The WildCharge PowerDisc plugs into a gadget that doesn't have a WildCharge "skin" available for it and lets it charge without plugging it into the wall. But it seems to make charging less convenient than the traditional method. I mean, you can either have a cable on your desk that you plug your Kindle into to charge, or you can have a big flat surface and then a dongle that you need to find whenever you charge it.

Until this is built into gadgets, like the Pre, I can't imagine spending the money on it. [WildCharge via SlashGear]

The soft, matte black cases wrap around your iPhone/iPod, allowing it to be charged whenever the device is placed on a WildCharger Pad. The cases run $35 a pop or you can wait until July to pick up an $80 iPhone case/Wildcharger Pad bundle. The convenience of placing my phone on the table to charge is certainly tempting, but I just hate storing my gadgets in cases. It kills the intimacy. [BW via ubergizmo]

The Price: $70 for Xbox 360, $60 for Wii, $50 for PS3. Xbox and Wii versions contain two rechargeable batteries.

The Verdict: Convenient. We tested the PlayStation 3 version, which comes in the form of an attachment to the actual controller that you have to snap on to charge. Charging started as soon as we put the controller + attachment onto the pad, and took four hours to get to full. The pad fits either two controllers, or one controller and any other Wildcharge-compatible gadget you may have, like older RAZRs and iPod Nanos that have attachments already made.

The PS3 version is great since the adapter is light enough to keep attached at all times, and offers an alternative to plugging them into the PS3 while playing. The Xbox 360 and Wii versions are actual batteries that you use in place of the default ones, which is why their price tags are a little higher.

Although it's cool to see your controllers wirelessly charge, similar solutions for Xbox 360 and Wii are cheaper and as efficient, offering to charge via contacts when docked. Is wireless worth an extra $10 to $20 for the 360/Wii versions? Only if you've got other devices that are Wildcharge compatible, so you can have a two-for-one deal and two Wildcharge pads around your house (your other device comes with one). Otherwise, probably not. But on the other hand, the PlayStation 3 version is definitely worth $50 thanks to the non-removable internal battery. [XBox 360 and Wii and PS3]

Intel's work builds on the progress MIT has made with transmitting power through resonant magnetic fields. But where the MIT team, led by Marin Soljacic, has only achieved 50% efficiency over a range of a few feet, Intel is said to have recently zapped up to 60 watts over the same distance at an efficiency of 75%, which is quite a leap forward.

Intel also is extrapolating potential uses of the tech for supercapicitors—basically giant electrochemical "batteries" that recharge almost instantly compared to Li-ion and store over a thousand times more juice than standard capacitors.

Sounds good. We'll keep you posted on any developments from IDF today. UPDATE: Intel didn't tell us anything we didn't know already in their IDF demo today, which lit a lightbulb from a distance of a few feet by passing electricity between two coils. We were assured, though, that being in the middle of the electrically charge resonant magnetic field doesn't hurt one bit.

[New York Times, Photos: John Herrman]

The charging times are said to be exactly the same as that from a standard AC outlet, as the Splashpower bay and dongle utilizes the inbuilt charging circuitry to power your low-juiced appliance by conduction. With pricing aimed at $100 for the base station, and $20 for each additional dongle, competition with the folks at WildCharge ($59.99 base / $34.99 adapters), is going to be fierce. Nevertheless, Splashpower's in with a chance. For one, the dongles look a little more workable than WildCharge's adapters, even if the bases are not as cool. Expect the Splashpower to drop in Q3 '08. [Splashpower]

Pricing will be the same as for the RAZR, and it will be available in August. The only way the WildCharger is economical, or even practical, is if you can use it with all your mobile devices. Hopefully the company will ramp up production and introduce units more often than one/month.

[wildcharger]
Thanks John!

Thoughts of hand cancer aside, the way these WildChargers work would require a couple of physics classes to completely understand. The layman's explanation is that it uses inductive charging—the type you see in Sonicare toothbrushes—that will charge your gadget just by placing it on a sheet.

Some more familiar companies other than WildCharge such as Apple, Motorola, and NTT DoCoMo all have their own wireless charging devices in development as well.

What's the point of all this wireless charging? Mostly convenience in not having to have multiple chargers and charging adapters, which may win out over our current favorite charging system, the Chargepod. – Jason Chen

Wireless charging: Here at last [Computerworld via The Raw Feed]

We played with the system for a while tonight, putting the special cases on cellphones and attachments on iPods, and then suddenly those devices begin charging as soon as you place them on the metallic strip.

How the heck does this thing work?

It uses non-inductive technology to pass the current from strip to device without all that falderal you usually have to go through to charge it.

The company says we'll be seeing the first charging strips for sale in March, and the larger laptop-sized charger will be shipping in June.

This is the real deal, folks—get your $49 ready, and that includes one "enablement case." Additional cases are $10 - $20, depending on the device. – Charlie White

The design above isn't the final production model, but the idea should be the same. Instead of carrying around your PDA, phone, Skype phone, and iPod charger, you could just have this. The company plans to have a product out in Q1 2007. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Wild Charge via Crunchgear]