Gizmodo: Solar powered

Solar-Powered LCD Brings TV to Anywhere the Sun Shines

Elaine Chow — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

As part of Sharp's recent efforts to shove itself to the forefront of solar innovation, the company is showcasing a prototype of a 26-inch LCD Aquos TV that can be powered entirely by the sun. Now even the 1.6 billion people on earth without electricity won't have an excuse to miss the next season of Lost.

The set has a contrast ratio of 10000:1 and a 20mm thick display panel. It requires about 30% less power than regular LCD TVs and gets its juice from one of Sharp's triple-junction thin-film solar cell modules. The modules are about the same size as the television's screen.

Sharp plans to market the LCD and the energy system as a pair and says that its product could be a hit with both people living off the grid and environmentally-conscious consumers. The company will be exhibiting this, and other energy-saving technologies, at the G8 summit on Monday. [Physorg]

Brando's Firefly Lamp: For Those Romantic Digital Insect-Light Moments

Kit Eaton — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EDT

A non-USB product from Brando, and one that's surprisingly cute? Good grief, I nearly fell off my keyboard. These Firefly jars are solar-powered, charging up during the day and adding a simulated bioluminescent insect-ass glow to wherever you pop them at night. The kitchen worktop, perhaps—perfect for lighting your way to that midnight snack. Standing 6.2-inches high, they glow in orange, but are they more eco-friendly than trapping a real firefly in a jar? Probably not... but at least its kinder to animals. Available now for $45. [Brando]

Santa Monica's 160,000 LED Ferris Wheel Powered By The Sun

Elaine Chow — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EDT

Santa Monica has delivered a bright and shiny upgrade to its Pacific Ferris Wheel, dismantling the old one to make way for a new behemoth that boasts 160,000 LED lights. The 90-foot ride, manufactured by Chance Morgan Rides, delivers visual performances every night and cost the city $1.5 million. Thanks to solar panels that soak up energy during the day to power the wheel, those extravagant light shows have a minuscule carbon footprint.

When it was built in 1996, the Pacific Wheel was the only solar powered ferris wheel in the world. The old wheel was auctioned off on eBay for over $130,000 to an Oklahoma City real-estate developer. Grant Humphreys, the developer, plans on incorporating the wheel into a mixed use residential community.

It has appeared in several Hollywood films, including A Night at the Roxbury and Thank You for Smoking. There's no doubt that its younger and more attractive replacement will probably get some screen time as well. [Crunch Gear]

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Falx Promises Private Tilt-Rotor Aircraft. Verdict: Improbable

Kit Eaton — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:20:00 EDT

This small V-22 Osprey lookalike looks like a sleek and sexy machine, doesn't it? The Falx Salker is a VTOL aircraft and is designed to be a hybrid electric vehicle, with solar energy augmenting the 100hp engine to achieve a fuel efficiency of 10 liters per hour of flight. According to their website, Falx Air Vehicles is "set to release its first 100% scale platform during 2008 leading to certification during the next 3 years."

It will apparently weigh in at 770 and 990 pounds for the single- and dual-seat versions, and Falx sees it having many applications, including as a police vehicle (visions of the hover cars from Bladerunner zipped through your head then didn't they?)

So why are we skeptical? Well, sure, the V-22 is a military vehicle and it's highly sophisticated—but it's been under development for over 20 years. Longer, if you include all the X-aircraft that preceded it. Two of the prototypes crashed, and two early production models crashed too. So can this small UK company really overcome the same tricky engineering obstacles faced by the V22, including that difficult transition between the hover and forward flight? We're not sure—it seems rather a lot of advanced engineering and control design. We'd love for it to be real, though. [Falx via Gizmag via Uberreview]

2CLight Hat: Solar-Powered Handsfree Lighting at Night

Kit Eaton — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

At first glance at the 2CLight cap you'd think "oh come on... who'd use that?" — but then you'd think about fishermen and other outdoorsy-types who'd benefit from some hands-free lighting, and maybe you'd reconsider. Its flexible solar cell charges a small battery up during the day, and gives out about 2 hours of max-brightness from the twin LEDs in the brim, or 36 hours at low setting. According to the website blurb it's "not a cap with lights," ohoho no: it's a "tightly integrated, highly advanced, microprocessor controlled solar lighting technology" system. Hmm. So, this cap with lights is available in three color schemes for $35. [2CLight via Talk2MyShirt]

SOLo is Lounge Table and Solar Powered Charger For Your Gadgets

Kit Eaton — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:35:00 EDT

Of all the solar powered gadgets we've shown you recently, I'd have to say this is the most elegant. The Intelligent Forms SOLo is a lounge table (can we call it a coffee table?) and is simply designed to soak up the sun, turning it into stored power so you can charge your gear. Apparently left for a year in a "typical outdoor setting," it can store enough power in its internal batteries to charge up your cellphone 6,800 times or your laptop 168 times. Its got USB sockets, a car-style 12V socket and even a standard 3-pin mains plug, and the whole thing is weatherproof.

Better yet: the SOLo has LED lighting built in for subtle evening lighting effects, you can check on its charge status on its built-in LCD monitor, and it has a large device drawer so you can safely pop your phone, iPod or even laptop inside to keep it safe. For some reason it also has Bluetooth, allowing it "to collect, distribute and exhibit information on both the tabletop LCD display screen and wirelessly between computers and the internet"... and while we're not sure exactly what that means, it sounds pretty impressive.

It's in stainless steel and tempered glass with silicon solar cells and it's around 43 x 30 x 18 inches in size. No info on its price, but it's available through Intelligent Forms own website and considering one of it's suggested uses is aboard a cruise ship, it's going to be expensive. [Intelligent Forms via Born Rich]

Sungevity Web App Makes Installing Solar Panels a Piece of Cake

Elaine Chow — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Eco start-up company Sungevity is launching a new web application on Earth Day (three days away, people!) that will take the guess work out of solar panel installations. Enter your address on Sungevity's website and satellite-imaging software will zoom in on your home, calculate your roof's dimensions, select the right sized solar arrays and calculate how much money you'll save on energy costs.

Once you place an order, the site will ship one of five off-the-shelf prepackaged solar arrays and dispatch an installation crew to your door. An on-line database tracks local building and permit requirements and sends the necessary forms to you for you to fill out.

This is great news for everyone who has ever wanted to jump on the solar bandwagon, but was afraid to because of the headaches that come from any large home project. The system will also help make everything cheaper, since half of a solar system's costs are from installation hassles.

Unfortunately, the service is limited to California addresses right now, but if business is good, we could probably count on a nationwide roll-out in the near future. [Green Wombat via Wired]

Giant Chandelier Harnesses The Sun's Power For Electricity and Color-Changing Abilities

Sean Fallon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:20:00 EDT

This chandelier design by Christoph Klemmt is truly the superhero of lighting fixtures. Besides the obvious aesthetic qualities, the segments that make up the structure itself gradually change from clear to brightly colored when struck by direct sunlight. It also gathers the power from the sun's rays and uses it to illuminate the LEDs scattered along the surface. The piece is currently on exhibit at the Milan furniture fair 2008, so I highly doubt that it will be available to place in your garden anytime soon. And even if it was, you probably couldn't afford it. Additional pic after the break.

[Project Or via Klemmt via The Design Blog]

Brando's Jaw-Tastic Solar Charger Will Power All Your Gizmos

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:30:34 EDT

This mashup from Brando takes some of Thanko's electric vampire universal charger idea and the "survival" solar charger and mixes them into one multi-purpose device. Its adjustable contact teeth mean its jaw can grab onto and charge a wide range of batteries, it's got a set of adaptors to suit different cellphones and has a USB output for your iPod and the like. Better yet, you can charge up its 1,350 mAh internal battery up by sunlight, USB or AC adapter. Basically you'll never be without a source of power for your gadgets. And it's got an LED torch. Is there a better power gizmo out there? [Brando]

Solar Powered Music, Fake Detection and Flashlight in One

Kit Eaton — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:09:37 EDT

I love this weird combo, multi-tool gadget: it's a mashup between the Solar Phone Charger and the great 5-in-1 Pen. It's got a solar cell to top up your gadgets with juice (USB connector, or cellphone adaptors), a UV note-checker, LED flashlight and, best of all, an FM radio. Why not an MP3 player? Where's the tool for getting stones out of a horse's hoof? Nope, just an FM radio. At least we have this reassurance "Security guarantee: There is not any danger to use." Yours for $45.99. [GizFever via RedFerret]

Dyson Concept Updates the Clothesline: It's Raining Pants

Sean Fallon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:50:54 EST

The new "air-line" concept from student designer Daniel Fitzgerald and ~~Dyson~~ offers an eco-friendly and space-saving solution to drying your clothes thanks to a design that functions using the movement of air along with solar heat. In other words, it is a solar-powered clothesline. The one big technological development comes in the form of intelligent sensors that precisely dry your clothes and stop the flow of naturally heated air when the moisture content in the clothes reaches zero. So, theoretically, your clothes should stay nicer longer. UPDATE: Dyson is not officially involved with this concept, they merely affiliate with the group who holds the Australian Design Awards.

Plus, your unmentionables will be protected from perverts and prying eyes thanks to a shade that blocks the view but not the drying power of Mother Earth. I don't know how popular this sort of thing would be in the States, but if it ever sees the light of day as an actual product, it could definitely find a home wherever cramped living conditions force city dwellers to look for smaller, cheaper home appliances. [Design Awards via ecofriend via Wired]

Solar-Powered Laptop-Charging MediaStreet eMotion Media Player Allegedly Shipping (and Cheap)

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:35:28 EST

It looks like a concept—in fact, the only pictures we have of it are fancy 3D renderings doctored up in Photoshop. But according to the press release (after the jump), MediaStreet's 1GB eMotion solar-powered portable media player is already shipping for $169. That's a lot for a typical 1-gig audio-video player, but when you consider that this device can, according to claims, provide power for "most portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, laptops, digital cameras" and presumably itself, it's chump change. In addition, the unit claims to offer Nintendo and Game Boy emulation via SD card so even when you're in the sun you can act like you're indoors. We'll get to the bottom of this, hopefully getting a review sample in, but in the meantime, have a closer look and feel free to stretch your skeptic muscles.

MediaStreet Debuts World's First Solar-Powered Portable Media Player Paired With Charger That Powers Other Mobile Devices
CES, Las Vegas, NV, January7, 2008 - MediaStreet, Inc., an award-winning manufacturer of innovative consumer electronics and services for the digital music and photography markets, announces the world's first solar-powered portable media player, the 1GB eMotion® Solar Portable Media Player. This PMP comes with AC adapter and USB connector (6 varieties) that can recharge most mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, laptop computers, digital cameras and other portable Lithium battery operated products. All players available immediately.

"We started off developing a product that would allow our customers to charge their portable devices on-the-go using solar energy," says Norm Levy, president of Media Street. "We ended up with a most spectacular device that not only charges your cell phone, laptop and PDA, but it is a robust and power-packed portable media player that you will not want to take your hands off."

eMotion 1GB Solar Portable Media Player

• Transfer music, photos, videos, games on and off player
• 5.5" x 3" x 1"
• SD card slot expansion (2GB SD card maximum capacity)
• Included charger powers most portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, laptops, digital cameras and other portable Lithium battery devices
• Supports music formats: MP1, MP2, MP3, WMA, WAV, ADPCM, AMR
• Play video: support AVI format film play achieves QVGA@25f/s fluent MPEG4 video (320 x 240) and provides video bookmark function
• View photos: JPEG, BMP, GIF
• Game simulator: supports FC/GB/GBC/MD 8/16 bit simulator expansion developed by third parties; compatible with NES/GB/GBC/SEGA game ROM
• Read books: supports TXT format
• User-friendly menu with relevant animated instructions
• USB 2.0 port
• OS: Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP/Linux 2.4+/Mac OS 9+

M.S.R.P. $169.00, EM-SOL1GIG

Customers who purchase an eMotion portable media player have immediate access to download free professional photographs and stunning digital art images from http://MyDigitalContent.com for play on any eMotion product. All eMotion consumer electronics offer a limited 90-day warranty.

About Media Street, Inc.
MediaStreet, Inc. is an award-winning manufacturer and developer of innovative consumer electronics and services for the digital music and photography markets. Among the company's unique advances is the marriage of digital content to its digital convergence electronics with the formation of two power web portals; one for professional photography to be enjoyed on eMotion frames, www. http://MyDigitalContent.com, and the other, http://Beyond.fm, to find intriguing music, videos and radio casts which can be played on the growing line of eMotion electronics including (musician) branded eMotion MP3 MP4 PMP DVD and Digital Picture Frame products. MediaStreet is headquartered in Deer Park, New York at 44 W. Jefryn Blvd, Unit Y, 11729. For more information about MediaStreet and their extensive line of products and services, please visit www.mediastreet.com.

[MediaStreet]

Solar-Powered Fairy Lights Make Your Christmas Cheap and Green

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:34:08 EST

We've seen solar-powered LED ski suits and interactive solar-powered roof tiles and now you can add that Christmassy touch to your garden with these solar-powered fairy lights.They feature 50 bright white LEDs, and charge automatically during the day to give you around nine hours of light at night. They will set you back $29.95, which is a little steep, but the bulbs will last 10,000 hours, which is enough for several years' fairy-lit evenings. Praying for sun around Christmastime will have never felt so normal. – Kit Eaton
[Hammacher Schlemmer via Oh Gizmo]

Solar-Powered PMP with Speakers Has Shades of OLPC

AddyDugdale — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:37:29 EST

Yahee, purveyors of gadgets that look remarkably like already-established ones (if you don't believe me, check their fat Nano, for starters) has come up with a solar-powered media player whose charging panels are on the inside. OLPC green in color, the PMP plays tunes, videos, and lets you view photos and play games on it. There's other stuff too:

The PMP supports TXT format files on its reading function, AVI and MP4 for video, and MP1, MP2, MP3, WMA, WAV, ADPCM, AMR music files. There's a slot for an SD card to give you a maximum storage capacity of 2GB, and a firmware update function, meaning you can download the latest software from Yahee's website. And, should you live in Graysville, USA, you can charge the player via the mains with a DC adaptor.

Voice synthesis, and a digital recorder and microphone allows you to record stuff. There are six sound modes: nature; rock; pop; classic; soft; and jazz, as well as different play modes. As well as verdant green, it comes in red, silver and black.

[Yahee via UberGizmo]

Solar Tree to Light up Streets outside Viennese Museum

AddyDugdale — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:39:27 EDT

Ross Lovegrove, designer of beautiful, yet useful, things, has teamed up with Artemide and Sharp Solar to produce these solar-powered street lamps that are to light up the Ringstrasse outside Vienna's Museum for Angewandte Kunste (that's the Museum for Applied Arts and Contemporary Art.) They'll be going up on a tree-line boulevard, so expect the effect to be awesome. More pics and info below.

According to a statement from Lovegrove Studio, the Solar Trees "communicate more than light... they communicate the trust of placing beautifully made, complex natural forms outside for the benefit of all of society becoming a museum that if folded inside out, the museum as an incubator of change in society... and with this the promotion of environmental science and the joy of the new aesthetics made possible by the digital process.

And there's me thinking they were just street lights. Switching on day is October 8. [Dezeen]

Solar Laptop Charger Gives More Than Just A Laptop Juice

kevinhall2 — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:30:00 EDT

Though the Solar Laptop Charger & Portable Power Kit is billed as a great way to charge your laptop in a pinch, its honking 300-watt power pack features a standard plug that will have everything from power tools to blenders operating portably. If you can find about six square feet of space, just unfold the solar mat, plug it all in, and you're good to go. Charge time can be a little steep: 11-12 hours for a full charge. With a full charge, a 25-watt laptop should get around 5-6 hours of use.

The entire solar kit carries a hefty $478.95 pricetag. If that's too much for you, it's worth noting that the XPower Powerpack 300 Plus and Sunlinq Portable Solar Panel are available separately, for $119.95 and $359.99, respectively. The XPower Powerpack 300 Plus alone is handy enough, as it doesn't need the panels to charge and can even jump-start cars and fill a tire up with air. [Earthtech]

Sun-Red Solar-Powered Bike Won't Go Far or Fast

AddyDugdale — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:01:32 EDT

I can see the point behind this motorcycle from Catalonian company Sun-Red (very responsible and all that, clap clap clap) but, fug-o-rama design aside, I worry for this eco-friendly concept bike, which got a special mention for innovation when they were handing out prizes at a Barcelona car fair recently.

Once charged, it will take you a perfunctory 13 miles at 30mph. Yes, that's thirteen miles, which means that if you travel from the northernmost point of Manhattan island, you still won't reach the southernmost tip without having to get off and push.

The bike's solar panels emerge when it is stationary (does that mean you risk decapitation if you stop to admire the view?) Keeping with most electric bikes, its brushless motor is stored in the front wheel, saving on transmission components.

Sun-Red designs solar bike [UberGizmo]

Duracell/Xantrex Power Devices Make Me Say ¿Que?

Addy Dugdale — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:13:40 EDT

I got very excited when my fabulous colleague Charlie White passed this thing from Duracell and Xantrex* on to me, saying that the write-up would need my touch. "Ah, it's a clunky, chunky boombox for hunky construction-worker types that plays CDs and never breaks, even when you drop something builder-y and heavy on it," I thought. (Yes, my idea of home decoration is painting my nails in front of reruns of Dallas, although I'm good with the vacuum cleaner and spirit level when my man is drilling holes in walls.)

Anyway, this is a battery pack. The Duracell Powerpack 300 is an 18-hour battery (is that any relation to the 18-hour girdle? Just asking, like.) with jumper cables, a flashlight, air compressor and two AC power outlets. So, no CD player, then.

And then there's something below that I thought might be a portable solarium, but I am big enough to admit my mistakes. The Powerpack Solar does the same thing as the Powerpack 300 and, by harnessing the fabulous discoball of the sky that is the sun, it will charge your electric-y things. I guess this is useful if you're a Bedouin warrior living in the Sahara Desert, far from a socket. Isn't that right, Charlie? – Ad Dugdale

*Isn't Xantrex a tranquilizer? Now then, I'm sure I left my nail file somewhere round here...

Duracell/Xantrex Power Devices [CrunchGear]

Video: Solid-State Aircraft Flaps Its Wings Like a Bird

Matt Buchanan — Sun, 20 May 2007 15:45:31 EDT

If you can get past the annoying voiceover (sorry, Ecogeek) then this video showing off Ohio Aerospace Institute NASA's solid-state aircraft concept is pretty cool. They're engineless, solar-powered and somewhat creepily resemble the mass production Evangelion units in flight, so it'd be sweet if these puppies (birds?) ever saw the light of day to make our jet-setting ways a little less harmful to the environment. I just hope they have a space-age barf bag to go with it. – Matt Buchanan

[Ecogeek via TechEBlog]

Solar Powered Lighter—Wait, What?

Travis Hudson — Fri, 11 May 2007 21:00:30 EDT

A Portugal-based company has reinvented the wheel and created fire from the sun, kind of. This solar-powered lighter doesn't actually create an open flame, but it does create a series of sparks that should be capable of lighting a BBQ grill. So in all reality, it is the environment-friendly lazy man's flint or sparker. The bottom is also a bottle opener—I'm sold! $19. –Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via uber-review]

Soltronix AM/FM Solar Headset Makes the Sun its Slave

blongo3 — Mon, 07 May 2007 17:20:09 EDT

We were completely unaware that they were still innovating on the AM/FM headphone combo. Weren't they all rounded up and sent to Radio Shack Hell next to the metal detectors? It looks like Soltronix didn't get that memo.

The Soltronix solar headset, is completely energy self-sufficient in full-on sunshine. And after about an hour or so these stylish babies will have enough juice to play for 18-hours in the dark.

However, they will probably only appeal to the greenest of radio loving tree hugger's, since at $49.95, they cost more than a Zen Stone, and you'll probably get beat up for wearing them, too.– Ben Longo

Solar Headset AM/FM Radio [Scientifics]

Wireless Outdoor Solar Speaker

Travis Hudson — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:30:16 EDT

In honor of the recent Earth Day festivities, here is a great speaker to add to your repertoire of outdoor entertainment activities. The speaker can wirelessly play (up to 150 feet) from a beacon attached to a media player. Even better is that it recharges with the help of the sun's happy rays of light. $200.

Product Page [Via TechDigest]

Solar-powered Air Conditioner Keeps You Cool During Blackouts

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 10:40:48 EDT

Summer's just 2 months away, and what better way to keep cool than with SolCool's solar-powered air conditioner, the Millenia. Theoretically, it makes sense. Not only will it help cut down your electric bill, but it'll keep you cool even when the lights go out. And should the blackout occur at night, the AC can run off back-up batteries that last for up to 24 hours. The unit is set to come out next month for just under $3,000 (plus $500 installation). Now if only they could team up with LG to get rid of the AC's recycle bin look. – Louis Ramirez

Using Solar Energy to Keep Homes Cool [News.com]

Power Purse: Designer Handbag Powers Gadgets, Questions Your Manhood

www.gizmodo.com — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:37:36 EST

Gadget loving ladies and secure men with an eye for designer fashion and a love of gadgets might find the Power Purse as useful as it is stylish. This solar powered bag is completely covered in mini solar panels that can draw power from the sunlight. There is an internal built-in USB port for charging your cell phone or other favorite mobile devices without the need for carrying around all those pesky chargers.

Designed by Joe Hynek, a student at Iowa State University, the Power Purse will be available soon through Solarjo. The estimated cost is $300, but hey—no one ever said cutting edge fashion was cheap. –Dana Bushman

Power Purse [Solarjo via Crave]

Solar Powered George Bush Robot Chariot to Save the Planet?

Charlie White — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:28:51 EST

A solar-powered chariot that walks, rollerblades and looks like George Bush? Its inventor says it will "save the world from itself." Why George Bush's head on such an efficient, sustainable, responsible and forward-looking vehicle? Says the robot vehicle's inventor, Stanford professor of neurology Bob Schneeveis, "He's doing something that he's qualified to do, and he's good at it, too. I'd like to see him do more." – Charlie White

A solar-powered robot chariot with a George Bush head [Spluch]

SlimStar 820 Pleases Mother Nature with First Solar-powered Keyboard

Louis Ramirez — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:58:47 EST

If you thought hybrids were just for cars, guess again. Genius has created the first solar-powered keyboard and mouse hybrid. The wireless keyboard has a built-in solar panel that draws juice from surrounding light (there's also a back up USB cable charger for all you nocturnal Web surfers). Bundled with the keyboard is an 800dpi mouse, which defeats the purpose of the keyboard by relying on 4 AA batteries for its power. But hey, at least the batteries are claimed to last 15 months. – Louis Ramirez

Product Page [via Everything USB]

Japanese Solar-Powered Cellphone

Travis Hudson — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:03:50 EST

Japan cellphone giant, NTT DoCoMo, has developed this Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP-looking cellphone. This phone actually includes the solar cells on the external side of the clamshell—therefore not needing any other devices to use the sun's rays to charge. On a side note: this would be great for those of us that constantly forget their cellphone chargers regularly (I'm home for the holidays and I forgot mine again, damnit!). – Travis Hudson

Solar Powered Cell Phone Charges Free In Sun [The Raw Feed]

Solar Powered Wireless Speakers

Gizloco — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:58:58 EDT

Hope you've got plenty of light if you want to run these wireless, solar powered speakers. (Alternatively, you can just plug them in, but where's the fun in that?) The speakers themselves are rated to have a 5-watt power output, so don't expect to be turning them up to 11 any time soon. That said, the wireless is supposed to have a range of up to 50 meters (164 feet in real measurement terms), so this isn't a complete gimmicky piece of garbage. The speakers are also encased in a weatherproof exoskeleton of doom, so they can safely be used outdoors for the most part.

So if you've got a hankering for some wireless speakers that'll work with your myriad audio devices, be prepared to spend around $150. Mind the limited supply, however. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [igadget.com.au via The Red Ferret Journal]

Solar-Powered Wi-Fi

Travis Hudson — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:10:18 EDT

The $100 laptop project is making waves in lesser-developed countries, but what about Internet access? Come on, even the poorest folks enjoy sick fetish porn from time to time. Enter Green Wi-Fi. This is a non-profit organization that is seeking to provide wireless internet access to poorer countries. These access points are simply a solar panel, battery and a router that is linked up to a big wireless network. These nodes run for approximately $200, which is considerably cheap given all of the components involved. Green Wi-Fi is set to launch in India this summer. – Travis Hudson

Green Wi-Fi [Via Treehugger]

Solar Powered Beer Cooling ... Huh?

Travis Hudson — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 16:26:42 EDT

Doesn't make that much sense, but according to the researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, this is a possibility. The researchers are creating a thin-film solar power technology that can stick to all kinds of surfaces, including beer bottles. This technology will be capable of shrinking solar panels to micrometer-thin tiles that could potentially replace climate-control systems, or in the most practical case: keep beer colder, longer. Works for me. Hopefully it doesn't increase the cost of beer that much, or I may be stuck drinking solar-powered Pabst Blue Ribbon. Ugh. – Travis Hudson

Boffins chill out with solar-powered beer bottles [Via Sci-Fi]

Solar-Powered Address'o'Gauge

Travis Hudson — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 11:28:00 EDT

If you happen to live in an odd part of town that is damn near impossible for delivery drivers to find, this may be a good addition to your household. This device charges with delicious rays of sunlight and can then display up to five numbers, commonly for the address. The entire unit itself is approximately a foot wide, so easily mountable anywhere you please.

This device would also be good for folks who have easy addresses to find, but they just enjoy spelling out naughty words in digital numbers. Hooray for 80085. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Solar Powered Battery Charger

Jason Chen — Fri, 19 May 2006 18:42:29 EDT

Out here in sunny California, people are always going out to the beach or the pool or the park. Not us though, we're inside blogging, just the way we like it. But even indoors, we can take advantage of this solar powered battery charger to fill up all our AA's.

This charger charges four of the same type of battery at a time—AAA, AA, C or D—and finishes within 6 hours. Great for people on the go or the electricity conscious.

Available now for $28.

Product Page [Maplin via Red Ferret]

Solar-Powered LED Water Bottle

Travis Hudson — Wed, 10 May 2006 07:24:48 EDT

In today's day and age you can combine damn near everything—some practical, some not. This is pretty good device for the outdoor enthusiasts. The SolLight water bottle features an LED light that will light up the entire bottle. Even better, it is solar powered. One full charge of the LED will provide upwards of eight to 10 hours of illumination. It retails for $25.

Product Page

USB Drive Loves Being in the Sun

Gizloco — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 08:36:01 EST

Just when you thought you ve seen every type of USB drive imaginable, Taiwan s A-Data steps into the picture and shows off its Solar Disk. The Solar Disk combines the usual 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB or 2GB USB flashe memory with a solar cell, powering an LCD on the drive s face. The LCD displays the drive s remaining storage capacity. And yes, if the sun goes down you will still be able to access the drive s data. It s due out on April 1 (no, not a joke).

Solar powered Flash drive from A-Data [New Launches]

Solar Energy For Your Cellphone and More

Charlie White — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 09:30:55 EST

You just gotta love solar energy, where all you need is a sunny day and then there's plenty of power that's just there for the taking. Here's a trinket that will help you harvest that energy that's all around you, the Solar Style SC003 Oval Solar Charger. It connects to Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung phones, and at 3.25 x 2.25 and just 0.75 inches thick, this 3-ounce device is compact enough to slip into your pocket. It not only will revive your exhausted cell phones, it resuscitates MP3 players and some PDAs, too. You can also charge the device itself, storing that energy in an on-board battery inside the Solar Style charger, and then later it will stand ready to charge other members of your electronic menagerie even when it's not sunny. Replenish its energy with an included car charger, or when you get home, plug it in with an included AC wall wart and charge it up there, and then it's ready to keep you going all over again. It's available now for $35.99 from the Solar Style website.

Solar Style SC003 Solar Charger for Cell Phones [Mobile Whack]

Light and WiFi from Scottish Streelamps

tgrumet — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 14:54:11 EST

What's better than a solar-powered streetlight? A solar-powered streetlight that also provides free WiFi or MiMax connections. The Abertay Center for the Environment (ACE) at University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland, is now in cahoots with a company called Compliance Technology to build these wacky streetlamps using Photovoltaic technology. Called Project Starsight, folks from the ACE and students from the University will be the first to try it out during a pilot scheme.

Sunlight powers streetlights, Wi-Fi access [Cnet]