
There is one problem that plagues all mobile technology: battery life. Sure, some gadgets will last through many hours of use, but with most you are limited to a significantly shorter time. This is why I’m happy to see companies such as Iqua implementing alternative energy sources into their mobile products. Take their Sun Bluetooth headset for example.






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Fujitsu Siemens is currently working on a prototype 22″ LCD monitor that comes with built-in solar panels working in tandem with a capacitor and special relay to reduce power usage when on standby. Heck, theoretically it ought to be able to operate in zero consumption mode for five days on standby. When active, this prototype LCD monitor takes up a mere 0.6-0.9W of electricity. Fujitsu Siemens is hoping that this new green technology will be used in TVs too, as it prepares to roll out an improved, consumer-ready version of its prototype sometime in Q2 2008.


How many times have you actually went off for a long holiday, snapping gigabytes after gigabytes’ worth of photos only to return home without having a clear memory of exactly where they were taken? With the QSTARZ Super 99 Bluetooth Solar GPS Travel Recorder, you don’t have to worry about suffering from memory lapses ever again, since this dual-powered GPS travel recorder is capable of logging up to 200,000 waypoints on each journey courtesy of the support for Geo Tagging of photos along with the ability to share your current location with friends over Google Earth. You can choose to have it operate using its integrated battery which can be recharged via a nearby power outlet, or using the integrated solar panel instead which is capable of powering the device for up to 48 hours at a stretch after achieving a full charge via natural sunlight.
Ever gone off to the woods for a week and forgotten to bring a shaver with you? Chances are when you’re back home, your wife will probably think there’s a grizzly bear knocking on her front door, wearing her husband’s clothes instead. The Sol Shaver Solar Razor is the tool for you then, since it can be powered by the sun while offering a traditional electric razor cut. If you’re interested in picking one up, be prepared to fork out $61 for it.



