Author: Ross Rubin

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Free Standing Clothesline caters to those with dryer aversion

On those rare occasions when one might actually have some extra time on their hands, hanging clothes on a clothesline can be a nice fair weather treat for those who enjoy that sun-dried, windblown smell and feel.

Free Standing Clothesline is a clothesline that can offer users a large load capacity, perfect for drying blankets, comforters and other bedding. It’s not entirely clear what the posts for this product are made of, but the line extends up to 10 feet. Since there are wheels on the base, it is mobile and can be used either indoors or outdoors.

This is the second go-around for the Free Standing Clothesline and its annoying video. This product isn’t one of a kind nor does it really offer anything new, making its price unjustified.Interested backers may also want to check out the Clothes Tree campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $160,000. For $75, backers get one product with an expected delivery of June 2015.

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Imaging

HanSnap attaches smartphone to hand for adventurous photography, phone safety

Wowing friends and family with those daredevil adventures is at least half the fun of adventure photography. Of course, it can bring plenty of laughs, too–especially if it’s the other guy making the blunder.

HanSnap offers a smartphone camera mount that is worn on the hand. It allows a person to film themselves or it can be flipped around and used for those adventurous moments that include the group. The hand mount can also be used in a hands-free fashion by attaching it to a stable object for filming a scene or activity in the area that includes everyone. The product works with iPhone 5 and 6, and Samsung Galaxy s4 and s5.

HanSnap certainly offers an alternative way to hold your camera, making taking photos without dropping the smartphone much easier. Adventurous backers may also want to check out the GoBall, Indiglo and Cinetics campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $90,000. Early bird backers get one HanSnap for $50 with an expected delivery of May 2015.

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Tech Accessories

Bite helps your Apple EarPod cords hold it together

It’s such a bummer that Apple EarPods seem to break almost as frequently as someone thinks they have come up with an idea for keeping earbuds tangle-free. Part of the reason for the broken earbud issue is that people tend to pull on the earbud cord rather than the plug. So the creators of Bite have come up with a grip in order to reduce incidences of said gripe.

The product is made of allergy-proof silicone, and is shaped to fit the human finger so that the cord is more easily grasped. Bite comes in nine different colors so that it can be used as a way to easily identify which cords go with what–or so that those who are simply anal about having their entire outfit match will be satisfied. Or both.

The earbud grip does seem like it may be useful to those who have trouble grasping the plugs on their devices. Interested backers may also want to check out Mous Musicase, Magclip, and Tiny Earin.  This campaign seeks to raise $4,000. Early bird backers get a three-pack of BITE with an expected delivery of February 2015.

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Tech Accessories

FocalPoint makes sitting at computer less of a pain in the neck

Wearing bifocals and sitting in front of a computer is generally a frustrating and even painful combination. Once the proper position to actually see the screen is found, sitting in front of it for a while often causes a crick in the neck. That’s why FocalPoint was created. The monitor stand allows bifocal wearers to adjust and tilt their computer screen to an angle that is compatible with using the keyboard and seeing the monitor more easily.

The stand is compatible with screens that are 12-27 inches and comes with a hex wrench and all other items needed for easy assembly, which seems to be fairly minimal. Backers may choose from birch, bamboo or natural finishes.

This product seems like it may be a quality product, but it also seems that making the font larger on the screen may be an option that could resolve the issue. Interested backers may also want to check out The BU Desk, ReadyDesk, and StandStand campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $2,500. For $25, backers get one FocalPoint with an expected delivery of January 2015.

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Home

Sole Stacks keeps shoes in an artsy looking rack

For those who believe that one can never have too many pairs of shoes, here is a storage idea that will get them off of the closet floor and someplace where they can be more easily organized and found – hanging right on the wall.

Sole Stacks is a modular, art deco looking wall mount for storing shoes. The product comes in three sizes: the five rack for five pairs of shoes, nine rack for nine pairs, and 13 rack 13 pairs. Racks can also be stacked. The unique slope saves space so more shoes can be stored, and is intended to be complimentary with the furniture around it. Some assembly with tools is required. Which tools are needed is not clearly specified, but it doesn’t appear to be particularly complex.

This seems like a very convenient way for shoe fanatics to keep all of their shoes organized and accessible. Shoe-loving backers may also want to check out Zem shoes and Bast shoes. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. Backers get one five-stack Sole Stacks for $60 with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Home

Universal Laundry Hose makes pouring soap easier, may save marriages

For those who feel that storing the laundry detergent on a shelf above the washer and dryer is too much of a hassle, here is a gadget that may solve not only that problem, but, according to the video, also settle domestic disputes – sort of. Universal Laundry Hose is touted as being compatible with every laundry detergent bottle on the market. The original cap gets replaced with the cap and hose system. The hose has a spigot so that the correct amount of detergent can still be measured for each laundry load while the bottle sits on a shelf on its side.

One has to wonder just how this works when the detergent gets low enough that it won’t freely run from the bottle and it needs to be tipped. Maybe that’s when she reverts to putting a new bottle on top of the dryer – or just refuses to do the laundry until he replaces the old bottle. It seems that purchasing a smaller bottle would solve this problem just as well. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000. For $10, backers get one Universal Laundry Hose with an expected delivery of February 2015.

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Travel

Airport Armchair offers inflated pillow care for head and neck comfort

Those long trips on planes, trains and busses can be highly uncomfortable and rob a person of their sleep. But bringing a pillow is usually too bulky – unless it is inflatable.

Airport Armchair easily stores in a pocket or carry on bag when it is deflated. This air pillow is multifunctional in that it can be used for a neck or lower back for comfort. When used with the neck, it straps under the legs so that it stays in place during use.

It’s not entirely clear what it’s made of or how well it would do if thrown in the washer for cleaning. It’s also curious that it is called an armchair when it cannot offer simultaneous head, neck, arm and back support. This is another in a long line of products that aim to make long trips a little more comfortable. Backers may also want to check out the Winks, Forward Face Front Pillow, and Ostrich Pillow campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000 AUD (~$41,600 USD). For $10 AUD (~$8 USD) backers get one Airport Armchair with an expected delivery of December 2015.

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Home

Soap Saver Jar uses soap slivers to make a new bar

When a bar of soap gets down to one of those little slivers, it can seem like money is being thrown in the trash when it gets pitched.

In an effort to save the environment and even throw in extra motivation by offering the opportunity to save a bit of cash, the Soap Saver Jar was invented. Nothing complicated here in that the user just continues to put soap slivers in the jar and the compression from the screw-on top makes them all into a brand new bar. No electricity or special tools needed, just a desire to pinch those pennies until they scream and a distain for landfills.

It’s not clear how many slivers are actually required to make a new bar. Backers wondering how they can slow down the melting of their newly compounded soap slivers might want to check out the Soapseat campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $13,800 by mid January. For $7, backers get one Soap Saver Jar with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Lighting

LAMPP app sets the mood; turns smartphone into a light

It seems that there is an app for everything from music to sports to safety and more. Why not create one for mood lighting too?

LAMPP allows users to create that perfect ambiance through a phone app. The phone fits inside the lampshade-like cover and the app allows for various color choices to be emitted through the phone screen as soft music selections play in the background, creating a smartlight effect. Silicone has the best glow, and its durability and flexibility allow for it to travel well. So the user can get together with that special someone at his place or hers or somewhere in between.

While a little frivolous, this is nonetheless a cute product that can travel and enhance the ambience for cheap. Sometimes light is everything, especially in intimate situations. Other mood enhancing campaigns in which backers might have an interest are LumaPlay Speakers, Whome, Prizm, and Playbulb. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000. For $40, backers get one LAMPP with an expected delivery of March 2015.

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Kids/Babies

Sporklet makes mealtime less tedious for toddlers, parents alike

If it wasn’t for the fact that someone has to clean them up afterward, it might be amusing watching a toddler learn how to use a fork or spoon at mealtime. Chasing those peas around while trying to stab them with a fork, bite sized bits of carrots that miss the mouth on the first couple tries, and spaghetti is always a fun one. It’s enough to make one wonder if the fork or spoon winds up on the floor out of frustration or by accident.

Sporklet was designed with young ones and their developing motor skills in mind. The spoon-fork gadget also has a wrist attachment so that it can be loosely fastened to a child’s wrist and is less likely to wind up on the floor. Not entirely convinced it’s any better than any other toddler spoon or fork already out there, but it may be worth checking into further for the wrist attachment. This campaign seeks to raise $32,000. Early bird backers get one Sporklet for $16 with an expected delivery of July 2015.