{"id":15506,"date":"2016-07-21T05:00:50","date_gmt":"2016-07-21T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=15506"},"modified":"2020-12-24T04:09:51","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T12:09:51","slug":"furniture-with-a-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/furniture-with-a-charge\/","title":{"rendered":"Furniture with Charge"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today\u2019s world, our homes, desks, cars, are filled with cables, adapters, outlets and battery packs designed for our ever increasing number of smartphones, wearable tech and, of course, the Internet of Things. Some have noticed the opportunity and began exploring a new industry that\u2019s expected to boom in the next few years\u2014the wireless charging indus<\/p>\n

\"Wireless
Wireless charging furniture from IKEA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

try or inductive charging. An innovative way this is playing out is wireless charging furniture.<\/p>\n

Wireless Charging Collection from Ikea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last spring, Ikea<\/strong> decided it\u2019s time to untangle the web so it launched its line of wireless charging furniture<\/a>; that was a moment when a future of effortless device-charging seemed reachable, even though all those lamps and side tables would still need to be plugged in or that some phones, including iPhones, need a special case in order to pair with the Qi wireless charging technology built into the furniture pieces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the help of our wireless chargers, we make charging easy, fun and convenient, by turning furniture into charging spots. We enable convenient charging throughout the home, designed for your personal needs. At the same time, we make homes more beautiful by minimizing the use of cords. Nobody likes cords, yet everyone wants a fully functional home. With our wireless chargers, it\u2019s possible to have both,\u201d said Bj\u00f6rn Block, IKEA range manager for lighting and wireless charging at the launch of their wireless charging collection.<\/p>\n

The collection has items that range from $9.99 (the Romma cord management box) to $119 (the VARV floor lamp). It\u2019s simple, minimalist and very Ikea; it consists of charging pads, desk lamps, bedside tables and a special pad that users can install in any piece of wood furniture they already own (and don\u2019t mind doing the drilling themselves).<\/p>\n

The charging pads are basically a cross in the middle of a circle that\u2019s about two inches in diameter that use the Qi wireless standard. The majority of phone manufacturers support the Qi standard with the notable exception of Apple. Thus, for iPhones, Ikea came up with the Vitahult cases which include a Qi adaptor. It\u2019s a bulky, unflattering case that feels as if it\u2019s made of the same cheap plastic, but it gets the work done. On the other hand, the lamps and pads are actually quite good-looking.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: if your phone support Qi wireless charging and you like Ikea\u2019s collection, go for it. If you\u2019re an iPhone owner, you might want to wait for a better option.<\/p>\n

Curvilux Smart Furniture<\/strong><\/p>\n