Welcome to the official blog for Novothink. We produce the first Apple certified solar chargers for the iPhone and iPod touch, and this is a great place to get more information regarding our products.
In response to our previous blog post about solar power myths, today we bring you a list of facts about solar power. We like to be optimistic rather than pessimistic, so here they are, some interesting, encouraging, and little known facts about solar power.
In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.
It would take only around 0.3% of the world’s land area to supply all of our electricity needs via solar power.
In 1990 a solar powered airplane flew across the U.S. using no fuel.
The first solar cell was constructed by Charles Fritts in the 1880s.
During the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci already had plans for solar concentrators in his notebooks.
Two billion people in the world have no access to electricity. Solar power is the most practical way to deliver electricity to these rural places.
Electric ovens consume the most amount of electricity, followed by microwaves and central air conditioning.
Wind is a form of solar power, created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.
The solar industry creates 200 to 400 jobs in research, development, manufacturing and installation for every 10 megawatts of solar power generated annually.
Accounting for only 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume 26 percent of the world’s energy.
And finally here’s a video that gives a very simple view of the basic principle that makes solar power work.
Ignorance of solar power has lead to many popular myths of photovoltaics and it’s applications. Below we list six of the top myths of solar power and discuss the truth behind solar electricity.
- Myth: Solar power cannot provide enough electricity for the U.S. Truth: Solar power can meet electricity demand on any scale. The solar energy resource in a 100-mile-square area of Nevada could supply the United States with all its electricity (about 800 gigawatts) using modestly efficient commercial photovoltaic modules.
A more realistic scenario involves distributing these same photovoltaic systems throughout the 50 states. Currently available sites—such as vacant land, parking lots, and rooftops—could be used. The land requirement to produce 800 gigawatts would average out to be about 17 x 17 miles per state. Alternatively, photovoltaic systems built in the “brownfields”—the estimated 5 million acres of abandoned industrial sites in our nation’s cities—could supply 90% of America’s current electricity. Leading experts do expect solar power to provide a significant fraction of U.S. electricity needs in the next 10 years.
- Myth: Solar electricity can do everything, right now! Truth: No way. Solar electricity will eventually become a major player in the world’s energy portfolio however the industry just doesn’t have the capacity to meet all demands right now. But assuming that the proper investments are made now and are sustained, the industry will become significant in the next few decades.
- Myth: Photovoltaics is a polluting industry. Truth: The photovoltaics industry is neither “squeaky clean” nor a major environmental, safety, or health problem. When it comes to emissions, PV’s electricity-generating portion of the fuel cycle is the clear winner versus fossil fuel sources. However, semiconductor processing can involve the use of chemicals and toxic materials.
Some 80% of the current photovoltaics industry is silicon. Basically, it uses the same processing as the semiconductor industry, which is touted as being comparatively clean. It also has the same risk. There are various codes, controls, and regulations in place that oversee photovoltaic silicon industry operations, ensuring that it’s relatively safe.
- Myth: Solar electricity is appealing only to small niche markets. Truth: The solar industry has been growing by more than 35% per year over the past 2 years. In 2001, PV module shipments closed in on the 400-megawatt mark, representing a $2.5 to $3 billion market. The U.S.-based industry itself is now approaching $1 billion per year and providing 25,000 jobs. It’s expected to grow to the $10-$15 billion level in the next 20 years, providing 300,000 jobs by 2025. This sustained growth exceeds that of the semiconductor industry.
- Myth: Photovoltaics is too expensive and will never compete with the major power generation companies. Truth: The cost of producing photovoltaic modules has fallen from as much as $50 per peak watt in 1980 to as little as $3 per peak watt today. This causes PV electricity costs to drop 15¢-25¢ per kilowatt hour, which is competitive in many applications. In the California market, where state incentives and net metering are in place, PV electricity prices are dipping below 11¢/kWh, on par with some utility-delivered power.
- Myth: Solar electricity innovations are at an end. Truth: As high-tech energy production, photovoltaics has immense potential to evolve, develop, and advance. Our current technologies still have substantial potential for improvement.
Research and development in processing, process understanding, and manufacturing remains in its infancy. There is much important research and development still to be performed, not just on cells and modules, but also on balance-of-systems components and on systems themselves.
Many new and next-generation materials, devices, and physics are only concepts. Others are already a reality, like the iphone charger from Novothink, a portable photovoltaic hybrid. Solar innovations are far from ending and many more advancements are still to come.
We love to cruise through Twitter updates. Sometimes we find some interesting items that are worth the time. Like the day we stumbled across the Kung Fu Bears video. That was a good day!
But sometimes we cringe when we see updates like this one:
This unfortunate iPhone user was a victim of a non-certified iPhone charger. We applaud the use of a solar charger to power the iPhone, but the charger backfired and destroyed the iPhone. It wasn’t a Surge, it was a charger that had not been using certified Apple components.
There are many retailers that sell products that use generic components to connect with the item to be charged. Generic electronics may be cheaper, but it’s never worth the price when you are forced to purchase a replacement iPhone or iPod because the gadget was fried by the non-certified product.
When you see one of the little icons (shown to the left) on a product, you know that you are getting a fully tested, quality product. The Made for iPod and Works with iPhone logo means that the accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod and iPhone and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.
Developers in the Apple certification program gain access to the hardware connectors and components that are required to manufacture iPod and iPhone accessories. For the Surge iPod and iPhone accessory, this seal of quality means that the 30 pin connector comes straight from Apple. Other products that don’t meet the Apple certification standards use generic connectors that could damage and shorten the life of your iPod or iPhone!
Since our very first blog post back in August of 2009, we’ve been working on the best ways to communicate information about the Surge iphone charger and the importance of solar power. We know this blog from front to back, but for new visitors finding a useful blog post that addresses topics you actually want to read about can be a difficult task since we have over 80 blog posts in less than a year.
So we’ve gathered up some helpful blog posts about the Surge and organized them in a logical manner. First, we start with those that are just now learning about the Surge for iPhone and iPod touch.
What is the Surge?
What comes in the box – This is the best place to start. This blog post includes an unboxing video showing exactly what comes in the box with the Surge.
Charging your Surge with USB – This is a very detailed blog post that discusses how the Surge functions when charged via USB.
Surge case features – Take a look at this blog post for a up close look at the design specifics of the Surge like the easy grip sides and its nonslip surface. You might also find our blog about playing music while using the Surge useful.
Frequently asked questions about the Surge – For everyday usage answers about the Surge, we’ll point you to this blog post that discusses daily usage and battery power expectations.
How to clean your new Surge – This blog post will help you keep your Surge as shiny and glossy as your iPhone or iPod. The cool part is that you can use the same cleaning material for both.
Drop testing the Surge – It happens to everyone, so we shot a video testing the Surge against a variety of drops to see how well it stands up to daily abuse.
Where can I buy the Surge?
We don’t need a blog post to answer this question. It’s simple. Depending on where in the world you live you can order from SolarArcadia.com if you live in the US, or SolarArcadia.eu if you live in Europe.
Each morning I have the same routine. I like check my favorite websites and browse my RSS feed reader for updates. Typically, after I’ve satisfied my hunger for world news and of course the latest Apple rumors, I still have a strong charge on my iPhone. However, with the release of iOS4, the latest iPhone update, I now stream Pandora in the background while I perform my typical morning routine and this habit has resulted in more battery usage. Previously, one night’s charge would get me through most of the day without any worries, but with my new multitasking habit I now need a midday boost.
This need for extra battery power is not due to the iOS4′s engineering. iOS 4 manages power efficiently and delivers the best possible battery life. And multitasking in iOS 4 doesn’t slow down the performance of the foreground app or drain the battery unnecessarily. The need for extra battery power is because users are now doing more with their iPhones. In my own example, I cited that I now run a music streaming app while I check my favorite websites in Safari.
The solution is to get a battery backup for your iPhone or iPod touch. Multitask all you want without worrying about your battery life with our battery backup for iPhone 3G, 3GS, and iPod Touch 2nd generation.
With the Surge powering your iPhone and iPod touch you’ll get twice as much battery life and the convenience of charging via solar power! No other solar charging accessory is Apple approved and built with a certified Apple 30-pin connector.
If you’re trying to make a decision about what iPod Touch battery pack is the best value per dollar, we’ve gathered some information for you about several of the top portable iPod chargers and put it into one place so you can easily compare the products. We gathered this information to show how the Surge is different from its competition.
Surge
Product B
Product C
Product D
Product E
Battery Capacity (mAh)
1500
1500
1000
none
2000
Form Fitted Case
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
Solar Charger
yes
no
no
yes
no
Apple Certified
yes
yes
yes
no
no
Sync with iTunes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
Price
$69.95
$79.95
$79.95
$99.95
$79.95
The Surge is definitely the lowest priced iPod Touch battery back and it offers the most features. A key difference between the products compared above are the battery capacities (the mAh spec). This is an important specification because it is the total amount of power that the charger’s internal battery can hold for on-the-go charging. The iPod touch ships with a 1200 mAh battery capacity so you’ll want to look for a charger that is above the 1200 mAh mark.
Of course we had to include the solar charging aspect to our comparison. We’re particularly proud of our eco-friendly status. A iPod charger isn’t truly portable until it can charge without wires!
Next, take note of the manufacturer’s certification with Apple. For products that plug directly into the iPod touch it’s important to know that the connections are using certified connectors directly from Apple. For more information about this, check out our blog post “What Is An Apple Certified Accessory?”.
Finally, having a form fitted iPod charger that doesn’t need to be removed to order to sync with iTunes is a very handy feature as well. You can just plug it in and the Surge will sync with iTunes while it charges your iPod. You can also listen to music, make phone calls, hook it to your backpack, or take photos & videos with the Surge connected. It’s a headache free device!
Got a comment or a question about this post? Let us hear it on Twitter, Facebook, or in the comment box below.
Apple has officially announced the new iPhone 4. It has video chat, a LED flash, high resolution display, and many other upgrades. We are already in development for a new Surge for iPhone 4. For those that have upgraded their phones to the new iPhone, you can expect to have an updated Surge compatible with the iPhone 4 some time in the fourth quarter of 2010.
A Surge of Color
The current Surge for 3G and 3GS will only be available in the standard colors of black and white. The soon to be released iPhone 4 charger will also be available in black and white and also a large variety of other colors! We don’t have the final details right now, but look for the official announcement right here on our blog or at Novothink.com
As you might expect, we’re iPhone addicts and we’ve got a few favorite iPhone apps that we’d like to share with our readers.
1. Solar Planner
The Solar Planner provides an estimate of how long you should keep your Surge solar charger in the sun in order to keep your iPhone or iPod touch charged. Just enter the total number of days in the trip and estimate how much you plan on using your iPhone or iPod for talk time, video, music, and internet during the trip.
Free!
2. Evernote
Evernote makes it easy for us to capture, organize, and find all the scattered thoughts in our mind. Users can post a note, take a picture, or even record an audio note right from their phone. With this handy little app you don’t have carry a notepad in your pocket or litter your desk with sticky notes.
Free!
3. Pano
Pano is a panoramic photography app that helps you take beautiful, seamless wide angle pictures straight from your iPhone. It’s just point and shoot as the semi-transparent guides help you line up all of your shots perfectly. Then you can post them to Facebook, Flickr, or email them directly from your phone.
$2.99
4. Foursquare and Gowalla
We couldn’t make a decision which one was our favorite so we are highlighting both of these geosocial networking applications. Both allow the user to check-in, earn bonuses, and unlock badges. It’s a growing trend and we’ve found it to be an addictive habit! Both apps have their benefits, so we’ll let you make the decision on which one is best.
Free! — Foursquare & Gowalla
Tell us what YOUR favorite iPhone apps are in the comments below or via Twitter or Facebook.
You’ve got a lot to do. Don’t let your iPhone and iPod battery power slow you down. With the Surge solar charger you can do more and do it longer without stopping to recharge. Here are eleven places and activities that are even better when you bring along your Surge solar charger.
Air travel – Nothing better to take your mind off of the lack of leg room than playing some games or watching a movie on the plane.
At a game – Check the scores, text your friends, and update your social networks, but don’t get caught with a dead battery.
Business trip – Calling on your iPhone and responding to emails doesn’t mean you have to be chained to a power outlet.
Hiking – Communing with nature may not require your iPhone, but when you’re in a pinch it’s good to have a battery backup.
At the beach – Stream Pandora while you sunbathe and check Facebook all you want, your iPod will last all day long.
Fishing – Don’t forget your sunscreen because the tunes never stop when you’ve got solar power!
At the office – When the clock hits 5:00 you don’t have to worry about recharging your iPhone for your night out. Bring your Surge and hit the door.
A long bike ride – Make use of the built-in GPS to track your progress and distance on your bike ride. You’ll need a break before your battery even runs out.
What’s your favorite place to use your Surge? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter or Facebook.
As discussed previously, the Surge is a hybrid charger. It makes use of both solar energy and electricity through a USB cable. Charging your iPhone/iPod using USB while connected to the Surge is an easy way to charge your iPhone/iPod and your Surge. However, a frequently asked question we get via Twitter and YouTube is about the charging priority given to the Surge. In other words…
“If I plug my Surge and iPhone/iPod into a USB port, which one will charge first?”
The answer is very simple. Here’s what happens when you plug a Surge and iPhone/iPod into a USB port:
The iPhone/iPod synced with the connected computer.
All power is routed to charging the iPhone/iPod. The Surge is not charged while the iPhone/iPod is connected.
The Surge is only charged when the iPhone/iPod is removed from the Surge (while the USB is still connected).
The simple way to remember this is that when the iPhone/iPod is connected to any power source it always has priority over the Surge. So when you want to charge both your iPhone/iPod and the Surge via USB, remember to disconnect your iPhone/iPod from the Surge after the iPhone/iPod is fully charged. In the end you’ll have a happily charged iPhone/iPod for the rest of the day!
UPDATE: If you leave both the iPhone and the Surge connected and charging for an undetermined amount of time the Surge will also receive a charge as well as the iPhone. According to Allen (in a comment below) he leaves his charging overnight and both of them will receive a charge. Thanks Allen!
When you see one of the little icons (shown to the left) on a product, you know that you are getting a fully tested, quality product. The Made for iPod and Works with iPhone logo means that the accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod and iPhone and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.
Of course we had to include the solar charging aspect to our comparison. We’re particularly proud of our eco-friendly status. A iPod charger isn’t truly portable until it 
