It is great to see products like this where hi tech meets eco friendly. In this case the PowerPlus Toucan Solar Mp4 player enables the user to watch your favourite movies while travelling, but without the fear of battery failure! Just in case you wish to charge it up thoroughly it can be charged through the USB of a laptop or the old-fashioned way of simply plugging it into the wall socket.

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Technical Specifications:

TFT display 262K colours, high-speed 2.0 inches TFT display (220 * 176 pixel)

Link to PC USB 2.0

EMS memory Embedded flash memory 4 GB

Operating temp. -20 to 55 Celsius degree

SNR 85 db

Battery 650 mAh / 3.7V

Photo format JPG

Text format TXT

Music formats MP1, MP2, MP3, WMA, ASF, WAS, OGG

Video formats AVI, RM, MPG, VOB, DAT, RMVB etc.

Supported systems Windows Vista / XP / ME /2000 / 98

Current by charging through sunlight directly 20-25 mA / 6V (under 120.000 Lux sunlight)

Play fully charged MP3: 6 hours video: 4 hours (using earphone in power saving mode)

Playing time 1 hour

Sunlight (120.000 Lux)

MP3: 36 minutes video: 18 minutes (using earphone in power saving mode)

Charging time by USB, 2 hours

Priced at $180

Source [Red Ferret]

Water utilization has been a growing thorn on the side of water conservation and much of this happens at home. Particularly in taking showers, the amount of water we use will go to waste if we do not have the proper means of controlling the flow of water from our pipes to cleanse or bathe ourselves.

Mira has launched some great solutions to control this issue as it has offered in the market various new shower solutions such as the Mira Minilite Eco and Mira Miniduo and Eco to help control the flow of water each time we take a shower. With their help, we can avoid wasting too much water and using the right amount to have a fresh feeling of cleanliness with water to spare.

The new Mira Minilite Eco combines the Minilite with the eco benefits of a 6lpm flow regulator, while the new Mira Miniduo and Eco showerhead combines the Miniduo with the eco friendly Mira Eco showerhead.

The Mira Minilite Eco uses a factory fitted flow regulator to restrict the flow to 6 lpm, with an 8 lpm alternative included in the pack. It comes in both exposed and built-in versions and is half the size of standard valves with single sequential control. It’s thermostatic and comes with a three year guarantee.

(Source) Builders Merchants Journal

Samsung is a brand known in the electronics world but not in printers. But while they may be known for monitors or even mobile phones, their product line also has a few of these printers in tow. In fact, to jumpstart their eco-friendly efforts, they are offering a new trade-in program (TIP) that will allow their customers to trade-in their old laser printers valued at most at $200 and then get a new one.

Not a bad deal if you want to get these new eco-friendly devices these days. A new printer may be the best bet to go eco-friendly through proper disposal of your old printer and get a new one in lieu of that.

The program began on July 1, and will run until September 30, 2008. First, the customer needs to purchase any new model Samsung printer, including laser models and MFPs. Then, visit www.samsung.com/tip to enter details about their old printer model. Results will be tabulated to determine how much the printer is worth.

Then, just fax or mail back the confirmation e-mail, along with the original proof of purchase receipt and the old product (a shipping label will be provided), and Samsung will send a cheque for the appropriate amount within 6-8 weeks once the product has been received and inspected.

(Source) Market News

To help minimize the waste problems as far as using batteries are concerned, rechargeable batteries are being offered in the market as a great alternative. Now while that may have resolved one issue, the manner of recharging may be another issue. Energy is a growing concern and the manner of recharging or plugging them into outlets is sure to be a problem.

But for the GPS solar charger, this issue should be resolved as well.

GP Solar Charger

According to GP, it takes almost six hours to recharge two AA batteries (or 2 hours for AAA cells) under direct sunlight, which is slightly longer than what is usually expected of regular AC battery chargers. The advantage, however, is that the Solar Charger can be used outdoors where there is no access to the mains. Of course, with solar power being a free renewable source of energy, the Solar Charger also makes more economic and eco-friendly sense, too.

(Source) Crave

Here is something that has been released that will surely be a hit among the techie geeks today. Fabrik’s SimpleTech redrive has been launched just recently and other than the technical specs for eco-friendly means, you are sure to know that this device is aimed at green technology. Just look at the outer covering and you will see this external hard drive draped in bamboo and aluminum casing.

SimpleTech Hard Drive

Now for the technical specs:

1. Low Power hard drive
2. 500 Gigabyte of Space
3. Turbo USB 2.0 Connection

Price : $160.00

(Source) ZDNet

Electronics are the center of attraction these days as to how they can become eco-friendly. While we have seen other models such as Sony detail their products on how eco-friendly in the market, rival Philips has likewise unveiled its own version of eco-friendly Television.

Philips offers to the market an eco TV, the Philips Eco TV model 42PFL5603D, that is lead-free and has lessened the traces of Mercury that has complied with the ROHS or Restrictions of Hazardous Substances Directive.

One great feature of this TV is its ability to dim the backlight. By dimming the backlight during scenes which are darker, it enhances the black-level performance and in turn, saves power. When it comes to power conservation, this sleek TV is head of the class, in that it uses less power than a 100 W lightbulb - now that’s energy efficient! Note the backlight can also be dimmed via a room lighting sensor, so in dark rooms it will use less power.

Taking it the extra green mile, the box is made from recycled material.

(Source) Inventorspot

Here’s a re-cap of the best eco-friendly gadgets featured on our bro-blog Zedomax.com this week:

1. World’s most fuel-efficient SUVs
2. DIY Homemade Submarine is probably the most eco-friendly submarine to be made yet.
3. Solar Power Fairy LED lights can be attached pretty much to anything in your home.
4. Chess Set made for recycled auto parts are a must-get for any eco-geeks out there playing chess tonight.
5. Sharp is working on solar LCD TVs!
6. Wind powered lighting is something that might blow up soon.
7. 235MPG Volkwagon coming soon?
8. Solar Powered Lantern is a must for outdoor geeks.
9. Solar Powered Hyperbike might be the future of bikes.
10. Recycled Plastic Bottle Art is a great example for all eco-designers.
11. Ultraportable Umbrella might help the earth and keep you out of rain.
12. The DIY Vegetable Fuel Converter for diesel cars may save you some big bucks in the long run.
13. Solar Powered Landscaping Light and Solar Powered Garden Lights to save you energy bills.
14. DIY Carboard Bicycle is a good fun way to get some exercise while making and riding it.
15. These Programmable Power Taps might save you some extra electricity.
16. We need these Solar Floating Balls at the bay in San Francisco.
17. Yes, boats can be made out of juice cartons.

We have heard a lot about the superior quality the Blue Ray brings to watching films on DVD. The Blue Ray is touted to be the next optical disc format to further showcase high definition video and larger storage space. The problem is finding players that can read them.

Sony has announced the development of the BDP-S350 player. Only recently have consumers been able to easily find them at stores for purchase. Originally expected to be out last February, this new Blue Ray player has also applied some environmental, footprint-reducing specs to make the unit eco-friendly.

Sony has reduced the overall unit size of the player by 55 percent, reduced the packing material by 52 percent and reduced its total weight by 38 percent. With this, Sony was able to reduce the CO2 emissions when shipping the BDP-S350. Likewise, Sony has also made the player’s energy consumption a little less than the usual.

(Source) Gadgetll

Thin batteries that we normally use for most of the electronics and gadgets out in the market today are one of the most demanded needs and apparently the original name, Thin Batter Technologies, want to ensure people that they too are exhausting all eco-friendly efforts. Part of this is changing their name to Blue Spark mainly because the color blue is easily attached with sustainability and earth friendliness, signaling the mark of powering innovation with eco-friendly duties attached.

So for consumers and detractors who may question their eco-friendly practices, it all starts with the name. If that is not enough, they can always see for themselves and make the necessary eco-friendly audit to make sure that eco-friendly standards are indeed met.

“In today’s movement towards eco-friendly technology, Blue represents the sustainability and earth friendliness that is built into all of our printed battery products. Spark is the innovation that is realized by our customers to invent products never before possible with existing battery technology. Our firm’s commitment to ‘Powering Innovation’ provides the information and technical support necessary to stimulate new product concepts that are unachievable using any other power source technology - and then enables their realization by supporting applications from prototype through high-volume manufacturing.”

(Source) Market Watch

We have all heard of water being a good source of power and Bedol’s water powered clock proves its actual use. Through the use of salt water, Bedol offers us a trendy and stylish water-powered clock that is sure to be a great fit in our homes.

Put in the traditional living room or even personal bedrooms, this water powered clock is sure to make an impact immediately and thus putting emphasis on the turn towards eco-friendly designs for homes today.

The Bedol Water-Powered Clock, with its stylish circular design and bright attractive colors, makes it a fun, versatile and environmentally friendly product for everyday use. A dash of salt in the water is all that’s needed for the clock to harvest energy and operate.

Bedol is committed to do their part for the environment by offering eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products. The Bedol Water-Powered Clock presents customers with a digital clock that eliminates the need for batteries.

(Source) Waaytv.com