Solar Power Mobile Phones

Sexbomb · 17-07-2015, 18:53

Apple are considering this for the iPhone 7 but shouldn't this now be applied to all future makes of smart phones.

I like the idea.

swb1964 · 17-07-2015, 19:38

Where would you put the solar panel?

Sexbomb · 17-07-2015, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Where would you put the solar panel?

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/...fe-Solar-Panel

gomezz · 17-07-2015, 20:35

Surely this would need people who keep their phone in their pocket to wear transparent trousers?

swb1964 · 17-07-2015, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sexbomb

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/...fe-Solar-Panel

I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not saying I won't, just that the Express is hardly a reliable source!

ard100 · 18-07-2015, 13:20

Its been done 5 years ago http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/July2010/voda...announced.html

http://www.extragsm.com/vodafone-247...lery-2652.html

http://www.intomobile.com/2010/07/29...solar-charger/

and samsung too
http://inhabitat.com/samsung-release...powered-phone/

http://sharetech.biz/watching-phone-...er-by-samsung/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sexbomb

Apple are considering this for the iPhone 7 but shouldn't this now be applied to all future makes of smart phones.

I like the idea.

IvanIV · 18-07-2015, 13:35

You'll have to throw the phone into the Sun to get the energy some people need for their phones.

psionic · 18-07-2015, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

Surely this would need people who keep their phone in their pocket to wear transparent trousers?

I'm sure the accessory makers will find a solution. Perhaps a baseball cap with a built in phone cradle?

Seriously though I think this about trickling some extra charge to make it last a bit longer (perhaps coupled with the low power mode in iOS 9). You won't be able to chuck your mains chargers away any time soon unfortunately!

Old Endeavour · 19-07-2015, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

Surely this would need people who keep their phone in their pocket to wear transparent trousers?

*Rushes off to patent Transparent Trousers!

(And the Transparent Pouch (Plastic wallet with a clip))

blueacid · 20-07-2015, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanIV

You'll have to throw the phone into the Sun to get the energy some people need for their phones.

You could use a Mirror to focus more light on it. If it doesn't work you'll run out of power and have to resort to a fixed line... Provided the Telegraph poles are still holding it up (an I doing this right?)

IvanIV · 20-07-2015, 05:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueacid

You could use a Mirror to focus more light on it. If it doesn't work you'll run out of power and have to resort to a fixed line... Provided the Telegraph poles are still holding it up (an I doing this right?)

I don't think you could do more than check the daily mail with it.

Old Endeavour · 20-07-2015, 12:34

This is a great idea if your life is spent on a Californian beach, but sadly impractical in the UK.

magicdesign · 23-07-2015, 06:56

Probably more sensible to look at kinetic energy charging for phones...

swb1964 · 23-07-2015, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Endeavour

This is a great idea if your life is spent on a Californian beach,

Or the African desert. I can see a big market for phones like this in the developing world but not, as you say in the UK.

Zebb · 23-07-2015, 07:39

Just solar recharge an external battery pack. Leave it on a window sill all day, plug it into your phone later.

Gigabit · 23-07-2015, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Endeavour

This is a great idea if your life is spent on a Californian beach, but sadly impractical in the UK.

Is there a joke I'm not getting here?

Everything Goes · 23-07-2015, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard100

Its been done 5 years ago http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/July2010/voda...announced.html

http://www.extragsm.com/vodafone-247...lery-2652.html

http://www.intomobile.com/2010/07/29...solar-charger/

and samsung too
http://inhabitat.com/samsung-release...powered-phone/

http://sharetech.biz/watching-phone-...er-by-samsung/

Apple will probably sue them all now

Old Endeavour · 23-07-2015, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Or the African desert. I can see a big market for phones like this in the developing world but not, as you say in the UK.

Yes, they invented the wind-up radio for that purpose as batteries were hard to get and expensive in developing countries, so solar powered phones would be a great addition there.

Has anyone invented the wind-up phone yet? (I always get to the ideas after someone else has already invented them)

Old Endeavour · 23-07-2015, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabit

Is there a joke I'm not getting here?

No, no joke intended.

California is known for having lots more sun than the UK where it is overcast most days and of course on the beach you will be sitting or lying around which is a great place to have your phone out charging. So if you are in the UK and due to working and not being down the beach, have to have your phone stuck in your pocket for 90% of the time, a solar powered phone won't be much use here.

IvanIV · 23-07-2015, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Endeavour

No, no joke intended.

California is known for having lots more sun than the UK where it is overcast most days and of course on the beach you will be sitting or lying around which is a great place to have your phone out charging. So if you are in the UK and due to working and not being down the beach, have to have your phone stuck in your pocket for 90% of the time, a solar powered phone won't be much use here.

Is it a good idea to leave the phone out in the direct sun? It will get warm (ha ha I wrote it will get worm) and given the size of it, it may evaporate

or simply just overheat. Also somebody may nick it if you are not keeping an eye on it.

Old Endeavour · 23-07-2015, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanIV

Is it a good idea to leave the phone out in the direct sun? It will get warm (ha ha I wrote it will get worm) and given the size of it, it may evaporate

or simply just overheat. Also somebody may nick it if you are not keeping an eye on it.

Well it's one of those things that sounds great in an ideal world where we all live on a crime free Californian beach, but in the real world we don't. The real world is that we live in the mostly unsunny UK, stick our phones in our pockets and work gets in the way of beach-time.

asm · 23-07-2015, 14:27

FTA:
"Unfortunately, the Apple patent is very vague about the technology"

If the patent is vague then it should never have been granted. The deal is that the company that invents something it wants to patent has to tell the world exactly how it works, only then do they get a time-limited monopoly on the invention.

17-07-2015, 18:53	#1
Sexbomb Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lancs Posts: 14,456	Solar Power Mobile Phones Apple are considering this for the iPhone 7 but shouldn't this now be applied to all future makes of smart phones. I like the idea.

17-07-2015, 19:38	#2
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Where would you put the solar panel?

17-07-2015, 19:45	#3
Sexbomb Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lancs Posts: 14,456	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 Where would you put the solar panel? http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/...fe-Solar-Panel

17-07-2015, 20:35	#4
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Surely this would need people who keep their phone in their pocket to wear transparent trousers?

17-07-2015, 21:02	#5
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Quote: Originally Posted by Sexbomb http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/...fe-Solar-Panel I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not saying I won't, just that the Express is hardly a reliable source!

18-07-2015, 13:20	#6
ard100 Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 239	Its been done 5 years ago http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/July2010/voda...announced.html http://www.extragsm.com/vodafone-247...lery-2652.html http://www.intomobile.com/2010/07/29...solar-charger/ and samsung too http://inhabitat.com/samsung-release...powered-phone/ http://sharetech.biz/watching-phone-...er-by-samsung/ Quote: Originally Posted by Sexbomb Apple are considering this for the iPhone 7 but shouldn't this now be applied to all future makes of smart phones. I like the idea.

18-07-2015, 13:35	#7
IvanIV Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 25,199	You'll have to throw the phone into the Sun to get the energy some people need for their phones.

18-07-2015, 14:05	#8
psionic Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Crystal Palace TX Posts: 19,702	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz Surely this would need people who keep their phone in their pocket to wear transparent trousers? I'm sure the accessory makers will find a solution. Perhaps a baseball cap with a built in phone cradle? Seriously though I think this about trickling some extra charge to make it last a bit longer (perhaps coupled with the low power mode in iOS 9). You won't be able to chuck your mains chargers away any time soon unfortunately!

19-07-2015, 13:32	#9
Old Endeavour Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 9,746	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz Surely this would need people who keep their phone in their pocket to wear transparent trousers? *Rushes off to patent Transparent Trousers! (And the Transparent Pouch (Plastic wallet with a clip))

20-07-2015, 01:43	#10
blueacid Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,536	Quote: Originally Posted by IvanIV You'll have to throw the phone into the Sun to get the energy some people need for their phones. You could use a Mirror to focus more light on it. If it doesn't work you'll run out of power and have to resort to a fixed line... Provided the Telegraph poles are still holding it up (an I doing this right?)

20-07-2015, 05:14	#11
IvanIV Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 25,199	Quote: Originally Posted by blueacid You could use a Mirror to focus more light on it. If it doesn't work you'll run out of power and have to resort to a fixed line... Provided the Telegraph poles are still holding it up (an I doing this right?) I don't think you could do more than check the daily mail with it.

20-07-2015, 12:34	#12
Old Endeavour Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 9,746	This is a great idea if your life is spent on a Californian beach, but sadly impractical in the UK.

23-07-2015, 06:56	#13
magicdesign Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 58	Probably more sensible to look at kinetic energy charging for phones...

23-07-2015, 07:20	#14
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Quote: Originally Posted by Old Endeavour This is a great idea if your life is spent on a Californian beach, Or the African desert. I can see a big market for phones like this in the developing world but not, as you say in the UK.

23-07-2015, 07:39	#15
Zebb Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 652	Just solar recharge an external battery pack. Leave it on a window sill all day, plug it into your phone later.

23-07-2015, 09:23	#16
Gigabit Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,887	Quote: Originally Posted by Old Endeavour This is a great idea if your life is spent on a Californian beach, but sadly impractical in the UK. Is there a joke I'm not getting here?

23-07-2015, 10:10	#17
Everything Goes Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the future.... Posts: 11,259	Quote: Originally Posted by ard100 Its been done 5 years ago http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/July2010/voda...announced.html http://www.extragsm.com/vodafone-247...lery-2652.html http://www.intomobile.com/2010/07/29...solar-charger/ and samsung too http://inhabitat.com/samsung-release...powered-phone/ http://sharetech.biz/watching-phone-...er-by-samsung/ Apple will probably sue them all now

23-07-2015, 10:35	#18
Old Endeavour Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 9,746	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 Or the African desert. I can see a big market for phones like this in the developing world but not, as you say in the UK. Yes, they invented the wind-up radio for that purpose as batteries were hard to get and expensive in developing countries, so solar powered phones would be a great addition there. Has anyone invented the wind-up phone yet? (I always get to the ideas after someone else has already invented them)

23-07-2015, 10:50	#19
Old Endeavour Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 9,746	Quote: Originally Posted by Gigabit Is there a joke I'm not getting here? No, no joke intended. California is known for having lots more sun than the UK where it is overcast most days and of course on the beach you will be sitting or lying around which is a great place to have your phone out charging. So if you are in the UK and due to working and not being down the beach, have to have your phone stuck in your pocket for 90% of the time, a solar powered phone won't be much use here.

23-07-2015, 11:56	#20
IvanIV Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 25,199	Quote: Originally Posted by Old Endeavour No, no joke intended. California is known for having lots more sun than the UK where it is overcast most days and of course on the beach you will be sitting or lying around which is a great place to have your phone out charging. So if you are in the UK and due to working and not being down the beach, have to have your phone stuck in your pocket for 90% of the time, a solar powered phone won't be much use here. Is it a good idea to leave the phone out in the direct sun? It will get warm (ha ha I wrote it will get worm) and given the size of it, it may evaporate or simply just overheat. Also somebody may nick it if you are not keeping an eye on it.

23-07-2015, 13:48	#21
Old Endeavour Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 9,746	Quote: Originally Posted by IvanIV Is it a good idea to leave the phone out in the direct sun? It will get warm (ha ha I wrote it will get worm) and given the size of it, it may evaporate or simply just overheat. Also somebody may nick it if you are not keeping an eye on it. Well it's one of those things that sounds great in an ideal world where we all live on a crime free Californian beach, but in the real world we don't. The real world is that we live in the mostly unsunny UK, stick our phones in our pockets and work gets in the way of beach-time.

DS Forums

Solar Power Mobile Phones

23-07-2015, 14:27	#22
asm Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 151	FTA: "Unfortunately, the Apple patent is very vague about the technology" If the patent is vague then it should never have been granted. The deal is that the company that invents something it wants to patent has to tell the world exactly how it works, only then do they get a time-limited monopoly on the invention.