Definitely a cool idea for a Kindle cover — I am going to have to check it out sometime.
SolarFocus makes this solar powered case, which will keep your Kindle charged for three months.
If this didn’t have that wart on the top with a light attached, I’d buy this now.
This cover clarifies a few insights regarding solar power.
The greatest hindrance to solar power adoption is probably power consumption, not solar power output. SolarFocus isn’t making a breakthrough here; they’re just pairing solar panels with a device that barely sips from it’s battery. Perhaps solar will receive more usage not because of it’s own improvements, but because of improvements with digital power consumption.
I’d like to see e-ink and solar be paired more often. Together they inspire a design style that is wholly different from the current gadget aesthetic: a style that embraces light form, simple utility, and persistent function. This might allow designers to digitize tools which have never been within the economic reach of consumer technology. Think wall calendars, thermostats, traffic signs, menus outside of restaurants, etc.
Also, it’s a testament to the low price of the Kindle that at $80 this cover costs more than Amazon’s cheapest device.
