Month: February 2014

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Music Sensors/IoT

Mogees turns virtually anything into a musical novelty

The Premise. Amateur percussionists have always found a way to make music using garbage cans, chain link fences or a desktop as a drum kit. This DIY form of music has found its way to full-blown stage shows, but what if there were a way to turn percussive racket into harmonic music?

The Product. In the tradition of MaKey MaKey, which allowed virtually anything to be a PC input, Mogees is a sensor, a little smaller than a golf ball, that can be affixed to any surface. By connecting to a companion app on mobile devices, the Mogees detects the vibrations of objects being dragged across, tapped on, or any other form of physical contact with the surface it’s attached to. These vibrations generate musical tones like chimes, bells, or strings depending on the app’s setting and the types of vibration.

The Pitch. Bruno Zamborlin, inventor of the Mogees, shows off what the device can do with the help of experimental dance artists Plaid. Among the promotional material is a music video that the two created for a song made entirely with the Mogees, which goes from novel to truly impressive by the halfway point. Additional materials explain how to use the companion app, and an explanation of Song Mode, which allows users to sync up their percussion with a MIDI of a favorite song to play along. Zamborlin needs £50,000 to begin production and keep the price point low.

The Perks. Backers will need to pledge approximately $67 to get a Mogees, either for Apple devices or Android operating systems. The higher quality red sensor and pro version of the app goes for just over $100, and the early access beta version is available for roughly $162. The iOS version is scheduled to ship out in August 2014, with the Android version following in November. Backers who pledge to get the beta device will be making music in May.

The Potential. Upon first hearing what the Mogees is capable of, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe and childlike wonder of glimpsing a new, musical world with this innovative device. Five minutes later, the feeling is of being stuck in performance art purgatory, where even a heavy dose of Bjork would be a welcome return to normalcy and stability. Artists and urban optimists might be able to create lush dreamscapes and inventive new city soundtracks. Everyone else will likely be responsible for a few minutes of discord and then probably lose interest.

Categories
Cooking Food and Beverage

Uten-sil raises silverware to a (slightly) higher level

Uten_sil 52a63e8206d9c92f76d6ef886259fe38_large[1]Why should smartphones have all the fun? The fork and knife finally have their own dock. For those who want someplace to lay their eating utensils during mealtime that doesn’t involve a napkin, the edge of their plate, or just on the table, Uten-sil Fork & Knife Rest might just make your day. The high-grade plastic and silicone wedge raises utensils slightly above the table’s surface so that there is less mess, potentially also keeping silverware free of tabletop germs. Prehaps the bigger benefit is keeping the tablecloth a little cleaner, assuming, o fcourse, that the utensils don’t get too covered in dropping substnaces such as sauces. For a pledge of at least $10, backers will get a two-pack of Uten-sil in their choice of black or white and an expected delivery of July 2014. Other colors and amounts are available for a higher donation, and it does appear to be a one-of-a-kind idea.

Categories
Connected Objects Lighting

LumiSmart brightens up the smart home, stretches purpose of desk lighting

The Premise. The lamp on your desk right now is probably unremarkable at best. It may be nicely designed or have a few modes of brightness, but its light certainly wouldn’t be one under which you’d pen anything to write home about. Despite its simplicity, it’s still a vital part of your desk layout and you would work in darkness without it. Isn’t it about time that one of the more essential tools of productivity gets an upgrade?

The Product. The LumiSmart is the latest product to enter the “smart” family. The lamp integrates with the user’s living habits in an attempt to seamlessly improves everyday lifestyle. It does this by integrating an ambient light sensor, a temperature sensor, a camera, a motion sensor, a voice recognizing mic, and speakers. By connecting to your phone over Wi-Fi, the LumiSmart can notify you of its surrounding environment. LumiSmart also has an adaptive platform that allows the users to create their own app to customize their lifestyle. Such ideas include an alarm clock, a security system, or a reminder system. The possibilities will go as far as the user’s creativity.

The Pitch. The campaign video shows off the different features of the lamp and how they may improve everyday life. For example, LumiSmart can let you know when someone comes in the house, or remind you when you need to take a break from working. There are tons of examples since the apps can be customized and shared, so its up to the user how they want to use the lamp.

The Perks. The LumiSmart comes with a pretty hefty price tag. The early bird price for a standard lamp will set you back $149, with the price rising up to $200 once that deal expires. Developers can still get a hold to the LumiSmart for $200 to have more access to the platform and various APIs. In what seems like some bad math, people who pledge $999 will receive four LumiSmart lamps with some educational materials. Economic rants aside, LumiSmarts are scheduled to be delivered in September 2014.

The Potential. The LumiSmart embraces some interesting features and ideas, but there’s not much besides lighting that this lamp can do that your smartphone can not. It’s not necessary for a lamp to send you reminders or be an alarm clock, and its simply not necessary to spend hundred of dollars for a redundant piece of technology. Just because something can be a connected thing, doesn’t mean it should.

Categories
Smart Home

Jalousier lets sun shine in on home automation with blinds control

The Premise. Blinds and curtains can often be difficult to maneuver and operate, and they always have to be readjusted for different lighting environments. Even expensive electric blinds still have to be operated by button or a remote control. Wouldn’t it be great is the blinds could just adjust automatically?

The Product. The Jalousier, named for the French word for blinds, looks to overcome the everyday obstacles normal blinds pose. The device is able to monitor different stimuli such as lighting conditions, room temperature, sun position, and weather. Using these variables, the Jalousier adjusts the blinds to optimize natural daylight, provide privacy, and lower artificial lighting, cooling, and heating by up to 18%. The built-in wifi makes it accessible through your smartphone, and integrable with your smart home community.

The Pitch. The Bulgarian team offers a pretty self-explanatory device, and the video shows just how simple it is to use. The project creators explain the difficulties of wrestling with blinds and always having to readjust them, and then they show how the Jalousier factors in different variables to adjust to the ideal angle. The design of the product makes it easy to install and take off with minimal effort, and the video shows just how easy that is.

The Perks. If you want to try it out at the early bird price, one Jalousier will cost $99. If you want to expand to more blinds throughout your house, the price doesn’t get lower as you purchase more—it’s a flat rate of an additional $100 for each additional device. Currently, Jalousier expects to deliver its device by October 2014.

The Potential. The Jalousier has a minimalist design that packs some interesting features that change the way we control our blinds. Electric blinds can often be too pricey, so the Jalousier is a more economic solution that also puts more control in your hands through their free app. Control of one’s blinds isn’t at the top of the home automation wish list, but after the precedent set by products such as Nest thermostat and Hue light bulbs, it seems as though another home automation task is about to be democratized.

Categories
Cooking

Liquidy-Split! comes in in a pinch, offers precise portions

The Premise. When cooking, most people follow recipes pretty closely. It’s hard to do this, however, when using measuring spoons. Either you end up putting in too little or too much of whichever ingredient into the mix. It can also be frustrating to have to rinse measuring cups and spoons as you go.

The Product. The pun-embracing Liquidy-Split offers a solution for measuring out fluid ingredients. It looks like a simple squeeze bottle, but has a dial on top with different measurements from ¼ tsp to 1 tbsp along with comparable metric measurements. To use, simply turn to the dial to the desired measurement and squeeze the bottle. Liquidy-Split will dispense the correct amount and then all you have to do is pour. Any excess liquid is sucked back into the bottle. Each bottle has a label section on it to write what it contains. The bottles are compact and easy to sot

The Pitch. Liquidy-Split’s Kickstarter campaign outlines the different problems that the creators’ product solves such as pouring out too much liquid or having to use several measuring spoons for one ingredient. The video contains a demonstration of Liquidy-Split along with some awkward footage of its creator. The campaign has a low goal of $5,500 in 60 days and a series of stretch goals that range from $15,000 to $35,000. These consist of different sizes and colors possible for the Liquidy-Split bottles.

The Perks. The Liquidy-Split campaign features only three reward tiers — $1, $10, and $15. The early-bird tier of $10 and the regular priced $15 tiers are the same; both include one Liquidy-Split bottle with the choice of size and color. Estimated delivery is set for July 2014.

The Potential. The Liquidy-Split bottle is a neat little invention for cooking and baking enthusiasts. Similar products exist, but most claim that they are only for oil, such as the Portion Pro Oil Dispenser. Liquidy-Split’s Kickstarter campaign is a bit lacking in reward tiers, but the product is still a good one. Liquidy-Split also would benefit from creating an equivalent product that could be used for solid, powdery ingredients, such as flour and sugar: Powdery-Pinch?

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

The Fig portable battery provides accurate battery boost capacity

FigChargerOur mobile devices have precise battery meters, but the portable chargers for them may have at best a couple of LEDs.  The Fig Battery Back takes the guessing game out of determining if your charger has enough power to restore you to Candy Crush saga heaven (or maybe hell). The Fig has two USB ports, making it able to charge both smartphones and tablets . The Fig also has the capability to recharge via solar power. Units are available in 6000 mAh and 10,400 mAh. For $59, a backer gets one 6000 mAh Fig unit with an expected delivery date of April 2014.

Categories
Cooking

Bottle Opener Board helps you slice, opens soda for ice

For those who like to enjoy a beer along with their cooking preparations, Bottle Opener Board (BOB for short) is likely to be your best buddy forever in the kitchen or at the grill. The Bamboo cutting board sports a bottle opener at the end of its handle (or in the corner for the travel size version) so that when you’re on a roll with that knife and somebody wants a drink, you just slide BOB over so your guests can pop their top. Now, if you’re going on a picnic or doing some camping, BOB might be just the thing. However, you might be just as well served by putting a bottle opener on your key ring or making certain to bring along your Swiss Army Knife — unless you’re going to be with an uptight group of stuffy accountants or attorneys and you want an effective conversation starter. For a pledge of at least $9, a backer gets a travel-size BOB (more like Newhart), or for at least $20, a standard-sized BOB (smaller than Saget). Either option has an expected delivery date of June 2014.

Categories
Relaxation

Purrch melds cane and bike seat, invites you to “lean on me”

PurrchFor those times when you’re stuck between standing and a seat-place, try Purrch. Purrch is essentially a little stool to lean on when seats are scarce. It looks like an angled cane with a bike seat on top. The shaft of Purrch is made out of lightweight aluminum and designed to hold up to 400 pounds. Purrch’s Indiegogo campaign has a goal of $75,000 in 60 days and features an early-bird price of $70 and a regular price of $77 (which includes a ‘Strrap’). Purrch is for people who either spend too much time sitting or standing or people who need to take a load of at inconvenient times. An alternative to canes with integrated seats, Purrch is not recommended to use if weight loss is desired; fortunately, it can sustain up to 400 lbs. of backward-leaning girth. Purrch currently has not specified an estimated delivery date.

Categories
Furniture

For cardboard furniture, Flatgoods entices the fold and the beautiful

The Premise. The Eco Movement is all about living life in a sustainable way, including recycling anything and everything possible. it’s one thing to upcycle a water bottle, but one’s furniture poses a bit more of a challenge.

The Product. Flatgoods offers an array of furniture made out of durable cardboard. The company ships it flat and it is up to the buyer to assemble. One-upping Ikea, Flatgoods offers anything from side tables to sofas with the option to print custom designs on any piece. All Flatgoods furniture is 100% recyclable.

The Pitch. Flatgoods’ Kickstarter campaign gives a detailed list of all pieces available to purchase. The video gives a little back story on the creator, James Mikrut, as well as shows people standing and even bouncing on different Flatgoods products to demonstrate how stable they are. Mikrut hopes to raise $20,000 in his 31 day campaign. For more information, visit the Flatgoods Web site.

The Perks. Each Flatgoods reward tier offers backers a ton of options to choose from.  For $30, backers can pick one piece from an array of end tables, kids chairs and stools all shown in photographs at the bottom of the campaign. Tiers go all the way up to $150, which earns backers the choice between sofas, different sets of kids’ furniture or even a conference table with the custom design option. Current estimated delivery is set at May 2014.

The Potential. Flatgoods’ biggest claim to fame is that its products are 100% recyclable. That said, Flatgoods furniture would be difficult to reuse as furniture because it certainly isn’t as durable as wood and one spilled coffee would be deadly. Another problem is that Flatgoods furniture looks like it’s made out of cardboard. There are many other cardboard furniture companies, such as Chairigami, that uses more innovative design techniques so that their products look like actual furniture. Some of these companies got their funding from Kickstarter, like SITGREEN and Re-Ply. These two in particular focus on taking the moving box look out of their products. All in all, Flatgoods is on the right track and their products are great for kids, but wouldn’t necessarily blend into adult dining rooms or offices as the Kickstarter campaign suggests.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Video

GoPhone weds GoPro to iPhone in protective case of extreme capture

Go Phone iPhone case ba0e3633e1e631062b06ffb49df0ea9b_large[1]If you are a sports enthusiast with aspirations of going pro or someday engaging in the Olympics, you may find the GoPhone iPhone case to be a useful tool for sharpening your game. The iPhone case is intended to be compatible with an iPhone 5 and 5s. The case doubles as a handle and monitor for a GoPro camera. The GoPro app allows the user to have a monitor for their device through the iPhone screen via its wireless technology. The GoPhone case then allows the user to connect the two so that it becomes an all-in-one portable camera kit. Depending on what a person is trying to accomplish and their creativity level, it’s possible that just using an iPhone mount would work just as well as the GoPhone iPhone case. For a pledge of $40, backers get a complete product with an estimated delivery date of September 2014.