MWC 2009: Solio Communicator – a solar-powered hands-free kit

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Tucked away amongst the smaller stands at MWC 2009, slightly crowded out by the Samsungs and Nokias of this world, is a little company called “Better Energy Systems”. They have a subsidiary called Solio, who make solar-powered kit for mobile phones.

You might have heard of them – a quick browse of Solio’s site suggests that Saol – a Masai Junior Elder from IIkinye Village in Kenya – is a power user, as is Ian Davis, from the Polar Challenge expedition. Best of all is the picture of President Barack Obama looking decidedly overwhlemed when being presented with his Solio Classic.

But this post is about the Solio Communicator, which by all accounts is a rather novel product. It’s a hands-free kit, but charges with solar power, so you just stick it to your car window and never think about the battery ever again.

If you live in some Arctic climes where you don’t get sun very much for half the year, then it’s also chargable off the cigarette lighter port, a USB port or a wall adaptor. It’s compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled phones, and will retail for €80 (£70ish). Available mid 2009.

The iDAPT modular charging unit saves you a wiry mess

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I’m filing this one under ‘gadgets I actually want’. I see a lot of gadgets every day and, if I’m honest, I’m not actually that bothered about owning most personally. The iDAPT, on the other hand, is definitely on that list. It’s a little box that sits on your desk and lets you plug stuff in standing up, and it’ll charge them. No more wires, chargers, or lost gadgets to contend with.

Sure, it’s not perfect – there’s no Zune adapter, and pink isn’t exactly my colour (it’s available in other colours too, thank god) but it’ll charge almost everything you can think of – BlackBerry, Nokia, iPod, PSP and TomTom, among others. The full list is on the manufacturer’s website. It’s available now, and set you back just £35. Bargainous.

Amazon (via ShinyShiny)

Related posts: Powermat magnetic induction gadget charger | Toasty Charger – totally useless design, solves no problem, just like it

VIDEO: Energy & Efficiency, episode 6

Today I will reveal how you can save POUNDS by recharging all your gadgets for FREE! Yes, that’s right. For free. How can this be done? Have I invented something? Have I learned how to harness the awesome power of the sea? Have I mastered cold fusion in my fridge?

Or am I just lying to get attention? You’ll have to watch the below video to find out, as there’s no point me saying what the secret to a lifetime of free electricity is here if I’ve spent ages doing a video about it. That’s not how it works.

So there you go. I’m typing this using electricity I didn’t have to pay for…

Four way Wii remote charger on its way

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You can complain all you want about the Wii being just a party gaming machine that doesn’t cater to the ‘core gamers, but at the end of the day it is a GREAT party gaming machine that doesn’t cater to the ‘core gamers. However if you want to have a proper Wii party, you’ll need three other noobs a full collection of Wii remotes. The trouble is, they will invariably run out of batteries mid Kart race and you’ll be left desperately searching for fresh ones inside old TV remotes and that ‘massage’ device your wife keeps.

Sanyo bringing wireless battery charging to Nintendo Wii Remotes

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Wireless electricity. Another wild gadget fantasy, only this is a fantasy MADE REAL in recent years thanks to the arrival of special batteries and charging pads.

Sanyo has announced it’s bringing this (possibly alien) wireless charging technology to Wii, using a variant of the fantastic Eneloop battery and a “magnetic induction” (MAGIC for short) pad. So, instead of…

Charge your gadgets with KNEE POWER

knee-generator.jpgAmerican and Canadian boffins have come up with a clever idea. It’s a little knee brace that generates electricity as you walk. Just like wearing a 100% polyester jumper.

Apparently capable of building up enough of a charge to power a phone for 30 minutes from just one minute of walking, the invention is designed to help people with complicated prosthetics power their complicated fake limbs…