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Engadget giveaway: win a trio of Qi chargers courtesy of Fonesalesman!
It's a subtle pleasure, but not needing to plug cables in to charge your phone is a beautiful thing. If you have a smartphone that supports the Qi wireless standard (or an adapter), you can simply plop it down at work, near your bed or wherever you have a charger handy without thinking about cables. To promote this state of technological zen, UK-based Fonesalesman has been providing a variety of Qi charging solutions, from its eco-minded WoodPuck model to its portable and powerful QiStone+ version. Right now, the company is also running an Indiegogo for its newest product, the FurniQi table. It offers a minimalist design and a Qi charging zone embedded in the water-sealed bamboo tabletop. This week, two lucky readers will win the whole set including the table and two individual chargers. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for this wireless charging package from Fonesalesman. Winners: Congratulations to Chad Z. of Mukilteo, WA and Madison D. of Lebanon, NH!
Vertu's posh smartphone is probably more powerful than yours
If you're going to shell out $9,900 or more on a smartphone, you're either nuts or you've really made it in life. Or both. Either way, Vertu's done its part by updating its flagship luxury smartphone line, the Signature Touch, with pretty much all the best specs available in the current market. As CEO Max Pogliani put it, this "is the most complete Vertu smartphone that we have ever produced." Most notably, this new titanium device runs on Android 5.1 and packs an octa-core Snapdragon 810 chipset with 4GB of RAM, along with 64GB of internal storage plus another 64GB on the included microSD card (expandable up to 2TB). Funny how at a time when mainstream players like Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus are staying away from microSD expansion, Vertu found no issues with this feature and has therefore chosen to side with spec-hungry folks like us this time.
Samsung's fast wireless charger is available for pre-order, sort of
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+, it also revealed a fast wireless charging pad that takes advantage of the smartphones' new, speedier Qi charging spec. Well, you can now pre-order that charging pad... in a manner of speaking. The $70 peripheral is available to purchase on Samsung's website as I write, but dropping it in your cart reveals that it's back-ordered and doesn't have an estimated ship date. You'll be waiting an unspecified number of weeks before this is sitting on your desk, then. If you can afford to wait, however, it could be a good complement to Samsung's latest supersized devices -- you won't have to wait ages to top up your phone just because you hate cables.
This super-thin OLED desk lamp will also charge your phone
Do you take your desk lighting seriously? Really seriously? You'll want to look at Aerelight's just-shipped A1 desk lamp, then. The eye-catching design uses an OLED panel to illuminate your room, which both makes it wafer-thin and produces a natural-looking, energy-efficient glow that should last as long as the lamp itself. You shouldn't have to touch anything but the controls for the next 20 years, according to Aerelight. And did we mention that it'll wirelessly charge your phone? In a seeming bid to one-up IKEA, the A1 can top up mobile devices using either the Qi or PMA charging standards.
Engadget UK giveaway: win wireless charging furniture courtesy of IKEA
Wireless charging has become an increasingly popular feature among high-end smartphones, but it's not particularly useful when you leave your lone charging plate at the office. IKEA recognises that for wireless charging to be truly convenient, it needs to be widely accessible, which is why the company's created a range of homeware with Qi-compatible wireless charging plates subtly integrated into their design. And thanks to our friends at IKEA, we've got a collection of these high-tech furnishings to give away to readers this week, so they might make their homes a little more wireless charging friendly. We've got no less than four SELJE bedside tables and four RIGGAD desk lamps to be won, so whether you prefer working or sleeping, there's something for everyone. As always, you can submit your entries via the Rafflecopter widget below, but give the rules a quick scan beforehand, if you wouldn't mind.
Samsung's latest monitors wirelessly charge your phone
It's not coated in gold, but Samsung's newest screen -- a monitor this time -- packs wireless charging for mobile phones and other Qi-compatible gadgets. (Yes, functionality you'd actually want in your office monitor... if you have a wirelessly charging phone.) The full-HD 24-inch S24E370DL and 27-inch S27E370DS displays come with AMD's anti-flicker gaming tech as well as 178-degree viewing angles. Samsung's not offered a date or country for release, but we'd expect it to appear (somewhere!) by the end of the year. Expect a steady trickle of new products from the company: it's gearing up for Europe's biggest electronics show, IFA, which kicks off in September. Samsung fridges! Washing machines! Conceptual laptops! And possibly a new Galaxy smartphone. If you're good.
Chevy's 2016 cars can keep charging phones from overheating
Early summer on the East Coast hasn't been its usual level of brutal this year, but it's only a matter of time before smartphones start wigging out in the heat. Things only get trickier when you're charging up in your sweltering car, so Chevy cooked up an "active phone cooling" system to keep gadgets from overheating in their 2016 range of vehicles. Don't get too carried away, though: That's just a high-falutin' name for an air vent that points at a warm phone while it's wirelessly charging.
Latest Qi spec promises fast wireless charging for your phone
Before long, you won't have to choose between charging your phone quickly and plunking it on a convenient wireless charger. The Wireless Power Consortium has rolled out a new version of the Qi standard that supports 15W fast wireless charging, much like the sort we saw late last year. The organization isn't making any performance claims at the moment, and it'll be a while before phone makers have compatible devices on store shelves. However, it's safe to say that this will save you some agonizing wait times -- you could return home from work, drop your phone on a pad and expect to have a meaningful amount of energy when you head out for the evening. [Image credit: Aaron Yoo, Flickr]
Rubix's wireless battery sticks to your phone with magnets
When you're spending most part of the day out and about, chances are at some point you'll have to whip out your portable battery to juice up your smartphone. This usually means stacking your phone on top of a cable-wrapped power bank, and then clumsily holding everything together with one hand. Doesn't sound very 2015, does it? It's annoying enough for a startup called Rubix to come up with a solution: slap a magnetized Qi wireless charging case (aka On Case) on your phone, and then let it snap onto a magnetized wireless charging battery (aka On Charger). Look ma, no cable!
IKEA's wireless charging collection heads to the US this spring
If you're looking to install some wireless charging tech at home, and you fancy IKEA's home furnishing aesthetics, you'll soon be in luck. The Scandinavian company will begin selling its wireless charging collection that's already on shelves in Europe here in the US by "late spring." This means you'll soon be able to purchase nightstands, lamps and standalone pads that can juice up your device just by laying it down -- if it's compatible with the Qi wireless charging standard, of course. If not, IKEA has compatible cases for iPhone (4, 5, 5s, and 6) and Samsung Galaxy (S3, S4 and S5) phones, too. When you stop in to purchase that new lamp, table or pad, be sure to nab the accessory for an additional $15-$25, depending on the model of your phone.
IKEA will start selling wireless charging lamps and tables
After lots of perseverance from smartphone makers, wireless charging is finally starting to make an impact. Many big name phones now support the technology and companies like Starbucks are helping to bring it a wider audience. Now, it's set to receive another big boost, after IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer, announced the introduction of a new range of furniture that features integrated charging.
McDonald's to offer wireless charging in more than 50 UK restaurants
A small bleep echoes from your smartphone as the battery indicator turns red. Not headed to the office and no portable battery to hand? It's going to be a long day. Just as public Wi-Fi has become the norm, McDonald's is hoping Qi wireless charging will tempt more customers through its golden arches. After a small pilot in some of its UK stores, the fast food giant has signed a deal with Aircharge to bring 600 chargers into more than 50 of its restaurants.
Braven's BRV-PRO rugged speaker packs solar charging and more
Think the load of Bluetooth speakers announced at CES is rather ho-hum? Well, Braven has something to say about that. The company's new BRV-PRO Bluetooth speaker sports the rugged look we've come to expect from them, and claims 20 hours of battery life on a charge. Those are easily the two least interesting things on the spec sheet for the outdoor audio device. Up top, the BRV-PRO swaps out accessories as needed, including an extra 2,800mAh battery pack, LED glow deck (think of it as a lantern of sorts), stacking plate and a folding solar panel (pictured above) for all-natural recharging. Touting an IPX7 waterproof rating, the aircraft-aluminum-clad gadget will also juice up your phone or tablet when you're out on the trail. Looking to pack one for that next outdoor trek? The BRV-PRO is scheduled to arrive in Q2 for $150; the accessories cost extra, ranging from $30 to $50 each.
Wireless charging for tablets is finally coming next year
We're still waiting for the Rezence standard to bring wireless charging to laptops, but Freescale is taking a big step towards making that a reality. It just announced a new wireless product that's powerful enough to recharge tablets, portable medical devices, and other large gadgets. The 15-watt system, which should hit the market early next year, offers three times as much electrical power as Freescale's phone charging solution. It also plays nicely with other standards like the Wireless Power Consortium's Qi technology, VentureBeat reports. (Unfortunately, existing 5-watt devices won't get any upgrade from the 15-watt setup, FreeScale tells us.) If you've ever used a USB battery pack to recharge your gadgets, you've probably noticed that tablets typically need to be plugged into higher wattage USB ports to get juiced up. The same basic idea applies here. Increased power could also mean that tossing your phone on a wireless charger before you run out the door could actually be useful. After all, when charging your phone over a USB cable is three times faster, the minor convenience of wireless is a lot less compelling. [Photo: A Lumia phone on a Nokia wireless charging pad.]
Future Cadillacs to come with dual-standard wireless chargers
If you're thinking of buying a new Cadillac soon (congrats!) and you're also big on gadgets, you may want to keep an eye out for some specific models. Visteon, a car electronics supplier that conjured up a smart infotainment system in 2013, is set to debut its wireless charger in the 2015 ATS luxury sedan. It will also be installed on the CTS Sports Sedan this fall, though, as well as the Escalade SUV and other General Motors cars by the end of 2014. Unlike most wireless chargers, Visteon's works with two standards -- Qi and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) -- similar to the ChargeSpot Pocket out of Canada. The dual-standard capability future-proofs your in-car charger... unless manufacturers decide to stick to another standard instead.
With Qi wireless charging, you'll soon be able to charge your device from a short distance
It's becoming more and more common to find mobile devices with wireless charging capability, either as a built-in feature or integrated into third-party cases. Progress has been somewhat hampered, however, by the fact that no universally adopted standard is available. Of the three major groups trying to corner the market, Qi -- a standard created by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) -- has arguably been the most successful at courting manufacturers and carriers (over 200 have signed up so far). The problem is, its abilities have been limited because it only uses a method called inductive charging; in other words, you can power up your smartphone as long as it's sitting on a charging pad. Wireless, sure, but it's still only marginally more convenient than simply plugging the handset in. Fortunately, Qi's adding some crucial functionality later this year that will allow you to charge your device from nearly two inches away.
GM is bringing wireless phone charging to some Cadillac cars
General Motors may be going through a rough patch at the moment, but that's not stopping the company from setting its sights on the future. Today, the Detroit-based automaker revealed that it plans to put wireless charging pads inside a number of Cadillac vehicles, starting with the launch of the 2015 ATS sport sedan and coupe later in the fall. Although the announcement highlights the compatibility with Powermat, a General Motors representative has confirmed to Engadget that the feature also supports Qi and "other in-phone wireless charging technologies." What's more, GM says this is coming to more vehicles soon (as had been previously reported), with the Cadillac CTS, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado expected to be added to the list in Q4 of this year.
Crowdfunding Roundup: Four for the Fourth
Every week, TUAW provides readers with an update on new or significant crowdfunded Apple-related projects in the news. While our policy is to not go into detail on items that haven't reached at least 80 percent of their funding goal, this update is designed to give readers a heads-up on projects they might find interesting enough to back. Holidays don't stop the minds behind crowdfunded projects, with each day another chance to get the word out about a campaign to fund the development of something new. In honor of Independence Day in the USA, here are four campaigns that Qi chargers are starting to get pretty popular in the iPhone world, allowing users to simply drop an iPhone protected by a Qi charging case onto one of the wireless charging devices. The only problem is that a lot of the chargers are quite ugly! Not so with Pond, a wireless/cordless charging tray crafted out of wood in black enamel, maple, or walnut finishes. Pair that up with a Stream charging case for your iPhone -- also available in a wood finish -- and you have quite the charging duo. Pond is about 10 percent funded with four weeks to go, so there's still time to get your pledge in. Luxo lamps have inspired a lot of people with their adjustability -- after all, Luxo Jr. is the character who bounces his way into the Pixar movie logo. Now comes Stan, a retro-inspired smartphone and tablet holder. Stan has about a month of funding to go, and is currently almost 17 percent funded. And kudos for picking the wackiest retro organ music for the video! Necessity is the mother of invention. For Matt Mogol, having little ones who wanted to bang on a laptop keyboard while watching their favorite videos was a pain -- not only was it hard on the laptop keyboard, but it usually stopped whatever video the child was watching. Enter Kid Lid, a removable keyboard cover that lets toddlers watch their videos while driving their toy cars or walking stuffed animals over that keyboard. It's just about 13 percent funded with four weeks to go. App: The Human Story is a documentary about the cultural phenomenon of apps. Featuring a who's-who of iOS app developers and characters from the world of Apple, Story & Pixel is attempting to raise $100,000 to get the video off the ground. They're well on their way, with about 31 percent funding with four weeks left. Be sure to back this one, since who doesn't want to see and hear more from John Gruber, Jason Snell, Marco Arment, Jean MacDonald, and others in the pantheon of app notables. Next week we should have a more complete roundup of projects from Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other crowdfunding sources. Many thanks again to Hal Sherman for providing some tips about new and exciting projects, and if you're aware of any other crowdfunded Apple-related projects, be sure to let us know about them through the Tip Us button at the upper right of the TUAW home page for future listing on the site. As they used to say, "Have a Safe and Sane Fourth of July"!
This is what a $22,000 Android phone feels like
With Vertu finally offering an up-to-date luxury phone, we naturally had to check out the Signature Touch up close and personal. After all, it's not everyday that one gets to play with a $21,900 phone for free (though you can do so at any Vertu boutique, as long as you're nicely dressed). For those who haven't caught up with the announcement, we're looking at a 4.7-inch 1080p display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip, 64GB of storage, 13MP/2.1MP cameras, a 2,275mAh battery, Qi wireless charging, NFC and a handful of LTE bands. With the exception of the battery (which, to be fair, is already much larger than those on previous models), these are all very decent for an Android 4.4 device.
ASUS' PadFone X goes global: still a 5-inch to 8.9-inch transformer
The ASUS PadFone X due June 6th can be considered as a slightly rugged version of the regular PadFone Infinity flagship line, but it's only limited to AT&T customers. Luckily, for those outside the US, there will soon be a global variant dubbed the PadFone S. These two models are pretty much identical: You get the same 5-inch-phone-to-8.9-inch-tablet transformation, and the guts include the 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM, full HD displays, microSD slot, 13MP plus 2MP cameras on the phone (1MP front camera on the tablet) and 2,300mAh plus 4,990mAh batteries. The only differences are the 3G and 4G bands for obvious reasons, plus the wireless charging here follows the more popular Qi specifications, as opposed to PMA's. There's no info on pricing yet here at Computex; all we know is that it'll arrive in select markets as early as late Q3 this year.
