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The impossible solar iPhone

Started by Bill Sodeman · 6 months ago

As we approach the 9 June 2008 launch announcement for iPhone 2.0, it’s a good opportunity to discuss the iPhone’s power requirements.
I’ve never heard anyone ask if an iPhone can be solar powered, but I have had a professor ask me when someone will ... Continue reading »

2 comments

  • Hey,

    I have a question: Would it be the impossible to make a solor battery small enough. I mean look at how far technology has come. Obviously I dont know anything about batteries and solor batteries, Is is that far out to think it can de designed and made.

    Also which phone do you think is more efficent/effextive... the new black berry, or the the new iPhone?

    Thanks,
  • Good question, Aimee. It's not so much the battery size as the solar cells... they'd need to be huge to directly power an iPhone. That last link in my entry to the patio table will give you a good indication of the size required.

    Battery technology is improving incrementally. There have been some interesting advances, but these models are still in the labs.

    The most promising alternative to batteries is liquid fuel cells, powered by methyl alcohol or butane. It's easy to recharge these cells - people have proposed little vending machines that just squirt new fuel into the device.

    In developing countries, people could just distill their own fuel.

    The amount of fuel inside one device's fuel cells is not enough to cause a serious explosion or fire.

    I'd have to guess that most BlackBerrys have better battery life than the iPhone, simply because the iPhone has a huge screen and WiFi. Turning on WiFi will really hammer the device's battery life.

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