I have wanted one of these from the first time I saw it. I hate the idea of buying batteries for lanterns we use for camping or boating. And I always seem to forget to charge the batteries in the rechargable we have. So I bought one and am I glad I did! First of all it has a dimmer switch - it goes from very bright to quite low and everything in between. Second, it has a spot-type light on the side with a separate switch for when you have to quit reading and answer the call of nature. Did you ever try to walk in the woods with a 360° lantern? Of course the big bonus is that you can just wind a crank and charge it up. When I got the thing in my hands, I found it was not a cheap knock-off like you might get at Wal-Mart. This is quality merchandise with a brand name and a good company behind it. Here is some of their boilerplate:

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Freeplay Indigo

The Indigo is ideal for everyday use and emergency use indoors and outdoors, featuring a LED cluster and a directional single LED. An articulated handle lets you carry it or hang the lantern as needed. Rubber feet allow for placement on uneven surfaces.

LED Cluster:
The 5mm ultra bright LED cluster fully charged will give you 70 hours on night light and about 3 hours on max bright. By way of the dimmer switch you can go to night light to ultra bright. A 60 second wind gives you 3 hours of night light or 6 minutes on max bright.

Single LED:
Fully charged gives you 40 hours or a 60 second wind gives you 1 hour.

Charger:
Charges from USB source or USB compatible power supply sold separately.

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Freeplay™ Energy’s Indigo Lantern Wins Award
Product Named 2007 International CES Design and Engineering Honoree

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freeplay™ Energy’s Indigo Lantern was recently named a Consumer Electronics Show Innovations 2007 Awards Honoree in the personal electronics category. The Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are open to consumer technology manufacturers and developers who have launched a product within the past year. Products are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade press. Recognizing the most innovative consumer electronics products in 31 categories, Innovations has become a hallmark for the best designed products in consumer technology.

Freeplay™ Energy consistently offers the highest quality radios, lighting sources and portable energy sources, that incorporate not only AC/DC rechargeable battery sources, but also back up sources of power, such as solar and wind up energy. Prototypes of the Indigo LED Lantern, the company’s newest offering, were previewed at the 2006 International CES.

Ideal for everyday and emergency use, indoors and out, the Freeplay Indigo LED Lantern is a serious tool that integrates two power sources – wall rechargeability and trusted Freeplay wind-up technology – for maximum reliability and dependability. Freeplay’s products are great for the environment – they do not rely on disposable batteries that are continuously purchased and discarded, which adds waste to landfills. In addition to rechargeable batteries, the LED light in the Indigo has up to 100,000 hours of useful life and should never have to be replaced.

Weighing just under a pound, the Indigo is easy to transport and provides up to 70 hours of light on the night light setting with a fully charged battery – that means light anywhere, anytime. With dual functionality – both radiant and directional task lighting - the Indigo does more than most lighting sources. The task light provides guide light while walking at night and the lantern, with adjustable dimming, is perfect for lighting an area either around a picnic table or in a tent.

When needed, a 60-second wind will provide two hours of shine time at the night light setting and five minutes at the max-bright setting. The integrated directional light will shine for up to 35 hours continuously when fully charged. A 60-second wind provides one hour of light from the directional light.