O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: Pad

  • Rumor: Apple resuming work on abandoned AirPower wireless charging product

    Rumor: Apple resuming work on abandoned AirPower wireless charging product

    In spite of the assorted starts and stops involved in its now-abandoned AirPower wireless charging product, Apple appears to be working on a future wireless charger.

    In the latest edition of the journalist’s Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reiterates earlier reports that Apple still intends to create a wireless charging accessory that would charge multiple devices like an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once.

    Apple first announced the AirPower wireless charging mat in September 2017 alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X handsets. At the time, Apple said the charging product would launch sometime in 2018, but that didn’t happen. Following months of rumors about development issues, Apple canceled the project in March 2019.

    Since then, Apple has introduced MagSafe charging for its iPhones as well as the MagSafe Duo accessory, which can wirelessly charge an Apple Watch and ‌iPhone‌ in tandem, although the Duo is just two separate wireless chargers joined together. At present, the company seems to be planning to release a charging device that can charge up all three products at the same time.

    German noted that Apple is still investigating charging solutions that don’t rely on contact-based inductive charging technology. He also stated that Apple is working on “short and long distance wireless charging devices” and that the company “imagines” a future where all of its major devices can charge each other.

    The closest Apple has come to this technology is with its MagSafe battery pack, which can receive power from an ‌iPhone‌ when the latter device is plugged in and charging. Given the ‌MagSafe Battery Pack‌’s reverse wireless charging feature, it seems technically possible that an ‌iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 could deliver power to AirPods or AirPods Pro, but Apple has not yet implemented this feature.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Apple releases Touch ID-equipped Magic Keyboard as separate accessory

    Apple releases Touch ID-equipped Magic Keyboard as separate accessory

    It’s taken a few months, but users can now snag Apple’s new, Touch ID-equipped Magic Keyboard for $149 for the standard version and $179 for a full-sized model with a number pad.

    The Touch ID keyboard was introduced alongside the M1 iMac earlier this year, but at the time, the only way to get one was to buy a new computer. Now, though, anyone can buy one of the new keyboards, albeit with one key caveat: the standalone models are only available in Apple’s usual white/aluminum color scheme, instead of the more colorful models that come with the brightly hued iMacs.

    Apple has also begun selling the Magic Trackpad for $129, complete with more rounded corners.

    The devices still use Lightning ports to charge, and include a woven Lightning to USB-C cable. 

    As was the case with the Magic Keyboard model that shipped with the M1 iMac, the standalone Touch ID keyboards still will only let you use the biometric sensor with an M1 Mac — a list that includes Apple’s recent MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac models. 

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Verge and MacRumors

  • Leaked AirTag Quick Start Guide images hint at upcoming features, AirPower interconnectivity

    Once again, it’s the leaks that make life interesting.

    A new leaker by the handle of “Caleb Lin” has released images that offer a Quick Start Guide for Apple’s rumored AirPower and airTag products.

    The images on the right side of the leaked image show an AirTag, an AirPower, and (what looks to be) an Apple Watch charger. Based on the arrows shown in the diagrams, you can place the AirTag on an AirPower or an Apple Watch charger for the AirTag to charge wirelessly. 

    This is strange given that previous leaks have stated that the AirTag will use a user-removable coin battery. The battery is said to be accessibly via a removable door at the bottom of the AirTag, as was seen in early Apple TV removes. The leak also suggests that the AirTags could incorporate a battery that can be charged wirelessly.

    The leaked image also seems to indicate that the main (or only) method of charging AirTags is to use the included wireless charger. The leak also confirms that the wireless charger will be included in the AirTag box.

    Based on the top paragraph on the right side of the leaked image, it appears that the main (or only) method of charging AirTags is by placing it on the included wireless charger, similar to the Apple Watch. It also confirms that a wireless charger will be included in the AirTag box, although the AirPower will be available separately, as can be seen in the fine print at the bottom of the image.

    Another leaked image shows how to attach the AirTag to a keychain. There is also text accompanying the image telling the user to use the “rubber loop”, meaning the diagram shown in this leaked photo is likely a placeholder and will be replaced with the actual diagram before mass production.

    The final leaked image shows an iPhone paired with an AirTags via the “Find My” app. Not much else is given since the placeholder information has yet to be completed.

    The leaks also seem to confirm recent rumors that the AirPower wireless charging pad is still in development at pole. Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 6 and the next iPad Air on September 8th, with the iPhone 12 following a week or two later.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInformed and @caleblin_apple

  • Apple may have resolved the AirPower’s overheating issue

    Apple may have resolved a major engineering concern with its ongoing AirPower accessory project.

    A new product leaked indicates that the Apple AirPower “C68” project has resolved an issue wherein the Apple Watch caused drastic overheating of the three-device charge pad.

    The leak surfaced from Jon Prosser, and the fix could resolve the core issue as to why the AirPower project had been canceled.

    Prior to this, Apple refused to explain why it had canceled the long-delayed product. In March 2019, Senior Vice President offered the following statement to the press regarding the issue:

    “After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project. We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward.”

    Per Prosser’s reportage, the issue was due to overheating. The Apple Watch, and its proprietary wireless charging system, were said to require more energy than other devices.

    AirPower was supposed to allow you to place multiple devices — such as Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods — anywhere on its surface and be charged. However, according to Prosser, “if you placed an Apple Watch on the mat alongside other devices, the entire mat would overheat.”

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and @jon_prosser

  • Rumor: AirPower may have entered production phase

    At long last, the AirPower charging mat might have entered production.

    Hong Kong website ChargerLAB cites a “credible source” within Apple’s supply chain who claims Chinese manufacturer Luxshare Precision has started production of the AirPower. The source has added that he has heard the AirPower will be released soon.

    Luxshare, which is a member of the Wireless Power Consortium behind the Qi standard and also assembles AirPods for Apple as well as the company’s Lightning to USB-C cables, according to ChargerLAB. Reports had suggested Luxshare would be a primary supplier of the AirPower since as early as February 2017.

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