Novothink unveils first licensed solar chargers for iPhone, iPod
By Laura June 
posted Sep 4th 2009 3:29AM
posted Sep 4th 2009 3:29AM
We've seen plenty of solar chargers in our day -- and we're somewhat fond of them as a concept. Novothink's just unveiled the first chargers for iPods and iPhones that's officially licensed by Apple. These attractive little guys have integrated solar panels on the back with LEDs to let you know the state of your charge. If the sun fails you, there's also a USB cable for standard, non eco-friendly charging. These chargers only work with the 2nd generation iPod touch -- which will be available this month, while versions for the iPhone 3G and 3GS will be outed in November. They'll run you $70. Hit the read link for more photos.
[Via Inhabitat]
[Via Inhabitat]
i think they shoulda launced this summer, cause by november, it will be cold, rainy, just bad weather in general spots imo..
We get sun all year round in California. :) I'm going to get it! It's
going to be my new hiking companion. :)
"We get sun all year round in California. It's
going to be my new hiking companion."
I can't stand your cheeriness...
/bitteroff
Its nice, but nothing zaps your battery's life expectancy (the ability to even hold a charge) faster then heat. Its the enemy of laptops, cell phones, any electronic gadget.
Totally agree w/ Stevereno. Plus doesn't hot iphone = glass in the eye? No thanks.
yeah, illogical launch time for sure, common sense
LOL @ Winter launch (for North America). If from the down under it's just about to be summer!
America-centric much? Where I am it'll be juuust in time for summer. Not as large an audience but useful nonetheless. And it's not like there's no sunlight in winter.
Low self esteem issues much?
yes! I don't understand the fuss. It's as if anything outside America is a Mad Max wasteland.
brb gotta steal a fuel tanker from the raiders.
There have been SOLAR chargers for more than 1 year already on ebay for different phones including iphone
They say licensed!? Once again they want you to pay EXTRA money to SOMEONE for THAT license
People pay money to license Active Sync. It is called intellectual property. Respect that!
Didn't Apple just tell me not to put my explosive 3GS in the sun?
Just browsed the site... apparently iPhones are for solar-douches now.
No, no, It just means Apple has approved our solar system's star as an official power supply. If you look hard and long enough at the sun you will see the Apple logo right after the head ache and blindness start!
Apple invented the Sun.
Apple invented Jesus?
Apple invented the act of inventing.
It is one of the good thing which is happening in the field of technology. But how much power does it produce and how much an iphone uses??
Shame it's such an ugly colour. We get it, solar, it's 'green', but given the typical pretentious style-savvy iHole, wouldn't mirror-finish black or white be a better design choice?
Please don't be lazy. Click on the link and see that NovoThink also delivers this product in metallic green, pink, metallic magenta, light blue, metallic blue, black and white.
They have other colors to choose from besides that green. Including black and white.
Is there something I can hit for more grammar? You said that the 2nd gen iPod Touch will be available this month:
"These chargers only work with the 2nd generation iPod touch -- which will be available this month"
there's got to be some way for them to de-bulk that thing; or at least tailor it smooth to the back of the device
ahh if it only was as fast charging as they showed it in the ad. but no i cant see this making a big difference on charging the battery. unless u hold the phone up to the sun like a weirdo for a few hours which i could totally see these crazy podz users do, lmao. this has been out for a while and on a slew of other devices as well. apples got good and timely marketing if not anything else. their marketing, come to think of it, is wut gives them an upper hand.
Fail if you ask me..
The solar panel should be loose from the connector, so you can charge while using the damn thing!
Hasn't it been suggested to keep your iPhone out of direct sunlight because of over heating issues. This device says hook me up and leave me in hot sunny areas. Sounds like a bad idea.
Green? Seriously? Have they seen an iPhone or iPod?
This is going to be worse than MS's RRoD.
Apple officially endorsing leaving your iPhone 3GS in the hot, hot sun light? Bake city!
Oh, right. Next summer Apple will just come out with a new phone. No repair needed, these things are disposable.
The problem with this design is that the solar panel is on the back and I'm not too interested in placing my iPhone face down on anything. Especially outside!
No 2G love? I was just about to buy an extended battery pack w/ led flash built in, and then I saw this... then I went right back. BUMMER.
I would love THIS if it was also a battery. Then I could leave it charging the battery in my window or my car during the day (or clipped to a pack) and then plug it into the iPhone when I needed it.
Aaron
"These chargers only work with the 2nd generation iPod touch -- which will be available this month"
the iPod Touch that comes out later this month is actually the 3rd generation, as there has already been one refresh of the iPod touch (external volume control and chrome bits, etc)
Yes... lets make it green, that way people will know its "green" without knowing anything about it.
Am I the only one that hates that all "green" products have to be made green, so that everyone else knows you paid money to be more "green"
Do people leave their cell phones out in the sun? Mine stays in my pocket where there is no sunlight, butt moon light is not far away.
The only practical reason to have this is if you are camping or your hiking, you run out of juice you could collect some sun. But even that is fail because the places you're most likley to get lost or stranded in have no cell service.
It has its own internal battery so you could charge that then plug the iphone in, so it doesnt overheat.
This would be good for power outtages and stuff, not that I have an iphone
so yeah lets just leave this PLASTIC thing with your PLASTIC iphone attached in the dashboard of your car.. heat is terrible on batteries.. why do you think the newer fast battery chargers have FANS on them? because its better for the batteries
Won't the the sun be duplicating core iPhone functionality now?
ipone和iPod是伟大的，我们的太阳能充电器，也是伟大的！如果加上更为棒！ www.szekd.com
MSN:peiqing-lai@139.com
Apple's idea of progress:
1) remove ability to swap batteries out like other sane phones. Keeping a spare charged battery with you far smaller and more convenient than this, with the ability to not rely on battery-destroying heat. What a concept.
2) allow third-party makers to work around our bad design choices
3) reap royalties from license
4) profit!
There is nothing 'green' about this. A spare battery is FAR greener.
Oh, wow. Electricity doesn't mean it's not eco-friendly, especially with so many states today powered by nuclear means, which is about as eco-friendly as it gets. Think about all the resources put into manufacturing these solar panels. Much more than that of a regular USB cord. Now imagine how many douchy little iPod owners will buy these thinking they're "saving the environment." Guess what? It's not solving anything. In fact, it's making it worse by using up more resources for this thing which everyone will get tired of and throw in the garbage anyway.
Awful, awful idea, and I wouldn't expect it from anyone but Apple.
OK. Here's an idea: If you don't like the product, quit *&$!@ing about it. Just don't buy it and move on. Get a clue, people.!