Since the dawn of time, the Sun has been the essential source for all living things. Without it, Earth would be just another frozen, lifeless ball of rock floating in space. Fast forward a few million years and mankind has now devised many methods for harnessing the Sun’s energy for much more advanced purposes.
In this high-tech age, the fact that many of our homes and commercial buildings are powered by solar energy may not seem as astounding as it really is. Modern technological advancements like this have become commonplace, and with that it just as well is likely no surprise that smartphone manufacturers are now delving into the solar-powered device market.
Say so long to the charger struggle: praise the sun for solar power
When was the last time you had to make an important call or look up directions to somewhere while on the go, only to have your phone battery fall into the dreaded red zone? We have all been there before, in that moment when time is of the essence and everything instantly goes into crisis mode.
And all of this is because of a little lithium (removable or internal) battery! Imagine never having to worry about running out of juice or attempting in vein to find that pesky phone charger. IPhone users know this struggle full well, since the Apple was nice enough to make its device ports non-universal!
The most important feature of any mobile device, including tablets and laptops, is runtime. Although there is no shortage of power outlets, the portability factor has been and will continue to be the foundation for the success of these products.
The battle for the never-ending battery
Not surprisingly due to its ever-persistent ingenuity, Apple was the first company to take on the solar power converter challenge in 2013. To be clear, they did make a few successful beta models prior to this, but due to various issues, none of them were ever sold to the public.
Google and Samsung have since jumped on the solar-power bandwagon, with each brand working to create its own unique take on the ultra, eco-friendly mobile market. Like wristwatches, the technology behind the new-age smartphones and laptops is not foreign. Rather, it is the application process that has given developers a run for their money.
Right now, the next best thing is portable power boxes that can be used to re-charge mobile device batteries many times, but even this is a far cry away from the benefits offered by a truly solar-powered product. Within a few years, we will likely see the first of these devices, but do not expect them to be cheap. The advantage of a limitless power supply will come with higher initial costs, at least until the technology goes global and becomes mass-produced.