Tag: smartphone

Categories
Pets

Romeow woos your Julipet with smartphone scheduled feedings

Leaving a pet alone at home for a few days isn’t only taxing on the animal, but stressful for the owner too. Cats and dogs hate to be put in kennels and it can be expensive to have someone feed and take care of pets several times a day.

Romeow is a smartphone-powered device that can feed and provide water for pets over Wi-Fi. When away, owners can use the wide angle camera to check out the bowls. If empty, a tap of a button will dispense the desired amount of food and water. In addition, the owner can schedule all feedings with the app’s calendar, so pet feeding is never a chore. Romeow also comes equipped with a speaker so you can coo at your pet from afar.

Romeow joins scores of other similar products like the Kittyo and PetPal, though it claims to be the first. While it does have a camera and speaker, it doesn’t come equipped with a laser to actually interact with the pet like other products do, though this feature does seem bit superfluous. This product also offers water dispensing unlike others. The Italian Romeow’s design sets it apart too, opting to go more retro/industrial chic rather than the futuristic spaceship look. One Romeow system complete with two bowls can be had by backers for €249 (~$310) by September 2015, if the campaign can meet its €80,000 (~$99,600) goal on Indiegogo.

Categories
Health and Wellness Sensors/IoT

MOCAheart looks after vitals, lets you check up on loved one’s hearts

Health monitors that send information to smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. It’s an easy way to collect important data and send off to doctors if need be. They also provide a way to track patterns and trends, hopefully catching harmful conditions early on so they don’t get worse.

MOCAheart is one such monitor. This small metal sensor about the size of a contact lens holder measures heart rate (bpm) and oxygen levels in the blood and sends such data to its accompanying smartphone app. With this information it generates the MOCA index, a number that tells you how you’re doing. Zero is low, but still okay. One is normal, two is slightly high, at three they recommend you make a doctor’s appointment and four means you should seek immediate medical attention.

In addition to monitoring your own health, MOCA hooks up with other MOCAheart owners through the app. This way, you can monitor the health of loved ones. The app also allows users to put notes next to their readings, like one man does in the campaign, saying that his vitals show he’s stressed because he has to work late. It also records the date and weather of each reading, demonstrating how lifestyle can affect blood pressure.

MOCAheart joins scores of other health devices that make monitoring one’s health super easy. The size of the sensor itself makes it convenient to carry around and the two touch method of reading vitals is too simple to mess up. Perhaps the best part, though, is the ability to check up on loved ones. This seems great for younger generations making sure their elderly parents or grandparents are okay. Though this could get annoying after a while, however productive. Backers can own their own for a donation of $99 with delivery in April 2015. MOCAheart is looking to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

Plan V lets you use your key ring for backup phone charger

It seems that if the phone battery is going to go dead, it always happens at the worst possible time. So Plan V was created with a backup plan in mind. The USB charger can be carried abound on one’s key ring and a 9 volt battery provides the power to charge a dead Smartphone. It will provide up to four hours of talk time. The flexible neck piece makes it fold up so that it is about the size of the average car key, and only weighs seven grams.

Plan V is a great idea as long as one doesn’t mind the fact that they will always need to have a 9 volt battery on them – or never go anywhere where they can’t easily buy one. Backers may also want to check out the Charge Case and Kodiak campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $30,000 AUD (~$25,000 USD)  by December 24, 2014. For $15 AUD (~$13 USD) backers get one product with the micro USB and an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Tablet Accessories

Clamp Hero keeps tablets hanging to help prevent nagging neck pain

Well, the claim that it is the first tablet holder suitable for planes, trains and busses is hardly a correct one, but it is another tablet holder looking to find its spot in a marketplace that is quickly gaining momentum in that area. Clamp Hero creators claim that the product can be used in most planes, trains and busses with most any smartphone, tablet or e-reader because of its unique clamping system. It hooks on the back of the seat in front of the passenger, and adjusts to fit the desired mobile device. It also folds up when not in use for easy transport and is available in many colors.

Interested backers might also want to check out Stand-pod, F2, Plinth, and Must. This campaign seeks to raise €6,000 (~$7,400). Early bird backers get one product for €21 (~$26) with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Smartwatches/Bands

Nudge filters calls and texts so only important ones come in, nudges you into being social

Smartphones run our daily lives, providing us with calls, texts, e-mails, reminders, and other conveniences. As such, it’s tempting to keep a close eye on the phone to make sure that absolutely nothing is missed. However, no one likes hanging out with someone glued to their phone all the time.

Nudge is a system made so that the phone can stay put away until something really important comes up. This rubbery bracelet features notification lights to alert the wearer to an important call, text, e-mail, calendar reminder, etc. It connects via Bluetooth to an app that allows for notification customization. For instance, it’s possible to allow calls from a boss to come through to the bracelet or texts from kids. Each type of incoming communication can be given either a green light on the bracelet or red. The bracelet features a “shut up” button that lets the phone be silenced if the call is deemed ignorable.

We’ve seen many other bracelets and jewelry and home goods of this type like the Ringly. While certainly a good idea, Nudge fails to live up to its counterparts. Other systems allow for vibrations and lights so that different patterns can be set for different types of notifications. Nudge is unisex, which male backers may appreciate as most other types are for women only, but Nudge will need to push farther to really compete. Backers can have their own for a donation of £29 (~$46) with estimated delivery set for August 2015. Nudge is hoping to raise £35,000 (~$55,000) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Connected Objects Technology

Appiom censorship app gives parents control over kids’ Wi-Fi usage

As more and more Lifetime movies revolve around the dangerous effects the Internet can have on young ones, parents are beginning to think they should limit online usage. However, these damn millennials are smart and have figured out ways to get around a lot of censorship tools.

Introducing Appiom. A little box and app that casts a safety net over the kids. The app allows users to choose different profiles and collect devices for each profile. For instance, one child’s profile may include their smartphone and laptop. With Appiom, parents can block certain apps entirely, like Facebook, or for just one hour. Similarly, they can set a timer on Internet usage, blocking kids from going online after their bedtime. Understanding that these kids are much more tech savvy than any other generation, Appiom also has capabilities to block 4g and LTE usage, preventing kids from switching from Wi-Fi to phone data to surf the Net.

Installation for this product is quite easy, requiring no router configuration or software downloads. Best of all, for smartphones at least, it only blocks certain apps, letting parents customize phone time for their kids. It would beneficial if there could be some sort of Web site blocking customization too for laptops. Still, this is an easy-to-use product that allows parents to be reasonable in their control over Wi-Fi time instead of downright Web Nazis. One will cost backers an affordable $29 donation for delivery in March 2015. Appiom is hoping to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Displays Tablet Accessories

Project Wedge is a cheap, portable projector for tablets

Lots of young millennial have figured out that televisions are expensive. However, with the right cables and devices, they can project television shows and movies onto a blank wall or screen for entertainment. Since companies would rather have consumers spending money on expensive equipment, the typical project model is lagging behind in innovation.

Project Wedge is a mini projector for the young adult consumer in mind. Working with tablets and smartphones via an HDMI cable, Project Wedge projects images from these devices. It looks sharp on a screen or wall up to 60 inches. With a battery that lasts for four hours, it’ll be easy to watch a move on the big screen, perhaps streamed from Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Not only is Project Wedge easy to use and compatible with a wide range of devices, but it’s also quite compact, not much bigger than a tablet with a stand. All in all this is a nifty little product, perfect for those who don’t care for cable or flatscreen televisions. One will cost backers $150 for delivery in September 2015. This product is looking to raise $100,000 with the help of Indiegogo.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Tablet Accessories

Harrier Cable loops in multiple USB data modes

While most of us are perfectly OK with the capabilities of our Android smartphones and tablets, there is a very vocal minority who continually clamor for more openness and connectivity. As a platform, Android performs admirably in this respect and makes sure to offer users the ability to do so. Problem is, users may need special connection solutions to use keyboards and mice with their device, for example.

The Harrier Cable is an extremely low-cost option to both charge your device while giving you the option to also use keyboards, mice, printer, and even game controllers with your smart device. The cable also supports the option of charging multiple devices with one power socket as each cable can connect to each other.

All in all, this product is extremely niche and seems like something you’d see in one of those markets full of all kinds of technology knick knacks rather than something a tad more serious. Again, it is only going for $12, so it is a price point that may be subject to an impulse purchase. The Harrier Cable will be available by the end of this year provided the campaign reaches their modest $1,000 goal.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Imaging

MOS Kick is a tiny clip that can get your phone on a tripod

Does anyone actually use a camera that’s not built into their iPhone or smartphone anymore? The only problem with using a mobile device camera is that there usually isn’t a convenient way to make it stand up for videos, family pictures, and some of the more complicated photography such as time lapse photos and slomo videos. MOS Kick offers a tripod-type solution for mobile gadgets that is small enough to fit in a pocket or backpack. It is made of metal for durability, but is still lightweight. No measurements are offered, but it is compatible with all smartphones.

MOS Kick offers two things that similar products don’t: maximum portability and compatibility with all smartphones, giving it a definite edge. Interested backers may also want to check out the Stand-Pod campaign, and those who enjoy extreme close-up photography might be interested in C-Lens. This campaign seeks to raise $25,000 by December 17, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $25, with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Imaging

MAGcro is another smartphone macro lens ready for extreme close-ups

It’s amazing how the world of photography has opened up to anyone who owns a smartphone or tablet these days. In fact, even macro photography is an option because of products such as MAGcro. This item was created by a couple of ophthalmologists and works with a smartphone or tablet, offering up to 10 times of magnification. The aspheric lens is fire-polished and made of high quality crown glass. The micro suction base makes it universal, compatible with most smartphones and tablets.

One of MAGcro’s best features is that it’s easy to transport since it is small enough to attach to a key ring. Though one might want to consider the possibility of a scratched lens before carrying it around that way. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 NZD (~$4,000 USD) by December 13, 2014. For $25 NZD (~$20 USD), early bird backers get one lens with an expected delivery of February 2015.