The SolarKindle is a solar-powered case for Amazon Kindle readers. Sure, most cases don’t actually need power, but this one has a built-in battery which you can use to charge your eReader — even when there’s no sunlight around.
SolarFocus announced the product this week and plans to start shipping it around January 15th for $79.99. I got a chance to check out the SolarKindle at an event in Las Vegas, and it’s a pretty interesting product.
The case fits the Amazon Kindle or Kindle Touch pretty well, but doesn’t add a lot of weight to the device. Or to put it another way, the case weighs a little more than the Kindle itself, but that still makes the Kindle plus the SolarKindle less than a pound, which means you can comfortably hold the eReader in one hand even while it’s in the case.
You can flip the cover back behind the case to see the screen. And there’s a built-in booklight that pops out with the press of a button so you can read in the dark. The LED light also draws its power from the backup battery.