Apple Envisions Solar-Powered iPhone

Your next app download isn’t likely to be solar powered, nor will you find it on the new iPhone 4G, but Apple is now on the record as investigating solar power options for future devices. PC Magazine reports that the company has filed a patent for solar-charging technology it has in development. There’s no telling whether the iNtegrated (too much?) solar cells will ever see the light of day (definitely too much), but the patent filing is at least proof of Apple’s interest in the idea.

The proposed solar cells would not be an aftermarket add-on to future phones or other devices. They would be embedded below the touch screen, or in some cases, could be embedded on the front and back of the handheld device.

Despite the possibilities, much remains up in the air. A patent filing, after all, does not mean Apple is anywhere near an actual product. It means only that they’re “discussing” it.

I say that if Apple is discussing it, as opposed to thrusting the solar tech into the new iPhone now, it’s because, for starters, the technology is not yet fully developed, and I imagine questions remain as to whether solar cells on an iPhone are a good idea in the first place.

Will customers pay the extra bucks for a feature that, understanding that most people wouldn’t leave their phone outside for any real length of time on a normal day, may only add another hour or two of phone charge per day at best?

Actually…yes.

Or so I like to think. I personally would make it a point to get it in the sun as much as possible (yet one more reason for daylighting in home design). And it would be nice to have a backup source of power if, say, I was stranded on a desert island, or slightly more realistically, just forgot to take my plug-in charger on a weekend trip. I for one hope there’s more pending from those lovable geeks at Apple than a mere patent.

Photo Credit: Patently Apple

Posted on June 8th in Solar Products by Dan.