Solar power is the future of everything, right? Maybe in the long run, but Nokia has shown that the technology isn’t quite up to scratch when it comes to powering smartphones permanently.
The Finnish company sent mobile prototypes packing solar panels on the back all around the world, including Kenya and the Arctic Circle to test the viability of solar power for mobiles. Unfortunately, the best results were barely enough to keep the phone in standby mode.
That’s not to say that we’ll never see a completely solar powered smartphone, of course. Just that it’s unlikely we’ll see one any time soon.
Drew
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 1:38 PMWell in the case of emergency, turn off the phone, let it charge then turn it on and use it? Duh…
Being able to make a phone call after four hours is better than never being able to make one.
Cameron
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 1:58 PMThere are solar rechargers out there already that provide this functionality that only a very small number of people would ever need. It doesn’t really make sense to include solar recharging capabilities on every phone when in the real world they’ll be of little use.
wsDK_II
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 3:25 PMyea, but a phone can can do it would be good for people who work outside, OR people who spend alot of time in the bush / away from power outlets.
Graeme
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 4:13 PMWhere do you carry your phone? On the top of your head? Strapped to your back? Most people carry theirs in a pocket or bag – no sunlight. Even the daggy belt clip option would result in very poor solar cell coverage.
When I used to work outdoors (I still spend a lot of time out inthe bush) then I’d have put any mobile somewhere protected. Putting it somewhere to charge is only going to mean it gets left or nicked.
Ozoneocean
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 4:51 PMWhat the hell? People get lost out in the middle of nowhere unexpectedly all the time with no special re-chargers. Emergency solar charging capabilities would be a godsend for everyone!
They’d even be great for the people that DO have extra solar chargers as a backup.
Sicarius123
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 1:59 PMYou want to carry around that rediculously massive phone above for “in case of emergency”?
wsDK_II
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 3:27 PMThat attitude of yours will land you in trouble one day mate.
“i dont need a fire extinguisher / fire blanket in my kitchen”
“checking the oil in cars is old skool”
“my employeer is cool with me facebooking at work”
“sunscreen is for chumps”
these are all things you might say.
BenK
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 9:58 AMNah mate, it would be more like “i dont need a fire extinguisher / fire blanket with me all the time”
Which you don’t.
Going out camping, hiking or whatever where you will be away from civilisation for a long period of time
yeah bring the right tools including a solar charger. Walking around the streets in the city day to day. Not really gonna want to lug that phone along
maddogeco
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 2:47 PMi bet they were testing with a win phone something a little less power hungry like MeeGo or Symbian could have worked just as well
Inferno Solar
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 3:54 PMThere are genuine arguements on both sides of the fence, however where there is funding, there is always advances in technology.
Apple is currently working on a solar powered iPhone, although to my knowledge the release date has not been announced.
in the meantime though, if solar is your preference, I’d suggest going for a model with a battery capacity of double that of the phone you need to charge, they are readily available and as long as you are buying from a reputable company, quality should not be an issue.
Lithgowlights
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 4:16 PMI hate to say it, but while this might seem like a good idea, my iPhone stays in my pocket 99% of the non-use time. I’m not going to sit it in the sun to get rediculously hot just to charge it. Seems like a good way to overheat the electronics, battery and screen to get a little extra use out of it.
Give me an external battery pack that I can power/charge the phone with at night then leave it in my window to charge of a day. I’d rather risk a charger overheating and prematurely dying than my $999 phone any day.