Categories
Games

Medieval Siege Attack game invites ye to attack yon castle

The best games are the ones that involve strategy and not just luck of the draw. In recent years, Settlers of Catan has become popular, allowing players to build up villages by trading commodities such as ore and wood. Medieval Siege Attack from the UK is a similar game that brings you back, all the way to Medieval times. Little men cut out of wood guard your castle and attack the castle of your opponent using small catapults. The game requires a good strategy, so it’s not just about destroying the enemy. This game also comes with a number of paints, allowing you to “dress” your men and design your castles as you choose. For a set of two, backers must donate £60 (~$96) which includes 24 warriors and four siege engines. Estimated delivery is currently set at April 2015. Medieval Siege Attack is hoping to raise £15,000 (~$24,000).

While Medieval Siege Attack is a little on the pricey side, it still has a lot working for it. People love destroying things, first of all, and love customizing their gaming experience. The wooden materials and paint make Medieval Siege Attack more than just any other board game.

Categories
Apparel

With Funnell, a rain-protecting poncho has your back

Hiking, cycling and basically being outdoors can mean sometimes getting caught off guard when the clouds and rain roll in. Those who love to be outside and travel will likely appreciate Funnell. The backpack rain jacket combo includes a parachute-like rip cord for quick and easy access to the jacket (or poncho) that covers both user and the backpack and, get this, does so without the backpack having to be removed!  Taking it off and putting it back together once the rain has stopped is another matter. No rip cord for that move. Nevertheless, the jacket is lightweight, made of polyester and comes in both men’s and women’s sizes. The backpack is 12.5 liters and includes a place for a laptop and pockets for several other essentials. Urban dwellers might be interested to check out the Movpak campaign, which blends skateboard and backpack. This campaign seeks to raise $25,980 by November 22, 2014. For $149, backers get one rain poncho and an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Loodini allows you to escape public restrooms without touching germy surfaces

Ever shudder to imagine what germs lurk around public bathroom faucets, stalls and doors? The folks at Loodini certainly have. This British product is held in the hand and can twist, turn, poke, and rotate all in the name of keeping those germs away. It covers your hand and does all the contact stuff for you so you don’t have to touch anything in that bathroom. Loodini comes in five different colors, is made out of plastic and uses an antibacterial agent to maximum cleanliness. To clean, use warm soapy water to rid this product of all it has picked up. For £9 (~$14), backers will receive a set of three for delivery in December 2014. Loodini hopes to raise £3,000 (~$4,800) on Kickstarter.

There are lots of germaphobes out there who can’t stand public restrooms until it becomes an emergency. For many, a tissue would suffice as protection, but for the truly clean, Loodini is the way to go. It’s versatile, easy to clean and even works to kill bacteria making it more effective than tissues.

Categories
Sensors/IoT Wallets

Jayster wallet lets you know of its absence via Bluetooth

Losing anything valuable can put a huge dent in our day, throwing us off from what we need to do and causing unnecessary worry and stress. Instead of running around trying to get it sorted by retracing your steps or calling your credit card companies, Jayster wants to help you avoid that altogether with its wallet sensor. Without adding much weight or volume, Jayster gives your wallet all the functionality necessary so that you can get it back in your hands when it isn’t.

The slim insert comes in a variety of colors, and is outfitted with both Bluetooth and GPS technology that allows it to connect to your iOS or Android smartphone. If your wallet somehow strays further than 15 feet away from you, an audible alarm on the insert itself will sound in its Nest mode. If it ends up lost even after that, a companion app uses a hot/cold system or a more accurate GPS to find it. Jayster will continue to grow and be useful down the road with its upgradeable firmware and replaceable battery that lasts for two years as well. As much as this will avoid lots of headaches, its $20 price tag certainly reflects its limited functionality. The campaign is looking to deliver the Jayster by November 2014, with a campaign goal of $10,000.

 

Categories
Luggage and Bags

College students rejoice as Urban Rucksack marries laundry bag and backpack

College students and young professionals don’t always have the luxury of laundry facilities in their own homes. Oftentimes, they have to lug their dirty clothes to shoddy laundromats or home to mom and dad. Urban Rucksack was designed to be the ultimate laundry caddy, eschewing the traditional basket or hamper format. With pockets for detergent and fabric softeners, Urban Rucksack can hold up to three loads of laundry. The bag can be held on your back or horizontally like a briefcase. To get hands, or backs, on this product, backers can donate $49 for estimated delivery in January 2015. Urban Rucksack hopes to raise $3,500 with the help of Kickstarter.

The normal hamper/laundry bag design is certainly flawed. Either they come with flimsy handles or must be carried like sacks by the drawstring. Urban Rucksack takes the simple need and fills it with a well thought out solution.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Squido weds vents and a suction cup for a clean phone mount

Trying to figure out where to put one’s mobile phone while driving and using the GPS app might be one of the more looming questions of the 21st century. Squido is a unique Swedish gadget that has a suction cup on one side and a set of four thin prongs on the other. Drivers can then stick the suction cup on the back of the phone and hook the prongs on the other side into their vehicle’s vents. The nice thing about this is that a person’s view is not obstructed as with other car phone holders that have a suction cup that sticks to the windshield. While a small portion of heat or air conditioning may be blocked when Squido is being used, it does seem that it would be fairly universal with most iPhones and car vents. Other options for backers seeking a mobile phone mount include Ultima S, EverDock Go, and Neutron S. This campaign seeks to raise kr60,000 SEK ($8130.08 USD) by November 20, 2014. For kr89 SEK ($12.04 USD) backers get one with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Camping

Icebuddy cooler taps frozen inner chamber, claims it can chill for three days

What if it were possible to have a cooler that could be taken on a camping trip or to a picnic that didn’t require a bag of ice to keep things cool? That would be the point behind the Icebuddy cooler. Though the cooling mechanism does require a three hour storage time in the freezer, when it is placed inside the Icebuddy companion, it keeps stored items chilled for up to three days. It can also be easily toted with its backpack design or soft, rubber handle; giving it an edge on the cooler market. As for those who don’t mind purchasing ice and having coolers with lots of gadgets to add some zest to the party, consider checking out Cooler Bobs, Coolest Cooler, Boombox Cooler, and for a potentially party crashing wild ride, Kreweser cooler. This campaign seeks to raise $250,000 by November 25, 2014. For $225, backers get the complete Icebuddy cooler system with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Tablet Accessories

SmartStand converts from mobile stand to document scanning aid

With apps for pretty much anything you need to have done, over the years our mobile devices have become capable of helping us every single day for things like directions, and occasionally with those other tasks that spring up every so often. Case in point: scanning. Although an actual scanner is superb to what a phone or tablet can do, scanning apps are a godsend to people who need to scan often. Getting a clear shot is a different story entirely, though, which is why the Fopydo SmartStand doubles as a general stand and a scanning stand for either your smartphone or tablet. Inexplicably, there are two models but its secondary mode allows users to take great quality shots no matter where they are as the stand is portable, just not as portable as the SlimJig. Either way, you’ll still have that pesky shadow that shows up if you try to take these shots, although light diffusers and other add-ons can help mitigate that problem. Ultimately, the product ends up looking like a toy for what it does, a huge departure from stands like YOHANN. All in all, the phone version of the Fopydo goes for $20 while the tablet version goes for $30, both with expected delivery in November 2014. The campaign is looking for $5,000 in funding.

Categories
Automotive Kids/Babies

Twyce doubles up on car seats to bring along backseat buddies

There’s nothing like a strong woman who doesn’t want a larger vehicle to inspire her husband to get creative about how to tote a multitude of kids here, there and everywhere. That being said, Twyce would represent the classic myth that behind every man living in a peaceful household stands his persistent wife. Even so, multiple households with little ones that still need a booster seat for trips in the car will likely be grateful for these dual booster seats, made of organic, flame-retardant, washable, kid friendly materials. Twyce is also easily transferred between cars. Now if someone could just come up with something like Plexiglas dividers as a way to quench that timeless sibling argument about, “He touched me!” “Well, she touched me first!” But when they finally settle down and fall asleep as kids often do in the car, Ostrich Pillow might be a nice companion to Twyce. This campaign seeks to raise $650,000 CAD ($570,303.01 USD) by November 21, 2014. Early bird backers get one Twice for $130 CAD ($114.06 USD) with an expected delivery of May 2015.

Categories
Food and Beverage

Twistter cup stirs up your drink when you tilt it

For those icy cold, bleary-eyed Monday mornings when stirring one’s java with one’s own hand is just too much effort, there is an automated alternative awaiting its big moment to spin onto the scene. Twistter cup uses a magnetic rotor and tilt of the mug to blend caffeinated delights and help burn off the post weekend haze within one’s mind that may well be as thick as the fog outside. And when one grows weary of all that swirling, the user maintains complete control by simply tilting the cup in the opposite direction – at least where the stuff in the cup is concerned. Even the intensity of the spinning can be determined by choosing whether blades will remain up or face down away from the liquid. If only all things in life were so simple. But alas, while a spoon and the ‘hassle’ of stirring one’s own beverage may be avoidable, it’s unclear as to whether or not the cup is dishwasher safe.  This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 by November 20, 2014. Backers get one Twistter for $16, with an expected delivery of February 2015.