Apple Approved Solar Charging Case for iPhone, iPod Touch

Solar Surge has created a solar charging case for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The gadget add-on is Apple approved and will sell for $70. It comes in a variety of colors. The iPod Touch version will be out later this month and the iPhone one will come out in the 4th Quarter of 2009. Here's the full spec list:

Solar Panel

* State-of-the-art solar panel allows continuous charging from the sun
* Custom designed and engineered solar panels outputs 5.5V at 100 mAh in full sun
* 2 hours of direct solar exposure provides about 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network or 60 minutes of talk time on a 2G network

Battery

* Integrated rechargeable 1500 mAh 3.7 V lithium-ion polymer battery offers 120% capacity of iPhone 3G
* Advanced lithium-ion polymer battery cell technology prevents overcharging and provides protection from extreme temperature

USB

* Custom engineered USB 2.0 cable provides high capacity charging and data exchange
* Powerup and sync with iTunes without removing iPhone 3G or 3G S from case with the provided USB cable
* Compatible with standard USB charging ports

General

* Optimized power management system provides continuous charge to iPhone 3G’s or 3G S’s internal battery
* Durable, lightweight hard-shell construction with soft-touch grip side sections
* Integrated 4 LED battery status indicator
* Built-in Apple certified 30 pin connector
* Compatibility: iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S
* Case dimensions (approx): 4 7/8" X 2 5/8" X 7/8"
* Package dimensions (approx): 7 1/4" X 5 1/8" X 1 1/2"
* Shipping weight (approx): 7oz
* Model No: NT01

[Novothink]

San Francisco to Build Solar Paneled Bus Stops with Wi-Fi

San Francisco is planning on building solar paneled bus stops that offer Wi-Fi. Each stop will cost about $30,000. It sounds more expensive than it actually is when you consider that all of the power that is not used by the stop's billboards and Wi-Fi will be delivered to the city's power grid.

San Francisco’s high-tech bus stops will channel an estimated 43,000 kilowatt-hours per year into the city’s grid. Built-in Wi-Fi routers will help the city create a comprehensive wireless Internet network.

The new shelters’ LED lights use 74.4 watts—four and a half times more efficient than the 336 watts used by the old shelters’ fluorescent lighting.

The city's Municipal Transportation Agency is hoping to install 360 of these stops by the year 2013. [Popular Mechanics]