Tag: smartphone

Categories
Maker/Development

Pouff3D is the perfect scanning companion for the home 3D printing user

The Premise. 3D printers have promising  applications in the home, but few people really have the tools necessary to get the most out of it. For those who aren’t pro computer modelers or designers, a 3D scanner would accomplish the job easily, but the technology tends to be pricy and hard to acquire for the end user.

The Product. The Pouff3D is a simple 3D scanner that works in a rather ingenious way. Almost resembling a wicker basket, to scan an object with the Pouff3D, one simply opens up the device, places the object to scan inside, and then attaches their smartphone to the interior. The Pouff3D will then move the phone automatically around the device, using a built-in light to evenly illuminate the item from each angle.

The Pitch. The video introduction for the Pouff3D is mostly to illustrate the concept than show the device in action. Wombex, Inc., the company responsible for the device, basically demonstrates how the scanner will work once it’s closer to being ready. The early bird prices are a great incentive for backers to jump on the Pouff3D bandwagon now, saving up to 40% on the projected retail cost. The rest of the campaign materials hope to clear up some of the questions, but a lot of the specifics are still being established for the prototype. Wombex needs $85,000 to finalize the design, hardware, and software before manufacturing can begin.

The Perks. The Pouff3D scanner is expected to ship out in April 2015 with a couple different available options. A drape-coated version is available for $299, while a leather-coated version will be provided for $449, both available in a variety of colors.

The Potential. This is an interesting take on the 3D scanner and could be an affordable way to transform the average, everyday smartphone into something that can be extremely helpful when it comes to 3D modeling. The minimal, modern design will blend in effortlessly in any office or studio shelf, but the powerful capabilities this device can offer for those who need it are deceptively hidden to the unaware eye. The precise details of just how great this device can be are still a little shrouded in mystery, but if Wombex can deliver on all of their promises, this could be the go-to tool for the amateur 3D printer.

Categories
Sports

Challenger tennis aid tracks speed and impact, makes players better with the ball

Every sport out there has become smart. With golfing aides and fitness rings, it’s now possible to examine every way a player can improve their game.

Enter Challenger, a tennis racket attachment that measures various aspects of a tennis player’s swing. This nifty little gadget attaches directly to the strings of a tennis racket. With Bluetooth, it communicates various metrics to the accompanying app. The Challenger is impact-resistant, weather-resistant and features a highly visible touchscreen display with four hours of battery life.

The app measures the speed of the swing, impact points on the racket and spin of each ball hit. It also keeps track of play time, types of swings, and how long the strings of the racket last until they need to be restrung. The app provides individualized profiles of players, gives tennis tips, and tracks progress over time.

Challenger offers lots of data that will certainly be helpful to tennis players looking to take their game to the next level. All it’s missing is a way for the app to interpret that data to provide feedback on how to improve, like the similar runScribe for runners. However, it’s feature of connecting the user with different players in their area is a nice plus. One can be had for $150 with delivery in January 2015. Challenger hopes to raise $75,000 in funding.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Paper Standmio smartphone mount makes coach more entertaining

IStandmionflight entertainment often leaves much to be desired. Those with smartphones will often opt out of watching Spiderman 3 for the eighth time in the air and instead watch something on their own device, but holding a phone during a long flight isn’t comfortable. Standmio is a cardboard stand designed to hold your smartphone up. It folds into tray tables, car seat headrests or acts as a simple stand anywhere. Standmio comes with several different odd design options like a picture of a woman or crabs on a beach. This product costs backers only $3, making it a no-brainer. This phone stand hopes to raise $3,750 on Indiegogo.

Categories
Imaging

Portable Pop and Lock helps capture the shot

popandlockSerious photographers need serious equipment. Taking a selfie at arm’s length is fine if you’re using a stock smartphone camera, but a quality camera calls for a quality camera support. The aptly-named Pop and Lock is an adjustable, sturdy camera support that can be configured a number of ways with four joints that can be locked into place at any 45 degree angle without losing stability. For those who want to beef up their GoPro footage or phone photos, the Pop and Lock is compatible. The campaign video shows off the fun side of the product while still doing a good job of selling its features. Pop and Lock launches in July for $129, far less than many other stabilizers.

Categories
Smartwatches/Bands

inWatch Z packs smartwatch features, 3G connections into a thin package

inWatch ZThe smartwatch race has suddenly gotten pretty crowded with many more devices on the way now that Google has officially blessed them., but the features can vary widely. Most of these products connect to a smartphone. But in addition  bo hosting an HD camera, fitness tracking, and cloud services rolled into a customized Android UI?, the inWatch Z packs in a cellular radio while retaining a pretty svelte profile. Battery life, though, could be an issue. Interested backers can get their very own inWatch Z for $199.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Music

FretPen is an ink-slinging miniature guitar toy for practicing riffs

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.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Pluggy Lock turns iPhone headphone headphone jack into suspension system

pluggy lockCell phones have the tendency to get lost or broken… a lot. We know how valuable they are, but as humans we are flawed and don’t take care of our things. Pluggy Lock makes it easier to care for your device. It’s a simple product that plugs and locks into the headphone jack of any phone. With Pluggy, you can attach different kinds of lanyards and holders so that you won’t lose or drop your phone. This attachment system costs backers $19 with an estimated delivery date of September 2014. Pluggy needs to raise $35,000 on Kickstarter in its 53-day campaign.

Categories
Automotive Cell Phone Accessories

EverDock Go makes a place for your phone in your car

EverDoc Go 74b3184395e9314f7c5235caf0bea3e2_large[1]Most people like to have their phone with them when they are on the go. There are multiple car docks out there for mobiles, but EverDock Go seems to be more universal to the variety of phones that people use. Rather than attaching to the windshield with suction or mounting on the dash, the solid-looking dock is designed to fit in your car’s cup holder — cutting down on dashboard clutter but requiring looking away a bit more for navigation tasks. For $35, backers get one product, which is $15 off of the anticipated retail price. Expected delivery is September 2014.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Imaging

Micro Phone Lens brings the lab environment to the mobile world

microphonelensThe microscopic world is endlessly fascinating and always a great way to satisfy curiosity about the planet Earth, but microscopes are bulky, fragile, and expensive. The Micro Phone Lens is a surprisingly low-cost, simple method of keeping a microscope nearby at all times, because it attaches to the camera on any smartphone or device with a 5 megapixel or greater camera. This model is a follow-up to a previous campaign by inventor Thomas Larson, offering 150x magnification compared to the previous model’s 15x. This simple, intuitive microscope alternative starts at just $29 for the lens alone and will be available by July 2014.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Snap adapts to affix your smartphone to nearly anything

The Premise. Phones and other essential items take up valuable space in pockets and purses. They also cause for a messier lifestyle with everything floating around willy-nilly.

The Product. Snap offers a better way to keep your life organized. Snap is an accessory for your phone, tablet or any other portable device that attaches to other essential items such as money clips or earphones. This nifty product can even be used as a mount to put on bicycles or the backs of car seats. Using a male/female connector system, one side sticks to the device using a strong adhesive while the other side clicks into place.

The Pitch. Snap’s snappy video is silly and fresh, making fun of “too cool for school” campaigns. The creators are smart and use the rest of the campaign to articulate problems they’ve encountered with other mobile accessories and say how their product solves those problems. They really emphasize the fact that Snap isn’t the type of accessory that changes with each new device, but that it is universal and adaptable. Pictures towards the end of the campaign show different ways to use the product. These creators from Utah hope to raise $40,000 in a 45-day run on Kickstarter.

The Perks. Snap keeps it simple with only four reward tiers. Right now, Snap’s creators are only offering the wallet and earbud attachments separately. Both go for early-bird prices of $10 and later-bird prices of $12 with estimated delivery set at May 2014.

The Potential. Snap presents an efficient way to organize your life with tons of different possibilities. Lately, lots of other products have been trying to do just that. The Sinch is a small accessory that keeps your earbuds untangled, but can only be used with earbuds. The Nerd Herder gadget wallet is a more elaborate, feminine item that can hold a phone, earbuds, money, credit cards and other things all together. Snap seems to be the most compact of these attachment accessories, but one drawback may be that only one attachment can be used at a time. Still, its universality is welcome in the mobile accessory market where most items are expensive and can only be used with one type of device.