One of the big features of the new Google Nexus 4 smartphone is support for wireless charging, and so alongside the phone Google is releasing the aptly-named Wireless Charging Orb. Shaped like a sphere sliced crosswise, it bears more than a passing resemblance to Palm's Touchstone. The face of the dock is set at an angle so you can easily see the phone, and it's finished with a soft-touch plastic that should ensure that it won't mar the glass back of the Nexus 4. Google tells us that it's using the Qi wireless charging standard, so charging pads designed for Nokia's Lumia phones should also work on the Nexus 4.
Google's Wireless Charging Orb takes inspiration from the Touchstone in several other ways. As mentioned above, the phone sits at an angle on the dock — a feature that only works because both the dock and the Nexus 4 have magnets inside them — just like Palm Pre phones. You can orient the phone in either portrait or landscape as well. The other major feature Google borrowed from Palm is a feature in Android 4.2 called "Daydream." It displays photos, news from Google Currents, or other information when the phone is docked. That same feature was available on webOS, then called Exhibition. Whatever the source of ideas may be, it will make the Nexus 4 a little more useful as it's charging on your desk.
We're still waiting on the official price and release date for the dock, and will update you when we hear more.
Comments
That looks gorgeous.
By papernick on 10.29.12 12:16pm
I might have to get one for my Lumia 920…
By SeNiLe on 10.29.12 12:21pm
Lumia doesn’t have the magnets to hold it in place :(
By derpherp on 10.29.12 12:36pm
ducktape to the rescue
By papadopoulos on 10.29.12 12:38pm
lol
By ShamrockGx on 10.29.12 12:51pm
Its a completely different wireless standard that no manufacturer currently backs, unlike Qi which has backing from the major phone manufacturers, thanks for the fragmentation Google!
By benny90 on 10.29.12 2:34pm
Right.
By terencewang101 on 10.29.12 2:35pm
Correction: its a completely different wireless standards GROUP.
Yes it is Qi, but completely different consortium.
By benny90 on 10.29.12 4:29pm
Please pardon my ignorance, but if Qi is a standard then any device implementing the Qi standard will work with this, correct?
By Lynchenstein on 10.29.12 4:49pm
correct.
By ComplexREX on 10.29.12 6:33pm
my understanding is if it meets Qi standards it works with either pad. Sort of like different car brands but they all run on the same type of fuel.
By Derrick4Real on 10.29.12 6:14pm
your point has been rendered mute.
By ComplexREX on 10.29.12 6:33pm
moot.
By atinsley on 10.29.12 8:06pm
Damn! Beat me to it!
By Det64 on 10.29.12 8:31pm
reading is fundamental.
By avinash240 on 10.29.12 2:58pm
By Tommydaniel on 10.31.12 3:00pm
Oh. My. God.
I want to hug you for your use of Jujubee <3
By toramorigan on 10.31.12 4:33pm
:) hug hug!
By Tommydaniel on 10.31.12 6:32pm
How could you jump to a conclusion so pompously without making sure you’re absolutely right?
By Rub-1N on 10.29.12 2:59pm
^ Best comment ever.
By JamesBriano on 10.29.12 3:02pm
Welcome to the internet _
By Dreka on 10.29.12 3:06pm
You just described 95% of all internet comments.
By Slurpy on 10.29.12 3:37pm
96%…sorry, I jumped too quickly to that assumption! ;) I do love to see the inspiration of Palm Touchstone making its way into other realms. If it can’t live on under webOS, let it live on vicariously through the Nexus 4…and beyond!
By Rockbeast on 10.29.12 6:14pm
They should be a politician.
By CCasper on 10.29.12 3:38pm
Yeah, dunno if you’ve been to the internets before…
By rcfcyl on 10.29.12 3:41pm