Solar Gadgets
January 16, 2012
SolarKindle Wins CES 2012 Award
One of the standouts of the last week's CES 2012 was the SolarKindle, winner of the Innovation Award. SolarFocus' flexible leather e-book cover has a solar panel built into the cover and a built-in LED reading lamp that is good for up to 50 hours after a full charge. It also features a dual-charging USB/solar battery that, under normal sunlight, will produce about 3 months of Kindle 4 usage when unplugged. When on the go, one hour of sun produces 3 days of reading.
Via SolarKindle
January 2, 2012
Cat and Bunny Solar Bobbleheads
Place this Solar Kitty Bobblehead on your desk or car back window and we promise it will either amuse you entirely or drive you crazy. At a size of 4 x 4.5", the front solar panel collects its energy.
There is also a Solar Bunny available for those who are early Easter shopping. Hit the link for even more cutesy solar bobbleheads.
Via Solar Bobbleheads
December 12, 2011
Casio Solar Watches for Sports
There will be no more batteries to hassle with once you get this Casio Ana-Digi Solar Sport Watch. It features dual time, power saving function, 12 and 24 hour formats, stopwatch, alarm, auto LED light and low battery warning. The timepiece is water resistant up to 165 feet and a men's version is also available.
Via Casio Sport Watches
November 28, 2011
Fly This 50 Foot Solar Bag!
We don't know why we like the idea of a 50 foot airborne Solar Bag, we guess it may have something to do with our inability to fly an ordinary kite. Whatever the reason, you can get your very own, wait for a sunny day, fill it up, tie the ends and the solar beast will rise within 5 minutes. It is also possible to cut it down and make several smaller bags.
Via Solar Bags
October 3, 2011
Electree Available for Consumers
After several years of working on her pet project, French designer Vivien Muller has perfected her Electree with 27 solar panels for charging electronic devices. Energy is stored in a battery in the base and once it reaches full charge it feeds through a USB port. Photosynthesis is the inspiration behind the solar bonsai tree that comes with a $370.00 price tag.
Via Vivien Muller
September 12, 2011
Miele Solar Dryer Unveiled
Last year, Miele produced a SmartGrid-ready washer and dryer. These clever appliances could connect online to determine when the rates are cheapest to turn on after getting a preset time period. So how does the company top that? They come up with what they call the planet's first solar dryer. Teaming with solar tech company Sovis, the dryer gets its juice from rooftop collectors, which transfer to a storage tank. After being piped into the appliance, the cool air returns to the tank to be reheated.
The tank itself can be heated by other sources and can be used to supply hot water to other appliances. Miele says the dryer, which was introduced at this year's IFA in Berlin, will be public-ready next year. Until that time, we will have to be content to use that other solar dryer, the clothesline.
Via Miele
June 13, 2011
DIFFUS Solar Handbag
DIFFUS has introduced a Solar Handbag that is as much about fashion as function. The solar panels charge the bag's battery as well as a mobile devices carried in it. The company describes their product this way:
"The shape of the bag resembles the story between the relationship between the sun and moon - between light source and enlightened. Therefore the shape mimics an eclipse where the moon - the enlightened - interfere or interact with the sun - the light source. The surface is embroidered with an integrated combination of normal embroidery and conductive embroidery that is able to convey the energy harvested for the solar sequins to the rechargeable battery."
We posted this because in this day and age of just getting along, there are still companies that try to go beyond the mundane. This really translates into paying bigger bucks for designer products, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
Via DIFFUS
May 2, 2011
BTX Solar Drapery System
BTX has created a solar-powered drapery system that will fit nicely in to any solar-powered domicile. Completely plug and play, the Tumo Excel Eco-line can handle up to 44 lbs. with its motor and you can also use it manually on gloomy days. Each comes with switch, RF remote and network control to make it super simplified. Contact BTX for price and availability.
Via BTX
March 21, 2011
Gargoyle Keeps Its Eyes Wide Open
For secret Gargoyle fans (we know who you are,) there is now one that operates on solar power, combining the evil with the good. The faux stone statue guards your homestead silently by day and his eyes light up at night. The creature stands 10.5" high, has an on/off switch, is made of polyresin and comes with one rechargeable AA battery.
Via Gargoyles
February 28, 2011
Umeox Apollo Solar Cellphone
The Chinese company Umeox's Apollo made its debut at this year's Mobile World Congress. The solar powered cellphone runs Android, has a 3.2" 320x480 display and has a GB of storage with MicroSD card. The phone needs about 2.5 hours to fully charge, but it must be done frequently to keep it from dying completely. No launch day set, but the unveiling shows a glimmer of solar gadgets to come.
Via Umeox
February 7, 2011
Get Solar Radio Now, Before Next Blizzarama
If you started to panic when you heard about the upcoming blizzard last week, you amassed extra water, candles, a portable radio and scads of duct tape. (We don't know what the latter is for. We only know that hardware stores sell out before disasters.) Prepare for the next cataclysm with Kaito's Voyager Solar/Dynamo Emergency Radio. The KA500GRN can reach AM/FM/SW1/SW2 stations, has a reading light and LED flashlight, and comes with earphone, USB cord and 6 cellphone tips.
Via Solar Radios
November 29, 2010
Eton Solar/Crank Radio/Charger
Grundig's Eton Solar Radio is so impressive that it made it into this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. At a portable size of 5.25 x 2.5 x 1.75", the water-resistant device has NOAA weather, AM/FM, built-in LED flashlight, USB charger, carabiner clip and a bottle opener. At a price of $50.00, the radio can also be hand-cranked in gloomy weather or at night. A similar model is available for the common masses for $20.00 less.
Via Neiman Marcus
November 22, 2010
Kikkerland Double Rainbow Maker
Having a rainbow in your room is so passé. This year, get a Kikkerland solar-powered Double Rainbow Maker to cheer up anyone's bah, humbug approach to the holidays. Swarovski crystals create the effect while the panel allows the device to revolve and refract light in multiple directions.
Via Kikkerland
November 15, 2010
Solar Toothbrush Zaps Plaque, Stains
The last time we heard the word 'ionic' was in connection with the "Ionic Breeze," a supposedly revolutionary air purifier from Sharper Image that ran silently. At a price that seemed way overpriced for the masses, we expect that this was not a staple in most homes.
So now we find the Soladey Ionic Toothbrush, due out next year, that contains a titanium dioxide rod that is said to generate negatively charged ions (electrons.) It does this from reacting with light and interacting with water and saliva. Further claims say that it needs no toothpaste but will still cut down on plaque and whiten teeth. While a solar toothbrush sounds like a good idea, that introductory $29.95 price sounds a little iffy to us.
Via Soladey
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