IFA - Day 1: Samsung demos solar-powered laptops and smartphones

In amongst all the tablets and 3D TVs on show at IFA, Samsung had something a bit different; smartphones and laptops that run, in part, on solar power.

The Samsung Note PC has a solar panel on its lid, which can power the laptop for one hour for every two hours of charging. The 'eco' smartphone, which also has a solar panel on the back, will give 20-25 minutes talktime for one hour of solar charging.

The smartphone and the netbook Note PC certainly looked impressive and the solar charging seems to work well. They also come with software that lets you know how much energy is being generated through the solar panel. The software on the netbook in particular was very clever, giving clear details and some handy graphs.

The 'Eco' stand, which was hidden away in the corner of the massive Samsung hall, also had other products that were being billed as environmentally friendly. This includes using less hazardous substances and also recycled materials.

Of course, if it isn't a tablet or a 3D TV, we probably shouldn't be interested in it.