Some mornings I open my email and I receive something incredible like this: the awesome contents of Steve Wozniak’s backpack. What you see above (click to expand) is just his charging setup—there’s even more! Here’s Woz to explain it himself—J. More »
The first time we saw the BioLite camping stove, it was a fantastic idea that seemed sadly like vaporware. Now it’s real, redesigned, available for sale at $130, and will be awesome for wilderness geeks everywhere. More »
Wireless phone and tablet charging without the bulky case compromise could be in the pipeline if TDK Corporation has its way, revealing the slimmest wireless power transfer coil unit to-date. It may look like the tiniest underfloor heating system in the world, but in fact the 0.57mm thick panel promises to get your future smartphone or tablet rejuiced simply by slapping it down onto an inductive pad.
Compliant with the Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi standard, the TDK coil relies on a proprietary flexible thin metal magnetic sheet, making for a system that’s slim and lightweight but not delicate. Qi is the global standard for wireless charging, supporting beaming power across up to 40mm distances, and with the backing of over 100 companies.
Output current at present is around 0.5 to 0.6 Amperes, TDK says. However an even thinner 0.50mm version is already being developed in the company’s labs, with equal or better output current.
TDK expects mass production of the new wireless power transfer coil unit to start in 2013, though the firm hasn’t said if any OEMs have expressed interest in the technology. Still, with applications in not only phones and tablets – which could have their batteries quickly topped up whenever you put them down on your desk or nightstand – but in accessories like Bluetooth headsets and even wearables such as Google’s Glass, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it picked up between now and production.
TDK reveals Wireless Charging small enough for headsets or Google Glass is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Carrying around a charging cable is a fact of life if you use your smartphone for more than just the occasional call. But instead of packing the bulky cables that came with your iPhone or Android handset, just slip this tiny USB adapter onto your keychain for emergency battery top-offs. More »
One of the biggest issues preventing the electric car from taking over the roads is their incredibly limited battery life. But researchers at the Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan have demonstrated a new system that could let electric cars constantly recharge while they’re being driven. More »
Even though I’m not a fan of current wireless charging technology, I’m still impressed by YouTuber tanv28, who modified his iPhone 4S to support wireless charging. Pair this with the wireless syncing feature in iOS 5 and you can ditch your charge and sync cables. If you can pull off the mod, that is.
As tanv28 warns in the video, this is not an easy project and it will void your warranty. Such is the price of convenience. You’ll need soldering tools, a thin gauge wire, a spare charger port assembly, a spare iPhone 4S back cover and the wireless charging receiver and circuitry from Powermat. You can skip to about 1:00 in the video for the steps:
Proof that Apple runs in his blood, tanv28 even made a commercial for his customized iPhone:
Tanv28 didn’t mention if his iPhone can’t be charged via a cable anymore, but judging from his thorough guide I’m betting that it the dock connector still works, otherwise he would’ve mentioned it. Now all he needs to do is make his iPhone float.
[via Ubergizmo]
Back in the 1920s, Thomas Edison’s dream of an electric automobile was ultimately foiled by those meddling petroleum engines. But thanks to nanotube research from Stanford University, one legacy from that era may regain some glory: nickel-iron batteries. It turns out that carbon nanotubes doped with nickel and iron crystals can top up the normally slow-charging cells in a matter of minutes — according to the scientists, that’s almost 1,000 times faster than in the past. Although the batteries couldn’t power your Volt or Prius due to a lack of energy density, they could give an extra jolt to their lithium-ion siblings for quicker starts and regenerative braking. The researchers are working on improving stability to allow more charging cycles, but it might be an extra in-your-face for Edison if it pans out.
Ubiquitous nanotubes could reboot Edison-era nickel-iron battery technology originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 02:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple has been granted a batch of patents today by the US Patent and Trademark Office—27 new patents to be exact. PatentlyApple dug up the details on these patents, pointing out some of the more notable ones including an inductive charging station for handsets as well as iOS scrolling, rotating, and scaling on a touchscreen display.
The patent for the inductive charging station supports rumors that Apple has been developing a wireless charging dock for future iPhones. Illustrations from the patent reveal that the docking station will include a re-radiating antenna and an inductive charging circuit. The dock can house devices both standing upright or in other orientations. The patent was first filed back in Q1 of 2008 and was credited to Victor Tiscareno, John Tang, and Stephen Zadesky.
Apple was also granted patents for scrolling lists, translating, rotating, and scaling of electronic documents on touchscreen devices, all of which add more ammo to Apple’s legal arsenal. Still other patents granted to Apple today include a light sensitive display, a method and apparatus for checking an acoustic test fixture, an uninterrupted VPN connection service, application of speed effects to a video presentation, incremental secure backup and and restore of user settings and data.
Apple wins patent for inductive charging station is written by Rue Liu & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Twelve South, the same South Carolina-based outfit that’s been keeping the Bass(Jump) coming, has just outed the best MacBook power adapter accessory… ever. Almost. The PlugBug is an iPad / iPhone / iPod / USB-based-whatever charger that snaps right on top of your existing MacBook or MacBook Pro AC adapter, allowing you to charge your Mac laptop as well as a single USB-based device at the same time. It’s a ten-watt adapter, so your iPad and those other high-powered gizmos should take take to it just fine, and it’s actually capable of acting on its own should you ever need to dismount it. Unfortunately, those in need of a non-US adapter will be out of luck, but on the upside, this converts international adapters for US use should you head over this way. It’s on sale now for $34.99 at the source link below, and if it only had more than one USB port, we’d recommend it without hesitation. Ah well — there’s always version 2.0, right? Promo vid’s after the break.
PlugBug adds an iPad / iPod / iPhone USB charging port to your MacBook power adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nissan’s new charging technology will juice your EV in ten minutes, ten years from now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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