Green Options

A major new survey has revealed that nearly 50% of all US consumers would consider buying a ‘green’ cell phone, but only if key factors such as the price, features, and performance were equivalent to other phones.

According to the poll of 1,000 American adults carried out by ABI Research, just 7% would be willing to pay a premium to go green, a figure that may cause cell phone companies to think deeply before investing heavily in environmentally friendlier models.

Speaking about the findings, industry analyst Michael Morgan said, “These survey results mean that almost half of those surveyed were at least committed in principle to use of a green handset. However the public is largely uninformed about their availability: only 4% said they were ‘very familiar’ with green handsets.”

A team of US and Korean scientists have announced a major breakthrough in energy storage that could pave the way to a new generation of ultra-efficient electric cars, mobile phones and laptops.

The prototype capacitor, much more powerful than exisiting batteries, is capable of storing power at the same massive density as a supercapacitor (an incredible 10 billion tiny capacitors in every square centimetre), but releasing it as quickly as the fastest electrostatic capacitors.

Speaking about the invention, Gary Rubloff of the University of Maryland said, “Our primary target [for this technology] is as part of a hybrid battery-capacitor system for electric cars, but there are many [potential] small scale applications, [including] better electrical storage systems for cellphones or laptops.”

A new study, available in the February issue of Pediatrics, by psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has found that children crossing the street are in greater danger when they are using a cell phone.  Many states have introduced legislation banning handheld cell phone usage for drivers, not that I see that stopping people in California, and in 2008 New York proposed banning mp3 and cell phone usage by pedestrians.  Multi-tasking can be difficult for adults, especially in a setting where there are motor vehicles involved, and it is therefore imperative as parents that we pay attention to how our children handle similar situations.

Recycling as an everyday practice has become more and more common these days. But what about all those gadgets you accumulate? What happens to them? There are many options out there, but for most, they involve more cost, effort, and time then our busy schedules or motivation will allow. Sure, there are some newer options such as Second Rotation, the company I profiled in January that quotes you a value for your product based on the condition you claim it’s in, then they inspect it, and either give you that amount, or a different agreed upon one. But even there, with the free shipping and the possibility of getting cash rather then spending it to recycle, it’s based on current market value, a wildly fluctuating amount, as the new half price twice the speed iPhone exemplifies.

What if you could guarantee exactly how much you’d get, based on how long you’ve owned it, at the time of purchase? This is now a reality, via the company Tech Forward. You can buy a product at any store you like, then purchase their Guaranteed Buyback service, which covers a wide range of electronics, from MP3 players to desktop computers.

It arrived last Monday: text messaging and anytime minutes behind a shiny silver faceplate. After a couple years of living cell phone-free, I finally found a company that makes me feel good about owning one. It’s consumer activism made sweet and easy.

Earth Tones is a phone and Internet company that donates 100% of its profits to environmental causes. That’s because it’s run by the environmental organizations it funds. If you’re not

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So you want something simple to do your part? Just unplug your cell phone charger.

When your phone is charging it's only using about 5% of the power it sucks from your outlet. That other 95% adds up to a lot of wasted energy, especially if you leave it plugged in minus the phone.

Want a ringtone that'll turn some heads? Download the howl of a Mexican Wolf or the call of a Blue-throated Macaw.

The New Mexico-based Center for Biological Diversity has turned a library of endangered species sounds into free, downloadable ringtones. The institute wants to utilize mobile media, which has already had an influence on other political and social campaigns. They're hoping that the rare and endangered species

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Image via T3Imagine a cell phone that would power itself by the use of a few tiny solar panels. No more low battery beep, or guilt for forgetting to unplug your charger from the outlet. As long as it sees the light of day long enough to catch a few rays, you're in business. While they aren't on the market just yet, a few companies are experimenting with prototypes that could ultimately

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