Category: Tech Accessories

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Tech Accessories Technology

MicroJib camera holder boosts GoPro’s creative possibilities from all angles

The popularity of GoPro cameras has been a boon for the makers of camera accessories. The new MicroJib from a Denver, Colorado, inventor adds pan and tilt functionality to the GoPro, expanding the creative possibilities of the action camera.

Panning and tilting enables freedom in camera motions that weren’t previously achievable with other extension poles. Backers of the Kickstarter campaign who pledge amounts starting at $79 will be able to get a MicroJib when it ships in April. Backers who pay $99 will still be getting one at less than the expected $109 retail. Backers who pay $129 can get a  limited edition green and black model. The campaign is hoping to raise $24,000.

MicroJib seems like a good bet for GoPro owners. The accessory’s mount is only designed for GoPro cameras, which limits its potential appeal to owners of other cameras. But MicroJib’s maker is planning to offer a mount as an add-on that will let users mount any small camera to the device.

 

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Chargers/Batteries Tech Accessories Technology

MOTA gives GoPro cameras a wireless charge

The GoPro camera is the go to device for anyone wanting to document their various adventures. However, when the battery runs out, it means extreme feats may not be documented.

San Jose, California-based company MOTA has developed a wireless charger that features technology specially optimized for the GoPro camera. The MOTA Wireless Charger for GoPro is compatible with GoPro Hero 3 and Hero 4 models, and can charge the cameras from 0 to 100% in 3.5-4 hours. The company, however, is working on shortening that time to 2-2.5 hours. The charger is best used during camera downtime and when the GoPro is not in the wireless charger, the user can charge an extra battery. Charging multiple devices doesn’t affect the charging times. Backers for the device’s Kickstarter campaign will get a charger for $55 when it ships in May as part of an early bird special. The charger will retail at more than $100. MOTA is looking to raise $15,000.

MOTA will likely come in handy for many GoPro users. Its campaign goal also seems much more achievable than the similar Jolt charger that recently failed to meet its goal. A shorter charging time will certainly spell success for MOTA.

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Tech Accessories

KaVii makes tablets and smartphones stick around

Ideas for smartphone and tablet mounts seem to be flooding the market like a garden at harvest time. The question is, which ones will weather the storm of consumer fickleness and stick around for a while?

One product that seems to have the stickiness factor going for it, quite literally, is KaVii. The adhesive gel tablet can secure a smartphone or tablet to nearly any flat surface. And if one happens to be in a warm environment, KaVii won’t melt or leave sticky residue. So those who like to karaoke with their smartphone in the shower or camp in the bathtub and watch a good movie can enjoy themselves at everyone else’s annoyance. The product can be cleaned easily with hot or cold water and left to air dry.

KaVii might not be the best option in the car during the winter months since it isn’t especially effective when the temperature gets below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. But the summer months likely won’t be a problem since it will function up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000. For $9, backers get four pieces of KaVii with an expected delivery of January 2015.

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Tech Accessories

Blooky promises to end password hassle with a key fob device

One password for all the sites we frequented used to be the norm. More importantly, it used to be easy. Nowadays, though, having one password for every Web site is akin to a digital death sentence. With more and more attempts at your digital life by hackers targeting large companies with troves of our data and being successful at it, it’s up to us to make sure our data is protected and secure. Password managers claim to be a good solution, but they rely on exactly one password to protect you, which has proven to be a bad idea.

Blooky is a wireless Bluetooth password key that can work with laptops, desktops, phones, and tablets to relieve you of password worry. All you have to do is pair Blooky with your device and login to your desired site. After your first time, the product will save your credentials. Every login after that will see Blooky authenticate itself to decrypt the passwords it has stored, making every login effortless. It’s easy to deactivate should it fall into the wrong hands, offering several ways to remotely disable it. The company is also offering a Bluetooth LE dongle for your device should it lack the capability. The campaign is looking for $250,000, and backers can expect their $100 Blooky on their doorsteps by August 2015.

The inventors behind Blooky claim their encryption is unbroken thus far, but no encryption is perfect. Someone who wants your data badly enough will eventually succeed. Blooky will no doubt be an asset to the casual user, but runs the risk of being more of a convenience than actual protection in the long run. Backers interested in security may also want to check out the EveryKey.

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Tech Accessories

PowerTower organizational stand stacks devices, cleans up cords

An excess of cords anywhere in the household can be an incredible eyesore, and one that isn’t very easy to fix without some sort of creative solution that hides the wires in some way. It’s difficult sometimes to do so with the sheer number of cords that sprout from the growing number communication peripherals, like routers, people own.

The PowerTower organizes all of these peripherals by offering a four level stand that accommodates a decent number of devices. The product was designed with spaces in its semi-circular base and spine to tuck away the many wires that need to be connected in a clean fashion, reducing the amount of snake-pit like corners in the home.

Six AC and four USB outlets ensure everything needing power gets enough of it. Since it doesn’t itself get out of the way like the WrapAround, as a consequence the stand itself can end up being the eyesore instead as it isn’t the sleekest of designs. The $100,000 campaign is looking to get the $99 PowerTower in homes by May 2015.

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Tech Accessories

Flip Clip lets gadget lovers get attached to their devices

Trying to figure out where to stow that mobile device when on the go and still having easy access to it can be a challenge. So Flip Clip offers gadget lovers a hands-free option with a bit of style thrown in for good measure. The user attaches the product to the back of their mobile or smartphone case with the adhesive tape. Then pull up the snap spring and the phone or mobile can be attached to a belt loop, purse strap, chain or other convenient location.

Since it offers a hands-free solution, it is able to function as a camera phone holder too when wanting to create a video, though the video will probably be shaky since the phone would not be stabilized. Backers can choose from Swarovski Crystal, Murano style hand painted glass and natural gem stones. Lady backers looking for phone toting solutions might also be interested to check out Voye Clutch.  This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. For $12, backers Flip Clip with an expected delivery of February 2015.

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Tech Accessories

iLoop water-resistant phone mount can go anywhere moist

Finding that perfect smartphone holder in a crowded market place of phone mounts can seem daunting. iLoop may be the most ideal for those who like to use their smartphone as a part of their workout, cooking routine, or office life. The donut-shaped product stands the phone up right and is made of silicone so it is durable and moisture resistant while also providing protection for one’s smartphone. It’s compatible with most models on the market, and works in both portrait and landscape mode. So when taking one of those group photos, even the phone owner can be in the picture. The holder presently comes in black, white, blue and pink, but others colors will be available is this campaign does well.

Most conventional mounts on the market are made from metal or plastic. If a spill comes along, they may provide some protection against an overturned coffee, say, but the iLoop was specifically designed for that purpose, which is pretty useful. Backers may also want to check out the Linkmount, LUUV and Squido campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. Early bird backers get one iLoop for $10 with an expected delivery of February 2015.

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Chargers/Batteries Tech Accessories

Hydrobee charger uses wind, rain, and muscle to juice up your devices

The demand for battery power on tablets and smartphones is simply never met. We use these devices day in and day out, taking advantage of all the cool apps and capabilities they have to offer. However, most find that their device only lasts half the day and dies at the worst moments.

Hydrobee never wants any smartphone to die ever again. This mini power plant harnesses solar, wind, hydro and mechanical energy to power any USB compatible device. Charge it up with a bike ride, day out in the sun or running water. Then, when the time comes, unplug and set off for the day. Hydrate will be there to charge your device with its stored energy.

We’ve seen all kinds of these devices on Backerjack. Batteries that charge from wind or sun, but it’s rare to see a product that takes almost any kind of energy it can get. Hydrobee’s versatility is what truly sets it apart from other products. Interested backers can grab their own $145 by May 2015. Hydrobee is looking to raise $32,000 on Kickstarter.

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Tech Accessories

Btunes plays music; wirelessly plugs into headphones eliminating tangles for good

There are tons of products devoted to the untangling and organization of earbud and headphone wires. BTunes would rather focus on making headphones wireless, so tangling is no longer an issue.

BTunes is an attachment for your headphones. Fitting into headphones where the wire can be removed, it connects to your smartphone so that you can listen to hifi music, make calls and talk to Siri. In addition, it’ll fit into any auxiliary jack in a car to listen to music wirelessly. With NFC, connecting to NFC-enabled devices is simple. The product is black and looks a bit like a Bluetooth.

BTunes is an excellent way to stay wirelessly connected to your smartphone. It’s unclear if there’s any type of button to answer calls with, however. Still, for music, Skype, Siri and countless other options, Btunes is the way to go. One with a pair of headphones in your choice of color will cost backers $49 for estimated delivery in May 2015. BTunes is looking to raise $40,000 on Kickstarter.

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Tech Accessories

Leather Budy seeks to partner with disgruntled earbud wearers

Perhaps the item that should be given the distinction of the eighth wonder of the world is the item that most effectively keeps earbud wires untangled. It seems that this particular unsolved mystery is one which nearly every creative and inventive person seeks to unravel, and Leather Budy is no exception. The newly emerging earbud wire taming gadget attaches to a button on a shirt or blouse to help keep earbuds in place when in use. Then the wires can be folded into the holder to keep them from getting tangled so that they are easily unwound and quickly available for the next use. It’s made of 100% Italian leather, and comes in multiple colors.

Great idea as long as one doesn’t wear anything without buttons down the front. Interested backers might also want to check out the Mous Musicase, MagClip, and earMC campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise €2,800 (~$3,500). Early bird backers get their very own Leather Buddy for €9 (~$11) with an expected delivery of February 2015.