Sun and wind provide needed power

In this power-hungry society, where our computers, mobile phones and HDTVs need constant attention from wall sockets, it’s refreshing to point to some alternative power sources to reduce that strain.

The two items reviewed this week get power simply by sitting in the sun or from a light, steady breeze, a nice option on a blustery day.

They are part of an emerging crop of simple products that use the elements for power. You can get a solar-powered backpack, solar lights to illuminate your lawn and do-it-yourself solar kits for your kids to tinker with.

These devices don’t provide enough power to heat your house, but they offer enough juice to charge an MP3 player or a digital camera and make you feel a little better about your energy consumption.

As I write this, the Solio Classic is charging an iPod Touch, while the Hymini is giving a Sony Ericsson phone the power it needs to keep me chatting and texting for the rest of the day. I had a little power left over, too, so the Hymini is giving an older iPod I haven’t used in a month a needed jolt.

Imagine taking one of these devices with you on a business trip instead of separate chargers for your iPod or phone. Stick the Solio in the rear window of the rental car or place the Hymini in the car’s window and charge the device as you go about your business. I’d bet if you have the client in the car with you, he or she would like your style.

Or perhaps you are going on a camping trip to some remote part of the country or taking a vacation in Europe, and you don’t want to schlep chargers for a phone and a camera. Just spread out the Solio’s three panels, either on top of your tent or in a hotel window overlooking the Louvre, to gather the available sun. No need to worry about carrying a bag of foreign plugs, though the Solio ships with them, just in case.

You do need to be patient, however. It can take a few days to get a full charge with the Solio, for instance, and that’s if you leave it in good light.

To compensate, the Solio and the Hymini are hybrid chargers, meaning you can plug them into a wall socket to finish the job if necessary.

If you didn’t have enough time or sunlight to charge the Solio, or wind with the Hymini, just plug it into the wall.

There’s no need to feel bad about this power boost because you still are using less juice than your regular charger.

There are differences with these products. The Solio is solar powered, while the Hymini is wind and solar powered.

The Hymini (www.hymini.com) costs $50 for the wind unit; $80 with an accessories package that includes a solar panel and mounting hardware for a bike and car. It goes on sale this month.

The Solio (www.solio.com) costs $100. A newer model, the Solio H1000, has a single solar panel and offers slightly less power. It will be available soon for $79.

Both devices come with several connectors to work with multiple phones, digital cameras and MP3 players.

The Solio ships with connectors for the following phones: LG, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung. It also has tips for mini-USB devices, which include Motorola phones and BlackBerries, and a standard USB plug for MP3 players and cameras. Solio makes tips available for additional gadgets at its Web site ($10 for the iPhone, for instance).

The Hymini ships with a similar array, but you also can plug a USB-powered device, such as an iPod, directly into the charger.

One caveat: The Hymini charges only devices that use 5 volts of power, so the new iPod Touch and iPhone can’t be charged because those are 12-volt gadgets. (The Solio charges 12-volt devices.)

Nonetheless, you should check the Web to make sure your camera, phone or MP3 player is compatible. Odds are it will be.

Do I have a preference here? No. I like the versatility of the Hymini — stick it on your bike to create your own wind — but you need to buy the accessories package to take full advantage of this device.

The Solio, on the other hand, ships with everything you might need, even a suction cup to hang it in a window, and it’s pretty cool when you flick open the solar panel.

If you want to be a little more green, you’ll be pleased with either of these units.

XEric Benderoff writes about technology for the Chicago Tribune. Contact him at ebenderofftribune.com.

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