PPCG Review: PowerMat Home or Office Mat for HTC Touch Pro2
PowerMat Home or Office Mat for HTC Touch Pro2 Review
January 21, 2010 by tsowen, PPCGeeks
Wirelessly charges up to 3 Powermat-enabled devices simultaneously (plus one USB power port). Works with all Powermat receivers. Universal Powercube with 8 tips is included to enable you to charge hundreds of different devices.
Product Features
The Powermat Home & Office Mat wirelessly charges up to 3 devices simultaneously by placing a device with a Powermat receiver onto the mat. There is an additional USB port to charge a fourth device via USB cable. The mat retails for $99.99. Cases and receivers are available at two price points: $29.99 and $39.99.
What's in the box?
- Home & Office Mat
- Universal, international power supply (Energy Star level 5, 100-240V) with built-in cord management
- Powercube Universal Receiver with 8 tips
Specifications
Charging Positions: 4 (3 wireless, 1 USB port)
Dimensions: .625" x 12.25" x 4.5625" (HxWxD)
Input Voltage: 100-240V AC, 50-60Hz Universal
Output Voltage: 18VDC
Output Current: 0.83A
Standby Current: 0.011A
Adapter Power: 15 Watts
The Good
The Powermat Mat is very easy to use. Simply take it out of the box, attach the wall charger to the powermat and plug it in. Find the correct tip and attach it to your device. Then place the receiver on the mat.
There are three charging spots located on the mat. A magnetic attraction between every Receiver and each access point on every Mat assures that alignment is precise and the most efficient charging will occur. This is one of the keys to the Powermat system’s ability to charge your devices as fast or faster than the original power adaptor. Once you have it in the correct spot a light turns on below the charging point, and a sound effect is played. You get three points of feedback to make sure your device is charging. The light and sound effect can be turned off.
The Powercube is a small plastic device with a default mini USB tip. Tips fit over the default mini USB cable. Place the Powercube on the mat and you can charge devices. The Tip Storage container
was a nice added touch which can store your extra tips for different devices all in one little nice container.
The Bad
The mat only has three different slots so if your a gadget person like myself you will find yourself running out of room. You will also have to pay extra if you want to charge more than one device by buying extra cases to fit your device.
| MODEL | SUGGESTED RETAIL |
| Mats | |
| Home & Office | $99.99 |
| Portable | $99.99 |
| Receivers | |
| Case for iPhone 3G | $39.99 |
| Case for iPod Touch (2nd gen) | $39.99 |
| Battery Door for Blackberry Bold 9000 | $29.99 |
| Battery Door for Blackberry Curve 8900 | $29.99 |
| Battery Door for Blackberry Curve 8300 Series | $29.99 |
| Battery Door for Blackberry Pearl 8110+ Series | $29.99 |
| Dock for iPod & iPhone | $39.99 |
| Back for Nintendo DSi | $29.99 |
| Back for Nintendo DS Lite | $29.99 |
| Powercube | $29.99 |
The Bottom Line
The Powermat isn't entirely free of wires, but it succeeds at being different and at powering your phone. On the other hand, we don't see it fulfilling a need.
© 2010, . All rights reserved.
wtf. The title says Touch Pro 2. The list doesn’t even have a Windows Phone in it. It’s just a USB charger powered by a huge mat. Why would I choose this over a straight USB cable from a wall plug?? Title should say “Wireless Generic PowerMat for Blackberry and Iphone”.
so…u plug this huge space waster into the wall, you plug the “power cube” into the port on the huge space waster and then plug the “power cube” into the device (touch pro 2 mini usb)? did i get that right? oh wait i missed that its $99.00! or i can just plug a usb to mini usb into a wall charger or my comp, 1 wire and about 98% off that abomination’s price.
@the3rd… You didn’t read. The Mini-USB charger is the default attachment.
This thing is garbage. It still requires you to either purchase a special battery, or plug your phone/device into a universal piece, then setting that universal piece onto the mat.
To in the long run, if they have a battery for your device, then you can just toss it on the mat. If not, you still have to plug a wire into your phone, at which point this becomes a giant waste of space and money.
I returned mine that I got as a christmas gift, to me it was just a 150 dollar wall charger. Total crap.
@saumaun, the3rd is right. This is just a huge USB charger with universal attachments, in which the USB attachment comes with the set.
Only use is if you can get so called “case” that fits your phone, and with a device list of 8, this thing is absolute crap.
I hightly suggest people ignoring this product until they get something useful that doesn’t rip the consumers off, making them think you can just toss your phone/psp or w/e onto a mat and have it charge. That is not the case.
If it were just purchase a special battery and then I could just flop it down I would go for it, but if I have to plug something in to be wireless….need I say anymore!!
Great concept if everything you owned could go into one of their cases or use one of their batteries but then and only then does it even warrant looking at it.
@⌥ saumaun ☢ –
That logic the title could also say “Specifically for Touch Pro, Motorola, or a multitude of phones” Why is it specific to the Touch Pro 2 without actually having a Touch Pro 2 battery or cover even offered? It’s a generic charger with a misleading title.
Every since these things have come out, they have been a great idea with terrible execution. They have them for console remotes, phones and iPods but no manufacturer support means extra adapters.
@twistedfish “but if I have to plug something in to be wireless….need I say anymore” EXACTLY LOL!!!
IF this worked with say a palm pre that has this sort of thing implemented already, maybe more manufacturers would get on board. Eventually I’m sure they will, but until they are “natively” supported, they are retarded.
This is designed for those who own several devices such as a smartphone, iPod, PSP and so forth so you can have one device that charges three different devices at once. It would be a waste to purchase for just one. The title is listed how it is listed in the PPCGeeks Store it is not specific for just the Touch Pro 2. It does come with several tips and has a “default” USB mini charger that you can place the different tips on if you are going to use the Power Cube.
Crap. Just crap. It sounds like a good idea, but if you have to plug in something to make it work it’s useless. especially when it’s $99. I’m all about the wireless concept, but this one is a failure in execution.
I looked into this around x-mas. I love the idea, but for this to be seriously worth my while I would need to have a specific powermat cube that attaches to each device. That way you wouldn’t have to “plug-in” each device which would actually make it wireless. If you look into it further you see that the attachments for the phones they have available make the mat much more attractive. They need to expand on that idea by offering it, or ever better, selling the idea to manufactures that incorporate the backs into each phone made. That would change the whole concept!
Speed…
Poor implementation. With a replacement battery/cover specifically for the mat this would be great. I have this same thing for my Wii and it’s perfect! Custom battery/cover that matches the “Wii-mote” and adds no extra bulk. Just lay the controller on the pad to charge. When more device manufacturers/OEM battery manufacturers get on-board, then we will see something. until then… FAIL.
until they start making the special batteries for each device this is a complete waste.
This is a terrible review, why bother referencing the touch pro 2 when it’s not even listed or referenced in the article at all? I can read this same story anywhere else on the internets, if there was at the very least a price for a TP2 battery door or photo of one being charged you could link it specifically to the phone.
@WarpedMedia –
Maybe you failed to read, I listed it as it is listed in the store for PPCGEEKS. Pay attention to detail more before making a comment next time.
you gotta love being in the flux of changes in technology. sitting right at the forefront of new products that just dont quite hit the nail on the head. The power mat looks like the start of something big, and when more manufactures get on the bandwagon it should prove to be a big hit, as of right now it really is one of those “almost got it right products” as far as concept goes, it is a fabulous idea.
this power mat is pointless because even if they had the battery clip on like they have for the iphone or psp you still have to put your devise ontop of it and not pick it up because then it wont charge plus it adds volume to the size of you devise. So if i cant move my devise till its charged then whats the f-ing point, i rather have my tp2 conected to the USB cable and i can atleast move it around as far as the cable will let me. plusmy phone is always connected to my laptop or car charger.
if you think the power mat is cool then your an idiot.
Now if they come out with a power mat that allows my divise to TRULLY charge wirelessly then i will buy it. for example if i could have the power mat in my room but i was texting or wifi-sharing in the living room and the phone was charging then that would be awsome.
@tsowen –
Then your review title should be more generic rather than pointed at the touch pro 2, it is obvious that this product can be used with any mini or micro USB charge based device, stating that you are specifically reviewing for a certain device makes it sound as if there is an available battery door which would actually eliminate cords and actually make this product useful. Why would anyone want to charge while still using a cord connected to their device.
There is nothing in your store specifically targeted at the touch pro 2, there is no door available ala the iPhone and blackberry devices that you DID list in your article, therefore the review (which until the end as you say) has absolutely nothing to do with the touch pro 2.
If you took the time to read my comment you would realize I am specifically stating there is nothing in the review (or your store) related to the TOUCH PRO 2, aside from the fact that it is compatible (via a cable, wow). Instead of posting such an poor response, especially considering you’re accusing me of not reading the article, you should be correcting your article.
How is this article titled “PPCG Review: PowerMat Home or Office Mat for HTC Touch Pro2″ when there is nothing available for the TP2??????????