appliances – Backerjack

Here’s something that seems like a big time winner. Something that can help reduce the necessity to clean! Appliance Defender is designed to help reduce dirt and scratches on flat surfaces all over one’s home, from the fridge to washer and dryer. The first thing that must be done, however, is to clean the area one desires to have protected from dirt and scratches. The idea is similar to the phone screen protector that comes with every new smartphone. The clear, plastic sheets come pre-cut to fit an abundance of appliances.

It’s not clearly indicated how frequently the plastic protectors need to be replaced, though the creators say that it should last for at least over a year. Perhaps that depends on whether or not the user wants to wipe them down when grime starts to show or just peel and apply a fresh round wherever desired. This campaign is seeking to raise $50,000 by November 7, 2014. For $10, backers get four 7×7 protectors with an expected delivery of January 2015. Larger pledges will get larger protectors. All in all, it seems that the Appliance Defender is a useful product for neat freaks interested in protecting their homes from grime.

The Premise. Smart home systems are cropping up everywhere, but tend to specialize in one particular concept or feature, whether it’s energy-saving, security, or climate control. These devices give the illusion of a smart home while leaving several components woefully unconnected.

The Product. Qhome is a smart home hub that offers a greater degree of functionality than the partial smart home devices that have shown up to swell the market. Operating through a series of distinct modes as well as individual customization, Qhome can open curtains, close windows, keep a running grocery list as things are removed from the fridge, and send cleaning robots out as needed to keep things tidy, all from a smartphone or through its own programming.

The Pitch. Developer Quatanium introduces viewers to Qhome by showing a young professional who can only focus so well on his job because his home monitors and operates itself. From getting him up in the morning all the way to notifying him that there’s no more jam in the fridge, Qhome steers the video’s hero through all the aspects of his home life right up to his date that night. Unfortunately, as viewers ask how all of this might be possible, the campaign page itself has no follow-through, focusing more on general discussion of the history of smart home technology and how it functions rather than explaining how the product itself works. Backers might be interested in helping Quatanium reach its huge $500,000, but will have to do so with several questions still in their minds.

The Perks. Getting started with a Qhome system costs as little as $99, to get the app and control components for two devices. A more complete system with a hub, 5 components, and a wireless music player costs $249. Those who are more concerned with security can add an extra 5 control components and a wireless security camera to their system at the $599, while anyone who wants their system designed to maximize effectiveness in their home can get a personalized system built for $1,999. All tiers except the personalized system will ship by March 2015, with the latter shipping in July 2015.

The Potential. When it comes to potential, the idea behind Qhome has an awful lot of it. However, without more details and more explanation, it’s easy to get the impression that nothing may ever come of all that potential. Qhome makes a lot of bold claims and is fairly cost-effective. Now, all that remains to be seen is if it can back up all of its talk.