Month: January 2015

Categories
Sports

Balance Training Bat transforms hitting home runs into a science

Baseball can be a fun activity for kids that gets them off of their gadgets and out of the house. As a bonus, it provides them with a bit of exercise to help them stay healthy. But it’s frustrating when players seem to strike out more than they actually hit the ball. So Balance Training Bat is designed to help them with their batting skills. There are five different models of the bat, and each model scales up to cater to the player using the bat, from little league to adults. The bat is game-ready, taking the physics of how much weight is needed on the backend of the bat to counter the bat barrel so that batters learn good technique that allows them to hit the ball more consistently.

As any sports training device goes, it’s unclear whether this will really prepare batters for the big game. However, if it really can deliver, baseball players will rejoice at such a training tool that involves more than just hours of hitting balls the same way. Backers looking to improve their swing may also want to check out LoadUp Pro. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. For $80, backers get one Balance Training Bat with an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Tech Accessories

Flip Clip lets gadget lovers get attached to their devices

Trying to figure out where to stow that mobile device when on the go and still having easy access to it can be a challenge. So Flip Clip offers gadget lovers a hands-free option with a bit of style thrown in for good measure. The user attaches the product to the back of their mobile or smartphone case with the adhesive tape. Then pull up the snap spring and the phone or mobile can be attached to a belt loop, purse strap, chain or other convenient location.

Since it offers a hands-free solution, it is able to function as a camera phone holder too when wanting to create a video, though the video will probably be shaky since the phone would not be stabilized. Backers can choose from Swarovski Crystal, Murano style hand painted glass and natural gem stones. Lady backers looking for phone toting solutions might also be interested to check out Voye Clutch.  This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. For $12, backers Flip Clip with an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Announcements Featured

Introducing Product Innovation Pipeline Reports for retailers, manufacturers and investors

For over a year, Backerjack has been the only editorial Web site devoted exclusively to covering the world of crowdfunded product innovation. The campaigns that we’ve focused on include cutting-edge ideas in many different product categories. But retailers, manufacturers, and investors who want to track these products need more to tap fully into the promise of open innovation.

Introducing the Product Innovation Pipeline Reports. PIPR reports cut through the clutter to curate the most innovative physical products in specific categories along with detailed data that provide clues about consumer demand before products are even available. Consistent across Kickstarter, Indiegogo and other platforms, this data includes:

  • total funds raised
  • total number of backers
  • campaign creator and location
  • product pricing
  • whether the campaign was successful

In addition, each report includes independent profiles of products with links back to the original campaign and company Web site. PIPR reports reveal what could unlock the next product opportunity to drive hundreds of millions of dollars.

The first two reports cover digital imaging — an area of keen interest for any professionals selling or investing in smartphones or digital SLRs and their accessories — for the first two quarters of 2014. The Q3 report will be available soon, and the Q4 report later by March. Many of these products that were funded in the first half of 2014 are just coming into production now and are seeking distribution,

Stay tuned for many more reports launching in the coming months.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Imaging

Pico eases time lapses with or without a smartphone

Photographers have many tricks up their sleeves. One of the best is using time lapses to create beautiful images. This consists of taking lots of pictures within a short or long amount of time to capture shooting stars, thunder storms, sunsets or any other very quick or slow moving eye-catching event.

Pico makes it easy to create customized time lapses. The device plugs into your smartphone and then the free app makes it possible to schedule the number, frequency and exposure of desired shots. In addition, the app allows for bulb ramping which makes it possible to change the light for shots going from day to night. Once that’s done, plug Pico into the camera which will obey the program.

If a program is unnecessary, you can use Pico as a simple intervalometer. To do so, press down on Pico and count the number of beeps. Each beep equals one second. When that’s finished, the camera will continue shooting at the desired interval until Pico is unplugged.

Pico plugs into the camera with different cables available that are compatible with 300 different camera models. Plugging into the headphone jack means that Pico is compatible with any iOS or Android smartphones running current or recent software. In addition, this product has a battery life of eight years.

Many cameras have interval options available, but all are difficult to use. Photographers are forced to use little screens and buttons to make their programs, with few options available to them. Pico makes programming a cinch and is small enough to live in the camera bag all the time. It’s unclear if the app saves past programs. If it doesn’t, the creators may want to consider adding such a feature. Backers will need to donate $50 for this product with an estimated delivery date of July 2015. Pico is hoping to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Connected Objects Technology

Keewifi stresses simplicity in security with new router

Routers are the essential gateway that connect our many home gadgets to the Internet, but setting them up can be a major hassle. Chinese newcomer Keewifi has focused on simple connectivity with a new $99 router that enables devices to securely access Wi-Fi without the need for passwords.

The plug-and-play device is small and uses the 802.11ac wireless networking standard, along with proximity technology to authenticate mobile devices as an alternative to standard Wi-Fi passwords. Keewifi stresses on its Kickstarter campaign page that by tapping one’s mobile device on the router one can set up a connection in only 30 seconds. But the company’s video on the site shows that when a mobile device is even held closely to the Keewifi, connection is achieved and a circular blue light glows on top of the router. The device needs to be held within just 2 inches of the syncing panel. Keewifi is looking to raise at least $50,000 on Kickstarter. The company expects to fulfill initial units to backers in July.

There are, of course, plenty of routers on the market, some of them cheaper than Keewifi and many of them from brands familiar to U.S. consumers, including Linksys and Netgear. The new router’s simplicity will likely be appealing to many consumers and stands to make it a hit, but only if Keewifi manages to get decent distribution.

 

Categories
Food and Beverage

K-Easy prevents sinking feeling by continuously replenishing coffee makers

Coffee is the fuel for many important corporations around the world: if workers don’t get their coffee break, something within them dies. For many people, this is especially true in the morning.

K-Easy is a water sensory device that automatically adds water to a coffee machine whenever it runs low. The product works with any coffee machine that has its own water tank. There is a fail safe control board that has a timer for automatically shutting down the device in the event that the sensor fails and water flows for more than 15 seconds. Installation is easy for most home or office environments, and there are only two fittings that need to be tightened with a wrench. All other adjustments can be done by hand. The campaign claims that the installation can be completed by non-plumbers.

This product’s aimed at busy professionals who can justify doing a little upfront work to avoid those laborious trips to the fountain acrsos the kitchen. Coffee-loving backers may also want to check out the Arist,  Bruvelo and for those who like to entertain and aren’t in a hurry for their coffee, Brewover. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. Backers get one product for $50, with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Connected Objects Technology Wearables

Smarter strides made possible by Stridalyzer

Knee problems make up a significant percentage of all injuries to runners, hence the common affliction known as runner’s knee. That’s why ReTiSense, the Bangalore, India-based maker of Stridalyzer smart insoles, made the prevention of knee injuries its top priority when developing the product.

Stridalyzer analyzes the user’s stride and gait and can predict if that person is headed for an injury. The insoles have integrated multiple sensors that detect how the user’s foot lands, rolls and pushes off the ground. All the user has to do is put the insoles in their running shoes, turn on the accompanying iOS (and, by the time of launch, Android) app, and start running. Stridalyzer automatically understands the user is moving and will start collecting data about the run from each of the two included insoles. The insoles come with a USB charging cord and each insole battery charges in about 15 minutes.

The insoles are similar in size and use similar materials as the insoles that are used in typical high-end running shoes. The company will design the insoles in just a few common sizes initially, but it will be possible to trim the insoles by one size, using scissors, so they can fit more snugly. The company plans to launch an ExpertConnect premium service to be used with the insoles a few months after the product ships in the spring. The service will enable runners to get more individualized and directed advice from running experts, coaches or trainers. Backers who pledge at least $90 will get the insoles in April or May. ReTiSense is looking to raise $25,000 by Jan. 7.

Certainly the product seems like a steal at the early bird pricing levels, especially when you consider that the similar—but apparently less advanced—UniverSole was priced at $200 a pair. Even at its regular price of $129-$139, many consumers may see Stridalyzer as a good deal.

Categories
Smartwatches/Bands Technology Wearables

Uno Noteband touts Spritz technology for fitness tracking

The Uno Noteband—no relation to the restaurant chain or the card game—features fitness tracking technology like several other wearable bracelets on the market. But what separates the Uno Noteband from the crowded field of competing devices is its use of a new technology called Spritz.

Spritz is a reading compression technology that enables one-touch reading of notifications on the device’s OLED display. Reading via the Noteband can be done up to 80% faster than on typical mobile devices because it eliminates the scrolling function that typically requires two hands. As a result, the user can get through a long email message after just one click. The device notifies users of any alert that a smartphone would receive, such as Facebook, Instagram, Google Calendar, Twitter or Uber. Uno vibrates when it receives an alert and the user just has to touch the Noteband to display the message. The device, compatible with the Android and iOS operating systems, also features an accelerometer that enables fitness goals and syncs with the Apple Health and Google Fit platforms. Shipping will occur in April for a donation of $129. The team of technology veterans that developed the Uno Noteband are pushing to meet a goal of $50,000.

The Uno Noteband’s Spritz functionality is a clear advantage over what several rival fitness tracking wearables offer. The device is also considerably cheaper than the equally promising Atlas.  The only drawback for now seems to be the Uno branding.

Categories
Food and Beverage Travel

Tea lovers, Qterra Novo lets you sip on your trip

There’s something about having that preferred caffeinated beverage to kick the workday off right. And those who like toting their tea with them can now do so without using a travel mug – sort of.

The creator of Qterra Novo says in the video that this product is not a travel mug, but it does appear that it’s typically used that way. The mobile tea-making mug lets users store tea leaves in the cup at the bottom of the unit. Then hot water gets poured into the top of the unit, and it can be stashed in a backpack, purse, or briefcase. When ready for the tea, press the button for the amount of time that is desired for the tea to brew. Steeping can take as little as 10 seconds, depending on desired tea-flavor robustness. Tea can be re-steeped up to six times per day. One especially interesting feature is the straw that acts as a cooling system for hot tea. It cools 1.5 ounces of tea at a time to the “perfect” drinking temperature, while the rest of the water stays hot until ready for drinking.

This product may have more of a regional appeal since it was inspired by the history of Argentina, China, and an apparent aversion to travel mug association. However, anyone who enjoys tea might find it interesting to try. It’s portability will be especially appealing to commuters. Backers may also be interested in Espro Travel Press,  Trimr, and KoffeePress campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $150,000. Backers get one product for $25 with an expected delivery in March 2015.

Categories
Music Technology

MÜZO Cobblestone is round and flat, plays music ’round your flat

MP3’s have long been the standard for all of our music playing devices but don’t do a fantastic job at replicating the depth and breadth of the sound originally recorded. There’s a renaissance in musical appreciation, and devices like the PONO music player are capitalizing on it by offering audiophiles lossless playback. The MÜZO Cobblestone is continuing the trend with an audio system with the capability of doing the same with any sound set-up imaginable.

The MÜZO Cobblestone acts as a hub that streams FLAC and other lossless audio formats over Wi-Fi to any and all types of wireless and wired speakers and speaker systems. Its proprietary Multi-Room Melodization supports muli-room setups to achieve true stereo sound all while adjusting EQ based on the type of music being played. The Cobblestone also sports Spotify, Pandora, and Airplay integration, just to name a few. Linkplay Technology, Inc. is looking for $100,000 to get the $59 device out to backers by January 2015.

The MÜZO Cobblestone is a promising addition to the Hi-Fi music scene. It’s ability to connect to any speaker is its biggest draw and really pushes this device forward, along with its gorgeous aesthetic. It’s in good company, too: check out the Core and the mBox to see similar executions of this idea, just without the Hi-Fi angle.