Following the success of Windows Live SkyDrive, an online storage and file-sharing service, Google has announced early availability of its MemeoConnect for Google Apps or GDrive.

Memeo Connect is a file and document storage and synchronization solution for keeping online copies of your local documents and vice-versa. It is available as a desktop application for Windows and Mac OS X (including the iPad) and appears to be targeted to enterprise and business users.

If previous the current Google Apps model is any indication, it will probably be available in a limited edition free of charge and scale upwards from there. What does this offer that the average internet user cannot find elsewhere? Memeo Connect may be just another incarnation of the usual online storage model offered by other free and pay services. Google, however usually gets it right and brings just a little more to the table the competition (ie. Gmail).

As reported by CNET News, Apple recently filed a patent for touch screen technology that would incorporate solar cells under the surface of devices with capacitive touch panels.

It appears their goal is to use power from external light sources to increase the battery life of mobile devices and media players. Sketches of iPod- and iPad-like devices were specifically depicted in the patent application. Third-party sources are reporting that recent design changes to their touch panel technology could reflect a move in this direction. More specifically, "switching the iPhone's backside substrate to a non-metal surface would clearly open the door for Apple to implement a double-sided solar panel design."

Developments like this and other "power assisted technology" ideas may be hitting the market sooner than we think and could significantly increase the amount of battery life we see from our portable devices.