Apple Makes Rare Move: It Cancels a Product

Anyone hoping to get their hands on Apple's much-ballyhood AirPower wireless charger is out of luck. The company says the product is scrapped, not merely postponed, reports TechCrunch. The AirPower, announced in 2017, was supposed to be able to charge an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and AirPods on a charging mat simultaneously. “After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have canceled the project," says a company statement. "We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward."

This is the first Apple product canceled in the Tim Cook era, reports Bloomberg, which uses the phrases "unprecedented retreat" and "embarrassing and rare move" in describing the development. Apple didn't specify the problem, but TechCrunch cites engineering problems in general and overheating in particular, and Bloomberg also mentions overheating. Gizmodo notes that new packaging for AirPods 2 includes an illustration of the AirPower charger, a sign of how unexpected the move was. (Apple is getting into the credit card business.)