New Scientist describes two new patents granted to Nokia and Motorola which plan to improve the batteries of our favorite handhelds. While Nokia wants to develop self-powered billboards, Motorola is building a liquid crystal display (LCD) that incorporates a solar panel behind the screen of a phone. Other companies have tried to put solar cells behind phones’ screens without success. Motorola says its approach is different because this new LCD will act both as a display and a light collecting device for the solar cell. No date is given about the availability of such a solar-powered phone.

Links: Primidi, ZDNet