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Apple Tries To Wipe AirPower From the History Books (zdnet.com)
A year after unveiling the AirPower all-in-one wireless charger for the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, Apple has now erased all references to AirPower from its website. The company has yet to ship it. From a report: A year ago during the iPhone X unveiling Apple announced AirPower -- an all-in-one wireless charger for the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. The product never shipped, and today it seems that Apple has scrubbed almost all traces of it off its website. At the time of writing this is the only reference to AirPower I can find on Apple's website. So what happened to AirPower? Well, while only Apple really knows (and at the time of writing Apple hasn't responded to a request for information), it seems like the product was vaporware and that the promise of an all-in-one charger has died. I can't think off the top of my head of another product that Apple has announced at a major event and then failed to deliver, which suggests that some things are beyond the reach of even a company as powerful as Apple.
When asked for comment on the AirPower's status, an Apple Store representative turned pale, swallowed his emergency cyanide pill, and yelled "Father Steve accept me!" before collapsing on the floor.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
I currently have an Apple phone and watch that support wireless charging.
I kind of liked the idea Apple had of a mat you could put multiple devices on, but wasn't really planning to buy it. Why? Because wireless charging is I think an inherently poor technology.
It's a lot slower than a wire. but the fundamental reason it really sucks is, THERE IS STILL A WIRE that goes to whatever wireless charging plate you have. I would way rather just have a small cable with me that I can plug into any USB slot, which are in quite a few places now, since I have to have a wire anyway.
The apple product in particular also did not seem very useful to me in that what I set stuff down by the bed at night I don't necessarily want everything flat. I have a stand I can leave the watch on to charge so it's at a nice angle to read, and even the phone I would prefer angled up so I could quickly glance to see in the morning if I have important messages waiting.
It is kind of funny to watch Apple stalinize a product though... it's like, dude, just admit it didn't work out!
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
* It's not much slower than regular charging.
True, but since there are times when you really need charging to be as rapid as possible I'd rather have every normal charging spot act at maximum speed - even for a bedside sometimes you want a quick charge while taking a nap. So I have the 13W charging blocks plugged into a few common charging places around the house.
* Not having to plug and unplug the wire really is a convenience.
This is one aspect where I think Apple may have decided they just can't do a very good job eliminating common frustration, because it seems like with other flat chargers I've seen people use there's a small sweet spot where it's actually charging, and if the device gets moved off it's not charging, plus you have to take as much time as you would plugging in a cable to make sure it's in the right spot...
That is one area where I like how the Apple watch chargers work, because they magnetically suck the watch to the "wireless" charging pad so it's super easy to attach and cannot easily be jostled off the charger. That was another reason I never planned to buy the AirPower pad, because the Apple Watch chargers are much easier and more secure than the pad would have been... maybe Apple realized that as well.
What Apple should really do is try to make an Apple Watch charger that can also incidentally power the iPhone. Maybe if you flipped it over? That would be something I might use given I have to travel with an Apple Watch charger anyway.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
A year after unveiling the AirPower all-in-one wireless charger for the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, Apple has now erased all references to AirPower from its website.
Really? I still can find it mentioned in these:
The future is here: iPhone X
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: A new generation of iPhone
Not to mention they still hosts the video of presentation that introduced AirPower and it still has Phil Schiller introducing it (@1:43:00 from apple special event September 12, 2017).
Either Apple is bad at searching their own website or this is a clickbaity article.
I expect the problem was due to a technical issue, that just couldn't be resolved combined with a luke warm demand for the product.
While I am a Computer Scientist and not an Electrical Engineer. I just see a single electromagnetic coil trying to interact with separate ones all requiring different charging time, and sending back to the device different responses would just get very confusing, and would lead to such devices from getting overcharged and damaged, or damaging non-apple products that are suppose to be wireless charged compatible. We really cannot make an Apple only wireless charger, because we can fit other devices on it too. Which could lead to fire and damage.
With all this risk, and the fact that no one really cared to ever ask about the product from last year they problem just dropped it all together, and not worth the risk.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Well, the general consensus in history books is that air power alone doesn't win wars. Clearly that can be extended to the smartphone war as well.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil