Hasta La Gadget!

ASK Inc. Japan has listed Goal Zero’s latest portable speaker on its product page, the RockOut2. Powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery (up to 20 hours of continuous operation), this wireless speaker comes with audio control buttons, a USB charging port, a 3.5mm stereo mini jack and can deliver a maximum power output of 6.0W (3.0Wx2). Coming in green, black, blue, red and camp color options, the RockOut2 will become available this month for 5,000 Yen (about $49). [Product Page]

We go camping to get away from it all. Well, most of it.

We live in a day and age where having a smartphone is more or less a compulsory device to own, and a tablet is a bonus. The thing is, you would need to keep those gadgets juiced up every day in order to maximize their use, and while I am quite sure that most of us do charge up our smartphones and tablets each night, there are moments when our memory fails us, and we end up at work with a smartphone which is on its last legs where its battery level is concerned. If you are a New Yorker, happy days are here, especially with word that solar power market leader Goal Zero working alongside AT&T and Brooklyn design studio PENSA, to roll out an environmentally friendly solution to charging woes by offering public solar powered charging stations that they have called Street Charge.

Street Charge would arrive in a striking and modern design, where it will be powered by the latest in solar panel and battery technology from Goal Zero. Folks can conveniently juice up their handsets as well as other handheld, thanks to the integrated USB ports and charging tips. The solar panels as well as lithium batteries have been elegantly incorporated into individual stations to make sure that there is always enough energy to power up a thirsty device, regardless of whether the sun is beating down on New Yorkers unrelentingly, or when the moon is full.

Joe Atkin, President and CEO of Goal Zero, said, “We’re excited to team up with AT&T and Pensa to help make New York a little greener and solar power a little more accessible. Nearly half of all Americans own a smartphone and the amount of time we spend on handheld devices has increased dramatically. All too often, we hear the dreaded low-battery beep and it happens at the most inconvenient times. Street Charge will fix that.”

The prototype was first tested in Brooklyn last summer, and it looks set to kick off something big and new in the near future.

Press Release
[ Street Charge solar powered charging stations in New York copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

It’s not the first gadget to be named after the abominable snowman, but at least this one might save your neck in a tight spot. Goal Zero’s Yeti 150 solar charger is designed for use in the great outdoors, packing a 15W photovoltaic panel hooked up to a 150 watt hour battery. It’ll be available to buy this Spring, just in time for camping season, and will cost you a not-too-abominable $400.

Continue reading Goal Zero brings the Yeti 150 solar generator back from the wilderness

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[CES 2013] Depending on what kind of work you do, there are times when you may venture out into places where a stable source of electricity is not available, which means that charging your phone, laptop, tablet, lights or other electronic equipment might not be feasible. The folks at Goal Zero are hoping to bring that added level of convenience to you with the Yeti 150 Solar Generator Kit, which is the follow up and slightly smaller version of the Yeti 1250 launched back in 2012. The Yeti 150 will weigh 12 pounds and according to the company, will be ideal for camping or emergency preparedness.

The Yeti 150 will feature a 150 watt battery which will power a variety of electronic equipment, such as lights and laptops via its built-in AC, 12V and USB ports. What makes the Yeti 150 ideal for those situations described would be the fact that it is charged using solar energy, making it ideal to bring with you during outdoor activities, or keeping it charged and stored for future use. Goal Zero claims the Yeti 150 will be able to reach a full charge in the sun in 15 hours thanks to its include 15W Boulder 15 Solar Panel. Pricing and availability of the Yeti 150 Solar Generator Kit has yet to be determined.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Wakawaka Power Compact Solar Charger, The GravityLight is an affordable lamp powered by gravity,