Are we getting that lazy?

[13Gigatons]

I see they are selling a charging pad now, is it that hard to plug a phone in?

http://www.chargingpad.org/

 

[Crusty]

No, it's not that hard... but it sure is easier not having to do it!

 

[chusteczka]

I am too lazy to reply to your post.
I am also too lazy to get out of this chair and go to bed.

 

[IcePickFreak]

I think the advantage to the charging pads is you can use it for more than one phone. So instead of having several chargers you have a single pad you can toss the phones on.

 

[mjrpes3]

I think the advantage to the charging pads is you can use it for more than one phone. So instead of having several chargers you have a single pad you can toss the phones on.

Yes, although ironically all these multiple devices we once would have needed to plug in (phone, iPod, PDA, gameboy, etc) are now merging into one device, the smartphone. You can even get a smartphone now with multiple SIMs.

 

[Ika]

You save wire clutter, convenience having to plug/unplug your phone all the time, the possibility of accidentally tripping over your charging phone, knocking it to the ground and sliding it across the room. The wire clutter thing is pretty big though.

 

[shortylickens]

Anything mechanical is bad. And having to plug in that stupid little metal spade qualifies. Eventually it will wear out and not make a connection. If it can be eliminated, do so.

And even though I think Americans are indeed very lazy, this is one of those items which doesnt qualify that.

 

[edro]

Lazy? No.
It saves time, material, environment, mechanical wear, clutter, etc.
Negatives: It may cause cancer.

 

[PottedMeat]

yeah that's not laziness as anyone with a laptop with a worn out/broken power jack knows. less mechanical wear is always better. soon rotating media will be gone yay.

 

[DivideBYZero]

meh

 

[ebaycj]

I see they are selling a charging pad now, is it that hard to plug a phone in?

http://www.chargingpad.org/

No connectors to wear out over time.

 

[911paramedic]

No connectors to wear out over time.

This.

Guess how they came up with the phrase cordless phone.

 

[imagoon]

No connectors to wear out over time.

The electronics in mine die before the connector wears out...

 

[meltdown75]

y.

 

[Cogman]

Lazy? No.
It saves time, material, environment, mechanical wear, clutter, etc.
Negatives: It may cause cancer.

Yes, because people get cancer from magnets all the time...


Ohh Nosss, I can't see it! It must cause cancer!

 

[bignateyk]

Does this only work with devices of certain voltages? What would happen if you stuck a 5v device onto the pad if it is meant for 12v devices?

 

[PottedMeat]

Does this only work with devices of certain voltages? What would happen if you stuck a 5v device onto the pad if it is meant for 12v devices?

i believe the pads are universal, they just transmit the energy. you buy a little flat adapter receiver for your particular device and it handles the voltage/current conversion.

here's a duracell one: http://www.duracell.com/en-US/series/mygrid-accessories.jspx


hmm i would have thought they made a receiver that mounts internally to the battery or something but i guess that would be asking too much of people to install it.

 

[vi edit]

That's not realy lazy. It's functionally convenient. As others have said, as the technology behind inductive charging progresses it will be a huge leap forward. From controllers that you just set on the console to mice that charge through the mousepad to cars that you can just park over a pad in the garage. It cuts down on clutter, physical connections, and it just looks nicer.

Plus it's a nice fix for women that can't seem to ever plug something back in

 

[Kev]

My dad got me one of these as a joke for christmas because I saw the commercial and said, "WTF? No wai!"

It's kind of stupid because for my iphone you need to put it in a special case that adds a lot of bulk to the phone..

 

[lxskllr]

Yes, because people get cancer from magnets all the time...


Ohh Nosss, I can't see it! It must cause cancer!

Can you prove it doesn't cause cancer? I didn't think so... ;^)

 

[PingSpike]

My dad got me one of these as a joke for christmas because I saw the commercial and said, "WTF? No wai!"

It's kind of stupid because for my iphone you need to put it in a special case that adds a lot of bulk to the phone..

So basically, you have to plug it in every time anyway or more or less just carry part of the extra weight of a charger with you all the time.

I'd prefer they just designed plugs and outlets on these things to be more robust, but I doubt that is going to happen.

 

[bruceb]

I haven't had a connector for power or USB fail on me yet.

 

[sdifox]

lulz, people think they just place their device on it and it charges.

THAT IS NOT TRUE!

You have to get an induction receiving module in order to receive that power and that in terns charge your device.

Just use your charger.

 

[vi edit]

lulz, people think they just place their device on it and it charges.

THAT IS NOT TRUE!

You have to get an induction receiving module in order to receive that power and that in terns charge your device.

Just use your charger.

That's why I qualified with "as the technology improves". I know there's a jacket you have to place the device in currently. But as these things get more mainstream I'm sure you'll see inductive charging as more of a built in function.

 

[Numenorean]

Hopefully they actually start building this shit in, because Powermat's solution for some devices is pretty fucking dumb.