Author: Julia Herrick

Categories
Connected Objects Pets

PetPal separates electronics from feeder to dispense foods remotely

The Premise. Having pets is wonderful, but it’s necessary to find someone to care for them when you’re out of town. It’s tough to travel or even go out for the day when you have to worry about feeding your dog or cat.

The Product. PetPal is a pet feeding system that holds up to 15 pounds of food. Using Wi-Fi and an app, pet owners can dispense food into the bowl without actually being in the house. A button on the top dispenses food too so the bowl can also be used when you’re home. The PetPal has a camera and motion detectors so that you can see and take photos or videos of when your pet eats. A microphone and speaker lets you hear your pet and talk to it as well.

The Pitch. Ken Powers, the creator, talks about his love of animals and pets in the video. He wanted to make a product that would not only feed his pets, but that would also allow him to see and talk to them when he’s away. In the rest of the campaign he discusses how he wanted to build his product like his durable toaster that has lasted him for 40 years. PetPal hopes to raise $150,000 in its 45-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. PetPal’s reward tiers offer three early bird specials at $350, $360 and $360. The system goes for regular price of $395. All tiers have estimated delivery dates of August 2014.

The Potential. There have been a lot of pet care products looking for crowdfunding recently. PETLY is an automatic pet feeder that works off of a schedule to deliver food at regular times. Pintofeed also has Wi-Fi capabilities so that you can feed your animal from a smartphone, computer or tablet. Most similar to the PetPal, the iCPooch lets dog owners video chat/bark with their pets and even deliver them a treat it they’d like. PetPal is by far the most sophisticated of these. It delivers food either manually or automatically and the microphone and camera are a great way to keep an eye on things at home. The price, however, is quite steep compared to similar products being developed. Other than the expense, PetPal looks like a perfect way to feed and keep an eye on pets when out of town.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Trinity is a miniature wind turbine to keep your gadgets charged

The Premise. We’ve all been there. Our phones die and we have no access to an outlet. When in public, there’s always the option of trolling for one in a Starbucks, but for those out camping or hiking, there’s little hope.

The Product. Trinity is a portable wind turbine power system. to charge your portable devices. The mini turbine uses a 15W generator that powers an integrated battery, which can also be charged via microUSB on those days without much wind . It has three legs that fold out either into a tripod shape or flat on the ground. Trinity is white and the body is 12” long with 11” legs.

The Pitch. Trinity’s campaign video is bare and simple, going over how the product works. Admittedly, it looks like it was filmed in tent in the middle of the desert. The rest of the campaign goes into the tech specs of this mini turbine for those interested in how it works. Trinity hopes to raise $50,000 in a 50-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. Don’t expect thsi advanced techology to compete with simple pocket power packs. Trinity offers two early-bird specials for backers needing to charge up. The first is $249 and the second is $279. For a regular price, the Trinity costs $299. Higher tiers offer a chance to pick a color other than white. Each tier has an estimated delivery date of January 2015.

The Potential. Trinity joins the sustainability market with several other products aimed at utilizing renewable energy in small ways. The H2Only Battery powers lights with only water. More similar to the Trinity, the WindPax is a portable wind turbine that can be used to run lights or charge low energy devices. Each of these products represents a very cool new way to think about renewable energy. These products, especially the Trinity, introduce this idea on a much smaller scale and show how our everyday lives can be simplified with clean energy. The Trinity, while expensive, is a neat product that will only be elaborated upon with time. It certainly won’t stop with a USB port, but could mean powering larger things with time.

 

Categories
Cycling

Upper Wheel Fairings streamline your bike

The Premise. Cycling is a fun sport and a great way to get around for millions. It doesn’t feel so fun when battling against headwinds, however, which can slow you down and make it hard to get anywhere.

The Product. Upper Wheel Fairings by Null Winds Technology is a bicycle accessory designed to make headwinds easier to bear. This product fits onto the tops of the wheels of a road bike. It is designed to make the bike faster and more aerodynamic. The Fairings are made out of white or black aluminum and have the creator’s logo embossed on it

The Pitch. The campaign video consists of a long explanation of how wind works and in which ways the product battles wind resistance. The poor sound quality and monotone voice of the creator make it a little hard to watch, unfortunately. Details about production, testimonials of Upper Wheel Fairings users, how to mount the product, and more physics lessons permeate the rest of the campaign. Null Winds hopes to raise a high $120,000 in its 60-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. Different reward tiers offer either a front wheel only package or a full set of the product in either white or black, black being more expensive. For a full set of white Upper Wheel Fairings, early backers need to donate $229 , $249, or $259 with a regular price of $269. For black, early tiers go for $269 or $279 with a regular price of $289. The regular prices are set to rise once lower tiers are filled up. Estimated delivery dates bounce all over the place seemingly randomly ranging from June to October 2014.

The Potential. Bicycle enthusiasts love anything they can get their hands on that will make them go faster. Those with road bikes especially crave speed. The Upper Wheel Fairings state in the campaign that the product, unfortunately, cannot be used in any type of race settings, but is perfect for recreational or commuting riders. Other products aimed at battling headwinds really focus on the helmet and attire of the rider along with special wheels. There doesn’t seem to be anything else out there quite like the Upper Wheel Fairings product. Null Winds Technology, however, will need to clean up their campaign in order to have success in raising funds for this product.

Categories
Pets

K9 Insulated Dog Water Bottle hydrates heroes with hindquarters

K9 bottleK9 police squads and military units that use dogs need an easy way to give them water on the go. Most bowls that people use let water get hot and aren’t easily transportable. The K9 Unit Insulated Dog Water Bottle uses a unique design to fix these problems. It keeps water cool and has an attachment at the bottom that easily gives dogs water, but is also easy to put back onto the bottle when finished. One of these bottles costs backers $25 with an estimated delivery date of August 2014. The K9 bottle hopes to raise $20,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Toys Video

Aqua Vision uses H2O to create a 3D viewing experience

Aqua VisionTelevisions with 3-D capabilities are cool, but very expensive. That’s not to mention the fact that additional costly glasses are needed in order to see the 3-D footage. Aqua Vision allows you to watch any video in 3-D off of any flat screen surface including televisions, laptops, YouTube, and tablets. These glasses come in three different forms (toy, binocular and plastic bottle) and use water to see in 3-D. The most affordable pair goes for only $13 with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. Aqua Vision needs to raise $6,500 in its 45-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Tools

Hmm Rule/One ruler marries the rigid with the write

Hmm Rule/OneDesigners, architects and construction workers all need three essential things to do their jobs: a pen, paper and ruler. Hmm Rule/One combines two of these things in one. This compact aluminum 13cm long ruler comes with a built-in pen. The ruler fits well inside of any notebook or comes with an attachment that makes it easy to wear around. One of these two-in-one tools goes for a somewhat imposing $45 donation with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. Higher reward tiers come with different choices of color. Hmm Rule/One hopes to raise $20,000 in its 43-day run on Kickstarter.

Categories
Sleep

SnoreNoMore promises silence in store

The Premise. Many adult men and many women suffering from nighttime snoring. Snoring is a symptom of an obstructed airway and can cause sleep problems and, in many cases, marital problems.

The Product. SnoreNoMore is a cure for snoring. This device looks much like an electric toothbrush without a head. It vibrates and has a soft rubber tip that is placed in the mouth against the soft palette to stimulate the area. This stimulation supposedly retrains the airways to work properly in order to alleviate snoring. The device is rechargeable and comes in several different colors. An accompanying Android/iOs friendly app allows users to track their progress with a snoring diary and reminders to use the device.

The Pitch. The campaign video begins with a cute cartoon of a couple’s distress over snoring. Hilmar Simon, the creator, then explains the mechanics involved in snoring and how his product works. He tells about how his father and sister’s snoring made their house shake which motivated him to search for a solution. Simon hopes to raise $140,000 with his 31-day Indiegogo campaign.

The Perks. For a $50 early-bird special, backers can enjoy the app alone. For $100, backers get the app and $50 off of their purchase of a SnoreNoMore. Only backers willing to fork over $350 can help with the beta stage of testing for 2-3 months, will receive the app and $100 off of the product, but still not the product itself. Only $1,000 gets backers the product, actually four of them, as well as the app.

The Potential. The idea of an actual solution for snoring as opposed to a temporary remedy is intriguing. Snore strips and mouthpieces must be worn every night to temper snoring, but the SnoreNoMore actually attempts to retrain the body to open up your nasal passages. The price of this product, however, is unreasonable and there should most definitely be a reward tier that offers one of the product instead of four. It seems that this should cost no more than an electric toothbrush because of how similar they are. Also, the video lacks any footage of someone using the product, and from the description, it sounds uncomfortable. Still, most would welcome a cure for their snoring no matter the cost. The app is also a welcome supplement for those who really struggle with this problem.

Categories
Accents

Cella puts plants in petite pods for a splash of greenery anywhere

CellaLiving in the big city has a great many benefits, but plant life and greenery certainly isn’t one of them. Cella offers a way to get some green in your life while living an urban lifestyle. These plastic nodules are small and round with holes for plants to grow through. The creators suggest using moss and seeds to start your garden. Cella can either be hung from strings, affixed to the walls or gathered together on the floor for an eye-catching display. For $25, backers get each of the three sizes of the product with an estimated delivery date of September 2014. Cella hopes to raise $50,000 in its Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Safety Tech Accessories

Iron Brick Safe locks up your laptop, tablet for deter theft

Iron Brick SafeLaptop thefts in cars and libraries are on the rise, especially for those in college. When looking for a book or going to the restroom, many people opt to take their laptops with them instead of leaving them unattended. Laptops in cars need to be hidden for extra safety. The Iron Brick Case is a portable laptop safe that will keep your notebook or tablet safe on the go. It’s particularly handy since thiner laptops and tablets don’t have a lock connector on them and may rely on clunky alternatives.. This safe comes with steel cables, several locks and a rock hard exterior to prevent theft. One Iron Brick Safe costs backers $50 with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. The Safe needs to raise $23,500 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Apparel Tech Accessories

iLanyard provides another option for staying close to your buds

iLanyardEarbuds are constantly getting tangled and bunched up in the wrong way which can cause them to break or get lost. The iLanyard keeps your earbuds in place while you’re wearing them. It attaches to both wires on either side and loops around the back of your neck, much like a lanyard for glasses. Other earbud solutions, like the Snap and Nunchuk, get the job done well, but cannot be used while actually listening to music or talking on the phone. One of these goes for $8 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. The iLanyard needs to raise $8,000 in a 20-day campaign.