Comments on: Wireless Power Is Still Pretty Useless

By: GM Bets on Powermat for Wireless Charging in Cars: Cleantech News and Analysis «

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:49:19 +0000

[...] has been ahead of the pack in terms of offering wireless charging products. Back in late 2009 Powermat started selling a mat for wireless charging cell phones and devices. See our video review of the technology below. [...]

By: 70x Surge in Wireless Charging Seen by 2014 | iPhone, iPad Weblog

70x Surge in Wireless Charging Seen by 2014 | iPhone, iPad Weblog — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:26:03 +0000

[...] one at the point of device purchase — a move sure to drive up adoption. Even Stacey, who thinks wireless charging is useless in its current state, might adopt the technology if that happens. Ironically, she’s on a trip today and left her [...]

By: Christoph Sullivan

Christoph Sullivan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:15:15 +0000

Isn't wireless power, oh I don't know, a little DANGEROUS!! I don't know anything about this subject (please help me), but I don't think that I would like electrical current (the stuff that'll kill you if you stick a fork in the plug) going through my arm. Is this actually safe? Please tell me. (I'm 16, so I want to know if this will actually turn out well or if I should tell me friends and spread the word.)

By: Introducing…Your Next Phone! – GigaOM

Introducing…Your Next Phone! – GigaOM — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:00:36 +0000

[...] larger than an iPhone, battery life is the biggest limitation for most of these features. But if wireless power gets beyond the changing pad stage, all bets are [...]

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:50:38 +0000

I understand that _consumer_ wireless power has not yet achieved its full potential. But those systems do not represent the entirety of wireless power…

For example, RFID access cards (like those found in student IDs) use wireless power to transmit their ID. Quite ubiquitous, and definitely not “useless”.

There are also examples of robots using wireless power to great utility — again, not “useless”

http://www.hizook.com/blog/2008/10/07/wirelessly-powering-swarm-robots

By: Ivry Smith

Ivry Smith — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:47:41 +0000

That is bec. these pad folks don’t really solve the cord problem. They do provide a novel and convenient way to recharge devices but don’t really “cut the cord.”

To do so, you need a long distance solution like the folks at Witricity and PowerBeam are developing. Witricity can transfer at about 7 ft max and PowerBeam can go at least 30 ft. and more. These guys are the real solution to freeing us from the tethered power cord.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:39:56 +0000

Environmentally irresponsible– they are at best 70% efficient vs. physical chargers.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:36:29 +0000

What this needs is incorporation with cars. If your center console had a built in wireless charging mat at a nominal cost, or as standard equipment, you’d think twice about buying a phone that had a built in capability, or a case that provided it as an add-on. That might generate enough of a tipping point to convince people to shell out more money for a charging pad at their nightstand or by the door.

By: Michael C

Michael C — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:38:33 +0000

1) Yes, the mat WILL consume power while plugged in. These types of inductive chargers basically work like a transformer. When your device is close to the base or mat, there’s a magnetic field that the base/mat creates that the device uses to charge a battery. Now these bases or mats can be smart enough to know when a device is not present so it can turn off the charging field, but it will always be consuming power while it’s waiting to detect when a device shows up.

2) Anytime you change states of power you lose some of it, through heat, radiation, etc. This happens when you charge a battery and it warms up. You waste some of the electricity in the process. The same happens when you run a current through a transformer. Some energy is lost through heat, and some through wasted electromagnetic radiation. The point here is that anything other than a direct electrical connection to your wall outlet will be less efficient…..period.

If your concern is about environmental responsibility, then don’t buy this unnecessary gadget. Just use the plug-in charger your device came with.

By: Niraj

Niraj — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:36:22 +0000

Their iPhone case is a good example of what I mean:
http://www.powermat.com/us/receivers/apple-cases-docks/receiver-case-for-iphone-3g.html

Also, they note that the micro-USB port is still accessible so you can connect a wire to sync data. SO you aren’t even really free of the device cord anyways (unless your device supports it).

By: Niraj

Niraj — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:32:36 +0000

The part that attaches to the device to enable the wireless charging also frequently add to the bulk or overall size of the device. Is it worth having the added weight/size while you carry around the device all day just so that you don’t have to insert a plug or dock it in something? When you also factor in the price, I’m guessing not.

By: anonymous coward

anonymous coward — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:18:14 +0000

Q: how environmentally responsible are these things ? 1: Is the mat plugged in and consuming power even when it is not charging any devices, and 2: How does the efficiency compare to a straight plug-in plain wire charger?

By: Deadcellzones.com

Deadcellzones.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:10:51 +0000

Bad cellular signals are a big contributor to the battery drain problems. The weaker the signal the more battery drain. The stronger the cellular signal the less battery drain.