Tag Archives: airpower

Apple’s new MacBooks may have wireless charging surfaces built into them

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It seems like Apple’s plans of not including charging cables with their iPhones may just make a little more sense, considering what they’re building their laptops to do. In patent files recently uncovered by Patently Apple, the company is rumored to be working on integrating wireless charging surfaces into their future MacBooks. According to the patents, charging zones on either side of the trackpad, and even at multiple locations on the lid, will be able to charge a whole variety of Apple products, from the iPhone to the AirPods, Apple Watch, and even probably future iterations of the iPad.

Apparently, we have the new M1 chips to thank for this, and their ability to pull off all this heavy-lifting and power delivery. The filing describes how multiple charging coils could be placed inside both the frame AND lid of a MacBook “that could accommodate charging of multiple devices at one time”. Combine this with some iteration of Apple’s new MagSafe technology and your MacBook, whether closed or open, could be the dedicated charging surface for most of your Apple peripherals. It’s an elegant solution that even does a hat-tip to user behavior patterns, where people already keep their iPhones and AirPods around their laptops while they work. Now these devices have dedicated spaces for charging right ON your laptop… and you don’t need a SINGLE cable. The powerful new MacBook got even more powerful!

It’s a good thing that AirPower Mat didn’t work out, huh…

Designer/Visualizer: Sarang Sheth

Image Credits: Sarang Sheth for Yanko Design
Patent discovered by: Patently Apple

Here’s that all-in-one charging dock Apple should have made for its products

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Was the AirPower mat Apple’s biggest marketing mistake or its greatest tactic? The minute they announced the all-in-one wireless charger for the iPhone, Airpods, and the Watch, designers and tech startups all around the world jumped at the opportunity to out-Apple Apple. Years later, the AirPower still hasn’t arrived, but the market is inundated multiple products that allow Apple’s users to charge all their gadgets. Apple spent absolutely zero dollars on actually pushing a solution into the market, but benefitted by having third-party companies fill in the void. However, amidst the sea of wireless chargers, the Air Omni stands out as perhaps the one true product that Apple ple hopes it had tried to push out. The Air Omni charges your iPhone, Watch, Airpods, and even your iPad. Apart from juicing the batteries of your favorite devices, it props them up too, acting as a stand for your iPhone/iPad so you can charge your devices while using them. With its virtually perfect desk-friendly size, the Air Omni fits seamlessly into your workspace, and can slide right into your laptop bag too, so you don’t need to have it just at your office. You can carry it back home, use it at cafés, or even at the airport, as a quick charging hub and workspace alternative. Just dock your devices, prop up your iPad, connect a wireless keyboard, and your charging hub becomes your makeshift office space. Like I said, the AirPower mat wishes it were the Air Omni.

The Air Omni’s biggest defining feature is that it comes built to dock the iPad too, which should honestly be given the same status as the iPhone, Watch, and AirPods… after all, the iPad is a mobile device too. Designed for not just charging but docking too, the Air Omni comes with a dedicated pop-up wireless charging hub for your Watch, specified wireless charging zones for your phone and AirPods, and a stand that lets you dock the iPad vertically and charge it via a cable – all while complying with Apple’s MFi charging standards. The docking zone’s unique design is truly innovative as it shapeshifts to let you alternate between docking your iPad as well as your iPhone. The vertical docking setup is supported by a port that pops right out of the Air Omni, allowing you to plug your phone/tablet as you place it against its backrest. But wait Sarang, you’re probably wondering, how can one port charge the iPhone as well as the iPad especially when the iPad’s later variant uses a Type-C connector? Well, that’s where the Air Omni’s clever switcheroo trick comes handy. On the back of the device is a nifty button that allows you to mechanically alternate between Lightning and Type-C ports, making switching between docking your iPhone and iPad incredibly easy. If you’ve got other devices that need charging (a fitness tracker perhaps, or a power-bank), the Air Omni comes with an extra set of ports that allow you to plug up to two devices in… and as far as wireless charging on the Air Omni’s surface goes, a unique, patented coil layout allows you to wirelessly charge your gadgets no matter how you place it.

Speaking of out-Apple-ing Apple, the Pitaka Air Omni ditches the white plastic and anodized aluminum CMF palette for something more hardcore – after all, the product is vastly better than anything Apple could think of. Made from Aramid (Kevlar), the Air Omni comes in matte black, and is incredibly damage-resistant (which is more than I can say about Apple’s charging cables) as well as flame-resistant. It supports the charging of non-Apple devices too (definitely a baller move), and for good measure, also throws in a secret compartment for storing things like SD cards, money, or anything you’d need to stash away inside a secret compartment. A culmination of a bunch of good ideas, the Air Omni is perhaps the most mindful charging hub I’ve seen in a while for a few reasons. For starters, unlike Apple’s AirPower mat, it exists. Additionally, it holistically charges all your devices including your iPad, comes with the ability to turn your charging setup into a workplace setup (thanks to the vertical dock), takes care of all your charging needs while occupying just one plug-point… Plus, you don’t need to worry about tangled-up charging cables (or throwing money at Apple every time a charging cable breaks) – which to be honest is perhaps Air Omni’s most unsung bit of praise.

Designer: Pitaka

Click Here to Buy Now: $129 229 (44% Off) Hurry! Only 40 hours left!

Click Here to Buy Now: $129 229 (44% Off) Hurry! Only 40 hours left!

Why lust after an AirPower mat when this flexible device lets you charge and dock all your devices

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Rumor has it that the AirPower mat, which Apple suddenly and surreptitiously axed behind closed doors, isn’t quite dead yet. The company is reportedly working on a smaller wireless charging mat, but until Tim steps up on stage (or in front of a video camera) and makes the announcement, let’s just re-evaluate our alternatives… like this 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat which works as an angled dock for your devices too.

The 3-in-1 mat is named for its ability to charge 3 devices at once. The foldable mat also flips open into an angled stand, becoming an easel for your devices. A three-pronged LED indicator on top points at three separate charging zones where you can place your devices. You can either charge your phone in portrait or in landscape, although the former frees up space at the bottom for a pair of AirPods. The mat even comes with a dedicated charging zone on the top right for your Apple Watch, allowing you to even secure it in place using a cutout at the base to slide your band through. All in all, the charger is as flat as an AirPower mat and can handle as many devices, but it’s much more versatile, allowing you to not just charge your devices but dock them too in a way that makes them easier to view while kept on a desk or bedside table. ‘Classy’, as Jim Halpert would say.

The 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Shenzhen Renqing Excellent Technology Co., Ltd.

Apple might have disabled bilateral wireless charging on its new iPhones

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Apple's new iPhones may include a hidden feature. Citing "reliable sources," frequent Apple leaker Sonny Dickson says all three new iPhone models include the necessary hardware for bilateral charging, a feature that would allow the phones to wireless...

Apple is selling Mophie’s new AirPower knock-off

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Apple wasn't quite able to make its promised AirPower wireless charging pad work. It canceled the project 18 months after announcing it. Its goal was to let you charge several devices at once using a single pad. However, where Apple failed, Mophie ma...

What to expect from Apple’s iPad and Mac event

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The last time we trekked to an Apple event, the company showed off three new phones that everyone saw coming a mile away. That's not to say the XR, XS and XS Max were in any way lacking; it's just that the leaks told us a thorough story of some logic...

Huawei’s new AirPod-like Freepods can wirelessly charge your phone

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Apple's stumbles with wireless charging could be Huawei's gain. The Chinese tech giant's upcoming Freebuds 2 Pro truly wireless earbuds look an awful lot like Apple's AirPods and in a twist, their battery case can supposedly charge the forthcoming Ma...