SolarKindle Helps your Kindle Never Run Low on Juice

Soon that bright sun might do more than make you Kindle readable. IT could also recharge its batteries. The SolarKindle is a new case that brings solar energy to the ereader. When closes, a solar panel larger than the Kindle itself will pull in the rays and recharge your device.

They have even included a built-in reading lamp, since the Kindle’s screen isn’t readable in the dark like a more traditional LCD display is. The company promises that the solar cover will grant your Kindle months of runtime and up to 50 hours from the lamp, thought I would bet that you could stretch those numbers out a bit if you don’t read often and you leave your device in the sun.

Solar panels are gimmicks on most devices. Few gadgets consume few enough amps for a panel to make any difference. Even feature phones, the low power, dumb cousins of smartphones, consume too much power. The Kindle is a different story altogether. Thanks to its eink display, the Kindle only sips power. It is one of the few devices that can benefit from solar energy at this time.

SolarFocus, the company behind the SolarKindle, promises that it will show off the device at this year’s CES and will release the device on January 15th for $80.00.

Engadget Photo by : SolarFocus