Some people would rather go without food and water for a day than have their phone’s battery run empty. There are plenty of solutions to give devices a little extra juice, but they tend to be bulky or involve wires that can tangle or go bad. MyQI takes wireless charging and applies it to powering smartphones. MyQI can be charged through any USB power source, then tucked into any pocket to power a phone just be powering on the device and setting the phone on top. Unfortunately, iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones need an accessory to use MyQI. Because of that, other options like iDAPT Modulo still look to be a smarter choice. MyQI is available for $60 and will arrive in September.
Tag: portable
The Premise. In order to really kill the desktop computer off once and for all, mobile devices need to be able to do everything their lumbering, clunky big brothers can handle. In recent years that’s come to include lightweight solutions for full keyboards and even printing. The next hurdle to overcome is scanning.
The Product. PocketScan is a handheld device no bigger than a computer mouse that can be used to skim across any surface and immediately have it display on a tablet or computer. What’s better is that these scans can be instantly edited if text is detected in any language, and translation options are available for foreign documents as well. Because the device is hand-sized and requires movement, the PocketScan can even be used to scan very large items that would not normally fit inside of a scanner.
The Pitch. Dacuda, creator of the PocketScan, show off the versatility and simplicity of the device by showing consumers using it to scan menus, photos, business reports, and everything else including a set of lips! While the video glosses over a lot of the technical details in order to offer up a short and sweet video that captures the device’s wow factor, plenty of space is given in the campaign page to answer questions about connectivity, battery life, and more. Dacuda needs $50,000 to send PocketScan out into the market. Additionally, stretch goals are available making the device compatible with Android devices at $150,000, iPhones at $250,000, and adding a text to speech mode at $500,000.
The Perks. The PocketScan can be picked up for those that pledge at least $99, with scanning software included for Windows, Mac, and iPad. Developers can get a trio of scanners and access to both the SDK and API for $1,250. All rewards are due to ship out in December 2014.
The Potential. Crowdfunding has hosted a few innovative mobile scanners lately, including the robotic page-traversing Pocket Printer and PPrintee. Putting scanning literally into the hands of users to do as they wish is a great idea, especially as a new way of sharing content while on the go. The light weight, compact design, and long battery life are great ways of making this device as convenient as possible, making PocketScan a great choice for business pros on the go or young artists who need to strike when inspiration hits them. This is a neat device just as a scanner, but the ability to get instant feedback while scanning and edit scans quickly make this a must-have.
The Premise. Lung health can be overlooked in a world obsessed with heart rate, nutrition and blood pressure. Most lung problems are caught only once they’ve developed into serious conditions. Without a doctor present, it can be difficult to monitor lung health to ensure that everything is okay.
The Product. For lung health on the go, try the SandPiper. This product is a mini spirometer that plugs into any standard smart phone headphone jack to delivery immediate information about one’s lung health. You simply blow into the product and the information is immediate on the accompanying app that provides a full spirometric analysis. It’s made of medical grade ABS and uses an adapted type of wind power for energy. This power comes directly from the user when they go to test their respiratory function.
The Pitch. SandPiper’s video shows a doctor talking about the realities of poor lung health. A bit obvious, perhaps, but quite effective. It also shows the product in use displaying how easy it is to carry around, facilitate and even wash (just throw it in the dishwasher). The rest of the campaign goes through what exactly the product measures and its other uses, including training your lungs to have better strength and capacity. SandPiper has a huge goal of $275,000 on Indiegogo.
The Perks. Early breathing backers will get the SandPiper for $55 or $64 which includes the product and ability to download the app. Regular price for the product on Indiegogo is $73 with estimated delivery set in December 2014.
The Potential. Portable spirometers aren’t anything new. One that connects directly to an app on a smartphone is. The Orbit Portable Spirometer connects directly to one’s computer, but doesn’t organize the information on said computer. SandPiper’s app collects and remembers data, making it more effective in tracking lung health and history. The device itself couldn’t be simpler to use, wash or carry making it super convenient. All in all, the SandPiper is just the product for those concerned with their lung health. While it may not be needed by all, it is definitely essential for an older crowd that will appreciate its ease of use.
Since the early days of fitness infomercials, avid television viewers know the importance of core strength is about more than a good-looking pair of abs. Add ABXCORE to the list of portable, ab-focused fitness devices that are designed to be easy to use in any location. What makes ABXCORE different is the adjustable, compact design, the flexible resistance levels, and the ergonomic design specially made to create an effective workout while reducing the risk of strain or injury in the process. ABXCORE may have that infomercial feel to it, but promises a full core workout, especially for the obliques. ABXCORE will start building muscle in November and starts at $99.
The iPod made portable music players accessible to the masses and really launched the mass market for portable computing products. Unfortunately, most of them focus more on storage than on sound quality. Like PonoMusic and the Astell&Kern AK100, the Geek Wave places a much larger emphasis on sound quality than most other commercial portable music players. With up to 2 TB of storage space and compatible with every file type from 32 bit MP3 to DSD 128, the Geek Wave can deliver music any way users want it, from millions of tracks to thousands of the best-sounding audio around. The Geek Wave 64 player is expected out in March 2015 and is available for $269.
The Premise. Musicians have trouble spending time away from their instruments. But bulky instruments, especially guitars, aren’t very portable and cannot be left in cars or public places where they may be stolen. Those with busy lives who like making music are left with few options.
The Product. The FretPen allows traveling musicians to travel easier. This mini guitar has one string and uses an app and electronics to allow the user to make music on the go. With the iOS app, users can add effects to their music and play with either an acoustic or electric guitar sound. The FretPen is the size of a normal pen and even comes with a pen attachment so it really delivers on its name. This product uses Bluetooth technology to deliver wireless music to your smartphone. Using the app, the FretPen user can then edit the music they’ve made however they wish.
The Pitch. Fret’s video shows a rocker guy using the FretPen in transit which is a great example of the product’s versatility. The rest of the campaign shows screenshots of the app in action as well as the mechanics of the product. The creators use photos comparing the product to common objects to demonstrate how small it truly is. FretPen hopes to raise $35,000 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign.
The Perks. For early-bird rockers, FretPen will cost $99 at the “Front Row” price or $119 at the “Second Row” price. The regular or “Main Floor” pricing is $129. Reward tiers go up to $1,499 and all have an estimated delivery date of November 2014.
The Potential. FretPen is a small, fun and easy way for musicians to make music while they’re touring or even just at their day jobs. Of course, it won’t match up to an actual guitar, but seems to be able to do a decent job at creating some cool music. We’ve seen guitars that hook up to smartphones and tablets in the past, like the IGI Smart Guitar and the relatively portable Jamstik, but none so tiny and wireless as the FretPen. This product is perfect for amateur guitarists or busy rock ‘n’ rollers and will certainly find success in the smartphone-meets-guitar market.
Flashlights, portable headlights, keychain lights and other lighting systems aim to provide convenience and light when on the go. Most of these types of lights are either bulky or don’t provide enough light when necessary. The RagLite combines portability and extra bright luminance to make a lighting system that is effective and easy to carry. RagLite consists of several strips of LED lights affixed to a piece of fabric. It comes in different sizes and is super lightweight and portable so that it can be taken anywhere. One mini RagLite costs backers $75 with an estimated delivery date of October 2014. This cool, yet expensive product, needs to raise $25,000 in its 60-day Kickstarter campaign.
Most people have no trouble drinking shots or mixed drinks, but in case you’ve ever run into trouble, try Kickstick. This versatile product is a mini liquor or energy drink holder. By removing the bottom, the drinker can shoot whatever is in the tube or easily mix the liquid into another drink. The top functions as a straw and makes it easy to drink on the go. Kickstick is perfect for frat bros or college students who need to get liquor into their bodies even faster than normal. The fun but brazen campaign doesn’t say this, so we will… drink responsibly. One of these receptacles costs backers $25 with a delivery date of July 2014. Kickstick needs to raise $10,000 in its 30-day campaign.
The Premise. We’ve all been there. Our phones die and we have no access to an outlet. When in public, there’s always the option of trolling for one in a Starbucks, but for those out camping or hiking, there’s little hope.
The Product. Trinity is a portable wind turbine power system. to charge your portable devices. The mini turbine uses a 15W generator that powers an integrated battery, which can also be charged via microUSB on those days without much wind . It has three legs that fold out either into a tripod shape or flat on the ground. Trinity is white and the body is 12” long with 11” legs.
The Pitch. Trinity’s campaign video is bare and simple, going over how the product works. Admittedly, it looks like it was filmed in tent in the middle of the desert. The rest of the campaign goes into the tech specs of this mini turbine for those interested in how it works. Trinity hopes to raise $50,000 in a 50-day Kickstarter campaign.
The Perks. Don’t expect thsi advanced techology to compete with simple pocket power packs. Trinity offers two early-bird specials for backers needing to charge up. The first is $249 and the second is $279. For a regular price, the Trinity costs $299. Higher tiers offer a chance to pick a color other than white. Each tier has an estimated delivery date of January 2015.
The Potential. Trinity joins the sustainability market with several other products aimed at utilizing renewable energy in small ways. The H2Only Battery powers lights with only water. More similar to the Trinity, the WindPax is a portable wind turbine that can be used to run lights or charge low energy devices. Each of these products represents a very cool new way to think about renewable energy. These products, especially the Trinity, introduce this idea on a much smaller scale and show how our everyday lives can be simplified with clean energy. The Trinity, while expensive, is a neat product that will only be elaborated upon with time. It certainly won’t stop with a USB port, but could mean powering larger things with time.
K9 police squads and military units that use dogs need an easy way to give them water on the go. Most bowls that people use let water get hot and aren’t easily transportable. The K9 Unit Insulated Dog Water Bottle uses a unique design to fix these problems. It keeps water cool and has an attachment at the bottom that easily gives dogs water, but is also easy to put back onto the bottle when finished. One of these bottles costs backers $25 with an estimated delivery date of August 2014. The K9 bottle hopes to raise $20,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.