Plugging into the sun: Solio has really taken off
Some of you may have heard of the Solio already; launched only a year ago it already has a cult following and certainly popped up on a number of techie's Christmas lists. So what's the hype all about?
From the outside it is all sleek curves, but open up the wings and you reveal three solar panels. Simply place in direct sunlight either outside or by a window and get ready to take your power onto the road- never get stranded without music or the ability to make a phone call again. It has been predominantly marketed as an portable iPod charger but it can also be used for a range of electrical devices including mobile phones, the ubiquitous Blackberry and other PDAs. Way above its other contenders in the style stakes, the Solio has also been acclaimed for its reliability and versatility, winning Best of Show at last year's MacWorld Expo. So, appreciate music on the go knowing that you won't be pouring carbon into the atmosphere at the same time. To make things even better, Solio offsets all its carbon emissions with donations to Future Forests. Happy charging!
Solio facts:
- Charging Solio's internal battery takes 8-10 hours of direct sunlight.
- With Solio fully charged, an average mobile phone will charge in approximately 1-2 hours--as efficiently as a conventional charger.
- A fully charged Solio will completely charge an average cell phone.
- When charging a cell phone directly from the sun, 60 minutes of sunlight will provide approximately 10 minutes of talk time and four hours of standby time.
- When charging an iPod directly from the sun, one hour of sunlight will provide one hour of play time.
- Solio can store energy for more than one year.
£49.95 from selected retailers Visit www.solio.com and www.futureforests.com for more details.
