Video: Powermat's wireless charging lineup in action

We already ran through Powermat's new wireless charging lineup, but in case you wanted to see it in action -- you skeptic, you -- there's video after the break.

[bill cant fart @ Jan 11th 2009 9:11PM]

Did he say spaghetti??

[the happiest mac @ Jan 11th 2009 9:16PM]

ive always needed to know. can you really not fart?or are you making a funny name

[Neil @ Jan 11th 2009 9:25PM]

"we're getting rid of your tangle wires, your typical spaghetti"

[zioncat @ Jan 12th 2009 12:09AM]

I'm confused, so the mat is plugged up to the wall. Then if you want to charge your cell you have to use the adapter in order to do so. Isn't that more wireless rather than less.

[zillion @ Jan 12th 2009 1:40AM]

Yes, each mat has a wall wart that plugs into the back. On the travel and business models it is the black wire going into the desk. On the home system it is the white wire behind the ipod dock. So that's one wire. Then another wire is needed to connect each device to the power disks the lay on the mat to charge "wirelessly". That's a lotta superfluous crap to just for the ability charge wirelessly. One day when the tech is built into every device and ikea desk (or perhaps some desktop blotter/charger) then that will be a great day.

[oliver hart @ Jan 11th 2009 9:14PM]

I loath the blue Lego block

[marcelebrate @ Jan 12th 2009 12:59AM]

Haha. I was just thinking that. Will Apple buckle if Android + Pre offer it or are they going to be stubborn and will squash every attempt from Adobe who already has a player in the works. It's not likely to cost or gain them any measureable marketshare, so will they care?

[b @ Jan 12th 2009 4:40AM]

but iphone needs a cable not just for charging, more importantly it syncs with your computer. if bluetooth were used then likely it's gonna take "hours" or even "days" for the initial sync.

[Kris120890 @ Jan 11th 2009 9:21PM]

It's not connected to a power source through a wire so yes, it is wireless. Try watching the video.

[Phoenix Sanders @ Jan 11th 2009 9:21PM]

Ok, but with out that overhead or extra wattage for the laptop charger is the mat able to power a laptop for use and not just for charging?

[Neil @ Jan 11th 2009 9:21PM]

this is REALLY cooool
i want one, where do i buy it?

[GadgetNut @ Jan 12th 2009 1:38AM]

I think this is just the start of something good to come in portable electronics power chargers. Soon companies will incorporate the technology to their gadgets and just get a license from this company. This reminds me of my electric toothbrush and also razor chargers. It's so convenient just to drop them in the slot without fumbling on wires.

[idiot @ Jan 11th 2009 9:24PM]

just look at the enthusiasm on that face

also, i just don't see the convenience in this. I mean, you still have to plug it in. I know that this is a demo for the tech but are they really selling something that you have to plug your device into THEN set it down on the special mat? Where's the convenience. As far as I'm concerned I can do the exact same thing with a power strip and multiple chargers. until they incorporate this into the batteries themselves i just don't see the use.

unless i'm missing something

[Neil @ Jan 11th 2009 9:27PM]

well powerstrips are considered "dangerous" as fire hazard etc.etc.
yet at the same time, it's just another amenity for alot of technology "geeks" out there.
it's probably a step before something better.

[Dave @ Jan 12th 2009 12:46AM]

Actually, I would say this is more dangerous than a powerstrip. If cell phones cause brain cancer with signal strengths of microwatts, imagine what this thing does. Also, I would think this would waste a lot of energy as it's basically an air-core transformer, which has rather large leakage flux. Plus, strong magnetic fields would wreak havoc on anything with a hard disk drive, like an ipod. Not a problem for the flash-based ipod touch, but I wouldn't want my laptop anywhere near that thing.

[Roger @ Jan 11th 2009 9:26PM]

I would buy those mats if they would take a check! ;D

"Some folks have told me photography is not an art form... Well they have not seen what I can do"! ~Roger of Idaho Photo

[Matthew C @ Jan 12th 2009 1:07AM]

"

[Finnschi @ Jan 11th 2009 9:40PM]

imagine this becoming the standart, i mean build right in to your iphone for example, or your laptop, you could have a "gadget charging bay" in you house opposed to having all those different adapters lying around, but this exact product will fail, unless the price is right,.... (those adapter for the PSP are just useless!) and you have to have it on a special location on the mat, would be much cooler if you can have it anywhere on the mat ;)

[Tarandon @ Jan 13th 2009 2:11PM]

I agree it would be cooler if they could just be anywhere on the mat. The problem is these mats use electromagnetic fields to induce an electric current in the battery of the device. Because they cant tell what orientation the battery is in every device, they use those coils, or a light indicator to tell you when the battery is in the right position.

This could be solved if a standard was introduced into each device where guiding magnets proportionate to the weight of the device were included during manufacture. They could be used to automatically align the device with the charger. Then you could just throw it down and it would snap into place for charging. The palm pre seems to do this with the wireless charger accessory they offer. You just place the device on the charger and it aligns itself. Really cool.

If this standard was ever introduced, I'm sure some enterprising fellow would create little tables for the wall (where people put their keys, mail etc.) that had charges built in. Come home, empty your pockets, charged devices when you leave again. Sweet

[Roman @ Jan 11th 2009 9:43PM]

This specific implementation of the it is a bit useless, with all the adapters and everything. But the actual technology is very promising, if the coils are built into future devices. It would be great to just set my laptop onto my desk and have it charging...

[Maxx @ Jan 11th 2009 9:45PM]

Yeah thats fraking pointless. Ok so plug in the tip then..... this would have to be designed into the device to start or its worse than pointless.

[Rawnchie14 @ Jan 12th 2009 1:50PM]

Point is that this is a pretty revolutionary method to transfer electricity wireless. People can branch off of this and make the tech more effective in the future. So in my eyes, this is not pointless.

[Kevin @ Jan 11th 2009 9:48PM]

This could be a step in the right direction to eliminating all cords by allowing various surfaces including walls and floors to be able to power any type of device which would pretty much revolutionize the way we power everything in our lives... But I am looking into a crystal ball here.

[michaelslevin11 @ Jan 11th 2009 9:49PM]

its not very wireless....you just plug it into the "power discs"


and whats the point of those??

example: PSP

you have to connect the cable to the PSP, then put the disc on the mat.

why not just have a cable coming out of the mat, or even better, why use the mat AT ALL!?!?

[Tonicboy @ Jan 11th 2009 10:02PM]

Amen, brother. The ONLY way this technology will ever make sense is if the "Power Disc" technology is built-in to batteries. Having a disc which has to lay on the mat and is connected to your device by a... wire, is completely pointless.

[s13vin4t0r @ Jan 12th 2009 11:35PM]

I mean, this technology WILL NOT take off until EVERY SINGLE BATTERY has a wireless charging device built it.


And when that day comes, I DONT WANT TO HHAVE TO PUT MY DEVICE ON A STUPID MAT!!

[Tohe @ Jan 11th 2009 9:51PM]

Obviously they were able to wirelessly charge up your bigotry + ignorance.

[Tohe @ Jan 11th 2009 9:57PM]

It is not sleek enough for the tech. Those power disks kill any attempt at a clean design. Besides the whole idea of having a trait, is so that one can lay down a device and power it, not dock it or connect it. These folks have to go back to the drawing board.

[Hero @ Jan 11th 2009 9:57PM]

The only thing that's nice is when you've got a product they offer a case for. The iPhone case for example - you just keep it on, no hassle with something to remove or let dangle while you're doin something, just pull it off and you're set. Put it back on and you don't need to reconnect the damn thing. Now that can't be said for items that use that disk...

[dcoaster @ Jan 11th 2009 10:07PM]

This is completely useless. You still need to plug in the device. Pre+Touchstone, are you almost here yet?

[diulei @ Jan 11th 2009 10:24PM]

Harsh crowd - look at this more for what it represents in the future, not in its current form. With some time/investment they can get deals with OEMs or third party manufacturers and get their "coil" built into the batteries directly and voila, no need for "tips", etc.

[Sid @ Jan 11th 2009 10:38PM]

Magnets? Really? Wouldnt that mess up hard drive based gadgets like a Zune perhaps?

[Vincent @ Jan 12th 2009 12:24AM]

only if it was playing...

[Vincent @ Jan 12th 2009 12:26AM]

oh... and really... why use zune...
Half the people here don't even know what a zune is... just say iPod like a normal person

[Rebel6381 @ Jan 11th 2009 10:42PM]

Anyone else have that sixth sense that just knew that Coldplay was going to come on lol

[kikomorente @ Jan 11th 2009 10:44PM]

my internet is wireless... my mouse is wireless... even my remote control is wireless. Sorry, but this is just another way to PLUG devices...

[JL @ Jan 11th 2009 10:54PM]

I would probably be as lifeless as Tony if I had to suffer through as many renditions of Viva La Vida as he likely has.

Have we heard price points for any of these yet?

[-Tj- @ Jan 11th 2009 11:08PM]

I think I agree with most people here, this stuff isn't very useful unless it's built for the device you want to use it for. I don't have an iPhone... in fact, there aren't many accessories for my phone, period. It does have a mini USB port, so I could use that power disk thing, but I already have a power adapter that I have to plug in in the first place. That completely eliminates the idea of just putting it on a mat. In fact, I have to buy something, maybe two things (powermat, power disk), to make it work for my phone which already came with something to charge it... and I still have to plug it in.

It's a step in the right direction, but it's certainly not for me. :(

[SlappyWag @ Jan 11th 2009 11:14PM]

I have owned a Sonicare for over 10 years, and it has ALWAYS had cordless charging. Simply set it on the plastic base and it charges up without making physical contact with metal. The charging base makes the proper alignment within the magnetic field produced by the charging base in order to induce voltage and current on a another coil in the base of the toothbrush, which is connected to the charging circuit. Simple stuff.

This technology has been around since Tesla invented the transformer. Neither the high voltage side nor the low voltage side make physical contact, so it has always been "wireless" in nature, and it will always work in the same manner.

[Lonewolf @ Jan 14th 2009 7:49AM]

Congrats. You seem to be the only one here that understands induction.

[MarkShark @ Jan 11th 2009 11:19PM]

It's a start, I like it. Like people have said, strangely while bashing it, we just need a way for just anything to be able to work on this without the power disk.
Otherwise, all I'd be able to use is the Blackberry Pearl case.

[Sanh @ Jan 11th 2009 11:21PM]

so impractical. when its COMPLETELY wireless then there is something to talk about. if that is more then 100 dollars then it won't catch up for a veeery long time

[Joshua Walters @ Jan 11th 2009 11:23PM]

Interesting. It would be nice to put on my bed (yes, I sleep with my electronics charging right next to me. Some people have a dog or a cat, I have my cell phone, Zune, and Wind).

Unfortunately, I hate things that ruin the form factor (so some sort of clip on thing wouldnt be for me) and plugging in an adapter kind of defeats the purpose.

Not to mention this is totally going to cost $150+ and I am not willing to drop that kind of coin on something thats not really going to convenience me all that much.

[burnblue @ Jan 11th 2009 11:24PM]

Guys, the stated intent of this was to get rid of tangles of wires. Though this mat isn't the coolest thing ever, the technology is new, and this will prevent you from running lots of long wires to a surge protector. If it's not too expensive this can be quite useful.

Of course if they were building the devices themselves, they'd just put the technology inside there so you wouldn't need adapters -- see Pre and Touchstone. It's not Powermat's fault the PSP and G1 will only charge through the mini-USB. What these guys have done is remove some 'spaghetti' for you.

It could be neater with smaller disks though.

[SlappyWag @ Jan 11th 2009 11:32PM]

What exactly is NEW about a transformer? Tesla invented it back in 1891. New technology? Not a chance.

[anebg @ Jan 11th 2009 11:49PM]

Am I the only one that is thinking of brain cancer after watching the video?

[x3qt0r @ Jan 11th 2009 11:59PM]

Now all you people have got to do is to increase the distance between the mat and the coil.
Research Research Research!!!

[IT News Blog @ Jan 12th 2009 9:47AM]

yeah, that when this will go in my wishlist!

[ScottP @ Jan 12th 2009 10:20AM]

So buy this product to fund said research! ;)

[superhobo @ Jan 12th 2009 12:22AM]

If you messed around with the mat, you could probably burn a few iphones.

So, this DOES have its use.