New Technology Items: Soulra XL

Forget popping in earphones while you top up your tan, the sun-loving Eton Soulra XL will play music from your iPod or iPhone even when you’re miles from the nearest plug socket. Just like its smaller sibling, the Eton Soulra, it’s great for taking on picnics, to the beach, or just down to the bottom of the garden.

Armed with a fold-out solar panel, this self-sustaining stereo will completely charge in daylight in five hours and – thanks to a high power lithium ion battery – keep playing for up to five hours after dark. It’ll even generate enough juice to charge your Apple gadget in around four hours.

With its rugged styling and rubberised aluminium body, the splash-proof stereo is in its element by the pool or on the front lines of a water fight. So cue the rousing opera music – we’re going in! Dum-dum da-dum daaaa daaaaa, dum-da-dum daaaaa daaaaaaa...