Solio Hybrid 1000: Solar power anywhere — even when the sun don't shine

Long story short: This second-generation Solio device, out today, stores power for up to a year and can be charged either from the sun or by plugging it in (that's why they call it a hybrid).

David A. Kelly, writing in Monday's New York Times, described it as follows.

Power Anywhere

Solio’s new Hybrid 1000 is a sleek but rugged charger with a built-in solar panel to recharge its internal battery (and your devices) from the sun. The Solio itself can hold a charge for up to a year, so before leaving on a trip, charge it and keep it handy for when your batteries run out.

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Jose Fermoso, writing in yesterday's Wired Gadget Lab Blog, had more.

New Solio Hybrid 1000 Solar Power Charger Coming Out Tomorrow

For those who love to go outdoors but can't stand to leave their favorite gadgets behind, you're in luck as the second generation of the Solio solar gadget charger will be released tomorrow. According to the manufacturer, the new Hybrid 1000 will store power for up to one year and provide an even better charging solution than the older Universal Hybrid Charger. Both of the chargers are 'hybrid' because they cull power from a regular socket or from the sun.

The solar panel/battery for the Hybrid 1000 is in a smaller case than the old one, and includes a built-in-carabiner and cable. The Hybrid works with your PDA, any MP3 players, digital cams and handhelds, though the actual hour-to-hour charging time has not been released. The previous hybrid charger had to be exposed to direct sunlight for about an hour in order to add about 20 minutes to your cell-phone talk time.

If the Palm Folio had been unleashed on the world rather than it being quietly euthanized, you could have created an uncomfortably geeked-out moment wherein you could eat a heavily spiced stew olio, while charging your gray Folio with your Solio. Instead, you just eat dinner by yourself. Anyway, the new Solio should be able to replace all of the mobile device charges for the frequent traveler, though it’d be good to you keep the old pluggers just in case.

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Price upon application.