[John Greene]

Review - Powermat for iPhone Review | Electronista

I found the review to be potentially interesting but poorly written. I am unclear from the article if indeed the iPhone can or cannot be synced without removing the Powermat case via a mini USB cable. As a mini USB cable is mentioned, does this mean there is a mini USB cable in the case of the Powermat to serve synching purposes ? I am left with more questions than the article gives me answers. I sense some negativity from the author about the Powermat system but I am concerned that the negativity stems from the authors personal view that it is unreasonable that any one can afford $70-- to save a few seconds of cable connection time and cable clutter. Being branded a Zealot for having such a desire to adopt a Powermat by the author is in the least a demonstration of uncouth and socialistic journalism. Having re-read the article I now know more about the author then I do about the Powermat and in my opinion spending $70-- to save a few seconds and dismiss cables does not seem to me to be too frugal an exercise. Now if the author were to consider that not just youngsters or geeks use iPhones and had any sense of how busy business people are and any idea of how many more business people are adopting or switching to iPhones every day, then possibly the review could have been better written ... much better written, but of course that requires some worldly experience or in the least some degree of user research in both the entertainment and business end user sectors. So in conclusion, and to the contrary, for a businessman, on the go, needing to drop and grab his phone at a whim, the Powermat is an ideal charge when you can solution. Synching is not something a businessman needs to do often as only apps and play things need to be synched, so such can be done as and when. The essential communication tools like address book and email updates sync via the Cloud and are independent of iTunes and of a sync cable so businessmen are good to go. If most business establishments or offices had a Powermat, then imagine the ease and convenience of dropping into an associates office for a meeting and dropping your iPhone on the Powermat on the desk or conference table in front of you ... without a thought, letting it recharge as and when at almost every stop ... potentially it is almost revolutionary. The addition of a Powermat compatible car mount and charger would make it the ultimate business mans essential iPhone accessory.
Cheers: Zealot.

[seanc]

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[macaddict0001]

I don't really see a problem with the article, I have essentially come to the same conclusion without actually using the product. Inductive charging is a very cool concept, and the implementation in things such as electric toothbrushes works very well. But the powermat seems to solve a problem that doesn't exist. Granted the author misses the point of the powermat. IMO it is more of a gadget than a functional accessory. At the end of the day when it comes to me and my iPod the size is a very important aspect of its functionality, I would simply not use it if it were significantly larger.
The lounge would be a better place for this thread, the feedback forum is intended more for feedback on macnn itself and doesn't really get that many visitors.