Archive for September 19th, 2009
We’ve seen a few different approaches to printable, and occasionally paintable solar cells over the years, but it looks like JA Solar was particularly taken with Innovalight’s so-called silicon ink-based solar cells, and it’s now announced that its teaming up with the company to commercialize the technology. In addition to being “printable” and cheaper to manufacture than traditional solar cells, the company also claims that the silicon ink solar cells also boast an impressive 18 percent conversion efficiency, which has apparently just been backed up by both the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. Details on the deal are otherwise a bit light, but JA Solar says that it’ll manufacture the new cells using its existing solar cell manufacturing lines, which should lower the cost even further and, if all goes as planned, allow for “initial commercialization” sometime in 2010.
[Via CNET News Green Tech]
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
JA Solar and Innovalight team up to commercialize ’silicon ink’ solar cells originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Barnes and Noble, the United State’s largest book seller has filed with the FCC its own e-book reader, as it’s insinuated in the attached Agent Authorization Letter. The dipping of the toes into the digital text industry isn’t as peculiar as, say Discovery Communications, since Barnes and Noble already has some known precedence in the e-book reader market, partnering with Plastic Logic as their “exclusive eBookstore provider” — this may very well be the Plastic Logic reader, but there’s no indication one way or another. Chances are it’ll be some time before we know, as all external and internal photos are under a confidentiality extension for 180 days as of September 3rd, or about six months from now. See you in Spring 2010!
Filed under: Handhelds
Barnes and Noble e-book reader hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First there was an alleged Toys R Us ad, and now we’ve caught wind of what’s claimed to be a Best Buy spot showing the Nintendo Wii getting that long-desired $50 price drop, down just below the two Benjamin mark. Easily Photoshopped image? You betcha, so we’ll just have to play wait-and-see as the evidence seems to mount up — it’s been a long time coming, after all, we wouldn’t be that surprised given the oncoming holiday season and the recent downward trend in demand.
Filed under: Gaming
$199 Nintendo Wii spotted in Best Buy ad? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hey, Josh is currently making a high-speed run across state lines, but have no fear — once he’s suitably safe from danger the Engadget Podcast will be broadcasting live. Settle into the chat room below, and we’ll see you at 6:30PM EST!
Update: Well, that was certainly a wild one, thanks for bearing with us — and if you missed it, our usual post will be up tomorrow!
Filed under: Podcasts
The Engadget Podcast is live… now! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Earlier this week the internet alarms rang loud with word that Microsoft had added an app “kill switch” to its upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 platform. Of course, such a kill switch is not unprecedented, as both the Android and iPhone platforms have their own variant. A Microsoft rep recently relayed a message of peace to assuage fears, telling Ars Technica that the vast majority of app rejections won’t cause a remote uninstall, and it’ll only be used if the app “exhibits harmful behavior or unforeseen effects” — not that we’re entirely assured by the latter scenario, but wording aside, it does echo statements from the aforementioned companies that have so far been very conservative with its use (i.e. we can’t recall a single instance of its use). “While we hope to avoid this scenario,” he said, “we will make refunds available in such cases.” Only time will tell just how trigger happy Microsoft gets, assuming they ever use it. Hey, just be happy we know about it — remember the last time we were surprised to discover such a feature?
Filed under: Cellphones
Windows Mobile 6.5 joins the ranks of iPhone and Android with its own app kill switch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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