Samsung Inches Closer to the Green Cell Phone Finish Line

The race to make the first green cell phone is apparently almost over - and it looks like Samsung may be the first to the finish line!

Samsung's Blue Earth is currently on exhibit at the GMSA Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona and will be the first functional solar powered cell phone on the market when it makes its expected debut in the UK later this year.  

The handset, created to resemble a smooth pebble, pushes the right environmental buttons with its BFR and PVC-free design.  The casing is made of recycled bottles and the back of the phone boasts a solar panel said to create enough power to keep a full charge during use on a sunny day.

When solar power isn't enough, Blue Earth's charger operates on less than .03 watts of electricity.  Battery life shouldn't be too much of a concern for Blue Earth users though - the phone's 'eco-mode' allows custom settings for the screen and backlight, as well as Bluetooth settings, to maximize energy efficiency.  

All the environmentally-friendly features of Samsung's Blue Earth deserve an eco-gimmicky sidekick.  The 'eco-walk' feature is more than a handy pedometer!  In this mode, you can count your steps while tracking the carbon you've saved by walking instead of driving - counted with a display of colorful trees.

Specifications, pricing, and other details regarding the Samsung Blue Earth are not available (at the time of posting), but the phone is planned to launch in the UK in the latter part of 2009.  We can't wait to see what's next for green cell phones!

Greener Gadgets Competition 2009

The Greener Gadgets Competition, first launched in 2008, is back again this year and searching for bright young designers. In order for those designers and their products to win the competition, their gadgets must help solve some of the most important issues of our time, including:

• Carbon Footprint
• Health Issues Linked to Gadgets
• Waste
• Energy Usage
• Helping Users Take Social Responsibility

This is quite an exciting competition, where gadget designers will present blueprints and mock designs of gadgets that not only make life easier but help our planet as well. The deadline to register for the Greener Gadgets Competition is January 15, 2009 and a live judging will take place at the McGraw-Hill Conference Center in NY, NY on February 26, 2009. Winners will not only receive $2,500 (grand prize), but they will gain incredible notoriety for themselves and their designs. It's sure to be an exciting competition and will help inspire a future of eco-friendly gadgets. Last year's grand prize winners were Matt Meshulam and Zach Dwiel for their 'EnerJar DIY Energy Meter Kit.' This kit was created from household materials and measures the energy output from certain devices and appliances - allowing the user to know exactly how much energy they are using and to manage that energy usage. This is a priceless opportunity for students, young designers and even seasoned designers to gain notoriety for their eco-friendly gadget designs. Although last year was the first year for the Greener Gadgets Competition, more than 1,000 designs were entered. Winners were published in some of the greatest and most reputable media outlets in existence - including the New York Times and BusinessWeek. It's important to note that before the judging on February 26th, a conference will be held and include some of today's most influential eco-designers, innovators and company representatives. Just a few of the issues to be discussed will include the importance of businesses going green, some of the new inventions centering on energy efficiency, e-waste solutions and proposals. Photo Courtesy of www.greenergadgets.com