Technology and design laboratory Edison Junior developed the POP portable power station and hoped to see its dream flourish with the help of financial backers on Kickstarter. Those dreams of producing the multi-device charging unit, however, have been halted after Apple denied permission to license its exclusive Lightning charger.
As a result of Apple's denial, Edison Junior has decided to payback the full $139,170 it received in funding, the largest refund ever of a Kickstarter project. The POP portable power station was unofficially dubbed “the intersection between charging and design” and allowed users to charge iPads, iPhones and Android devices. However, without the Lightning charger, the multi-device unit would be useless to iPhone 5 owners.
The decision isn't surprising, given Apple has been very selective with releasing its technology to third party companies.
Edison Junior CEO Jamie Siminoff recently spoke with Venture Beat:
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Apple and Kickstarter have yet to make a statement on the matter.
[via Venture Beat]
