Signal Snowboards' Latest Creation Charges an iPhone on the Slopes

MacRumors · Dec 20, 2012, 06:16 PM

Last year, Signal Snowboards made a board with an embedded iPad to honor Steve Jobs. This year, the guys have made a custom snowboard that can charge an iPhone on the slopes, thanks to a top sheet made of thin solar panels from PowerFilm Solar.

The board isn't for sale, but Signal's Marc Wierenga told MacRumors that the panels are extremely durable and the company has some ideas to incorporate them into their extensive lineup of made in the USA snowboards. He says the panels are more than powerful enough to charge something like a GoPro camera, making it easy for boarders to film an entire day of shredding without worrying about battery life.

Article Link: Signal Snowboards' Latest Creation Charges an iPhone on the Slopes

Spanky Deluxe · Dec 21, 2012, 04:32 AM

I know their special snowboards are just for guerrilla marketing but this is actually a pretty good idea. Whilst not a snowboarder, I do like to ski and have ended up with a dead phone battery after a day's worth of being on the slopes. I don't think batteries hold their charge as well in the cold as they do at room temperature and the spottyness of phone signal certainly makes phones drain faster. Add that to several hours worth of music listening, photo taking and movie making and you can quickly drain your phone battery by mid afternoon.

NightFox · Dec 21, 2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

The board isn't for sale, but Signal's Marc Wierenga told MacRumors that the panels are extremely durable

But the acid test is does that durability extend to when someone ploughs their razor sharp edge over your board or skis in a European resort lift queue?

seecoolguy · Dec 21, 2012, 09:17 AM

I think I would purchase this product, I can't count the number of times I've returned back from a day of snowboarding w/o any juice left, and these days I use the cell phone to contact the rest of the guys I board with, we long gave up using the walkie talkies. so having extra battery would be ideal

ncaissie · Dec 21, 2012, 11:41 AM

Talk about useless products.

jlgolson · Dec 21, 2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncaissie

Talk about useless products.

Maybe if you live in Florida.

ncaissie · Dec 21, 2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgolson

Maybe if you live in Florida.

I live in Canada but I'm driving to Florida in 5 days and counting!

bobfitz14 · Dec 21, 2012, 12:26 PM

I personally don't snowboard/ski but I think this is pretty sweet. I definitely see the value if you're someone who likes to be on the mountain all day.

gotluck · Dec 21, 2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgolson

Maybe if you live in Florida.

Hey, I'm still looking for a good way to bring my phone surfing with me.

Easier to play hooky during the work day. Haven't been convinced by any of the waterproof products yet

or they are too big to have a place to put them

iRCL · Jan 3, 2013, 11:53 AM

Or, you could just get one of the battery based charger accessories instead of integrating your iPhone with any equipment used for a day of activity away from a power outlet.

Lil Chillbil · Jan 3, 2013, 09:21 PM

looks very breakable

Dec 20, 2012, 06:16 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Signal Snowboards' Latest Creation Charges an iPhone on the Slopes Last year, Signal Snowboards made a board with an embedded iPad to honor Steve Jobs. This year, the guys have made a custom snowboard that can charge an iPhone on the slopes, thanks to a top sheet made of thin solar panels from PowerFilm Solar. The board isn't for sale, but Signal's Marc Wierenga told MacRumors that the panels are extremely durable and the company has some ideas to incorporate them into their extensive lineup of made in the USA snowboards. He says the panels are more than powerful enough to charge something like a GoPro camera, making it easy for boarders to film an entire day of shredding without worrying about battery life. Article Link: Signal Snowboards' Latest Creation Charges an iPhone on the Slopes
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 04:32 AM	#2
Spanky Deluxe macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK	I know their special snowboards are just for guerrilla marketing but this is actually a pretty good idea. Whilst not a snowboarder, I do like to ski and have ended up with a dead phone battery after a day's worth of being on the slopes. I don't think batteries hold their charge as well in the cold as they do at room temperature and the spottyness of phone signal certainly makes phones drain faster. Add that to several hours worth of music listening, photo taking and movie making and you can quickly drain your phone battery by mid afternoon. __________________ "No, I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."
	1

Dec 21, 2012, 11:41 AM	#5
ncaissie macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2011	Talk about useless products. __________________ 2011 MacBook Pro iPod touch 2G iFone 5! iPad 2 ATV 2G
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 12:26 PM	#8
bobfitz14 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Massachusetts	I personally don't snowboard/ski but I think this is pretty sweet. I definitely see the value if you're someone who likes to be on the mountain all day. __________________ Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get - Dale Carnegie 2012 MBP 15" [2.3GHz i7, 10gb, 500gb] -- iPhone 4S [VZW, 64gb, black] -- 2010 MBP 13" [2.4GHz C2D, 4gb, 250gb]
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 09:21 PM	#11
Lil Chillbil macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California	looks very breakable __________________ Pentium D 4.2GHz 8Gb DDR3 X1900xt 512mb vram 256gb intel ssd 3tb data drive Windows 7 Core i5 Quad 4GHz 16Gb DDR3 GT 640 256 gb intel ssd 8tb on-board Windows 8 G5 dual 2.0Ghz 8 GB 6800 ultra 500gb
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 09:17 AM	#4
seecoolguy macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2007	I think I would purchase this product, I can't count the number of times I've returned back from a day of snowboarding w/o any juice left, and these days I use the cell phone to contact the rest of the guys I board with, we long gave up using the walkie talkies. so having extra battery would be ideal
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 11:53 AM	#10
iRCL macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2011	Or, you could just get one of the battery based charger accessories instead of integrating your iPhone with any equipment used for a day of activity away from a power outlet.
	0


MacRumors Forums > News and Article Discussion > iOS Blog Discussion

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode