Solar powered Apple Devices : Do you feel Apple can do it ??

Creativity and innovation are synonym to Apple’s product, let it be iphone or the Macbook air. With increase in demand of energy day by day, Apple has filed a patent of usage of solar powered cells in its device. Seems small step, but a giant leap for mankind !!

Energy conservation is a major global concern now, and just imagine how much energy can be saved if solar chargers or solar cells come into existence. Anything done by apple generates a huge interest in masses and if apple is able to deliver as stated in the patent application, we may find lots of companies following the same approach.

Challenging

Integrating a solar panel or a solar cell is not that easy. Its challenging, and hence, it gives another reason why apple may be able to achieve it …

Quoting from macrumors

The major issues described are the limited area available to solar panels, durability, and the “wasting” of space on a portable device. It is due to these problems that solar power has not found its way into mobile devices, not just from Apple, but from all manufacturers.
The most interesting technique described by Apple, however, is the integration of the solar panels behind the actual LCD screen of a portable device. The solar panel would absorb ambient light that passes through the LCD screen of the device. This could eliminate any additional footprint typically required by the solar panels. If successfully implemented, Apple’s iPhone, iPod and laptops, could require no outward changes in design to add solar power.

So many patents, not a single implementation

Companies file patents, but nothing gets implemented in future products.

• Motorola filed a similar solar LCD in 2007 . See here.
• Apple, this year, filed a patent that describes a new instant messaging interface for touch-screen devices, such as the iPhone and iPod Touch. The technology lets users manipulate chat conversations in real time by editing old chats. It also enables people to embed video and images, which is something the iPhone can’t do today.
• In April, Apple filed two patent applications that describe improvements in head-mounted displays, which typically combine one or two small display screens with magnifying lenses inside a helmet or glasses. Apple claimed in the applications that its approach provides a “a wider field of view and [creates] a more natural viewing situation for a user of a head-mounted display, which results in improved comfort and usability for head mounted displays.”
• In March, an Apple patent application filed described a three-dimensional display system that could be used in computers for displaying 3-D images.
• Some Amazing patents files by nokia can be seen here (Dual swivel phone , touch interface and KickStand) and here (3d Touch technology).

Conclusion

Filing patent and implementing the same in devices are not related to each other , unless companies are ready to take the challenge and finally bring out a innovative product which meets the requirement, keeping in mind, user convenience.
However, I get a feeling that apple will be able to live upto the expectations and we will see solar powered apple devices soon ( hmmm !! may be 2009 ) .
Wont it be cool , charging a phone by just exposing it to an energy source which is available 365 days an year. Moreover it will eliminate use of wires and prove another definition for portability. Till the time there is solar energy , you will never run out of charge.