Qi wireless power standard finalized, universal contactless chargers look closer to reality than ever

The Wireless Power Consortium took a big step forward this past week with the confirmation that its precocious Qi interoperability standard has been finalized. Composed of three documents setting out the interface, performance and compliance requirements, the new dictum has set itself the not inconsiderable challenge of making wireless charging universal, so that any Qi-approved phone can soak up juice from any Qi-verified base station, dock or omnitool. This first spec is limited to devices requiring no more than 5 Watts, an appropriately humble early goal, though cauldrons are already bubbling with ideas for laptops and the like. We just hope the impressive list of big time companies on the Consortium will succeed in taking Qi into the mainstream -- who here hasn't dreamt of their phone being compatible with the Touchstone?

[Thanks, MrStringTheorist]

[Teslanaut Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:40AM]

Why does it look like it's from 1985? Did they bring it in a DeLorean?

[toyotast165 Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:08AM]

@Teslanaut
seriously, it looks just like a seiko clock I had about that time! Lol

anyways. Yup. Got a pre and the touchstone is EPIC. Got 1 in each car too.
I don't think of it as a peripheral, I tell everyone, you NEED one. In a small way, it will change your life. Like the way you look at other people plugging in their phone.
It's a game changer, a big one. It's up there with the remote control. Think about how long someone will look for a remote control, rather than just go and turn the tv on with the panel.

[Radeon3 Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:11AM]

@Teslanaut Yeah, it's not very attractive/modern looking is it lol

[Errrric Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:18AM]

@toyotast165 My Nexus One dock makes a world of difference when charging my phone.

I can only imagine how much more easier it would be with this.

[zfhanbenjamin Posted Jul 26th 2010 5:40AM]

@Teslanaut
looks more like a scale

[wbeardell Posted Jul 26th 2010 9:24AM]

@zfhanbenjamin: the iphone looks alarmingly like the nexus one in that skin...

[Awall1987 Posted Jul 26th 2010 5:26PM]

@toyotast165 Jesus, a little dramatic no? "it changed my life" it's a phone charger, not rehab or church. You still have to keep the phone in one spot, it's not like people were standing around saying "you know what I'm too lazy to do? Plug my phone into a cradle"

Individual cheese slices are more revolutionary

[cerialkillar Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:42AM]

Fugly

[canarsieville Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:13AM]

@cerialkillar I actually like it a lot.

[cerialkillar Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:15AM]

@canarsieville
Depends on personal taste :) But they could have taken a better picture.

[alonsop Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:43AM]

Works for me

[cdf74dc9 Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:43AM]

What happen if you put your head there? Does it boost your cell counts?

[Openwave Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:44AM]

Pretty soon just being inside a building will charge your battery.

[juanvaldez Posted Jul 26th 2010 8:21AM]

@Openwave yes, but it'll be due to the wi-fies, already under development. By RCA IIRC.

[EvanSei Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:47AM]

I bet that iPhone gets a signal with that case at least

[TheReal Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:54AM]

@EvanSei
These iphone signal comments are getting old man.
Get over it. lol.

[uzerzero Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:07AM]

@EvanSei

Actually, look at the photo. The iPhone says "No Service" in the top left.

[Radeon3 Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:13AM]

@uzerzero They're getting better! first you can't hold it a certain way otherwise you lose signal, and now you dont even have to hold it to not have a signal! Amazing!

[tobsmonster2 Posted Jul 26th 2010 6:27AM]

@EvanSei
It's amazing how silly fanboi posts get upranked as long as they're anti iPhone. A phone that doesn't work as a phone doesn't sell 10's of millions with an apparently lower return rate than it's previous iteration.

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:22PM]

tobs, I actually upranked him because he noticed that, and it induced a laugh.

That case is just urgh, the iPhone already has too much bezel. If I was an iPhone type person, I'd just use one of the joke stickers to fix that problem.

[TheReal Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:53AM]

Whats the point of this? I cant even pick it up while its charging. It just has to lay there.. i rather have it connected to a wire. At least i can move it..

If im wrong, somebody please point it out.

[AWx Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:59AM]

@TheReal Actually it IS connected to a wire. Unless the manufacturer implements the power receptor inside its cellphone, you have to put your phone in a special case that plugs in the phone power plug and hosts a receptor/invertor inside the case body.

Soooo; since it took ages for manufacturers, pressured by government bodies, to standardize on the mini-USB charger, I doubt this would gain any traction.

[MikeJF Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:04AM]

@AWx That's the whole point of this standardisation, backed by all those manufacturers, though.

[juanvaldez Posted Jul 26th 2010 8:17AM]

@TheReal you won't have to worry about taking along your proprietary connectors when you go to work or your friends house. Also, the manufacturer could still have a wired option, I suppose. This is also more convenient with possibly less plastic and rubber cords, shorter distance for electricity to travel, it could have future green ompaxts.

[pixelriffic Posted Jul 26th 2010 12:43PM]

@AWx I agree. So many devices out there still have yet to even switch to the mini USB yet. Ironically, the very phone pictured in the image for example. Not a hater. I own and love my iPhone.

It's sad really, as this would be so great. But when you have companies like Sony, who promote non-standard ways of doing just about everything, it's doubtful that this will ever be widely adopted.

[Awall1987 Posted Jul 26th 2010 5:30PM]

@TheReal I totally agree. People are talking about this like it is life changing. You still have to physically take your phone to it's charging spot. It's not like people are soo lazy they can't plug things in

[liquidkernel Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:57AM]

Not sure why it took so long. My old Sonicare from 8 years ago had induction charging, as well as all the new versions.

Glad to hear it's finally moving forward. Imagine never having to change remote batteries? Leave your remote on your coffee table that has a induction charging base.

[davepermen Posted Jul 26th 2010 2:59AM]

can't wait to see this integrated into any table and such, so your devices are always charched. + less wiring for small stuff.

but personally, i can't wait for Qi 2.0 allowing charching of laptops on a table.

[Dante of the Inferno Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:09AM]

@davepermen

Yeah, plugging and unplugging my laptop over and over gets pretty troublesome, plus it eventually wears on the connection port (like with audio ports and constant use of headphones. Anything that prevents physical degradation is welcome (unless the solution itself causes physical harm).

[owned66 Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:01AM]

cancer here i come

[ArtoneLT Posted Jul 26th 2010 8:05AM]

@owned66 ROFL best comment on this post

[KirinIchiban Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:03AM]

It needs a snooze button.

[alexz Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:06AM]

One of those clocks is wrong.
4:38 or 1:39 what time is it?

[shishi Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:08AM]

Great, now we'll move towards 50-70% power transfer efficiency.

[nefnet13 Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:11AM]

After using a Pre and the Touchstone for a while now I can chime in to say that wireless charging is less of a gimmick and more of an awesome thing you never knew you wanted.

Pre battery life is pretty bad, and I would have likely abandoned it already for that alone if it weren't so darned easy to keep it topped off. It is like living in THE FUTURE... (Ok that last part was sarcasm but the Touchstone really is cool).

[DrDr Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:18AM]

My phone already works with a Touchstone...


Seriously though, the Evo has been hacked to work with the touchstone by gluing in the palm back cover. I hope to be able to do the same with my Epic.

[buoy Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:21AM]

Can I purchase some tech upgrades for my Omni Tool? How many credit chits will that cost?

[HaloBuff Posted Jul 27th 2010 2:07AM]

@buoy Ah, I was waiting to reach a Mass Effect comment after reading 'omnitool' up there!

[Kevlarx Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:30AM]

Wow.....so Qi really is a word!!

[Diabolus in Musica Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:46AM]

I think it would much more efficient for a universal power receptor to be built in to every device...

[quillaja Posted Jul 26th 2010 3:52AM]

Um...yay?

[Sk8erMikez Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:04AM]

Beats having wires

[Radeon3 Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:05AM]

I don't see what the hype is about...it still takes up a spot on my power strip...

[grub Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:52AM]

@Radeon3
One spot. You can toss >1 devices on the induction pad.

[loocas Posted Jul 26th 2010 4:09AM]

So this is what the iPhone 4 ended up looking like? Hmm... not attractive anymore. :(

[garthski Posted Jul 26th 2010 6:28AM]

@NatWu

And this QI in a close second?
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1440&bih=694&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=bbc+qi&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[Flix C Posted Jul 26th 2010 6:43AM]

Prototype people ?
They finalized the standard...
Design comes after functionnality in most companies...

[Newwales Posted Jul 26th 2010 7:10AM]

There is only one thing to say about this story.


FINALLY

[darex Posted Jul 26th 2010 7:52AM]

I like the concept, but anything that makes my phone thicker, and wider and taller will not work for me.

[silver8ack Posted Jul 26th 2010 8:25AM]

So after all these years Tesla finally sees his dream of wireless power realized.