Charging phones via solar battery chargers
Both do the same, the LiPo Rider Pro just has everything on board. The 1n4001 diode used in the second instructable is used to prevent battery discharging though the solar panel at night, prevents reverse current through the solar panel when the usb charging (powering the lipo charger through usb) is used, and prevents the solar panel from affecting the charger when both light and usb charging is used. The LiPo rider has the same type of protection.