GM Explores Cordless Ways to Charge Hand-Held Devices

"...develop technology that would allow motorists to charge cell phones, music players and other hand-held devices by simply plunking them on a charging mat..."

...and cook up a hot cup of soup, too. Do we really need all of this stuff?

We definately don't, but these companies don't care about what people need, they only care about the potential money to be made off this crap!

Er...pardon? Isn't that mindest a fundemental element of capitalism?

Company thinks consumers might buy item x. Company makes item x. Consumers buy or do not. Profit! or not.

This particular consumer finds the idea of an integrated wireless charging spot in my car potentially useful, given my long commute and appalling forgetfullness. Others may not feel the same, of course. Similarly I boggle at the necessity of now commonly standard features such as power windows, mirrors, seats, etc.

Does the charging mat have a cord?

If I put my cell phone in speaker mode, can I talk and charge at the same time?

Every time I hear this or the "Energy Harvesting" crap I just wish someone would sit these people down and give them a big dose of physics. There's no new magic that's ever going to make this a really good idea. It works for my toothbrush because it sits in the holder for about 23.9 hours out of 24. It reminds me of the other day when I tried to explain entropy to a fellow and he looked me straight in the eye and said "Well you don't know for sure it will always work that way." Conversation over. I guess there will always be those who believe in magic.

I would have said a little bit more....