Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

Other World Computing

TechRestore

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • Machine Gun Etiquette

    • 8 out of 10
    • The Damned
    • Punk rock is mostly associated with three chords and a bad attitude, but the Damned were one of the few bands of the era bent on bringing musicianship and a good sense of humor to the scene. And while
  • An Evening with George Shearing & Mel Torm�

    • 10 out of 10
    • Mel Torm� & George Shearing
    • Of the three men who taught me how to sing, the last was Mel Torme. Apparently, Mel Torme is a joke to anyone more than a decade older than me, a living parody of a Vegas crooner. But I stumbled on th
  • Pretty Hate Machine

    • 8 out of 10
    • Nine Inch Nails
    • For years I wanted to make music that sounded like something between Love and Rockets and Ministry. In 1989, Trent Reznor beat me to it with this genre-defining album, and it smacked me upside the hea
  • Spanks for the Memories

    • 8 out of 10
    • Asylum Street Spankers
    • The Asylum Street Spankers are...well...The Spankers. Hailing from Austin, where I saw them live dozens of times, the band played entirely acousti

  • Guero

    • 10 out of 10
    • Beck
    • Beck is the modern master of the groove, and Guero is merely the latest example of this. From the opening power chords of "E-Pro," to the Pac-Man cuteness of "Girl," to the dirge-like lullab

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

In-Depth Review

Soldius1

Battery life. The bane of every portable device's existence. Without juice, your iPod is relegated to little more than paperweight status. Power adapters are great when an electrical outlet is near, but when none are the savvy road warrior or outdoorsman can turn to the Soldius1, a convenient lightweight solar charger.

Soldius1
Soldius1 with iPod and phone connectors

Originally designed for cell phones, which arguably benefit more from the power a solar charger can provide during mission-critical times, the Soldius1 is available for $100 with a pair of connectors for dockable iPods and the iPod shuffle, or for $110 with connectors for most major cell phones as well. Closed, the Soldius1 is not much bigger than a standard iPod. Usage is idiot-proof: flip open the Soldius1, plug in its cable, attach the appropriate tip and connect it to your iPod. In direct sunlight, charging will begin moments later.

Soldius1

Charge time depends on the intesity of the sunlight shining on the Soldius1 and the capacity of your iPod. In our testing, under the hot Acapulco sun, the Soldius1 wasn't able to replenish our video iPod's battery as quickly as watching episodes of Seinfeld depleted it, but it kept up better with audio playback. Of course, charging your iPod while you listen to it pool-side is only one of many ways to employ the Soldius1.

Bottom Line

The quest for extra playback time often ends with the purchase of a supplemental battery solution, of which a myriad exist for the iPod. While more expensive than those, the Soldius1 is a very attractive package than can power both your iPod and cell phone and offers the unique appeal of the near infinteless extra power solar cells can provide, assuming sunlight is available. Casual users may find solar chargers gimmicky and unnecessary, but if you've ever been stranded with an empty battery in the middle of nowhere, the Soldius1 will deliver the power and piece of mind you desire.

Just The Facts

Soldius1 from Soldius

MSRP US$99.99
Street Price: US$84.99 - From Tiger Direct.

Pros:effective, easy to use, compatible with most iPods and cell phones

Cons:could use a latch to help keep it securely closed when flipped shut

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.