, something that gives you at least a few inches distance (better would be a few feet, maybe with beamforming?) and speed to match USB-c charging. If so, then other phones will get that too within a year and I'll be much happier.
And second question, does that mean Apple now plans to get rid of the power (plus whatever else) socket, too?
It makes no sense to do so; there are a ton of accessories that rely on a socket. So if wireless charging is addd, a socket will still be there... which makes your first question moot since anyone who doesn't want wireless charging will continue to use cords (that attach to the phone).
I personally feel the same way as you about the dubious benefit that wireless charging brings. But I just wont use it if I find it inconvenient for any reason.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
You are right about the placement. I have couple of nicer chargers that have multi coil designs and are angled so the phone naturally falls to good position. This works well, even thru a thick leather cover. Charging is slow but as I have charging pads scattered everywhere I never have a flat battery.
That said the Type-C USB is a huge improvement. I have it on my laptop and think it is great step up from all other USB connectors.
And tries to effect stock prices... Now we can all celebrate at this rare event.
Sorry, but that argument "So many accessories need it" doesn't mean jack shit with Apple. Phone jack, anyone?
Sorry (not really), but that is a stupid argument. The entire functionality of the headphone jack is redundant with the power jack. Furthermore, while the lighting jack can do a large number of things (external battery pack, speaker connector, USB connector, etc) the headphone jack could do one thing - audio in/out (with Stripe being a hack on top of that one thing).
If you got rid of the lightning jack you would have no remaining way to provide for the features it offers today. Losing the headphone jack was of zero realistic concern to more than 1% of users; losing the lightning jack would impact probably 99% of users.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
apple will invent Quick Charging.
#Fuck ChApple
The only thing premium about Apple is the bullshit.
ugh this is annoying...
"get bluetooth" isn't a valid fix for several reasons
first, Apple didn't just remove a headphone jack, they removed a *universally compatible data port* that allowed for simultaneous, cheap, adaptable charging and using the jack for headphones or for an accessory like a Square card reader. Simultaneously.
removing functionality like that is exactly like if Ford removed all the doors on the right side of their cars...it's perfectly analogous in how it cripples the user
2nd, bluetooth runs out of batteries
3rd, just because *you* and your particular use case have your needs met with bluetooth headphones and one jack doesn't mean that it's a good design for all users, from the perspective of designing a system for users.
Thank you Dave Raggett
Better chargers fix all this stuff. Charging up to 1A is no problem, and the spec now allows much higher charge rates. As for placement issues, if you get a charger with a movable coil it will self-align, and other types can have aids to help alignment like magnets or multiple coils.
For me Qi works really well, but then again I didn't buy the cheapest chargers off eBay either. I have Panasonic and LG chargers and they both work really well.
For once I'm happy about something Apple might be doing, if it encourages more manufacturers to include Qi charging.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Remove the charging port, then.
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
The biggest issue I have with wireless charging is that with a wired cable you're limited to plugging your phone into a cable which is plugged into a wall socket about 1-2m away. With wireless charging you're limited to putting your phone into a dock which has a cable which is plugged into a wall socket about 1-2m away.
As an added bonus, it charges much slower and costs about 12x more than a simple cable (even Lightning ones, provided you don't buy from Apple).
Unless someone can come up with a way to make electricity flow through the air (yeah, I know, physics) or some way for you enable full surface wireless charging on existing tables then I'm not convinced this is going to go anywhere beyond "nice, but not entirely essential, to have".
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Unless I totally misread the article.
For me apple days are over and this is because owner of this new company is not welcomed and his product no longer follow my way of thinking. Computers became a appliances and mobile sector product became almost useless and unhealthily. Good luck tim cook with your company.
In other news, Apple removes all the ports from its upcoming iPhone 8, saying this move is 'revolutionary' and 'edgy' as they simultaneous release the iDock ($399.00 USD) which replaces all the previous ports with a convenient, ultra mobile, 18 pound brick. The iDock comes with a built in battery that will power through the most intense presentation or blockbuster movie for 23 minutes before needing to be recharged wirelessly for 18 hours.
Why such a feature is so important to you? It's not even true wireless charging, more like inductance charging (there IS a wire after all, just not in your phone)
Also, there must be a loss of energy in the conversion, making "wireless" charging inefficient and more expensive than regular charging, but i can't prove this.
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I did see another article which was outlining some of the other expected improvements, mostly a bezel-less OLED screen. The speculation was that they wanted to make the 10th anniversary release pretty impressive.
Removing the headphone jack makes it a less convenient solution for listening to music in the car on long journeys via the aux
Almost all cars sold for quite some time now have a USB port, why not play music through that? It's what I have done in my cars long before the iPhone 7.
But if not, why not USE THE AUIDIO CABLE ADAPTOR shipping with every iPhone?
If you say your car is 30 years old and you need an audio port and charging port at the same time use any one of a billion + four solutions now on the market that expands out the lightning jack into a charging port + audio jack.
That's why the audio jack was always redundant, because you can get digital or analog audio from the lightning jack.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The Nexus 4 had QI wireless charging a few years ago but the Nexus 6 was the last Google phone to have it. I have refused to buy a Nexus 6P or Pixel due to the lack of wireless charging. If Apple introduces wireless charging they will, for the first time, be making a phone that I consider technically better than Google's offering. It would not be enough to get me to change to closed Apple eco system but may sway others. I note the linked articles make no indication of what wireless standard they will use. Given that QI is used by almost everyone I would hope that is the standard they will follow, but Apple, being Apple, will probably see the need to introduce a new incompatible standard. I hope I am wrong about that,
I hope you're wrong. Fortunately, you probably are.
Qi is horseshit of the first order. I really hope Apple doesn't adopt it.
I note the linked articles make no indication of what wireless standard they will use. Given that QI is used by almost everyone I would hope that is the standard they will follow, but Apple, being Apple, will probably see the need to introduce a new incompatible standard. I hope I am wrong about that,
I've owned a number of Qi devices, and while I love wireless charging, Qi is too limited. Too slow, placement is too precise, distance is too small (even a thin case slowed charging). I'm using a USB-c Nexus now; less convenient but fast charging and a plug which doesn't just piss you off.
I really hope that Apple goes with a far better charging system, something that gives you at least a few inches distance (better would be a few feet, maybe with beamforming?) and speed to match USB-c charging. If so, then other phones will get that too within a year and I'll be much happier.
You people who have the Nikolai Tesla-inspired dreams of "wireless power" simply do not understand the Inverse-Square law. Look it up sometime, and you'll understand why "a few feet" for transmission of real POWER is very impractical.
You are right about the placement. I have couple of nicer chargers that have multi coil designs and are angled so the phone naturally falls to good position. This works well, even thru a thick leather cover. Charging is slow but as I have charging pads scattered everywhere I never have a flat battery. That said the Type-C USB is a huge improvement. I have it on my laptop and think it is great step up from all other USB connectors.
What kind of crap devices do you have that you have to have "charging pads scattered everywhere"?
My wife and I currently have the Nexus 6. Before that it was the Nexus 5 and before that the Nexus 4, my first QI device. What is wrong with having charging pads everywhere? They are cheap and almost every place I work/relax has one. Why not?
QI is usable but certainly could be improved a lot as with the cheaper chargers and a thick phone case you do need to put the phone down in the right spot +/- ~5mm. They really need an improved standard that is backwards compatible with the existing standard but is less critical to alignment and spacing. If Apple do go their own way it would be nice if they support such backwards compatibility with existing QI devices ,
Because it is a wireless device. Wireless voice communications. Wireless data communications. Plugging in a cable to charge is a PIA. Before USB Type-C there was a 50% change the cable was the wrong way up and in low light you can't see which was is correct. You have to make conscious effort to charge it. With wireless charging you never have to actually think about the need to charge, you put the phone down and when you pick it up it is ready to go. Since my first QI device, a Nexus 4, I have never had a flat battery on my phone.
As for the efficiency who cares? It probably costs me an extra $10 a year in power, money well spend in book. Radio is inefficient too, transmitting watts of power to get microwatts at the other end but who cares, it works.
About two years ago my folks bought a new, basic model Ford Focus ... and found that it is impossible to open the passenger door from outside of the car. It turns out that Ford designers removed the key lock from the passenger door because they assumed that everybody would purchase the extra cost keyless entry package despite not including it with every model.
At least Ford didn't have the hubris to claim they were courageous for removing the ability to open the damn car door.
I'm sure this bold move by Apple will get the other phone manufacturers to jump on board with wireless charging.
Apple is such an innovator.
(I know it's getting hard to tell in this day and age, so let me be clear that the above was a sarcastic comment meant to highlight the fact that Apple ceased being an industry leader many years ago).
Nothing impresses like expense I suppose.