Solio: iPod Solar Charger
Solio one of the more intriguing booths at Macworld, a product that lets you charge your iPod or other device anywhere you can get sunlight…or so the theory goes. I read the instructions carefully that you should first charge the Solio via the wall.
I kept it in my car and two months later my iPod’s battery drained while I was driving. No problem, I charged my iPod via the Solio. I’m not sure how long it took to charge, but I went into a client and about 2 hours later it was ready to go. I fully let the Solio drain and then I tried to charge it via the sun. I did the charging during June and put it on my dashboard while driving. After about 4 days in the intense Kansas sun, it only had half a charge. Granted, I was able to charge my iPod enough to drive back from Topeka, but after 4 days or almost 32 hours of direct sunlight, I expected more of a charge. I was disappointed in its woeful ability to translate sunlight into iPod music.
The Solio also acts as a charger for some cell phones. My Samsung i500 smartphone wasn’t compatible, so I couldn’t test that function. I could easily see the Solio being handy to make an emergency call.
Generally, it was interesting, but for the amount it costs, I expected a better sunlight to energy ratio. Al Gore would not approve.
Pros: A good spare battery
Cons: Lousy solar charger. recommend buying a cellboost instead
2 out of five Dogcows
