Kickstarted mobe charger 'kicked to death by Apple' Apple has apparently screwed a bullet into a project to build a charger for iPads, iPhones, Android mobes and other handheld gadgets. The device includes Apple's new Lightning power and high-speed data connector but, we're told, the Cupertino giant refused to grant a licence for its use because the charger can also top up …
Instead you have to lug around the, frankly, MASSIVE POP Portable power supply instead? Have you seen the pictures? it looks nearly bigger than an iPad!
This thing is bigger than a usb power plug and three or even four usb to usb/usbMini/iPhone30pin/lightening leads.
The only thing shocking about this story is that enough people thought it was a good idea for it to succeed it's Kickstarter stage.
I think it is more aimed at fancy coffee bars so people can charge there ithingies and other devices while sipping a tax dodging Mochafrapalattechino. The idea is good for this though sadly Apply want to keep all and any profits from anything they make to themselves really, how long till they refuse the licencing of the Lightning connector to docking stations and the like
That would mean Apple incorporating wireless charging which they're unlikely to do any time soon, and if they do they will develop their own proprietary standard or engineer their products to only work with official Apple licensed induced energy, non-licensed energy will not be allowed.........
Apple already ship seriously deficient wireless data implementations in their devices to stop people actually interfacing with them in non-approved ways. What makes you think wireless charging is going to be any different?
Interoperability is a dirty word in Cupertino. It's reason number one on the list of why you should never, ever buy i-anything.
Zippy,
Apple already had there own cable types when the micro USB came out. This was already used for the iPod's and adding a second connector just to charge your device is just ridiculous. Also, you GET a USB cable with your iPad/iPhone/iPad so you can stick it into any USB port without issues.
@JeevesMkII,
Apple is one of the few that adheres to standards pretty well. I believe they have been using, and continue to do so the 32pin interface cable. All compatible with the iDevices. The lightning cable is new but I can plug it into any mac, PC or USB charging station and it will charge or communicate with the device I plug it into.
Take any phone from any other brand and they will, or have been suppling different cables throughout the years for each and every different model.
Also, don't forget it was Apple that used USB first, only after that it was the PC that started to use the USB standard, and the MAC's are still using USB next to the newer standards. Where MS or Adobe used there own media format's, Apple have been using H.268 for very very long times, only for other companies to follow and making it there standard, even Firefox comes back to that decision! webDAV webCAL, all standards used by Apple for there iDevices where for example Microsoft uses it's own 'standards'.
Also, USB won't work for everything, you cannot reliably transfer video+ audio signals over USB in a predictable way.
So, don't come to me that Apple doesn't adhere to any standards, they are doing a fine job, may be not perfect, but they are for sure not in a bad position.
@rvt
The 32pin interface cable isn't a standard, it's an Apple proprietary interface.
Apple did NOT use USB first, your're completely off your rocker. They weren't even on the standards committee for it being invented. Apple tried to get everyone to use firewire, which was shunned by the rest of the industry, and eventually gave in to USB.
You can't transfer video over the lightning doc at all. USB has 0 issues transferring both.
Troll sufficiently fed.
Dear rvt,
I almost don't know where to start with your nonsense claims.
First, the whole point of the "Lightning" connector on new iStuff is that IT'S NOT THE SAME as the proprietary 32 pin thingy that only Apple used. And unlike that old 32 pin interface, this new "Lightning" thing needs a license from Apple. The reason why the changed is, of course, THAT YOU NEED A LICENSE FROM APPLE.
Second, no, Apple did not "use USB first", because USB is an Intel innovation, which didn't fit with Apple's PowerPC systems. Apple created Firewire, and look where that is now.
Third, Apple has been using H.264 (not H.268) for a while, but don't confuse encoding with container.
Fourth, Apple's "standards" are no different from Microsoft's "standards".
Fifth, if you have problems with USB, blame the individual device, because *I* can reliable transfer video+audio reliably over USB.
Sixth, the issue is not that Apple doesn't adhere to any standards, but that the standards that they adhere to are the ones that suit them, and if they can extort money out of using something else, they've demonstrated that that's EXACTLY what they'll do.
@Chris007,
That is the fault of the consumer buying an iDevice then. The industry has moved to micro-USB as a charging standard. The Apple solution requires their consumers to carry a converter cable. That is the cost of using an iDevice. Given that Apple won't license the lightning connector to a device that has more than one cable means that if you need a quick charge, you can't use any of those charging stations around.
..............thought that those contributing to the thread would like to know that Ars Technica are reporting that Cupertino appear to be rowing backwards at high speed. I shall say no more - information only.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/12/apple-lifts-block-on-combo-30-pinlightning-charging-accessories/
"Cupertino - get this - hasn't responded to our query"
Say it ain't so!
"I have never understood why Apple are always going off for a sulk when El Reg says something mean about them."
They deal with a lot of media outlets. Why court any that are less than sycophantic when you could be paying off Guardian hacks courting those who are?
Ah yes the Apple fanatic who only posts as an AC. How those thieving koreans must haunt your dreams, spoiling your jobsian utopia. Buck up little fella, maybe some day the Apple cult will be able to sue all their competitors with their false patents and paid-for juries.
'Samsung' joins 'libtard' in the mccarthy book of slanders I guess.
I found El Reg when ZDNet shutdown AnchorDesk (I presume because like El Reg, they weren't necessarily friendly to the professional bs feeders employed by the major vendors). Similar shit seems to have happened with Tom's Hardware which use to be a good reliable site without overdone advertising.
I guess what I am saying is you can keep your "professional news sites," I'll stick with straight shooters. Even when I tend to fundamentally disagree with their politics.
The iPhone maker is legally free to restrict licensing as it sees fit
I'm not so sure about that. Sounds extremely anti-competitive and similar to the position on I-Tunes music that was struck down in court. Licences should be available to all who can pay the (FRAND?) fee and possibly meet quality standards, a perfectly reasonable condition that can be part of the licence.
This will probably take another ex-territorial manufacturer to develop and release the product and fight Apple in the courts. The developers should probably give someone in Shenzen a call and launch the product.
The legal ins and outs are not my forte but (as expressed in the Reg article) this is clearly behaviour that Apple's customer's ought to resist.
Whether or not is is overly bulky, unattractive or not cool enough you'd want every option possible for your power hungry devices to get charged - if this thing is going to exist you'd want it to be able to hook up to your iPhone just in case.
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