SolarFocus picked up the Innovation Award at CES 2012 earlier this year for its SolarKindle e-Reader cover that features a built-in solar panel, integrated battery and LED reading lamp. The company has announced it is now shipping the device for both Kindle Touch and Kindle 4.
As revealed at CES, the SolarKindle’s lightweight, flexible solar panel will provide up to three days of lighted reading time from just one hour of direct sunlight. The case’s integrated 1500 mAh lithium-polymer reserve battery will run the unit’s built-in LED lamp pumping out 800 lux for up to 50 hours without drawing power from the Kindle’s battery.
The case’s battery can also transfer its energy to the Kindle’s battery to extend reading time if need be, with one hour of charge from the reserve battery providing around 10 days of extra reading time.
The SolarKindle for the Kindle Touch measures 200 x 120 x 19.6 mm (7.9 x 4.7 x 0.77 in) and adds 215 g (7.58 oz) to the Kindle Touch’s 213 g (7.5 oz), while the Kindle 4 case adds 250 g (8.82 oz) to the Kindle 4’s 170 g (5.98 oz) and measures 200 x 120 x 21.9 mm (7.9 x 4.7 x 0.86 in). Both retail for US$79.99 and can be ordered through the SolarFocus website.