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Apple Cancels AirPower Product

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Re: Apple Cancels AirPower Product

#21

The whole AirPower saga is a weird event in product development. AirPower compatibility was highlighted as a feature in the packaging of the just-released AirPods 2 : https://twitter.com/itsnicolenguyen/status/11106569269650636... There has to be something that caused this abrupt cancellation.

[deleted]

Re: Apple Cancels AirPower Product

#22

For anyone interested in the challenges of true wireless charging (i.e., actual wireless, not induction-based), I highly recommend this blog from Paul Reynolds, who formerly led engineering at ubeam: https://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com

Could you explain how charging without cables, via induction, is not wireless? I can't click that link at work (uncategorized by proxy).

It’s wireless but not touchless. Some (many?) people conflate “wireless” and “over-the-air” charging.

You can do OTA charging but that’s a tesla coil and not very safe.

Re: Apple Cancels AirPower Product

#24

The whole AirPower saga is a weird event in product development. AirPower compatibility was highlighted as a feature in the packaging of the just-released AirPods 2 : https://twitter.com/itsnicolenguyen/status/11106569269650636... There has to be something that caused this abrupt cancellation.

It's probably a huge coincidence that https://isairpoweroutyet.com/ launched a week ago.

(Probably.)

Re: Apple Cancels AirPower Product

#26
This is a good thing. There were three competing wireless charging schemes. They got together and agreed on Qi as the charging mat standard.[1] Then Apple had to go off in their own incompatible direction. This delayed charging mat deployment in hotels and such. With Apple's scheme out of the picture, everybody can go with Qi.

[1] https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/

Re: Apple Cancels AirPower Product

#29
I don't even know why they bothered making the AirPower so complicated, especially for its first version.

Do people even care about device orientation or communication of charge levels? 90% of the purchase decision is based on just having an Apple branded power mat.

Re: Apple Cancels AirPower Product

#30
post #9

Will these devices charge on a normal Qi charging pad?

Yes

Interesting. I wonder what the high standard hang up was for apple then? It's an older technology (Qi), or I wonder if the hardware team was pulled off of new products to go back and fix the keyboards they are still having issues? Or maybe it was wasnt going to sell at a price point to bring in enough margin?
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