Chinese Influencer Goes Viral for Realizing Apple’s Aborted Wireless Charging Desk Concept

BEIJING, October 21 (TMTPOST) — He Shijie, a 22-year-old Chinese influencer active on Bilibili with eight million followers, has gone viral again for his self-made AirDesk, a standing desk that allows wireless charging for multiple devices at one time. According to He, the idea was originally inspired by Apple’s abandoned concept AirPower. He made his fame on Bilibili for his video that shows the speed of 5G and his one-on-one interview with Apple’s CEO Tim Cook.

In his 7-minute video titled “I made a product that Apple abandoned”, He showcased the AirDesk he designed. AirDesk automatically pinpoints electronic devices that support wireless charging via an AI-powered camera and moves the wireless charger under the desk accordingly.

AirDesk allows users to charge their devices, ranging from smartphones to earphones, anywhere on the standing desk. AirDesk is reportedly able to charge three devices at the same time.

AirDesk uses a transparent display as its desktop, which is designed to show its mechanical structure inside and displays a user interface that makes AirDesk more interactive. The desktop surface can display information such as memos, reminders, and error messages, etc.

The desk can also level up or lower down with one tap.

It is worth noting that AirDesk has no technological innovation to offer, but rather combines existing technologies by He.

The video had garnered over 175,000 reposts and 700,000 likes on Chinese social media Weibo, as well as over a million likes on Bilibili. The popularity of the video also sent the shares of Shenzhen-listed desk maker Loctek soaring by 13.5% in one day. He’s video was sponsored by Loctek.

Apple originally announced its AirPower project in 2017. AirPower was envisioned as a charging mat that supports charging three devices simultaneously. It was intended to support charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time when placed on wherever on the mat. The project was later aborted for technical reasons and its inability to translate into a product that meets Apple’s “high standards”.

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