Categories
Food and Beverage

Hailstonez ice spheres chill your drinks, won’t ruin them with dilution

While the right drink can be the perfect complement to a well-cooked meal, a drink that’s watered down certainly distracts from it.

So Hailstonez is changing the way that drinks are kept chilled. The product was thought of using the concept of heat transference through solids; in this case, cold retention. Since a sphere has the lowest surface-area-to-weight ratio of all shapes, a sphere of frozen ice is better than an ice cube. Less surface area of the ice in contact with any liquid means that ice spheres won’t melt as quickly, which in turn means drinks dilute less rapidly. The vertical stack method that Hailstonez uses allows for the ice mold to be filled faster, and it takes up less space in the freezer. The mold makes 96 ice spheres. Plans are in the works for both 1.5 and 2.5 inch ice balls.

This particular product seems like it has some potential, and is much more clearly explained than the Glacious LE ice sphere campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $58,000 on Kickstarter. Early bird backers get one product for $30 with an expected delivery of May 2015.

Categories
Aquatics

Hydropacer swim trainer guides swimmers, lights up laps

editors-choiceSwimming is a great way to stay in shape. Not only is it challenging and beneficial, but it’s a low-impact way to get some much-needed cardio.

Swimming workouts can be hard to keep track of, which is why the Hydropacer was developed. Hydropacer is a smart swim trainer that works with an accompanying smartphone app. Simply hook the smartphone up to the device and then set Hydropacer up along the side of the pool. It has a string of LED lights that go into the pool and rest along the bottom of the lane. The lights indicate how many laps must be done. With a rechargeable battery, this product can be used for a long time. It’s also portable at about the size of a tissue box so it can be brought to public pools.

In order to use, the swimmer selects which workout they want from a variety of choices and hits play. They have the option to pause, slow down or speed up any workout they choose. The app’s workout library is vast, spanning from Iron Man training sessions to speed conditioning. Hydropacer’s creators have compiled many routines from lots of different swimming professionals.

This product is certainly a cool concept, great for swimmers who need some help with their training. However, it isn’t executed that well. There isn’t any indication of how deep the pool can or cannot be in order for the lights to reach to the bottom and the design is lacking in style. Currently, it can only be used in 25 yard long pools. Still, swimmers can enjoy a wide variety of workouts which is a huge plus. For their own, backers can donate $360 for estimate delivery in May 2015. Hydropacer is hoping to raise $35,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Cycling Kids/Babies

ZumZum balance bike teaches tykes to zoom along in safety

Balance bikes for young children have remained generally unchanged since their inception in the mid 1800’s: they employ seats that gradually rise up until it the child is too big for it, at which point they can move on to an actual bike with ease. Just because they work as well as they do doesn’t mean they aren’t due for an upgrade, which is exactly what the ZumZum does.

Made from durable birch plywood, the ZumZum is the balance bike for the age. Made from three main components, the handlebar, frame, and wheels, the ZumZum is one of the lightest on the market at only 7.5lbs. The birch plywood and the product’s overall design facilitate natural suspension disconnected from the ground, so that children can avoid potentially damaging shock to their still developing lower backs.

ZumZum is as much a toy as it is a bike, so indoor and outdoor use is encouraged with its non-marking rubber tires. An interesting addition is the NFC tag built into the frame that, when tagged, displays information about the owner and the warranty of the bike. Useless for the most part, but a nice touch. Early birds can grab the ZumZum for $149, while everyone else will pay $199. The $50,000 campaign is looking to get this product shipped by March and April of 2015.

NextGen Bikes, LLC have created something that is fairly unique. Smart, sleek design come together to streamline a tried and true design. As tried and true as it may be, kids have proven to not have become any easier to deal with, so prospective backer/parents giving this the look over may want to also consider the Follow Me Bicycle Handle as well.

Categories
Arts

PlexiSketch allows for erasable note taking, saves paper in the process

While most tablets and smartphones offer some great conveniences, including a place to take and store notes, sometimes it’s nice to jot down ideas and make quick sketches in a non-electronic way.

PlexiSketch is a portable dry erase board made from laser cut Plexiglas and has hand beveled edges. Its rubber grips allow for one-hand writing simplicity. In addition, it’s compatible with either dry or wet erase markers. The portable note taking board is slightly larger than a standard piece of copy paper at 8.5 x 11.37 inches, and is only 1/8” thick, so it fits easily in a briefcase, backpack, or large purse.

Where portability is concerned, there is some question as to how to keep the notes from smearing when toted out of an office environment. However, it may serve as a useful way for moms with children who are really too small for electronic devices to keep their kids occupied without needing to have paper or a coloring book on hand. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 on Kickstarter. Early bird backers get one product for $14 with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Connected Objects

AiFi speakers promise great sound, Lego-like stacking capabilities

It takes a lot to come up with an original concept in speaker systems anymore. The last major new speaker category to become a hit was the sound bar, which achieved popularity thanks to the growth of flat-panel TVs. The makers of aiFi (Artificial Intelligence Fidelity), however, seem to have come up with a somewhat unique twist.

AiFi is being positioned as the Lego of sound systems because the small, modular speakers can be stacked one on top of the other and used in conjunction with any audio source. Although one unit is enough to fill a room with sound, stacking them makes the sound louder and serves to enhance the quality of the sound in general. The speakers can be stacked together and built in any configuration the user wants. On the top of each speaker are two grooves that make the rubber feet on the bottom fit securely. Speakers placed next to each other connect magnetically.

A smartphone app for the speaker system turns the user’s mobile device into a remote control. AiFi’s Bluetooth solution is compatible with iOS, OS X, Android and Windows. When stacked, the aiFi speakers will inform the app about their configuration. The speakers use top-of-the-line ADC converters and a 192kHz/24bit digital sound processor. The standard finish of the speaker is brushed aluminum and backers can get one, along with various accessories and other extras, for $170 with an estimated delivery date of April 2015. AiFi is looking to raise $80,000 on Indiegogo.

There have been stackable speakers before, but they have tended to be low-end portable models designed to be used exclusively with mobile devices. The aiFi, however, is being targeted for use with any two-channel sources, especially flat-panel TVs. If the sound quality of aiFi is as strong as its maker claims, the product is enormously promising.

Categories
Personal Transportation

Pack your bags and get moving with the Coolpeds Solar Electric Scooter

Everyone knows how brutal those mile long treks can be to and from work. A comparable experience is trudging through the vast innards of most airports to the gate which is inevitably on the other side of the entrance. No one likes it, but still it must be done. No one says it can’t be made easier, though.

The Coolpeds Solar Electric Scooter is looking to make it easier to think about the long distances required when simply getting to work or traveling. The scooter combines an eco-friendly transportation option with the storage potential of a small piece of carry-on luggage. A compact brushless motor hub does the work in getting users places, while a USB port charges a wide-variety of common devices people use everyday, all while weighing in at a sprite 7kg. It just takes about three hours to fully charge, so users might be waiting around for a bit.

The Impossible Bike does a better job at the scooter part of the equation without any storage to speak of. In any case, the Coolpeds scooter is going for $399, $200 off its eventual retail price. The $59,000 Indiegogo campaign is looking to have the product shipped by April 2015.

Categories
Nutrition/Hydration

Aquatiser water bottle juices fruit too, provides delicious non-boring water

Water is an essential part of staying healthy, but most people don’t drink enough of it. Some simply forget, while others prefer less boring beverages like sodas or juices.

Aquatiser provides a way to drink water with a kick. This glass water bottle has an extra compartment at the bottom for fresh fruit. The user simply places the fruit in the bottom and then the juicer attachment unlocks the fruit’s flavor. Fruit can also easily be placed in the main part of the bottle if the user desires. This bottle comes in pink and green.

This stylish water bottle, while well-designed, seems a little unnecessary. The campaign isn’t very convincing in explaining why backers need this water bottle as opposed to any other regular water bottle. Still, those who want to own an Aquatiser can donate £15 (~$22) for either color with delivery in February. That is, if the product can reach its £15,000 (~$22,500) goal on Kickstarter.

Categories
Connected Objects Toys

RC Brick moves building toys, couples smartphones with fun

Building blocks are the, well, building blocks of spatial learning for children. These toys are not only fun, but also allow kids to be creative while they learn to work with their hands.

RC Brick lets kids combine the fun of building things with the convenience of technology. This product works with most brick toys already on the market. It consists of motorized wheels that can move brick creations around. Using a charging cord, RC Brick plugs into any Apple or Android smartphone. The accompanying app lets the user control the movements of their RC Brick.

While this is a fun product that many kids will enjoy, it’s limited by the cord. RC Brick would do well to experiment with Bluetooth technology in order to make their device wireless. Backers will need to donate £27 (~$40) for the base model for estimated delivery in May 2015. RC Bricks hopes to raise £65,000 (~$97,400) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Cycling

Dillenger e-bike conversion kit pimps your bike, adds lightweight motor and Bluetooth

Huge hubs with brushless motors inside are popping up pretty much everywhere, having signified the rise of the e-bike. Their versatility has been proven, especially for those who care to streamline their entire commute or just make it slightly easier. The problem with e-bikes, however, lies in the fact that most people have regular bikes already, making the decision to buy a completely new one pretty difficult, if not impossible.

The team at Dillenger have created an e-bike conversion kit to make the switch easier. It differentiates itself from other bulky, all-in-one solutions usually attached to the back of most bikes with its lightweight front-wheel based design. The Dillenger kit preserves the entire bike while outfitting it with a 250-350W brushless motor and a removable 36V, 400W lithium ion battery that connects to the bike’s frame; an upgrade from products like the Fusion Sports Drive. The Bluetooth LE enabled kit allows for iOS and Android devices to control the bike’s settings for the entire 80km span of each charge. The $20,000 AUD (~$16,430 USD) campaign is offering the conversion kit for $699 AUD (~$580 USD). Two Dillenger-branded, fully electric bikes are being offered at $1,249 AUD (~$1,000 USD) and $1,449 AUD (~$1,200 USD), respectively, with all due to be shipped in May 2015.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Neo Razor’s built-in dispenser doesn’t rough up faces of sensitive men

Shaving is one of those grooming activities that everyone does, but no one really cares all that much for. Finding a decent razor is a challenge that can add to the aggravation. If they don’t cause a skin rash, many of them still irritate and dry out the skin.

Neo Razor, designed for men, is a product that was created with sensitive skin in mind. The product is touted as reducing shaving cream waste since it dispenses shaving cream directly onto the face right from the razor. According to the campaign, it works effectively on all facial hair types.

Neo Razor seems like is offers some nice convenience with the built-in shaving cream dispenser, though it’s unclear if the dispenser is refillable or if a new razor must be purchased in order to maintain that convenience. If so, that would be a definite drawback. Backers might also want to check out Sphynx, Rockwell, and RazorPOD  This campaign seeks to raise £150,000 (~$228,000 USD) on Kickstarter. For £500 (~$760 USD), backers get one Neo Razor with an expected delivery of June 2015.