Safaricom launches solar-powered mobile phone

Posted in Mobile Phones by Conner Flynn on August 17th, 2009

Safaricom launches solar-powered mobile phone Safaricom out of Kenya has rolled out its latest solar-powered cellphone dubbed the Simu ya Solar. The handset was constructed using recycled materials, while an integrated solar panel makes sure that your phone always have some spare juice.

This one is great for users who are in rural areas where electricity is hard to find and sunlight is plentiful. Another benefit for those users is that even if they do have access to electricity, they will save money by letting the sun do it’s thing rather than charging it and wasting resources.

Neoluxiim shows off solar-powered e ink display

Posted in Solar Powered by Conner Flynn on July 12th, 2009


Solar powered e-ink displays are finally here. Neoluxiim recently showed them off for use in point-of-sale advertising. So all of your future e-ink ads will be in color for a more rich impulse purchase to be made by you.

While all ads are annoying, it’s nice to know that those energy-wasting flatscreen kiosks are on the way out. In the future you’ll still be annoyed by the ads, but you can at least rest assured that they will be greener.

NoPoPo Lantern is powered by batteries, which are powered by urine

Posted in Flashlights by Conner Flynn on May 26th, 2009

NoPoPo Lantern Our favorite batteries are back. We’ve missed them. What other batteries are powered by your pee? Only Nopopo. As far as we know. We’ve missed you Nopopo. Our urine feels wasted without ye. But no more. This compact LED lantern will be equipped with a NoPoPo battery that doesn’t require a power outlet to juice up. It’s powered by water. Failing that, it will gladly accept your urine and give you power.

Sadly, the NoPoPo battery has been rated at just 500mAh and has a recharge capability of just four times, making this Wiz-powered lantern only good for emergency use.

Indian students design an air-powered motorcycle

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on May 11th, 2009


The air-powered bike you see in the video above was designed by a team of engineering students from India. To help combat the ever-increasing pollution levels in the atmosphere, they designed themselves a working model that runs on air rather than gasoline.

Sure, it will only cover 18km/h. But at least this bike isn’t dirtying the air. It only emits Oxygen. This bike runs on air and emits air. That’s an eco-win all around. Now if they can just figure out how to get more out of it…

Battery powered battery charger

Posted in Chargers by Conner Flynn on April 15th, 2009

Battery powered battery chargerA battery charger powered by a battery. You will be free and untethered, assuming you have some D-sized batteries to power it. Isn’t this like robbing Peter to pay Paul? Or robbing Duracell to charge Energizer. Something like that.

It “Uses up to 1000 disposable batteries”. How can you resist? This must have been dreamed up by battery manufacturers to sell more D batteries. I can’t remember the last time I used a D battery myself. We have no idea where to buy one. If you have this gadget let us know. It’s probably a joke. Well, we know it’s a joke, but you know…

MIT working on Virus powered batteries

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on April 5th, 2009

MIT working on Virus powered batteries Typically a battery functions with lithium ions flowing between a negatively charged anode, usually graphite, and the positively charged cathode, usually cobalt oxide or lithium iron phosphate. But three years ago, an MIT team reported that it had engineered viruses that could build an anode by coating themselves with cobalt oxide and gold and self-assembling to form a nanowire. The “virus batteries” have the energy capacity and power performance similar to rechargeable batteries.

The prototype battery is a coin battery, but the idea is that cell and larger batteries could be made from this process and that one day it will power cars, boats and everything else. As it stands right now, it can go at least 100 charges before performance goes down. That will change of course.

USB-Powered fan made from CDs

Posted in DIY by Conner Flynn on March 31st, 2009

USB-Powered fan made from CDsThis is pretty awesome in a Macguyver sort of way. Using a motor, USB cable, two compact discs and a paper or plastic tube, Instructables user msolek creates a sweet little USB powered fan. This is a pretty simple project and the parts are all inexpensive, so don’t be afraid to make one yourself.

To build your very own USB-powered fan, you’ll need: a motor, USB port (max. 2.5W), two compact discs, a USB cable, paper or a plastic tube. Then, just cut up the disc, prep the USB cable, and put everything together.

Fruit powered clock

Posted in Clocks by Conner Flynn on March 18th, 2009

Fruit powered clockWe’ve seen clock concepts that are powered by lemons, but this here fruit powered clock is something that you can actually buy. Apple may not offer any clock products, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an actual apple clock and pretend it’s from Jobs and Co.

This fruit clock will cost you $18 a pop, and just in case you need to be told, they warn that “The fruit is not included”. Whether it needs fresh fruit or can also run on the rotten stuff, we have no idea. Why have a clock that sucks power when you can have one that sucks fruit juice?

Solar-powered credit card calculator

Posted in Calculators by Conner Flynn on January 1st, 2009

Solar-powered credit card calculatorNumbers are an enemy to all. They force us to do endless calculations throughout our daily lives, and miscalculations. Numbers are everywhere. You can’t avoid them. By the time you have begun counting, they have already won. Because there will always a higher number then you can count.

Calculators are our only hope of staying sane as we constantly wage war with math. This one is slim yet stylish and solar-powered. And Credit Card sized. Having one the size and shape of a standard credit card will go a long way in helping you sort out this mathematical universe. No more miscalculating! Only $6.

Digital Clock powered by lemons

Posted in Clocks by Conner Flynn on November 26th, 2008

Digital Clock powered by lemonsHere’s a clock for those who have no clock and a spare lemon tree in the backyard. The tree will come in handy since this clock is powered by the energy of a lemon, which will power it for a week or longer. The design is intended to remind us that nature is still our direct energy source.

When life hands you lemons and a lemon powered clock, most people would just make lemonade and get the time from the microwave. But some of us will put lemons on our clock, and through the sour sucking power of citrus, attract fruit flies until we give up this novelty clock design.

Solar powered Buffalo wireless keyboard

Posted in Keyboards by Conner Flynn on July 9th, 2008

Solar powered Buffalo wireless keyboard
Buffalo introduced their new BSKBW01SB solar powered wireless keyboard. It features a small and adjustable solar panel just above the number pad so you can better capture the sun’s sweet nectar. Maybe there’s only one tiny ray hitting your cubicle, if you get the right angle, you have power baby!

It also runs on batteries just in case you live in Alaska. It’s got 17 hot keys, does it’s thing in the 2.4 Ghz frequency and will give you a range of 10 meters. The keyboard will go on sale in Japan by mid July at a price of $135. You may be saving power, but not money.

Running-powered bike is ridiculous

Posted in Personal Transport by Conner Flynn on April 4th, 2008

Running-powered bike is ridiculous
I don’t care who you are, you’re going to look silly riding running this thing. To make things worse, it isn’t a true bike, but rather a tricycle. The idea here is that there are no pedals, so this thing is fueled by running and a sore crotch.

When you pick up enough speed, hop on the foot holds and coast. The video below is pretty funny. What this thing amounts to is a bike sized frame being rammed up your crotch. I have no more words.





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