I mean...there are still wires. Just not connected directly to your phone.
Rezence's (now also Powermat's) technology I think makes more sense for something like this.
I agree in terms of effort, the change is minimal, but consider a family who has 3 or 4 different devices and hence ports,. required to charge.
This means I don't need to hunt down the proper cord, we just have a couple of these devices at the front door. To me, that's eliminates a large pain in the ass.
At work no one needs to ask if someone has a black berry version 3 cord, or a "new style" Samsung galaxy cord, or the latest iPhone charging cable, you just put your phone down and walk away:)
it's a first world problem that is being solved here, but it's a big one that doesn't appear to be going away. European posturing aside.
http://www.cnet.com/news/eu-wants-all-companies-ahem-apple-t...
Well, if you've ever had a port or cable break on you, you should know why.
It doesn't have exposed wires or moving parts, which means it should be much harder to break. Micro-usb is only rated for 10k insertions. If you plug your phone in 10 times a day, that's 2.5 years, and Galaxy S3's are quickly coming up on that old.
I have a Qi charger at my bed, in my computer room, car and work desk... I can just set my phone down at any of those places and not worry about fudging with wires (also have bluetooth headsets lying around).
I've had to replace phones due to broken/worn out jacks.
Having only used devices using Qi's standard, what's the difference?
When I am getting ready for bed I take my phone out of my pocket and put it on the charger, and go change into my pajamas. Then, later, while laying in bed, I might decide to read something so I pick up my phone and read. If I get an early morning phone call, I can grab my phone with my eyes closed and answer it. Admittedly a long cable might make those use cases workable.
My friend has his charger on his desk at work and doesn't charge the phone at home. If I knew that the Nexus line were going to stay magnetic, I'd have one in my car mounted upright as well as one on my desk at home and work.
I thought that too, until I used one. I have a charging mat on my desk, so without even thinking about it now, every time I sit down I put my phone on the pad and it starts charging. Given that I get up and sit down a lot during the day (for meetings, etc) not having to fuss around with plugging in a charging cable (a two handed operation) is a blessing.
Yes, it's an absolute first world problem, but IMO charging mats are well worth it. It's just a shame that Apple still doesn't build in support for them. That said, docks have much the same effect, albeit with more breakable parts.
Having bought a Tylt Vu easel-style wireless charger I disagree.
It's far more convenient to have the charger on my nightstand. I don't have to have a USB cord dangling around. I also don't have to fumble with it in the dark if my wife goes to bed before I do. It seems to be a law of nature that you can never plug in a USB cord the right direction the first time around.
But personally, there's one much bigger reason wireless is so much better than USB: Qi doesn't wear out your USB jack. After plugging & unplugging my phone at least once a day for a year or two (and occasionally bumping it while plugged in), the USB jack eventually became an extremely finnicky, barely-usable pain in the ass.