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02/19/09
02/19/09
02/19/09
Why not just make a standalone solarcell-powered battery charger? Not only would a separate charger allow for far more (and much needed) solarcell surface area (and not be grafted onto a tiny and highly inefficient cylindrical surface where at any given moment fully half or more of the solarcell is in the shade), but then you could use regular rechargeable batteries. And let's not even talk about the dangers of leaving batteries laying out in the heat of full sunshine.
Some people have noodles for brains.
02/19/09
@Cody Cuzzo: Agreed. (Half) Kudos for thinking (partway) out of the box.
@lostarchitect: Overly critical? No such thing. Certainly not on a gadget blog meant for critical commentary.
@DeusExMach: "Well, you're ugly and your mother dresses you funny!"
I do not dress funny. (sorry, Mom)
@Narual: They do already exist...which, in a roundabout way, was kinda sorta my point: these are a poorly conceived and unnecessary alternative.
@RainyDayInterns: "how about suggesting what needs to be improved to make it work?..."
I did suggest a way to improve this idea--throw it into the trash can where it belongs.
@KRiSone87: Now that kind of thinking could help take this half-assed concept into a more practical direction. And that is my ultimate point, that, as it is currently conceived and presented, this "concept" is ridiculous and needed far more brainstorming before being released as a "prototype".
02/19/09
I think the whole idea here though is portability. While this may not be the most efficient use of solar cells, you could charge this battery anywhere as long as the sun was out. They really only needed to cover half of it though.
02/19/09
02/19/09