Month: September 2014

Categories
Television

4se lets you watch, stream four TV shows at once

Readers old enough to remember the advent of picture-in-picture windows on TV will recall that the commercials were always framed the same way. A popular drama or movie was displayed up on the big screen, while the die-hard sports fan was relegated to the tiny picture at the bottom.

Not being able to watch sports is only slightly worse than not being able to watch enough sports, something rectified by 4SeTV. 4SeTV is a set-top box that connects to the TV through the HDTV antenna, as well as an ethernet cable. Once the device is powered on, the box allows the TV to display four equally-sized windows of different programming, whether it’s multiple games on Sundays, or just enough programs to make everyone in the room happy. Using the 4SeTV app, users can decide which program broadcasts audio, change channels in each of the windows, or zoom in to catch a critical moment as it develops.

Additionally, 4SeTV is great for families with diverse viewing habits because it allows HD content to be streamed wirelessly through the house from the main television. This way, while the game’s on, the kids can watch cartoons on the computer, and non-sports fans can catch a movie or show using a tablet. 4SeTV is asking backers to provide $50,000 of funding to bring the device to mass production. The 4SeTV is going out in November 2014 to those that pledge $99.

If it were maybe a decade earlier, this device would be a must-have for sports fans with families to share TV space with or interest in multiple teams and sports. With broadcasters providing split-screen content already and everyone having enough mobile devices to keep track of their viewing needs, the market for this is relatively small, not to mention the curious inclusion to only have an HDTV antenna port.

 

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

MiracleFone fake call device may help you hang up with Chatty Cathy

Nothing can take away a big chunk of productive time like an unwanted conversation. Whether it’s someone coming into the office to kill time they don’t want to spend on work or bumping into someone on the street that one would rather avoid, there needs to be an easy way out. MiracleFone is disguised as a key fob like those used to remotely unlock or lock a car, but its function is much different. With three different buttons, MiracleFone can dial one of three pre-programmed numbers. There would be a pause so that nobody can link the button press with the phone call, and then owners have a way out.

MiracleFone operates on Bluetooth with most major smartphone brands and models. Inventor Mike Miracle needs $10,000 worth of support due to a change in Bluetooth technology that rendered his previous stock obsolete with newer phones. Backers can grab a MiracleFone to save them for $25 in February 2015. It almost seems like a novelty item you’d get a joke store, but for those that don’t want to be rude but want to be left alone, there’s plenty of reason to get a MiracleFone.

Categories
Games Sports

Oche Pong elevates a beer pong setup to the classiness of a dartboard

28cbd33d4ea10eae4df00764eaab3e8f_largeBeer pong isn’t just a frat bro’s claim to fame anymore. Phinneas Innovations LLC wants to get the storied game out from college campuses and into the livers of those everywhere with their Oche Pong, a modified version that tilts the cups at a 45° angle, hangs them on the nearest wall, and transforms the game. It also has feet for those places without walls, like the beach, or tailgating parties. $35 is the asking price for the novelty, while the company is looking for $34,000 to it into homes by February 2015 the latest.

Categories
Tech Accessories

Easel comes together to make your laptop keyboard a bit more comfortable

The name laptop is given to computers that can theoretically be held in one’s lap, if one’s lap were in a heat-resistant suit and not capable of being burned. EASEL is a pair of magnetic legs for the bottom of a laptop, making it a comfortable fit on any flat surface. The EASEL lifts the laptop up and angles it forward, making it more comfortable on eyes, necks, and wrists. The added bonus to this is that it creates a space for airflow beneath the laptop that will let heat out as needed.

Because EASEL has just the two legs that can be adjusted to fit any width of laptop, it’s a snap to remove from the laptop. Then, the magnetism of the legs makes them click together when nearby, meaning users won’t wind up losing only one leg and can easily tuck them into a laptop bag. Designed by Arizona inventor Jordan Mummert, EASEL is going to take $7,200 to buy materials and handle shipping. For $36, they can be placed under the buyer’s laptop in November 2014. These laptop legs are beginning to become easier to find, but if those that like the aesthetic, simplicity, and magnetism of EASEL can easily get stuck on this product.

Categories
Tablet Accessories Tech Accessories

Mükava table covers any angle to prop up your laptop or tablet

editors-choiceThe Premise. The aches and pains associated with the fine pleasures of reading from a newspaper, a book, or — more recently, smartphones and tablets — a problem as old as time. The stopgaps we employ to read or surf just a few more pages aren’t very helpful either: laying on your side or even turning upside down can offer temporary comfort but eventually that soreness will return, making it difficult to enjoy devices or books for long periods at a time.

The Product. Tom Keenan’s Mükava Table aims to alleviate that discomfort, ergonomically facilitating the reading of books, magazines, documents, and devices in a home or office setting. It does this either with its Mükava Pads, which allow any device to be attached and swapped no matter the size, or its tucked away book bands to hold up everything else. The product has a few more tricks up its sleeves, too. Located neatly behind it are two USB ports to charge devices, Document Pebbles to attach documents, and a removable USB light for reading without ambient light. The table is versatile enough to be placed in any room while sleek enough to double as a side table when not in use. The campaign also includes their Mükava for Monitor Arm, which fits onto any standard monitor arm with a VISA plate for those places where the full stand isn’t convenient.

The Pitch. The company behind the idea, The Project for Adult Literacy and Schools, LLC, bills itself as a social enterprise looking to donate 10% of every product sold to charities that support their causes. It does a great job in clearly detailing all of Mükava’s strengths as a product with just enough textual information accompanied by bright, clear pictures and informative GIFs. Altogether, the skillful use of mediums paints an easy-to-understand picture of what the product can do. As such, their campaign will go a long way in convincing potential backers to contribute towards their $50,000 goal.

The Perks. Pledging $260 can get you a Mükava in either birch or white, while splurging $300 can net you a premium version in brushed stainless steel. If the entire Mükava is excessive for your setup, a $100 pledge can get you a Mükava for Monitor Arm instead.

The Potential. The Mükava is a stunner. Its smooth lines and versatile nature make it a tempting product for anyone. The Mükava Pad is a standout feature, allowing past and future devices to be attached without worry of ever being outdated. Its price, though, makes a possible purchase a bit harder to swallow considering you could buy a much cheaper case or a stand, even if it probably wouldn’t look as good nor have nearly as much utility.

Categories
Aquatics

Folbot foldable kayak lets you carry a kayak on your back

editors-choiceThe Premise. Kayaking can be one of the most relaxing and even therapeutic forms of exercise for those who love spending time in the great outdoors. The peacefulness of nature on a beautiful sunny day has an amazing way of making stress melt away. What if it were possible to fold up a Kayak for easy toting and storage?

The Product. Folbot Cooper Kayak has just such an item, and is presently working on a black hull edition of their folding kayak. There are several other exciting features as well. The entire item fits in a backpack so it can be easily transported. It’s the perfect design for lakes and calm rivers, although the more experienced kayaker will find that it’s also suitable for the ocean. Set-up takes as little as 10 minutes and it comes with an owner’s manual and instructions are also available at the website, www.folbot.com. The frame is made anodized, air-craft grade aluminum, and the product also comes with deck rigging,  an adjustable seat, stainless steel kneel brackets, and inflatable sponson chambers to name just a few great features.

The Pitch. The video for the $25,000 campaign is much more focused on showing than on telling. Very little detail is offered there regarding assembly or specifications of the product, but it does appear to be very lightweight and easily transportable for those who like to add cycling to their excursions.

The Perks. Backers can check out multiple tiers for this campaign. With $1800, backers get one kayak and an expected delivery of October 2014. This includes their top deck color of choice and free shipping within the continental US.

The Potential. This product is going to have some great appeal to its niche market with its apparent dependability and easy portability and assembly. It appears that beginners and veterans of kayaking alike will enjoy the product, though the weight limit of 275 pounds could prove somewhat limiting depending on a person’s size and the amount of gear that they feel is necessary for long-term excursions and a group’s or family’s preferences and needs when enjoying their wilderness adventures. However, this is more generous than many other kayaks.

When comparing Folbot to Trak Kayaks, it appears that Folbot is offering an amazing price savings. However, Trak has a higher payload (292 lbs) and may offer better control in a cross wind situation and easier navigation in general due to its hydraulically adjustable hull. Trak’s frame is made of aerospace-grade anodized aluminum and a five year warranty is offered.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Powerknots keeps an arsenal of backup batteries ready for your powerless friends

20140819083204-imageSmartphones have dramatically increased in versatility over the past 10 years, but that tends to keep battery life a constant struggle. Many people have long cursed the their weak capacities, leading TechSquare to create PowerKnots. Their design holds massive power: each bite-sized block has a capacity of 5200mAh and each station can charge up to eight, allowing a user to have up to 41,600mAh of power at their disposal. A smartphone user (or anyone else wanting to charge something) with PowerKnots is guaranteed to not stare at a dead phone for a very long time. While it’s probably overkill for most folks, it might make sense for those signing up for the smartphone family plan. You can get started in December 2014 with a four-pack and charging station for $70 among other more expansive options.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

OXA Bluetooth headset sticks to your phone, performs other tricks

Some devices were meant to go together; keyboards and mice, headphones and MP3 players, smartphones and Bluetooth headsets. OXA is a Bluetooth headset that eliminates the headache of having the phone but not the headset. With silicone suction, the OXA sticks discretely to the back of the smartphone, removing easily when needed. This way, the two devices stick together.

OXA can also function as a Bluetooth bridge between the phone and the car, streaming audio and phone calls, and even helping to locate a parking spot if the OXA was left in the car. The OXA can even work as a stand to hold the phone upright if it is left on the phone’s back. OXA Innovations is trying to raise $10,000 to get the best sound quality from the device. Supporters can stick an OXA Bluetooth headset to their phone for $29 in October 2014. Backers shouldn’t expect the best quality or the most feature-rich device here, but if losing Bluetooth headsets has been a recurring problem, then the OXA will fix that in an instant. If this has been a long-standing problem, readers might recall the MoGo attempting to fix it, and may prefer to stick with that over the OXA.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

AnyMote Home makes your mobile a universal remote

The Premise. After setting up the perfect home theater system, most customers are left with a few more remotes than were expected, and scarcely an idea of how to use most of them. The universal remote has been around for decades to solve this problem but often creates more in its wake.

The Product. AnyMote Home is designed to take the core idea of a universal remote, eliminating the need for multiple confusing and similar remote controls and condensing them down to a single device, and pairs it with modern technological sensibilities. AnyMote Home is a simple Bluetooth LE hub that takes phone or tablet inputs and converts them into IR signals that can control almost any device, with thousands of devices supported already and updates constantly rolling out.

The Pitch. Anyone who rolls their eyes at TV infomercials starring actors who manage to mess up everything from sorting closet space to cooking pasta might be put off by the beginning of the AnyMote Home pitch video. Viewers meet Jason, a stylish young man who wants to relax after work but gets annoyed with how many remotes he has to pick up and use to watch television. Seriously. Aside from that, the presentation made by Color Tiger is clean and informative, going over the myriad ways AnyMote Home does more than just simulate a remote control. Color Tiger is aiming for raising $50,000 for manufacturing, tooling, and certification.

The Perks. An AnyMote Home hub will cost backers $70, with a delivery date of June 2015. Developers who want to do more with the AnyMote system can get the SDK along with the device for $250 in January, and anyone who can’t wait any longer without having this piece of tech in their home can also pay $250 to get an Arduino prototype as early as October 2014.

The Potential. AnyMote definitely has a strong degree of adoption possibility because of the way that it combines home automation with the familiar button layouts of existing remotes on a touch screen device. Because AnyMote supports over 800,000 remotes (really!) and is already up on Google Play with functionality on certain model phones, some customers are accustomed already to using the AnyMote system, and the Home hub will just make it even more convenient.

Still, the universal remote never found favor beyond the technologically challenged for the lack of precise control and features. If AnyMote doesn’t offer complete 1:1 remote simulation, there will always be a need for the familiar feel of the plastic wand that makes the entertainment magic of the living room a possibility.

Categories
Camping Nutrition/Hydration

Portable cooler carrier cradles hydration across rough terrain

Providing water for outdoor activities often means that a spot needs to be found where one can place the water cooler where it won’t fall over. Portable Water Cooler Carrier makes it easier to have water on hand, whether the location has a smooth or rough terrain. This isn’t going to save a great deal on plastic bottles and paper cups unless everyone remembers to bring their own travel mug or water bottle. And if one is bringing a water cooler on a camping trip, that is some extreme camping. Nevertheless, backers can get two products for $125 with an expected delivery of July 2015.