NOVOTHINK Surge Solar Charger Case for iPod/iPhone [First Apple Licensed Solar Chargers, Integrated Solar Panels, Indicator LEDs, USB 2.0 For Standard Charging]

Free energy is a good thing, right? I mean, if you could just lay your electronics out on the table and let them charge the world would be a much friendlier place. Then we could all lay around with flowers in our hair talking of world peace and drinking absinthe. Maybe that what the folks at NOVOTHINK had in mind when they got together to develop their latest iPod/iPhone friendly charging gadget, the Surge Solar Charger. There are plenty of solar chargers out there claiming to work with just about ever portable device under the sun (sorry) but the NOVOTHINK Surge is the first ever officially Apple-licensed solar charging case that is approved for use with both the latest edition iPod Touch as well as the new iPhone 3G.

The main feature of the new Surge is the integrated solar panel on the back of the case. It’s pretty hard to miss it, really. It’s this nifty little device that allows you to charge your iPhone or iPod using just the beautifully warming (and free) rays of our favorite star the sun. Now doesn’t that just make your heart grow and your thoughts turn to all of the little icebergs you’ve just stopped from calving prematurely? I thought so. And if you happen to be locked in a dank cave completely devoid of light alone save for your laptop and your iPhone you can still charge it with the included USB cable. Mind you, it’s not the Earth-friendly option but it is damn convenient.

As for additional bells and whistles, there are four LED indicators whose sole purpose in life is to let you know if you’ve got enough rays for optimal solar charging and approximately how much charge level remains in the case. When all four indicators turn green, you’re fully juiced. When the Surge isn’t busy charging something it stores its power in its own internal battery.

NOVOTHINK’s Surge Solar Charging Case is expected to be available for the iPod Touch 2G later this month and will sell for $70. The iPhone 3G and 3GS model are slated for availability later this fall. Need more info? Point your browser to www.novothink.com.