Tag: solar-powered

  • New PDA with Solar Charging and Physical Keyboard

    New PDA with Solar Charging and Physical Keyboard

    Key Takeaway

    – DIY Orion PDA: a modern, offline Personal Digital Assistant project with potential crowdfunding if there’s interest.

    – Hardware and power: low-power STM32U SoC, 536×366 non-color LCD, integrated solar cell in the lid for extended battery life, microSD storage, USB-C for charging and data syncing.

    – Input/output: QWERTY keyboard, microphone for voice notes, headphone jack.

    – OS and connectivity: cannot run Android; lacks cellular connectivity by design, trading broad app ecosystem for security and offline use.

    The abbreviation PDA may not be entirely unfamiliar today, but it is no longer commonly used. It stands for Personal Digital Assistant, meaning a mobile system with functions such as a calendar, notebook, and address book, but without cellular connectivity. PDAs have more or less been made obsolte by smartphones, so the Orion PDA is likely more of a project for enthusiats. However, there could be practical reasons to use a PDA like this. The lack of network connectivity out of the box could also be an advantage in terms of securty.

    PDA History and Orion Project

    The Orion PDA is a DIY project that could potentially be made available to a wider audience through crowdfunding if there is enough interest. It uses an LCD that does not support color output and has a fairly low resolution of 536 x 366 pixels. In return, it is said to require very little power and should remain easy to read in sunlight. A solar cell is integrated into the lid, which could significantly extend battery life even without charging. Pricing is not provided in the brief, which means readers must rely on other details to measure practicality.

    Display and Power Notes

    It uses an STM32U SoC, which should not consume too much power. Naturally, a complex operating system like Android is not feasible on this hardware. There is a headphone jack. A microphone can be used to record voice notes. Larger amounts of data can also be stored on a microSD card. The USB-C port can be used not only for charging and firmware updates but also for syncing data. Text should be relatively quick to enter thanks to the QWERTY keyboard.


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  • Casio G-Shock Tough Solar Watch Deal – Heavily Discounted

    Casio G-Shock Tough Solar Watch Deal – Heavily Discounted

    Key Takeaway

    – 30% discount on Casio G-Shock GW7900B-1 at Zales, now $115.50 (regular $165)
    – Availability appears limited: Amazon shows it out of stock; Casio US store still at full price; deal duration unclear
    – Features: solar-powered with up to 9 months runtime, tide/moon graphs, world time across 48 cities, 1/100-second stopwatch, 24-hour countdown, five alarms, auto backlight
    – Specs: resin case/band, black bezel, 52.4 × 50 × 17.7 mm, ~71 g, 200 m water resistance

    If you have been eyeing a feature-packed Casio G-Shock watch, there’s a sweet deal going on one G-Shock model. Speaking more precisely, the Japanese company is currently offering a significant 30% discount on the GW7900B-1 watch, making it much more affordable than its original retail price.

    Deal snapshot

    Interested buyers can now purchase the watch for just $115.50 through Zales. Unfortunately, the model is currently out of stock on Amazon, and there’s no significant savings from Casio US’ official online store, where the watch is currently available at its original retail price of $165. It’s unclear how long this deal will last. So, this 30% discount is a great opportunity to snag this G-Shock model.

    Specifications and features

    The Casio G-Shock GW7900B-1 has a resin case and band complemented by a black-finished resin bezel and oversized buttons. The solar-powered battery system is a neat feature, with a run time of up to 9 months on a full charge. The digital watch is packed with a interesting set of features, including tide and moon graphs, a world time switching over 48 cities, a 1/100-second stopwatch, a 24-hour countdown timer, five daily alarms, and a full auto electro-luminescent backlight with afterglow.

    • Tide and moon graphs
    • World time in 48 cities
    • 1/100-second stopwatch
    • 24-hour countdown timer
    • Five daily alarms
    • Full auto electro-luminescent backlight with afterglow

    Size and durability

    The watch has a large case, measuring 52.4 x 50 x 17.7 mm. Weighing around 71 grams (0.15 pounds), the digital watch is certainly on the lighter side. Another nice-to-have is a 200 m (20 bar) water resistance rating, meaning it can be used for extreme water sports activities such as diving, swimming, and snorkeling. You can learn more about the Casio G-Shock GW7900B-1 watch in the attached info below.

     

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  • Casio Expands Solar-Powered Hybrid Watches to New Countries

    Casio Expands Solar-Powered Hybrid Watches to New Countries

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Casio G-Shock GA-B010 digital watches are launching in more European countries, currently available in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Germany.

    2. There are three versions of the GA-B010, with two models priced at €169 and an option to sign up for email alerts on release dates.

    3. The watches feature an analogue-digital design, step tracking, Bluetooth connectivity, and compatibility with the Casio Watches app.

    4. Additional specifications include world time functionality for 38 time zones, solar-powered energy, Neobrite elements for night visibility, and waterproofing up to 20 bar.

    5. The release date for the GA-B010 watches in regions like North America is still uncertain.

    Casio is getting ready to launch its latest G-Shock GA-B010 digital watches in more countries across Europe. These hybrid models are currently on sale in the UK and feature step tracking, among other useful functions.

    Availability in Europe

    You can now find three versions of the G-Shock watch on the Casio online store in countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. The GA-B010-1A (black, positive display) and the GA-B010-3A (khaki, positive display) are both priced at €169. While the specific release date for these models hasn’t been confirmed yet, you can click the ‘sign up’ button on each product page to receive an email alert when they launch.

    Features of the GA-B010

    The Casio G-Shock GA-B010 features an analogue-digital design with two hands on a sunburst-finish dial. This is framed by an inset bezel that has a vapor deposition finish, along with a robust resin case and a matching strap. At the bottom of the watch face, there’s a digital display for tracking your step count. Furthermore, Bluetooth connectivity enables you to check a historical record of your daily steps via the Casio Watches app on your smartphone. Additional app features include automatic time updates and a phone finder. The watch also includes tools like a timer, a stopwatch, and five daily alarms.

    Additional Specifications

    The G-Shock GA-B010 offers world time functionality, covering 38 time zones. This new model is advertised as being entirely powered by solar energy. To make it easier to read the watch at night, there are various glowing Neobrite elements and an LED backlight. Moreover, it is waterproof up to 20 bar. However, it remains uncertain when these Casio G-Shock GA-B010 watches will be available in other regions, like North America.

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