A-DATA's Solar Disk and VoIP Disk

by Ryan Block, posted Nov 29th 2006 at 2:33AM

It's a solar cell! It's a VoIP phone! It's a USB stick? Convergence isn't just limited to cellphones and laptops, pallies, we're already seeing companies try to cram in functions and features to the new ubiquity: USB drives. Enter A-DATA's as yet unannounced Solar and VoIP Disks. The Solar does as you'd expect, collects power and displays how much storage you've got left (although we're not super hot on the idea of an unstable current pulsing through our flash drive); the VoIP, unlike the Vonage V-Phone, actually provides audio functionality for calling as well.

Filed under: Peripherals, Storage

Tags: a-data, solar disk, SolarDisk, usb, voip, voip disk, VoipDisk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

jackleo @ Nov 29th 2006 2:51AM

Very good, i like it,

http://www.ipod-video-converter.com/

Neutral

Dustin @ Nov 29th 2006 2:52AM

In case anyone else was confused like I was,
The solar drive and the voip drive are two separate units.
I thought, at first, that the photo was just showing both sides.
They'll be available in sizes 256 MB - 2 GB.

BTW, the solar panel only powers the LCD. It's the only flash drive with a capacity LCD that doesn't require a built-in battery.

Neutral

potato @ Nov 29th 2006 4:00AM

How useless - if I wanted to know how much capacity I have left, I'll plug it in. If I have no laptop or computer to plug it into, I probably don't really have to know that badly ;)

The VOIP one I can appreciate though :) Plug into any available internet-connected terminal and dial away :)

Neutral

Keaton @ Nov 29th 2006 4:24AM

"unstable current pulsing through our flash drive"...

Psh!!!... I'm sure they use a simple circuit to regulate the current from the solar cell... Jeez! You people at Engadget worry a little much if you ask me...

I know its a little off-topic, But one day I'd like to see a solar powered UMPC... That would be freaking rad... Talk about completely untethered... Oh well I just had to say it...

Neutral

Tech^Cellfish @ Nov 29th 2006 4:29AM

Cool. Got kinda nice design too

Neutral

samalone @ Nov 29th 2006 4:54AM

It occurs to me that an e-paper display might be an even better solution than a solar panel. The capacity only needs to be updated when the drive is plugged in, and e-paper only needs power when the display is updated.

Neutral

navamske @ Nov 29th 2006 9:22AM

"It's a solar cell! It's a VoIP phone! It's a USB stick?"

It's a dessert topping!

Neutral

Jackie @ Oct 25th 2007 11:10AM

I Love the design!

http://www.iphonevideoconverter.biz

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