Month: December 2014

Categories
Health and Wellness

Lumino helps you rise before the sun gets up

When winter comes and the days get shorter, getting up before the sun to go to work or school can be a major struggle. Since the body is programmed to sleep at night and be awake when the sun is up, Lumino offers smart technology for helping a person to ease into those dark mornings. The product works with one’s bedside lamp, phone, Bluetooth, and a smart plug. A few minutes before the pre-set time, the intensity of the lamp gradually increases, registering in the brain in a similar way as waking up to the rising sun. When the lamp hits maximum intensity, the user’s desired alarm or song plays on their phone. Lumino can also be used as a night light when not home, or a sleep aid that slowly diminishes light intensity in the bedroom while winding down to go to sleep.

Everyone has experienced the dread of waking up before sunrise in the winter, so Lumino is a neat little way of  waking up to a more pleasant day, provided that users have iOS or Android. Interested backers might also like to check out the Sleep Sensei and TekTuk campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $100,000 CAD (~$87,500 USD). Early bird backers get one product for $39 CAD (~$34 USD) with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Input

Win all the virtual gold with the 6thfinger touchscreen input device

The smartphone gaming space has taken hold of people’s time and attention across the world. The biggest offender are the games where you must tap incessantly to farm coins, gold, or whatever other currency to improve characters, castles, towns, etc. The time they require from uses, though, is more or less ridiculous. This led the team behind the 6thfinger to figure out what they could do, and their product was born.

The 6thfinger is a device which mimics a finger’s taps and motions on a capacitive touchscreen to keep games active. This allows obsessed types to keep progressing even when real life stubbornly gets in the way. As much as there many who would love this sort of thing, it’s ultimately very niche. A SpinPadGrip might be a nice complement to the 6thfinger to help users keep their eyes on the game while they go about their business. The $22 device will ship February 2015. The 6thfinger campaign is hoping to raise $8,000.

Categories
Nutrition/Hydration

Qi Teamaker taps your smartphone to produce oolongs and aahs

Fancy coffeemakers are all the rage. But some people would rather drink tea in the morning instead. Without as much caffeine, tea can be had all throughout the day.

The Qi Teamaker makes the perfect cup of tea. This device lets the user control water flow, water temperature and brew time along with the strength of the tea they’re drinking. Best of all, the device allows you to choose what kind of tea you’re drinking so that it can adjust its settings accordingly. At its maximum capacity, this teamaker makes up to eight cups of tea. Qi is compatible with both loose leaf tea and tea bags. The Vita+ version of Qi comes with an accompanying smartphone app that lets users monitor the brewing process, customize the way their tea is made and track their favorite teas.

People who are into tea know that brewing time and water temperature are essential for making great tea, and those settings vary based on the type of tea being had. In this way, Qi is the perfect item for tea connoisseurs. The smartphone app, while a cool feature, doesn’t seem to serve much of a purpose, however, and so backers may want to consider sticking with the base model to save money. The Qi Teamaker Vita can be had for a donation of $169 CAD (~$149 USD) with an estimated delivery month of April 2015. Qi is hoping to raise $100,000 CAD (~$86,500) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Announcements Podcasts

Introducing the Backerjack podcast with Ross Rubin and Steven Sande

As 2014 winds down, we’re excited to announce a new initiative that we’re going to carry into 2015 and hopefully beyond. Co-hosted by Ross Rubin and TUAW editor Steve Sande, the first episode of the Backerjack podcast includes discussion of five recent projects featured on the site:

There’s a bit of audio weirdness that we plan to clean up in the next episode. And, of course, we’ll be submitting it to iTunes soon. But for now, feel free to enjoy the podcast below!

We can’t wait to hear what you think. Also, remember to follow Backerjack on Twitter and Facebook as well as at our new homes on Pinterest and LinkedIn.

Categories
Food and Beverage

Glacious LE creates frozen spheres that let it go slowly when melting

Many would say that the cold never bothered them anyway, but a watered down drink is another story. So the creators of Glacious LE have figured out a way to redesign the ice cube so that it is more effective. The product’s claim to fame is that it creates spherically shaped ice, which takes longer to melt than any other shape of ice. That means that it takes longer for the drink to become watered down. The product is made of aluminum and boasts of not requiring any electricity to make the ice.

It seems like there is a lot of detail missing regarding how and why this product is truly effective. Interested backers may also want to check out the Icealot campaign. Those who are especially partial to a cold drink that they don’t have to fetch for themselves might want to check out the Rover campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. For $99, backers get one product with expected delivery in January 2015.

Categories
Apparel Winter Sports

Dahu ski boots can be worn on and off the slopes

Clomping around in ski boots after hitting the slopes is one of the most uncomfortable parts of skiing. Not only do the boots hold your legs in a funny position, but they’re also made from plastic which can be slippery on the wet tile floors that most chalets have. DAHU ski boots will get you up and down the slopes just fine. After that, the outer shell opens and is removed to reveal a regular boot underneath with rubber soles. This boot is made of lightweight, waterproof material so it’s perfect for transitioning from the slopes to flat ground. DAHU comes in five colors with options for men’s, women’s, or unisex boots.

DAHU is a convenient way for skiers to get around once they’re done skiing. There’s always that awkward transition when you take off your snow boots to put on ski boots in the cold and wet chalet. The folks at DAHU may want to consider providing some kind of carrying case for the exoskeleton to make it easier to carry around. Still, this product is a welcome addition to the ski market, provided the campaign can reach its exorbitant €500,000 (~$620,400) goal. One pair will cost backers a €590 (~$730) donation for estimated delivery in November 2015.

Categories
Connected Objects Cycling Safety

Augur Wolf bike light shift modes to avoid rider distraction

Avid cyclists need the best with regards to lighting in order to ensure they are seen on the road, no matter what the conditions. As such, most cyclists make sure they have the best lighting systems but don’t stop to think how it affects the rest of their team. Bright lights that hamper visibility is a huge problem when riding in a peloton, or a group of cyclists. In response, Augur created the Wolf lighting system.

The Wolf’s claim to fame is its communication protocol Collective Safety which senses other Wolf lights in the vicinity and dims appropriately, ensuring teammates can still enjoy full visibility of what’s ahead. In addition, Augur’s Wolf is is a robust lighting system that offers four different lighting modes. Need to grab attention? There’s the High Intensity Strobe mode. In complete darkness? The Full Power Beam mode will cut through it. Conserve battery with the Low Intensity Blink mode, and turn on a Low Intensity Beam for twilight riding. And don’t fret when the battery is low as a Low Power Mode pumps enough juice to get you home safely.

This fantastic idea can only sense other Wolf lights, which is a slight bummer. Each system costs $140 AUD (~$120 USD). Augur is looking for $60,000 AUD (~$51,600 USD) to have the product in backer’s hands by March 2015.

Categories
Sports

Shadowball offers balls-to-the-wall exercise with portable punching bag

Some prefer swimming, some running and others yoga to stay in shape. Then there are those who scoff at such tame sports and instead choose boxing. There are two elements to boxing: punching technique and footwork. For help with the former, check out Shadowball. This punching ball is like no other. Instead of being strung up in a large framework or by a chain, it’s completely portable and can be use anywhere there’s a wall. Just punch over and over again to keep the ball up as it ricochets off the wall back to you. This product uses some kind of special technology to make sure the ball bounces with an even rhythm to help make your punches more accurate. The creator, a boxing enthusiast himself says that it helps for a straighter punch since you’re angled right at the wall.

The campaign video does a good job of showing the Shadowball in motion and makes it look like the ball stays up pretty easily. However, the man in the video is probably very good, making it apparent that this product isn’t for boxing beginners. In addition, it doesn’t help boxers with any kind of right or left hook because it’ll only stay up with a straight punch. Still, its portability is unique and may prove very fun for boxers. For their own, backers will need to donate $140 CAD (~$122 USD) for delivery in March 2015. Shadowbox is looking to raise $40,000 CAD (~$35,000 USD) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Connected Objects

Programmable laziness is just a tap away with Flic wireless smart button

Ownership of a smartphone gives users control over their environment that at one time in the past seemed unimaginable. That awesome level of control is unfortunately tempered by the need to have to fish it out of a purse or pocket for every little action. Voice control was touted as the answer, but has only proven to be mostly ineffective.

Programmable one-touch button solutions have offered users a tactile alternative, and Flic is another entry into the space for iOS and Android. It uses Bluetooth LE to do whatever a user would like, from placing a usual phone call, ordering a pizza, sharing a GPS location, taking pictures, or skipping a track. A full list of the possibilities would be impossible, but suffice it to say the Flic is incredibly versatile. Hold options along with single and double clicks increase each button’s functionality.

The product featurs a reusable sticky base and a 150-foot range from the smartphone, so buttons can be placed pretty much anywhere inside or outside the home to streamline normally cumbersome actions. Contrarily, most wireless buttons like the Gyzmo or Qblinks aren’t made to be placed in the home but rather be taken with you. A single Flic is $27, while six can be had for $99, and is expected to ship in March 2015. The campaign is looking for $80,000.

Categories
Health and Wellness Sensors/IoT

MOCAheart looks after vitals, lets you check up on loved one’s hearts

Health monitors that send information to smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. It’s an easy way to collect important data and send off to doctors if need be. They also provide a way to track patterns and trends, hopefully catching harmful conditions early on so they don’t get worse.

MOCAheart is one such monitor. This small metal sensor about the size of a contact lens holder measures heart rate (bpm) and oxygen levels in the blood and sends such data to its accompanying smartphone app. With this information it generates the MOCA index, a number that tells you how you’re doing. Zero is low, but still okay. One is normal, two is slightly high, at three they recommend you make a doctor’s appointment and four means you should seek immediate medical attention.

In addition to monitoring your own health, MOCA hooks up with other MOCAheart owners through the app. This way, you can monitor the health of loved ones. The app also allows users to put notes next to their readings, like one man does in the campaign, saying that his vitals show he’s stressed because he has to work late. It also records the date and weather of each reading, demonstrating how lifestyle can affect blood pressure.

MOCAheart joins scores of other health devices that make monitoring one’s health super easy. The size of the sensor itself makes it convenient to carry around and the two touch method of reading vitals is too simple to mess up. Perhaps the best part, though, is the ability to check up on loved ones. This seems great for younger generations making sure their elderly parents or grandparents are okay. Though this could get annoying after a while, however productive. Backers can own their own for a donation of $99 with delivery in April 2015. MOCAheart is looking to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.