The SolarKindle is a case for Kindle eBook readers which features a solar-panel and battery for charging your eReader, as well as a solar-powered booklight.
Solar Focus started shipping a SolarKindle case for the Kindle 4 in February. Now the company is taking pre-orders for a SolarKindle for the Kindle Touch. It’s expected to start shipping April 15th.
At first glance, the case looks like any other Kindle Cover. There’s a snug spot for the eBook reader to sit in, and a flap that folds over the screen like a book cover to protect it.
But there are a few things that make the case special. Above the Kindle there’s a flip-out light that you can use to illuminate the screen. There’s a battery in the case that powers the book light and which you can also use to charge your Kindle. And you can charge the battery either using the solar panels in the cover or by connecting to an external power souce.
The only down side? The SolarKindle case costs $79.99. That’s a buck more than the starting price for a Kindle 4 and just $20 less than the starting price of the Kindle Touch eBook reader.
On the other hand, you might never actually have to plug your Kindle into a wall again. It doesn’t take much power to charge a Kindle battery, and sticking the SolarKindle case in the sunlight for a few hours at a time could keep you reading indefinitely.
One thing to keep in mind though, is that the case weighs 7.58 ounces — or a little more than the Kindle Touch itself. You can thank the 1500mAh battery, among other things, for that.