Rumors: Docking and Charging by Induction

People have this common misconception that Apple only does latest, greatest technology and gets ridiculed when they mess with older technology. The truth is Apple is no stranger to using older technology. Apple's strength is in packaging clever, useful solutions. The ipod was nowhere near being anything late, breaking. It was all off the shelf parts.

While others may be using induction technology, it isn't used much in any way for the common masses. If it can be used, it sounds like it could be useful. The more cables we can get rid of, the better.

When Apple introduced the Mag-Safe plugs for the MacBooks I wondered why those weren't induction based. That seemed like a no brainer to me.

"Futuristic"?

You've never seen a SonicCare toothbrush? They've only used something like this for..12 years or so?

Powering via induction has recently become hot again, as our truly wireless fetish grows... But data via induction was around in the 80's. I had a Seiko UC-2000 watch that you could even program BASIC into, and it communicated with the base station using magnetic induction:
http://cdecas.free.fr/computers/pocket/uc2000.php

Good times. I still have the watch, but lost the base :(

Induction charging has been around for a while now (in the market as well in in physics, it's not high tech in the least), Panasonic electric razors use them. Europe/Japan also has a nifty induction charger for a variety of devies. It looks similar to an Airport Express station. You set your devices on top of them and they charge (phone, camera, etc). I believe someone is putting out phone batteries than work via induction coils so you can charge your existing phone by just laying it somewhere.

This isn't all that futuistic. Pretty nifty, but it's been done for years, even in such "untechie" devices as toothbrushes. I wouldn't mind having it in the iPhone though; just toss(read: gently place) the iPhone on my desk near my computer and let it sync and charge automatically. very nice.