“On September 20, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of 17 patent applications from Apple,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“In this report we briefly cover Apple’s latest efforts at harnessing power through electromagnetic induction,” Purcher reports. “Apple has something up their sleeve for better powering future devices longer. While I’m not sure that today’s invention is the magic bullet, Apple’s Phil Schiller thinks there’s a better solution out there.”
Purcher reports, “Last Wednesday Phil Schiller noted that ‘As for wireless charging, the wireless charging systems still have to be plugged into the wall, so it’s not clear how much convenience they add.’ The widely-adopted USB cord, meanwhile, can charge in wall outlets, computers and even on airplanes… ‘Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated,’ Schiller said.”
Much more, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.
The aspect that they have to solve is wireless charging within a moving vehicle. Simply placing the device on a smooth charging surface will not be any good as it will slide off.
Unless a system solution works at home, in a hotel or in a moving vehicle, it’s not a valid solution.
Stunning lack of imagination there, old bean.
Magnets.
the surface can be smooth without being flat. a charging surface with raised edges (to cradle the iDevice) would work perfectly.
Don’t walk through the induction field!
Tesla patented that! 😉