Solio: Turn Those Rays of Light Into Gadget Juice

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.solio.com/v2/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.solio.com/v2/index.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Solio™, the Universal "Hybrid" Charger is powerful enough to charge all of your handheld electronic products at home or on the move, anywhere under the sun. It works by absorbing power from either the wall socket or our very own Sun storing this energy within the Solio's own internal battery. Solio is the universal charger of the future because it can use free energy from the sun which is good for the environment while saving you money on electricity costs."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/wey-20061227-solio.jpg" /><br /><br />Where I'm located (Australia), there's plenty of sunshine, so Solio would probably make a great accessory for my Pocket PC and Zune. At around $80 USD each, is this something you'd be interested in picking up?

[Frankie1]

This is an awsome idea. I'm all for recycling energy, and the price is awsome aswell. Although judging from the pictures that I seen the device seems to be fairly bulky, but living in the "sunshine state" (Florida, your 4th grade teachers would be mad at you for not knowing that one) I could definately see my self setting it on my cars dash board while I'm in the office, heck it would probably get a full charge before lunch time (Black car + black leather + no tents = glass house). Now, why is this not built into every cars dash board again?

[TTown]

I like the idea behind this. Now when you go camping, or find yourself in an emergency situation, you can have power to important things like a cell phone. I do question the ability to charge using solar power. The first thing I think about is solar outdoor lighting. It is a neat idea, but have you seen the light they give off, or should I say don't give off.

If this technology does work, wouldn't it be great if solar panels were installed on the back of a cell phone or PDA. While this probably wouldn't completely charge your device, it would prolong your usage time.

I do like the fact that research is being spent in these areas, and hope that there is a profitable path for these companies.

[Radimus]

there are a few other solar cell type charger devices... personally, I think i'd prefer one integrated into something else, like GPS or card reader or something.

I like multipurpose devices

[lilawguy]

If this technology does work, wouldn't it be great if solar panels were installed on the back of a cell phone or PDA.

well actually . . . http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/communications/mobile_phone/solar-powered_super_phone!

[Frankie1]

If this technology does work, wouldn't it be great if solar panels were installed on the back of a cell phone or PDA.

well actually . . . http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/communications/mobile_phone/solar-powered_super_phone!

What's up with the link; it doesn't work.

[VisualMonster]

I have a solio, got it from ebay for about $70.00.

It works great, but I wish it came with more adapter tips. Mine only came with an IPOD adapter. I later ordered a 12volt car adapter for the solio... with that I have been able to charge my XDA IIs or any other USB device.

If you can, I'd try to find different adapter.

Solio battery is 3.6v (I think), I'm guessing the car adapter increases voltage to 12volts, then I have a USB car charger that reduces the voltage to 5v to charge my XDA IIs pocket PC using the standard USB cradle. This works, but I think I'm wasting some energy from the voltage changes.... a fully charged solio will only charge my PPC about 40-60%.

Still a fun toy. =)

[mmidgley]

I've been happy with my $33 CF101 which I bought in 2000 from www.plastecs.com for my first pocketpc, iPAQ 3650. It'd be nice if it had its own recharable battery like the Solio so you could solar charge whenever possible and then charge the pocketpc anytime, like at night--however, the CF101 is great for backpacking with its light-weight and simple design.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&amp;q=CF101+solar

Looks like the CF101 is now sold here for $39.95:
http://www.aurorasolar.com/CF101_Pocket_Pal_Solar_Charger.html

m.

[Radimus]

Now this device is much more practical

http://www.boxwave.com/products/batteryadapter/index.htm

and there are dozens of charging possibilities for AA batteries (auto, AC, solar, drugstore, etc), additionally the AA batteries could be used for other devices, like flashlights and radios, etc.