This is a guest post from the guys at igadgetlife.com, covering gadget reviews .
They say that music calms the savage beast. It could also be said that talk-radio creates a stir. But either way you like it, one thing you can use to experience either one is a radio or portable media player. Portable media players allow us to bring our own music, and radios bring us a lot of entertainment and information generally for free, plucked straight from the airwaves.
But one thing that is not always free in the process is the power required to run the units. Whether you power it from the grid or buy batteries, there is a certain price to pay, and potential ecological waste in the process.
However, if you use a wind up or solar powered device, then you avoid the waste and the reliance on the power suppliers. With a few minutes of cranking you have ample power to enjoy a lot of quality time with the broadcasters, and solar players work great just left in the sunlight. This type of radio works quite well at home, traveling (no power adapters!), and on the camping trail.
In fact, we like the concept of the alternatively powered radios and media players so much that we thought we would show you a few of our favorites. While in no way is this intended to be an exhaustive list, you just might be surprised at what is available on the market today. For those interested, these devices can be found at Nigel’s EcoStore as well as other retailers across the web.
1. Devo Wind Up Digital Radio
The Devo wind up radio integrates Digital Audio Broadcasting with the convenience of an alternatively powered highly efficient FM radio. The Devo uses the Freeplay wind up power technology, and 60 seconds of winding can give up to 1 hour FM at normal volume. A fully charged battery will crank out 6 hours DAB or a whopping 36 hours FM.
The radio is only 122 x 114 x 204mm big, so packing it with you is not a problem. There is also 5 DAB presets, taking you back to your favorite station quickly when needed.
2. Wind Up Eco Media Player
If there was one wind up media device that I was going to carry with me, then this one would probably be it. The Wind Up Eco Media Player has been dubbed the Green iPod by the press, and it is easy to see why. The device will let you not only enjoy your favorite audio and video files, it will also let you listen to the radio and share your photos.
The unit also features an SD card reader and USB cable for optional charging and data storage on the device (it can mount as an external disk). You can record audio notes with the device thanks to a built in microphone, and if that was not enough, you can also charge your mobile phone, cables included.
One minute of winding will give you about 40 minutes of audio playback, and you can fully charge the battery for 20 hours of uninterrupted service. The Eco Media Player can also be shared in a small crowd thanks to a built in loudspeaker – something missing from a lot of portable media players on the market.
3. Toucan Solar Powered MP4 Player
As an alternative to the wind up media player above, The Toucan Solar Powered MP4 Player has an integrated solar panel that lets it charge from artificial or natural light as needed. The Toucan can play a large variety of audio and video media formats as well as text files and photos. And if for some reason the 4GB internal memory is not enough for you, there is also a mini-SD card clot for expansion.
You can hook up the player to a computer through the USB cable for charging and media transfer, but you won’t need to just for power. After all, one hour of sunlight will give you 36 minutes of audio or roughly 18 minutes of video. And if you fully charge the Toucan, you can have 6 hours of music or 4 hours of video – enough to watch a couple movies.
4. EyeMax Wind Up LED Solar Radio
The EyeMax Wind Up LED Solar Radio is powered by both winding and solar, making it very convenient in a lot of situations. The highly efficient winding mechanism will give you 30+ minutes of listening for a quick 30 second crank session. The unit also features a built-in LED flashlight, just in case you find yourself in the dark.
Cranking is not your only power option with this radio, since it also incorporates solar charging. Left in direct sunlight, it will charge its cells, ready for play when the evening comes.
5. Solar Powered Portable Speakers
So, you already have a great device, but you can’t share the tunes with everyone due to the need for powering big speakers? Well, this may be exactly what you need. The Solar Powered Potable Speakers measure 195 x 112 x 50mm, and weigh in at 290g. Leave this baby in the sun for 6 hours and you can party to your music for 8 hours. And if you don’t have the sunlight, then they will even charge for other types of light, albeit a bit slower.
The speakers have a standard 3.5mm audio socket, making it compatible with practically anything on the market that has a headphone jack (iPhones and iPods included). The Solar Powered Speakers are great for your next outdoor excursion. Of course, they would also be quite handy at home or in an office, preferably placed in a natural light source area – you would always have powered speakers ready to go.
6. Wind Up Football Radio with Cell Phone Charger
While the Wind Up Football Radio looks to be perfect for any football (or soccer) fan you know, it is actually a very capable device. Not only can you crank it up to listen to your favorite music and sports, but you can also charge up your phone with it. The radio comes with a cable for the phone, and it is packaged in biodegradable and recycled material.
7. Rhino AM/FM Wind Up Radio With FLashlight
If you are looking for a solid, basic AM/FM wind up radio then consider the Rhino. The Rhino has a smooth dynamo that gives an hours playing on 1 minutes worth of winding. A rugged design featuring a rubber spray finish makes the appropriately named Rhino a great traveling companion both urban and otherwise.
The Rhino also features a built-in LED light for those night time excursions. The radio measures in at 115x78x25mm. A built in speaker pumps out the sound, and a carrying handle makes it convenient to carry.
8. Baylis Mini Eco Radio
The Baylis Mini Eco Radio is a small and rugged AM/FM wind up and solar powered radio. The radio is coated in a tough rubber finish with a hidden antennae, making it durable enough to carry with you without concern. The small radio features a built-in speaker for sharing the music, and a phone charger keeps your line of communication operating in between listening sessions
The Mini Eco has an integrated LED flashlight for night time use (or cave spelunking, as you see fit). There is also a red LED map reading light, perfect for navigation or looking at your star maps.
Just because it is small does not mean it compromises on its charging capability. The brushless generator gives 20 minutes of listening for 1 minute of cranking, and the incorporated solar panel will fully charge the internal batteries after approximately 10 hours. The unit is easy to stow and carry, since the entire rugged and shockproof design is only 130x60mm.
9. SolarLink Wind Up and Solar Radio
Not only does the Solarlink FR550 Wind Up and Solar Radio feature a friendly and innovative design, it is also a great addition to almost any outdoor adventure. The Solarlink incorporates an AM/FM and shortwave SW/LW tuner, making it easy to find something of interest on the airwaves. Plus it has NOAA weather alert capability just in case things happen.
The Solarlink goes beyond just radio features, with a built-in flashlight, an emergency beacon, and an emergency siren. The radio can also charge up your smart phone and portable media player for those times the radio is off. The unit measures 196x216x63.5mm, and even has a digital clock to keep you on schedule.
10. Robert’s SolarDAB Digital Radio
If you already have a great AM/FM radio but not a DAB (Digital Audio Band) radio, then perhaps the Robert’s solarDAB radio is a great green unit for you. The DAB only solarDAB features a stylish and compact design that would look great on any desk, shelf or, rather ingenuously placed to grab a charge, the windowsill. Being only 190x110x80mm, it is also handy for trips out.
The solarDAB supports DAB Band III and L coverage, and there is a line in socket to listen to your speaker-less portable media player. Unlike most power hungry DAB radios on the market, the solarDAB can provide up to 27 hours on a full charge. And you can be sure when you find the best place to charge it, since there is a charging meter to help guide you. The solar powered solarDAB radio is handy in many places, from home and office to the park and outdoors.
It is easy to see how radios and portable media players have begun to shed their power requirements for alternative methods that save landfills as well as our money. With any of these devices the next time the power goes out, the party will just be getting started.
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This is a guest post by D. Salmons over at TestFreaks, where you can find everything from laptop rankings to hd camcorder reviews.
Remember the good old days, when you went out on an adventure and took along extra batteries (if you were thinking ahead) just so you wouldn’t run out of lighting. Well, not only did those batteries cost money and added bulk, they also ended up in a landfill, creating pollution.
But today you will find that a wind up flashlight in place of a battery powered light makes great sense… and the technology just keeps getting better. In fact, getting 30 minutes or more of illumination after only 1 minute of winding is almost commonplace. You could hardly hunt down the batteries and change them in that time.
So, let’s take a quick look at 10 of our favorite eco-friendly wind up lights. If the want hits, you can find these lights at Nigel’s Eco Store and other green retailers.
1. Woodpecker Shake Light
While technically not a wind up flashlight (you shake it), the concept is so close that we wanted to include it in our collection. The Woodpecker incorporates a double generator to grab all the power it can from a repeated simple up and down gesture. An ultra bright LED provides the illumination.
The light weighs in at 183g, and shaking for 1 minute gives 20 minutes of constant light or optionally 30 minutes of flashing operation. The woodpecker is waterproof down to 2 meters, so you can use it pratically anywhere outdoors, camping, or at the beach. It will even survive a rainstorm in case you get caught out in it – and you won’t have a dead battery.
2. Puma Windup Light
The Puma wind up flashlight is small in size but tough in performance. One minute of winding will give you 20 minutes at standard brightness (1 LED) and 10 minutes at maximum brightness (3 LED). There is also a three LED flashing mode so you can use the light as a signal. With a measurement of 47 x 35 x 76 mm you will find that the Puma fits in most pockets without a problem.
3. Dolphin Caribina Light
The Dolphin wind up light sports a unique design in that it can be clipped onto almost anything thanks to its integrated Caribina clip. Not only is the Dolphin a handy light, but it it can even power your phone thanks to a built in charger outlet and included cable. One minute of cranking gives you 30 minutes of light or up to eight minutes of phone time.
The Dolphin weighs 250gm and is 15cm in overall length. The included cable is for Nokia phones, but other adapters are available. The illumination is provided by three ultra bright LEDs, assuring that you will not be out of battery, bulb, or even a dead phone when you need it.
4. Owl Wind Up Lantern
Sometimes it’s just handy to have a lantern instead of a flashlight, and that is where the Powerplus Owl comes into play. The Owl is a rugged camping lantern (just like you remember), but it winds up. Six LEDs provide the light, and one minute of charging gives 25 minutes. You can fully charge the unit and have 100 minutes of steady illumination.
The Owl is encased in a tough rubber outer shell, which makes it a perfect camping companion on those less than perfect excursions. You know, the ones we all tend to have at some point in our camping experiences.
5. Barracuda Wind Up And Solar Light
The Powerplus Barracuda combines two forms of green power to keep you illuminated – wind up and solar. The tough rubber protected light is waterproof down to five meters, making it durable enough to handle the outdoors as well as the vehicle’s trunk. 3 LEDs provide the light, and you can select one, three, or flashing LEDs as needed
How well does it charge up? One minute of winding gives an impressive 80 minutes on 1 LED, 60 minutes on 3. As for the solar side of things, an hour basking in the sun gives you light for 120 minutes on 1 LED, 90 minutes on 3. This would make the Barracuda a great device to have soaking up the rays during the day and working at night.
6. Bat Wind Up Head Lamp
When you are working and have both hands in the mix, then it is nice to have a light that is head mounted. The Powerplus Bat is exactly that, a head mounted wind up light that leaves your hands free for uses other than holding a flashlight. The Bat allows you to change the angle of shine, and a comfortable headband keeps the light firmly yet comfortably in place.
The Bat gives up to 90 minutes of light for 1 minute of crank time (40 minutes on all three LEDS), and if needed the unit can even be mounted on a bicycle thanks to the included bicycle clip.
7. Freeplay Indigo Wind Up Lantern
Similar to the OWL above, the Freeplay lantern is great for camp outs and table usage. The Freeplay boasts a great three hours of light (at the lowest setting) for a single one minute winding charge. Better yet, fully charge it for three hours of continuous light at the brightest setting. There is also a small directional light, great for reading, that will last 40 hours on a fully winded charge.
8. Penguin Wind Up and Shake Light
Don’t forget about the little campers when you go on your next adventure. The delightful Penguin wind up light is perfect for the 5 and up adventurer, and it gives a lot of fun while remaining eco friendly. In fact, the LED light works with either a quick wind up or they can just shake it for more light.
9. Blue X-Ray Wind Up Light
The Blue X-Ray wind up light is a great light to have with you in the dark. A quick 30 second wind gives you about 20 minutes of light, and you can choose between ultra-bright and normal light mode. The colorful Blue X-Ray weighs in at 370g, and measures 55 x 60 x 160 mm.
10. Shark Wind Up Light
We wanted to end our look at eco friendly wind up lights on a powerful note, and so the choice is obvious – the Shark. The Shark is a waterproof wind up light that has two light settings – 5mm LEDs for normal use, and a powerful 1W LED for those times you really need something bright. The 1W LED is rated to be visible for up to 10 km.
What time you are not blinding your enemies with the Shark, you can also use it to charge your phone – a Nokia cable is included, but other adapters are available. You won’t spend all your time winding it either, since a one minute wind up gives 60 minutes of shine in regular mode or 20 minutes on full brightness.
With any of these 10 eco friendly lights I am sure you would find them welcome tools on your next outing (or emergency). The good news is that you will never be out of battery power, and the LEDs are going to continue to shine, well after you need the light.
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For Anyone
A great way to light up someone’s life this holiday season is to give the gift of a Sunjar. It’s a jar full of warm, orange sunlight for use as a child’s bedside lamp, or as a beautiful addition to ambient lighting in your home.
The Sunjar was invented by designer Tobias Wong, and designed to use energy saving low voltage LED’s powered by a super-efficient solar panel inside the frosted jar. Recharge the Sunjar during the day to enjoy a warming relaxing orange glow during the evening and night.
The Sunjar is watertight and has no trailing cables which makes it suitable using inside or outside. This would also be amazing to use when camping, especially in a tipi.
£17.95 from Ethical Superstore
For the kids
Mr Robot Head is an electronic toy with no batteries. Every parent’s dream, and better for the environment.
Wind him up and rise to the challenge. Try to move the wand along his antenna from one end to the other without touching the sides. Touch the sides and Mr Robot Head with will flash his eyes and buzz his disapproval.
This is how we can give children the toys that they desire without adding to the landfill problem. Mr Robot Head will entertain and engage any young child as well as develop hand eye co-ordination and fine motor control.
£14.67 from Ethical Superstore.
For Inspector Gadget
The Trevor Baylis Eco Media Player is one of my favourite gadgets ever and Stephen Fry loves his too. It’s a wind-up (and rechargeable) music and video player for watching movies or music videos, listening to mp3 music files or tuning in to the radio, any time, anywhere. It has 2Gb storage (about 500 songs), and you can add to this with plug-in SD cards.
The eco wind-up system means that you”ll never run out of power or waste environmentally harmful batteries – one minute of winding gives up to 40 minutes of play time.
£99.99 from Nigel’s EcoStore. There’s a new one out too, called the Revolution, from Ethical Superstore for £129.99.
For yummy mummies
Figs & Rouge Art Nouveau inspired organic skincare packages it’s natural products beautifully. This Figs and Rouge Luxury Garden Collection includes a 50-hour candle, 300ml Marigold and Mandarin Body Lotion, 250ml Juniper Berry Shower Wash and a vintage style seed pack.
The set is free from parabens, synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals. All fragrances are also 100% organic with natural blends of vintage garden aromas. It comes tissue-wrapped in a beautiful gift bag and the hand-poured jasmine and sweet geranium candle is contained in a handmade ceramic glazed pot. When the candle is finished, sprinkle the Figs and Rouge seeds into the pot to create a garden. Suitable for vegans.
£28.00 from ECOutlet.
For your New Year’s Eve party
A solar powered disco ball for indoor and outdoor use will have you feeling like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever over this festive season.
Get the party going and get dancing!
The solar disco ball needs direct sunlight or a spotlight. It is approximately 15cm in diameter.
£25.00 from Biome Lifestyle
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