What do we think the next new Kobo will be?

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I have a waterproof powerbank with a solar panel. Cost about €16. You could put two on a cover. Then even without sun charging you'd have months of reading time. About 4800 mAH each.

I don't understand the benefit in adding the extra weight to the device, instead of just plugging in to the powerbank when needed.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by meeera

I don't understand the benefit in adding the extra weight to the device, instead of just plugging in to the powerbank when needed.

Nor do I seeing as the battery life is so long on eink vs LCD/OLED. Also I can use my Solar charged powerbank to run many gadgets, some of which have no internal battery and some use a coax type power plug (I have 3 sizes of USB A to coax power plug). Even a solar panel only cover is a bit pointless on eInk.

[embryo]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I have a waterproof powerbank with a solar panel. Cost about €16. You could put two on a cover. Then even without sun charging you'd have months of reading time. About 4800 mAH each.

You don't need another battery..
Just the panels.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by embryo

You don't need another battery..
Just the panels.

Yes, except panels with regulated 5V out only exist retail with batteries. You'd want some small amount of electronics ideally connecting to the internal to ereader cell (3.7 V to 4.2V depending on charge).

But you don't even need built in panels and separate ones are easier to leave in the daylight on a windowsill.

[E'lir]

I'd be satisfied with a new Forma with improved internals (Processing, memory, etc.) and a C connection.

Bluetooth would be a plus, but largely inconsequential to the reading experience.

Maybe improved contrast and pixel resolution to further enjoy manga and image heavy books.

[embryo]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Yes, except panels with regulated 5V out only exist retail with batteries.

No, you're wrong. They do exist, and I'm charging the phone that I'm using to type this, with one of them..

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by embryo

No, you're wrong. They do exist, and I'm charging the phone that I'm using to type this, with one of them..

I said "retail", meaning the sort of local shops that sell solar charging power-banks. You can of course buy almost anything online, and I know how to make the electronics or adapt electronics to put between a naked solar panel (no electronics) and a rechargeable lithium cell or a USB socket. But it's pointless and most people won't want to open up the gadget. The electronics to generate 5V from a PV panel to the USB socket is wasteful. A separate solar power-bank (battery and USB A out) is far more useful.
I'd never be leaving my ereader anywhere a solar panel would work and a built in solar panel while you are reading is nearly unusable.

I have a folding 12V panel to charge a two way radio that has no battery in it and it could use a 12V to 5V adaptor (which I have), but it's pointless.

[alehel]

I want a phone sized ereader. Something similar to the one Xiaomi recently released.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[Calenorn]

Originally Posted by alehel

I want a phone sized ereader. Something similar to the one Xiaomi recently released.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Yes. A new Kobo Mini with Comfort Light Pro and their current firmware.

Put my name on the list right now!

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I said "retail", meaning the sort of local shops that sell solar charging power-banks.

Then what is https://www.jaycar.com.au/10w-solar-...able/p/MB3595? The site lists it as available in store at the two branches closest to me. And I was able to find several others through different stores here in Australia.

[Quoth]

I'm not in Australia. I have bought from jaycar by mail order. It's certainly not local in Ireland.
Also that's not a simple Solar panel, I was writing about bare panels. It's got electronics and unless it reaches from the window sill to the ereader with a long USB cable it's useless. One with a cell inside is better. It's also about twice the price of ordinary solar power banks sold in ordinary retail shops here (not even electronics shops). The 4800 mAH cell doesn't add much weight.

Also you must have very bright sun or that must be HUGE to deliver 2A.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I'm not in Australia. I have bought from jaycar by mail order. It's certainly not local in Ireland.

I know you are not in Australia, and neither are the others (except @meeera of course). Nor are they in Ireland. But, you made a claim that is demonstrably not correct. Maybe not for you, but, definitely for some parts of the world. And as I said, it isn't the only place I found them in, just the first place I thought of. I don't think I have seen a solar charged power bank in any shop that I happened to have visited in the last year or so (it's about two years I think since I went to Jaycar). But it does appear that other stores stock similar panels. I could find them listed at hardware stores, camping and fishing stores. All of which are fairly common in Australia.

Also that's not a simple Solar panel, I was writing about bare panels. It's got electronics and unless it reaches from the window sill to the ereader with a long USB cable it's useless.

Then why is it you said:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Yes, except panels with regulated 5V out only exist retail with batteries.

Otherwise it means you were comparing a prebuild powerbank with solar panel in it to a bare solar panel that can't actually be used without a lot of work. That's pretty disingenuous of you. I don't think the others were talking about that.

Or did you construct the ereader you are charging with you magical powerbank from parts? If so, I might allow you thinking that anyone who wants a solar charger will build it themselves.

And I have a couple of good windows that I could put it charge a separate battery. The only problem would be the cats might get annoyed.

One with a cell inside is better. It's also about twice the price of ordinary solar power banks sold in ordinary retail shops here (not even electronics shops). The 4800 mAH cell doesn't add much weight.

That was just the first place I thought of to look. I don't think I have seen a solar charged power bank in any shop. In my searches, I found these or similar panels in hardware stores, camping and fishing stores

Also you must have very bright sun or that must be HUGE to deliver 2A.

The specs say 325mm by 252mm when open for charging. And yes, it would need a bright sun. But, the same goes for your powerbank. From the same site, https://www.jaycar.com.au/4-000mah-s...-bank/p/MB3790 is a 4000mAh powerbank with a solar panel. The specs say 31 hours to charge. Which means it would take several days of "very bright sun" to charge. Honestly, that would be almost useless. It would be much more useful to get the above panel plus two inexpensive powerbank. Then put the panel in a good window charge the powerbanks an cycle between them as needed.

[Calenorn]

Surely charging an eink reader is less demanding than charging a phone. Wouldn't it be possible for a solar panel to slowly recharge the unit using ambient light? There are emergency radios that do as much.

[Owl_]

The next kobo should have the elipsa's features and running well Android. Of course I'm dreaming

[embryo]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The electronics to generate 5V from a PV panel to the USB socket is wasteful. A separate solar power-bank (battery and USB A out) is far more useful.

No, you are wrong again.
Charging a battery with a battery is much more wasteful. Also when the power bank's battery gets lower than a level, stops charging although not empty..
At the end, only a fraction of the panel's energy will go to your device..