In a somewhat surprising move, Apple has patented a new device-coating solar film that could be used as an alternate method for charging gadgets such as iPhones and iPods. If implemented, it could allow one to lay their phone out in the sun for an hour to get it charged back up.

That's all well and good, but it doesn't seem like something Apple would do. Really, how often is your phone or iPod sitting in sunlight? Normally it's deep in the recesses of my pocket, far away from any energy-giving sunlight. And with the inefficiency of current solar films, it doesn't seem like it would be worth the expense. But hey, who knows. Apple loves surprising us.

Engadget, via Ecogeek