Categories
Health and Wellness

MachoMax makes working out easier to work in to your busy schedule

Working out is a great way to relieve the daily stresses of life while also retaining the ability to fit into one’s preferred clothing size.

For those times when the weather gets too cold or life gets so busy as to make getting to the gym impossible, MachoMax provides a convenient way for users to get a bit of a workout while staying warm and indoors. MachoMax provides resistance training and is reminiscent in appearance to Silly Putty. The product is specifically designed for improving endurance and speed. Conveniently, it comes in a disk shaped package that will most likely fit in any pocket, backpack, or purse.

The product boasts that it gives users the ability to work out anywhere, an ambitious claim given that a good full-body workout typically requires a healthy balance of cardio and weights. Still, MachoMax seemingly has potential and certainly offers users a convenient way to workout at a moment’s notice from the comfort of their own home. Interested backers might also like to check out Gym Handle and WilkWear.

The MachoMax campaign seeks to raise $15,000 by April 1, 2015. Early bird backers get one product for $15 with an expected delivery date of April 2015.

Categories
Tech Accessories

ChatLight lets video chatters see each other in a better light

Skype, FaceTime, Oovoo, and other video chat systems have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Each allow a way for people far apart to have a face-to-face conversation. Of course, when talking to someone from afar, most want to look their best.

ChatLight offers a way for video chatters to look great. This bright light attaches to any smartphone, laptop or tablet because its length is adjustable. The light itself is versatile too, allowing the user to either set it on high or low. It charges via a USB cable and only needs 15 minutes for a full charge. ChatLight rotates too, so that it’s always in the right spot.

This product is a neat little invention, great for anyone who likes to video chat a lot. The brightness is an especially nice feature for new college students who may have to talk in the dark due to sleeping roommates. There’s no mention on how hot the light gets, however, something the creators may want to detail in their campaign. One ChatLight goes for $20 with delivery in June 2015. This product is looking for $50,000 in funding on Kickstarter with a campaign end date of March 28.

Categories
Winter Sports

Zibock combination skis and sled lets riders hike up, careen down mountains

Many skiers love the convenience of ski resorts. Chairlifts tote up the mountain and trails lead the way down. However, some like to travel off of the trails and discover new hills on their own. Those who do so aren’t able to enjoy the ease of a chairlift, but must climb the mountain on their own.

Zibock is a product for such adventurers. This French invention is a convertible ski/sled. The skis are for hiking up the mountain in a cross-country type style. The whole thing then folds together and turns into a sled. The user sits on the little seat and holds onto the pole in the middle for stability. For steering and braking, the rider can use their hands and feet. Zibock is lightweight and easy to carry around in a backpack as well.

Zibock is a cool product, albeit appropriate for only a very niche market. Still, it’s great for those who don’t mind hiking up snowy mountains. Most would probably stick with a ski lift. For their own, backers can donate a steep $749 to the campaign, or opt for lower tiers that allow for one, two or three day rentals of the product. Zibock is looking for $100,000 on Indiegogo with a campaign end date of March 25.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Shake the VAGA HandEnergy to charge your phone, burn your lunch

Throughout the day, many people are understandably preoccupied with ensuring that their smartphones, tablets, and laptops are sufficiently charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, finding the requisite “juice” can often be challenging as outlets can be scarce and portable batteries themselves need to be charged as well.

A novel solution to this problem would be a battery capable of charging itself as opposed to one which requires an outlet for charging. Thankfully, this product exists and is called the VAGA HandEnergy. The VAGA HandEnergy is a compact, handheld device that uses kinetic energy to produce power that can be used to charge smartphones. All you have to do to generate a charge is shake the device your hand. Although the device features a single USB port, the campaign isn’t clear about whether or not the VAGA HandEnergy can charge other devices like tablets as well. In any case, there are a wide variety of colors to choose from, so backers won’t be without choice. The product is priced at $39, with an unclear ship date and a $50,000 campaign goal.

VAGA HandEnergy may seem like a novelty product, but alternative means of generating energy is a growing market and the VAGA HandEnergy therefore finds itself in good company. Products like Hydrobee also seek to cut the cord on outlet dependence, making both devices ideal for always-on-the-go types who absolutely need their phones on, fully charged, and ready for anything.

Categories
Fashion

Like the celebrity you’re stalking, the Davek Alert Umbrella never leaves your sight

Umbrellas have the unique distinction of being incredibly useful while simultaneously instilling a sense of dread that hangs around its users. After all, once an umbrella is bought, it’s only a matter of time before it gets lost or stolen.

The Davek Alert Umbrella focuses on making sure your umbrella doesn’t get lost at all. By employing an embedded Bluetooth LE beacon at its base, synced to an iOS or Android device of course, the Davek Alert Umbrella alerts users when it finds itself more than 30ft away. The companion mobile app also makes it possible to disable proximity awareness for a specified length of time while also providing usage recommendations depending on the weather.

The umbrella design itself is nothing to scoff at, either. It boasts a zinc alloy handle, a core made of aircraft-grade aluminum and flexible fiberglass, and a water-repellent outer coating. This makes it rigid enough for high winds yet flexible enough to open and close on a dime with its automatic push button system. All of the above pretty much makes this the best umbrella one could ever buy. Backers can grab their own for $99, and expect it in September 2015 provided the campaign hits its target of $50,000 by April 12, 2015.

Categories
Smartwatches/Bands

After devouring folding keyboards, FlyShark takes on the smartwatch

A common knock against most smartwatches is that their most significant functions, such as making phone calls, can only be used when a paired smartphone is nearby.

Following their successful campaign for a sleek folding keyboard accessory for smartphones, the makers of the FlyShark Smartwatch have set out to remove this codependence from smartwatches. Specifically, the FlyShark Smartwatch can make private calls and send and receive messages all without requiring users to touch their smartphones. Generally, the FlyShark Smartwatch can function independently so long as there is a Micro SIM card installed.

Like other smartwatches, it also functions as an exercise tracker and heart rate monitor. Unlike the soon to be released Apple Watch, FlyCatch also features a built-in camera. Other features include dual Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 support. The campaign, which seeks $10,000, will remain open until April 1, 2014.

FlyShark has some nice features, but the jury’s out on just how much appeal there is for a smartwatch whose main selling point is its independence from the smartphone. Many consumers on the market for a smartwatch, after all, likely already own a smartphone. It’s therefore a little hard to see how FlyShark can compete against popular brands like Samsung, LG, and Apple.

 

Categories
Camping Cell Phone Accessories Chargers/Batteries Sensors/IoT Tools

The FOGO Adventure Gadget is a digital Swiss Army knife for outdoorsy types

Exploring the wilds of nature can be a truly rewarding experience. Trails leading to new discoveries alongside the pleasant musk of nature helps foster memorable experiences. Until, of course, someone needs to pull out a flashlight or some other tool from deep within a backpack for some reason — nothing ruins a quaint ambience like the sound of a befuddled hiker looking for their GPS device.

While many would prefer using a smartphone as an aid during such excursions, most smartphones, on account of their poor battery life and dainty construction, can’t ably survive the rigors of outdoor exploration. The FOGO Adventure Gadget solves this problem by incorporating a GPS, walkie talkie, and a 1000 lumen LED flashlight into one rugged device. The FOGO Adventure Gadget includes an embedded digital compass which can help guide users to points of interest and other FOGO users. Further, the device’s walkie talkie feature combines voice and text messaging functionality, thereby allowing users to effectively communicate with others.  Additionally, the device’s LED flashlight sports dynamic light control which adjusts the level of brightness based on the object being illuminated and, in some cases, how fast the object (presumably an animal) is moving).

The FOGO employs some neat tricks with SmartCaps, interchangeable pieces of hardware that add different capabilities. For now, the only SmartCap available is the Digital Walkie-Talkie. Notably, a satellite modem and laser range finder  are both in the works.  With an app based OS, an open SDK, 128MB of flash memory, and a Bluetooth LE connection, FOGO can also act as a fitness monitor along with anything else the developer community can come up with. And its 6800mAh backup battery will ensure it will stay useful and operational for much longer than a smartphone. The $200 FOGO is expected to ship in November 2015 if the $125,000 campaign is successful by March 24, 2015.

New concepts for outdoor gear are always welcome, especially when the product in question does so much to lessen the burden for outdoor explorers. The FOGO Adventure Gadget, along with the All Terrain Cover and WakaWaka, is therefore an ideal product for nature enthusiasts everywhere.

Categories
Apparel

Shnap + Laces lets you run your race without falling on your face

Stopping an exercise routine, or even stopping in the middle of a race, in order to tie one’s shoes can be extremely inconvenient and frustrating. For that matter, stopping to tie one’s shoes even during the middle of the day can be an annoyance.

Shnap + Laces aims to resolve that. The product works by attaching a button to the end of each shoelace and subsequently inserting a ball stud in the upper eyelets of one’s shoe. Next, a retainer clip locks the ball stud into place. Conveniently, the laces then snap into place and remain out of your way for the duration of the day. The product presents a nice alternative for those who don’t want to fuss with double knotting their shoestrings.

Notably, Shnap + Laces isn’t just limited to shoes. It also works with drawstring shorts and pants. What’s more, it can even be mounted to a wall and used to help keep track of any item on a lanyard or keychain.

The campaign seeks to raise $9000 by March 28, 2015. Early bird backers get one pair for $10 with an expected delivery window of April 2015.

Lastly, users interested in Shnap & Laces might also want to check out Powerlace. And for an artsy storage solution for large shoe collections, Sole Stacks is certainly an option worth exploring.

Categories
Connected Objects

A digital frame, Pigeon carries photos and videos to loved ones

Once upon a time, the digital picture frame was a popular product category. But consumers quickly grew tired of them, in part because they were too difficult to be used by many of the people who often received them as gifts, such as grandparents.

The Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled Pigeon largely resolves that problem as it allows photos and videos to be automatically downloaded to the frame via an Android or iOS app. As a result, users, and grandparents in particular, won’t be stuck staring at the same 10 photos for years on end, which was sometimes the case with older digital frames that often relied on memory cards. The 10-inch frame has built-in speakers, 2 GB of onboard storage, and USB connectivity for when Wi-Fi isn’t available. It can also be hung on the wall or onto a refrigerator via its magnetic back. Notably, photos and videos are also stored securely via Pigeon’s cloud service while a a motion sensor cleverly ensures that the frame is on only when somebody is nearby.

There are two versions of Pigeon to choose from along with a choice of five frames: the entry-level Winkie version costs $159 while the White Vision model, with backlit LED lighting and a rechargeable battery pack, costs $205. Its maker is hoping to raise $50,000 by March 19.

As mentioned in a recent Backerjack Podcast, there have been a few challenges to digital picture frames. The Pigeon digital frame, however, holds some promise thanks to its enhanced and more modern features. But there is still at least one fundamental cause for the declining interest in digital frames that no new frame –- including this or Fireside — will be able to address: the ubiquity of tablets which many grandparents can use with ease.

Categories
Connected Objects Lighting

Fancy sleep tracking system lights the way to a good night’s rest

With the glut of sleep tracking apps all vying for consumers’ attention, companies have begun to package the sleep tracking experience in a multitude ways to differentiate themselves.

The oddly named Fancy struggles to stand out. It uses ambient lighting to influence a person’s sleep cycle, helping them to get a deeper rest and wake up gently. The system incorporates the Fancy lamp and an iDo Plus — a connected device that uses an accelerometer to track sleep movements and interface with the lamp. Tying everything together is the companion iOS/Android app allowing users to map out their sleep characteristics, download mobile statistics, and “download their dreams” (whatever that means).  The $100,000 AUD (~$78,545) campaign is looking to get the $129AUD (~$101) Fancy system out to backers by August 2015.

As different as this product is, it just isn’t that compelling in the wake of competitors. The SafeBand incorporate sleep tracking along with subtle vibrations, and products like Beddit and Luna have focused their efforts on making beds themselves smarter. Other products like the aforementioned Luna do the same job far better than Fancy, making it a tough sell. The extremely vague campaign doesn’t help, either, especially when it seems like there’s more to the product.