Wireless charging comes to Apple's iPhone 3GS, thanks to WildCharge

Envious of your Pre toting pals and that Touchstone charging rig? Don't sweat it -- WildCharge is coming through in the clutch to bring similar wireless charging technology to Apple's own handset. Starting today, iPhone (3G and 3GS included) and iPod touch users can order up a WildCharge Skin along with a WildCharger Pad in order to bring wire-free charging to their smartphone. Just slap the skin on, plug the pad in and toss the handset down on said pad. Just like that, you've got fresh energy flowing without having to scour the house for that little AC adapter. The pain? $34.99 for the skin, or $79.99 for the skin and pad.

[Tiptup300 @ Jun 24th 2009 1:49AM]

I wish there was a standardized charging system. Someday I hope in the future my entire coffee table charges my 360 controllers, my ps3 remote, my zune, and all my tv remotes.

[DaSpider @ Jun 24th 2009 2:30AM]

Amen

[Mighty_Gadget @ Jun 24th 2009 3:26AM]

Micro USB has been agreed as a standardised charging system and will be used on most phones be 2012 however Apple have not signed up to it.
http://www.v3.co.uk/vnunet/news/2236598/mobile-industry-agrees-standard

[Kelmon @ Jun 24th 2009 3:30AM]

This is it. Right now this device fixes a problem that I don't have. Plugging in the charger pad is nearly as much hassle as connecting the iPhone to a charger so the net benefits of this are low. However, when the charging pad can recharge other devices as well, ideally at the same time, then its benefits climb. What we need is a standardised process of recharging devices wirelessly so that new devices can use the "interface" and chargers that will work with anything can be integrated into all sorts of products, such as the mentioned coffee table.

[Tiptup300 @ Jun 24th 2009 3:45AM]

Mighty, you missed the point. I was saying there should be a standardized wireless charging system.

[Jean @ Jun 24th 2009 4:06AM]

Seriously, don't bother to charge the Zune and dump it in the bin where it belongs... Get an iPod, a Sansa, a Creative - Anything!

Just not that Zune.

[Tiptup300 @ Jun 24th 2009 4:15AM]

Oh, damn....

Thanks Jean, I hadn't realized I disliked my zune. Thank you. You have changed my life. I wonder what other personal choices I've made are wrong.

My god, THANK YOU JEAN. YOU HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE.

[CreepinJesus @ Jun 24th 2009 5:11AM]

@TipTup

"I was saying there should be a standardized wireless charging system" - actually you never mentioned wireless :)

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 24th 2009 5:13AM]

Wow Jean is a douche...

[derX @ Jun 24th 2009 6:38AM]

ROFL @ your user name, Creepin' Jesus!

[Jose Cabello @ Jun 24th 2009 8:15AM]

I want a magnetic electrical pony that I can stick devices to so that while they are charging I can comb my pony's silky mane.

[HyperHacker @ Jun 24th 2009 9:57AM]

Would it be safe to have one of these as a coffee table though? Those tend to have feet set on them, cats jumping on them, food and drinks set and spilled on them, etc.

[reuthermonkey1 @ Jun 24th 2009 10:09AM]

If you want standardized, you need to stop purchasing Apple products.

They are the antithesis of standardization. Proprietary = Apple.

[Andy @ Jun 24th 2009 1:50AM]

Seriously, is it so hard to just plug in your phone? This is way to useless

[copeys @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58AM]

But in the future think of where this can work. I mean, sitting it down on your bench... it charges. Putting the phone on the console in the car, it charges... If they come up with a standardized system for this, it would be brilliant. We just have to wait a few more years till this becomes larger and more accepted, I bet everyone laughed when the 1st camera on a phone came out, but now almost every phone released has one.

[CL @ Jun 24th 2009 2:05AM]

I think it really depends on how you use your phone. It's actually kind of handy that I can put a touchstone on the nightstand, do all my last minute browsing/sms/random internet crap then just throw the phone onto the nightstand without fishing for the USB cable. Then the next morning, alarm goes off on the Pre, and I can just pick the phone up without worrying about pulling the cable and damaging the connector (which I have done so with my Nokia N810 "alarm clock")

....That and the USB port cover on the Pre is major pain in the ass to open and built like something that an ant can break it with ease.

[Tommy Mang @ Jun 24th 2009 9:08AM]

Just think about all the different charger plugs, then you'll understand...

[b3tan @ Jun 24th 2009 3:22AM]

Wouldn't we constantly be getting static shocks? Peoples pace makers would go hay-wire! I think most batteries can only take a certain number of charges as well. I wouldn't want my iPhone to die just because I've put it down somewhere 20,000 times since I bought it.

If all this was fixed though, it'd be excellent. ;)

[CraigJ @ Jun 24th 2009 3:34AM]

I just decided a while ago to go all Apple. So all the phones and PMPs in the house use the same charger, I have a clock on the night stand with a dock, I have a dock on my desk, I have a dock by the stereo in the living room, I have connectors in my cars. The iPhone isn't perfect, but having all your devices in the same ecosystem does have it's advantages...

[Jkswiss @ Jun 24th 2009 3:39AM]

I would just love to see your face when Apple changes their plug standard like f'in Samsung and LG phone seemed to do everytime you bought a new phone.

[Timstew @ Jun 24th 2009 4:38AM]

Apple did change the iPod plug before (two years ago I think), making many accessories useless.

[copeys @ Jun 24th 2009 5:43AM]

@b3tan

From my knowledge, lithium ion batteries (the batteries used in new devices) actually prefer to be "topped up" all the time, and don't like being fully drained before they charge. These types of batteries would love touchstone's.

I'm pretty sure that if the touchstone would give you electric shocks it wouldn't be allowed in the community... At least I think ???

[Evi1d33d @ Jun 24th 2009 6:32AM]

Imagine putting the charger under your seat. Every time you sit down it charges everything in your pockets.

[Niz @ Jun 24th 2009 7:58AM]

^ including your ballz

[mikethevee @ Jun 24th 2009 1:53AM]

looks like everyone is picking up with the pre's solution...
The next thing I'll be hearing in a few years is that apple started it all because obviously apple is the originator of all things innovation... and the appletards will flock together and sing a choir that it is true (even if the pre was the first cellphone to be integrated with this type of charging.......... )


but that's only an assumption, I might be wrong though.......

Now I just have to wait for them to do that for HTC phones.. maybe the fuze... pretty please?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 24th 2009 2:01AM]

The Pre uses induction, like toothbrushes have been using for years.

The WildCharge system just uses contacts arranged in such a way that when you put the phone down you always touch two contacts and thus it charges through contact, not inductively.

[mikethevee @ Jun 24th 2009 2:05AM]

Oh, I never said the pre came up with the charging system, just that it's the first cellphone (that I know of atleast) that made use of this system.
Yes, the technology is different but the concept is the same right? to charge the phone without having to plug a connector into a slot.
but yeah..

btw what i said on the 2nd part of my first post.. is only just an assumption, may it be true or false in a few years, I would have to wait and see. :)

[mikethevee @ Jun 24th 2009 2:42AM]

wow, did i already get the "apple 4 lyfe" crowd unhappy?
what a bummer.

[redcard @ Jun 24th 2009 3:01AM]

No, Mike. I think you're getting low ranked cos you were wrong. The idiotic trolling statement didn't help your cause either, though.

[mikethevee @ Jun 24th 2009 3:05AM]

wrong? how? I could've sworn i followed up with, this is only an assumption. most probably a joke if you didn't catch the drift. Good job at failing reading comprehension.
I also never stated that this will be the truth, but sure, I'm wrong because I made a comment.
You've already given me something to laugh about today.

[redcard @ Jun 24th 2009 3:09AM]

Wrong about the type of charging, douche. Yeah, you backtracked on that once someone corrected you.

[mikethevee @ Jun 24th 2009 10:26AM]

hahaha wow you really do suck at reading. I did not backtracked at all. If you read it carefully, i said it was the first cellphone that used kind technology (hint: charging without plugging anything in). not the first device ever. I also don't think you can edit your comments once you actually posted it, so i don't backtrack like you assumed.
way to fail. good day.

[Infoclipper @ Jun 24th 2009 1:53AM]

I am way more interested in wireless *syncing* than wireless charging. Seriously, how hard could it be for Apple to allow the phone to autosync whenever its on the same network as my Mac?

[CL @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58AM]

Interestingly the Missing Sync beta on the Pre will do that, and I thought they have a version for the iphone that will do wifi syncing too?

[Sy @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58AM]

Dude, Apple is a rookie in the telephone business. Give them some slack. Its not like they are a computer maker.

[Michelle @ Jun 24th 2009 2:17AM]

@infoclipper
My Zune 30GB does wireless sync it takes my music to itself WITHOUT wires!
It's convenient and really makes me wonder why Apple can't do the same.
Odd.
Maybe they're saving it for the next revision so people will buy it too...huh I'm starting to notice a cycle.

[b3tan @ Jun 24th 2009 3:31AM]

As with all things Apple, it's a developer/software limitation more than anything. Jailbreak and you'll find your solution. Not ideal, but until Apple loosens the reigns a bit it's the best you'll get.

I'm with you on this one though. Although, saying that mine syncs via push with google anyway. I only need to sync with iTunes to add music which I don't do that often as there's already plenty on there. Contacts and Calendars, the things that do change go straight to google contacts and then in to iCal and Address Book.

[Totalfixation @ Jun 24th 2009 2:35AM]

I think to make this really work they need to make the attachment a case for the phone as well.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58AM]

Or I could just leave the charging cable in the same spot I would leave the charging pad. Neither is going to move if I don't move them. When I need to charge, I just grab the cable and connect it to the phone.

[Superstition @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58AM]

Seems like just as much trouble as looking for the USB cable or charger.

[urdaddy @ Jun 24th 2009 2:13AM]

Love it. I'm gonna send a VIDEO! from my 3gs of me charging my old iPhone 3g wireless to my one loser friend who bought a Pre. Pre meet coffin, coffin meet Pre. Its over and I love it.

[Uncontrol @ Jun 24th 2009 2:22AM]

hahaha jesus christ

[melloncollie @ Jun 24th 2009 2:29AM]

As was said above, this uses a different method of wireless charging and still requires the use of an adapter. Meaning you need to find the thing and attach it. The Pre comes with it built in (although, I know do note that you need to replace the existing back plate). Please don't belittle what the Pre has done in terms of introducing a consumer electronic with the ability to wirelessly sync effortlessly to the mass market. It's really a wonderful thing.

[sergio @ Jun 24th 2009 5:54AM]

What's over? You still have to put your iPhone in to one of the ugliest skins I have ever seen... you still have to pay 80 bucks for the charger and 40 bucks for each skin... you still have to explain to your friend why it doesn't uses an inductive system to charge the devices...is not really a clean and elegant solution, don't you think??? Come on, Pre TouchStone is still a nice "touch" from Palm and even Apple didn't think about it before...

[Adam @ Jun 24th 2009 9:49AM]

Dude, take a shot to relax, and chase that with a nice tall glass of STFU. Maybe all the obnoxious Apple haters would disappear if clowns like you didn't bait them every post. This is clearly inferior to the Pre's solution since a.) Touchstone is built in with the Pre and b.) the Pre just changes the backplate while you need to add a thick skin to the iPhone.

[bjsguess @ Jun 24th 2009 2:22AM]

Way too much money for something that is really a minor inconvenience. Same goes for the Touchstone as well. Until these things get down to $30 or so this will be viewed as a novelty, not a necessity.

[John Cruz @ Jun 24th 2009 2:26AM]

Eh, the Pre's wireless charging is better. It's more elegant and doesn't need a case that has to engulf the entire phone.

Touchstone/Pre wins again.

[Michael Scrip @ Jun 24th 2009 2:31AM]

>> "Touchstone/Pre wins again."

So, I guess Pre also wins against ALL other cell phones... because it has something the others don't?

[SoulinEther @ Jun 24th 2009 4:05PM]

You've made a big assumption there. Fail argument :(

[Gregorian @ Jun 24th 2009 2:26AM]

Oh thank god.
I thought they'd figured out a way to charge you even when you're using Wifi.