The wedge-shaped structure consists of various stacked layers, with the more private areas of the house – such as bedrooms – shifted further back and away from public view. Modular and pull-out cabinets, seating and other furniture increases flexibility in use, while the bathroom is a wetroom with a sunken bathtub.

Up to 45 solar panels can be mounted on the roof, providing three times the energy than the CHIP home actually requires. LED lighting and wireless switches mean less power, fewer bulbs and no complex tangle of wiring, while HVAC energy use is reduced by implementing a large water storage tank. This maintains a thermal load, cutting down on water-heating costs as well as drawing off excess heat in summer.

As for tech, the iPad is used to remotely control the wireless ZigBee Control4 lighting and other kit, as well as show real-time information on power consumption, while the Kinect means you can control the CHIP’s various systems using gestures and pointing. Sensors mean CHIP can turn on specific hardware when you sit in certain chairs, close blinds when it’s bright, and automatically lower shutters to avoid passive heating.

The 750 square meter house is an entry into the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

[via SmartPlanet]

Two of the prototype solar-powered phones were tested in the Arctic Circle, while one was in southern Sweden, one in Kenya, and one on a sailboat in the Baltic Sea. And it turns out that location did play a major role, as the phone had better performance in areas closer to the equator where there was more direct sun. However, the power generated from the built-in solar charger was only able to supply enough energy for the device to be on standby with a very limited talk time.

Other limitations included the small size of the phones, which meant small solar panels. The angle of how light entered the solar panels was also important as was the amount of light that could pass through the phones’ weatherproof casings to get to the solar panels. Also, since the phone constantly needs light to stay charged, the phones can’t be carried around, as most folks do, in a pocket or purse.

[via Nokia]

Samsung isn’t simply doing this out of the goodness of their own hearts, but it’s nice to see initiatives like this appear to be so close to real action in the world. This project is in place as a result of CSR requirements — Corporate Social Responsibility, that is, and thus far the project is set for greater Africa. For the betterment of Africa too, if I do say so myself. This project will yield units that are both easy to transport to remote areas and able to withstand inclement weather.

The first version of this project’s units are 40-foot shipping containers equipped with rubber solar panels. These panels are able to power the classroom within for up to 9 hours each day and can retain power for up to 1 and a half days without any new sunlight. Inside the unit there are, of course, a whole slew of top of the line Samsung products such as the Galaxy Tab, a 50-inch electronic board, solar powered netbooks, and more.

Inside the first unit is a refrigerator, UPS, a router, Virus Doctor air-purification, Wi-fi enabled camera, and of course a file server. This file server works via a 3G connection and will house the entire South African school curriculum. Sounds like a pretty nice little unit, wouldn’t you say? Certainly seems nicer than the one-room schoolhouses of the generations before us, that’s for sure.

[via Samsung]

This keyboard comes in three light color combinations with a blue, pink, or green top, or a slightly darker silver covering most of the face with a black accent at the top, or a fully black option. As you’ll see in the video, each color combo is live in effect except for the all-black version. In addition to the keyboard itself, you’ll be working with a USB stick (or tiny USB dongle) to connect to your Mac – a MacBook Air here, for example. Each keyboard, they say, for up to three months in total darkness – in the video we see our helpful rep note “three hours”, but we’re going to guess that this is a mis-spoken factoid since all of the press on this device says three months otherwise.

The entire keyboard is only 1/3-inch thick, the keys are set up in a familiar Mac fashion, and all of the keys have a Logitech-specific concave key-cap design. There’s also a Logitech Solar App that you can download along with the keyboard that lets you know what your current battery power is and how much power you’re getting from your sunlight source or desktop lamp at any given time – yes, that’s correct, you don’t need direct sunlight to make this device work. The keyboard can grab power from indoor lighting as well!

You get a 3-year warrantee with purchase, the entire 432 x 157 x 7.5 milimeter keyboard weighs in at only 750 grams, and you can grab one right this second from http://logitech.com/ for $59.99.

Sound good?

You can also check out the rest of the awesome Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011 action by hitting the [Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011 portal] – hands-on videos and photos of awesome gadgets, gizmos, and tech-tacular items galore!

Charging from sunlight or ambient lighting while indoors, a full battery is good for up to three months of use in pitch darkness. It’d help if you had some lighting around, however, since there’s no key backlighting.

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard for Mac is available to pre-order now, priced at $59.99. Five colors will be offered: black, silver, red, blue and green.

Video demo after the cut

Together, the two sources are good enough to power a portable TV for 4.8hrs, though you can connect two units together to double the runtime. The flexible solar panel sheet is developed by Fuji Electric Systems, and the internal battery can be recharged from a 12V DV input.

There’s also a standard USB port for hooking up portable gadgets like cellphones. OS began shipping the GSR-110B back in January, with the device priced at 60,000 yen ($730).

[youtube XjL1mQFlp7A]

[via OhGizmo]

The concept images we got show two concealed OLED screens, one of them paired with a touchpad. For solar lovers out there, the design includes an integrated solar charging panel on the back of the handset. Joseph also shows a rendering that suggests what seems like a primarily gesture based UI. The touchpad area is a slight concave depression that contains another AMOLED screen. We don’t know why he decided to have a partial touchpad and separate screen when most devices these days seem to be gravitating after the iPhone’s basic design. He claims that the solar charging system will charge the battery to 80% of full capacity. We’re looking forward to seeing this design, and others from Mr. Lee in the future.

Check out our other articles on concept designs here.

[via Concept Phones]

This 5th Marine Regiment has been using a program by the name of Experimental Forward Operating Base, aka ExFOB. This program uses an array of panels that can absorb solar power, then they’ve got equipment that can transmit that power to the equipment they use daily, this process saving them a MINIMUM of 8 gallons of diesel fuel a day. That’s a lot considering the tinyness of a single regiment. Think of this program applied on a large scale.

Staff Sargent David Doty notes, “Our generators typically use more than 20 gallons of fuel a day. We are down to 2.5 gallons a day. The system works amazing. By saving fuel for generators, it has cut back on the number of convoys, meaning less opportunity for one of our vehicles to hit an IED.” The array consists of flexible/portable panels that are both carried by troops and placed over tents during the day, each of them efficient enough to power four computers at once.

[Via Good Clean Tech]

Solar power is becoming a common addition to some gadgets. Yet, it’s mostly tied to accessories that charge our more important devices, rather than being an integral part of them. That looks to be changing for at least one company, as Apple has recently been awarded a patent for solar-powered devices. Generally speaking, the patent describes solutions for charging devices that range from smartphones, to laptops and tablet devices, courtesy of solar power.

The general description of the patent goes into detail about the devices that would be included, which describes about as generally as possible any of the devices aforementioned. It goes on to say that these things could be charged from several different sources, and that solar power would be part of that method. This particular patent was originally filed by Apple way back in the first quarter of 2009. Rumors about a solar-powered Apple-branded device haven’t been as rampant as others, but they are out there, and this awarded patent would suggest that the company is certainly looking into the possibility.

[via TechCrunch]

Being an ultra-rugged and splashproof speaker system, the Soultra XL is ready to handle the elements while you enjoy your music outdoors. The device is powered by a lithium ion battery which is charged by a 72 square inch enhanced monocrystal solar panel.

Sporting 8 speaker drivers (2x tweeters, 2x woofers, and 4x passive radiators) the system was surprising loud all while being incredibly clear. Performance wise we were told that the system will take 5 hours to fully charge in the sun, which would yield 4 hours of playback.

Last year’s Soultra is available now for $200 and is a more compact solution with Aspen Green and Crimson Graphite colors coming soon. The Soultra XL will be shipping the second quarter of this year for an estimated retail of $300.

Designer Mostafa Bonakdar has designed a new way to collect, purify, and dispense water, and has made it into one of the most accessible ways possible. The design is a simple one: the stand collects and purifies rain water, and transforms it into drinkable water for those sitting under the shade, or anyone passing by. It does this thanks to the solar panels at the top of the shelter, which absorb the sun’s rays during non-cloudy days to power the unit.

Bonakdar says that the Hydroleaf Shelter will be able to hold up to 60 liters of water at any one time, and if anyone wants to test the water inside, they will simply need a vertical piece of glass that would be placed at the top of the storage tank. And, because it wouldn’t be a safe rest stop for anyone walking around at night without lights, the solar energy collected through the day will also be used to power lights, that turn on automatically at night.

[via EcoFriend]

Strebel calls it the Solar Vox, and it’s designed to be a portable, and easy to use device to charge your other gadgets while you’re out doing things. It’s a box that features the ability to be set in four different positions. The hope is that, no matter what position the sun is in the sky, you’ll be able to tilt the Solar Vox in such a way that it will be able to soak in as many rays as possible. It features replaceable batteries, and several different USB connectors.

Strebel says that the Solar Vox is perfect for those in the world that are environmentally conscious, and anyone who falls into the “techie” description. Of course, if you hike, or take long trips that won’t let you access a traditional wall outlet as often as you’d like, the Solar Vox is a perfect option for you. As of the time of this writing, the Solar Vox has received $2,139 in funding, out of the $35,000 of its total goal. Feel like you can donate to help the Solar Vox become a reality? Head through this link.

[via Wired]

Right from the start, the Double has an eye-catching design. Especially with that lime green middle hinge. And then you notice the solar cells that stretch across the length of the device. That hinge, with its green tint, is a 360-degree hinge, which will allow the device to flip back and forth. And thanks to the solar cells on the face, there’s a good chance that you won’t actually run out of power throughout the day — as long as the sun’s up, and feeding your phone the energy that it needs.

Other features include a 3.2-inch LCD display, with touch controls. There’s a transparent display that’s been thrown in too, so that when you get notifications, that’s how they’re displayed. Just like the self-sterilizing door handle that also won a Red Dot Concept Design award, the Double smartphone from ZTE Corporation is a design we’d love to see actually make it into the real world.

[via Yanko Design]

Like many other hornet, or even insect species, the Oriental Hornet is prone to being more active during the day. Other hornets actually flourish during the morning, but then tend to get more reserved as the day progresses. In the case of the Oriental Hornet, though, it actually gets more active as the day moves on. More accurately, as the sun makes its way through the sky, the hornet’s activity level rises in accordance.

Why? Because that yellow stripe holds tiny protrusions that collect sunlight, and translate it into energy. The Oriental Hornet also has a specialized pigment, called xanthopterin, that aides in the processes of making solar energy into energy the hornet can utilize in its every day happenings. Xanthopterin works as a light absorbing, or light harvesting molecule, which makes it easier to transfer into electrical energy that the hornet can use.

[via GearLog]

The TÛRANOR PlanetSolar is owned by one Immo Ströher, who is a German entrepreneur. He took off in the PlanetSolar just over a month ago, and intends to sail around the world without using any fossil fuels at all If he can succeed, that would make him the first person to accomplish it. If you find yourself in Miami or Cancun in the next mont, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the PlanetSolar, as it is scheduled to stop there during the next month.

As for the boat itself, it measures in at 5,700 square feet. Most of that is covered in solar panels. The energy collected from the solar panels is stored in a lithium ion battery. It took Immo Ströher $17.5 million to build the PlanetSolar.

[via USA Today]

The Day Shade Night Light, which probably really is the best name for something like this, is designed to be just your every day umbrella during the day, providing you shade while you enjoy the nice weather outside. But, while it’s doing that, it’s also absorbing plenty of energy from the sun, thanks to the flexible solar panels sitting atop it. So, when night inexorably arrives, you’ll be able to keep the umbrella up, this time as a source of light.

On the under side of the umbrella, there would be flexible LEDs, which would provide the light. The people under the umbrella would be able to control how bright the lights are, with an external switch. As of right now, the Day Shade Night Light solar powered patio umbrella is just one more great concept, but there’s always a chance it gets picked up by someone.

[via GearLog]

Those panels, AUO claims, are deadzone-free thanks to an eye-tracking system developed by SuperD.  That allows for 2D and 3D content to be displayed concurrently, with the 10.1-inch panel running at WXVGA (and targeted at tablets, AUO says) while the 15.6-inch panel runs at Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution.  Mass production is expected to kick off in Q3 2011.

As for the touchscreen solar keyboard, it’s a mere 2.1-mm thick and can run off sunlight or artificial lighting.  It’s not enough to do away with mains power altogether, unsurprisingly, but it can apparently reduce external power requirements by around 20-percent.

[via DigiTimes]

Meanwhile Logitech will also be releasing a companion solar power app (www.logitech.com/k750.solarapp) which will help users position their keyboard to make the most of ambient lighting.  Indoor lights as well as the sun can be used to recharge the K750, and the app will throw up alerts when juice is running low.

Connectivity with your PC is via the Logitech Unifying Receiver, with 128-bit AES encryption to stop someone from illicitly sniffing your packets, and the same dongle will work with other Logitech hardware such as wireless mice.  The Solar Keyboard K750 is up for preorder now, priced at $79.99, and will arrive in the US and Europe from November.

Press Release:

If You’ve Got Light, You’ve Got Power: Logitech Introduces Solar-Powered Keyboard
Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 Powered By Light — Even Indoors

FREMONT, Calif. — Nov. 1, 2010 — Today, Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) introduced the Logitech® Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 — the company’s first light-powered keyboard. The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard powers itself whenever there’s light, even indoors, making battery hassles a thing of the past.

“The keyboard is still the best input device for typing emails and IMs, updating your Facebook™ page or posting responses to your favorite blogs — and the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is the next big innovation in keyboard technology,” said Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech’s keyboards and desktops. “The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard is powered by light but can work in total darkness for up to three months. Plus, with its PVC-free construction and fully recyclable packaging, it’s designed to minimize its footprint.”

Powered by Light — Even Indoors
To give you hassle-free convenience, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard powers itself through its integrated solar panel — no power bricks or charging cables needed.
The included solar power app (available for download beginning Nov. 15, 2010 at www.logitech.com/k750.solarapp) features a lux meter to help you get the necessary light, makes it easy to get at-a-glance information about battery levels, and even alerts you when you need more power.

Logitech’s first solar keyboard can be powered by indoor light and stays charged for at least three months in total darkness. Plus an integrated power-indicator light eliminates surprises.

Only 1/3-Inch Thick
But Logitech did much more than bring solar power to the keyboard. At only 1/3-inch thick, the sleek Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard looks good. With its rounded edges and thin profile, this stylish, streamlined keyboard is a joy to hold and behold.

Feel-Good Typing
The low-profile keyboard features Logitech Incurve keys™. Using a concave design, Incurve keys support the shape of your fingertips, while helping guide your fingers to the right keys. In addition, the soft, rounded edges make it easy for your fingers to glide from key to key.

Powerful, Reliable Wireless Connection with Logitech Unifying Technology
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 offers Logitech Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, keeping you connected with virtually no delays or dropouts, so you get all the benefits of a cord, with the convenience of wireless. Logitech Advanced 2.4 wireless also includes 128-bit AES encryption with the keyboard — one of the highest levels of security available.

Plus, the tiny Logitech® Unifying receiver is small enough to stay in your laptop, so there’s no need to unplug it when you move around. And you can easily add up to six Logitech Unifying and Unifying-ready mice and keyboards — without the hassle of multiple USB receivers.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe in November 2010 for a suggested retail price of $79.99 (U.S.). To learn more about the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 please visit www.logitech.com or our blog for more information.

The Car Arc solar powered car port is created from bent tubes, running parallel to one another, with a polycarbonate roof. On top of that roof, Bike Arc puts a thin solar panel, which will constantly pull in the rays of the sun on a day-to-day basis, and therefore keep your electric car charged while it sits underneath it. But, the design isn’t just for cars, as the company says that you will be able to keep your electric bikes charged, too. It’s still just a concept for now, unfortunately.

[via Treehugger]

Bringing some speakers with you on your picnic may not be the easiest thing in the world, but it’s definitely possible. These Ecoball satellite speakers one-up the competition by offering a built-in battery that can be recharged on the fly, thanks to the solar cells along the strap of the concept design. As you can see in the colorful image above, the power is absorbed through the strap, and then you’ll be able to use the speakers as you please.

Simply pull the main ball apart, and you’ve got yourself two speakers. The description of the device says that it can sync to your favorite device, so there must be some kind of Bluetooth technology proposed for the Ecoball, too. There are also volume controls, so you won’t go deaf listening to your favorite tunes. The Ecoball was designed by Pedro Gomes, and this is one device we hope makes it to the market.

[via Ubergizmo]

A new directly solar powered air conditioning system has been unveiled in China that has the potential to not only make cooling a home green, but also save homeowners a huge amount of money at the same time. The machine is made by a company called Vicot.

The machine claims an 85% thermal cooling conversion efficiency and it can utilize solar energy at 27 times what a typical water-hearing unit is able to do. The system allows for 24/7 cooling, heating, and a supply of hot water with natural gas used to supplement when needed. The company claims that in 3.5 years, the initial investment for the system can be recovered and in 6.7 years, the entire investment in the system can be recovered. The downside is that the cooling system appears to be too large for most residential home and price is unknown.

Via VPO (Membership required)

The Shiken Company, based in Japan, is currently knee-deep in field trials of their Soladey-J3X. It was designed by Dr. Kunio Komiyama and Dr. Gerry Uswak, and the solar powered toothbrush features a solar panel at its base. It sips about the same amount of power that your traditional solar calculator would, so not much at all. But, what makes the Soladey-J3X even more interesting, is the way that it uses electrons. According to the designers, the toothbrush pushes electrons up from that solar panel, through a lead wire, and to the top of the brush.

Once the electrons arrive there, they have a reaction to the acids in your mouth, which subsequently manifests a chemical reaction that ultimately destroys the bacteria in your mouth, and breaks down plaque all at the same time. The researchers have been field testing the toothbrush for a little while now, and the results are better than they predicted. According to them, the toothbrush resulted in “complete destruction of bacterial cells.” It’s impressive that a toothbrush can “destroy” anything, especially the one thing it’s designed to. No word on when, or if, these toothbrushes will ever see the light of day (no pun intended, we promise), but we can certainly start hoping.

[via TG Daily]

The Sony Eclipse (that just seems to fit, for some reason) is designed to attach itself to a window, and utilize photovoltaic cells to harnass the power of the sun. In doing so, it’s able to disregard the whole electricity thing in favor of a far more renewable energy way of life. It was designed by Hoang Nguyen, and he’s labeling it as a new portable media player. We know that it’s technically portable, sure, but we hope that if Sony does invest the money into making this thing real, they don’t harp on that aspect of the media player.

It would obviously have a pretty sizable touchscreen. Other features include integrated WiFi, the ability to use some kind of auxiliary power when absolutely needed, and it will also have a USB port for good measure. So, how would the whole “management” part come in? They would let you sync your media from one device to another thanks to Bluetooth, but we imagine that you could figure out a way to do it via WiFi, too. No word on pricing, but considering that this is just a fledgling design concept right now, no surprise there. Hopefully we hear more about the Eclipse sooner than later.

[via The Design Blog]

That’s exactly what the USB Solar Charging 4-port Hub (with Flashlight) is. Besides having a really long title, which gets right down to the point, the hub is actually pretty useful. It comes with a rechargeable battery at 130mAh, and as the title suggests, that battery can be charged from either direct sunlight, or itself being plugged in. It comes with seven mobile phone connectors, which should take care of most every phone that anyone would still be utilizing in this day and age.

It’s small enough to be portable, and features things like an LED indicator for battery life, charging status of that battery, and the output status. It has an On/Off switch as well, making sure that you don’t drain the power needlessly. The four USB ports are fully USB 2.0 compliant, for the record. It’s a plug-and-play design, meaning it should just work right off the bat. You can order it right now from here, and it will only cost you $22. Oh, and did we mention that it has a flashlight on it, too? Because it does.

[via Brando; thanks, Lawrence!]

The Best of R3 Media

Samsung Vibrant Releasing July 15th: We can chalk this one up to pretty strange. After officially announcing the Samsung Vibrant, T-Mobile confirmed that the device would be hitting physical and digital store shelves beginning July 21st. But, thanks to some leaked T-Mobile documents, it’s now been more or less confirmed that it’s actually releasing on July 15th. A full week early, and on the same day as the Droid X by Motorola for Verizon. Interesting choice, especially considering they are still cutting it dangerously close to that date, and still haven’t told anyone. Tricky, tricky, T-Mobile. [via Android Community]

Apple Activates Their Kill Switch: The application in question is called NDrive, and it’s a GPS app created from a small group of folks. Basically, it’s an indie app, lost amidst the other high profile GPS applications out there in Apple’s App Store. At least, that was the case until today, when the application suddenly disappeared from the App Store, and people’s computers as well. Oh, and from iPhone owner’s handsets, too. That’s right — the app just disappeared. The company doesn’t seem to know what’s going on, either, but everyone’s trying to figure it out. What it looks like at the moment, is that Apple pulled their kill switch, and this is the result: utter confusion. [via SlashGear]

Opera Mini Updated to 5.1: Updates are bound to happen to anything out there that can be updated, and it’s never a bad thing when they make things better. The update to 5.1 for Opera Mini brings the removal of some icons, as well as the visual speed dial tool for the User Interface, but the changes are said ot make the browser faster, and more stable for devices with less memory. So, if this fits your device’s description, it looks like your browser choice just got a little better. [via PhoneMag]

The Dredge ‘Net

Solar Impulse Flies Overnight on Just Solar Power: There’s skeptics for everything out there, and solar power (and especially any kind of adoption of the alternate power source) has its fair share. One of the reasons for that skepticism is its fundamental behavior at night. Or, if it can work. Well, thanks to the Solar Impulse and the power of the sun, those skeptics can start to quiet down. The solar powered plane completed a 26-hour, straight, flight through the day and night. It was able to recharge its batteries throughout the night thanks to its 12,000 solar panels, which gathered more than enough energy through its flight during the day. [via Physorg]

AQUA2 is Fast and Amphibious: The AQUA2 was created at McGill University in Montreal, and sure enough, it’s the first of its kind. Specifically designed to be able to move around on land, but be just as free-roaming in the water, the AQUA2 can indeed traverse the landscape, as well as dive and swim under water. It can dive down to 120 feet, and it’s capable of being controlled by a remote control tethered via ethernet or fiber optics. And thanks to those flippers, the swimming thing it’s definitely got down. [via Engadget]

This Bike Can Fold Around a Lamp Post: Keeping your bike safe is a pretty high priority for anyone that owns a bike. After all, it may be your best (or only) means of transportation. But, just using a chain to lock your bike to something may not be enough in today’s day-and-age, so that’s why we can thankfully welcome this new foldable bike design from a 21-year old by the name of Kevin Scott. He’s created the world’s first bike that can literally fold at the center, and be wrapped around a post, or whatever else you want, without the need of an extra chain. The lock is actually built into the bike itself, right under the seat, so you just wrap the bike around the post, so that the handlebars reach the lock, and there you go — safe and secure. We want this bad boy right now, and Scott is trying hard to get it picked up by a bike lover with money. So, keep your fingers crossed. [via Daily Mail UK]

Truth be told, those arm straps that hold our MP3 player are pretty annoying after awhile, and depending on how you run, your in-ear headphones might not actually stay in your ear all that well. So, what should you do? You’ll want to keep an eye on the Uplink Audio Strap System, which uses four ultrasound speakers to showcase your music as you run. As you can see from the image, it looks like the system would just go on your shoulders, and the flexible solar panels would contour to your body, hopefully making the whole thing comfortable enough to actually want to use.

As for those other features. It doesn’t just play your music. It can actually connect to your mobile phone, too, so you’ll be able to take and make calls while you’re out there exercising. Or, if you’re device has GPS on it, and it has the ability to tell you where to go, the system can be used for that, too. And thanks to those solar panels, the whole system should stay juiced for you on your run, no matter how far you want to run. Oh, and did we mention it can also charge your mobile phone, too? Because it can do that.

[via Ecofriend]

Rather sensibly, the strap basically replaces the neck cord most DSLR users wear to keep their cameras readily to hand with a solar-cell encrusted version.  Clipping on to the camera’s mounting points as normal, it would also have a DC plug to gradually top-up the DSLR’s battery during use.  Of course you’d need sufficient sun to make it worthwhile, so indoor photographers probably shouldn’t bother, but anyone out and about should be able to hammer through a few more frames at least.

Jie also envisages some integrated batteries at each end of the strap, so you could feasibly charge up before you left the house (from a regular AC supply) and then simply augment it with solar power.  Either way, we imagine that if the price was right this would be ridiculously popular with photographers, and we’re expecting to see production versions spring up imminently.

As you can see, the ball itself is clear — it’s those black pentagonal-shaped patched that showcase the solar power tech. They are the same size and shape as traditional black pentagonal-shaped patches on soccer balls, so besides the clear aesthetics, no one would know anything’s different about this ball. Unless you go with that white version in the background — that one just looks strange with those white panels. Joseph Lin is from Greendix, the company behind the solar powered soccer ball, had this to say about the project:

“The main goal of this project was to prove that solar panels can be integrated into any object that we interact with on a daily basis and to push the limits of what is possible with solar panels.”

So, why does the ball have solar panels? Other than the project itself, there had to be a reason, right? Well, thanks to the solar panels, the ball has built-in motion sensors that work, and there’s an audio device implanted in the ball as well. The goal (no pun intended) is to make it so visually impaired folks can have their fun on the pitch. Each time the ball is kicked, it emits a “tracking sound,” so that anyone can find it while it flies across the field. A company called Sonelis out of California is handling the distribution, but there’s no word when the solar soccer ball will get mass produced.

[via Greenmuze]

The Best of R3 Media

Swype Beta Available for All: For people out there who have recently purchased a new Android-based device, you’ve probably already got Swype. It’s the keyboard that allows you to slide your finger from one letter to the next to make your word, instead of tapping them out. Great invention, and we’re glad to see it widely adopted. But, for the rest of us out there, we had to put our names in a beta hat, and hope they got drawn. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long, because they’ve just opened up the beta for everyone. But, if you’re interested, go sign up now and get your hands on it, because it’s only open for a limited time. So, hurry up! [via Android Community]

HP ePrint Hands-On: We love our hands-on time with gadgets, even the ones that many would consider old-fashioned. Yes, some may consider a printer old-fashioned. But, that’s not stopping HP from getting their mitts into the future of printing, shoving some cloud-based features into that old-fashioned goodness. Just register your printer with a unique email address with HP’s cloud service, and you can print any attached document right from there. Pretty awesome, if you ask us. Head on through the link to get some more details, plus plenty of pictures. We know how much you love your pictures. [via SlashGear]

Nokia Alters Projections for 2010: Apparently, Nokia’s got some competition. So much so, in fact, they are actually calling it “heated competition.” Yes, the likes of Apple, Google, and even Research In Motion are still hitting sales out of the park, and therefore Nokia’s been forced to alter their projections for their second quarter earnings, as well as the long-term 2010 earnings. Pretty intense stuff, if you ask us. Nokia’s obviously in some rough waters, but it’s nothing that a high-profile handset couldn’t fix. So, let’s make it happen, Nokia. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge ‘Net

Sources Say T-Mobile’s Out of the iPhone Picture: We love a strong, good rumors as much as the next person, so that’s why we figure we should bring this to your attention. Because, by now, you’ve heard all the rumors about the iPhone, which is currently on lock-down by AT&T, heading to carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and even Sprint. Well, apparently T-Mobile couldn’t afford the iPhone. If they had spent the money to get it, they apparently would have been forced to sell the iPhone, and only the iPhone. So, bye-bye to all those other high-profile devices, like the many they’ve got running Google’s Android mobile OS. Very interesting, to say the least. Especially if you head through the link and read up the rest of the statement, which Droid Life’s sources are saying are true. [via Droid-Life]

Not Life-Sized, but Very Real Stargate: What do you do with your free time? Some people out there make things. And, still others, make things that are from other things, like television shows based on movies. For example, for one guy and his father, building a replicated, real-life Stargate was something they really wanted to do. So, they did it. And now it’s sitting in the back of their house, even with a painted surface representing “water.” Or, whatever it is they pass through to get to other . . . Dimensions? We’re not completely caught up in our Stargate lore, so you’ll have to forgive us. In any event, the recreation is pretty awesome. We can’t wait to see the finished product. [via Unique Daily]

First Solar Hybrid Air Conditioner Unveiled: Protecting the environment, in some capacity or another, is on the mind of pretty much every major company on the planet. Especially when it can save them money. It’s even better when it can save customer’s money, too. For example, LG just announced they’ve pulled the curtain off the first solar hybrid air conditioner. Basically, you guessed it: solar power charges the air conditioner, thanks to the solar cell module attached to the top. The result is upwards of 70 watts of power per hour. This probably won’t get integrated into homes around the world tomorrow, but we can keep our fingers crossed that it happens sooner than later. [via Akihabara News]

The flexible plastic display panels will be combined with similarly-flexible printed solar cells, providing the super-frugal screens with power without needing to install huge, cumbersome batteries.  HP have been developing the printable display technology for the past ten years, eventually coming up with machinery that can lay down a mixture of transistors, acids and metal coatings onto a 50 micron-thick plastic layer.

HP reckon the displays will eventually show up in consumer technology such as laptops and ereaders, though the first uses could be in stores as dynamically adjustable pricing labels on shelves.  Meanwhile the US army watches are expected to hit prototype stage within a year, in time for a small-scale trial.

[via Slashdot]

This particular helmet was engineered by two students from India, working out of their university. It’s designed to protect your head while you’re riding around, but also charge your cell phone when you need to get that extra boost. Apparently the university was having some kind of “green fest,” and the students wanted to make sure that their helmet fit well into the category of green. Thanks to some solar panels on the helmet, they made the mark.

There’s no exact details on the helmet, what they did to make it, or how it even works other than those panels, but you could buy it all for $23, according to the students. Pretty cheap, considering the use of solar panels during the day, and wind charging at night. Now, about that practical thing…

[via Gizmo Watch]

The Casio G-Shock GW-3000 fall into the company’s new “Gravity Defier” range, and while that might sound like they’ll make you float, in actual fact they’re capable of resisting centrifugal gravitational force. Aimed at aviators who might require a watch that can withstand up to 15Gs, that doesn’t mean regular people like us won’t find some appeal; having bumped the chunky timepiece on a few occasions, we particularly appreciated the raised urethane bezel which helps protect the watchface.

Casio have three versions of the GW-3000: the GW-3000B with a resin strap and the GW-3000D and 3000BD with silver or black metal straps. All three are solar powered yet also automatically check themselves against radio wave broadcasts and adjust for accuracy. A particularly sharp bump, which might knock the hands out of alignment, can also be automatically corrected without your needing to open the watch up and tweak with tweezers.

The rest of the functions are pretty much par for the G-Shock course, with 29-zone world clock, stopwatch, daily alarm, day/week display and an automatic calendar. Casio reckon the GW-3000 can last for almost two years on a full charge, though the display will automatically shut off to save power in the dark. The resin-bodied GW-3000B is also reasonably light, at 74g (the metal versions are 148g). Despite the fact that there’s no shortage of information on display, the GW-3000 is suitably glanceable with big, bright numbers (orange in our review model, but they also do blue and green).

As for the Casio G-Shock GA-100, looking ominous all in grey, that packs both analog and digital displays, a 29-zone world clock, five independent alarms, stopwatch and countdown timer and day/month/year display. It’s also anti-magnetic along with – as you’d expect – shock-proof, and can be used underwater to up to 660 feet (200m).

Casio bill the GA-100 as having “auto LED lighting”, though we found we still preferred hitting the button ourselves. We also can’t help but wish Casio had fitted brighter LEDs, too; the watch’s face is pretty gloomy, and the standard lighting only goes part-way in addressing that. Similarly, while the analog dial has luminous markers at each of the hour points, the watch hands themselves do not.

Still, the buttons are sizeable and easy to hit, and it’s a considerably cheaper timepiece than the G-Shock GW-3000 at around $99. The matte finish surround and resin strap proved scuff-resistant, and while it’s undeniably chunky we didn’t worry about accidentally knocking it. At 70g it’s surprisingly light, too. On a level playing field we’d rather the solar convenience and glanceable face of the G-Shock GA-3000, but at around $260 for the resin-banded 3000B (or $350 for the metal-banded versions) our wallet would lean toward the GA-100 instead.

At present, the technology trades efficiency for ease of application.  The conversion rate – the efficiency of turning sunlight into electricity – is only between 1.5 and 2-percent; however, the relatively straightforward manufacturing process would mean a greater surface area could be covered at low cost, making up for the low efficiency.

The carbon-based organic semiconductor material can be applied to pretty much any substrate that is stable at room temperature.  However, it’s still some way from commercial viability; according to Bulovic, the technologies the center is developing are only in the first few years of a development cycle that could last anywhere between 5 and 10 years.

[via CNET]

In fact, they expect to produce more than enough power from the sunlight; the excess would be used to pump seawater into reservoirs at the top of the structure, which could then be emptied down through turbines at night and used to create even more electricity.  The eye-catching waterfall feature would only be for “special occasions”.

Meanwhile RAFAA expect to fill the building with balconies, places to eat and entertainment, as well as offering bungee jumping and a “glass sky walk” on the very top.  The chances of it actually being constructed seem, to our naive eyes, pretty slim, but it certainly outclasses that pebble bubble fountain you made out of an old water-butt.

[via Treehugger]

The Solar Surge is a slip on case that is a bit reminiscent of the Mophie Juice Pack with an open top. The Surge has a solar panel on the back and an internal lithium ion battery that provides extra run time for your iPhone.

The Solar Surge can also be plugged into a USB port to charge when you aren’t out in the sun. The iPhone version has a 1320mAH internal battery and the iPod touch version is 1500mAh. Both versions use smart changing to stop drawing power when the battery is full. 3G talk time on the iPhone using the thing is up to four hours longer than without it. The iPhone version is $79.95 and the iPod touch version is $69.95.

The concept is called the Plant Mate and the device is designed to be crammed into the ground in your garden, though you could use it in house plants too (if it were a real product). The stick looks quite a bit like one of those solar-powered walkway lights to me. The device uses tech to analyze your soil and inform you of what your plants need.

You would be able to check nutrients and moisture levels. Basically, the Plant Mate will remind you to water your garden and tells you what sort of fertilizer you need to toss on your flowers. The concept also has a concept app for the iPhone that shows you the locations of all the Plant Mate devices in your garden and tells you what the plants in each section need.

The PlanetSolar has over 5,000 square feet of solar paneling, took over a year to build (13 months), and measures 100 feet long by 50 feet wide, standing almost 25 feet high.  It’s designed to accomadate 50 passengers, and to reach a top speed of 15 knots, or for those less nautically inclined, roughly 17 miles per hour.  That also makes it the fastest solar boat ever.

The ship will visit major cities, including London, Paris, New York, and San Francisco, during its 25,000 mile voyage.

[PlanetSolar via CNet]

Once the 1,500mAh battery is charged, Scosche reckon you’ll have enough to rejuice a normal cellphone twice; it also comes with adapter tips for Blackberry, iPhone, iPod and PSP.  If you want to use it as a regular external battery then you can recharge it via a USB connection, too, though then the environment will cry.  It’s on sale now for $29.99.

Press Release:

Scosche Launches solBAT II – Solar Powered Back up Battery and Charging Device

solBAT II is available now

Oxnard, CA – February 3, 2009 – Scosche Industries, an award-winning innovator of iPod and iPhone accessories, announces the availability of its solBAT II – solar powered charger and battery backup. The solBAT II works with almost any handheld device that can be charged via a USB cable and feature’s a simple two light indicator that lets users know when the solBAT II it is charging from the sun or a USB cable (red), and when it is passing that stored energy to a handheld (green) like a Blackberry, iPhone, iPod, or PSP.

“The solBAT II is a great way to charge your devices using the free, renewable power of the sun,” said Kas Alves, executive vice president of Scosche Industries. “It is the perfect accessory for powering outdoor adventures or can keep your iPhone topped off while you watch your favorite movie on a long flight.”

The solBAT II’s lithium ion battery has a capacity of 1500mA and an output of 5V, allowing it to charge USB powered devices at the same rate as a wall charger. The solBAT II features a windshield mount and a universal carabineer mount making it easy to soak up the sun’s clean energy. When fully powered a solBAT II will charge a typical cellular up to two times, making it a great battery backup to keep in the car or a bag in case of emergency when traveling.

Recently Scosche partnered with Business Mobility Systems to provide volunteering doctors in Haiti with a means of communication. With the power grid in Port-AU-Prince out of commission the doctors used the solBAT II’s to keep their smartphones powered up.

“With all the different technologies we used to make this communication solution work, one of the most important aspects or components were the solBAT II solar powered backup batteries,” said Art Hale Chief Technology Officer, Business Mobility Systems.

The solBAT is available now on Scosche.com and at select retail locations throughout the US for $29.99. For additional information and to order the solBAT II now please visit www.scosche.com.

As well as reducing space the system would also avoid the need for a power inverter, since the solar-cells output direct current, the batteries store direct current, and the OLED panel runs off direct current.  The FESC reckon it could be ideal for parking lots or other installations where you want minimal maintenance.

[via OLED-Info]

Video demo after the cut

There’s also a mediocre WQVGA LCD panel and a multifunction button that’s used as a home-key normally and a call/end button while in the dialler.  Internal memory is a reasonably healthy 8GB, plus there’s a 3.5mm headphones jack and 3-megapixel camera (though no flash).

LG will also sell you a replacement battery cover that adds solar-charging to the GD510.  No word on pricing, but it’ll apparently land in Europe come mid-October and “other markets” after that.

Press Release:

A Touchscreen Phone That Has Never Been Simpler To Use

Seoul, Korea / September 30, 2009 – LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, today unveiled the LG GD510, or more simply, “Pop”, the most compact 3-inch full touchscreen phone ever made. The LG GD510 is the handset people who want a simple touchscreen phone have been waiting for.

LG has been one of the industry’s leading innovators in touchscreen phones since it launched the world’s first full touchscreen phone, PRADA Phone by LG, in January 2007. Since then, the company has achieved great success in the touchscreen devices market by creating an array of handsets designed to meet different consumer needs. For instance, LG’s Cookie (KP500) is an affordable full touchscreen phone that has already sold more than 7 million units worldwide since its launch earlier this year. With the LG GD510, LG is applying its tried and true strategy to another new model – this time, to a compact full touchscreen handset.

LG’s consumer research showed that a large group of consumers wanted the functionality of a full touchscreen phone without the extra bulk and unnecessary features that resulted in higher prices. According to the research, many users were also put off by the complexity of feature-laden phones but still desired the easier navigation and larger screens of full touchscreen phones. The LG GD510 was designed to include the key features these users craved, without the overhead of features they didn’t use.

“We gave the LG GD510 an optimized feature set which allowed us to concentrate on making the phone more compact and simpler to use,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our high-end phones like the Black Label Series New LG Chocolate (LG BL40) may be getting all the attention but there’s a gap in the market for affordable touchscreen phones that we want to fill. The LG GD510 delivers all the essentials in communication, multimedia and entertainment and comes in a compact form factor as well.”

Fully fluent in multimedia, the LG GD510 plays music and movies in several popular file formats and 8 gigabytes of internal memory provides plenty of room for storing large collections. An easy-to-use browser brings all the best mobile content to the device’s large screen and a 3.0 megapixel camera captures high quality photos and videos for sharing online or sending wirelessly to friends.

The spacious 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen extends almost to the edges of the LG GD510 with a narrow 4.8 mm bezel giving the illusion of an uninterrupted sheet of glass. The unit’s sleek design is accented by a single button on the face that functions as the menu, end and cancel keys, depending on the phone’s mode. A slim strip of light around the button shines either green or red to indicate the handset’s function. The LG GD510 is crafted from brushed aluminum which gives it a high-end look and feels solid in the hand even when squeezed.

LG GD510 will be available beginning in mid-October in Europe, followed by other markets. Prices will vary country-to-country and will be announced separately in each individual market.