Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Ora adds aura to wireless chargers, turns charging devices upside down

Wireless chargers are the most important accessories for wireless devices, but they tend to be rather indistinct and boring from a design standpoint. Ora is a unique-looking wireless charger/power bank that is oval-shaped and sleek-looking, coming in a combination of white and one other color of the buyer’s choice.

patent-claimedA sliding panel allows the user to pull out the hidden outlet plug and USB adapter. Ora gets plugged into a wall outlet, and the user can opt to plug a wireless device into it via a charging cable or directly into Ora’s spring-loaded connection port. It is compatible with the iPhone 5 and 6, iPod Touch and Nano, and all Android and Windows Mobile smartphones—and the charger will hold each device upside down safely. Backers who pledge $30 will get one charger when it ships in July as part of an early bird Kickstarter discount. Ora is hoping to raise $60,000 in funding.

The charger certainly looks unlike rival products, but it’s not clear how many consumers will spend extra money for a charger mainly for its nice design. Nor is it clear how many consumers will feel comfortable enough to plug their expensive smartphone into Ora upside down, especially if the wall outlet is far off the ground.

Categories
Connected Objects Health and Wellness

Sophia puts the humble jump rope through a 21st century makeover & name change

Over the ages, skipping rope has continually proven to benefit the body in a myriad of ways. From working out and toning a variety of muscle groups to improving balance, it’s surprising how such a simple idea can do so much.

Like any simple idea nowadays, smartening it up with some connectivity instantly makes it applicable in a whole new way—something the Bluetooth LE-enabled Sophia jump rope proves. The halves of the leather-gripped handles lock together and come apart when needed, incorporating an OLED display when in use to keep users informed on the number of jumps performed without having to stay stuck to their smartphone. Its tough polymer cord and sweat resistant design makes sure it stands up to the most demanding of users.

Sophia’s companion app for iOS and Android communicates with HealthKit and GoogleFit to integrate relevant information into a user’s overall workout regimen. In addition, users can track jump records, go through Sophia’s arcade mode, and challenge others as well. All this functionality is accessible for up to 15 hours on a single charge. Sophia will cost €39 (~$45) and is expected in May of this year. The campaign is looking to skip its way to a successful €28,500 (~$32,300) campaign.

Other connected devices, like the STABALLIZER, Loop, and Glyder, have recently sprung up as examples of unions between the tech and exercise worlds, but none have been as elegant as Sophia. Its affordable price will surely attract not only exercise nuts but everyone else as well, positioning it well as a new device.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Virtual Reality

Master your reality with the SEER augmented reality helmet

The future is truly now, and a procession of various augmented and virtual reality products signify that with their promises of revolutionary experiences. The problem with many of them is their relatively small fields of view that can lessen the illusion of reality.

SEER by Caputer Labs uses a smartphone to fully immerse viewers into an alternative reality with a headset capable of displaying an impressive field of view of 100°. With so much screen space, experiences once limited by the un-augmented world creeping in on the sides are able to become so much more. The campaign touts augmented reality experiences that are already available on the iOS and Android platforms but reinvigorated through the immersion SEER offers.

Star maps and gaming take a leap forward in terms of usability, all controlled with a wide-range of inputs like joysticks, gaming controllers, keyboards, or gestures when nothing else is around. Open source hardware and software ensure new applications will be developed, given enough interest. The increased field of view makes SEER incredibly bulky when compared to other, more standard headsets like the Viewbox. (But luckily, it doesn’t look as inane as the AirVR.) SEER is impressively priced at just $119, and its $100,000 goal has a deadline of March 3. Its developers see the product shipping in September of this year.

Categories
Home

RollPull lets you keep a convenient stash of toilet paper reserves

One of life’s essential bare necessities is toilet paper. Needing it and not having it absolutely causes a problem. In an effort to enable a reserve supply to be on hand, RollPull was created.

The plastic-looking pole attaches under a bathroom sink, and can hold up to four rolls of life-saving bathroom tissue. It can also be used to create a reserve supply of up to two rolls of paper towels by installing it in the kitchen. It doesn’t appear that any tools are needed to install the product, but it apparently has to be glued into place.

As long as one takes the time to keep an eye on the supply, this product may save its users from a lot of… awkward situations. It would be interesting if someone were to create an app that could somehow alert people to a low toilet paper supply—then no one would have to remember to put that item on the grocery list. That is, as long as they don’t forget their phone. This campaign seeks to raise $48,000 in funding. For $12, backers get one DIY kit with an expected delivery of June 2015.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Garppy offers the scoop on rinsing after you brush your teeth

Getting kids to brush their teeth is one of life’s bigger challenges. They find the activity tedious, boring, and then there’s the extra precious few seconds it takes to actually rinse.

For those who have gotten bored with using a traditional cup, Garppy offers an alternative. The scoop-like gadget attaches to a tooth brush so that a cup doesn’t have to be used, creating something new and different for a week or so. The scoop and strap are made of food-grade silicone and are touted as packing and traveling well, especially for those long flights when one wants to be able to brush one’s teeth on the plane.

While this new thing might keep the kids engaged in brushing their teeth at home for a short time, adults looking for some quick convenience would be just as well off to use paper cups. This campaign seeks to raise $1,600 by February 28, 2015. Early bird backers get one product for $2 with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Podcasts

The Backerjack Podcast, Episode 5, with Ross Rubin and Steve Sande

As Steve has been busy launching something for today that launched yesterday, we’ve been remiss in posting about what he and Ross, your two favorite crowdfunding connoisseurs, did a while back — focus on three fresh products in Episode 5 of The Backerjack Podcast. We discussed a lot in 26 minutes before entering the time warp:

  • For those who want to ensure that they never miss a word in a phone call, there’s the useful and multifaceted Bluewire call-recording headset.
  • Those who wish to explore the Internet of sleepy things while keeping their cool in bed will want to check out the sleek Luna smart bed cover.
  • And those who want to plug, play and print photos on the spot will want to see how things develop with the Zink-based Prynt .

Steve and Ross also shared experiences trying out the original Narrative Clip (good times) and chatted up the changes coming with its imminent but not crowdfunded sequel, the unsurprisingly named Clip 2.

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
Health and Wellness

AK Athletic Kit uses cables for suspension training, gets results without the gym

As gym memberships become more and more expensive, people are exploring new ways to work out. Instead of relying on heavy duty machines for fitness, those looking to get in shape are venturing outside with a few small workout accessories.

patent-claimedThe AK Athletic Kit is a system of handles and cables that offers a suspension training workout. Such a workout uses the body’s weight to provide resistance. To use, attach the cables to something secure and choose the appropriate handle. With the kit, hundreds of different exercises are possible including everything from squats to pull-ups. The kit comes with instructions on how to do each exercise along with guides for circuit training. On Kickstarter, AK is shown in many different settings being used for different types of workouts. One AK Athletic Kit will cost backers a donation of $100 CAD (~$80 USD) for estimated delivery in May 2015. AK is looking for $30,000 CAD (~$23,950 USD) in funding.

While there are scores of fitness products that we’ve seen on Backerjack, such as the coreXtreme, AK sets itself apart. Most of these devices usually focuses on the core, but AK seems to do it all. More importantly, it’s similar to the TRX, a suspension training fitness system that’s currently quite popular.

Categories
Accents Tech Accessories

Portable Lap Desk offers space-challenged offices a small landing pad

It seems that the workplace is constantly requiring more mobility and interconnectedness. And when one is working on the road, or just works in an office space with limited seating, a portable desk can be great item to have around. Portable Lap Desk was invented with the space-challenged office in mind.

The bamboo plank balances on two metal brackets, which are attached to the wall. While the piece of wood is portable, the rest isn’t. The desk can be set up either at a standing height or sitting height.

It seems that a trip to a home supplies store or hardware store would offer the same materials and “freedom” that this product boasts. That being said, the Alden Lap Desk might prove to be even more convenient and be a better product. Interested backers might also like to check out ZestDesk, The BU Desk, and Lappito. This campaign seeks to raise £3,000 (~$4,600 USD) on Kickstarter. For £60 (~$91 USD), backers get one product with an expected delivery of June 2015.

Categories
Accents

Roka filter uses sand, charcoal to filter water for plants, makes for healthier growth

Plants are only ever as healthy as the water they’re given. Most pay little attention to the quality of the water they use for their plants. Doing so, however, means that many plants get contaminated water, harming them in the long run.

Roka is a filtration system for plants. Looking much like an upside down glass bottle with the bottom cut off, Roka gets inserted directly into the soil of the plant. Then, using several layers of filtration, the kit delivers only clean water into the soil. The top layer is fine sand which gets pathogens and microorganisms out of the water. Second, course sand keeps the fine sand above at bay. Third, charcoal pellets get chlorine and industrial solvents out. Last, the water passes through cotton balls which ensure that none of the sand or charcoal get into the plant. For one kit, backers can donate $50 on Kickstarter for delivery in July 2015. Roka hopes to raise a modest $1,750 in funding.

While the idea of a natural filtration system is appealing, it doesn’t seem necessary to filter tap water, especially for plants. Perhaps in places where the tap water is undrinkable Roka makes more sense. In addition, the campaign fails to clearly state how long each kit will last for. Still, the idea is interesting and Roka’s appealing aesthetic will surely make it popular.

Categories
Home

PackagePal holds your parcels close, hides them from bad weather and bad guys

Mail order items can be some of the easiest and best money-saving ways to purchase items for one’s home, vehicle or for home entertainment. The problem is that these items usually arrive when the person who ordered them is at work. So in an effort to take the weather worries and theft concerns out of the mail order scenario, PackagePal was created.

No tools are required for what is touted as easy installation, and it keeps packages out of plain sight. The package gets inserted into the giant bag-looking device attached to the door, and then the user writes a message and Mr. or Ms. Postman will just pick up the package.

It’s questionable, however, as to whether either one would leave a delivery in the attachment. Also questionable is whether the package is truly out of plain sight when the gadget itself still seems to be fairly visible. Still, it’s a pretty decent alternative to services like Doorman.co. Interested backers might like to check out Postifier. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 in funding. For $29, backers get one product with an expected delivery of December 2015.