Month: November 2014

Categories
Chargers/Batteries Wearables

Ampy charges from your movement, brings us one step closer to The Matrix

The ultimate first world problem is a dead smartphone. Since it usually occurs at the worst possible time, finding an outlet nearby usually isn’t easy. That feeling of having to be tethered is one of the biggest drawbacks of current battery technology, especially because more and more are experiencing very active lifestyles that involve lots of movement.

Ampy is aiming to take all of that movement and put it to good use. The product is a small box that houses a 1000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery charged from kinetic energy. So, every hop, skip and jump you take not only takes you where you need to be but also generates power for your smartphone or any other USB-powered device. An accessory kit ensures that no matter how you move, Ampy will be able to come along for the ride, and a companion app tell you how much energy you’ve generated doing so. The portable battery market is drowning in options and Ampy makes great strides in separating itself from the pack with its eco-friendly aims, even if the solar-powered Granola Stroller costs $30 less and doesn’t exactly require you to break a sweat. Ampy is currently slated for a June 2015 delivery with an $85 contribution as the campaign has achieved success, currently sitting at $258,000.

Categories
Food and Beverage

Tray Bien makes for a steadier serve if your glassware fits

Ahhh, yes. There’s nothing like the need to pay off student loans for stoking the fires of creativity to make that happen. And so a couple of college students in the engineering field who may even have a bit of experience serving drinks in a restaurant setting to help pay their way through came up with a way to improve the drink tray, calling it Tray Bien. (They apparently studied a bit of French, too.) Anyway, this serving tray appears to hold six glasses, stemware or otherwise. Specific measurements aren’t noted for glass compatibility, but it appears that most glasses will fit the carved slots, which lower the center of gravity and make glasses more stable. The tray has a mahogany wood finish on one side, a cherry wood finish on the other and is dishwasher safe. As for those who want something especially unique at their next party, consider checking out the Ozz illuminated smart mixed drink mixer. The Tray Bien campaign seeks to raise $10,000 by November 19, 2014. For $30, backers get one tray with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Cycling

Piston Pedal Power compresses air to help climb that hill

In parts of the world, bicycles are the foremost method in getting from A to B. Europe is particularly famous for this, while the US is beginning to embrace bicycles with bike friendly initiatives designed to get people out and about. For the most part, it’s relatively easy to get around in these cities, however biking obstacles such as hills can be a challenge. Without a bulky electric bicycle to help, sometimes hills can make a short ride into one filled with burning thighs and sweaty faces.

Inventor Alex Baldwin’s Piston Pedal Power marries the lightweight design of most bikes with a pneumatic air canister to give riders small assists whenever they need it, turning it off whenever they don’t. The addition adds 6.5 pounds to the weight of a bicycle which isn’t too much, but still enough to be noticeable unless the product takes away the sense of the extra weight. In any case, he is still refining the design which is why he is asking for $15,000 to complete a third prototype and obtain a patent. A donation of $20 gets you 20% off the final price, estimated to be a saving of $240 — pretty pricey compared with other electric solutions like the ion Smartscooter which costs $399.

Categories
Pets

Droppi dispenses time-release absentee love to your pets

It’s an horrid feeling leaving pets home because of the demands of daily life. They have to spend long stretches of time alone, an obvious detriment to their mental and physical health. Fortunately, there have been a surge of products that promise to feed or even entertain your pet while you’re away. Now you can add Droppi to that list.

Droppi is a gadget designed with a tray that drops small treats or toys at a pre-determined time from above. You can attach to the wall anywhere in your home. With the help of speakers, users can always be sure the reward will be found with the use of pre-recorded sound messages to lead the way. Stretch goals include features that should already be baked into the product, including a night light and a backlit display. Ultimately, though, it simply doesn’t do enough especially considering it’s limited to one drop a day. Other products like the Odin or Pawly add puzzle and remote play aspects to the device instead of limiting it simply to whatever happens to be on the tray. Knowing how fickle most pets are, they’ll still end up being bored! There are other products that do much more, better. One Droppi is going for $45AUD (~$40USD) with a delivery date of June 2015. The campaign is seeking $40,000 to make this product a reality.

Categories
Pets

Pet Potty lets dogs and cats do their business in an air conditioner-like window box

For those who don’t live in a palatial house with ample space for beloved pets, here is a space-saving idea that may just solve the question of where to put the kitty liter box. Katio and Dogio allows owners to discretely stow the kitty liter box in the window. At least it’s pretty discrete on the inside. On the outside, not so much. And for those who don’t like to be bothered with walking the dog at odd hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, there is also a version for the family dog that comes with a ramp – provided Fido can fit in a space slightly smaller than the size of a window. For older cats that don’t jump so well anymore, a ramp can be purchased separately. This campaign seeks to raise $250,000 by November 24, 2014. For $250, backers can get a cat unit, or $300 for a dog unit. This is a $50 savings off of anticipated retail. Expected delivery is April 2015.

Categories
Smart Home

Ambi is another connected add-on that tells air conditioners to cool it

For air conditioner lovers, the scene is all too familiar. The house is the perfect temperature when it’s time to go to sleep, and then in the middle of the night, it feels like a new ice age has arrived. Ambi Climate is a smart brain for any model of air conditioner with an infra-red remote that senses outdoor and indoor conditions to adjust the air conditioner to the perfect temperature. Monitoring humidity, time of day, weather, motion, and indoor temperature, Ambi Climate adjusts the air conditioning to the perfect setting before anyone can even consider adjusting it.

Like any good smart air conditioner, Ambi Climate can also be adjusted manually using its app, even while outside of the home. Ambi Climate also pays attention to the situations in which manual controls are used to learn more about the user and better predict the temperatures he or she wants their home to have. By adjusting automatically, Ambi Climate not only find the perfect A/C setting, but also saves on energy bills. Ambi Labs has set its goal at $25,000. Buyers will feel the perfect indoor climate for $99 in time for the 2015 summer.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Moobitalk takes a low-tech approach to allow hands-free car conversations

Cell phone usage while driving is not only dangerous, but illegal in most states. Many people, however, must suffer a long commute to work and simply can’t remain silent during the whole ride, whether they’re talking to work or their families. Moobitalk seeks to give commuters a way to take on the phone hands-free. It attaches to the seatbelt once it is already fastened. Then, when a call comes in, simply hit speaker phone and attach the phone’s screen to Moobitalk. It uses micro-suction technology to keep the phone in place without damaging the screen. Backers can nab the Swedish-made Moobitalk for £18 (~$29) with an estimated delivery date of December 2014. The hands-free device is hoping to raise £34,000 (~$54,000) on Kickstarter.

Moobitalk is a good idea, but executed poorly. Like many other car-centric devices, GPS’s and DVD players included, Moobitalk requires some setting up before use. So, while the driver is talking there are no hands being used, an incoming call still requires some set up. An ear-attached hands-free device that only requires the push of a button for picking and hanging up calls may be more safe for chatty drivers on the road. In addition, many newer cars come equipped with built-in Bluetooth technology, meaning that pretty soon most hands-free devices will be deemed unnecessary.

Categories
Cooking

Trivae shifts from holding pot lids to plates with aplomb

Open flames, piping hot pots and pans, and never enough room — kitchens can certainly be a taxing environment, and cooking in one can be a bit of a puzzle. With so many moving pieces floating around, you’re bound to get tied up with hands full while a pressing matter is vying for your attention. In an attempt to free up hands stuck in indecision, Trivae is a heat-resistant, cast iron lid holder and dual trivet that always gives you a place to put down random lids, plates, or pans. It makes the transition from kitchen assistant pretty well when you expand it out to serve as a presentation stand as well. Some smart design decisions were implemented into the design of the product, including a spine that curves away from whatever is on top in its flat layout, and non-slip rubber pads to avoid slippage. When you’re done, the product’s single trivet option also doubles as a way to conveniently store the product, addressing storage issues just like the Armadillo Colander does. A donation of $50 gets interested backers their very own Trivae in May of 2015. A $50,000 campaign goal is the only thing stopping Trivae from beginning production.

Categories
Furniture

ManBuffer is the center console your couch never had

Nothing is more disappointing during those times of relaxing than when the beer and munchies run out and one has to actually get up off the couch and go get more. So the creators of ManBuffer set out to change that. Their apparent mission in life is to find like-minded men who will take on the important life goal of a relaxation station for every American couch – well, okay, other countries can participate too. This center console holds two open cans or beer bottles, and it appears that it stores up to eight in the cooler section. It’s not clear what the measurements are for couch compatibility purposes, but it comes in multiple color choices to help keep the little lady happy. In order to make sure there’s enough room in the fridge for what doesn’t fit in the ManBuffer, backers might also want to check out the Bottleloft campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000 by November 11, 2014. Early bird backers can get theirs for $45, with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Sports

Alligator Arms gets players ready to catch the winning touchdown

Football is a game in which a variety of skills are not only required, but players are trained to a level where they’re practically second nature. In particular, there are a few aspects of pass receiving that are absolutely vital to get down. One of the most important skills is to avoid catching the ball with the body by extending the arms as far as possible. Although it sounds simple, the level of efficacy expected requires a lot time, discipline, and occasionally something to help nudge you down the right path. Alligator Arms aims to help budding pass receivers nurture solid fundamentals, compelling them to always extend their arms when engaging in the process of catching the pass. The product comes in the form of a belt worn around the waist that attaches to a user’s wrists with cords. It’s a simple, low-tech aid similar to the Shoot Natural Glove that, with enough use, seems like it can breed positive habits. Since the product was conceived at a fitness seminar, there must be some truth to the claim, although more analysis use would be necessary to see if it actually works over the long run. In the meantime, one Alligator Arms is going for $100 with an estimated delivery date of December 2014. The campaign is looking for $10,000 to help players everywhere.