The sound engineer in all of us instinctively knows to cup smartphones with our palms to increase the volume of the random cat video. With that idea, the SoundDish was born. The product is as a passive acoustic amplifier and, like your hands, needs no electrical source to function. No matter where you take it, the SounDish’s design will double the sound coming out of a smartphone if its odd shape doesn’t get in the way of getting it there in the first place. Something as low-tech as this is certainly welcome if the sound quality is worth it. Otherwise, a bluetooth speaker and a pack of batteries can run you less than its $40 asking price — even at the expense of being at the whim of temporary power. The creators of the SounDish are looking for a $30,000 infusion to bring their idea to market. One will cost backers $40 with delivery in February 2015.
Month: October 2014
Exercising and finding a convenient way to carry an iPhone might be the biggest oxymoron concepts of the 21st century. Which is why FitHolster was created. Whether its cracked screens, profuse sweating during workouts that eventually destroys a phone’s audio mechanism, or just a more convenient way to carry a phone while enjoying hiking and other great outdoor excursions, this product lets users keep their phone protected in a case and easily carried for better mobility during those extreme activities. Magnets attached to the material strap on the case help to hold the phone in place at the user’s waistband. It appears this product will be most effective for those who just like to have their phone to listen to music during workouts and don’t need to see the display. In addition, the positioning of the holder on the waist seems like it would be a little obtrusive to an intense workout.
For those who wouldn’t mind armbands if they offered better phone screen visibility and phone protection, consider the Recoil Armband. As for Sports enthusiasts who like using their GoPhone to try to improve their game, consider checking out the GoPhone iPhone Case. The FitHolster campaign seeks to raise $3,300 by November 6. For $25, early bird backers get one product with an expected delivery of December 2014.
There’s nothing like wheels to make it easier to transport stuff from here to there. And if such a device can be adapted for pretty much any travel situation, so much the better. Monowalker is a multifaceted device that allows users to tote supplies on wheels for excursions ranging from hiking in the great outdoors to taking a walk down to the corner market. And for cycling enthusiasts, it’s even possible to get a hitch so that it can be easily pulled along. Monowalker must be modified to fit an urban verses rural environment, and it’s not clear if any tools are required for the assembly. But it does appear that the kits offered for making those changes are easy to use.
It’s a nice touch that, when on foot, the product takes the stress off of a user’s neck and shoulders since it attaches around the waist. This product seems a little bulky to carry around everywhere and may be suited to bigger adventures rather than everyday use. The campaign seeks to raise £25,000 (~$40,000 US) by November 5, 2014. City dwelling backers get a basic Monowalker product for £610 (~$980). Expected delivery is currently set for January 2015.
No matter how many precautions are taken, a parent’s worry for their child’s whereabouts isn’t something that is easily quelled — if at all. It’s ingrained deep in our wiring to be worried for our offspring. From getting lost to more serious concerns like predators, the only defense a parent really has are cell phones. For younger children, though, a smartphone comes with excessive maintenance costs even if it may contain everything a parent needs to feel better.
Inventor Lionnel Legros has created Linkoo to ease the worry of parents across the globe. Linkoo is a combination GPS tracker and cell phone for specifically for kids. The myriad of bright, fun color options appeals to kids while the integrated GSM appeals to parents, programmable with each parent’s number and one SOS number for emergencies. The child can make calls to these numbers or receive calls from anywhere around the world, and if the child doesn’t pick up a call, the watch will automatically call back ensuring the parent gets in contact no matter what. A Web portal and companion iOS/Android apps offer parents an additional layer of protection in the form of maps with real-time tracking and geo-fencing capabilities. The Linkoo is going for $129 with an estimated delivery date of March 2015. Inventor Lionel Legros is looking for $50,000 in funding.
Capitalizing on a child’s excitement for their first watch is a smart move on the inventor’s part, even if it’s a little sneaky. But for parents, nothing is ever too sneaky to ensure their child’s safety. The excessive costs associated with maintaining a smartphone for a child are mitigated with a solution that keeps just the essentials, making it very child-friendly. There are tons of other GPS, childcare smart watches on the market like the 1Decision Bracelet that interacts with an accompanying bracelet worn by the parent, taking responsibility off of the child’s shoulders to signal for help. So the question remain: will a child actually wear it if they were to know what it actually does? The video paints an ideal picture, but is it a truthful one? We all know how finicky children can be, after all.
When it comes to the more delicate side of being a female, there are certain items designed with the intent of making life easier. This applies to Go2Pon. Go2Pon is presented as a product of convenience because of its cylindrical shape. It features a suction cup on the bottom that will allow it to be securely fastened to a convenient spot in the shower or on the counter, so the tampon will always be close at hand, at least at home. It aims to make that time of the month, Aunt Flo’s visit, shark week, or whatever else you want to call it a little less awkward. Potential marriage annoyance alert: if the intent is for a permanent location for the Go2Pon, hubby may see it as ranking right up there with looking at her hand-washed bras hanging over the shower rod. Just a thought. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 by November 14, 2014. Backers can get one product for $30, with an expected delivery of May 2015.
Replacing tile flooring can be one of the most difficult home improvement projects to accomplish. And dealing with the thinset that gets left behind is typically the hardest part. The creator of Thinset Removal Bit seems to have created a tool that can help. The drill bit is a two inch wide pneumatic chisel bit made of impact-resistant alloy, hardened for longevity and sharpened so that even the most difficult to remove thinset will be easily cleared away. It’s unclear if this particular drill bit is compatible with any commercial air hammer, but there are air hammer kits out there that offer a variety of chisel sizes, such as the ADT Long Barrel Air Hammer, Ingersoll Rand Short Barrel Air Hammer, and Wilmar Heavy Duty Air Hammer, all of which come with multiple chisels. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000 by November 14, 2014. For $50, backers get one Thinset removal bit with an expected delivery of November 2014.
It’s a given that everyone reading this has a combination carbon monoxide/smoke alarm in their home. Likewise, it’s also a given that most of the time it does nothing at all. Does its potentially life-saving capability give it a pass? That’s the question the team over at Smoke Audio asked themselves, and, as a result, have set out to give the humble smoke alarm a makeover.
Smoke Audio’s take on the nondescript alarm combines it with Bluetooth audio capabilities so that user can stream audio from smartphones, tablets, and PCs. The product can work with existing wiring or already installed alarms, allowing it to be easily placed in any home. To all those who think a music-playing carbon monoxide/smoke alarm jumps out as irresponsible, the team made sure that all music functionality is switched off the moment anything strange is detected, ensuring users will hear the alarm when they need to. All those interested in the product can grab one for $90, 30% off the retail price. Smoke Audio is looking for $50,000 by November 2014.
Smoke Audio’s basic premise is an intelligent, if simplistic, one. By just adding Bluetooth audio capabilities, something that is required in all our homes becomes that much more engaging. The fact that it’s also attracts as you’ll never have to change out the battery. Smoke Audio also bills their device as a low cost alternative to multi-room wireless systems. While installation is probably much easier than those systems, its cost might still prohibitive for many. With each unit flaunting a retail a price of about $130 each, even having to purchase two for a product that isn’t portable by nature will be a hard sell. Its one talent may end up being a one trick pony, too, something Smoke Audio is sure to address with future iterations. We’ll see if their campaign will need their own alarm come mid-November.
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The Watchdog lights up the leash
It doesn’t take long for savvy parents to refrain from asking, “Whose turn is it to walk the dog?” and just draft one of the kids to do it. The Watchdog may very well change all of that. With flexible, cable light technology exclusive to the company, The Watchdog is a strong, illuminated leash that also offers functioning as a steady or flashing stream of light, which makes night walks safer for pet and owner. The principle behind the 360º cable light technology is similar to neon, except that cable is very flexible. The item must be kept charged in order to function properly, but this is done easily enough with the included USB cord. Pet owners will likely rejoice at their new disco leash, but may be a little halted by the price tag. Backers get one product for $100 with expected delivery in March 2014. This campaign seeks to raise $70,000 on Kickstarter for the chance to give pet owners more enthusiasm to walk their dogs.
We love eating eggs and there are a million ways to prepare them: boiled, sunny side up, scrambled, over easy, and the list goes on. However, eggs are delicate and to get a hard boiled or soft boiled egg, it’s difficult to tell how runny the inside is without cracking the egg open. The Egg is a portable egg-boiler. Set up to four eggs inside, close the lid, and hit the button. When it’s done, you’ll have perfectly soft boiled eggs. The Egg comes with size and temperature monitors for the eggs, runs on ion battery and allows the owner to calibrate how cooked they want their eggs to be, much like a toaster. The Egg can be used anywhere from picnics to camping trips because it doesn’t require water to use. This British product will cost backers £75 (about $121) on Kickstarter with estimated delivery for April 2015. The Egg is looking to raise £50,000 (about $80,000) in its campaign.
While a little steep in price, The Egg offers a cool kind of convenience unthought of before. Not only is it useful that The Egg soft boils eggs to perfection, but it’s also portable, a nice feature. The Krups Egg Cooker boils eggs in a neat, little package as well, but plugs into the wall and requires water. In order to up its game in future models, The Egg may want to consider adding more slots for more eggs. Even so, for quick, easy, albeit expensive egg-cooking, consider donating to The Egg.
The common quandry among healthy lifestyle enthusiasts about where to stash stuff while exercising is addressed again, this time with Intlishake. Remaining hydrated is important while working out, so why not create a water bottle that holds more than just water? This unique item has two dry storage compartments that are big enough to hold a mobile phone, small wallet, keys, and other small necessities that people often feel they need to take with them when they go to the gym or wherever their favorite exercise location happens to be. For those who like exercising at night, or perhaps before the sun is up, Aqualight can provided added safety, just like the Empowerment Bottle can. Prefer flavored water? LiveWell Water Filter makes water cleaner and tastier. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 by November 13, 2014. For $18, backers get one product with an expected delivery of April 2015.