WildCharger wireless charger get the hands-on treatment

While the WIldCharger wireless charging pad didn't quite make it's originally-promised release date, a helpful tipster has nonetheless managed to spend a bit of time with one, and he's thankfully provided us with some pics of the unit in action (such as it is). As you can see above, the setup consists of a charging pad and an adapter, in this case one for a Motorola RAZR. That latter component takes the place of the RAZR's battery cover (as pictured after the break), with a tiny arm that plugs into the phone's mini USB port. As an added touch, the adapter also includes a battery that ensure the phone stays stuck to the pad. According to WildCharge, both the pad and RAZR adapter are now set to ship on October 18th, with an iPod nano adapter (2G only, it seems) supposedly set to follow sometime this fall. Eventually, the company says it plans to have options for BlackBerrys, iPhones and a whole host of other gadgets, although at the rate things have been going, we wouldn't hold out for them anytime soon.

[Alan Partridge @ Oct 6th 2007 7:33AM]

Hmm I guess this thing will only become really useful when that special battery cover is built into the device

[Ricardo @ Oct 6th 2007 7:37AM]

Kind of pointless, you still need physicial contact (or at least very near proximity).

I am still waiting for something that could charge a notebook battery from 10 meters. That way I would never worry about it while at home/work.

[Gil @ Oct 6th 2007 7:54AM]

And I'm waiting for a holodeck. What you want is just as feasible as what I want

[capagotks @ Oct 9th 2007 9:05AM]

yeah, and you can say goodbye to your brain cells while your at it....

[Qsat @ Oct 6th 2007 9:56AM]

@Gil ; What he want has been done a century ago by Tesla, so it's pretty feasible.

[Gil @ Oct 6th 2007 10:15AM]

No it's not (right now). Tesla did it but with extremely high voltages and very low efficiency

[Qsat @ Oct 6th 2007 11:01AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/30/powercast-looking-to-bring-wireless-power-to-reality/

this company is able to transmit 6V over a few meter

[cyberguy @ Oct 6th 2007 12:53PM]

It's easier to keep it plugged IN.....

[Cagrino @ Oct 6th 2007 8:19AM]

The concept is great, but the implementation makes it practically useless.

If you're jumping through hoops to replace the RAZR's (never mind this phone's outdated) cover and there is *still* a plug that goes into the mini USB connector, hell, how's that more convenient than just plugging the stupid thing into a regular charger?

So far, all I see is potential. Call me when it becomes practical.

[Brett @ Oct 6th 2007 9:43AM]

This is pretty cool actually. It's not truly wireless in the sense that it it inductively charging over the air, but rather after you set up your phone with the adapter, you just slap your phone up on this pad and it makes contact for charging. It is a nice design, and I can only see it being improved in the future. I don't see phone manufactures building the contacts and magnets into their phones though... they want you to use their accessories, not some 3rd party. All this wireless thing consists of is an adapter plate that has magnets and gold plated contacts that allow it to stick to the pad and make electrical connection (seemingly any way you want to place it, however I bet the magnets are polarized and only truly allow you to stick it on in a number of ways that always make proper contact). Kudos to the engineers who designed this, it's a simple and novel idea. A little practical too... especially if you can put multiple devices on the pad at the same time.

[Anthony @ Oct 6th 2007 11:52AM]

I totally agree. I was so jazzed about this (you know, 12 months ago). Now it looks like a useless piece of junk.

Built in would be nice. But I don't see that happening any time soon, it would seem.

[Jason @ Oct 6th 2007 9:55AM]

What happens if you lick that thing?

[Cagrino @ Oct 6th 2007 10:26AM]

You'll be screaming "Bro, don't tase me Bro", like that idiot at the University of Florida. XD

[Cagrino @ Oct 6th 2007 10:30AM]

Forgot link....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkMkGOpAF4s

[t-bone @ Oct 6th 2007 10:53AM]

What happens when your phone battery is on the brink of dieing and someone calls you? At least with a cable you could still pick up the phone and answer it. With this you would have to move your head to the phone. I'll stick with cable until they have OTA charging.

[Ghost_MH @ Oct 6th 2007 1:33PM]

I love my Bluetooth Headset.

[Ken Burgett @ Oct 6th 2007 12:08PM]

It looks like a solution looking for a problem.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 6th 2007 1:18PM]

Astounding! They've replaced a 1"x2"x2" brick and power cable with a 12"x12"x1" pad, 0.2"x2"x2" shim, power cable and brick!

What will they think of next?

[ReverendGadgetBoy @ Oct 6th 2007 2:12PM]

Wait, are there magnets in that thing? somebody mentioned that. and i would think magnets would be bad for phones.

[paul34 @ Oct 6th 2007 3:00PM]

Why? Most cell phones don't have hard drives, so I don't know why an outside magnetic field would be bad for it.

[ReverendGadgetBoy @ Oct 6th 2007 3:26PM]

Couldnt it be bad for the screen?

[Samuel @ Oct 6th 2007 5:19PM]

A strong EMP pulse from a nuclear blast would certainly fry the interior circuitry of the phone. But a simple magnetic field will not affect it at all. Remember that driving underneat high-tension wires produces enough wireless power to illuminate a flourescent bulb in your hand (try it!), but does nothing to your cell phone or laptop computers.

[J @ Oct 6th 2007 6:15PM]

It's cool only if it can charge multiple devices at once and they can start building it into homes. Every evening my girlfriend and I come home, put our three devices (my BB, her BB, her phone) in the corner of the room, and have two adapters to charge them (switch off between the Blackberry's) what we need is this kind of thing on our coffee table, so we could throw the three communication devices, the remote and my laptop all on it at once and not have to worry about all the cords. I can see us getting closer with this product. However, in it's current iteration, I would have to say anyone who buys this is not quite all there.

[atowfiq @ Oct 7th 2007 12:51AM]

allmost..... but not quite

[macona @ Oct 7th 2007 6:20AM]

Great. Just makes my RAZR almost twice as thick...

Ill stick with plugging it in

[NTD @ Oct 7th 2007 8:08PM]

Yeah, they need to make it universal for all gadgets (as I distinctly remember reading and being impressed by) and the magnets i.e. the contact seems unnecessary since it's based on induction (clearly, it's not, duh). So round two, please.

[Jim K. @ Oct 7th 2007 9:05PM]

Our company is currently evaluating their technology and frankly, so far we are very impressed. The RAZR adapter adds very little to the phone's weight or thickness and being a conductive solution there is no interference, heat emission or other side effects (obviously, first things we checked...) The true value to the user will happen when they or their partners enable many types of devices, so you can concurrently charge a bunch of them on the pad.

[vizulefllry @ Jan 10th 2008 12:27PM]

Thats awesome. A device that makes your phone stick to the wall just as if you rub a balloon on your head. It's what Ive been waiting for!