My tech buddies are all asking me about the new Powermat charger. I was recently reminded of it on my last flight because there was an article in the Delta in-flight magazine. It's cool! I want it to succeed! However, I'm not ready to buy one just yet.
We can't get portable electronic manufacturers to standardize!
The reason I'm not quite ready to buy a Powermat just yet is not because it's not cool technology and not because I don't want LESS wires in my life (trust me, I do!). The reason is simple. In order to use the Powermat with any of my current gear it would require me to either get a special case or dock for each portable electronic gadget I have so that it would charge the device when you place it on the Powermat.
I won't be really interested in this technology until all of (or at least the ones I care about) the electronic device manufacturers agree to build a universal Powerpad compatible receptacle on the back/bottom of each of their devices. This way no matter which device you bought you could just set it on one these pads and it would start charging. How cool would that be?
I'm not hopeful that we'll see this anytime soon. We can't even get all the cellphone makers to agree (and start using) a standard USB charging port. Didn't I read at some point last year that they all agreed to do just that?
Sad but true…
If you want a good laugh, the next time you're in a hotel go up to the front desk and say that you left your phone charger at home and ask do they have one that you can borrow? They will bring out a box of no less than 50 different chargers that other travelers have left behind. Each of those chargers will be of a different type with a different tip. As a matter of fact companies like iGo have made a business of offering a universal charger and selling all the various tips you would need for each of your devices. Don't get me wrong, iGo works great but the Powermat is the new iGo! You would still need a different attachment for each of your devices to use the "universal" Powermat.
Let's go all the way!
Even if all the electronics manufactures agree, I still want more. I want the mats themselves to be built-in to all of the common surfaces that I'm around. For example, I would expect to start finding these mats built-in to the end tables at the airport lounges and other waiting areas. I would expect them to be built-in to desks and conference room tables. I would want furniture manufacturers to offer it as an option or at least offer the cut out for it so that that mat could be flush with the surface itself. Yep, it's asking a lot! However, it's certainly doable.
The Bottom Line
So while I do love the idea and initiative that the Powermat offers, I'm not ready to buy one until everyone agrees that this is the way we're going. I have a ton of iGo tips from years past and I don't want to go through this all over again with the Powermat. However, if you're ready to take the plunge you can get the Powermat here for less than $100.
On a recent episode of Tekzilla Veronica Belmont was not that impressed either. To make her point she was wondering what was so hard about plugging & unplugging her device into the standard wall charger. http://revision3.com/tekzilla/tekzilla112#rev3Player
Plus you have that extra bulk added to your device that will render many of your accessories useless
I love my iGo tips as well.
I also heard about WiFi Battery chargers in the near future that will trickle charge your battery wirelessly from WiFi signals, that will be cool!
I totally agree with you. I was really excited when i first saw this cool gadget. I totally loved the concept but having to buy an attachment for every piece of gear I have is going to be a pain. I’d rather stick to the old method until everybody decides to go with powermat and until it’s declared as the future of wireless charging.
I just want to see all devices land on a universal connector. I’m not sold on the PowerPad. To me, it takes up too much desktop/table real estate. I’d rather have a dock to hold my device vertically.
I agree about universality. I adore my iPhone, but detest the dock connector.
I saw these at Target recently. The Mat sells for $99 and each device adapter sells for roughly another $50. That’s a SIGNIFICANT investment in batteries only to save some cords. I agree, Terry, having fewer cords would be nice, but that’s a pretty hefty investment!
On your comment about standardized connectors: It seems that even the standards have different standards. For example, the mini USB port, found often on digital cameras and cell phones, are each different themselves. Some, like the Blackberry’s, require it’s own variant of mini USB cable. If you try to use a standard USB cable, either the phone won’t charge or won’t sync or both. If you try to use a Blackberry’s standard USB power brick on another phone type, it won’t work either.
Apple, our beloved Apple, recently changed the standard dock connector so that docking cables of previous “standard” items no longer work on the newer models. For example, I have an iPod to video (RCA) cable allowing me to run video off my iPod to my TV. This cable won’t work with any other “newer” model of ipod…
Heck, companies like Batteries + now make a living off selling only batteries for every different type of device and doo-dad, and if they don’t have one, they’ll fix the one you have.
Until the manufacturers come up with a way to standardize on connectors (and I’ll add Batteries), devices like Powermat won’t be a big success.
The biggest problem is that i can still use my phone when it’s charging with the cable. I can’t with this POC. and i need a flat space that is rather large to put the thing i already don’t have enough flat space.
So this is a no go for me.
One of the problems I have with any of these devices is the lack of sync. Sure you can charge the device, and all that. But in no way can this device or any similar sync those devices to your computer. So you still need the cables to connect to your computer for itunes, files, etc…
Universal power adaptors… In European mobile phones at least, it may become a reality sooner rather than later. Micro-USB anyone?
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemlongdetail.cfm?&item_id=3241&lang=en
For those of you wanting a standard, it’s coming:
http://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/
“Even if all the electronics manufactures agree, I still want more. I want the mats themselves to be built-in to all of the common surfaces that I’m around. For example, I would expect to start finding these mats built-in to the end tables at the airport lounges and other waiting areas. I would expect them to be built-in to desks and conference room tables. I would want furniture manufacturers to offer it as an option or at least offer the cut out for it so that that mat could be flush with the surface itself. Yep, it’s asking a lot! However, it’s certainly doable.”
Absolutely brilliant – built into airport lounge furniture and desks…could save so many of us the hassle of packing along our chargers…love it!
More importantly, FREE wifi in all airports and other public places.