Categories
Chargers/Batteries Wearables

The Baako One is a wearable charger for your mobile devices

The small but powerful Baako One is a convenient way to wear a charge on the go and be ready to juice up your device when outlets are unavailable.

The product is worn on the wrist and has a sleek, modern design. So far, comes in at least two brightly hued colors for your wearable fashion needs. The Baako One has a 1200 mAh battery and connects with either a micro USB connector or lightning wire for iPhones and iPads.

Besides the convenience that Baako One offers, the manufacturer suggests that we, “break the bonds between us and the wall socket permanently” – at least for your device. There’s no mention in the campaign, though,  if this battery itself is powered at home by plugging in or if you need to replace it after a certain amount of time. Those who pledge £22 (~$33) or more get the device. The campaign goal is £52,000 (~$78,600) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Smart Home

iCamPRO robot tracks intruders, keeps eyes on them everywhere

The home security camera market is crowded with devices, but consumers tend to get what they pay for. For example, low-cost models tend to be stationary, lacking the ability to track moving objects.

Amsterdam company Amaryllo calls its iCamPRO FHD (full high definition) the first affordable, robotic camera that can see, hear, sense and automatically track moving objects. Algorithms were designed to make sure that the camera always keeps objects in the middle of the viewing area.  When an object starts to move away from the pixels in the middle of the viewing area, the camera tracks the object until it’s in the middle again. If two people are in the tracking area, the algorithm is designed to follow the first object detected until it stops moving.

The HD camera stands just over 3 inches tall and is powered by a high-speed central processing unit with a multi-sensor network. The iCamPRO features multiple motion sensors that always remain on, and it can see objects even in a dimly-lit environment.

Real-time object tracking like this is costly and has tended to only be available in military or professional surveillance systems in the past. The company already passed its goal of raising $1,000. Indiegogo backers can get either a white or black iCamPRO for $149 in May if they order now. That’s half the price that Amaryllo plans to charge at retail.

The camera offers a lot of promise and seems like an especially good deal at $149. But whether many consumers who are content with a cheaper Dropcam or Butterfleye will pay considerably more for an iCamPRO remains to be seen.

Categories
Input Video Games

3DRudder sets new course for game control from head to toe

Controlling interactive games by hand has long been the industry standard. Kinect and other motion-sensing systems have come along in recent years to enable players to control games by using their entire bodies. The makers of a small number of recent devices, however, are looking to take game control down another route, sticking with traditional hand-controlled keyboards and joysticks, but adding hardware that adds the user’s feet to the mix.

An example of the latter is 3DRudder. Created by created by a team of French designers, the device is a foot-controlled navigation and motion controller that works in conjunction with existing PC games. The controller can emulate keyboard keys or a joystick and is intended to be a companion device for virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift The 3DRudder is used while seated and users just rest their feet on it while playing a game. To move forward, the user tilts the device forward; to move to the right, the user tilts the device to the right, and so on. The pedal enables users to also move up or down.

The device supports a maximum user weight of 286 pounds. To use the controller, the user must have a computer featuring an AMD Phenom or Intel Core i3, I5 or i7 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a USB 2.0 port and an Internet connection. Backers can get a 3DRudder for $110 as part of an early bird special and the device will ship in May. Its makers are looking to raise $50,000 on Indiegogo.

The controller is similar in concept to the somewhat more primitive-looking, Kickstarter-funded Stinky the Gaming Footboard. But both devices seem targeted at only a niche segment of the gamer market. The lack of current support for the Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony game consoles only underscores that. The 3DRudder’s makers are targeting 3D professionals including designers as one core audience for its device, and it seems best-suited for that crowd–unless Facebook’s ultra-bullish prediction for virtual reality headsets comes true.

Categories
Health and Wellness

GiftAir portable air purifier cleans air around you

The air we breathe isn’t always clean. There’s lots floating around in our homes and outside, especially for those who live in cities. Air pollutants can cause serious health complications and send us into illness.

GiftAir is a portable air purifying device. It’s not just for the home, but can be carried around. Its campaign boasts that the product cleans the air within a 22 inch radius, blocking harmful toxins using air-ion technology. Running on battery, the device uses solar panels to charge up quickly and efficiently. It is white and made of bio-plastic manufactured from plants. Best of all, GiftAir features a strong clip so that it can be attached to strollers to protect young ones from the air. With no filter, it’s easier to clean and blocks out more gunk from the air, including pollen for those allergic to just about everything when the season hits.

It’s always a bit suspicious when a product claims to do something that pretty much can’t be measured. And the human race has gotten this far breathing in this horrible air. Still, data shows that the air is becoming more dirty and it’s especially important to make sure children stay healthy. This would be a great gift for those traveling to new places where the air quality is so bad it can cause illness to those not used to it, like Hong Kong. GiftAir’s portability is what really sets it apart from similar products. However, it doesn’t provide smartphone feedback like the Table Air, something GiftAir should consider adding in the future. Backers can have their very own by March 2015 for a $129 donation, provided GiftAir can reach its $30,000 campaign goal on Indiegogo.

Categories
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.

Categories
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.

Categories
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.

Categories
Sensors/IoT

WEPO CO₂ wearable watches the air so you don’t have to

The air quality in cities around the world is degrading. With the majority of the world’s population concentrated in ever-sprawling cities, this is only becoming a more severe problem as time goes on, only compounded by the lack of information about just how bad it is and will be.

Air monitoring systems in the world are too spread out and outdated to provide meaningful statistics, which is why wearable systems like WEPO are so valuable. Its CO₂ detector allows anyone to set their own level of desirable exposure and use it for up to 20 hours on a single charge to keep themselves informed of harmful levels. A Bluetooth LE connection connects with Android Wear devices along with the Apple Watch in the future.

Unfortunately though, the device only contains that detector alone, leaving out all other particulate matter, or PM2.5. The device is a bit clunky compared to other sleeker, more reasonably priced alternatives like the TZOA and AirBeam that actually take the data and put it to use in creating crowdsource, air quality maps. The $399 price tag for WEPO is tough to swallow even if it offers wearable compatibility. The $10,000 campaign is looking to ship the product in July 2015.

Categories
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.

Categories
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.