They are devices they have a storage battery in them. They can be charged through an AC plug or by solar power. You can then use the stored power to charge up your dead smaller battery powered devices. The older ones only came with plugs to charge phones and MP3 players, things with special plugs. Now with the upgrade, the wires will now fit almost anything out on the market today. It comes with plugs to fit my Ipad version 2 with the large 12 pin plug, plugs to fit the new smart phones, plugs to fit USB, an this may jut be me, but if think it's neat, one plug is a 3 LED flashlight that fits into the USB plug. Solar power may not be the quickest way to recharge something, but if you can use solar power to recharge a battery that is a stand by power supply, it's a no brainer. IMHO.
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They originally came with a silicon plug that you put into the center hole so you can stick it to a window to charge, or can be charged anywhere if you put something into the hole (it was designed to fit a pencil) you can orient it to the sun and move it as needed.