Neat solar powered Gadgets

As the darkness of winter descends, a splash of sun can power up your mood ... and your gadgets too. That's the idea behind the Solar Ski Jacket from Zegna Sport ($1,350), shown here. As you hit the slopes, solar cells in the jacket's neoprene collar convert sunlight into energy to directly charge up gadgets such as iPods and cell phones or a rechargeable battery. An hour of direct sunlight will charge up a phone for about 35 minutes of talk time. The battery requires four to five hours for a full charge. The collar and battery are detachable for use even when you're inside by the fire or skiing on a warm and jacketless spring day.



Though iPhone owners are the envy of many a crowd, the gadgets do have a notorious flaw: A limited battery life, especially when they are used to simultaneously surf the Web, listen to tunes, and text with friends. Enter the Solar iPhone Charger from Solar Arcadia ($45.95). The case made from reclaimed sheepskin doubles as a solar charger that supplies juice directly to the smart phone, even under artificial light. The limited life of Apple's batteries "is really one of the more important reasons people are buying this," said Deborah Robinson, the chief executive officer of Novothink, the research and development firm that created the case.