Zune Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"You don't usually equate CES with big time Energizer introductions, but this year is going to be different. While our fingers are still crossed that a 50-foot drum-toting bunny is seen storming around in the Vegas heat, we do know that said outfit will be bringing along its minty fresh Zinc Air Prismatic batteries, not to mention the newly unveiled Rechargeable Solar Charger. The above pictured device will boast a USB port to power an assortment of devices, and it can also be charged from an AC outlet if you just can't seem to locate the sun. Better still, its weatherproof nature should make it suitable for argonauts, and it'll only run $49.99 with a pair of rechargeable cells when it lands next summer."

I've tried some solar chargers over the years and never been totally impressed. They've either been poorly designed or performed poorly. With built in USB charging as well as the ability to charge batteries (assuming AA's and hopefully AAA's) it should cover a pretty wide variety of devices. From a design perspective, this seems to be pretty well thought out, so I'll probably be grabbing one when they come out to see how it performs.

"Dear Customers, Wrap rage describes the frustration we humans feel when trying to free a product from a nearly impenetrable package. Some products are hermetically sealed inside plastic clamshell cases, while others (especially toys) use plastic-coated steel-wire ties. Without the right tools, wire ties can be painful and time-consuming to untwist. Today, we're excited to announce the beginning of a multi-year initiative designed to alleviate wrap rage Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging."

Great idea and it seems like a win for all sides. Clamshell packaging evolved as a way to deter shoplifing in the retail environment. Since this is not a problem for Amazon, they are able to cut out the extra cost and waste associated with this packaging. The packaging still seems a bit large for the size of the product, but at least most of it is easily recyclable. Hopefully the cost savings in packaging will offset the cost of having two different types of packaging and more companies will jump on board.

UPDATE: Upon futher reading, my comment about the packaging seeming a bit large is a bit off-base. Apparently, the package is also the shipping box, so no more box in a box.