Psyclone's TouchCharge Kit for your 360 controller finally puts WildCharger to good use

We keep waiting for "wireless" contact charging pads to blow our minds and revolutionize the way we use gadgets, but perhaps we're just being idiot optimists. Or perhaps not. We're seeing great possibilities with this latest implementation of WildCharger's tech, the TouchCharge Kit from Psyclone for Xbox 360 controllers. The kit includes a rechargeable battery pack with the appropriate contacts and of course the charging pad. If you need to keep four controllers charging simultaneously, the $69-per setup pricetag might put this out of reach, but the Federal Reserve wouldn't be dropping interest rates right and left if it didn't want us racking up hundreds of dollars in consumer debt for game peripherals, right? EB Games has this up for pre-order now, should ship on December 15th.

[Thanks, Ken C.]

[schtum @ Oct 31st 2008 2:37PM]

Haven't electric toothbrushes been using this technology for years? What's the holdup?

[Bixmen @ Oct 31st 2008 3:01PM]

Actually, electric toothbrushes charge by induction. This looks like it still needs to make contact with the pad, right?

[inteller @ Oct 31st 2008 4:13PM]

uh yeah....just like an electric toothbrush.

the question I have is when are Zunes and mobile phones going to be able to do this? I can already sync to my PC wirelessly, this would allow me to go completely wireless with my mobile devices.

[Matt @ Oct 31st 2008 5:09PM]

Not quite -- an electric toothbrush uses electromagnetic induction (like Bixmen said), which is actually a "contactless" system -- there's no wires/electric contacts exposed, which makes it great for a toothbrush (with water all over the place and such, it can be a water-proof sealed system but still charge). It basically uses magnetic fields to transfer the energy, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction for more information. The reason that a toothbrush has to sit in a little cradle is because the fields have a limited useful range, and they have to be going the right direction relative to the stuff in the handle. Longer range = more wasted energy. If you look at an electric toothbrush (at least the nice ones that use induction), there's no exposed metal -- no shocky, no rusty. :P

I'm not familiar with this system, but it looks like they've got alternating + and ground voltage contacts (or something) that let you charge the battery via contacts -- it's convenient in that you can just set the device down and walk away, rather than plugging it in... but you're essentially plugging it in. The benefit is that there's no significant loss of energy (induction loses some in this area, relative to direct contact).

Now, the usefulness of this technology in this situation's a whole different question... I could see it working for some people, but I personally couldn't justify the cost of it (I need to be able to charge while playing... extended play sessions and such :P). But hey, I'm the guy adding a DC jack to his GH drumkit to eliminate the need for batteries (rechargable or otherwise). I don't mind wires.

[inteller @ Oct 31st 2008 10:31PM]

no, its the same thing. if the batteries actually had to make contact it would be pointless....hence INDUCTION. You just lay the controller on the pad, just like you lay the toothbrush on top of the charge station.

[Hurf Durf @ Nov 28th 2008 11:21PM]

You are the biggest bonehead ever, inteller.

[warrrennnnn @ Nov 30th 2008 2:31AM]

Well, bonehead is one name for him.

[bigsaucybob @ Oct 31st 2008 2:37PM]

I saw this in a Best Buy store on October 29th.

[William House @ Oct 31st 2008 2:39PM]

I think you might mean Gamestop since Electronics Boutique was gobbled up several years ago.

[CaramelZappa @ Oct 31st 2008 2:45PM]

True, but if you follow the read link you'll notice there is still an EBgames.com

[William House @ Oct 31st 2008 2:48PM]

Not being able to view the site from work kind of hampers that. But, I thought it redirected to Gamestop anyway. Either way this is an awesome product, but a little too expensive. And it makes all of my rechargeable battery packs useless if I wanted to switch.

[GreezyG @ Oct 31st 2008 2:40PM]

Oh nice. I wonder what the range is... It would be nice to mount this under the surface of my coffee table. Just leave the controller on the table like I always do and it's charged :D

[CaramelZappa @ Oct 31st 2008 2:51PM]

I'm pretty sure the controller has to actually be in contact with the pad.

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 31st 2008 3:34PM]

I think he means on the shelf under the coffee table. Thats where I store my controllers as well. Only thing is, you'll have an ugly cord running from your wall to your coffee table.

[phanbouy @ Oct 31st 2008 2:44PM]

first psystar, then psyclone...

sounds like psy-ops!

[waiownsyou @ Oct 31st 2008 3:29PM]

Corny much?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 31st 2008 3:35PM]

We all have our days.

[Derry Quinn @ Oct 31st 2008 4:37PM]

I read this as Psystar first time round...

[phanbouy @ Oct 31st 2008 4:43PM]

wai, you're the official engadget bitch who's never said a funny thing ever. it's time you paid for that rectal pole removal surgery you've been putting off.

you're only pissed because of the number of times i've embarrassed your sniveling ass. too good.

[warrrennnnn @ Nov 30th 2008 2:33AM]

phan, i ranked you up. i lol'd at your comeback. i hope i can bring you out of that low-ranked abyss.

[AJR @ Oct 31st 2008 2:46PM]

That is a very cool idea. I wonder how long it will be until they extend the use of this technology to numerous other devices that need to be charged?

[Adam @ Oct 31st 2008 2:48PM]

There is also a PS3 version for $49 and a Wii version for $59. The 360 is the priciest at $69. All 3 vers can be had at Best Buy right now. no waiting until Dec 15th.

[elwin @ Oct 31st 2008 3:54PM]

Yeah, I saw it at bestbuy too, you can get one for each system and charge all of them on one pad. I have all 3 system and would be really nice to charge all at once, i wonder if they will ever come out with a bigger pad for 16 controllers on the same pad haha. I think i read on the box it takes 2 hours to charge, not sure...

[Eric M @ Oct 31st 2008 3:01PM]

I think many of you are confusing this for 'wireless' as in 'remote'. This is wireless as in 'you dont have to hook up wires. The top surface of the charge has alternating strips of + and - electricity, and the contacts on the back of the battery back are situated such that when you set it down, it will always contact at least one + and one - strip. Some diodes in the pack then 'arrange' that internally into the proper polarity to the charging mechanism in the battery.

This is not induction based - nothing really special really, it's just a little bit of physical layout smarts that allows it to connect no matter how you set the item on the pad (as long as the back side is down).

[Canoo @ Oct 31st 2008 4:39PM]

so i guess for all of us who know how this actually works your not gunna wanna place your first gen iphone on it hah.

[Shawin @ Oct 31st 2008 3:04PM]

Ow it's too hard to plug a usb thingy in to charge my 360 controller. I so need to get that expensive shit!
I'm only getting this when they make a table mat that charges all my wireless electronic devices at the same time.

[ack154 @ Oct 31st 2008 3:23PM]

Isn't this the same company that was melting Wiimotes or something?

[rick @ Oct 31st 2008 4:39PM]

Yeah i saw these at best buy yesterday, you can hold one wii controller, 360 controller and a ps3 controller on the same pad. it shows it on the picture of the box. it charges by having tiny balls that have to touch the pad. would be cool for me might by 2 but they don't sell the batteries separate yet. im guessing the 360 cost more because those batteries are the hardest to charge says full charge in 4 hours on box others said about 2.

[ShyGuy91284 @ Nov 1st 2008 9:30AM]

Ditto. My complaint about current charging stands is they are for single platforms. I dreamed of a simple charging stand that would let me place my PS3, XB360, and eventual Wii controller into a single compact charging stand. This _could_ do that, but it wouldn't be so compact. Not to mention when you really think about it, since you won't be placing anything else on these, you are really just paying for a charger with a HUGE base and some bragging rights since it likely wouldn't charge multiple controllers at once....

[thethirdmoose @ Oct 31st 2008 4:40PM]

Alternatively, I could be slightly less lazy, save $70 (or is it $280 for 4?) and plug the damn thing in... This isn't REALLY useful unless I can drop it on my couch and have it charge, preferably within minutes.

[wagedomain @ Oct 31st 2008 5:00PM]

This is already out at Best Buy, I saw it just today. Get the facts straight.

[htd @ Oct 31st 2008 6:00PM]

I think even that $12 charge & play kit it over priced, which is actually quite useful for heavy user...

[gad get @ Oct 31st 2008 8:16PM]

Gotta stimulate the economy! Frivolous spending is the key to economic growth.

[valentin @ Oct 31st 2008 9:54PM]

let me ask a question if the controller have to contact the pad wont this thing shock you if you drop something metal or even coffee on it

[chris @ Oct 31st 2008 11:30PM]

This could definetly cause cancer.....BUT AWESOME...

[Bjsfreaked @ Nov 3rd 2008 5:19AM]

they could go far with this

it doesn't just need to be a area - it could be wired to cover a table top and so wherever you place your pad on the table it'll charge. I'm suprised its taken this long to think about.

Wonder if PS3 will do the same thing?

[warrrennnnn @ Nov 30th 2008 2:35AM]

I enjoyed your comment almost as much as i enjoy your avatar.

[Jonathan @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:12PM]

Best Buy as all three, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 kits in the stores. Pick up the one for the PS3. Charging pad is universal Looking for addtional adapters for my Wii and Xbox.

[Chane.san @ Nov 6th 2008 1:04AM]

Since the batteries for the Wii & 360 are removable can you just put the Wii/360 battery on the pad to charge it?