Every time my day deviates from the normal home-to-work-and-back
routine, I have to plan a strategy for iPhone power. Car chargers are
an option, as is keeping a spare charging cable in your go-bag. But
what are you supposed to do if your day’s travels aren’t going to
include time in a car or in front of a computer?
Novothink’s Surge is a hybrid charger/case that promises to keep
your iPhone twittering, emailing, and calling without the need for
an external power source. The Surge’s back is taken up by a solar
panel that catches the sun’s energy, and stores it in an internal 1320
mAh battery. Given San Francisco’s well-deserved reputation for
fogginess, I was initially skeptical that the Surge would do me any
good. I was pleased to find that on a typical overcast spring day
in the city, the red LED indicating that the Surge was charging
stayed brightly lit—it even worked through the tinted windows of
Mac|Life’s offices and on a shaded balcony that wasn’t receiving
direct sunlight. And on those rare days when we do see the sun, the
Surge happily sucked it up and juiced up my iPhone with
no problem. Two hours of charge time
gives you enough power for 30
minutes of talk
time on
AT&T’s
3G
NOVOTHINK SURGE
Plug your iPhone into the sun
network.
GREAT
SURGE
Novothink
novothink.com
Price: $79.95
Requirements: iPhone 3G or 3GS,
USB port to charge without sun.
Charges even in indirect
sunlight. LEDs indicate charge level.
Available in six colors.
Kind of bulky. Obviously won’t
work if your iPhone spends most of
its time in your pocket or bag.
Mac|Life
