GadgetReview

World War 2 buffs and sustainable survivalists rejoice as there’s a new bag in town.  Actually it’s rather old.  Using a German backpack and a satchel from the last World War over 50 years ago, Vancouver BC company KILLA claims that the durable fabric will last you another 50 years and hopefully through the next World War.

Made in an absolute limited quality (only 20 units of both bags produced each year), these bags have been retrofitted with solar panels for storing the sun’s energy for use later.  Each bag also contains iPod controls that KILLA partnered with QIO Systems to use their Paniq devices to control any iPod or Bluetooth enabled module.  Sounds very cool indeed.

No info on pricing at this time. …Continue reading: Retrofitted Solar Power And iPod Controlling WW2 Bags

It might sound hard to believe, but one of the best sources on earth for solar power is located right in your backyard.  Or possibly your front yard.

It sounds outlandish, but the more you think about it, the more you realize it has more truth than you think.  The object in question? A tree.

Trees, as it turns out, generate as much as 200 mV of power and do so reliably.  This is, of course, orders of magnitude less than your standard double AA battery, meaning you’d need the equivalent of an entire old-growth forest to power up a small flashlight.

However, there is a device called a boost converter that collects these ultra small voltages, and converts them into usable power.  This isn’t a very efficient process, and it won’t run a household current anytime soon.  A few hundred trees might be able to continuously pump juice into, say, a battery while you sleep for use in the morning.  But it does represent significant possibilities, and maybe even a really good reason to cut back on some logging operations.

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Solar Panels are just one wave of the future, but their cost has long negated their existence, especially in 3rd world countries.  Now a set of teenagers hailing from Nepal say they have invented a solar panel that is made from human hair.

The hair infused solar panels can produce up to 9V, which is enough juice to recharge a set of batteries or a mobile phone.  Total cost to produce the panels are about $40, which is about half the cost of today’s solar panels on the market that are crafted from silicon.  If they enter mass production the teens think that cost could be cut in half to $20.

While the hair’s conductive abilities will eventually run out, apparently replacing it doesn’t require any special knowledge and means those with little to no education can service the panels themselves.

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If you’ve shelled out the several thousand dollars required these days to get a solar array installed at your house, then you know that it’s all about the light level that lets you figure out just how much power you’re generating.  But the old Mark One Eyeball isn’t exactly the best candidate for figuring out how much sun is shining at any given time.

Enter the Lightgauge, from Lighthouse Solar in Boulder, Colorado.  The Lightgauge is a wall-mounted device that tracks energy produced and energy used in real-time, showing if there’s a surplus or a deficit created at any time.  Lighthouse has recently started including the Lightgauge in all of its solar panel systems.

When they say real-time, they mean it, too–shutting off a light causes the graph to dip towards equilibrium, on screen.

This is a pretty cool idea, frankly, and hopefully, Lightgauges will be part of everybody’s solar system these days.

[via Daily-camera.com]

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Another day another battery pack for the iPhone.  But wait, there’s more.  Much like the battery pack we saw from MotionTouch in July, Novothink is set to release their own version of the solar powered battery pack for the iPhone and iPod touch called the Surge.  And their claim to fame is that this is the first ever Apple-certified one.

But before you get too excited keep in mind it will take about 20 hours to fully charge its internal battery from the solar rays, so think of it as supplementary and not a replacement for standard wall charging.

On the back of the device, in addition to the solar panels are 4 LED lights to indicate the Surge’s level of charge and although they claim there is a 30-pin connector I can’t seem to find one in the pictures, though there is a mini USB port.  Those of you with the the EDGE iteration of the iPhone, or an iPod Touch Gen 1 are shit out of luck, since they’ve only built these to work with the newest of models.

The iPod Surge will be available this month for $70, while the iPhone Surge for the 3G and 3GS will be available sometime this fall for the same price.

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We’ve all been there at one time or another–just as you’re on your daily walk in the park, your iPod goes dead, or your digital camera runs out of juice, or something you’re carrying just can’t work up enough spark to, you know, work.

Enter the Free Loader, a highly portable device that allows you to recharge any of your portable devices anywhere the sun happens to be shining.

The device works by continually absorbing charge in a set of small onboard batteries.  From there, you can tap into the device’s accumulated power at any time to recharge your portable devices.  While you’re enjoying the iPod sound or making your phone calls or what have you, the Free Loader is continually recharging its OWN batteries, and holding that charge for as long as three months before it loses the charge.

You can actually get one of these right now over at ThinkGeek.com for the low price of fifty bucks.  It’s actually a great idea when you think about it, and you’ll never be without juice again.

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Remember Scosche’s solCHAT Bluetooth speaker phone?  It’s now on sale at select retailers for about $70.  In case you forgot, the solCHAT is like any other Bluetooth speakerphone, but includes a solar panel on its rear that enables it to recharge itself when placed into the sun.  Expect to get about 10 hours of talk time or 600 hours of standby time on a fully charged battery – that number can be increased of course by solar charging.  Scosche also includes a suction cup mount for windshield mounting as well as a car charger.

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So while we’ve seen solar powered chargers, we have yet to see the solar powered sleeve/case for the iPhone.  Recently announced from MotionTouch comes a “yet to be named” eco-friendly ambient light and solar charging sleeve for the iPhone 3G and 3Gs.  Specs aren’t all that defined but what we do know is that the sleeve will charge itself whether the phone is on or not, and that none of the iPhone’s features will be disabled when using said sleeve.  The back of the sleeve will have a solar panel but I question the design in that I really don’t think many people will want to leave their iPhone screen down all the time while the sleeve sucks up rays.  No word on pricing or availability as of now.

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It’s pretty few and far between that I hammer out a conference call while basking in the sun, but relaxing to some tunes poolside, that’s a whole different story.  Devotec’s solar powered Bluetooth speaker, the Solar Sound, houses a pair of 2 watt speakers, a rechargeable battery, a retractable 3.5mm headphone cord, a touch like display, a mic for calls and of course Bluetooth connectivity.  In the sun it takes about 12 hours or more to charge the battery, while an AC plug cuts that number into a third.  You can grab one now for $79.

What, no iPod dock?

[via ElectricPig]

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Growing up I was tasked with the chore of keeping my family’s pool clean and pristine.  I know, I shouldn’t complain that I had a swimming pool, but skimming the surface clean was not only a mind numbing task but a forearm one as well.  Enter the Solar Powered Pool Skimmer.  I know, I know, automated pool skimmers have been around for a while, but none so self sufficient.

Two solar panels charge the unit’s NiMH battery and at a full charge it should provide up to 8 hours of cleaning.  In the event of a gloomy or cloudy day, the unit will slow its cleaning speed to conserve battery life and when needed search for a sunny spot to recharge its battery.  If it gets clogged it can reverse suction and spit out what ever offending object is lodged in the system.  And to keep things extra squeaky clean it also houses two chlorine tablets that slowly dissolve as is navigates the pool.

[via Gizmag]

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