Author: Julia Herrick

Categories
Food and Beverage

Vini wine topper measures PH, temperature to check if wine is fine

Corked and sealed wine lasts forever. However, as soon as it’s unsealed, it begins to go bad. The only way to tell if it’s bad is to taste it. While it’s not as bad as spoiled milk, that sour taste can still put one off of wine entirely for the night.

Vini never wants a bad bottle of wine to be tasted ever again. This digital monitor tests wine to figure out if it’s still good to drink. Looking like a meat thermometer, place Vini in the wine and push the button. First, it’ll display the wine’s temperature. With another tap of the button, it will show its pH level. To the layman, this information may not mean much, but Vini comes with a chart to help interpret the data. In addition, Vini is a bottle stopper, so it serves more than just to taste wine for you.

For wine enthusiasts, Vini is an extremely useful device. This product certainly has potential in the market because those who love wine, really love wine and will do anything for the perfect glass. Backers can have their own for $40 CAD (~$35 USD) for delivery in July 2015. Vini is looking to raise $40,000 CAD (~$35,000 USD)  on Kickstarter.

Categories
Health and Wellness Home

Squair ditches filters for cold plasma to help you breathe easier

Polluted air affects everyone in many different harmful ways. From asthma to allergies, everyone feels the detrimental results of dirty air, but no one quite knows how to address it.

SQUAIR takes the mind off of bad breathing as an air filtration system. Using cold plasma, this devices catches harmful pollutants in the air and kills bacteria. This product is also discreet, resembling a hard drive. It gives users relief for up to 30sqm around them and can be used anywhere from the office, home or even hotel rooms when traveling.

SQUAIR joins scores of other air purifiers, but misses the mark on a couple of key conveniences. Products like the Table Air not only filter toxins, mold and dust, but also communicate with smartphones to deliver data about what’s in the air. Other air purifiers run on battery, making them portable to use during walks to protect oneself in bad areas, such as a city. While SQUAIR’s methods to clean pollutants may be cutting edge, the product itself could use some updating to make it more user-friendly. For their very own, backers must donate €165 (~$203) for delivery in April 2015, if SQUAIR is able to reach its €79,000 (~$97,000) goal on Kickstarter.

Categories
Furniture Organization

Flat-pack shelving structure organizes in a giant hexagon

Shelving units pretty much come in one shape consisting of horizontal parallel shelves that hold your stuff in a straight line. Ruche offers a different look. Shaped like a hexagon, this shelving unit has seven slots able to fit anything from shoes to pots and pans in the kitchen. According to the campaign, these shelves only take seven minutes to assemble. For moving or reorganizing, the shelves fold completely flat for ease of transport.

This Israeli product is not only practical, but also features a hidden Star of David in its center for more spiritual backers. Ruche comes in either cardboard or aluminum and each material boasts three different sizes: small, medium and large. The campaign does a great job of displaying all the different ways Ruche can be used and is convincing in showcasing the product’s usefulness and versatility. You’ll also get your choice of color with a $65 donation for a small aluminum Ruche with an estimated delivery date of February 2015. This product is looking to raise $15,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Fitness

BIAbox exercise device flips around as it works you out all over

Time and time again, people like a full body workout that can be had with the help of one device. Moving back and forth between machines takes up too much time and requires a costly gym membership.

BIAbox is looking to provide an all over workout. With two two-sided faces and two railings, the box stands on its own and is about the size of a walker. By turning it around, BIAbox has four sides. Each side tells the user how they can workout and which exercises that particular orientation supports. For instance, when it’s turned into a platform, step ups, push ups and squats are all made possible. BIAbox offers 40 different exercises to its users.

While not the most sleek or portable all-in-one fitness device out there, BIAbox does have an edge over similar products. It actually lists the exercises you can do using it. Others come with inconvenient manuals or nothing at all. Fitness buffs have useful instructions on how to maximize their workout right in front of them. For their very own, backers must donate £209 (~$330) for ambitious delivery in December 2014, if BIAbox reaches its £12,000 (~$18,700) goal on Kickstarter.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Chargers/Batteries

iPhone 6 charging case integrates stand, USB cable

As battery life still hasn’t caught up with the amount we use our phones, we need to be constantly prepared to charge our phones, even when we’re not at home. The Charge Case was designed to serve several important functions for iPhone 6 users. It’s a lightweight black case that will protect your phone. Charge is also a stand that lets you prop up your phone horizontally or vertically. Lastly, it comes with an attached lightning cable so you can charge or sync your phone anywhere. The cable fits discreetly inside the case.

We’ve seen a ton of portable chargers recently, including inCharge, a lightning cable keychain. Charge Case serves several functions, setting it apart from similar products. As with other portable cables, it’s too bad that it can’t also come with some kind of wall outlet. Still, if you have your laptop with you, this case makes charging, protecting and propping up easy. One will cost backers $35 for estimated delivery in March 2015. Charge Case is looking to raise a modest $5,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Imaging

Panlight sets the plan right to remotely position cameras and flashes

Professional photographers use a beefed up flash system for extra light. They’ll set up these speedlight flashes and then move around to get the best shot. Unfortunately, to adjust the flash, they have to lower down the stand, angle the flash properly and hope it’s in the right position.

Panlight uses a remote control to adjust the speedlight for you. From up to 100 feet away, the photographer can move the flash up and down 180 degrees and 360 degrees around. In addition, Panlight offers the perk of being able to attach your camera to it in order to control that remotely as well. This will let your DLSR reach new heights of photography without having to climb a ladder. This product works with standard tripods and camera stands. It can support mirror-less cameras up to two pounds. To power, use four AA batteries.

This is certainly a nifty device that will help tons of photographers. Weddings in particular are difficult to photograph because there’s so much going on. A remote control will certainly make the entire process easier. It’s too bad, though, that Panlight is powered by batteries. A rechargeable battery would make more sense. However, there’s always the possibility of running out of juice in the middle of a wedding, in which case spare AA batteries would come more in handy than having to recharge. For £95 (~$149) backers will receive their very own by March 2015. The UK made Panlight is looking to raise £23,000 (~$36,000) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Relaxation

Bungalow Beach Chair goes for that hammock feel, integrates towel and sun shade

Lounging at the beach is easily one of the most relaxing activities that summer has to offer. Unfortunately, lugging all the stuff you need to do so is one of the least relaxing activities. Muling this stuff to the beach also has the added perk of having to walk across sand to get to your spot.

The Bungalow Beach Chair hopes to make all of this easier by combining a few essential beach items in one. This takes a beach chair, towel, and shade and puts them all in an attached carrying bag for an easier time. The chair is designed with metal framing and the towel provides support for your body. According to the creators, sitting in the chair is much like sitting in a hammock, with your upper body suspended and your bottom and legs resting on the ground.

While the idea of an all-in-one beach chair is certainly useful, it’s a little annoying to have to either sit on your towel wet, or stand up while drying yourself off. Most beach goers will probably opt to take an extra towel with them if they plan to get wet. In addition, Bungalow could add some pockets to their product to store things like books, phones and sunscreen. Still, this is a convenient idea and the added perk of shade makes it stand apart from similar products. One will cost backers $60 for estimated delivery in March 2015. Bungalow Beach Chair hopes to raise $6,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Camping Food and Beverage

Rover remote control cooler delivers cold ones on your command

We’re all lazy. Most of us are only motivated to get up by the urge to use the bathroom or hunger. Rover caters to this type of attitude. This remote-controlled cooler has wheels that can travel on most types of terrain, including sand. Shaped like a little jeep, this cooler can hold up to 60 cans and has LED lights for use in the dark. It also has several cup holders making it useful as a table as well. Get the Rover with MLB or NFL sports decal, your favorite college’s logo or with no logo at all. A special offer letting you purchase Rover with your own logo is in the works.

Due to the unfortunate above-mentioned lazy nature of the human race, Rover makes a great addition to any camping party, picnic or beach outing. The remote is a little clunky, but that only makes it difficult to lose. If the remote does happen to get lost, Rover users will have to actually get up, tragically. In terms of convenience, Rover ups the ante from the Kreweser Cooler that lets you ride a cooler around. Rover is better for getting drinks around to lots of people, though it won’t tote you around too. One will cost backers $249 with estimated delivery in December 2014. Rover is looking to raise $45,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Luggage and Bags

Versatile FUGU luggage expands from suitcase to large boxy roller

People love buying souvenirs when they travel. Bringing home gifts for friends and even items for yourself are great ways to remember your trip. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to remember that you can’t come back with more than you went with unless you have a bigger bag.

That’s where FUGU comes in. This suitcase looks like an average-sized rolling carry on bag. However, it zips out and more than doubles in size. In one step, this bag transforms from the maximum carry on bag size to the maximum checked bag size. This way, you can take home a lot more than you started out with if you’d like. FUGU also boasts utility as a table. When stood up, the top zips off to reveal a hard surface that you can use for a variety of things. It also comes with a removable laptop case for all those business trips you may have to take. In addition, FUGU saves space in your home. Most large suitcases are bulky and take up a lot of room, but not FUGU. Depending on what backers vote, FUGU will come in four different colors, still to be determined.

This beefed up bag is a great concept, to be sure. The space-saving aspect of the suitcase makes it great for anyone with limited storage. Otherwise, FUGU really only makes sense in a situation where one would bring back a lot of stuff from a trip. Backers can get their very own for a donation of $295 by August 2015, provided the Kickstarter campaign hits its goal of $50,000.

Categories
Aquatics Cell Phone Accessories

TOUCHBAG offers play-through water protection

Water is the natural enemy of the smartphone. Underwater phones do exist, but leave something to be desired. TOUCHBAG protects your phone in water, but still allows you to use the touchscreen. This product resembles a Ziploc bag. The air in the bag is what makes the touchscreen usable. As the campaign says, this is great to use in the shower, pool, or while snorkeling.

If we need to use our phones in the shower, it’s clear that we’re doomed as a society. Perhaps the only reason one would need a phone in the shower is for an emergency call, but it looks like the phone doesn’t work for calls in the TOUCHBAG, only the touchscreen works. Also, the video doesn’t do a good job of convincing us that alternative options are lacking. Still for the almost inapporpriately named product, backers can shell out a $30 CAD (~$27 USD) donation for estimated delivery in March 2015, if the creator can raise $12,000 CAD (~$10,600 USD).