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MagSafe can be seen as the replacement for AirPower! It's solving the same problem in a much simpler way. AirPower's big promise was that it was a multi-device
by varenc 6y ago
MagSafe can be seen as the replacement for AirPower! It's solving the same problem in a much simpler way.
AirPower's big promise was that it was a multi-device charging mat that didn't require perfect alignment to get high power charging. Apple ultimately cancelled it, likely because this proved too difficult to do safely. (rumored to be thermal issues with the multi-coil design)
MagSafe solves the alignment problem in a simpler way. Instead of carefully aligning your phone, the magnets just "suck" your phone to the optimal charging position.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- remir 6y agoAira's FreePower technology seems to be what Apple was trying to achieve with Airpower. Haven't tried it yet (because it's expensive) but from the review I read, it's legit. https://airapower.com/ https://airapower.com/
- _rs 6y agoIt looks like they don't sell to consumers - do you know of any products that use this technology?
- varenc 6y agoThe “Base Station Pro” from Nomad is cited as the first consumer product that integrates their tech: https://airapower.com/partnerships/ https://airapower.com/partnerships/
- strawberrypuree 6y agoUnfortunately this base station does not live up to its promises. You still have to perfectly place your phone to get a charge, unless you want to position it horizontally and take up 2 charging coils to get it right. I returned it.
- JimmyAustin 6y agoI own the base station, which is pretty close to what you are describing. Apparently the base station pro is different.
- athriren 6y agoif you want the one thing that will work, though with a much less polished very un-Apple-y design, this is expensive, huge, and it will work basically edge to edge. I will say having used it, I understand why Apple axed the idea. It is huge and gets hot and I assume it is thicker than Airpower would have been. https://www.theverge.com/21242641/zens-liberty-review-wireless-charger-apple-airpower-coils-qi-charging-price https://www.theverge.com/21242641/zens-liberty-review-wirele...
- varenc 6y agoDid you have the Nomad "Base Station" or the new "Base Station Pro"? The pro versions looks brand new and was only recently on August 25th: https://nomadgoods.com/blogs/the-nomadic/base-station-pro https://nomadgoods.com/blogs/the-nomadic/base-station-pro
- strawberrypuree 6y agoSince I can't edit my comment, I'll correct it here. As others have pointed out, I bought and returned the "Base Station" because it only had 2 coils and needed precise placement. I have not used the "Base Station Pro" (but will give it a shot, since it has some advanced tech). I jumped the gun on my comment, so the above comment is not accurate.
- chaosharmonic 6y agoThis also assumes Apple doesn't plan on scaling the spec. Other phones are already up to 40W charging, and several OEMs have been tipped to be aiming for at 100 by next year.
- whoopdedo 6y agoHow strong is the magnet? I can already see a benefit. Don't put you're phone "down" to charge it, put it up on the charger pad that's mounted to the wall. Can be placed out of the way where it's not in danger of being tripped over or spilled on, and frees tabletop space.
- sedgjh23 6y agoThey announced Belkin is making a car mount that uses the magnets in the phone so they’re strong enough for that it seems
- dotancohen 6y agoI've been epoxying a metal plate to the back of my phones for years. I have a hard drive magnet on the dashboard, that I stick the phone to. It's absurdly strong, much stronger than traditional phone mounts. And I can just grab the phone and go, no fussing with release buttons or whatnot.
- 72deluxe 6y agoI had one of these in my old car and can't really find a good place to put it in my new car. It's a pity as it was incredibly useful. Neodymium magnet I think.
- DrAwdeOccarim 6y agoWow. So, the magnetic field doesn't mess with the electronics of the phone?
- avianlyric 6y agoWires only pick up current when they’re moving through a magnetic field. Just sitting in one is fine. Although the internal compass isn’t going to work great. Also people significantly overestimate the amount of current a normal (something you’re gonna encounter in day-to-day life) magnetic field can induce in a wire. There’s a good reason motors are packed with so many windings, you either need an incredibly large magnetic field, or a crap ton of wire, to get an interesting amount of current.
- jayd16 6y agoXiaomi also solved the alignment issue in a charmingly inelegant way. Detailed in the video below, it uses motors to align the charging pad to the device. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NNO5Kb-PZo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NNO5Kb-PZo
- 72deluxe 6y agoVery interesting charging pad! Thanks for sharing the link.