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Health and Wellness Home

Shower Rock steadies feet for silky smooth shaved legs

When shaving one’s legs, doing so in a shower (as opposed to a bath) can mean leaning over into some awkward and uncomfortable positions in many shower stalls – if there is any place at all to hoist one’s foot. So Shower Rock offers a place to rest that foot in order to make it easier to get that silky smooth result. The product sticks to almost any shower and the suction base twists into place to prevent the product from falling off the wall.

These simple, but effective tools can make such a difference. The rock’s textured surface helps the user’s foot stay secure during use, and the product can double as an aid for getting in or out of the shower, useful for any older or disabled backers. Shower Rock also travels well. Backers interested in a mini-spa shower experience might like to check out Octaloofah. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000. Backers may choose from four colors and get one Shower Rock for $25 with an expected delivery of May 2015.

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Cooking Sensors/IoT

Nexkos Bluetooth Smart Thermometer probes meat to prepare delectable meals, worry-free

For the lucky ones among us, cooking is second nature. For everyone else, cooking anything seems like an badly performed improv class. Without an experienced cook by one’s side, finding the guidance to whip up something edible can be an overwhelming challenge. When it comes to meats, that anxiety can be felt ten fold: working with herbs and spices is delicate business, and cooking it just right is tricky.

Nexkos wants to take the guesswork out of getting grilled goods just right with their Bluetooth Smart Thermometer. The spherical device sports an LED display with the temperature of whatever the four attached probes are inserted into. This information is also relayed to the iOS or Android companion app with which temperature alerts can be set, create custom templates for recipes, and save and share the information to replicate recipes in the future. The $55 AUD (~$45 USD) Nexkos Smart Thermometer is expected to ship May 2015 provided the campaign reaches its $20,000 AUD (~$16,300 USD) goal.

The Nexkos Smart Thermometer is exceedingly similar to the already released iGrill, but the former’s four probes are better than the latter’s single probe. The Nexkos version lacks the iGrill’s proximity sensor, but that isn’t a deal breaker as they’re similarly price in either case, great for those ill-equipped to cook and affordable, too.

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Health and Wellness

Eros hand sanitizer holder keeps clean close; great for dealing with scummy public

During cold and flu season, one of the best ways to stay healthy is to frequently wash hands. But for those on-the-go times when that’s not practical, Eros provides an easy way to have hand sanitizer consistently available. The dispensing gadget can be worn on a key ring, purse strap, lanyard at work or wherever one wants to have easy access to their hand sanitizer without having to search for it in a purse, pocket or desk.

Eros is great for any kind of teacher, public servant or traveler who encounter the germ-ridden public a lot and would like to remain clean. The product is easy to refill but it’s not clear whether it comes with a clip or if one has to purchase that separately. Eros is available in several colors and styles. Interested backers may also want to check out Loodini and Screen Sock. This campaign seeks to raise $30,000. Backers get one kit for an exorbitant $250 with an expected delivery of May 2015.

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Sensors/IoT Sleep

Smartphone-adjustable ThinkPillow measures sleep, wakes you up

Sleep is one of the most important ways to stay healthy. Sleeping resets mind, body, and soul, giving the chance for healing. However, most have trouble with their sleep patterns, either waking up in the middle of a REM cycle or sleeping for too short of a time.

ThinkPillow is a smart pillow that is fully adjustable in height and firmness. It is designed with special technology aimed at fixing any kind of spinal pain. Not only does it come with comfort, however, but it also tracks your sleep patterns. With this data, the accompanying smartphone app can choose when to wake you so that you’ll feel alert and refreshed instead of bedraggled and exhausted.

ThinkPillow’s smartphone app charts sleep patterns over time and, as such, can be useful to physicians if something goes wrong. In addition, it lets the user track what they’re doing three hours before bedtime and can make suggestions based on those habits. For instance, if the user isn’t getting enough sleep, but drinks coffee every night, the app will tell them to cut it out. ThinkPillow also spies on family members and lets users see the sleep patterns of mom, grandma, dad or whoever else uses the device.

Getting the right amount of sleep can be truly difficult. They say you should get out of bed when you initially wake up in the morning, but if that’s too early for some, they’d rather get another half an hour of sleep. It’s great that ThinkPillow can tell when the person is actually asleep, not just when they intend to be asleep, and uses that to wake them up in the morning. While well-intentioned, the family sharing feature may get a little annoying to some. Though it is good for elderly family members who are too far away to check up on. One ThinkPillow can be had for $102 NZD (~$79 USD) for estimated delivery in April 2015. This product hopes to raise $50,000 NZD (~$38,800 USD) on Kickstarter.

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Podcasts

The Backerjack Podcast, Episode 2 with Ross Rubin and Steven Sande

Episode 2 of The Backerjack Podcast is here! Backerjack editor and industry analyst Ross Rubin and TUAW editor Steven Sande discuss the merits and metrics of some of the most innovative products being offered through crowdfunding campaigns.. Up this week:

Feel free to enjoy by clicking below!

Remember to follow Backerjack on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

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Sports

Balance Training Bat transforms hitting home runs into a science

Baseball can be a fun activity for kids that gets them off of their gadgets and out of the house. As a bonus, it provides them with a bit of exercise to help them stay healthy. But it’s frustrating when players seem to strike out more than they actually hit the ball. So Balance Training Bat is designed to help them with their batting skills. There are five different models of the bat, and each model scales up to cater to the player using the bat, from little league to adults. The bat is game-ready, taking the physics of how much weight is needed on the backend of the bat to counter the bat barrel so that batters learn good technique that allows them to hit the ball more consistently.

As any sports training device goes, it’s unclear whether this will really prepare batters for the big game. However, if it really can deliver, baseball players will rejoice at such a training tool that involves more than just hours of hitting balls the same way. Backers looking to improve their swing may also want to check out LoadUp Pro. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. For $80, backers get one Balance Training Bat with an expected delivery of February 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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Announcements Featured

Introducing Product Innovation Pipeline Reports for retailers, manufacturers and investors

For over a year, Backerjack has been the only editorial Web site devoted exclusively to covering the world of crowdfunded product innovation. The campaigns that we’ve focused on include cutting-edge ideas in many different product categories. But retailers, manufacturers, and investors who want to track these products need more to tap fully into the promise of open innovation.

Introducing the Product Innovation Pipeline Reports. PIPR reports cut through the clutter to curate the most innovative physical products in specific categories along with detailed data that provide clues about consumer demand before products are even available. Consistent across Kickstarter, Indiegogo and other platforms, this data includes:

  • total funds raised
  • total number of backers
  • campaign creator and location
  • product pricing
  • whether the campaign was successful

In addition, each report includes independent profiles of products with links back to the original campaign and company Web site. PIPR reports reveal what could unlock the next product opportunity to drive hundreds of millions of dollars.

The first two reports cover digital imaging — an area of keen interest for any professionals selling or investing in smartphones or digital SLRs and their accessories — for the first two quarters of 2014. The Q3 report will be available soon, and the Q4 report later by March. Many of these products that were funded in the first half of 2014 are just coming into production now and are seeking distribution,

Stay tuned for many more reports launching in the coming months.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Imaging

Pico eases time lapses with or without a smartphone

Photographers have many tricks up their sleeves. One of the best is using time lapses to create beautiful images. This consists of taking lots of pictures within a short or long amount of time to capture shooting stars, thunder storms, sunsets or any other very quick or slow moving eye-catching event.

Pico makes it easy to create customized time lapses. The device plugs into your smartphone and then the free app makes it possible to schedule the number, frequency and exposure of desired shots. In addition, the app allows for bulb ramping which makes it possible to change the light for shots going from day to night. Once that’s done, plug Pico into the camera which will obey the program.

If a program is unnecessary, you can use Pico as a simple intervalometer. To do so, press down on Pico and count the number of beeps. Each beep equals one second. When that’s finished, the camera will continue shooting at the desired interval until Pico is unplugged.

Pico plugs into the camera with different cables available that are compatible with 300 different camera models. Plugging into the headphone jack means that Pico is compatible with any iOS or Android smartphones running current or recent software. In addition, this product has a battery life of eight years.

Many cameras have interval options available, but all are difficult to use. Photographers are forced to use little screens and buttons to make their programs, with few options available to them. Pico makes programming a cinch and is small enough to live in the camera bag all the time. It’s unclear if the app saves past programs. If it doesn’t, the creators may want to consider adding such a feature. Backers will need to donate $50 for this product with an estimated delivery date of July 2015. Pico is hoping to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Connected Objects Technology

Keewifi stresses simplicity in security with new router

Routers are the essential gateway that connect our many home gadgets to the Internet, but setting them up can be a major hassle. Chinese newcomer Keewifi has focused on simple connectivity with a new $99 router that enables devices to securely access Wi-Fi without the need for passwords.

The plug-and-play device is small and uses the 802.11ac wireless networking standard, along with proximity technology to authenticate mobile devices as an alternative to standard Wi-Fi passwords. Keewifi stresses on its Kickstarter campaign page that by tapping one’s mobile device on the router one can set up a connection in only 30 seconds. But the company’s video on the site shows that when a mobile device is even held closely to the Keewifi, connection is achieved and a circular blue light glows on top of the router. The device needs to be held within just 2 inches of the syncing panel. Keewifi is looking to raise at least $50,000 on Kickstarter. The company expects to fulfill initial units to backers in July.

There are, of course, plenty of routers on the market, some of them cheaper than Keewifi and many of them from brands familiar to U.S. consumers, including Linksys and Netgear. The new router’s simplicity will likely be appealing to many consumers and stands to make it a hit, but only if Keewifi manages to get decent distribution.