Author: Ross Rubin

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Podcasts

The Backerjack Podcast, Episode 4, with Ross Rubin and Steve Sande

Steve and Ross, your two favorite crowdfunding connoisseurs, focus on four fresh products in this week’s Episode 4 of The Backerjack Podcast:

  • For those whose smartphone distance represents the longest yard, you can keep tabs on key factoids on the portable Chumbyesque  Displio.
  • Those who fear the gases, chemicals and radiation threatening to penetrate their tin foil hat can monitor it all with the Scarab. On the other hand, those who think more immediate threats come from people spitting in their food can drool over the Saliva Scanner.
  • And those who want to pair their tablets and phones with the most radical redesign ever of a mobile keyboard can partake of the tripartite TextBlade .

All the campaigns and preorder pages are still active so check out our thoughts before signing up to back them.

Subscribe via iTunes or RSS, download the podcast by saving this link, or listen to it with the player below:

 

Categories
Food and Beverage

Forkeo adds a touch of sophistication to enjoying milk and cookies

One of the best combinations in life is Oreos and milk. Whoever thought of this was just a food genius. Some people enjoy the feel of a wet cookie in between their fingers and licking the chocolate crumbs off their fingertips in between each cookie. Some, however, do not.

Forkeo has great appeal to those who enjoy a cleaner dining experience. The two-pronged fork simply gets stuck into the icing in between the cookie parts and then dunked into one’s favorite glass or mug full of milk. While a regular fork works just a well, Forkeo is disposable. So no one has to do any dishes if that and a paper cup are used.

Of course disposable forks could be used, but they don’t look as cool. The cookie dunking aide appears to be compatible with Hydrox cookies, too. Interested backers might also like to check out Dunkin’ Buddy. This campaign seeks to raise $8,500 on Kickstarter. For $5, backers get a pack of 15 with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Music

Leo Hahn’s Scratch Protector covers vulnerable bass or guitar backsides

Getting music gear to and from gigs without something getting scratched or broken can sometimes be a challenge. And the stakes are high since instruments and equipment are usually expensive.

While cases and blankets can usually diminish or even alleviate this problem, Leo Han’s Scratch Protector for electric and bass guitars offers musicians an option for keeping the back of their instrument a bit safer. The product is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The felt-looking cover attaches to the strap knobs on the guitar to protect the back of the guitar from scratches.

Seems like an interesting idea, but not entirely convinced that it’s a particularly useful product unless the user tends to transport their guitar to gigs without a case, doesn’t use a guitar stand, or has a particularly large belt buckle. Interested backers might also want to check out Guitar Throne and bnd/one.  This campaign seeks to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter. Backers don’t get a product for their support, but there are other perks available with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Music

Wallet Capo lets guitarists keep capo as close as cash

Being on stage and suddenly realizing that one’s capo got left in the guitar case puts a pretty awkward pause in the flow of a music set, challenging the lead singer to come up with some quick verbal improvisation that’s not necessarily clever.

Since a forgotten capo can be a real pain in the butt, Wallet Capo allows guitarists the benefit of always having a capo, um, somewhere convenient. It’s 3mm thick and is touted as being compatible with nearly any guitar neck, while also improving tone over the average capo out there. The product appears to be made of plastic with rubber fittings that go over the strings and against the back of the guitar neck.

While Wallet Capo is certainly convenient, it’s unclear whether or not the product itself is truly any better than the average capo out there. Interested backers might also like to check out Capo Clips. This product seeks to raise $5,000. For $10, backers get one capo with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Safety

iCanWalk adds illuminated safety to nighttime strolls

Many people feel that letting their kids walk to school or a nearby store is much more dangerous today than it was even a generation ago. Distracted drivers on mobile devices and the slowing reflexes of an increasing elderly population can mean more fatalities, even when one stays within the cross walk.

iCanWalk is a small light shaped like a stop sign that helps to alert drivers when the user is crossing the street. It is touted as being small enough to fit in a pocket, functions with a battery that can be recharged via the built-in USB port, and blinks when turned on. The attached handle makes it easy to hold and extend out or up to help with visibility.

This product seems like it may be useful at dusk or night in low light areas where there is a lot of traffic, but other than that, iCanWalk seems a bit over-the-top. Interested backers might also want to check out LightCycle and AquaLight. This project seeks to raise $200,000 by early February. Backers get one product for $100 with an expected delivery of January 2016.

Categories
Automotive

ArmRestor keeps road warriors focused on enjoying their drive

Driving can be one of the best parts of taking a vacation. ArmRestor was created with the road warrior in mind, providing a comfortable and convenient resting place for that left arm.  Since it attaches to the inside panel of the door and window, it can be used with either the window opened or closed. The latch system makes it compatible with most modern vehicles.

As for those creature comforts, ArmRestor provides easy access to one’s water bottle and a place for tissues and coins. The product’s one drawback seems to be the plastic-looking covering rather than cloth, which means that it may be hot on the arm during the summer and cold during the winter. Overall, the product seems like it has some quality to it, and that it’s a great idea – especially for those who spend a lot of time driving. This campaign seeks to raise $16,000 after having canceled their original campaign back in November. Early bird backers get one product for $24 with an expected delivery of May 2015.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

SLNGR keeps your mobile mounted around your neck

It seems like life stops when a mobile phone is forgotten or the charge dies. On the other hand, these phones can be inconvenient to carry around all the time, too. This is really more of an issue for men than women since women often carry their mobile phone in their purses.

So guys, SLNGR offers a hands-free way to tote a mobile phone. The safety breakaway neck strap is made of woven nylon, and the case itself is made of a rigid molded polyester canvas structure. SLNGR is adjustable and works with phones up to 3.5 inches wide. The pouch in front can hold a charger, earbuds, keys or other small items, which may make it a convenient item for cyclists and hikers.

While the product may make toting a mobile phone a little more convenient, it doesn’t seem any better than something like Victorinox or Naztech. Interested backers may also want to check out ReelKlip and Flip Clip. This campaign seeks to raise $35,000 by. Backers get one product for $25 with an expected delivery of May 2015.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Gym Handle Attachment offers cleaner workout option

Working out is one of the best stress management techniques out there. But the gym is not necessarily the cleanest place when one considers the sweat and other body fluids floating around.

The Gym Handle Attachment allows the user to keep their germs to themselves, and potentially escape contact with others. The product has a steel attachment ring and a comfort grip handle which is presumably rubber, though that is not stated. It attaches to weight machines, replaces the other attachments they usually provide.

It’s not entirely clear how convenient it is to tote a gym handle attachment around when there is portable hand sanitizer out there that seems much more practical, but the handle does appear as though it may be a quality product. Backers concerned about making sure hands are as clean and germ-free as possible might want to check out the SaniTimer and Nailbon E. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000 on Kickstarter. Backers get one product for $100 with an expected delivery of July 2015.

Categories
Writing

Portable Lap Tray aims to offer wheelchair users ergonomic ease, convenience

People who need wheelchair assistance often face the challenges of an environment that isn’t very ergonomically friendly. This can have an impact on many activities that others take for granted, from taking notes in a classroom to using a computer and even eating.

The Portable Lap Tray was invented to help bring these folks some convenience. It is touted as being compatible with any kind of chair. However, it is questionable if it would be very effective for left-handed users because of its right-hand oriented design–much like the old right-hand oriented desks of the 20th century from about the 1960s or so.

Backers looking for mobility assistance might want to check out the Movi Transport Chair. This campaign seeks to raise $15,000 on Indiegogo. It appears that the tray itself is not available to backers, but for $75, backers can get a DVD of some kind of fashion show, a slightly confusing reward.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Hydra phone charger increases talk time, stores files too

The fast and furious plethora of phone charges hitting the market doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. So it’s more important than ever for consumers to consider what is going to work best for their lifestyle.

The Hydra phone charger has features that will be appreciated by busy professionals and students alike. Some of these include a lithium battery that offers over two hours of talk time, and a flash drive and USB charging cable that can connect to any Android or iPhone 4, 5 or 6. Hydra also features an LED flashlight and emergency hammer. This is another charger that easily attaches to a key ring. So unless one leaves their car keys at home, it’s going to actually be there when it is needed.

For those who often take their laptop or tablet with them, a flash drive backs up computer files and pictures, and holds up to 64GB of Micro SD memory. While Hydra is a good product, there’s not much that sets it apart from similar products. And the emergency hammer feature is a little random.

This campaign seeks to raise $1,800 on Indiegogo. Early bird backers get one product for $20 with an expected delivery of March 2015.