BatteryBox: Massive update – design changes, feature additions and shipping info

> "Recently however, we became aware of an Apple prohibition on re-using their products - even when their devices are not altered. Because of this, we decided it wouldn’t be appropriate to continue forward with our original plan."

...What? Can someone comment on the legality of such restrictions and the pros/cons of following/ignoring them? (To me it seems like first sale doctrine would be applicable, though that certainly wouldn't prohibit Apple from trying to constrain their ability to purchase...)

Apple has in the past sued other accessory makers that reused recycled Apple parts for patent infringement.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/10/09/21/apple_sues_hyperma...

Didn't pg specifically call them lawsuit-proof?

Edit: s/lawsuit/apple/: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7460204

Also, I believe that your link was specifically related to them building their own MagSafe connectors rather than they current business model that involves severing an existing charger.

I didn't see anything about it in the article, but it also looks like it will either be impossible or highly discouraged to close the laptop lid with this plugged in.

The link to the patent 7,517,222 is wrong; it's to an application with the same title. Here's the key claim:

1. A magnetic connector system comprising: a first connector having a first plurality of electrical contacts and a plurality of magnets; and a second connector having a second plurality of electrical contacts and a magnetic element, the second plurality of electrical contacts being adapted to mate with the first plurality of electrical contacts when the first connector couples to the second connector, wherein the plurality of magnets of the first connector are proximally located and are arranged in opposing polarities with respect to each other so that when the first connector is brought in close proximity to the second connector, magnetic field lines travel through the magnetic element of the second connector from one of the plurality of magnets in the first connector to another one of the plurality of magnets in the first connector, thereby increasing magnetic attraction between the first connector and the second connector.

All the magnets are in the laptop end of the connector pair, not the cable end. Selling only the non-magnet end might not be infringing, since that's just a metal plate around some contacts. You might be able to beat this. But it would be tough.

If you really wanted to pull Apple's chain, you could make a better connector than Apple makes. You could fix the problem with their smaller magnetic connector, which is known to fall off too easily. Here's how.

There's an exotic device called the Correlated Magnetics MagPrinter (http://www.correlatedmagnetics.com). This is a CNC machine which magnetizes magnets. Not just ordinary uniform magnets, but single pieces of material with custom-designed magnetic patterns. With this, you can make one piece of magnetic material behave as if it is multiple magnets. You can create magnets with various self-aligning properties. You could probably make a plug for Apple's socket which didn't look like Apple's, didn't have a "plurality of magnets", mated with their connector, and worked better.

TechShop in San Francisco has a MagPrinter, and any member can use it. They also have the software you need to design the magnetic fields and create the files for the MagPrinter.

So get busy and out-invent Apple.