After spending plenty of quality time with the new Samsung Galaxy S4 last Thursday, along with a new Samsung wireless charging pad, we left Radio City Music Hall mostly confused as to whether or not the device will actually have wireless charging out of the box. Some reps on hand said that it has the ability built into the back plate which comes on the phone in the box, while others said it would be a separate accessory. Leave it to the Wireless Power Consortium to sort it all out.

In a press release sent out this morning, they have confirmed that the Galaxy S4 does indeed support the Qi standard in wireless technology, however, it will come via “optional” back battery cover and wireless charging pad.

So as in years past, we will have to rely on Samsung and carrier partners to release the wireless charging back. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck without it. 

Rapidly Expanding Qi Ecosystem Now Includes Compatible Phones from Samsung, Nokia, LG, HTC, Panasonic, Sony, Motorola, Sharp, Fujitsu, NEC, and Pantech

Samsung Galaxy S4 has Qi Standard Wireless Charging, Again With Optional Back Plate is a post from: Droid Life

One thing we certainly love above LG is their infatuation with wireless charging and the Qi standard. After having released the Nexus 4 and Spectrum 2 here in the States with wireless charging built in, followed by the launch of the Nexus 4′s wireless charging Orb only a week or so ago, it’s clear that they aren’t interested in add-on wireless kits like Samsung has done for years. No sir, with LG, they want wireless charging built directly into their devices. 

So with today’s tonight’s announcement of the “world’s smallest” wireless charger, this only solidifies their stance on wireless charging as a major feature in the future of smartphones and technology.

This new charger, which doesn’t actually have a name other than WCP-300, is Qi certified (wireless standard) and contains a charging area that is 1.7 times wider than their previous generation chargers. It’s also only 6.9mm in diameter and roughly the size of a typical beverage coaster. It looks a lot like the Nexus 4′s Orb, only without the angular half-sphere attached.

No availability or pricing was announced.

LG INTRODUCES WORLD’S SMALLEST WIRELESS CHARGER
LG’s Thin and Sleek Wireless Charger Delivers Maximum Charging Performance and User Convenience

BARCELONA, Feb. 26, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) today introduced the world’s smallest wireless charger at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. At only 6.9cm in diameter, the WCP-300 is designed with portability in mind. Despite its di-minutive size, the charging area is 1.7 times wider than that of LG’s previous generation wireless charger. The new model is compatible with a standard 5-pin micro-USB charger, providing the highest level of charging performance and user convenience.

The WCP-300 employs electromagnetic induction technology and is Qi certified by the Wireless Power Consortium. Electromagnetic induction produces a magnetic field that in turn generates an electric current to charge the batteries in devices placed on the charging pad. Certification ensures that the WCP-300 is compatible with all smart-phones that support the Qi standard.

“Wireless charging is the holy grail of smartphone user convenience,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the WCP-300, LG was able to deliver both portability with top-class charging capabilities in a device no larger than a typical beverage coaster.”

In the US market, both the LG Spectrum 2 and Nexus 4 feature built-in support for wireless charging right out of the box, eliminating the need to purchase separate covers. LG believes that built-in support for upcoming smartphones will be the most critical development in making wireless charging the industry standard going forward.

LG is committed to offering consumers a better mobile user experience by introducing smartphones with more advanced wireless charging technologies in the global market.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2012 global sales of USD 45.22 billion (KRW 50.96 trillion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solution – and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

LG Introduces the WCP-300 aka the “World’s Smallest” Wireless Charger is a post from: Droid Life

Well, hello there Nexus 4 wireless charger, aka the Orb. It feels good to finally have you in our hands after all these months of dealing with garbage wireless charger after garbage wireless charger. Even at your steep $59.99 price tag, we welcome you onto our desks, to be here through the rest of our life with the Nexus 4 in our pockets. Actually, assuming the next Nexus and all other phones going forward have wireless charging built in, you may be here for the long haul. Let’s talk about our initial impressions, for the readers here at Droid Life.

How It Works

Wireless charging is as simple as you would think it to be. Plug the wireless charger into a wall, set it on a flat surface, and then lay your wirelessly capable device on top of it. That’s it. With the Nexus 4 charger, you get a somewhat better experience over others, as it allows the device to lay at an angle, so you can still use the device while it charges. With others that lay flat, it’s pretty difficult to use your device.

Build

As we somewhat expected, the Orb for the Nexus 4 is built incredibly well. It really is like a mini-Nexus Q that has been cut in half. There is some weight to it, along with a non-slippery matte finish black coating. It has a rubberized face so that your device is highly unlikely to fall off of it, as it sits at an angle. Actually, it’s sticky to the touch. Depending on  your case (which it does charge through), it takes a bit of force to remove it. The bottom has a rubberized rim as well, to help keep the charger stable on your desk.

Cases

In the video below, I tested the Ringke Slim, Ringke Fusion, and official Bumper to see if the phone would charge while attached – sure enough, it does. If you have some behemoth of a case, I can’t tell you how that will work, but all of the slim cases I tested, certainly work just fine.

Other Phones

The Nexus 4 wireless charger is built to the Qi wireless charging standard, so yep, it works with other devices. I’ve got the DROID DNA attached to it as I type this and it seems to be charging just fine. The sticky rubberized face is also holding onto the device quite well. Here is a picture of the DROID DNA on it.

Price

At $59.99, the price is somewhat steep, especially since the only function of this wireless charger is to wirelessly charge your device. You can justify it somewhat if you look at competing wireless chargers like the Nokia Fatboy which also retails for around $60. I would point out that this feels like a much higher quality product than the Fatboy, though, which is essentially a pillow with a charging plate stuffed inside. Wireless charging is somewhat new, so for now you are going to pay premium prices.

Overall

If you need an wireless charger, this appears to be a great option, if not the best option. I’ve dealt with the frustrations that come with the LG flat wireless charger for so long that using the Orb is like a whole new world. The angled face, super-grippy (technical term) face, and stylish design make it a great accessory to your desk. The $59.99 price may turn some off, but that’s the price we pay right now to have the latest in technology.

Gallery

Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Nexus 4 Wireless Charger, A Quick Look at the Orb is a post from: Droid Life

The wireless charging Orb for the Google Nexus 4 is now available through Google Play for $59.99. Originally teased during its unveiling day on October 29, the Orb has been the single accessory for this phone that we have been excited to get our hands on. While the only thing it does it wirelessly charge your phone, the design and ease of use are keys to this being a winner. Since the half-ball angles the phone ever-so-slightly, you can actually use your Nexus 4 while it’s charging, unlike on other wireless chargers.

The price comes off as being a bit steep, but that’s the current wireless charging situation.

Go get it before it sells out! Device ships in less than one week.

Play Link ($59.99)

Via:  The Verge

Cheers Tio!

Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb Now Available Through Google Play for $60 is a post from: Droid Life

Over the weekend, it appears that a Samsung-branded Qi wireless charging unit hit the FCC. That’s neat, but it leaves us wondering – which device in their lineup can we expect this to be marketed with? Could this be a super late arrival for the Galaxy S3/Note 2 or will they actually launch an accessory with a new device such as the Galaxy S4? 

When launching a new device, it’s no secret that Android OEM’s have had issues pushing compatible accessories at the same time. Pogo dock for the Galaxy Nexus, anyone? If Samsung can break that vicious cycle, that would be beneficial for everyone involved.

Either way, wireless charging will become a big factor for smartphones whether we all want it or not. It’s becoming another standard for top tier smartphones, much like NFC, 1080p displays, and Verizon-branded home buttons. /s

Via: Engadget

Samsung Qi Wireless Charger Stops at the FCC, We Wonder Which Device Will Utilize It is a post from: Droid Life

Wireless charging, while slow to have been adopted by the industry, is a technology that once you have, you really never want to live without. Thanks to devices like the Nexus 4 (neither of these work with the N4 after testing), DROID DNA, and Nokia’s new Lumia 920 it’s becoming more of a standard. But now that it’s a little more mainstream, we figured it was time to talk about some of the charging options out there. Thanks to Nokia doing their part to push the technology forward, we have two new options worth taking a look at – the Fatboy Pillow and the charging plate, both from Nokia (both built to the Qi standard, so yes they work with Android phones). 

Update:  A few readers pointed out in the comments that the charging plate and pillow may not work all that well with the Nexus 4. I have not had a chance to fully test their charging abilities, so stay tuned for that. Will report back in a couple of days with my findings.

Update 2:  I ran my battery down to 75% and then tossed my phone back on the charging pad and came up empty. The device attempted to charge and then just kept the phone awake and actually ran battery. The pillow seems to be doing the same thing. For whatever reason, these are either built to some other Qi standard or the Nexus 4 has issues – I’m going with the latter. Feel free to watch the video and gaze at the fancy chargers, however, if you have a Nexus 4, you may want to stay away. Will test the DNA and report back.

Update 3:  Both chargers seem to wirelessly charge the DROID DNA with no issues. Clearly the Nexus 4 just isn’t a fan of them.

Nokia Fatboy Charging Pillow

The Fatboy charging pillow is probably going to be the most popular of the wireless chargers released this year, simply because it’s a pillow and carriers a fun-to-say name. It’s exactly as you would picture it – a big fat pillow that your phone lays on. Inside the pillow you have a soft, squishy outer rim that holds your phone ever-so-softly, while the plate in the middle takes care of the charging business. It has an extra long cord so you can drape it all over a room and still have it reach your destination. It comes in a few colors:  yellow, blue, white, red, and black. You can find it at Verizon and AT&T stores for around $60.

As expected, you simply drop your wireless-ready phone in the middle and it begins to charge. There are no beeps or notifications, so you may want to double check to make sure it’s charging before walking away from it.

Nokia Wireless Charging Plate

The charging plate from Nokia is the least sexy of the two, however, it may be my choice if I had to make one. It’s small, does the trick, and also comes equipped with the extra long power cable. It also comes in blue, yellow, red, white and black, while retailing for around $50. I favor this over the pillow mostly because of the size. This plate isn’t much bigger than a hockey puck, and it’s also not a giant fluffy pillow, for those who care about the appearance of their desk.

To charge, you simply lay your phone on it, centered over the Nokia logo. It’s that simple. It also has a rear light that notifies you that your phone is charging.

Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Android Wireless Charging Options: Nokia Fatboy Pillow and Others (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

The wireless charging Orb for the Nexus 4 that was unveiled alongside the device back on launch day, has apparently never made it outside of Google’s own campus. We have yet to see one in the wild, nor have we been able to purchase one. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Google and its partners tend to struggle to release accessories for these devices each year. Just look at the official Nexus 7 dock situation. We have may have signs of life, though! 

A retailer by the name Pure Mobile has a listing for the Orb, however, it’s flagged as “out of stock,” much like the dock for the Nexus 7 was for months. We’re seeing a price of $59.99, which seems a tad high for something that only charges a phone, but it’ll likely be well built.

This site doesn’t mention an “in stock” date, so we’ll have to try and remain patient.

Thoughts on the price? Most wireless chargers typically run anywhere from $40-60. The Nokia Fatboy charging pillow for example, is $59.99.

Update:  Pure Mobile is now taking pre-orders for the Orb. They are expecting stock to arrive in 2-4 weeks.

ALL ORDERS PLACED FOR THIS ITEM WILL BE PRE-ORDERS- WE ARE EXPECTING THE STOCK TO ARRIVE IN 2-4 WEEKS – (updated Jan 31st 2013)

Via:  Pure Mobile | Android Central

Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb Shows Up at Retailer for $60, (Update: Pre-order Now) is a post from: Droid Life

According to Norwegian retailer Dustin Home, the wireless charging Orb for the Nexus 4 could arrive in February. Having been shown off on Nexus 4 unveiling day as the coolest accessory in town, we still have yet to see it find its way into the hands of anyone outside of Google. That’s not surprising, though, Nexus accessories almost always show up months after debuting during launch. 

The Norwegian retailer is listing the orb for a price that converts to about $114, but we doubt it’ll be that expensive if/when it arrives in the States. Not that we have any knowledge of a potential price, but this thing shouldn’t cost anymore than $60.

Keep in mind that while this orb looks like something that would turn your office into fashionable icon, there are plenty of other wireless charging stations that can be had that work with the Qi wireless standard and may be much cheaper.

Via:  reddit | Android Central

Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb Could Arrive in February is a post from: Droid Life

Matias Duarte coming to Google to head up Android’s user interface was a huge acquisition for all us Android fanboys. Not only has he helped Android to grow up and into its own, but he has influenced many things about the OS since he arrived to help with Ice Cream Sandwich. His former job at Palm has never been more evident before today with Google’s new Charging Orb for the Nexus 4, which looks eerily similar to the Touchstone Charger.

Using the Qi charging standard, Google has created a half-orb that magnetizes to the back of the Nexus 4 for easy charging by just setting your phone on it. The new feature in Android 4.2 named “Daydream” will be activated when set on this dock and the phone will display information from Google Currents and Google Now. There has been absolutely no word on pricing or availability for this accessory but if you’re like us, you are waiting impatiently until it is announced.

Ready to move to wireless charging yet with your Nexus 4?

Via: The Verge

Google’s New Wireless ‘Charging Orb’ Might Be the Coolest Product Shown Off Today is a post from: Droid Life

ZENS may have plans to launch their own third party wireless charging station for the Galaxy SIII sometime soon, but Samsung seems to be on top of their accessories as well. A tipster sent these photos over to Phone Arena and showed that Verizon and Samsung are working towards getting their own chargers ready for primetime.

The anonymous tipster says the charging dock itself was supposed to be listed at $70, but is going to be marked down to $50 instead when they hit the sales floor. The problem is, you need to buy a new back for the phone so that it will work with the station, and the new back for the phone will run you $39 according to the source. $89 before tax to get rid of wires with your Galaxy SIII. ZENS’ kit is supposed to be around $80, which one are you going to choose?

Via: Phone Arena

Wireless Charging Stations for Galaxy SIII Arriving at Verizon Stores? is a post from: Droid Life

At the announcement of the Next Galaxy last week, Samsung made it a point to mention all of these wonderful accessories we would be receiving alongside the Galaxy SIII. An HDMI adapter, a battery charging stand and a few others were mentioned but the star of the show was the Wireless Charging Kit. This kit is apparently the first to use a new type of technology that will make it more reliable and faster than other technologies, but the problem is they didn’t mention when we would see it.

As many Galaxy Nexus owners will attest, Samsung hasn’t been too good at providing accessories for their phones. Word on the street is that there will be a four month delay from when the phone launches to when we can see the wireless charging accessory. In the long run that isn’t that much of a delay but with Samsung’s track record we are a little wary. Let us all hope for the SIII’s sake that they do better on the accessories this time around. What is so hard about making a dock that uses the G-Nex’s pogo pins?

Via: The Verge

Samsung Continues Being Slow With Accessories, Wireless Charging Kit For Galaxy SIII Won’t Be Out Until September is a post from: Droid Life

If you love Motorola phones and were looking for reasons to buy the DROID 4 over the RAZR, consider wireless charging one of them. Since the DROID 4′s back cover can be removed in order to give you access to SIM card and microSD slots, Moto has gone ahead and created an “inductive” or wireless charging cover for it. Just remember that in order to charge wirelessly, you will need to fork out $40 for the cover and then anywhere from $50 to $100 for the pad to charge it on. I know it’s not much of a bonus, but there are a handful of companies looking to make wireless charging the way of the future. Think about having the ability to charge your phone while it sits down on a bar next to your Manhattan. We could see it, some day.

Buy.

Cheers Digital Dan Hook!

Since the DROID 4 Battery Cover Can Be Removed, It has Wireless Charging Capabilities is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Rezound (formerly the Vigor) made its way through the FCC back in September, so when it stopped by again today, we couldn’t help but wonder why. According to the “Change Letter” that was submitted, it needed another look as HTC has added a wireless charging back cover to it.

We will have to assume that this just means they will sell a wireless charging back separately (as has been done in the past), but would be nice if these phone manufacturers would start building this technology in from the start. Of course, that would limit their potential to make money off of accessories, so I doubt we will see that move coming any time soon.

This phone should be announced next Thursday with a potential launch coming the follow week on November 10.

Has wireless charging become a part of your life? Not something you are interested in at all?

Via:  FCC, Wireless Goodness

HTC Rezound Goes Back to the FCC, This Time With a Wireless Charging Back is a post from: Droid Life

We got a hold of the extended battery for the DROID Bionic today along with the inductive (wireless) battery cover.  Both are available now through Verizon and Motorola’s stores – extended on sale for 50% off – and could be serious options for those of you looking for either a simpler charging solution or a longer battery life.  The extended battery weighs in at 2760mAh as compared to the standard battery which is just 1735mAh.  The inductive (wireless) cover on the other hand, simply slips over top of the standard battery so it won’t be giving you additional juice, but will instead just make it easier to charge your device.

Both the extended battery and the wireless cover will be getting full tests by us over the next few days, so for now, we’ll just give you this quick look at how they change the look and feel of the device when used. The extended is going to add some weight and thickness, while the inductive cover really just makes the device flat on the back while removing the hump.

Initial tests of the standard battery are giving me anywhere from 6-10 hours on 2 bars of 4G LTE with normal every day use. Hoping that this extended can last another 4.

*Note on the wireless cover:  It appears to practically lock the device from use while it’s charging.  I’m sure this is a bug that needs to be addressed, but while on the charger, it is almost impossible to unlock the device and swipe between screens or apps.  Immediate fix is needed if this is going to be an option. Most of us continue to use our phones even while they are charging.

Pics and video after the jump.  

The device with the standard battery and cover:

The device with the extended battery and cover:

The device with the wireless charging cover:

Standard battery vs. Extended battery:

Quick look and hands-on:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Let us know if you have any questions or need us to test anything out with either of these accessories.

DROID Bionic Batteries: Extended vs. Standard vs. Wireless Charging is a post from: Droid Life

Either Verizon hasn’t sold many of these inductive (wireless) battery charging pads and covers or they are finally ready to force you into learning about this new technology.  Through August’s “Accessory of the Month” deal, you can buy the wireless charging pad ($69.99) that they have on hand and receive the wireless battery cover for a select few devices for free – all normally priced from $29.99 – $39.99.

What is wireless charging?  Well, if you have a pad and battery cover, you can easily charge your device without having to actually plug in your device.  Sure, the charging pad will always have to be plugged into a wall, but I’ll even admit that it is pretty handy to come home and simply set my Thunderbolt down on my desk to get it to charge rather than fuss with a microUSB cable.

So if you have a DROID3, HTC Thunderbolt, LG Revolution, DROID Charge, or Incredible 2, you may want to look into the future of charging and grab one of these pads along with a matching inductive battery cover.    

Buy.

Cheers nick!

Verizon Deal: Buy a Wireless Charging Pad, Receive Battery Cover for Free is a post from: Droid Life