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 rival …
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@AC 14:20
When I looked a few minutes ago AAPL was -1.4%; and MSFT -1.6%; and HP -1.3%; and DELL -1.9%.
AAPL are now down 0.9%; and GOOG are down 0.7% - So your point was?
Well, wonder no more: U.S. Speaker Boehner drops ‘Plan B,’ fiscal cliff approaches.
What, you thought it was because of claims made by a KS project?
Hope you don't invest anyone's money in stocks.
Is it? Bought some stock just the other day when all the AC naysayers said the only way was down.
Already made about $50.
Keep it up, seems to work!
The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
This project's owner started a Kickstarter competitor called Christie Street about a month ago and the plan now was to move all these 1000 backers to his crowdfunding site as it apparently that would make refunds easier.
Why would contacting all backers, moving them to a new site and then refunding them there be easier than just refunding them directly on Kickstarter is left to one's imagination.
Of course some are smelling a rotten rat in this story, but no surprise El Reg din't pick it up since it's nose is only tuned to picking out flaws in fruit.
Re: The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
@Nine Circles
Interesting development; got any links to verifiable or reputable accounts of this claim? Because otherwise you sound like someone defending Apple's bellendery with what amounts to" yeah, but the guy's totally a crook, someone down the pub said so".
Re: The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
How about the kickstarter update itself?
"so a few weeks ago we launched our own crowdfunding site, Christie Street. Built from the ground up around product, Christie Street is designed to handle needs that can arise from products – such as refunds – in order to prevent compromised products from being delivered.
In order to process refunds efficiently we are going to set you all up with Christie Street accounts, and there, you will be able to process your refund."
You can also read it more reputable outlets who do research their articles. Like the Verge:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/20/3789504/kickstarter-charger-pop-turns-to-competitor-to-process-refunds-apple
Re: The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
@Captain Underpants
http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/20/3789504/kickstarter-charger-pop-turns-to-competitor-to-process-refunds-apple
Some comments following the article also suggest it was all a ruse to get people over to Christie Street (the kickstarter competitor which happened to be started by the charger's "inventor")
May not be true, but the association doesn't help make things clearer.
Re: The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
Sigh. Do black helicopters always fly around you?
Kicker starter relies on the people who create the project to handle all refunds and such. It does not by extension give the creates a platform to offer refunds to their supports.
Christie Street on the other hand does. Which yes, was create by the same guys as the project, But who the fuck cares? Kick Start leaves it up to the creator to refund, therefore the platform the creator uses to refund is his business.
And so what if they use it for PR. Big deal. It doesn't change the fact that Apple still has a stick up their ass.
Re: The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
That's bullshit. Kickstarter also doesn't give a platform for creators to move their backers to other platforms, and yet that was the plan.
I - like over 800 other backers - had a refund from the Joyride project on Kickstarter, without any song and dance of registering people in other platforms.
Re: The Reg would never report the whole story would it...
Why didn't they go to Indiegogo? Indiegogo, IIUC, has existed before July 2012, so if they had looked at the refund policies, and had they considered it, they might have gone to Indiegogo.
IIUC, on Kickstarter, your physical projects campaigns need a real, existing product or prototype, not a photorealistic presentation, to be cleared by Kickstarter project/campaign approvers. IIUC, Indiegogo does not, and that is what swayed me to seriously look at and start to like Indiegogo. Otherwise, Kickstarter probably has a more solid tech reputation.
Still, boo on Kickstarter for not making it possible to do refunds, if that bit of the story is factual. Otherwise, I find it bizarre that Kickstarter would not facilitate the refunding process since they have all the necessary info. If a donor is anonymous, and pitches in, say, $25,000, and a create/creator is sufficiently hungry enough, he or she could say, "due to privacy reasons and Kickstarter's own policies, I have no way of knowing who my anonymous donors are, and you cannot prove you are one, or 7 claimed when only 3 actuals existed. Sorry, I will keep the money unless you REALLY can prove it AND have tenacioius attorneys....
And to think people used to think Microsoft was evil!
Apple has always been FAR more evil than Microsoft (and I own about 7 or 8 Apple products).
"Apple has always been FAR more evil than Microsoft (and I own about 7 or 8 Apple products)."
It doesn't bother you that you knowingly ENABLED them to be far more evil? At least they did it for billions in earnings. You sold your soul just for the sake of having "7 or 8" shiny new toys.
@fung0 05:47
"You sold your soul..."
What the hell are you on about, you prat? The person may have compromised their integrity by willingly buying products from a company they don't really like much but it's hardly a choice between "heaven and hell" is it?!
I don't really like MS that much, being a Linux user most of the time, but I love playing Skyrim on my 360 and I have no issue fixing Windows for friends and family. I respect someone elses choices even if I don't like the product because I respect and want to help my friends and family. They didn't say shag my dog or I'll kill your kids, that's where you have no choice and have to give up any standards in order to ensure you save the things that matter most!
Get a sense of perspective for fuck's sake, it's a huge world that's not all black and white, there's a billion shades of grey.
As long as there's suckers ...
buying their stuff knowing fully well each time there's a new model , none of the accessories will be usable and have to be purchased once again Apple is making money . Your choice . As far as i'm concerned their lack of respect for my wallet just made me kick them to the curb a long time ago .They are ridiculous .
Time for a pint
Re: As long as there's suckers ...
You say that, yet Apple has kept their accessory connectors far longer than any so called standard.
microUSB didn't even exist at the time of the first iPhone, how could Apple have used it.. Unlike others they also sell an adapter so even my 5 year old dock made for iPods still works with the new port.
On the other hand MicroUSB has shown to be a shockingly (no pun intended) bad standard at anything other than phone charging, witness the list of incompatible extensions that have been grafted into it just in past 3 years.. First came MHL, then not-so-MHL on the GS3, now SlimPort is supposed to be THE great thing.
So in 3 years of microUSB we had 3 incompatible output "standards" each expecting you to throw away your previous adapter.
For tablet charging it's even worse, as the Nexus 10 shows with it's 13 hour charging time vs 6 hours for the Lightning equipped iPad.
It's clear microUSB is already dated and doesn't cut it anymore. It needs to be replaced soon. I'll be around with my popcorn when that time comes.
Re: As long as there's suckers ...
They last changed the adapter in 2003 when they went form fire-wire to the original Apple dock connector.
The only people who think ten years is a short turnaround on a "new model" are Windows fanbois.
Re: As long as there's suckers ...
I have an iPad Mini, but i had a Nexus 7 and to be fair, the Nexus 7 only charges that slowly over a standard USB port. If you use the packed in charger its MUCH faster than that.
One thing I like about the iPad Mini is my usb based charging stuff actually works for it, so I don't need to drag that big Asus wallwart around like I did with the Nexus 7.
Re: As long as there's suckers ...
I have an iPad Mini, but i had a Nexus 7 and to be fair, the Nexus 7 only charges that slowly over a standard USB port. If you use the packed in charger its MUCH faster than that.
That's true for the Nexus 7, but not for the Nexus 10 which has a much larger battery to power its hi-res display.
The Nexus 10 suffers from current limitations of the microUSB port itself, it's slow to charge even if you use the bundled AC adapter.
Re: As long as there's suckers ...
Your rant would have had more impact had it had more accuracy.
The public launch of microUSB happened about a week before the public launch of the iPhone.
Also, while it is true that efforts to graft things like HDMI out onto microUSB haven't been particularly well received, you appear to have missed the fact that microUSB is utterly effective at both charging and data transfer. This despite the fact that it only has 4 pins compared to an interface with 8 times as many!
Re: As long as there's suckers ...
You are a deluded fool. Expecting a business to respect your wallet? What world do you live in? Apple have replaced their crappy 32pin connecter with a nicely designed new one, that has annoying consequences for peripheral owners, but when wasn't that the case with computer hardware?
The POP portable charger doesn't need any license from Apple. Just use the standard USB connectors and let user supply the bullet adapter needed for their Apple device. If I had an Apple device I would connect the Lightning connector to the end of a lightning rod.
That's what's smelling a bit fishy here.
The plan for POP was from the start to have MicroUSB connectors and then each would have an adapter for the 30 pin connector - see their kickstarter page.
They also never promised lightning connectors since those only came out after the project was funded.
So if this was the only problem it definitely wasn't a showstopper.
For some stinkin' suspicion, I think that "lighting" bolt logo on the POP's lid may be the clue. The web site is still taking orders.
its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
the stupid thing really is that the so called 'lightening' connector is really nothing more that a USB2 anyway . Just apple put their 'clever' connector on the end (which is why the genuine cables are so simple no complex electronics needed to convert it).
>http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/12/apples-new-lightning-connector-what-it-does-and-doesnt-change/
it's just another example of how a$$le charge their unwitting punters £25 for something that costs them pence to make, And if they had just stuck to an actual USB connector could get for a couple of quid or less on e-bay.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
And if they had put special electronics in it you wound have accused them of profiteering with specialty "smart" cables.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
no if they had there might be some excuse, but they haven't, and they still charge £25 for a connector that's otherwise worth about 50p. you missed the point entirely.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
How did I lie? A simple cable is apparently bad, but when Apple did cables with electronics in them that was bad too. You can't win no matter what you do.
Just admit the "First Church of the immaculate Android" and its sea of ravening fanbois has turned out to be more brittle and crazy than ANYBODY who ever bought an iPad.
Or am I just going to get thumbed down for anything I say by sad butthurt Android fanbois who get pissy when their Google masters get crossed?
I've heard "Fanboi, Fanboi, Fanboi on these forums for years, but the cult behavior of the Android cultists is giving that term a whole new meaning.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
I never accused you of telling lies ? and as for your rant...
if you are happy to pay £25 for something that essentially a simple USB cable with a patented connector design on one end then in your language it seems that you are the' crazy' apple cult vgollwing fanboi/girl rather than anyone else.
(and how dare anyone vote you down LOL as you know only your opinion counts)
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
Fandroid "Android Fanboi" Worth a look.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fandroid
I'm no Apple fan, but....
The lighting connector is not the same as a USB connector, because the connections inside the computer are different. You don't want two different interface types that use the same physical cable, as that confuses the plebs who try to plug one into the other and get confused when it doesn't work. If the new iOS devices have internal chippery that talks both Lightning and USB, great. I have an old USB mouse at home that has a PS2 controller chip inside, and I can attach a PS2 adaptor (with no fancy components) and plug it into a PS2 port -- but that doesn't mean PS2 and USB are the same technology, and it certainly doesn't mean
that the USB standard should have mandated a PS2 connector!
I'm not a fan of Apple's money-sucking lock-in, and I will only buy Apple when my current dev project matures to the point where I have to start actively testing the cross-platform portability (and even then it will be under protest). I'm not even sure I'll be able to release for iOS (as my revenue model is more online subscription than app, and if Apple thinks it can suck 30% out of my server revenues they're sorely mistaken).
But I still wouldn't criticise them for using a different shaped connector for a different type of connection!
Re: I'm no Apple fan, but....
The real reason for the new Apple connector is pretty basic. Stupid people can't break their phones or tablets forcing the plug in upside down. "This saves Apple a lot on warranty repairs"
And yes this happens a lot with dumb people and the old Apple dock connector. Also with mini and micro USB. I stopped one from doing that to a Nexus 7 yesterday. And have seen it done to classic Kindles more than once.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
in your original reply (and mine) referred to fanboi not fandroid, and that's is defined in there are
'Someone who is hopelessly devoted to something and will like anything associated with their particular thing.'
which seems to correctly define your love of anything Apple, (note I didnt say there is anything wrong with that)
What I don't understand is why you seemingly feel the need to attack anyone who may have a different point of view from yours. all a bit sad really.
Re: I'm no Apple fan, but....
The lightning connector is so simple it really is what micro USB should have been - but Apple did it whereas everyone else di*ks around with mini USB, micro USB, teeny weeny USB and still not as good.
The genius is it's well made, rugged and you can plug it in either way - pretty much everything you could ask for - now Apple make it everyone else wishes they had done it.
Sure wireless charging is a great idea but still a few years off and can it charge at 10w (5v / 2a) - perhaps but not sure we will be ditching cables within the next few years so for now Lightning is about the best we have.
Re: I'm no Apple fan, but....
That's what makes good design - you refine it / reduce it / perfect it. Lightning is so far better than micro USB.
A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away - Antoine de Saint Exupéry.
Re: I'm no Apple fan, but....
>But I still wouldn't criticise them for using a different shaped connector for a different type of connection!
reading the comments there is no criticism in using a different shaped connector, it is a criticism of the huge profit mark-up they put on it.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
Actually I got sick of anybody being relentlessly thumbed down by zombies for saying anything positive about Apple.
I actually BOUGHT an Android tablet. NO tech solution is perfect, I've been saying for a while, there is NO perfect tech answer from ANY company. I don't care if its fruit, robots or panes of glass. I've been saying this here for a while.
The problem is reflex zealots who have to defend the "Holy solution" no matter which face it has. Everyone has some positives and negatives, Even Microsoft.
Re: its just apple just screwing yet more profit from ther customers
And if they had put special electronics in it you wound have accused them of profiteering with specialty "smart" cables.
I don't know if Mike would, but I certainly would. What's more, it would be an accurate accusation. Pretty much everything Apple does is profiteering of one sort or another.
Which is fine. It's called capitalism. That doesn't mean we can't call it like it is.
Re: I'm no Apple fan, but....
You'll get no objection from me in claiming that the Lightning connector is, in many ways, a better connector than microUSB (8 pins versus 4 pins), nor that making the thing symmetrical is a very elegant solution to the issue of idiots forcing cables in the wrong way round.
Where Apple's design becomes detestable is that THE CONNECTOR contains electronics. Yup, there's an authentication chip *in the cable* to prevent you from using products that haven't genuflected (and paid) Cupertino. This is scummy.
And unnecessary: the signal routing mechanism required by the symmetrical connector belongs more on the circuit board than in the cable.
Granted, there may be some level of sense in having a cable validation scheme for things like HDMI output, etc. but for charging? Never!
Not surprising it's going this way. For the iPhone 5S, Apple are in talks with utility companies about taking a cut of the charging cost in return for exclusivity lock-in.
The best idea is to not buy from manufacturers who restrict interoperability of their products
Having to get a license to use a connector for a mass produced product when many external third party devices exist which use that connector is nonsense. IP Law is nonsense; just admit it everyone, it is a state, legal and corporate protection racket; it was stifling in the late 20th century, it is toxic in the 21st century.
The most Apple should be given the _state_ privilege for is rights to restrict use of a logo or message saying a device has an approved connector, charge for reasonable testing and approval to use this logo, and caution their customers (prisoners) about use of unapproved devices; but not be allowed to stop sales of devices or require signal dongles for otherwise electrically compatible connectors and electronics.
I see the i prefix on all Apple products as short for imprisonment to enslave the user as a cash cow, not i for I or individual to offer genuine choice.
This is just another area where Apple is behaving like a megalomaniac prison warden.
Where feasible I always prefer to build with and use free and open-source based products, so have an Android tablet rather than one of the Apple imprisonment devices. I am disgusted at seeing any Apple devices, and think less of those owned by them; sure I could afford to buy several without blinking, but I know better because I'm an investor and a purchaser, not a sheeple consumer.
Re: The best idea is to not buy from manufacturers who restrict interoperability of their products
I am disgusted at seeing any Apple devices, and think less of those owned by them.
You judge your friends by what make of tablet, phone etc they have? What a twat.
Re: The best idea is to not buy from manufacturers who restrict interoperability of their products
"I am disgusted at seeing any Apple devices, and think less of those owned by them; sure I could afford to buy several without blinking, but I know better because I'm an investor and a purchaser, not a sheeple consumer."
I pride myself on having a healthy open minded attitude to other's choices, that's why I have a good circle of friends and family. I don't give a rat's arse what they decide to connect to the big wide world with, I judge people on their personality, that means developing my own and being able to communicate with them face-to-face, not squating in my Mum's basement spitting bile at people who have decided to make choices different from my own.
Not creative enough
I bought a 3rd-party Car charger for my MBP, since Apple doesn't make one, and using an inverter (so DC->AC->DC) seems silly and wasteful.
The 3rd-party buys genuine Apple MagSafe connectors (no clue how) and uses them in their products. That way they skirt around it. Couldn't this place do the same?
"Apple changed Phone accessory guidelines, is not standing in the way of POP charger"
100 misguided comments after here's the truth:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/21/3793488/apple-changes-iphone-accessory-guidelines-is-not-standing-in-the-way-of-pop-accessory
Quite curious to see how the POP charger will move now that they can't blame Apple.
iDontGiveAShit
My daughter's Samsung Galaxy happily charges from my mains and car BlackBerry chargers. Fuck you anti-competitive Apple!
Re: iDontGiveAShit
I have a Tom Tom Sat Nav in car charger and a Kindle mains charger and guess what? They both charge my FruitPhone. What will they think of next?
That means nothing - Apple iPhones happily charges from mains and car chargers.
Could you please update this article in light of Artic fox's post?
It doesn't seem like The Reg is very informed on this one. If you read the link from Ars Technica you would see that the story does not really support the usual Reg Apple kit bashing meme. Apple did make their license available, but the developer wanted to get some controversy for his own Kickstarter competitor. What better way than to give refunds for a product that was canceled before Apple replied and which did not have the Apple part in its original form. This is weak reporting of a shyster scheme. El Reg should be ashamed of itself, or at least repentant enough to admit a mistake
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