As great as advances in mobile technology have been in recent years, many mobile devices still suffer from unsatisfactory battery life. Japanese company, Links International, has created the iCharge in two versions - the standard DX and the smaller Lite - solar solutions to your mobile power woes. Actually, the devices are three-way charging system, capable of solar, AC, and USB charging.
Links International (in Japanese) says this particular charger excels in its device compatibility, as it can charge almost any gadget you can think of. It includes connectors for the iPhone/iPod, the Nintendo DS, the Sony PSP, eMobile, and standard Japanese cell phones. It has a rechargeable life cycle of about 500 charges, which isn't too bad considering that this is likely to be an auxiliary charger for use on the go.
While I'm all for innovative 'eco' products such as this one, I'm not certain that this is a product that would be used by the average consumer. But if you're an outdoors type who's prone to an occasional adventure in nature, this might be an ideal charger for you.
The smaller iCharge Lite comes in 12 colors and the manufacturers say it's priced at ¥3280 (or US$36). It's about the size of an iPod nano (dimensions are 3.5 x 1.2 x 0.7 inches), but weighs a hefty 1.6oz (45g).
The larger iCharge DX comes in seven colors and costs ¥6980 (about US$77). It's a little wider than the other model, comparable in size to an iPhone (dimensions are 4.2 x 2.0 x 0.6 inches).
Charging time for both devices ranges from 13-15 hours (solar); around two hours via AC and two-three hours using a USB.
Uh, I don\'t know where you live, but I certainly do *NOT* have 14-15 hours of daylight every day! Especially now in the winter! It gets light out (enough for solar panels) at around 8:30 am and dark at around 5:30 pm. 9 hours! Back in December, we only get about 6 hours of daylight! So, 77 bucks for this? Forget about it!