I had promised to do a test of the ipod charger. Well, well, here we are. Lets start with some information:
The 30GB video ipod is rated 5-30v 1 A max. (For more ipod specs click here – there is a 10,000 feet/3000 metres maximum operating altitude on this thing?!)
The charger’s output power is 6.58 volts 320 mA.
The typical charge time is about 4 hours (2-hour fast charge to 80% capacity) on a typical USB connection to the comp.
For a compatibility list check here and faq’s are here.
I am kinda pushing it since the universal charger is rated for 4th generation and earlier ipods, i am testing it on a 5th gen ipod. Looking at the voltages above, i think it will be o.k.

The mysoldius charger came in a transparent package showing the mobile tips and the actual charger (Do note that there are 2 different products one with the mobile kit and one without). My first thought was wow, this thing is small (the scaling of the pic on the previous post gives you an idea of the dimensions specifically its 110x75x10mm)its just alittle bigger than the ipod itself. It weighs about 115 grams, its definitely travel friendly. Small enough to fit into a small bag or purse. The mobile tips that are included are for Nokia, samsung, siemens, ericsson T28, motorola and a tip for the ipod shuffle. This is perfect since most of those brands can be found in kenya and the most parts of the world.

Ok: It works well, there are preliminary indications that it functions as designed, marketed and as expected.
I am afraid i did not realise that my schedule today did not afford me more than 2 hrs of direct sunlight, i learnt that next time i promise to test something like this…make sure i have a way of positioning said gadget in direct sunlight for the ideal amount of time to make for a true test.
(You may stop here if you like…what follows is just random weird stuff really…I will do another post once i have actual results)
If you arent stopping….
I have attempted to charge it twice today. In the morning i got abt 30 minutes of direct sunlight (I got swamped and forgot to set it up earlier). I started out with a completely dead battery, when the charger was in direct sunlight after 30 seconds the ipod turned on to indicate that it is charging, needless to say, i was excited. After 30 min or so i did not have direct sunlight so it stopped charging. At this point i could turn the ipod on and even play a song, but decided not to, attempting to keep the ‘integrity’ of the experiment he he, so i turned the ipod off.
Later in the evening at 6pm i am in my living room, I look around…no direct sunlight. I go over to the entrance to the building…aaaah there we go! I place the charger in direct sunlight and the ipod on the shade, its charging. I am hoping i can charge it for atleast another hr. I need a book or something, i cant just sit there looking at the thing?! If you look too closely at the panel itself, the crystalline part looks somewhat like the artwork from the movie sin city…the sharp lines criss crossing… (its o.k you can shake your head and smirk..really its o.k!)Well, i dont want to interrupt the progress i have made so far…
6:20pm, I dash back into the apt leaving everything there on the floor of the hallway; i bring a magazine a piece of paper and pen, and dash back out. Dont worry the hallway is enclosed by two doors…Errrm calculated risk is what i was telling myself. With the progression of the sun going down, i move outside.
6:35pm i want to run upstairs and check if i have direct sunlight from one west facing window in the another room which for some odd?!(or daft depending on yr standpoint) reason i now remember i had, i decide naah…no interruptus of the ‘progress’ made thus far.
6:40pm, a neighbor walks by looking at me quizzically. I am barefoot, sitting on the stone ledge, a piece of paper in hand scribbling alittle and looking down at the ‘set up’ propped neatly towards the sun. These two things are kinda small so she didnt see it on the grass as she walked up. I go ahead and just tell her what i am doing and she says, “Oh how funny, i thought to myself that you were checking the grass or something?!” She laughs nervously, i laugh too, she walks on by. At abt 10 till 7 it gets cloudy so i gather my stuff and get back into my place. I go into the other room…there is sunlight from the west facing window.