"The Freeplay Fetal Heart Rate Monitor works off-grid, where there's no electricity to support a delivery. The Washington Post reports that some 500,000 women die annually in childbirth, often from causes that could be prevented with basic care."  More...

Shilpa Shetty is doing her bit to fight global warming. She has joined hands with  Freeplay Energy India, a company that produces hand crank lanterns that generate electricity without using fuel.  More...

"I don’t know what’s better about the ML-1 Mini lantern—the fact that it doesn't require an electric power source, or the fact that its hand-crank charging system can keep kids entertained for hours!"  More...

When the sun goes down and you need to find your way around, flashlights are your trusty best friends. We've rounded up eight models to help you choose your next lights-out BFF  More...

Product review of the ML-1 Mini Lantern on page 24.  More...

Kipkay reviews the ML-1 Mini Lantern.  More...

For me, it’s enough just to know that Mother Nature is out there, but for others who need the real thing, I suggest packing along an array of Freeplay Energy products for your campsite.  More...

Gear testing reviews of the Freeplay Energy ML-1 Mini Lantern  More...

Thomas Friedman recently wrote an article about a pair of American college students who were taking a road tour through India via electric car, stopping along the way to document examples of sustainable solutions that were being implemented by entrepreneurs, companies and municipalities across the country.

Here are some highlights.  More...

The highlight of the day was the session called Green Design for Good with Rahul Sharma from Freeplay Energy, Emily Pilloton from Project H, Mark Bent from SunNight Solar and Gadi Amit from New Deal Design. Daniel Seiberg, a journalist and co-host of G Word on Planet Green, chaired the panel and opened the discussion by asking everyone what sustainability means when it comes to designing for humanitarian aid.  More...

Griffith’s name-calling kicks off a full day that aimed to teach a very important message: We need to redefine our sense of sustainability, and we need this to be part of our ethos as global citizens.... Rahul Sharma, North American vice president of Freeplay Energy, takes the stage later in the afternoon to reinforce this notion.  More...

But until the need for the latest and greatest gadget is curbed, truly green consumer electronics will remain more a slogan than a reality. "This conference should be obsolete in 15 years," said Rahul Sharma of Freeplay Energy, a U.K. company that makes self-powered devices such as radios, "because this becomes so embedded in the culture."  More...

Griffith seemed to propose a hybrid solution:  1. Reduce our needs, and 2. Make products more efficient, more serviceable and higher quality.  More...

Unannounced until now, the radio with the ultra long battery life will sold starting next year in the US and a number of other countries for about $100  More...

While everyone is showing off their latest hi-tech toys at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Freeplay has come up with a rather practical device in the form of the ZipCharge power stick.  More...

Freeplay's ZipCharge has already made its debut, but it's showing itself once more at Mobile World Congress now that it has a definitive ship date and price.  More...

It might not help you in case of a nuclear fallout, but if the power grids ever fail and you want news about what’s going on in the world, this solar powered radio is the answer.  More...

"The environmental benefits of energy harvesting are proving to be greater and more widespread than originally realised...  In the UK, the Freeplay wind-up radios for Third World countries need no battery."  More...

Review of the Indigo LED Lantern  More...

Review of the Eyemax WB and Companion radios.  More...

Three detailed, external reviews of the Freeplay Energy ML-1 Mini Lantern by Backpack Gear Testers: Coy Ray Starnes, Larry Kirschner, and Richard Lyon.  More...

Review of the Freeplay Energy Companion  More...

Are you an eco-traveler with a passion for gadgets?   Ethicalsuperstore.com in the UK features many eco-gadgets ideal for that weekend getaway or the epic journey.  More...

So, next time you're listening to some cool tunes and someone asks you to "crank it up", oblige them and crank up your Freeplay Radio!  What a Green-Sexy product!  More...

"Doing the right thing by buying the right thing is easier than ever."  More...

One of the more useful gadgets to debut at CES last week was the ZipCharge by Freeplay Energy, the company that brought us the first hand-cranked radio.  More...

"...the take-away from the session panel was that if you’re really interested in learning how to build low-power, long-life, non-toxic devices with a small ecological footprint, the kind of places you should visit are Africa and India. David Floyd, managing director of British company Freeplay Energy, explained why..."  More...

"Freeplay Energy’s new digital radio has looks inspired by modern design—and electronics inspired by rural Africa. The radio, for sale in Britain, uses low-power tech similar to that in the company’s wind-up radios for developing countries."  More...

"Richard Wharton of Freeplay and Noel Wiggins of Areaware agreed there was more focus on green products at CES this year, though Mr Wharton said it had started from a low base."  More...

Video: Cool Gadgets, CES 2009  More...

Video: Green Technology from CES 2009  More...

The Freeplay Lifeline radio is powered by both a hand crank and a solar panel that can be detached and placed outdoors while the radio is used indoors.  Available for purchase only by licensed NGO’s, over 300,000 radios have been distributed to date for educational use in remote locations.  More...

We’re also excited to announce that this year CES will host a Greener Gadgets Panel on Sat Jan 10th, entitled The Future Of Consumer Technology. Moderated by our friend (and Greener Gadgets partner) Marc Alt, this panel will feature Mary Lou Jepsen from One Laptop Per Child and PixelQi, David Floyd from Freeplay Energy, and Jeff Omelchuck from the Green Electronics Council.  More...

"Solar companies feature heavily in the greener gadgets mix, with companies including PowerFilm, which is developing lightweight, flexible solar photovoltaic materials for building-integrated and portable uses; Solio, maker of a handheld solar charging device for use with consumer electronics; and Freeplay Energy, a company that makes solar-powered radios and hand-crank powered flashlights."  More...

"...Freeplay Foundation, a charity that provides sustainable technologies to help poor people in developing countries, is planning this spring to distribute Lifelights, a lantern powered by renewable energy, to 100,000 orphaned households in Rwanda."  More...

While shopping for gifts this Christmas I came across a self-powered camping lantern that never requires batteries and never requires bulbs... This is the direction that technology is heading: Increasing efficiency and self-powered sustainability.  More...

With the help of the Lemelson Foundation, and green celebrity, Tom Hanks, Freeplay [Foundation] has been working to bring clean and renewable energy lanterns to Rwanda.  More...

We discovered the Freeplay Energy company at the last minute while prepping this article, and we were so impressed with their radios that we had to include them.  More...

Freeplay Energy has been developing some great consumer products over the years, such as the Lifeline Radio, Jonta “human-powered” Flashlight, and the Indigo Lead Lantern. But there is an offshoot of Freeplay we have yet to discuss, which is the non-profit Freeplay Foundation.  More...

"British inventor Trevor Baylis saw the benefits of developing a wind-up radio for third world countries in 1991- his direct inspiration was to help combat the spread of AIDS by providing a means to transmit vital information about the disease to areas where no electricity was available - and the idea was first commercialised in 1996 when Freeplay released its wind-up radio."  More...

Freeplay makes a line of flashlights and radios that operate without any battery power. They work simply by cranking a handle. Wow-factor bonus points for the clear casing so you can see what’s going on inside!  More...

Here are 10 green options that just might fit your slimmed-down budget and help fight global warming  More...

Grid-Free Gear From Freeplay: Freeplay started more than a decade ago with a grant from the British government and the goal to develop geeky rugged gear.  More...

The innovative, self-powered Sherpa X-Ray flashlight features dual-system technology for fail-safe lighting!  More...

the 'so watt!' exhibition, has many models and projects which get people thinking about how we can act in a
greener way when it comes to using electricity. some of the projects on show are very functional and others take
more of a humorous spin on the design of energy saving devices.  More...

The innovative, self-powered Sherpa X-Ray flashlight features dual-system technology for fail-safe lighting!  More...

This self-powered radio offers AM, FM, and National Weather Service broadcasts. Sherpa is simply engineered to be the best self-sufficient flashlight in the world today.  More...

Freeplay's ML-1 Mini Lantern can also be powered by both electricity or handcrank, and the LED bulbs--both space-illuminating and directional--are rated for 100,000 hours.  More...

Another eco-friendly product comes from Freeplay, the company that developed the world’s first ever wind-up radio in 1996.  More...

Arguably any decent radio is fine in an emergency providing you have the batteries to power it but I was attracted to the Freeplay wind-up radio because it offers alternative energy sources.  More...

At a time when being kind to the environment is just as important as price, our friends at Current Energy have a few gift ideas for the earth-loving person on your list. No, they aren’t sexy. But these days I’m more interested in functionality, especially after buying a house. So I would totally dig this wind-up LED flashlight from Freeplay ($35) that doesn’t require batteries or bulbs.  More...

Much like on the mainland, living on an island means that you need to be prepared for emergencies. One necessity is having a durable flashlight that can help you navigate around your island when the power is out. One of my favorite new products is The Freeplay Kito Flashlight.  More...

The Freeplay FreeCharge 12V has a hand crank and uses human power to supply electricity to a 12V cigarette-lighter–like connector.  More...

"Freeplay Eco-Charge flashlights and lanterns have rechargeable batteries, but their main power source is a built-in hand crank."  More...

Enter our costume contest below for a chance to win some a fabulous prizes, including hand-cranked lanterns and flashlights from Freeplay Energy, stylish Inhabitat T-shirts and bags, and of course all the fame and fortune that goes with having your winning photo published on Inhabitat.com!  More...

This little lantern is bright. A bright spot in a sea of battery suckers. It never requires batteries or bulbs. That’s right, you heard me, never.  More...

Free Play recognizes that clean power and technology is the solution to lifting many people out of poverty.  More...

We’ve had our Indigo Windup Lantern from Freeplay inhouse for a while and we love it. Here’s why:  More...

Take a look at Freeplay Energy's line-up of environmentally-conscious products that are powered using human, solar and rechargeable energy.  More...

All of the products are designed to be self-sufficient - meaning if you’re power goes out or your battery dies, an item you’re relying on such as a flashlight or radio, won’t be rendered useless.  More...

Here is a device that will charge your cell phone quickly just by winding it up.  More...

Freeplay Energy CEO David Floyd said that the plant would employ thousands of Nigerians, and was expected to deploy millions of energy conserving products across Africa, where it was estimated that over 600-million people did not have access to stable electricity supply.  More...

"An ideal backup power supply that puts the power in your hands"  More...

The Freeplay line represents the cutting edge in power independence - and whether you get a light or a radio you will probably never have to buy another, or another battery.  More...

"The Freeplay Summit is the first compact, multi-band radio incorporating Freeplay's unique self-sufficient energy technology."  More...

"Isn’t it fortunate then that Freeplay Energy’s charitable wing the Freeplay Foundation attempts to bring communication and light to the 1.6 billion people in the world today without electricity?"  More...

"Big on functionality, but small in size, the ML-1 Mini Lantern stashes nicely in any small pocket in your backpack. In addition, it requires no disposable batteries and the bulbs last virtually forever, making it a sustainable lighting solution."  More...

"This top end radio combines a PLL (digitally tuned) radio with the reliability of multiple power options: wind-up, solar and rechargeable."  More...

"Freeplay Weza - This is a great device. In fact, any product from Freeplay would be a great gift idea for the Holidays."  More...

"The Weza Portable Energy Source is the ultimate in independent portable power supplies."  More...

"REI to be first retailer to offer lighter and more compact little brother to the Indigo Lantern"  More...

"Environmentally friendly living is not necessarily living that is different from the standard you are used to. That is the falsehood that gets parroted around a lot and it is products like this that show that environmentally friendly living does not require that much change."  More...

Saving electricity is all well and good, but why not find ways to avoid plugging things in altogether? There's a growing range of gadgets on the market that can help you do just that.  More...

"While there is never one perfect device or solution for any one situation, there are those that have attributes worth mentioning so we will provide some insight into this well built and Eco-friendly lamp."  More...

With emphasis on saving power and eco-friendly technology, hand winding caters to the reliability factor at the minimum cost of inputs. Freeplay Energy's core technology revolves around the efficient conversion and storage of applied human energy and the delivery of this energy on demand as electricity to create self-powered electronic devices.  More...

Portable radios are always at the forefront of the drive towards green, sustainable power sources  More...

"I think this is a really interesting concept, free information from a device that is environmentally friendly."  More...

"Green energy - a sustainable energy solution that’s built to last."  More...

"The FreeCharge Weza does not have an OLED screen, or a 3G network and it has a zero megapixel count.  But it can manually recharge all the gadgets that do have those features, earning it a little green cred as one of the most interesting under-the-radar gadgets out there."  More...

"Since Freeplay Energy's first radio was created in 1996, aid agencies and the Freeplay Foundation have given over 600,000 self-powered radios to rural and poor parts of the world, providing access to information to more than eight million people."  More...

"The World Bank Group launched the 'Lighting Africa' campaign last September. The initiative aims to provide lighting products and other energy services that are not dependent on fossil fuels -- and which are safe, reliable and low cost -- to some 250 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030."  More...

"You may well be able to get better standard multi-band radios for less, but few will be as satisfying to use, or as well built as this one."  More...

"While radios powered on old-fashioned batteries are completely out of the picture, we're quite keen on wind-up radios, and the Freeplay Summit is our favourite".   More...

Some of the wind-up products being used in this joint venture to power India's rural villages are produced by Freeplay Energy.  More...

"Purchasing this gadget will not only give you an excellent eco–friendly radio but also donate to a worthy charity. It is a win/win situation."   More...

"The latest generation of Freeplay products are: smaller, lighter, more efficient, rugged design, lower price point." More  More...

"The Companion is one of the most useful gadgets in my bag. It gets used often and it never disappoints!"  More...

ActionAid distributes Freeplay Lifeline radios to help prevent the spread of cholera among flood evacuees in Mozambique.  More...

“The quality of this Freeplay radio far exceeds that of its cheap imitators.”  More...

Freeplay Energy is a participant in the Lighting Africa initiative of the World Bank.  This article looks at what is being done and quotes Freeplay Energy’s managing director David Floyd.  More...

New research on using human energy to power devices, including comments from Freeplay Energy chairman Rory Stear.  More...

“The lantern is a serious tool.”  More...

“The lowest bid looks to be $610 at the moment...”  More...

Architect Cameron Sinclair, winner of the 2006 TED Prize, had 50 people on a New York City street corner listening to the news on his Freeplay radio during a blackout.  (They asked him where he got it, and he said Africa – but they’re available in New York too!)  More...

“Essential radio communication.”  More...

The “Mommywood” column reports on the Freeplay Lifeline and the Tom Hanks auction.  More...

"The Oscar winner is participating in an eBay charity auction."  Also on The Insider.  More...

This story was picked up by many publications including Boing Boing Gadgets, Earthtimes.org, Coolest Gadgets, SlashGear, Gadgetreporter.com, FlashlightNews, and FlashTorch.com.  More...

About the Freeplay Lifeline, the Freeplay Foundation, and the auction of Lifelines autographed by Tom Hanks.  More...

From January 22 to February 1, Tom Hanks and eBay are auctioning 10 autographed Freeplay Lifeline radios, so that the Freeplay Foundation can distribute more Lifelines in Africa.  With a video where he demonstrates the Lifeline and its importance.  More...

“We (you) become the battery (so to speak)...”  More...

“54 cranks later, my blood is pumping and my ears are filled...”  More...

“I like the fact that you can see its internal organs.”  More...

There are ten of them – and #1 is Freeplay’s new Companion.  More...

“The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide for Men” also craves a Weza.  More...

“Freeplay Energy’s Weza Energy Source wins full points for off-the-grid functionality.”  More...

“Pedal power is back, thanks to the creative folks at Freeplay.”  About the Freeplay Weza.  More...

Video: FORTUNE senior writer Michael Copeland visits green companies at CES, including Freeplay Energy.  He gets his BlackBerry charged up by Freeplay's Rahul Sharma, using the new Freeplay Companion.  More...

As a winner in the Premium Product category of the 2008 Promotional Gift Awards, the Freeplay EyeMax will be on display at the Pro 8 Show, Amsterdam, 29-31 January 2008, and at the Promotion World trade fair, Hannover, 21-25 April 2008.  (Note: the website has not yet been fully updated with the 2008 winners, so click “Award Winner 2008” on the right side of the page.  The listing is under the name of distributor Löw Energy Systems.)  More...

“For a little fun in the sun, Freeplay Energy’s NR-2XS solar-powered radio should arrive in the United States in May for about $100.”  More...

“We just discovered this amazingly useful gadget at CES, and can’t wait to get our hands on one.”  More...

At Freeplay's booth at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, Rahul Sharma shows off the new Companion, which despite its small size and light weight is a radio, a flashlight, and a cellphone charger all in one, and the Indigo lantern as well.  More...

Freeplay Energy participated in the “Technology and Emerging Countries” program of the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.  More...

About Freeplay's upcoming NR-2XS solar radio / device charger, on view at the current Consumer Electronics Show.  More...

“Measuring just 4.9″ long, this veritable Swiss Army Knife of renewable power generation...”  More...

“With the recent New York City-wide blackout still fresh in my memory, having this handy radio device just in case is not without merit.”  More...

Shiny Media's video report from the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.  See our new Companion, which despite its small size and light weight is a radio, a flashlight, and a cellphone charger all in one, and see Freeplay's Richard Wharton show off the innovative low-power electronics inside our forthcoming 2nd-generation DAB radio.  More...

Including Freeplay's Rahul Sharma demonstrating the use of human power through Freeplay products.  More...

PC Magazine reports from the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show about two upcoming products from Freeplay.  More...

Reporting from the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, the author says that Freeplay Energy is one of “a ridiculously small bunch of fewer than 10 companies” exhibiting sustainable technologies.  More...

Sami Grover says “Among the companies that are working to make this happen, Freeplay Energy has got to be one of our favorites”, and posts one of our case-study videos, saying “we thought we'd start the new year with this inspiring video”.  More...

Sami Grover covets some of our products.  More...

The upcoming 2008 Consumer Electronics Show will be the most environmentally friendly one yet.  Freeplay Energy will be exhibiting, and the article's author will be “watching [us] closely”.  More...

About the One Laptop Per Child project’s XO laptop, which is optionally powered by a hand-cranked charger developed specifically for this purpose by Freeplay Energy.  More...

About Kristine Pearson, CEO of the Freeplay Foundation, and the Freeplay Lifeline radio.  More...

Including the Freeplay Summit radio.  More...

Including the EyeMax Weather Band radio.  More...

...on Buy Nothing Day (Nov. 23, 2007 in North America, Nov. 24 elsewhere).  More...

Including the Freeplay Indigo lantern.  More...

Audio (2 min. 45 sec.):  click the loudspeaker icon.  More...

How Freeplay’s power technology is being used to create medical devices for developing countries.  More...

MP3 audio file.  Summary: “In some undeveloped parts of the world, a free laptop is nearly all that’s needed to get in on the Internet. Leveling the technological playing field is harder in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, where many people lack electricity or even a radio. CBS’ Larry Magid talks to Kristine Pearson of the Freeplay Foundation, which is providing help in the form of hand-cranked generators and radios.”  More...

Scroll down, about one page.  More...

About the Freeplay Weza.  More...

About the One Laptop Per Child project’s XO laptop that is optionally powered by a Freeplay charger.  More...

With transcript.  A review of using the FreeCharge 12V to keep a cellphone charged during a long-distance sailboat race.  More...

Each room is equipped with two Freeplay products.  More...

Coolest:  Freeplay EyeMax radio.  More...

Including the Freeplay Indigo lantern.  More...

“I’ve found a new lantern that is just what I’ve been looking for all these years.”  More...

The magazine page that appeared in TIME and FORTUNE magazines.  (PDF file, 668 KB.)  More...