True but in a few years the coil will be inside the phone allowing for charging by just putting your phone near a transmitter (possibly built into the desk or powerstrip)
Then we'll have phones without any ports - truly monolith designs
HDMI replaced with WiGig Direct USB replaced with FTP over Wi-fi Direct SIM built in 3.5mm replaced with Bluetooth low power
That was exactly what i thought. You can only get so much power when the size of the coil is so small to be integrated inside the phone. But of coz they would properly solve that in the future.... but not in the near future though.
yes the physics is all there. it is basically nothing more than two coils that are set to resonate together. the current standard (no pun intended) pushes low voltage and high current 1A@5V which is the type of power you would push through a physical pwer cord. hence why the unit needs to be sitting directly on the transmitting pad. real wireless power transfer must happen at much higher voltages, and much higher frequencies. see link below by sigmatu for a description of what i'm talking about.
There is no way the SIM will be built in. The whole pupose of the SIM is to be able to REMOVE it so that you can use another one from another carrier. The SIM will just be replaced with software possibly that is backed up seperately.
For USB, there is already a wireless standard, it is called "USB Wireless". :-) Why "SIM Built in"? You do not need a sim card ;-) use the Japanese system, that they program the device itself. CDMA I beleive it is called.
Imagine a future where the charging adapter has a reach of a few metres, and is integrated into your desk or the walls. You could just walk into your room and your device will start charging automatically.
Extending this concept, it'd be possible to take out the batteries from low power devices completely - imagine a wireless keyboard/mouse/remote which never needs batteries because it receives power from the room!
I read that long time ago and still dont understand why it hasn't come to market. I guess they are doing long term testing in regards to wireless transmission of power health concerns to human.
But THAT, is what really wireless power is. Not just another "Docking Station without Plugs" to your devices. ( But still need a cable to your docking station..... silly....... )
i agree they have the corrent approach. being and electrical engineer in the MEP field, i constantly dream about how wireless energy can be transmitted throught an entire structure in the future. i imagine the main transmitting coil to be large enough to surround the entire perimiter of the structure, making hundreds of loops. then, any smaller coils that have been tuned to resonance and are within the EM field of the structure will have wireless energy. imagine not just powering your cell phones or laptops. imagine all lighting fixtures beings installed without the need for any wiring. no more outlets. no more cords for anything.
Touchstone makes plugging in USB over and over look ridiculous.
I also think touchstone means I use the TouchPad more often - no effort to charge, just drop it on the stand, you don't even have to line it up exactly.
Especially with battery life of smartphones being short these days, you want to charge as often as possible.
I completely agree with everything said above. I use my Touchpad a lot more now that I can just grab it, use it and set it back on the Touchstone for charging. Also helps if you have cats or kids who like to tug on cables, of which I have both.
It sounds like we're just lazy and bought a gimmicky product but it really does seem to change the way you use it. I do think $50 (originally $80) is a ridiculous price but I purchase mine for $30 and would do it again in an instant.
If they can reduce the bulk (which it seems they are doing) inductive charging should be standard on many portable consumer electronics. After using the Touchstone I just look at the 7 microUSB/miniUSB cables in my little cable organizer and shake my head.
my pre + has had this since 2009 ... time to start having this in every cell phone on the market ... it's a must-have for me in a new pick-up. i cannot believe it's taking so long to implement ... -_-
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iwod - Thursday, January 12, 2012 - link
I could never understand the reason behind why i need wireless charging.I need a special adopter. ( O.o ? )
I need to place it on a special station......
It is expensive
I much rather prefer cable....
Sapan - Thursday, January 12, 2012 - link
True but in a few years the coil will be inside the phone allowing for charging by just putting your phone near a transmitter (possibly built into the desk or powerstrip)Then we'll have phones without any ports - truly monolith designs
HDMI replaced with WiGig Direct
USB replaced with FTP over Wi-fi Direct
SIM built in
3.5mm replaced with Bluetooth low power
and headphones can also be wirelessly charged!
CaioRearte - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
Noob question, but are the physics possible?iwod - Saturday, January 14, 2012 - link
That was exactly what i thought. You can only get so much power when the size of the coil is so small to be integrated inside the phone. But of coz they would properly solve that in the future.... but not in the near future though.mbzastava - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
yes the physics is all there. it is basically nothing more than two coils that are set to resonate together. the current standard (no pun intended) pushes low voltage and high current 1A@5V which is the type of power you would push through a physical pwer cord. hence why the unit needs to be sitting directly on the transmitting pad. real wireless power transfer must happen at much higher voltages, and much higher frequencies. see link below by sigmatu for a description of what i'm talking about.sigmatau - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
There is no way the SIM will be built in. The whole pupose of the SIM is to be able to REMOVE it so that you can use another one from another carrier. The SIM will just be replaced with software possibly that is backed up seperately.Aries1470 - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
For USB, there is already a wireless standard, it is called "USB Wireless". :-)Why "SIM Built in"? You do not need a sim card ;-) use the Japanese system, that they program the device itself. CDMA I beleive it is called.
Else, I see that everrything is already achived.
r3loaded - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
Imagine a future where the charging adapter has a reach of a few metres, and is integrated into your desk or the walls. You could just walk into your room and your device will start charging automatically.Extending this concept, it'd be possible to take out the batteries from low power devices completely - imagine a wireless keyboard/mouse/remote which never needs batteries because it receives power from the room!
sigmatau - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
MIT has had a working model for over 5 years.http://www.cio.com/article/118050/Wireless_Power_C...
This is what I think of when I see the word wireless charging, not the crap that is out today (which actually is not wireless like they claim.)
iwod - Saturday, January 14, 2012 - link
I read that long time ago and still dont understand why it hasn't come to market. I guess they are doing long term testing in regards to wireless transmission of power health concerns to human.But THAT, is what really wireless power is. Not just another "Docking Station without Plugs" to your devices. ( But still need a cable to your docking station..... silly....... )
mbzastava - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
i agree they have the corrent approach. being and electrical engineer in the MEP field, i constantly dream about how wireless energy can be transmitted throught an entire structure in the future. i imagine the main transmitting coil to be large enough to surround the entire perimiter of the structure, making hundreds of loops. then, any smaller coils that have been tuned to resonance and are within the EM field of the structure will have wireless energy. imagine not just powering your cell phones or laptops. imagine all lighting fixtures beings installed without the need for any wiring. no more outlets. no more cords for anything.michaelklachko - Sunday, January 22, 2012 - link
That would be pretty cool! Probably >10 years away...piroroadkill - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
You haven't used a TouchPad or a Pre have you?Touchstone makes plugging in USB over and over look ridiculous.
I also think touchstone means I use the TouchPad more often - no effort to charge, just drop it on the stand, you don't even have to line it up exactly.
Especially with battery life of smartphones being short these days, you want to charge as often as possible.
piroroadkill - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
I wish this thing had an edit button.Further to this, all phones are STILL going to have microUSB, so it's not like that choice is stolen from you.
But given the choice, I'd go with the very slick inductive charging.
brshoemak - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
I completely agree with everything said above. I use my Touchpad a lot more now that I can just grab it, use it and set it back on the Touchstone for charging. Also helps if you have cats or kids who like to tug on cables, of which I have both.It sounds like we're just lazy and bought a gimmicky product but it really does seem to change the way you use it. I do think $50 (originally $80) is a ridiculous price but I purchase mine for $30 and would do it again in an instant.
If they can reduce the bulk (which it seems they are doing) inductive charging should be standard on many portable consumer electronics. After using the Touchstone I just look at the 7 microUSB/miniUSB cables in my little cable organizer and shake my head.
wewter - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
...my pre + has had this since 2009 ... time to start having this in every cell phone on the market ... it's a must-have for me in a new pick-up. i cannot believe it's taking so long to implement ... -_-
pawzubr - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
In the photo 14th, first on the left - is it Droid3 backcover? Holes match, pins from phone match. Any word on official launching?SJTxJason - Monday, January 30, 2012 - link
Hi just want to know why they use built-in coils on these boards