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87 Comments
- Ashex, on 12/02/2007, -1/+20Except you need a separate cable for each device. This is just a big plate you put things on.
- DigitAl56K, on 12/02/2007, -1/+17Damn. If you have to stick the phones on a frikkin pad to charge them you might as well just put some electrical contacts there anyway. What the heck is the "wireless" claim about if you still have to attach the phone to something...
- tavisjohn, on 12/02/2007, -0/+12It is not really WIRELESS, as you have to place the device on the charger...
How hard is it to plug in a cord? Now if I could just plug a device in a single outlet, and when I enter the room my Razr, Zune, DS, and Lifedrive all automatically started charging while still in my bags/pockets, THEN and only then will I be impressed! - inactive, on 12/02/2007, -3/+14Bid deal; it is called a secondary winding in a transformer. Put the secondary winding and charger in the phone and the primary winding in a docking station. The Braun - Oral B cordless toothbrush has been using that principle for the last 10 years.
- dunderballer, on 12/02/2007, -2/+13With so many wireless hardware manufacturers still using proprietary charger connections warranting the sale of accessories (docks, replacement chargers, car chargers, etc), I doubt many will willingly embed WildCharger compatibility as a universal charging solution. Hopefully, one manufacture will and the others will be forced to follow.
- inactive, on 12/02/2007, -7/+14There already is a universal charging solution. It's called usb. Works with my ipod and cellphone.
- temugen, on 12/02/2007, -1/+8You would think so wouldn't you... but this doesn't use a magnetic field to induce a current.
- plr4ever, on 12/02/2007, -2/+8So is it magnetic induction or conduction?
- roamzero, on 12/02/2007, -3/+9Waste? I think its wasteful to have a charging device for every piece of equipment you own. Like another poster mentioned, the closest thing we have now for universal charging is usb, and that's assuming you are even allowed to use a standard cable.
- gothsquirrel, on 12/02/2007, -4/+10What a waste of resources. Instead of using a metal wire to charge your phone we're going to use up 1000 times the metal and some plastic + an actual wire to hook the pad into the wall. Just for what? So you can just set your phone down instead of plugging it in. This is not the kind of wireless power I was hoping for from a digg article. If you buy this thing you are a wasteful tool.
- steveoco, on 12/02/2007, -1/+7Think geek had tech like this years ago... (some time around april)
- RocketGib, on 12/02/2007, -0/+5I HAVE AN IDEA! Put some water your hand and see if you can charge your brain with this thing.
- thorbeast, on 12/02/2007, -1/+6Disappointing. Not wireless after all. Now, come up with a true wireless power source that will broadcast power to everything that needs power in the room and you've got something. Until then, I'll stick with plugging it in.
Now, here is something handy for when travelling without power and you need to charge up:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.j ... - Ashex, on 12/02/2007, -0/+5They'll most likely license it and create they're own proprietary version.
Edit: check out the adapters, they don't look that bad.
https://www.wildcharge.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=ca ... - crashingechelon, on 12/02/2007, -1/+6I found this to be a little misleading. Reading the title about a 'wireless' charger, the first thought that came to mind was game consoles. Imagine playing the 360, PS3, or Wii and never have to worry about batteries since the wireless controller would be charged/powered wirelessly from the system. After clicking on the link to read the article, I found this 'wireless' charger was a pad that you place your device on that you want charged. Not exactly wireless.
- romistrub, on 12/02/2007, -0/+4This is most practical in situations where you have many, many devices charging simultaneously. It also has the added bonus of being convenient to just set something on the charger rather than plugging it in (e.g. taking your cell out of your pocket and setting it on the charger when you get in the door). Mostly the former, though. For example, I have a blackberry, ipod, mouse, camera, and probably more that I use regularly and require constant recharging. It'd be nice if my desk had this functionality.
- JustinPM, on 12/02/2007, -1/+5Yup, no induction here, says on the FAQ. Conduction only.
- pensel, on 12/02/2007, -0/+4While I agree this is pretty lame - it doesn't use magnetics to induce a current.
- cheesehound, on 12/02/2007, -3/+7Arnold did this years ago, AND he's killed more aliens than these guys.
http://www.afrotechmods.com/cheap/arnoldpad/arnold ... - StanleyKoolPrik, on 12/02/2007, -0/+4And this big tray-like apparatus is better than a plug how?
- Wrathernaut, on 12/02/2007, -0/+4Um, from the description of it, it seems the "adapter" is just slim electrical contacts and a "if voltage is negative, switch polarity before sending this power to the batter" circuit.
Technically it's "wireless" but it's still metal touching metal. - localzuk, on 12/02/2007, -0/+3"he company currently offers adapters for AT&T/Cingular, Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, and T-Mobile" - do these companies make phones then? I thought they were all network providers which used phones made by Apple, Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Samsung etc...
- Wrathernaut, on 12/02/2007, -1/+4Conduction.
- cheesehound, on 12/02/2007, -4/+7If anyone wants to make something like this for themselves, Arnold's on the ball:
http://www.afrotechmods.com/cheap/arnoldpad/arnold ...
He's probably killed more aliens than these guys, too. - lydecker, on 12/02/2007, -1/+4"This is not the kind of wireless power I was hoping for from a digg article." Agreed there. But it would definitely be cool to have to just plug in this pad to one outlet, and put all your devices on this pad. Simplicity works.
- ChromaVita, on 12/02/2007, -0/+3I don't like the idea that i would have to leave my laptop on a desk for a certain amount of time. With a cable i can still lay on my bed with it plugged in.
- HappyScrappy, on 12/02/2007, -3/+6They're not one of the first. Toothbrushes predated this.
This thing sucks, it requires a huge inductive coil be attached to your device whenever you charge it.
Buried as lame as hell. This is a crappy "solution" that doesn't solve anything. - Wrathernaut, on 12/02/2007, -1/+4Another commenter who didn't read (or understand) the article. This is contacts, technically "wire" less but still metal-to-metal contact, not wireless transmission of power.
However, since it covers up the normal charging port you'll need one for your car too, and one of these things is about 10x more inconvenient to travel with versus a standard mini-power brick. I do not deny the convenience factor this will have for a few people out there, such as a family takes an iPod or two, and a few RAZRs with them and want one place by the door to put them instead of charger-wire spaghetti. - TheGuruStud, on 12/02/2007, -0/+3You sir, are an idiot. It's done by induction. Go read about it.
It's a waste of energy and another pollutant. We already have enough radio waves flying around, and the long term health affects are not exactly known. Needless to say, it can't be good for you. - inactive, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2one word: stupid
- CCmachined, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2its only conducting. see the metal strips? no power is lost..
- Wrathernaut, on 12/02/2007, -1/+3RTFA.
This is nothing more than connectors and a circuit to make sure the polarity is correct.
I'm pretty sure it only outputs five volts too, so it's safe to touch. - omgsoemo, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2This is such an exciting idea that bas been done effing horribly
- Murdats, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2also while you are at it, read about crystal radios, they run off the power of the radio signal they are tuned to, ie. wireless electricity
- GawtMilk, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2Think if they made desks out of this. You get home, you drop your phone, iPod and laptop on your desk or table, then go get something to eat. That'd be awesome!
- crunkykd, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2
This idea was tried before and failed:
Mobilewise
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,106482-page,1/ar ...
Splashpower
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2861987.stm
The problem is they're solving a $0.98 problem with a $100 solution. And they want you to adopt their adapters as the new universal plug where the world already has one: USB.
What happens if you drop your keys, coins, or paperclips on the plate? - FatHed, on 12/04/2007, -0/+2This isn't news, it's an ad made to look like news.
- Wrathernaut, on 12/02/2007, -1/+3Oh, and this covers up your normal USB charging port too, so you better have one for your car too.
- boldfacelies, on 12/02/2007, -0/+2i dont understand what any of this means. i can see the second one. charge phones in cars, but the first one ... ? charge trays in roads?
- th3wiz4rd, on 12/03/2007, -0/+2Yep. This is lame as all hell. It just adds metal contacts to the bottom of your phone via a replacement battery.
Pic: http://www.wildcharge.com/images/products/3.jpg
Wireless my ass. Apparently metal contacts on the bottom of your phone touching metal + and - strips on the pads is "wireless". - TheGuruStud, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1The farther apart the windings are, the more is wasted. You know, they want this to be eventually done from feet away, not just directly on top of the device. How efficient do you think that is? This is just to make people think it's cool. Next, you'l be frying your brain some more charging your phone across the room b/c you're too lazy to put it on the charger. See how this goes?
still couldn't reply 1randomnumber, stupid digg, fix the comments! I even logged out and restarted firefox - SignorDildo, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1I agree, but it sure would be convenient, as opposed to - for example - the multitude of incompatible chargers for the multitude of everyday devices we already suffer. There should be one standard design (USB is good enough) and no more. The industry is to blame for our utter laziness, and the industry needs a kick up the rectum. Still, wireless power coupled with wireless communication between devices is neat.
- boldfacelies, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1this is cool, but how is it going to sync my pda-phone with my computer? i can see its benefits in cars, when my phone sits in the cup holder and a wire would look ugly (clearly only a aesthetics basis). Its use in furnishings would be fun, but i don't see myself sitting anywhere for a few hours with my phone out sitting in clear view.
- frazw, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1The only way this is wireless is because the device is short range. It's like cutting the wires off your charger, attaching it to a plate and exposing the charging contacts on the back of your phone. The only difference is the circuitry which detects and applies the correct polarity.
- romistrub, on 12/02/2007, -2/+3What the... that's not it at all. Imagine your lecture hall having tables/desks where your cellphone/lappy charges when you set it down. Think of it like furniture, and you've got yourself a sweet situation.
- JustinPM, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1Inductance to charge things has been around for a while and is handy to charge things without a direct metal conduction. The only problem is how it charges. Inductance is produced by putting two magnetic coils close to each other. As we all know, magnets and devices that have RAM are dangerous combinations. The thing they would have to work on if this product used inductance is how to shield the device magnetically while allowing the device to charge with that same magnetic field. Though this device isn't truly wireless.
- PabloIV, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1I was impressed by these guys:
http://www.powercastco.com/index.php?page=home
did they go the way of Steorn or do I still have a reason to be impressed? - JustinPM, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1Not really, there's no transmission. It's a conductive surface so there is no transferral of power, just direct current.
- falloutsyndrome, on 12/02/2007, -1/+2I think the main idea is that you could build this into a highend desk, that would power your monitor, your mouse, your keyboard, and you'd be able to throw your cellphone on the desk, or your ipod, or any other device. I believe that is the ultimate goal. I for one would love to have all of my peripherals charge via "sitting on my desk".
- frazw, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1Battery tech isn't up to it anyway. If your desk charged it whenever your laptop was on it, the battery would need replacing every few months. Perma charge is not good for batteries in general, much better to charge up then run down the battery.
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