Vodafone has unveiled a prototype umbrella that will charge your mobile phone, boost your 3G signal and even keep you dry.
The festival-themed gadget will be tested against the elements this weekend at the Isle of Wight Festival (which unfortunately does not boast Rihanna on the line-up). It represents a departure for Vodafone, as green-tech festival gimmicks previously been the preserve of Orange.
Like all previous similar gimmicks, the Booster Brolly has been labelled as the “latest innovation in mobile communications” and comes with academic backers – this time from University College London (UCL). If the sun happens to shine, Vodafone is confident that it will protect you against that as well as the more-likely rainstoms.
It even keeps you dry
“We wanted to create a practical but high tech innovation that could genuinely improve a festivalgoer’s experience,” said Danielle Crook, director of brand marketing at Vodafone. “The concept Booster Brolly does just that by merging cutting edge technology with a trusted and reliable British umbrella.”
The umbrella is an eco-friendly mobile charger, powered by a series of flexible solar panels in the canopy. It works with a range of mobile devices, which can be charged through a USB port in the handle in about three hours.
However the power generated from the panels also powers a micro antenna, which boosts the phone’s 3G signal wirelessly, meaning that anyone shielding from the rain or sun underneath will benefit. Other features include an LED torch for night-time navigation and a ‘hands-free’ smartphone cradle.
The electrical circuitry is housed in a durable carbon fibre skeleton, while a double layer win and waterproof canopy results in the obligatory protection against the weather.
Festival technology
“The custom canopy has been fitted with 12 lightweight amorphous silicon triple junction solar cells that have the ability to convert light into electricity, through a series of highly sensitive photovoltaic semiconductors,” explained Dr Kenneth Tong, lecturer in Electronic & Electrical Engineering at UCL. The current generated is then transferred, via a voltage regulator, to the handle of the umbrella where it is stored safely in high capacity rechargeable batteries, or used to directly charge a mobile device through a USB port.”
“The antenna concealed at the top of the umbrella’s central pole uses the same power source to obtain a low strength network signal,” he added. “The in-built low noise booster then amplifies this signal, within a 1-metre radius of the canopy, allowing smartphone users around the Booster Brolly to make and receive calls, exchange text messages and even browse the Internet with maximum signal strength.”
Vodafone appears to be encroaching on Orange’s domain as the provider of festival-related mobile products. Last year, the network unveiled a mobile charging festival t-shirt that converted sound waves into power, while the year before it created wellies that charged mobile devices as you danced.
Earlier this year, a group of scientists claimed that they had created a flexible lithium ion battery that could be woven into fabrics.
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Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc : Motorola Mobility Brings the Longest Talk Time of any Smartphone (1) to Saudi Arabia with RAZR™ MAXX - 4-traders (press release)
Up the ante with Motorola RAZR MAXX now available in Saudi Arabia
June 19, 2012
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RIYADH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - June 19, 2012 - All day, every day - that's how much you use your smartphone. With its impossibly thin and lightweight design, Motorola RAZR MAXX boasts features with the wow factor and a battery that can handle even the most demanding lifestyle. From today, customers across Saudi Arabia will be able to start talking, texting, typing, watching and more for even longer.
RAZR MAXX delivers up to 17.6 hours of talk time so you won't spend your day plugged into the wall. However its 1GB RAM combined with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android operating system will ensure you are always entertained, delivering a lightning-fast user interface and the power to multi-task like never before. You can rock your playlists while checking email, breeze through photos - all day, every day, all at the same time.
Still seriously thin at just 8.99mm, RAZR MAXX is the exact opposite of frail. It's made strong with KEVLAR fibre, while Corning Gorilla Glass defends the hyper-vibrant 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display from scratches and scrapes. And every part of the Motorola RAZR MAXX is protected by a splashguard coating, which even extends to the electrical boards inside, ensuring a go anywhere, do everything attitude.
Smart Actions, the remarkably intelligent application exclusive to Motorola Mobility, pushes the limits even further by automating everyday tasks based on triggers like time of day, location, battery levels and more. Never forget to put your phone on silent in meetings, turn up the volume when your boss calls and even maximize your last ounce of power by dimming the display and turning off power hungry services.
Motorola RAZR MAXX also comes preloaded with the Motorola MotoCast app, giving you the power to stream or download content from a home or work computer straight to the device so your docs, pics and music are always available - anytime, anywhere. No uploading to a third party means no wasted time or forgetting to upload that crucial presentation, and everything stays protected, right on your computer.
"RAZR MAXX isn't changing the rules - it's creating a whole new game. Building on the RAZR heritage it combines the pinnacle of design with mind-blowing power and an incredible battery life that is perfect for people who want to push their smartphone to the limits," said Raed Hafez, managing director for Motorola Mobility, Middle East & Africa. "Whether you want to watch hours of movies, or don't want to worry about charging between meetings, this latest smartphone from Motorola redefines boundaries and banishes the low battery beep to history."
Motorola smartphones offer some of the industry's most powerful enterprise features available, and Motorola RAZR MAXX is no exception, including government-grade encryption and productivity tools that rival the capabilities of desktop PCs. Collaborate in real time with GoToMeeting and create and edit files right on your phone with QuickOffice.
Availability
Motorola RAZR MAXX is available from selected major retailers from SAR 2099. More information available on www.motorola.com/razrmaxx
About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.
Media Contact
Neil Jaques
Wallis Marketing Consultants
+971 (0) 4390 1950
Motorola@wallis-mc.com
Certain features, services and applications are network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. Contact your service provider for details. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation
1 Comparison based on manufacturers published talk times as of 29/02/12 for 3G smartphones with voice carried over a 3G network. RAZR MAXX talk time is up to 17.6hrs. Battery performance depends on network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, and voice, data and other application usage patterns.
2 MOTOCAST supports many popular file formats and codecs. Additional software is necessary to enable use of unsupported files on your mobile phone. DRM-protected content is not supported. Respect the rights of copyright owners by only using MOTOCAST to stream and sync authorized content.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Corning and Gorilla are registered trademarks of Corning Incorporated. KEVLAR(R) is a registered trademark of DuPont used under license by Motorola Mobility, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. 2012 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.
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