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Hand Recharged iPod Shuffle

Posted by Zonk on from the ye-olde-ipod-shuffle dept.

randomErr writes "In one for the first article on the new O'Reilly MAKE magizine we see how to recharge your iPod with a crank. The "Torronesque" project was based on the idea of coming up with a project and buiding it even if it has no immediate purpose. Imagine getting a little power charge every time you press a key or open your phone or laptop."

7 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Old idea by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 5, Informative

    It was patented in 1999 (the keyboard idea). here.

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    main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
    1. Re:Old idea by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just because it was patented doesn't mean it's a good idea of course; I believe the amount of power that can be generated by this method is too small to be of much use, even at theoretical 100% efficient conversion. Instead of allocating extra space, weight, and manufacturing cost for this complex charger system, simply including a bigger battery will improve battery life more. There is some interesting discussion along these lines in the original Slashdot story about the patent (also from '99).

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      main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
  2. Heard of it already by deutschemonte · · Score: 5, Informative

    I heard of this like 2 years ago (or more) for cell phones. They had a charger that you could crank by hand, a mini solar charger you could put on your dashboard or roof of your car, and a fan that sat on the outside of your car. Admittedly I don't remember the company, but this is really old news.

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    The preceding message was based on actual events. Only the names, locations and events have been changed.
  3. Re:Done before, but still cool by kanweg · · Score: 3, Informative

    It is about the iPod shuffle, which has no
    - backlight because it has no display.
    - hard drive but a static memory chip (pay attention: this is what introduced the rumor that music from an iPod shuffle contained static).

    The size of the battery could be smaller to accommodate for the power-generating mechanism. Weight and size of the mechanism are less of a problem than in a watch.

    Motion powered flashlights exist.

    I still can't exclude that the idea is feasible.

    Bert

  4. Can we say Trevor Baylis here? by DrogMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nothing new. Move along. Clockwork Radio The man himself

  5. That's not how it works by blorg · · Score: 3, Informative

    The number of recharge cycles is measured on a nominal 'deep' discharge/recharge cycle. Partial top-ups and discharges don't count as a full cycle, and are recommended with LiIon due to the lack of a 'memory effect.' Apple have a good page explaining this.

    The greater problem with LiIon is that they loose about 20% capacity per year from the date of manufacture, irrespective of whether they are used or not.

  6. Re:Now all he needs to do is... by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Informative

    There are solar powered streetlights in Italy.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."