Power Your iPod With Solar Power
TMO at MWSF - Power Your iPod With Solar Power
by , 12:45 PM EST, January 10th, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Better Energy Systems announced Monday Solio, a solar power charging solution for iPods and other portable devices. Consisting of a collapsible array of three solar panels that fits in your pocket, the device connects to your iPod with a cable (see image below). The company said it will be introducing the products at this week's Macworld Expo in San Francisco.
"The concept of taking free energy from the sun to power your iPod simply makes sense, whether one intends to spend a long weekend at the beach or simply requires mobile power for that long commute, with Solio you are free to keep your iPod playing or your cell phone charged," said Better Energy Systems' CEO Christopher Hornor in a statement.
Solio weighs 5.8 ounces, is weatherproof, and Better Energy Systems describes it as the size of an average cell phone. Included are adapters to allow Solio to be used with portable devices other than the iPod.
The device uses an internal battery, which powers your portable device, and the solar panels directly charge that battery. It also comes with a power adapter so that it can be plugged directly into a wall socket for charging when there is no sunlight.
Solio, from Better Energy Systems
Solio is priced at US$119, and is available through the company's Web site. Better Energy System said it will be moving the product through US retail channels "soon."
Observer Comments
By coincidence, the Edmonton Journal today reported that the University of Toronto has announced a breakthrough in photovolatic cells. The new cells use a conductive polymer impregnated with 'Quantum Dots", nanoparticle crystals, which allow the plastic to absorb energy from the infrared spectrum as well as that of visible light. The new polymer is not olny highly versatile, but also potentially much less expensive and 5x more efficient than current plastic photovoltaic cells.
A potential application suggested by the article included coating the iPod in this plastic to make it completely self-powered.
Related technology from the same group is being considered create optical network switches which could potentially speed up the internet by nearly 100 times.
Ain't science cool? 
Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:21 am Subject: Re: Major Obstacle
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
I want to charge my G3 with solar....
Very easy. Just buy a 12V car charger for your iBook and a generic solar charger that comes with a 12V plug. This way you can not only charge your iBook, but also cellphones (using their respective car chargers).
If you would like to charge MacBook, you are stuck. You can NOT use the power inverters, such as the one sold on the Apple Store, because inverters are too inefficient at the low power given out by a solar panel to trickle charge the MacBooks.
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