Categories
Home Relaxation

Octaloofah turns home showers into spa time with massage and music

If he thinks she spends too much time soaking in the tub already, wait until she gets her hands on this emerging gadget. Octaloofah has the potential to take a simple shower and turn it into a spa –sort of. The octagon-shaped device is a hands-free, multifunctional unit that not only uses exfoliation to help promote healthier skin, but can also provide a pseudo back massage while playing one’s favorite tunes. Octaloofah has a wireless sound system that connects to any Bluetooth device. Talk about added ambiance! The product attaches to the shower wall via suction cups, and the exfoliating half-spheres are easily replaceable when necessary.

There isn’t presently any clear indication of how much these will cost to replace, which may affect backers’ opinion of this product. For the perfect item to round out this home spa mindset, backers might want to check out the Wave Hooks wine and cheese holder for bath-time enthusiasts. This campaign seeks to raise $65,000 by January 31, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $39 with an expected delivery of August 15.

Categories
Furniture

Mobi shelves a standalone nightstand

Space-saving gadgets can make for some wonderfully convenient solutions, whether living in a small home, or a large one rife with clutter. Mobi is a nightstand that doesn’t require wall space, just a bed. The zig-zag shape is what causes it to stay in place, with the bottom portion getting tucked in between the mattress and the box spring. There is also a section to stow a few magazines and a small slit in the table lets a mobile device charging cord hang straight from the device so that it doesn’t fall off of the table. The table can also be used easily with a couch. The product is made of brushed aluminum, and there are also multiple wood effect options from which to choose.

While the dimensions of the table aren’t noted in the campaign, it appears that it is roughly the length and width of a magazine. Not a great deal of space for a nightstand, however, Mobi still seems like a high-quality purchase. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 by December 23, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $45, with an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Home Smart Home

Kuna embeds a smart camera in a porch light to scare off intruders

Home security is a big concern for people worldwide. The old security systems of the 80’s and 90’s rely on off-site, outsourced professionals to contact the authorities and hope for a response in time. This technology needs an upgrade.

Kuna is a combination outdoor light and smart camera that allows owners to get notifications when someone approaches their door and, using the Kuna app, see them, talk with them, or sound an alarm. Disguised as a stylish exterior home light in one of three available styles, Kuna has all the function and convenience of an app-controlled outdoor light.

The fact that Kuna also includes a fully functional security camera with all the bells and whistles is a welcome addition. Operating on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, Kuna is easy to install and easy to use. Kuna is raising $50,000 to complete testing and ship out units. A donation of $149 is all it takes to provide peace of mind with a Kuna.

This isn’t the first smart camera and intercom system that’s been released on the market, but it may be the most multi-functional and most discreet; great for making a home look welcoming poorer for deterring unwanted guests outright.

Categories
Smart Home

Tank Utility lets your smartphone keep an eye on your propane tank, makes Hank Hill proud

The use of propane to heat a home can sometimes be a pain. Supply levels must be kept up with or else homeowners will find themselves without shivering. This can also lead to frozen pipes and flood damage, both which can be extremely costly to any homeowner. The Tank Utility helps ward off these problems by being your personal propane assistant. The remote smart meter monitors your propane tank level by connecting to your Wi-Fi network, relaying that information back to your smartphone for review. You’ll receive personalized alerts when you’re low and schedule deliveries right on your phone. In the meantime, it’ll be able access diagnostic information about consumption trends, efficiency, and other problems like disconnected Wi-Fi or low battery, all while keeping an eye out for leaks and other strange usage. With the device requiring no tools to install and able to work in temperatures as low as -20°, it is an incredibly useful tool to effortlessly keep on top of things around the home. Combine this with other home automation solutions like the ActuSwitch and the Ninja Sphere to really keep things under control. Expected in May 2015, the Tank Utility is priced at $200 and is looking for $20,000 in funding.

Categories
Lighting

Printed-light has no moving parts, is actually not printed

Adding a little extra light to a workspace or lounging area is often as simple as just finding a suitable table lamp. Printed-light is basically an LED table lamp suitable for any room in the house or personal office space at work. Operated by a proximity sensor, it allows the user some control over how much light is being given off. It doesn’t have any moving parts and can be run by a laptop computer, which might be the one significant thing that sets it apart from the standard table lamp outside of its shape, though there are other lights out there that can be run from a laptop. So, unless one just happens to like the unique shape, it’s not really clear how this particular LED it is an improvement over what is already available on the market. Other LED lights that backers might want to check out include Nimbus and the Phantom light. This campaign seeks to raise £7,500 (~$11,800) by November 30, 2014. Early bird backers get one light for £150 (~$240) with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Pets

WindowKitty lets your tabby see the world without the world seeing you

Every cat lover knows that cats are watchers. Especially when they can find a sunny window that overlooks a high activity area outside. Unfortunately, that can also mean that they bend, break or chew on blinds to hone out their coveted seat. That’s why WindowKitty was created. It fits up to a 36 inch wide window, is collapsible with pushbutton technology, and is portable so it can be moved from window to window or easily stored when not in use. There is a lip on top to keep blinds from falling over the product and a carpeted ledge for kitty’s comfort, as well as a place to hang a toy to add to kitty’s enjoyment. It’s not clear what the product is made of overall, whether a heavy-duty plastic or some other sturdy material. And speaking of pet enjoyment, backers might also like to check out the Pawly interactive pet toy. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000 by November 22, 2014. Backers get one product for $75 with an expected delivery of June 2015.

Categories
Home

Go2Pon tampon dispenser promises tampon nirvana, a place nobody wants to go

When it comes to the more delicate side of being a female, there are certain items designed with the intent of making life easier. This applies to Go2Pon.  Go2Pon is presented as a product of convenience because of its cylindrical shape. It features a suction cup on the bottom that will allow it to be securely fastened to a convenient spot in the shower or on the counter, so the tampon will always be close at hand, at least at home. It aims to make that time of the month, Aunt Flo’s visit, shark week, or whatever else you want to call it a little less awkward. Potential marriage annoyance alert: if the intent is for a permanent location for the Go2Pon, hubby may see it as ranking right up there with looking at her hand-washed bras hanging over the shower rod. Just a thought. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 by November 14, 2014. Backers can get one product for $30, with an expected delivery of May 2015.

Categories
Fitness

Battle Flex aims to be your home gym away from home

An awesome work out at home?! Okay, the concept isn’t entirely new. We see tons of at-home fitness products almost daily on Backerjack. Here to join the pack is BATTLE FLEX FITNESS. The campaign doesn’t do a great job of explaining exactly what this product features but it looks like BATTLE FLEX focuses on ropes and elastic bands to provide resistance training. To get the complete set, backers will need to shell out $159 for estimated delivery in April 2015. BATTLE hopes to raise $40,000 on Kickstarter.

This fitness system looks versatile and boasts usability *virtually* anywhere. There’s not much else to distinguish it from other at home systems like the XBAR and MostFit. Rope and cable systems are great for a well-rounded workout, however backers who don’t value this have literally hundreds of other options. BATTLE will need to figure out a more niche market to target in order to set themselves apart.

Categories
Home

Appliance Defender is like a giant screen protector for your fridge

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.

 

Categories
Lighting

Swan-like Showcome lamp offers many methods of control

For those who find the words “on” and “off” to be boring and predictable, there is now a light that responds to the word “aladdin” instead. And yes, it is shaped like a lamp, sort of.

Probably more of a cross between a swan and a lamp. But Showcome also responds to other forms of communication. It also offers a Smartphone app, motion-sensor control for hands-free operation, and touch control that also allows the user to adjust how much light is being given off. The LED light source also offers potential room-to-room portability with a height of just over two feet and a width of just over seven inches.

The cord may be a bit short, though, at only 5.9 feet, depending on where and for what purpose one wants to use it. For $58, backers get one product with an expected delivery of January 2015.