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That's actually pretty nifty, in my view. Good idea.

Oct 02, 08 - 03:58 pm Comment from: MikeK

But how often are you gonna leave your iPhone in the sun?

In the house? No.
In the car? No.
At work? No.
Walking/Shopping? No, it would be in a pocket.

Seems pretty useless to me.

Oct 02, 08 - 04:04 pm Comment from: MacintoshSoftwareList.com

Looks cheap in this picture. I know the acrylic case that ATT sells is cheap junk. Both my wife and I had cracks in it in two weeks.

Unfortunately all the Mac guys and Apple Fanboys around her have their heads stuck up in a very dark place where the sun don shine.

Oct 02, 08 - 04:14 pm Comment from: KingMel

I don't know that I would want to leave an iPhone out in the sun in a *black* case. Might there be thermal concerns? And what places are both safe to leave your iPhone out and sunny, but not overly hot? A car gets very hot and an iPhone baking on the dash is an open invitation to break in. If you have an office with a window, then that would work. Would this device provide appreciable charging under artificial lighting?

Don't get me wrong - I like the idea of a solar charging case. But I also believe that the practical aspects of a gadget are important.

Unless you are away from a power plug, working outside for a living, camping, hiking, or anything that takes you into sunlight. Even being outside in your car can give you some new minutes to talk.

Great idea.

Would this function with an iPod Touch?

Oct 02, 08 - 04:52 pm Comment from: Willie G

I applaud the idea, but the design is hideous.

Oct 02, 08 - 05:03 pm Comment from: DanielM

WARNING

iPhone Temperate Zone. Your iPhone works best from 32° to 95° F. You should store it in environments of -4° to 113° F. That’s 0° to 35° C and -20° to 45° C for the metrically inclined. Keeping your iPhone as near room temperature as possible (72° F or 22° C) is ideal.

Paying attention to just a few commonsense pointers will pay off with a longer battery lifespan and battery life for your iPhone. The most important thing is to keep your iPhone out of the sun or a hot car (including the glove box). Heat will degrade your battery’s performance the most.

Ref: http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

Oct 02, 08 - 05:23 pm Comment from: oh no my shorts

Mmmmm, solar-powered leather.

That has potential in other markets totally unrelated to iPods.

For all of those folks not wanting to leave the iphone on the dash of a car: Unless we're all missing the obvious - the *case* has a built in battery that gets charged. Leave the case in the sun to charge the battery, then take it out of the sun, put the phone inside of it (presumably the battery connects to the phone when you slide it in) and the phone gets charged.

For this scenario to work you'd want this case in addition to the one you have now. Trading Cases...

@Frequent Observer

Why would you be stupid enough to come and post at a Mac site?
You must have the most boring life in the freakin' world!

Solar power or no, there is no better case for your iPhone than an Otter Box case.

Oct 02, 08 - 08:23 pm Comment from: Anonymous©

Okay, a rechargeable battery makes more sense. That way, you can leave the case to charge, while using your iPhone. When you slip the phone back into its case, it tops up. That's a good idea.

Batteries die in heat. Good idea, and I'd almost buy one if it weren't for that fact.

If it had an iPod-like plug on the end of a wire then you could put your iPhone/battery out of the sun/heat.

I'm sorry, I can't come back to the office. I'm at the beach, charging my iPhone.

Free power. You don't have to leave your iPhone in the sun. Just the case. Got a lamp in your office or living room? Put the case under it. Brilliant idea. I wish I thought of it. Actually, I just had a great, similar ideas, but I'm not sharing... you read it here first.

MW: Degree. hmm

A good concept...needs some velcro to mount on the top of your dashboard. That's the only time I would have it in the sun.

"@Frequent Observer Why would you be stupid enough to come and post at a Mac site?"


That's why eating paint chips has always been a bad idea.

iPod Touch?

Oct 09, 08 - 12:17 pm Comment from: Mr. Peabody

iPod Touch here too...