Apple’s “new iPhone is expected to include new features such as high-resolution displays, wireless charging and 3-D sensors,” Stephen Nellis reports for Reuters. “Some of the anticipated new technologies, notably wireless charging, remain messy. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. phones, for example, feature wireless charging but support two different sets of standards, one called Qi and the other AirFuel.”
“Apple recently joined the group backing Qi,” Nellis reports. “But there are still at least five different groups working on wireless charging technology within Apple, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.”
“Apple will likely make a heavy marketing push around the phone’s 10th anniversary,” Nellis reports. “‘iPhone set the standard for mobile computing in its first decade and we are just getting started. The best is yet to come,’ Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in a statement Jan. 8, the date the iPhone was announced by then-CEO Steve Jobs in 2007.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Qi is so-called wireless charging.
Hopefully, Apple’s joining of the Wireless Power Consortium doesn’t mean that the next-gen iPhone(s) will merely offer Qi “wireless” charging (which, of course, requires wires) instead of delivering true, groundbreaking wirelsss charging, as in Energous.
Right now, the Apple Watch’s charging system is nice because it’s less fiddly, and especially useful in the dark, but it’s still essentially a wired charging system in practice. If Apple offers Q1-type charging, it’ll be fine, but will not be a big selling point – unless it offers considerably faster charging.
SEE ALSO:
Apple joins Wireless Power Consortium – February 13, 2017
Apple’s ‘iPhone X’ to feature wireless charging and iris scanning technology, sources say – February 10, 2017
KGI’s Ming Chi Kuo predicts wireless charging for all three new iPhones – February 9, 2017
More evidence suggests Apple tie-up with true wireless charging firm Energous – December 21, 2016
Apple supplier Dialog partners with wireless charging company Energous – December 15, 2016
Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple’s next-gen iPhone to feature all-glass case for wireless charging – November 23, 2016
Two major ‘iPhone 8’ leaks reveal groundbreaking new features – November 23, 2016
Evidence suggests Apple is working on the biggest mobile game-changer since the original iPhone – November 8, 2016
Apple possibly working with Energous on extended range wireless charging for future iPhones – February 5, 2016
Apple developing cutting-edge long-range wirelessly-charged iPhones and iPads – January 29, 2016
iPhone 7 and the potential for wireless charging – January 19, 2016
Apple will drop headphone jack to make the iPhone 7 super slim, source confirms; wireless charging and waterproof, too – January 7, 2016
Apple looks to patent inductive charging system that could power an Apple Pencil or even a future kitchen appliance – January 7, 2016
Apple files 5th wireless inductive charging patent application since Late September – November 5, 2015\
Apple patent application reveals iPhone inductive charging sans extra hardware – October 8, 2015
Patent application reveals Apple working on wireless charging systems focused on rapid power delivery – August 27, 2015
Apple invents inductive charging interfaces for mobile devices – April 2, 2015
Good take, MDN.
“Apple has at least five different groups working on wireless charging technology”
To be clear, by this time iPhone 8’s design has already been finished, including the wireless charging part. Due to Apple’s giant manufacturing levels design has to be finalized at least half a year before iPhone will appear on shelves.
So those five different groups are now working on 2018’s iPhone 8s wireless capabilities.
Exactly… whatever is coming in iPhone 8 is now fixed, done, finito…
iPhone designs are frozen around – right – now. The remainder of the next 6 months is left to design for manufacturing and ramp production to fulfill shelves on launch day.
iPhone 8s looks to be the iPhone that delivers some “real” wireless charging.
Choice: Want RF streaming through wires or through your body?
How many groups are working on the Macs?
This is most likely why Apple dropped the Airport products, so they could allocate the engineers to this project. Wouldn’t be surprised to see an integrated wireless signal+power product come from Apple in the (somewhat near) future.