It’s not a problem I personally have, but I guess there could be forgetful people out there who can’t remember what’s on their USB memory stick. For those people one of the less-common models which sport LCD displays might be handy, and now TRUS is aiming their latest product at the sub-section of that sub-section that insists on being environmentally friendly. Their latest memory stick has both a display and a solar panel to power it.
I enjoy using alternative energy sources. Usually they are too expensive to implement, so I just keep doing things the way I always have. They also generally require a lot of time and energy, and frankly, I’d rather spend my time goofing off with my computer.
One of the latest gadgets to take a look at for the outdoorsy-but-direction-challenged is the Transystem i-Blue 757 solar-powered Bluetooth 16-channel Nemerix GPS receiver. The device features a unique clamshell design with the lower portion housing the solar cell, the battery, and the circuitry, while the upper portion houses the GPS antenna.
The embedded rechargeable 1000mAh Li-Ion battery provides up to 30 hours of run time, while additional solar charging can provide up to 100 hours. The permanent standby feature is also good for saving power while allowing for quick power on.
You might remember that this is one of the models featured in Pocket GPS World’s group test on sun-loving navigators.
i-Blue 757 solar bluetooth gps receiver [Via: NaviGadget]
The guys over at Pocket GPS World have taken a look at the latest range of solar-powered standalone GPS receivers to see whether you can rely on the awesome power of the sun to indirectly guide you from A to B. Covering models from F-Tech and Transystem, as well as a separate solar panel charger, they look not only at GPS performance but ease of use and practicality in a moving vehicle and on foot.
It’s a typically good review, and well worth a read if you’re considering a new GPS receiver. Although they conclude that we’re still not at a point where solar panels can be used as sole power source, the ability to top-up and extend the battery life is undeniably handy.
Climbing and hiking through snowy mountains has proven treacherous with several tragedies each year of people gone missing. But now there is a product in development that will provide a safer way for thrill-seekers to go about their adventures into the wilderness. Covert Asset Tracking Systems, a company based in the UK, has just announced plans for producing a solar-powered GPS-trackable clothing range.
The wearer of the clothes can be located from almost anywhere in the world and from any internet connection. The clothing is also waterproof, machine-washable, and solar-powered so that it never has to be recharged. The clothing range will be displayed at CES in January 2007.
GPS-tracking clothes [Via: Ubergizmo]
Solar powering your home used to be something that seemed too pricey except for the environmentally-conscious elite who could afford the installation. But now, with the 325W Plug and Play Home Solar Power System, these panels may someday become just as ubiquitous as flat screen TVs because now they actually cost about the same.
This “Remote Solar Home Power System Kit” provides all the components you need to install an off-grid system for your home or office. The system includes a 325 Watt solar panel array using branded solar panels such as BP Solar or Kyocera with 25-year manufacturer warranty, 30-foot weatherproof/UV sheathed output cable, 200AH Energy deep cycle sealed solar GEL battery, and Morningstar Prostar 30A charge controller with LED status indicator, among other things.
I have a friend who loves lamps; the only criteria is that they have to be moderately unusual in design. I think he’ll love this one. Consisting of a glass jar with a solar-panel in the lid and a rechargeable battery and bulb inside, it quietly collects the sun’s lovely energy and then glows happily to itself when it gets dark outside. A full day of sun will apparently give you around five hours of light, and I can see these making a very pleasant addition to an evening barbecue. Maybe they could add a flickering bulb option for people who’d like to collect fireflies but have clumsy hands or ethical doubts?
Yours for $39.04 or £19.95, although it’s currently out of stock.
Product Page [via Shiny Shiny]
So you’ve got the hybrid car, the fuel-cell bike, and the solar panels on your roof, all you need now is the Sanyo N-SC1S Eneloop Solar Charger for charging all your electronic devices in an eco-friendly fashion. The device can charge rechargeable hybrid batteries in about 2.5 hours, and can also charge USB-equipped gear. Will be available in Japan starting on November 21st for around 20,000yen or $170.
Sanyo Eneloop Solar Charger: charges your iPod too [Via: Engadget]
The Tumi Limited Edition PowerPack will recharge your portable electronic devices on the go. No need to find electrical outlets anymore, as this backpack collects energy via a built-in solar panel. This convenience comes with a price tag of $700. But be comforted to know that all proceeds go directly to the good cause of Doctors Without Borders.
SlashGear Japan
