Solar

Last year Logitech introduced the Wireless Solar Keyboard for PC. But what about Mac users? It may have taken a year, but Logitech didn't forget about you. Just announced today is the Wireless Solar Keyboard for Mac.

Featuring the same design as the Logitech K750 for PC, the new Mac version comes in five colors – four of them just for you Mac users. But the really nice thing about the keyboard is you never have to worry about batteries again. It has onboard solar cells that power the keyboard using ambient light in the room – no direct sunlight is needed. When fully charged, it can work in total darkness for three months – pretty impressive! A solar power app is also available for download that gives you at-a-glance information about battery levels, and will alert you when you need more light.

Featuring 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, the K750 for Mac is a full-size keyboard featuring a number pad and a layout designed specifically for Mac users. Eco-friendly too, it touts PVC-free construction and a fully recyclable box.

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac will be available later this month for $59.99. You can pre-order it now at www.logitech.com.

There are a couple of things nice about a wireless keyboard; the lack of unsightly wires and the fact that you're not tethered to the desktop. However, one reason some people don't go wireless when it comes to keyboards, is battery life. Logitech today introduced a new keyboard that changes all that. The new Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is the company's first light-powered keyboard. It powers itself whenever there's light, (yes, even indoors!), making battery issues a thing of the past.

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard's integrated solar panel keeps it powered up, and the keyboard can stay charged for three months in total darkness. It also includes a solar power app (available for download beginning Nov. 15, 2010 at www.logitech.com/k750.solarapp) which features a lux meter that gives you at-a-glance information about battery levels, and even alerts you when you need more power.

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 has 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity and also includes 128-bit AES encryption for security. It is expected to be available in November 2010 for $79.99.

Just announced today is what Novothink touts as the "world's only Apple-certified solar charging case" for the iPhone and iPod touch, the Solar Surge.

The Novothink Solar Surge works with the iPhone 3G/3G S and 2nd generation iPod touch by combining a solar panel and lithium ion battery into a non-slip finish case. The solar panel collects sunlight and turns into electricity. If your iPhone is not fully charged, it transfers the charge to your iPhone. When your iPhone is completely charged, the Surge transfers the charge to its internal battery. There is no need to turn anything on, it will know when to start and stop charging. You can expect to get about 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network or 60 minutes on 2G from just 2 hours of direct sunlight. An integrated thermal sensor is also on the Surge to prevent overheating. Read more

Scosche just announced a new solar powered charger and back-up battery device – the solBAT II. It works with almost any handheld device that can be charged via a USB cable and has two lights on it which let you know when the solBAT II it is charging from the sun or a USB cable (red), and when it is passing that stored energy to a handheld (green) like a Blackberry, iPhone, iPod, or PSP.

The solBAT II's lithium ion battery has a capacity of 1500mA and an output of 5V, so it charges USB powered devices at the same rate as a wall charger. When fully powered a solBAT II can charge a mobile phone up to two times, making it a great battery backup solution when traveling. Read more

Scosche on Thursday announced the availability of its "green" solCHAT handsfree speakerphone. The device features an integrated solar panel that keeps the solCHAT's battery charged.

For added safety, it has a Voice announce caller ID that tells you the phone number of incoming calls, so you can know whether to take (or avoid) the call while keeping your eyes on the road.

The solCHAT has a simple three button design (volume up, volume down, and answer/hang-up) and automatic cell phone pairing. It doesn't get much easier than that.

The speakerphone comes with a USB charging cable and car adaptor for charging at night and on overcast days. A windshield suction cup mount and sun visor clip is also included.

The SolCHAT is available at Best Buy stores, www.bestbuy.com and www.scosche.com for just $99.99. It is coming soon to other major retailers.

At Mobile World Congress 2009, Samsung is unveling Blue Earth, a solar powered touch screen phone. The solar panel is located on the back of the phone to generate enough power to stay in touch with your friends, family or business associates anytime, anywhere. You won’t be able to use the excuse “my cell phone was dead” with this little gem.

Blue Earth is an eco-friendly green as it is made out of a of a material called PCM, a plastic from recycled water bottles. The phone (charger included) is also free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate.

Blue Earth gives you an easy way to be energy efficient with its ‘Eco mode’. With just one click you can set the screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth to an energy-efficient mode. It also has an ‘eco walk’ function where you can count your steps with a in-built pedometer, and it even calculates how many trees you are saving by walking instead of driving your car. Seriously.

No pricing information is out yet, but plan on it not coming out until the second half of 2009, and to the UK first.

It is all in the solar panel, and the good ones are usually really expensive. This high-efficiency Generator solar panel bag from Voltaic Systems is affordable for what it does … charge your gear! One hour in the sun will fully charge most cell phones, MP3 players or cameras. The solar panel Voltaic uses will generate up to 15 Watts of power,  plus it has a 58Wh Lilon battery built into the bag (which helps facilitate the charging process).

The most common adapters come with the bag, which is made out of recycled drink bottles. You have a choice of five different colors — distinctive orange, silver, green, white and a more discrete black. The MSRP of the Generator laptop-charging bag is $499 and can be found at select retailers. Check out their site: www.voltaicsystems.com to locate the retailer nearest you.

Are you concerned you are not green enough? What about your family or friends? Do you do your part for a cleaner environment? Those batteries for the electronics… do you recycle or recharge? Are you still throwing away your batteries?! Well, now is the time to start new habits. You can charge your gear while you commute with the new Fusion canvas/leather Solar Messenger Bag by Eclipse Solar Gear.

The Fusion Messenger Bags are functional bags, and they have solar cells built right into the side for easy charging. Anything you can plug into your car using a 12-volt auto adapter can be trickle charged using solar bags by Eclipse Solar Gear. These messenger bags are sold online, and at Macy’s Department Stores. The MSRP on the Fusion Messenger Bags are $189 - $249. As for your batteries that you no longer have a use for, please find a location to recycle them: www.rbrc.org