Solar

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