Comments on: The impossible solar iPhone http://billso.com/2008/06/07/the-impossible-solar-iphone/ Bill Sodeman writes about management, mobile computing and information systems Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: billso http://billso.com/2008/06/07/the-impossible-solar-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-1299 billso Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:01:23 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1709#comment-1299 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. 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.

]]> By: Aimee Blom http://billso.com/2008/06/07/the-impossible-solar-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-1295 Aimee Blom Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:21:17 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1709#comment-1295 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, 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,

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