Taiwan-based A-Data Technology and Micro-Star International (MSI) plan to introduce solar cells into their latest flash-based memory devices at CeBIT in Germany.

A-Data is launching the Solar Disk thumb drive (left image) equipped with a solar cell module. The drive does not have a built-in battery and the solar cell module powers its LCD display to show remaining capacity.

MSI will be demoing a solar cell-equipped MP3 player (right image). The solar cell won't be the sole source of juice for the prototype player, rather it uses the solar module to charge the built-in lithium battery and provide supplementary power to extend battery life. A-Data's drive is expected to be generally available in April. MSI plans to move this product into mass production in time for Computex in June 2006.

More details on the DigiTimes Site.