Trying to figure out where to put one’s mobile phone while driving and using the GPS app might be one of the more looming questions of the 21st century. Squido is a unique Swedish gadget that has a suction cup on one side and a set of four thin prongs on the other. Drivers can then stick the suction cup on the back of the phone and hook the prongs on the other side into their vehicle’s vents. The nice thing about this is that a person’s view is not obstructed as with other car phone holders that have a suction cup that sticks to the windshield. While a small portion of heat or air conditioning may be blocked when Squido is being used, it does seem that it would be fairly universal with most iPhones and car vents. Other options for backers seeking a mobile phone mount include Ultima S, EverDock Go, and Neutron S. This campaign seeks to raise kr60,000 SEK ($8130.08 USD) by November 20, 2014. For kr89 SEK ($12.04 USD) backers get one with an expected delivery of December 2014.
Month: November 2014
What if it were possible to have a cooler that could be taken on a camping trip or to a picnic that didn’t require a bag of ice to keep things cool? That would be the point behind the Icebuddy cooler. Though the cooling mechanism does require a three hour storage time in the freezer, when it is placed inside the Icebuddy companion, it keeps stored items chilled for up to three days. It can also be easily toted with its backpack design or soft, rubber handle; giving it an edge on the cooler market. As for those who don’t mind purchasing ice and having coolers with lots of gadgets to add some zest to the party, consider checking out Cooler Bobs, Coolest Cooler, Boombox Cooler, and for a potentially party crashing wild ride, Kreweser cooler. This campaign seeks to raise $250,000 by November 25, 2014. For $225, backers get the complete Icebuddy cooler system with an expected delivery of April 2015.
With apps for pretty much anything you need to have done, over the years our mobile devices have become capable of helping us every single day for things like directions, and occasionally with those other tasks that spring up every so often. Case in point: scanning. Although an actual scanner is superb to what a phone or tablet can do, scanning apps are a godsend to people who need to scan often. Getting a clear shot is a different story entirely, though, which is why the Fopydo SmartStand doubles as a general stand and a scanning stand for either your smartphone or tablet. Inexplicably, there are two models but its secondary mode allows users to take great quality shots no matter where they are as the stand is portable, just not as portable as the SlimJig. Either way, you’ll still have that pesky shadow that shows up if you try to take these shots, although light diffusers and other add-ons can help mitigate that problem. Ultimately, the product ends up looking like a toy for what it does, a huge departure from stands like YOHANN. All in all, the phone version of the Fopydo goes for $20 while the tablet version goes for $30, both with expected delivery in November 2014. The campaign is looking for $5,000 in funding.
There’s nothing like a strong woman who doesn’t want a larger vehicle to inspire her husband to get creative about how to tote a multitude of kids here, there and everywhere. That being said, Twyce would represent the classic myth that behind every man living in a peaceful household stands his persistent wife. Even so, multiple households with little ones that still need a booster seat for trips in the car will likely be grateful for these dual booster seats, made of organic, flame-retardant, washable, kid friendly materials. Twyce is also easily transferred between cars. Now if someone could just come up with something like Plexiglas dividers as a way to quench that timeless sibling argument about, “He touched me!” “Well, she touched me first!” But when they finally settle down and fall asleep as kids often do in the car, Ostrich Pillow might be a nice companion to Twyce. This campaign seeks to raise $650,000 CAD ($570,303.01 USD) by November 21, 2014. Early bird backers get one Twice for $130 CAD ($114.06 USD) with an expected delivery of May 2015.
For those icy cold, bleary-eyed Monday mornings when stirring one’s java with one’s own hand is just too much effort, there is an automated alternative awaiting its big moment to spin onto the scene. Twistter cup uses a magnetic rotor and tilt of the mug to blend caffeinated delights and help burn off the post weekend haze within one’s mind that may well be as thick as the fog outside. And when one grows weary of all that swirling, the user maintains complete control by simply tilting the cup in the opposite direction – at least where the stuff in the cup is concerned. Even the intensity of the spinning can be determined by choosing whether blades will remain up or face down away from the liquid. If only all things in life were so simple. But alas, while a spoon and the ‘hassle’ of stirring one’s own beverage may be avoidable, it’s unclear as to whether or not the cup is dishwasher safe. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 by November 20, 2014. Backers get one Twistter for $16, with an expected delivery of February 2015.
Proper hand hygiene is an issue that seems small, but accounts for at least 20,000 cases of hospital acquired infections (HAI). This number is ridiculous compared to what little needs to be done in order to cut it down. The Center for Disease Control and other health agencies across the country mandate at least 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing in order to kill the bacteria and germs on your hands.
However, as is usually the case, people don’t do that. This led inventor Charles Phillip Abraham to create his Sanitimer, a timer that fits on the faucet of any sink and counts down from 30 seconds when water is opened. Since the mandate is 20 seconds, he made it so that users can have enough time to lather up and warm the water before getting down to actually washing their hands for the full 20 seconds, resetting so that the next user can have the time necessary. While 20 seconds is all well and good for the CDC’s standards, though, places like restaurants and hospitals have stricter requirements which the product can’t reflect since it isn’t programmable — a huge design flaw. Add to the the incredibly wasteful nature of having to keep the faucet running for the timer to run, and what began as a good idea suddenly doesn’t seem well thought out. One Sanitimer can be had for a $100 contribution with an expected delivery of November 2014. The campaign is aiming for an influx of $100,000.
Risk of injury from sports or play is a part of being a child. That’s way protective gear is required for many popular sports. But what if there were a way for the owners of sports facilities and playgrounds and even parents to measure the risk of head injury in the event of a fall? ST Impact Ball is a unique gadget that measures a combination of factors, including location, surface type, surface depth, fall height, drop angle, and maximum g-forces at impact. This allows facility owners to make certain that they are offering a safe environment and can give parents peace of mind. ST Impact Ball is much like the Jolt Sensor we’ve recently seen on Backerjack. Jolt Sensor sits on a players head and measure impact as it comes, unlike ST which measures possible impact dangers. Presently, it appears that the lower levels of this campaign provide a product that only works for a limited time (1-3 weeks, depending on selected level). Lifetime updates and software are apparently their own separate level. This campaign seeks to raise $45,000 by November 20, 2014. For $200, backers get access to the ball for a week. Expected delivery is February 2015.
There’s nothing like being able to feel the bass in a song rattle your bones and the drums vibrate your entire being when in a concert setting. Not only does it stir up the audience, but an enthusiastic audience enjoys the benefits of the band responding to that, which energizes the band’s performance.
For those who are all about that bass, A Little Thunder boosts the bass on an electric guitar and seems to offer a euphoric buzz to musicians and audience members alike. It is easy to install because no modifications are necessary to the instrument. Guitarists just replace their existing humbucker with A Little Thunder for bass sounds that roll like a loaded freight train surging through a dark and stormy night. Not having to use a foot pedal will make for less clutter on stage and the auto detect frequency technology means that musicians can focus on the simplicity of enjoying their music. While guitars come in many different shapes and sizes, which can mean some compatibility issues, it appears that this has been taken into consideration given the fact that the engineering team is in the process of working on anticipated modifications.
This product seems like it’s really aimed at a niche market of heavy metal musicians, although rock and modern jazz players and their audiences may also appreciate this new level of bass boost. This campaign seeks to raise $35,000 by November 8, 2014, and if $60,000 is reached, backers who contribute at least $25 will have their names entered into a product giveaway drawing. For $199, backers get one product with an expected delivery of November 2014.
Sprained ankles can be a bear. Not only are they painful, but also take an extremely long time to heal. Some ankle sprain pain can last for years. AnkleMax hopes to prevent sprains before they happen. Using stabilizer technology, this product attaches to your shoes and helps absorb awkward angle impact so you remain safe. AnkleMax comes in many different colors and is compatible with all shoes, or so the campaign says. This product does not impede the natural motion of your foot and remains unobtrusive as it sits on the outside of the shoe. One pair can be had for $75 with estimated delivery in December 2014. AnkleMax hopes to raise an ambitious $100,000 on Kickstarter.
AnkleMax is an interesting addition to the ankle sprain prevention market. Shoes like those from Ektio are designed with extra support to make sure sprains don’t happen. Ringing in at about $140 per pair, these sneakers claim to keep your ankles straight. AnkleMax, while pricey, are compatible with all shoes, making them much more versatile. The attachment process is vague, however. If they can easily be transferred from shoe to shoe, then they’re well worth the price. If one must purchase a pair for all of their shoes, the price may get a little high.
The increasing proliferation of technology in every part of our lives has led to a similar increase in demand for those who understand it all. With hardware, electronics, and code all at the heart of today’s most used technology, it’s an incredible challenge for those interested to even start. Outside of teaching yourself or attending costly college-level courses, there aren’t too many resources for those starting from scratch.
The mission behind Pi-Top is simple: focus on teaching people how to create and code great hardware. Initially, the open source laptop is shipped in pieces: a 13.3″ HD LCD monitor, various PCBs, keyboard, trackpad, Wi-Fi adapter, wiring, battery, and a Raspberry Pi to control it all. Instructions are included to lead users in the Pi-Top’s construction, and serve as an introductory lesson to everything the Pi-Top does. Afterwards, it functions as a laptop dedicated to teaching the skills necessary to transform a pure novice into someone who can design printed circuit boards, 3D print, and code anything they’d want using free online lessons direct from the company. In addition, the Raspberry Pi’s HAT specification allows small add-on boards to add functionality, a consideration Pi-Top was built with. This allows users to program robots or have access to a variety of sensors for home automation, and with more HATs being released, there are a wealth of options for the curious tinkerer. All in all, the Pi-Top is truly an accessible product priced at $285 and many agree: the company’s $80,000 has been funded.
The Pi-Top does a great job in streamlining the process of learning a topic that has incredible depth. The free online courses demonstrate immediate, physical results and will be great at drawing users in and keeping them there, a leg up on what the Novena does. Even if it may contain beefier internals (and a similarly beefy price), the makers behind the Novena do nothing to at least expand your knowledge. The Pi-Top is very user friendly, and will prove to be a hit with those who take the plunge.