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RAVPower's Wireless Charger cuts the cord on iPhone charging
Wireless chargers using the Qi (pronounced "chee") inductive power standard are beginning to pick up steam, although none of Apple's products at this time support the standard. The idea is simple: instead of plugging in your device to charge it, you simply lay it on top of a wireless charger and it receives a charge through induction. RAVPower's Wireless Charger (US$35.99) is a great example of one of these chargers, and we were able to test one with the assistance of a Mocreo Qi-enabled charging case for iPhone 5. Specifications Dimensions: 5.7" x 3.11" x 0.31" (14.48 x 7.9 x .79 cm) Weight: 4.5 ounces (127.6 gm) Input: DC 5V, 1.5A Output: 5V, 1A Max Interface for charging pad: USB to micro-USB cable Available in black or white finishes Design Highlights The RAVPower Wireless Charger is quite attractive, a thin white slab with what appears to be a large power button in the middle. Don't be fooled, though -- that'd just a "target" for the best place to place your iPhone while charging. That target appears to be magnetic as well, since the case seemed to be attracted to it and aligned itself when dropped onto the charger pad. As for a Qi-enabled iPhone charging case, you can find an assortment of them on most online retail websites such as Amazon or Newegg. The Mocreo case provided by RAVPower for this review is a perfect example of an inexpensive "jacket" that your iPhone can wear all the time -- you then just drop the phone/case combo onto the Wireless Charger to top off your iPhone's battery. One interesting tidbit on the RAVPower website points out that once the phone is charged or removed, the Wireless Charger goes into idle mode to conserve energy. Functionality I'd love to say that I was immediately whisked into the happy world of wireless charging during my testing, but that's not the case. In fact, the case seemed to be the problem! The first time I plopped the iPhone and Mocreo case combo onto the Wireless Charger, I was greeted with a message telling me that the case wasn't a certified product and that it might not work properly all the time. Sure enough, it wouldn't charge the first time around. I took the case off of the iPhone 5s and put it back on, and was then happy to see the "charging" lightning bolt show up on the iPhone's status bar when I put the case/phone combo back onto the RAVPower Wireless Charger. On occasion, I'm still seeing that error message about the case not being certified, but for the most part it goes away once I remove and replace the case and try again. The only other indications you get that things are working properly are a faint, high-pitched beep from the charger pad and an LED that flashes green and red. RAVPower notes that Qi-compliant wireless chargers only charge at about 75 to 85 percent of the rate of wired chargers. As such, charging will take longer. As the company points out, that can be counteracted by the ease with which you can recharge the iPhone by just dropping it onto the charging pad whenever you aren't using it. That's exactly what I began doing during my testing. As I'd walk away from my desk, I'd pick up the iPhone and the charging would stop. When I'd come back, I dropped the iPhone back onto the pad. It's a lot less of a hassle than grabbing a Lightning plug and popping it into the port. Conclusion Despite an early glitch brought on by the Mocreo Qi-enabled case, I found Qi wireless charging of my iPhone 5s through the RAVPower Wireless Charger to be a total revelation. The product is well-designed, and it makes me wish that Apple would embrace the Qi standard for charging of future iPhones and iPads. Are you listening, Cupertino? For another take on a similar wireless charger from TUAW's Mel Martin, be sure to take a look at his review from earlier this week of the iQi Mobile Receiver and its matching Qi charging pad. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Step into the future of wireless charging! We're giving away the test gear that we received from RAVPower, including the Wireless Charger and the Mocreo Qi-enabled case for iPhone 5/5s. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before February 25, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive both a RAVPower Wireless Charger valued at $39.99 and a Mocreo Qi-Enabled Wireless Charging Jacket for iPhone 5/5s valued at $16.90. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Crowdfunded Project News: The best of Kickstarter, Indiegogo and the rest
Every week, TUAW provides readers with an update on what new or significant crowdfunded Apple-related projects are 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. Note that we're not covering those "projects" on Indiegogo where people are trying to get someone else to cough up money for a new computer or tablet... From Kickstarter The ARK is ready to set sail. With a little over a week to go in its campaign, this next generation portable wireless charger (using the Qi wireless charging standard) is 300 percent funded. At this point, iPhone 5/5s users will need to pledge US$79 or more to get an ARK and a wireless charging case that works with their phone. The cool thing about ARK is that it is also a portable backup battery that you can take with you to wirelessly charge your iPhone. LabNation's SmartScope is another very popular project, well over 520 percent funded with a little over a day to go. It's a 100MS/s open source oscilloscope for iPad, and an excellent idea for anyone who develops for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or does their own circuit design and testing. A great way to turn your iPad or iPhone into an oscilloscope. Remember iCPooch, the Internet pet treat delivery and video chat station that we covered in an earlier roundup? It's now 111 percent funded with 12 days to go. If you feel guilty about leaving your pet at home during the day while you're at work, backing iCPooch will help you feel better about yourself. Gazer's digital gimbal stabilizer for iPhone is an amazing little device, using a gyrostabilized mount to make your iPhone videography look amazingly professional. With 20 days to go, the project has only raised 45 percent of its funding. From Indiegogo BluCub is a Bluetooth-enabled wireless thermometer and hygrometer measuring a tiny 50 x 50 x 20 mm. Operating on a single replaceable battery for three years, it transmits humidity and temperature information to your favorite iOS device every ten seconds. A very cool idea -- why there's no built-in ambient temperature measurement in our iPhones has been a mystery to me for years! This has a month to go, and needs your support as it's only about 8 percent of the way to being funded. Hat tip to Hal Sherman for bringing BluCub and the following item to our attention. Rawlemon Solar Devices is a company that is pushing spherical solar concentrators as a way to more efficiently utilize solar power, especially in northern climes. To give the idea a boost, they've created a small version of its device called the Beta.ey that uses the spherical solar concentrator idea to create a smartphone charger by day, LED light by night. Quite cool and 81 percent funded with 11 days left in the campaign. WiseButton has already raised much more money than required with a month yet to go. It's a "keychain wearable" device that can be used with an iPhone or other smartphone to serve as a remote for your iPhone or iPad while playing music or videos, or running presentations. It will also alert you if you leave your iPhone behind, and can be used with the Wise Button Sticker to track other items. Very cool looking, nicely presented, and it looks like it may be go for launch. 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 possible future consideration.
iQi Mobile Receiver: Wireless charging for the iPhone 5 family
Wireless inductive charging seems to be a kind of Holy Grail lately -- a lot of companies are on the quest to bring it to all smartphone and tablet devices. I recently reviewed a battery case that charges an iPhone wirelessly. It's actually pretty nice to walk into the house or office, and put my iPhone down on a charging pad to top off the battery. There are no cables involved and no hassle. Of course, there is a power cable to the charging pad, but that doesn't have to be constantly plugged and unplugged. iQi (pronounced i-chee) has an interesting new product called the iQi Mobile Receiver that provides wireless charging using your own soft case. It doesn't work with rigid polycarbonate iPhone cases. Specifications Wireless Receiver: Qi compatible Fits most soft iPhone cases for iPhone 5, 5c and 5s Requires USB 2.0 or later Charger Pads Cable is USB/micro USB Micro USB input: DC 5V, 500-2100 mA No alignment or magnets needed Power Transmission Distance: 8mm Design Highlights The iQi Mobile Receiver (US$35.11) is a thin card only 0.5 mm thick attached to a flexible ribbon cable that plugs into your Lightning port. The card portion wraps around to the back of the phone, and then you slide your phone into its existing soft case to hide the receiver. You'll also need a Qi charging pad to complete the charging solution. A pad roughly in the shape of your phone is $42.00, and a smaller hockey puck-shaped charger runs $45.00. Those charging pads are plugged into a USB port on an AC adapter or computer. When you set your receiver-equipped phone down on the charging pad, the charging starts. The iQi Mobile Receiver was the result of an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that surpassed its goal in just 10 days. Functionality Highlights The iQi Mobile Receiver is simple to install, although you have to take care to not over-flex the thin ribbon cable. An adhesive sticker is provided to attach the receiver card to the back of your iPhone 5 so that the card doesn't flop around inside your case. With the card installed and the phone placed Into a soft case, you will barely notice any increase in thickness. The charging pads emit a green light when connected to power. When your phone is in the proper charging position, that light turns blue. If the charging pad beeps several times, it is telling you the position of the phone needs to be adjusted. Conclusions I found wireless charging to be totally addictive. When you get used to it, it takes away the hassle of plugging and unplugging charging cables. The iQi system works well. If you don't have a soft case for your phone, the Mobile Receiver comes with a silicone case that protects the phone and keeps everything aligned. The Lightning connector that's used with the Mobile Receiver is not Apple MFi (Made For iPhone) approved, and you may see a message appear on your iPhone screen telling you that. Just dismiss the message and charging should continue without issue. Some Samsung smartphones provide iQi as an optional extra, and a few Google Nexus smartphones offer wireless charging options as well. At this point, Apple doesn't provide a Qi charging option, so this is a workable solution. Charging isn't quite as fast as when directly connected to a charger, but I found the speeds to be acceptable. Unlike the Aero Wireless Charging case reviewed last week, the iQi solution does not provide extended battery life -- it's just a charging solution for your current phone. The Aero costs $99.95, while the cheapest iQi solution (after purchasing the receiver and charging pad) runs about $76.00. Consumers need to decide if the extra battery life provided by the Aero case is worth the extra expense and how important it is to retain your existing soft case. The iQi wireless charging system works very well and lets any iPhone 5 charge without cables attached to the phone (other than the one-time receiver plug-in). I have a few worries about the lifespan of the flexible ribbon cable and that the Lightning connector is not Apple approved. Future Apple updates could possibly disable charging if unapproved hardware is attached.
Nyko unveils Qi wireless charging dock, Intercooler for PS4 and a DualShock 4 controller extended battery (update: prices)
It's CES time, folks, and that means that Nyko's got a slew of gaming peripherals to show us all. Naturally, next-gen is the order of the day, with the reveal of an Intercooler device that attaches to the rear of your PlayStation 4 to keep it cool. Nyko's also rolling out a PowerPak replacement battery for Sony's DualShock 4 controller that doubles up the standard battery pack with a 1,000mAh cell. Additionally, and perhaps puzzlingly, the company is also announcing a Qi wireless charging dock, called the Power Base, built to fit Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Nexus 5 handsets. You can get a glimpse at pictures of all the products in the gallery below, but alas, renders are all we can give you for now -- the real products, prices and arrival dates won't be available until long after CES 2014 is over. Update: Nyko just relased pricing for all its new gear: the Power Base is $40, Intercooler is $25, and the PowerPak is $20, and all three can be had this spring.
Resonance charging is coming to Qi devices soon
Qi is one of the most popular wireless charging standards out there, but it's certainly not perfect -- and its limitations have been a burden that its competitors like the A4WP Rezence have taken advantage of. One of its most pressing issues is the fact that it only supports inductive charging, which means you need to stick your phone or tablet directly on the charging pad in a very specific fashion, lest you wake up in the morning to a dead device. The WPC has been working on righting that wrong, however, because it's come to Vegas with resonance charging prototypes. The new transmitter is able to charge any Qi device from up to 18 millimeters away and through obstructions; it's backwards compatible, so older phones and tablets are included. Reps weren't able to give us an estimated time of arrival, but the prototype was definitely convincing enough, which tells us it shouldn't be too far away. As we expected, the transmitter we saw tonight is less efficient than a standard inductive charger -- it's currently at around 65 percent -- but we were told that this wrinkle is a result of this early unit and will continue to improve as the tech develops.
Google debuts new wireless charging pad with support for Nexus 5 and 7
Last year, Google unveiled a new wireless charging pad alongside the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, and the company has taken advantage of 2013 to come up with another one. This new charging pad has been announced in tandem with the Nexus 5, and will include support for it and the Nexus 7. It's supposed to go on sale in the Play Store today, though pricing is still an unknown. So what's different this time around? The new pad, which should work with any device that offers Qi compatibility, has been completely redesigned (it's shaped like a square instead of a hockey puck) and now features magnets that will make it easier for devices to stick on it -- provided those phones and tablets in question have magnets built in as well. We'll have more information about the chargers as we get it, so stay tuned! Nicole Lee contributed to this post.
Toshiba bakes TransferJet file transfer and wireless charging into touchscreen kiosk, charges phones and credit cards
In an effort to make Toshiba's TransferJet more... business, the company revealed a touchscreen kiosk that allows you to buy (and immediately download) music, videos and more. Just in case that alone wasn't enough, the kiosk, which is adorably petite, also uses NFC to pair the device and (if you have the appropriate account or software) pay for downloadable content. The kiosk even throws in Qi wireless charging for your handset as you select, buy and download that new anime episode. Of course, if you don't have wireless charging (or TransferJet to grab the downloads in the first place), you might not get the most out of what Toshiba's offering here, but the idea is to place the device in places like airports and convenience stores, where people are likely to have time to kill and want something to watch or listen to right away. Darren Murph contributed to this report.
Qualcomm joins Power Matters Alliance, will help develop hybrid wireless charging standard
Competition is really heating up in the wireless charging space. Last month, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) shared news that Qualcomm joined its board, and now the competing Power Matters Alliance (PMA) is making a similar announcement. Qualcomm has also signed on with the PMA, and will be taking on a "senior leadership role" at the organization. The chipset manufacturer is reportedly aiding in the development of a new specification that will enable PMA devices (such as Powermat) to receive wireless power using both low-frequency induction and high-frequency resonance. If that tech is implemented, certain smartphones and other gadgets will be compatible with a wider range of wireless charging devices. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on product announcements from other members, such as AT&T, which previously committed to lighting up several devices with PMA charging by 2014.
Qualcomm joins Wireless Power Consortium board, sparks hope for A4WP and Qi unification
Qualcomm, the founding member of Alliance for Wireless Power (or A4WP in short), made a surprise move today by joining the management board of the rival Wireless Power Consortium (or WPC), the group behind the already commercially available Qi standard. This is quite an interesting development considering how both alliances have been openly critical of each other, and yet now there's a chance of seeing just one standard getting the best of both worlds. That is, of course, dependent on Qualcomm's real intentions behind joining the WPC.
BlackBerry Z30 listed as supporting Qi wireless charging
Just before a smartphone turns up at the debutante ball, the internet comes alive with frenzied claims about what the new hardware will offer. While most of 'em turn out to be wishful thinking on behalf of whoever entered the data, we imagine that standards are a little stricter over at the Wireless Power Consortium. It's there that a listing has popped up claiming that BlackBerry's as-yet unannounced Z30 will support Qi wireless charging. The listing goes on to say that the smartphone will pack a medium power receiver, capable of pulling 120 watts from a charger, which should be enough to juice that (rumored) 2,800mAh battery in short order.
Samsung unleashes Galaxy S 4 wireless charging kit in the US for $90
Wireless charging sounds mighty convenient if you regularly deal with a jungle of wires, doesn't it? Samsung's wireless charging kit for the S 4 is one option now that it's available in the US. It uses the Qi wireless charging standard, so if you already have a Qi charger, all you'll need to do is grab the backplate for $39.99. Otherwise, you can also snag the charging pad for $49.99. Hit the source for more info if you're convinced this is what you've been waiting for your whole S 4-using life. The components don't seem to be in stock right now -- we couldn't add them to our cart -- but even if you get lucky, you might want to hold off on clicking that Buy Now button until you've seen its alternatives.
Agent smartwatch launches with Kickstarter campaign, promises 'unparalleled battery life'
There are few gadgets more associated with crowdfunding than smartwatches, due largely to the millions raised by Pebble. Now, you can add one more competing for your attention (and your backing). A Kickstarter campaign for the Agent smartwatch kicked off today, promising to deliver a device with better battery life than its competitors and a developer-friendly environment to attract some all-important apps (it's using the .NET Micro Framework, with apps able to be written in in C# using Visual Studio 2012). As for the watch itself, it packs a 1.28-inch memory display with anti-glare glass, an ARM Cortex-M4 processor (which promises to help on the power-consumption front), Qi wireless charging, motion and light sensors, and a water-resistent design with replaceable wrist straps. If all goes as planned, the company intends to begin full production of the watch in December of this year, with the final MSRP running $249 (or $299 including a Qi charger). Some of the Kickstarter options will get you one for less than that, although many of those have already been claimed.
Monster Watts WiQiQi puts wireless charging in Samsung Galaxy phones without new cases
Samsung already has wireless charging options for phones like the Galaxy S4, but they require a separate cover that adds a slight amount of bulk. For Monster Watts, that's still too much. The company's upcoming WiQiQi charging receiver is thin enough to slip under the existing cases of both the S4 as well as the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II, giving them the same Qi-based wireless power as official kits without disrupting the design or wrecking compatibility with accessories. Kits for the two phones already on the market should be available as soon as the middle of this month, with discounted early pricing for a receiver-and-charger bundle starting at $45 (normally $78) for the GS3; a WiQiQi for the GS4 won't show until around early June at a regular $88 price, although it should also start at $45 for advance buyers. Monster Watts' wire-free solution isn't seamless, but it may be one of the more elegant in an era when wireless charging is only occasionally built-in.
PowerKiss joins Power Matters Alliance, plans to expand wireless charging standard in Europe
Now might be the time to familiarize yourself with the Power Matters Alliance (PMA). The industry's most recognizable standard, Qi, is facing serious competition from the PMA, which has garnered support from Duracell Powermat, AT&T, smartphone manufacturers such as BlackBerry and ZTE, and even Starbucks shops, which have begun rolling out its wireless charging tech in certain outlets. Beginning soon, you may be able to charge your compatible smartphone at European McDonald's restaurants, too -- the food service giant's support comes courtesy of Helsinki-based PowerKiss, which is now ditching Qi in favor of the PMA. The move is arguably the Alliance's most significant to date, and it could bring confidence to organizations currently considering their own strategies. It's unfortunate for consumers who may have recently invested in Qi, however -- popular wireless charging spots in major European train stations, for example, will be swapping out their infrastructure to support PMA. According to PowerKiss founder Maija Itkonen, the decision was based on the standard's new technology that enables individual charging sites to monitor usage trends and control consumption, along with significant support from companies throughout the industry. We've even heard speculation that Apple may soon announce support for the PMA standard, though we remain skeptical. Regardless, this is a major blow to Qi, though it could be a significant step forward for consumers -- that $99 Powermat charging set might seem a more-reasonable acquisition now.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 wireless charging pad and S Health scale hands-on
No phone launch is complete without a few accessories added to the mix. Samsung had a whole bunch to announce alongside its Galaxy S 4, but only a few were on hand to check out up close and personal. We did, however, find a nice surprise hiding under those glossy white table covers -- a wireless charging pad. Yes, it turns out the the GS 4 does in fact have Qi wireless charging capabilities. Provided its available in your region and your carrier chooses to support it. The charging pad itself has a glossy plastic base that matches the phone, but there's a nice rubbery gray top that keeps the handset from sliding around too much while it's juicing up. We also got to check out the companion wireless scale that looks quite a bit like the Fitbit Aria. Though, with a square LCD and a healthy-sized Samsung logo on it. The scale is just one part of the larger S Health equation which also includes a Jawbone Up-like monitor (S Band), which was sadly nowhere to be found in the demo pit. The scale of course sync with the baked in S Health app over Bluetooth, which makes it quite a bit easier to track how that diet of yours is going. In addition to simply tracking your total poundage, there will be bands for tracking heart rate and the S 4's various sensor can help judge the comfort level of your environment. The requisite glut of photos can be found below in the gallery.%Gallery-182903% Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report. Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.
94Fifty smart basketball can tell when you've got game, teaches when you don't
Everyday street basketball players (and would-be pros) don't have many tools to quantify their progress. InfoMotion Sports thinks they're owed more than just a pat on the back, so it's bringing its 94Fifty smart basketball to everyday hoop fans. Like the existing model for teams, sensors inside the amateur basketball detect the forces involved in a dribble or shot, relaying details such as the throw angle or power through Bluetooth; Android and iOS apps will be available out of the gate. The stats are for more than just bragging rights, too. InfoMotion's custom software centers on training sessions and competitions, including challenges from seasoned veterans. No matter how hard they play, owners will just have to rest the ball on a Qi wireless charging pad at the end of a session. InfoMotion Sports' $295 asking price will be steep when the 94Fifty arrives in the summer -- but it may be one of the better options for amateurs who want to improve the finer points of their game without donning a uniform.
LG unveils world's smallest wireless charger, preps it for global availability
LG may have an obsession with hulking smartphones, but it's taken a different tact with its latest wireless charger, which is being hailed as the world's smallest. Christened the WCP-300, the pad juices up Qi-compatible devices such as the Nexus 4 (if you're not in the mood for a sliced sphere, of course) and the outfit's Optimus G Pro, Vu II and LTE II. South Korea will see the hardware arrive this week with a 65,000 won (roughly $60) price tag, but the charger is slated to roll out across the globe gradually, and the US is somewhere on its itinerary.
Nexus 4 Wireless Charger hands-on
Palm's Touchstone dock immediately came to mind when we first saw LG's Nexus 4 Wireless Charger last fall (now available for $60 in the Play Store). Both devices are circular, with a micro-USB port in back and a slanted front surface on which to rest the phone. That's where the similarities end -- while the Touchstone is cylindrical and uses a proprietary wireless charging system, the Nexus 4 Wireless Charger is larger, spherical and Qi-compatible. Another major difference is that Palm's dock uses permanent magnets to line up and secure the handset, and LG's accessory relies primarily on the friction / suction between a rubber ring and the glass back of Google's flagship phone. Design-wise the Nexus 4 Wireless Charger looks similar to a smaller Nexus Q cut in half, down to the matching recessed square connector cutout. In the box you'll find a 5V 1.8A AC adapter (vs. 1.2A for the one supplied with the Nexus 4) along with a micro-USB cable (longer than the one provided with the handset). The manual warns to "use only the power adapter and micro-USB cable that come with your Nexus 4 Wireless Charger", but we didn't have any trouble with other USB power sources beyond longer charging times. We tested the dock with the Nexus 4, Droid DNA, Lumia 920 and Lumia 822 (with the optional Wireless Charging Cover) -- basically, LG's accessory provides the same experience as Nokia's Wireless Charging Plate ($50), which is also Qi-compatible. The $10 difference buys you a matching design and a spare USB power adapter and micro-USB cable (Nokia's plate comes with a proprietary AC adapter). It takes about 4 hours to fully charge Google's flagship phone using wireless power -- check out the gallery above for some action shots.
Nexus 4 wireless charger now on sale for $60 at Google Play Store (update)
When the Nexus 4 was first announced, we had a glimpse of a wireless charging dock that was meant to go with it. Well, good news for folks in the United States, as the induction dock has just popped up on the Play Store, and Nexus 4 owners can order one now for just $59.99. It puts out 1 amp of juice at 5 volts and joins a host of other Qi-enabled wireless chargers -- cord cutters rejoice! [Thanks, Luis] Update: As tipster Gen points out, the Nexus 4 in the image above shows a battery status screen that we haven't seen before. Google hasn't made mention of any software changes just yet though. Update 2: The good folks at Pocket-Lint have discovered that the battery status screen is actually a third party widget app that can be had at the Play Store for $1.99
Samsung-branded Qi wireless charging pad stops by the FCC for a dismantling
Samsung may be trying to usurp Qi's wireless-charging dominance, but for the moment it still has to play along with the de-facto industry standard. That's why the company has pushed this Qi-compatible wireless charging plate onto the green baize of the FCC's poker table, likely in preparation for a commercial release. Peel away the plastic and you'll find a beefy arc reactor electromagnet nestled at the heart of the device -- and since the Commission was kind enough to publish some pictures, we've thrown them into the gallery below.