Microsoft dreams of smart charging pad with information display (update: prototype pics and video)
By Richard Lai 
posted February 22nd 2010 3:42PM
posted February 22nd 2010 3:42PM
Update: looks like this device has been around since March 2009! A tipster -- who happens to be affiliated with Microsoft Research Asia -- has just hit us with some photos of a prototype device based on this patent. It's called the uPad (please, don't start) and was produced as souvenirs for Microsoft Research Asia's 10th anniversary. As you can see after the break, the uPad wirelessly charges a modified Wireless Laser Mouse 7000. We want one.
Update 2: and now we have a video -- narrated in Chinese -- after the break. Thanks, bfishadow!
smartpants!
@satish probably the courrier will charge the microsoft phone when they are closely together...
@satish i mean this slate charger putted into the courrier sorry
@satish agreed, it be perfect for lazy people who do not want to connect their wireless keyboards/mouse to a dock when not in use, just have one of these babies sitting close by.
@freesets It would be so awesome for it to be putted in Microsoft Courrier. But inductive charging takes more time than usual charging.
@freesets And it would drain the Courrier's Battery.
When Apple comes up with their version of this I guess it will be called the iPad. Oh wait...
what does adding an accelorometer to a charging device do?
@shithead
so when you turn the display side down, it cuts power to it. No need for a lighted display facing down. And since the coffee table doesn't need charging, same for the charger side when it's face down.
@joelaf How about putting the display on the same side as the charging surface? Then you can read the info when something is charging, you don't have to turn the device upside down to use the other function and there's no need for an accelerometer.
Wow, I feel so smart. I should file a patent for this idea before Microsoft thinks of it.
muah ha ha hahahahahahaaa!....
Yes!
what is the point of this?
@whatthefuck
whatthefuck do you think the point of it is? It just explained the point of it's on existence...?(by the way your name was very apt for this reply)
That little box on the charging plate looked oddly like a Boxee.
Twitter and facebook integration?
No seriously: Why would I want to read any information at all (exept from charging progres or battery status) from a charging device?? And to make it worse: you can't read information when charging and vice versa so what's the point??
This sounds to me like it will be a integration to the courier, its probably not going to be a standalone device....maybe it will be a slate that can be double as a phone charger.
Its actually I very good idea, don't know why Richard was being a little sarcastic, maybe cause its not an apple patent.
Awesome. Maybe one day Microsoft will turn this into a concept video.
check out the prototype photos @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/huiwen_ji/3381507939/
Take a Palm pre's touch stone. Add a display below, for those contextual informations you need when your mobile device is not in charge. Then you just need to flip the touch stone to get those precious information...
Hmkay...
I get it that the general idea is to only power one feature at a time, but this here sounds a little far fetched as for a proof of concept...
does anyone not see the irony in how a MICROSOFT employee leaked photos of a device while also showing off his MACBOOK PRO?
@VampsAndBats
LOL! I saw that too, this definitely needs more attention. Traitor needs to be burned at the stake!! Investigations must be launched!!
@VampsAndBats There's no irony -- Apple's iPod devices work with Windows; Microsoft's peripherals work on Macs. It's a win-win situation.
At least we know from the pics that it will work with a Macbook Pro
Im not geek enough for that
Actually if I had a wireless mouse i could see a use for this if the price is right, for the other side at least tell me my fortune if I shake it.
iPad, uPad, weallPad.
@dblevins Clever
ill admit that i LOVE MS as it is, but thats an awesome awesome product that I would get in a heartbeat. Kinda funny that its sitting on a macbook in the pic though :) (hey at least we know it will work fine with macs too)
bad employee! ure using mac!
Maybe the uPad will be able to charge the iPad and iPod or apple will make this a feature of their next iPad and iPod and call it uiPad and uiPod and you will be able to charge the uiPad with the uiPod or the uiPod with the uiPad and together they will transform to take over the world
@JCerna
or at least give you cancer...
I'll sign up for inductive charging in 2030 when it is as efficient, if not more efficient with energy than the conventional way of charging. That aside, with the conventional charging method I can pick up and use my device to it's full potential, just tethered, as compared to it having to either lay on a flat surface.
Having trouble understanding it's true potential.
LOL, of course this employee uses a Mac - how would I else have time to develop this stuff??
Anyway, I don't see the point...
A utility display that needs to be turned Down for it to charge?
Why at least not just shut it off when the device is providing power to a 'customer'?
This reminds me of the Windows Series 7 demo: Tap the Search key end Then tap the Search field to get a keyboard onscreen.. AHHHHHH!!!!!!! When do they LEARN!
if you simply search for uPad on flickr, you would also find this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bfishadow/3254699486/
If they could incorporate this into the bezel on the MS Surface, your Grammy/bowling trophy could do the dashboard Hula Girl thing while you downloaded they latest songs.............
Interesting.
Given the recent news on the extent Apple contractors would resort to violence to protect secrecy (e.g. foxconn), it makes me wonder: do leaks like these harm or help the company? Should MS protect their prototypes better?
Prototype leaks are a way of judging public desires. Everybody does it. Apple leaks things then denies them. Everybody plays the " look, shiny" game.
Follow the photostream for more pics on uPad and the mouse http://www.flickr.com/photos/bfishadow/3253880789/in/photostream/
There's also a video on uPad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW9i7qLp2dk
Comment in Chinese, uploaded one year ago
Much better use of the word "pad" than those other guys.
I dont see any use of it, connecting this charging pad with wire is as good as connecting my device to a wire for charging.
"Adding a accelerometer to sense non used side of device and save power !!" - for what ? this charging pad is so small to fit in more than a device, what is the point of non used place ?
hmm, maybe the tech can be used on Surface. Having a small prototype unit to show off and share, but the real deal is coming in a larger pad and built into Surface