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So...have *any* crowdfunded magnetic (i.e. MagSafe) USB chargers actually delivered? They seem to consistently fail. (self.shittykickstarters)

danwin が 投稿

I was looking at another recently massively funded campaign for magnetic USB chargers and thought the technology was already widely available and only idiots who don't use Google were buying into it. While there are a few things on Amazon, most of them seem to be mediocre in reviews and execution.

But when doing a search for crowdfunded magnetic chargers/tips, it doesn't seem that any of them have actually delivered, with the exception of one that just delivered to terrible backer comments. of a couple that have recently delivered to meh-to-terrible response.

These projects have all been delayed with no apparent end in sight:

  • ZNAPS - $2.3 million raised - Nov. 2015 estimated
  • ZAPTIP - $335K - Sept. 2015 estimated
  • UsBidi - $379K - Nov. 2015 suspension
  • UsBidi (on IGG) - $659K - June 2016 estimated
  • MagCable - $131K - Nov. 2015 estimated
  • POW - $8K - June 2016 estimated
  • Gecko - $54K - April 2016 estimated

The following projects are still being funded or are presumably in the process of being delivered. Note that these may be genuine efforts that will actually succeed where others have failed, so check back in a few months...:

  • Mitos - $21K - March 2016 delivered - estimated Dec. 2015
  • MagSix - $36K - June 2016 delivered
  • Cabin - $188K - July 2016 partially delivered - estimated Nov. 2014 (also, more of a case than an adapter)
  • MuConnect - $216K - July 2016 estimated, delayed to August
  • ASAP - $329K - Oct. 2016 estimated
  • Spooly - $150K - Oct. 2016 estimated

It does appear that Alibaba offers magnetic chargers, but I'm guessing those might be as spotty as the ones found on Amazon. The one product that does seem to have decent reviews is this one with 103 reviews and a 4 star average...But I personally don't like buying third-party Apple accessories that don't have way more reviews/users.

Edit: ZNAPS is the obvious leader in this field in terms of fundraising. Just saw that they posted yet another update about delays: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041610927/znaps-the-9-magnetic-adapter-for-your-mobile-devic/posts/1641143

"Pogo pins" seem to be the problem this time:

Due to the problems with manufacturing described above, we have decided to temporarily suspend the shipments of ZNAPS until we have everything resolved. We have already lined up a new Taiwanese owned and operated pogo pin supplier. There was supposed to be a shipment of old pogo pins on July 20, but we have already rejected the order and got a full refund. The new batch by the new supplier is estimated to be ready on August 3 and we will post an update by August 5 at the latest. At that time, we will inform everyone about the new plan of action and timeline. In closing, we want to thank everyone again for your patience and we are confident ZNAPS will be ready for all of you very soon.

edit: fixed link to zaptip and muconnect

edit: added entries from this post https://www.reddit.com/r/shittykickstarters/comments/486ow6/in_light_of_znaps_turning_to_shit_lets_look_at/

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[–]Spudouken 9ポイント10ポイント  (0子コメント)

I've been trying out these products that are listed on Amazon. Either the magnet works great, but the connection is bad/doesn't charge. Or the magnet is garbage, but the data connection is fine. So far I've returned all of them and still have my fingers crossed for something that actually works.

Micro USB version. Haven't tried any apple versions.

[–]RedHillian 8ポイント9ポイント  (0子コメント)

Right now, you'd have to go quite a long way to convince me that most of them aren't the same few people operating a single, wide scale scam.

Obviously there's only so much difference can be made in what's effectively the same product, but the overall style of the pitches just becomes very homogeneous and similar through them all.

I've written off my losses with "ZNAPS", but I'm following the sage to see how long it is until either they actually admit we're not getting anything, or it becomes obvious that they've 'done a runner'.

[–]zampe 10ポイント11ポイント  (13子コメント)

what I really don't understand is why anyone would want one of these to begin with. iPhones are too light for this to make any sense. If you snag the cord your phone will still be pulled off the surface it is sitting on unless the magnet is extremely weak in which case it will be a problem keeping it connected well enough to charge properly. A MacBook Pro is heavy enough to stay put. An iPhone is not. Probably why Apple puts MagSafe on the former and not the latter.

[–]RiPont 7ポイント8ポイント  (4子コメント)

It reduces stress on the joint where the plug goes in, for one.

It makes it easier to plug and unplug the charger, which may sound trivial but is a comfort thing.

Finally, if you're prone to outright kicking the cable or tripping hard on it, the mag release can save it from damage. This can be more common than you think, depending on where the charging cable is plugged in vs. where the phone sits.

All in all, not something I've been dying for or would pay too much money for, but it would be nice to have.

[–]zampe -5ポイント-4ポイント  (3子コメント)

It reduces stress on the joint where the plug goes in, for one.

never heard of that being an issue for a single person. And I read a lot of tech blogs.

It makes it easier to plug and unplug the charger, which may sound trivial but is a comfort thing.

This is ridiculous but ok who am I to say people can't have that if they want it.

Finally, if you're prone to outright kicking the cable or tripping hard on it, the mag release can save it from damage. This can be more common than you think, depending on where the charging cable is plugged in vs. where the phone sits.

I would need to see proof that theres any situation that this can actually save your phone from damage aside from a coincidence.

[–]RiPont 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I didn't claim any of these were fundamental or world-shaking scenarios.

I would need to see proof that theres any situation that this can actually save your phone from damage aside from a coincidence.

I have a coworker who plugs her phone in to charge off the USB port on the front of her PC, which is under her desk. Spun the chair and stood up fast... and ended up ripping the USB port out of the PC!

I also have my PC under my desk. While I don't plug my phone in down there, I have been grateful for the breakaway part on the cord of my USB headset.

never heard of that being an issue for a single person. And I read a lot of tech blogs.

I haven't heard of it being a problem with iPhones, but Micro USB is kind of shitty, really. There are a lot of different phone models, and some of them are prone to breakage on the Micro USB ports.

This is ridiculous but ok who am I to say people can't have that if they want it.

Again, this goes to Micro USB being kind of shitty. Try plugging in a Micro USB cable in the dark (done reading, don't want to turn on the light and wake up your girlfriend).

[–]hurricane_eddie 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'm a police officer and keep my phone on a charger in my car. The cord commonly gets caught in something on my belt. While most of the time I realize it and fix it's position, I occasionally do jump out the car quickly and take my phone airborne with me. I have it (HTC One M9) in an Otterbox defender now, but I shattered my first one exactly like that while carrying it naked for the first 6 months. I miss carrying my phone without a bulky case, for easy in and out of shirt pocket, but I already used up my free replacement through HTC.

So above user's scenario can happen, and has happened to me. I would also love to have it because micro USB 2.0 "teeth" or "prongs" always wear down, and inevitably cannot establish a connection. Starts with slow charge times, and becomes a totally useless cable before long. I hope my next device uses USB C.

[–]profnutbutter 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'm pretty clumsy and I can definitely attest to torquing the USB cord such that it ruins the cable at the connector. Haven't ruined a phone doing this yet, but I did snap a USB port on a cheap Bluetooth speaker.

[–]RedHillian 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I wanted one so when I'm using it in a car/van, and I inevitably drop the phone trying to get it in/out of the cradle again, it doesn't break the charging cable.

The phone bounces every time (shock proof case), but I keep snapping the cable. It's only a few quid on Amazon to replace it, but that doesn't fix the issue for several days (and generally I manage it when the battery's at its lowest). Yes, I could carry spare cables, but that's another thing to find a pocket for, or lose.

[–]pohatu771 0ポイント1ポイント  (6子コメント)

I want it partially as a plug over the port on the phone. About once a week, I pull a decent amount of pocket lint and dust out of the port. Before I knew it was an issue, I took a phone to Apple because it stopped charging. He pulled a lot of junk out.

I also plug my phone and iPad in in the dark a lot. More than half of the times I plug it in. A magnet will guide it right to where it needs to be.

The downside is that I have four cables between work, car, and home, but only two devices, so I'd have to buy two extra device plugs, rather than just the cables I need. I'd rather put an adapter on the existing cables.

[–]zampe 1ポイント2ポイント  (5子コメント)

Woah woah woah, once a WEEK?? What is in your pockets?? I've had to do that maybe once in the 18 months I've owned the iPhone 6. That seems really odd.

[–]pohatu771 1ポイント2ポイント  (4子コメント)

Part of it is boredom, part of it is preventative. It's not preventing it from charging every week, but it bothers me to know that there is anything in there.

[–]zampe -5ポイント-4ポイント  (3子コメント)

You might want to talk to someone about OCD :-)

[–]pohatu771 11ポイント12ポイント  (2子コメント)

This isn't directed at you, specifically, but a culture that likes to call personality quirks by the name of a serious disorder:

That's not what OCD is.

I recognize that this will likely be downvoted and probably get me called some names, but that's okay if it makes one person reconsider the next time they call "making sure the lights are off" OCD.

[–]zampe -3ポイント-2ポイント  (1子コメント)

I mean I was saying it jokingly but honestly having to clean out the iPhone connector constantly even though it's working fine could really be a form of low level OCD. You don't have to be certifiably insane to have symptoms of it and there is a spectrum of how it affects people. But if you can stop doing it without a problem you're probably fine.

[–]loves-bunnies 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

If you genuinely think someone might have OCD, maybe don't put a smiley face on your suggestion. It's a pretty shitty disease to live with.

[–]Pritchy96 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Only anecdotal evidence here, but I have a pair of SweetLF microUSB leads I use to charge my Vive controllers and they work flawlessly, for data and charging. The magnets are very weak though, although I like that (Part of the whole idea of having these for my vive controllers was to stop the port breaking as it did on an older phone). Couldn't guarantee anything though.

[–]Illustrox1 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

It's amazing how easy it is to rob people and they gladly come back for more. Welcome to crowdfunding.

[–]HelloWorld5609 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Fuck ZNAPS in particular. I have completely given up hope of ever seeing USB-C adapters (even though they still say they are coming). I have yet to see a working prototype from anything other than an Apple lightning connector, and even that has looked pretty shitty.

[–]vnmslsrbms 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yeah ZNAPS is run by the wife of one of the Arist brothers. They're getting quite infamous here in Hong Kong. I'd say they have mastered the art of siphoning backer money while developing nothing.

[–]SnapshillBot 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Snapshots:

  1. This Post - 1, 2, Error, 3

  2. be mediocre in reviews and executio... - 1, 2, Error

  3. of one that - 1, 2, 3

  4. ZNAPS - 1, 2, 3

  5. ZAPTIP - 1, 2, Error

  6. UsBidi - 1, 2, 3

  7. UsBidi (on IGG) - 1, 2, Error

  8. MagCable - 1, 2, 3

  9. POW - 1, 2, Error

  10. Gecko - 1, 2, Error

  11. Spooly - 1, 2, Error

  12. magnetic chargers - 1, 2, 3

  13. the ones found on Amazon - 1, 2, 3

  14. 103 reviews and a 4 star average - 1, 2, 3

I am a bot. (Info / Contact)

[–]needyspace 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

you edited your post, which is the one getting meh responses?

[–]DiscoKittie 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I put in for the MagCables (KS) and the ASAP (IGG). The ASAP have regular updates, and I'm feeling good about them. I haven't heard anything from the MagCables in a while, and have lost the faith.

[–]dc6k 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I have some Kwik Charger thing. It works alright.

[–]meowffins 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Interesting. I am very interested in finding a good one that is cheap, so that I can buy multiple units. I have two 'Baseus' brand ones that work perfectly. The only downside is not having a reversible connector.

That's why i've been eyeing this one on indiegogo:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/asap-connect-the-future-of-usb-cables-apple-iphone#/updates

The latest update 5 days ago shows photos of production.

Edit: just saw it's on your list.