Categories
Tech Accessories

Taptucam is what webcams wear to foil voyeur hackers

taptucamFans of the ABC show Shark Tank may have recently seen a product called Eyebloc. The  small piece of plastic fits over laptops and iPad front-facing cams primarily to thwart those who might spy on you through your camera in order to capture passwords or compromising poses. The Spanish duo behind Taptucam do not shy from the latter in their lewdness-alluding campaign video that shows off the simple clip-like device for keeping your computer from unintentional broadcasting. Of course, a Post-It note or many other inexpensive barriers will also do the trick. But for those who want a touch of style in their stifling can pledge $7 can pick up a five-pack in May 2014.

Categories
Organization Pets

P.U.P wants the group in for doggie poopin’

PUP2Project creator Momo and her company HawtPaws have created the P.U.P, a “dog leash waste management system” that holds bags for cleaning up the discarded droppings of man’s best friend. At no point in the narration-free video do we learn what P.U.P stands for, although Pick Up Poop might be a good guess. The feminine-leaning handmade pooch poo pouches come in a range of six colors and serve as an alternative to plastic models sold in pet stores. P.U.P seems like a candidate for Etsy, but 12 are being made available in each of six different styles for $12 each.

Categories
Personal Transportation

Riide slides the battery inside the frame of a light e-bike

Riide“Cities are modern marvels. But getting around them sucks.” So plainly states the campaign video for the Riide electric bicycle. The sentiment comes after an excellent start to the campaign video, which intersperses shots of Riide riding with shots of Jamal May reciting an inspiring poem. But back to the product, which the creators claim to to be a (relatively) affordable pedal/e-bike hybrid. It features a battery almost invisibly embedded into a frame, high reliability and serviceability, a light weight of 35 lbs. and a speedy two-hour recharge time. If the creating team’s effort to pimp its Riide gets your pedals going, you can pledge $1,800 — a $175 discount over the final price — to pick one up. It should be available in May 2014.

Categories
Fashion Health and Wellness

FreeUp keeps your specs from giving you the slip

FreeUpThose who wear spectacles often have to deal with the annoyance of  having them slip down the bridge of one’s nose, declining along with their eyesight as their ages advance. For those for whom contacts are an undesirable option. FreeUp addresses your spectacle lowered friction with a temporary, transparent strip that bespectacled creator Joseph Chang vows is unmatched by alternatives and you can judge for yourself in May 2014 by offering $10 for a one-week supply. The video is worth a quick watch for the phrase “nose profile” and watching Chang going cross-eyed for a moment as he affixes the product. FreeUp doesn’t seem like a product most would need every day, but one can see it coming in handy for exercises that generate a lot of nose perspiration.

Categories
Kids/Babies

Lullaby Light Up turns throw pillow into kid’s glow pillow

Light-up pillows have become a popular novelty item. The makers of the Lullaby Light Up Pillow recognize the gift value of their offering for the little ones up to age six. There’s no need to worry about the light keeping the little ones up  as the light turns off by itself after about 17 minutes. Offering a bit of background on how the children’s companion came to be, the testimonial-laden video features a background track with videos that compete somewhat with what the people are saying, but you get the gist. The project creators offer to send one of their glowing pillows to your door by May 2014 for $40 or bundled with a blankie for $50.

Categories
Fitness

BeamBlock poses an opportunity for improving balance

BeamBlock

With its primary color motif, you might think BeamBlock is a trade show prop from Google, Microsoft, eBay or some other company that has adopted four colors in their logo.Or maybe it’s a a new version of Simon that you play with your feet? Alas, it’s neither electronic nor noisy. True to its name, the simple device is a cross between a (short) balance beam and a step block. Yoga teacher, personal trainer and all-around fit Londoner Thierry Giunta abstains from actually demonstrating use of the device in the campaign video, but makes up for it with some pose photos. Alas the reward tiers are as difficult to understand as the choppy audio in the campaign video. It seems, though, that one can pick up a BeamBlock for £120, an insane amount for what appears to be a plastic block. But it may arrive on your block in March 2014.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Music Tablet Accessories

Drytunes delivers the sound waves while in water waves

DrytunesThere is a veritable ocean of Bluetooth speakers out there, but how many can be used in the ocean? If the creator of Drytunes has its way, you’ll be able to pack up your troubles, or at least a few of your valuables, in music-spewing suitcase enclosure and toss it straight into the water without worry about damage. Project creator Michael Applebaum uses his radio-friendly voice to tell the story for the submersible speaker system. This includes having people express surprise at how good it sounds, although such demonstrations are of course hard to appreciate through whatever speakers you may be using. Drytunes is being made offered to backers for $315, or $299 if you catch the early bird and should be available in March 2014.

Categories
Organization

To Do Fridge Magnets help you stick to your schedule

Day Fridge MagnetsIn many homes, the refrigerator is not just the tall appliance for keeping food cold; it’s also a canopy of sorts for displaying kids’ artwork, photos, messages and other reminders. All of this is enabled via the power of magnets, a sign of the gods’ magic of that is beyond our puny human minds. Project creator Aaron Chan hopes to tap into this force, though, for the menial purpose of keeping our lives in order with large (3″ x 6″) To Do Fridge Magnets. One nice benefit of the modular day system is that you need only display the days when you have something critical going on as the whole set will take up a fair amount of refrigerator real estate. Chan has skipped a video for his “simple project” and taken the unusual step of putting limited quantities in all pricing tiers. Of course, if you’re interested in a very limited quantity, you can pick up some magnetic paper for your inkjet printer and print them yourself.

Categories
Sports

Krōm balls let you reflect on your next trick shot

Krom BilliardsFor billiards players who wish to distinguish themselves by the novelty of their balls as well as by the shooting of their stick, it’s time to take a look in the mirror — the mirror created by a set of shiny balls created to pro competition standard. The Krōm balls, presumably stolen directly from Bigfoot’s pinball machine, look metallic, but they’re actually made of a resin as using actual metal would have likely had prohibitive implications for weight and price. The shiny 16 can be on their way to straight-shooting backers in May 2014 for just a shade under $150 assuming the creators can rack up enough funds.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

ReelKlip leashes your smartphone to prevent pavement pounding

ReelKlipLots of smartphone cases can protect your phone if it falls, but ReelKlip takes a more proactive approach. Acting like one of those retractable badge holders used for access at many workplaces, the product consists of a 1.5″ belt-mounted disc and a polyurethane band of up to 3.5″ that snugs tightly around your smartphone that are joined by a 3.5′ feel that lets you bring your phone up to your face. However, applications such as in-car navigation or passing around a photo of your new precious will likely require untethering. A video which shows a wince-inducing montage of phone breakage scenarios drives home the point. A nice complement to a protective case and screen guard, ReelKlip should be available for backers for $17 in March 2014.