Month: January 2015

Categories
Tech Accessories

iLoop water-resistant phone mount can go anywhere moist

Finding that perfect smartphone holder in a crowded market place of phone mounts can seem daunting. iLoop may be the most ideal for those who like to use their smartphone as a part of their workout, cooking routine, or office life. The donut-shaped product stands the phone up right and is made of silicone so it is durable and moisture resistant while also providing protection for one’s smartphone. It’s compatible with most models on the market, and works in both portrait and landscape mode. So when taking one of those group photos, even the phone owner can be in the picture. The holder presently comes in black, white, blue and pink, but others colors will be available is this campaign does well.

Most conventional mounts on the market are made from metal or plastic. If a spill comes along, they may provide some protection against an overturned coffee, say, but the iLoop was specifically designed for that purpose, which is pretty useful. Backers may also want to check out the Linkmount, LUUV and Squido campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. Early bird backers get one iLoop for $10 with an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Home

GreenVase keeps indoor plants watered for up to three weeks

Studies show that having plants in the home can improve productivity and mood. Plants are a welcome addition to any room, but like any other living thing, require some maintenance. Without the proper amount of water, plants will wilt and die.

With GreenVase, watering is no longer a worry. This vase consists of three parts, a soil pot, a water tank and a rope. With four settings, it will keep the plant watered for up to three weeks. Plants that need tons of water get it on the highest setting, while more finicky plants won’t get over-watered with the lower settings.

It’s interesting to see a product like this that doesn’t involve Bluetooth or a smartphone app. The rope is what distributes the water to the soil. It’s incredible that the GreenVase can keep plants watered for up to three weeks. It must be said that smart planters, like the Daisy si, can monitor moisture levels and distribute water accordingly. However, if the plant never moves and the temperature remains relatively stable, there’s really no need for manual watering. GreenVase may not be as accurate as smarter waterers, but it doesn’t really need to be.

Backers can have their very own for a donation of $29 for estimated delivery in May 2015. GreenVase is looking to raise $101,000 by mid January on Kickstarter.

Categories
Personal Transportation

Wind Wheels personal skates concept is a bunch of hot air

Every person at one point wishes they could bust out a bike from a handheld box or a pair of skates from within their shoes to make the last 10 minutes of their commute more bearable. Although there are some ideas up in the air, nothing can get higher than the Wind Wheels.

The product idea is essentially a pair of skates attached to a user’s legs that can be accessed whenever needed. It works with a piston-like mechanism that will disengage and lower a pair of wheels and pedals to step on. Currently, however, all that’s available is a video showing a very crude prototype. Imagination is in full-throttle here, so potential backers have to do the heavy lifting themselves.

Although the idea in theory sounds awesome, its doubtful it will actually end up being as slim as something like this needs to realistically be. Plunking down $500 for an idea expected to be due in June of 2016 seems foolhardy at best, so trying to raise $18,000 will be a Herculean feat.

Categories
Furniture

Nugget turns pool noodles into beds of comfort

Finding furniture that travels well from home to dorm, or just from room to room and can take on the wear and tear of kids without breaking can be a challenge. Who knew that pool noodles would make what seems to be the perfect foundation for Nugget? The product consists of four pieces that weigh 19 pounds, and are amazingly quick to set up. The pieces stay together with friction alone. The fabric is easy to spot clean, but is also removable so that it can be washed. Since it’s unbreakable, it can be a great solution for either the dorm or for kids still living at home.

Nugget’s versatility means it can function as a bed, couch, lounge chair and more. Those who prefer studying and doing homework on the bed with their laptop rather than at a desk may be interested in the Lappito campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000. Backers get one Nugget for $249 with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Imaging Technology Video

Ghost Drone disappears, returns with a tap

More and more, drones are starting to be seen in everyday life, but the process continues to be slow. One of the main obstacles in adoption is how unfriendly most drones are to users, usually requiring assembly and presenting users with bulky RC controllers with a million and one buttons that have to be learned for proper control.

The team behind the Ghost Drone has focused primarily on usability instead, ditching the big RC remote for an Android app that allows for easier control. A single tap will launch the Ghost into the air, tapping locations on a map of an area will prompt it to travel to that point, and another button will command it to return and land. A micro-control mode will offer users more nuanced control when needed, but they’ll have to be careful as the drone offers no obstacle avoidance technology just yet.

The Ghost Drone is Go Pro compatible with the addition of an optional gymbal, or attachment on which to connect cameras and other peripherals. Its SDK, or software development kit, makes it extremely customizable as well. The product is another worthy attempt to bring drones to the forefront similar to what the Anura is doing, and does so while being extremely sleek. The $375 Ghost Drone is expected to ship in January 2015 provided its campaign reaches the $100,000 goal.

Categories
Lighting

Method Lights stick to the ceiling; illuminate your Picasso’s

Those who invest in an art collection know that the only way to display it is to use good lighting. Without the proper illumination, beautiful paintings and photographs can get lost on the wall.

Method Lights are one such way to light artwork. These lights feature control over dimming, temperature and timer. Best of all, these settings can be controlled with a  remote, making it easy to adjust from around the house. The battery runs for up to 200 hours. In addition, installation is easy, involving a peel and stick method to the ceiling. The product itself is white and features a single beam of light that goes as bright as 800 lumens.

The campaign calls this product the “perfect picture light”. While it’s certainly a good picture light, it doesn’t really stand out from other lights. Though its easy installation is a nice plus for those who don’t want to put holes in their walls. One goes for $125 for delivery in February, provided Method reaches its $2,000 Kickstarter goal.

Categories
Home Tools

Toilet strainer prevents kids from flushing jewelry

Kids have a tendency to destroy things like valuables and happiness. Okay, maybe not happiness, but certainly priceless family heirlooms.

iGuard is a solution to this problem, straining out items from the toilet. Ew. Okay, yes it sounds disgusting, but the creators claim it’s the only way to prevent clogged toilets. The small plastic mechanism hooks onto the side of the toilet bowl. There’s a round piece that goes into the toilet with holes in it to strain. This way, it’ll catch unwanted items from going down the pipes. The only question that remains is, what about those things that you want to go down? iGuard comes in a case that opens with tap of the foot so touch is unnecessary. One is going for $50 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery of April 2015. iGuard is looking to raise $20,000.

Categories
Home Sensors/IoT

Ramos uses a Bluetooth beacon to coax your butt from the bed

Getting up in the morning for some is a delight and for others means terror. Getting up on the wrong side of the bed means a day full of disappointment. Sometimes the way we get up can determine the course of the day.

Ramos is an alarm clock that not only gets you out of bed, but does so the right way. The alarm consists of three parts, first the clock by the side of the bed, a Bluetooth sensor, and your smartphone. Upon waking up, the user must get out of bed and bring their smartphone close to the sensor. Distances can be customized, but most choose to put the sensor in the bathroom or kitchen next to the coffeepot. For heavy sleepers, Ramos requires a four digit code to really make them think.

The accompanying smartphone app allows for multiple alarms, snooze limits, multiple users, and more. A courtesy mode makes one initial beep, but then shuts up to consider letting others sleep. The user can also play their own music with or without a gradual loudness mode to make waking up a little more smooth. With a USB port, you can charge your smartphone so it can stay attached to the alarm and the alarm runs on battery when unplugged, so it can never be tricked.

Ramos has really thought of everything in terms of waking up. The movable sensor makes it easy to prepare for different kinds of days. Its various modes consider the comfort of bedfellows and family members. Best of all, it doesn’t wake you up with a greased pig-like chase around the room like some unconventional alarms do. For backers who want to get up in the morning without feeling like committing murders, try Ramos for a donation of $99 in either white or black for estimated delivery in May 2015. Ramos is hoping to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries Tech Accessories

Hydrobee charger uses wind, rain, and muscle to juice up your devices

The demand for battery power on tablets and smartphones is simply never met. We use these devices day in and day out, taking advantage of all the cool apps and capabilities they have to offer. However, most find that their device only lasts half the day and dies at the worst moments.

Hydrobee never wants any smartphone to die ever again. This mini power plant harnesses solar, wind, hydro and mechanical energy to power any USB compatible device. Charge it up with a bike ride, day out in the sun or running water. Then, when the time comes, unplug and set off for the day. Hydrate will be there to charge your device with its stored energy.

We’ve seen all kinds of these devices on Backerjack. Batteries that charge from wind or sun, but it’s rare to see a product that takes almost any kind of energy it can get. Hydrobee’s versatility is what truly sets it apart from other products. Interested backers can grab their own $145 by May 2015. Hydrobee is looking to raise $32,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Displays

InkCase Plus E Ink display heard you needed a screen for your screen

Smartphones have spoiled today’s consumers with bright, gorgeously colorful screens. With each passing year, these screens grow bigger and become better at displaying the expanding variety of mobile content. The biggest downside to this is the horrid battery life most devices are cursed with and, as a result, people have to be picky with what they consume throughout the day.

Simply leaving a screen on to read takes a fair amount of battery power. To address this huge problem, a team at Oaxis has come up with the InkCase Plus, an E Ink screen that uses Bluetooth LE to communicate with Android devices. This union allows a wide variety of information to be accessed instantly without using what precious little battery power most devices have. Compatible apps can send notifications, navigation information, display e-books, or show fitness information.

The InkCase Plus is best used in conjunction with a leather FitCase. Doing so places the screen on the front of the case so that all this information can be accessed with a tap, even in the absence of a power source. While the InkCase Plus provides about 19 hours of reading time, the FitCase is currently only available for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 3, making its pretty limited in practical use. Both products are being sold together for $139.

The InkCase Plus is a novel way of approaching the problem most smartphone manufacturers choose to ignore, even if what it is is another screen for your screen. Looking past that, E Ink integration makes a lot of apps so much more useful and suddenly makes glare less of a problem. Their biggest issue is the complete lack of support for the vibrant amount of Android hardware, but when isn’t that a problem with Android?