Check out my 5 picks for this week’s notable crowdfunding projects from Kickstarter. Hey, don’t blame me if you’re always broke!

3D 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound Earbud with Premium Sub Bass

What is it?
360 Earbuds are wired earbuds that simulate surround sound.

Why do I like it?
I was sent a pair of 360 Earbuds to try out and they make it feel like you’re in a room surrounded by the music. The audio quality was very impressive. Music sounded significantly better than my current favorite earbuds: DUNU Titan 1s. Vocals sound much crisper and the bass response is excellent. The only down side to the 360 Earbuds is that they are wired.

Where can I find more info?
With 46 days left in the campaign, the 360 Earbuds campaign has already met their funding goal of $25,000. You can pre-order a pair of 360 Earbuds starting at $55. After the 360 Earbuds campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

HELIO: Solar Light & Powerbank for Adventures & Emergencies

What is it?
HELIO is a solar powered 150-lumen emergency light with a 5200mAh backup battery.

Why do I like it?
There are all kinds of solar powered power banks with built in flashlights on the market, but I like this one because it can also be used as a lantern and it has a red light mode to prevent problems with night vision. Also, 100% of the profits for this product are used to provide light and power products to those with limited access to electricity.

Where can I find more info?
With 49 days left in the campaign, the HELIO campaign is still working towards their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order a HELIO starting at $45. After the HELIO campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Luna Display

What is it?
The Luna Display is a Mini DisplayPort or USB-C adapter for MacOS devices that turn an iPad into a wireless second display with almost zero lag.

Why do I like it?
I’ve used software solutions that turn an iPad into a second display for my MacBook and while they work, those solutions tend to be laggy and buggy. Luna Display turns your MacOS device into a touch screen device because you can use keyboards and mice with it.

Where can I find more info?
With 36 days left in the campaign, the Luna Display campaign has already blown past their funding goal of $30,000. You can pre-order a Luna Display starting at $55. After the Luna Display campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Qbit keychain measuring device

What is it?
Qbits are machined brass or stainless Steel metric or standard measuring tools that you can carry in your pocket, on your keychain, or leave at your desk.

Why do I like it?
I like Qbits because I’m a sucker for EDC gear that looks good AND serves a purpose. Semi-regularly I need to measure something and don’t have a ruler with me or any way to record the length of an object. Qbits seem like a cool way to always carry a ruler – even if it a short one.

Where can I find more info?
With 29 days left in the campaign, the Qbit campaign has already passed their funding goal of $1,000. You can pre-order a Qbit starting at $20. After the Qbit campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

ZIPPELIN: An inflatable, one-of-a-kind travel bag by FREITAG

What is it?
ZIPPELIN is a large travel bag made of recycled truck tarps that compresses down and rolls up into a shoebox sized pack for easy storage when you aren’t using it and inflates to a full sized rolling luggage when you do.

Why do I like it?
I love this idea because I’ve never seen a large travel bag that can fold down that small, and the idea of using a bicycle tire intertube in place of a frame is a genius design. It’s just too bad that they cost over $500 and won’t be available until next year. But still, I think this is a great idea and hope to see it used with other travel bags.

Where can I find more info?
With 29 days left in the campaign, the ZIPPELIN campaign has already passed their funding goal of $119,827. You can pre-order a ZIPPELIN starting at $505. After the ZIPPELIN campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Crowdfunded

360 earbuds, HELIO solar battery, inflatable travel bags, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 13, 2017 at 11:42 am.

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Grab your wallet and take a look at our 5 picks for this week’s notable crowdfunding projects from Kickstarter and IndieGoGo.

VENTURE: The World’s Most Versatile 4-in-1 Camera

What is it?
VENTURE is an HD camera that can be used for live-streaming to Facebook and YouTube Live either via WiFi or 4G/LTE (through your smartphone).

Why do I like it?
I like the VENTURE because it’s much more than just another 1080p action cam GoPro style camera. It’s also a live-stream camera, a dash cam, a body cam, and even a flashlight.

The VENTURE camera has been designed by Wolfcom, the same company that makes law enforcement body cameras, so you know it’s built to last.

It’s expandable too. There is an optional 23hr battery pack, a night vision camera, POV camera, headset camera, pinhole camera and various mounting clips.

Where can I find more info?
With 21 days left in the campaign, the VENTURE campaign is close to reaching their funding goal of $25,000. You can pre-order the VENTURE camera starting at $149. After the VENTURE campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2018. Visit their IndieGoGo page for all the details.

Rollgut: Bring your thoughts to roll

What is it?
Rollgut is a wooden clipboard. But it’s not your traditional clipboard, this one is round and is made of wood.

Why do I like it?
I like the Rollgut because it’s unique and it combines several of my favorite things like wood, pens, pencils, and paper into a portable holder that rolls up and stores in your bag or pocket. And best of all, you don’t to charge it or sync it. You just enjoy the analog way of writing down your thoughts, sketches, and notes.

Where can I find more info?
With 25 days left in the campaign, the Rollgut campaign is still working towards their funding goal of $83,481. You can pre-order the Rollgut starting at $66. After the Rollgut campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Belle – Bluetooth Speaker and Wireless Hub by Podo Labs

blurb by: Bill Henderson
What is it?
Podo Labs states the Belle has audiophile sound at a fraction of the cost with powerful bass and the ability to sync multiple speakers of any brands.

Why do I like it?
I like Belle because I’m familiar with the extremely expensive Devialet Phantom Bluetooth speaker. Belle appears to be based on the same principle at a fraction of the cost. It has a bass response as low as 35 Hz of window rattling bass. It can be synced up to six wireless speakers of any brand. Belle is a full-range speaker, with two full-range speaker drivers and a bass woofer for a 2.1 stereo system. It will play clear sound with deep and resonant bass that’s not overly boomy and also has a sub mode which will transform Belle into a full Bluetooth subwoofer.

Where can I find more info?
The Belle Bluetooth Speaker campaign has surpassed the funding goal of $50,000 with plenty of spots left. You can donate to the campaign starting with $219 for the slightly less powerful Belle Lite speaker and charger. A $299 pledge gets you the more powerful Belle speaker with charger. The levels of involvement go up to $5,000 which includes 6 Belle speakers and an invitation to a VIP party for you and 25 of your closest friends in Los Angeles. After the campaign ends, shipping is estimated to begin in May 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Cubiio: The Most Compact Laser Engraver

What is it?
Cubiio is a table top laser engraver and cutter.

Why do I like it?
I like Cubiio because it can engrave and/or cut many types of materials including paper, wood, cardboard, felt, leather and more.

It’s small so it doesn’t require a lot of space, it uses your smartphone or tablet to create a G-code file from an image that you want to engrave on the material.

The only bummer is that the Cubiio can not engrave metals… But it still looks like fun for makers and crafty types.

Where can I find more info?
With 12 days left in the campaign, the Cubiio campaign has already earned over 1.2 million more than their funding goal of $25,000. You can pre-order the Cubiio starting at $319. After the Cubiio campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

The BitzBlade 2.0 – The Last Multi-Tool You’ll Ever Need

What is it?
The BitzBlade 2.0 is an updated version of the original BitzBlade. The new version is a multi-tool with 26 features.

Why do I like it?
I like the BitzBlade 2.0 because it’s a multi-function tool and I’m a sucker for small tools and tool kits. The BitzBlade 2.0 is interesting because it not only offers driver bits, but it also has blades, wrenches, and a flashlight in a small pen-like form factor.

Where can I find more info?
With 41 days left in the campaign, the BitzBlade 2.0 campaign has met their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order the BitzBlade 2.0 starting at $55. After the BitzBlade 2.0 campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in January 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Crowdfunded

VENTURE 4-in-1 camera, Rollgut roll up clipboard, Belle speaker, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 7, 2017 at 6:15 pm.

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Ready to part with some money? Check out this week’s collection of 5 crowdfunding projects that I think look interesting and worthy of your pledges.

ROBOT RISE! Card Game

What is it?
ROBOT RISE! is a 2-4 player card game that has been created by a fellow gadget loving friend of mine Craig Froehle and his family who live in Cincinnati Ohio.

Why do I like it?
I like the ROBOT RISE! card game because robots! First of all, you can play this game with as few as 2 players and a time investment of only 15-30 minutes. The idea is that you are a mad scientist and your goal is to destroy the lairs of the other mad scientists (other players in the game) by building robots.

Besides the fact that I know Craig and want to see him succeed with this campaign, I think the game sounds like a lot of fun.

Where can I find more info?
With 9 days left in the campaign, the ROBOT RISE! campaign is close to reaching their funding goal of $7,500. You can pre-order the ROBOT RISE! game starting at $19. After the ROBOT RISE! campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

SYWOS One exercise device

What is it?
SYWOS One is a portable workout device that trains opposing muscles in one cycle.

Why do I like it?
I like the SYWOS One because it’s portable, takes up very little storage space, and it can cut your workout time by working two muscle groups because there is resistance in both directions of the movement. It’s not just good for arms, but you can use it to build up strength in your chest, shoulders, legs, and back too.

Where can I find more info?
With 31 days left in the campaign, the SYWOS One campaign has already reached their funding goal of $29,520. You can pre-order the SYWOS One game starting at $117. After the SYWOS One campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Eco Scoop – Credit card size Pop-up Eating Utensil

What is it?
Eco Scoop is an individually packaged folding spoon designed and invented by a guy who worked for Sir James Dyson for 10 years.

Why do I like it?
Eco Scoop is an easy to carry spoon for on the go eating. When you’re done with it, you can throw it on the compost heap where it will biodegrade in just 4 weeks compared to the 500 years that a typical styrene spoon takes because the Eco Scoop is made of a wood based biopolymer.

Where can I find more info?
With 25 days left in the campaign, the Eco Scoop campaign still has a lot of work to do before reaching their funding goal of $28,350. You can pre-order a pack of 10 Eco Scoops starting at $5. After the Eco Scoop campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Specdrums: Music at Your Fingertips

What is it?
Specdrums are rings that turn colors into sounds when you tap them.

Why do I like it?
I like Specdrums because you can use them to turn any color into any sound which allows you to easily create your own “instruments” in seconds.

Where can I find more info?
With 23 days left in the campaign, the Specdrums campaign has already blown past their funding goal of $15,000. You can pre-order a Specdrum ring starting at $34. After the Specdrums campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in January 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Spinbox – A DIY Portable Turntable Kit

What is it?
Spinbox is a kit with all the parts necessary (including a speaker) to build a turntable in as little as 30 minutes.

Why do I like it?
I like the Spinbox because it’s a building kit and I’ve always enjoyed building things. Especially things that you can actually use after you’re done building them. This kit doesn’t even require soldering.

Where can I find more info?
With 9 days left in the campaign, the Spinbox campaign has already surpassed their funding goal of $30,000 many times over. You can pre-order a Spinbox starting at $99. After the Spinbox campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Crowdfunded

ROBOT RISE! card game, SYWOS One workout device, Eco Scoop, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 22, 2017 at 11:26 am.

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Do you have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket? Then consider funding one of this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns. Click through to see this week’s list of projects.

The Paq Carry On Travel Bag

What is it?
The Paq Carry On Travel Bag is a bag that can be worn like a backpack or as a shoulder bag.

Why do I like it?
I like the Paq Carry On Travel Bag because it’s a versatile travel bag that can convert from backpack to a duffel bag that you can wear over your shoulder. Their cool rotating strap buckle design makes the conversion easy and fast.

This is a LARGE bag that can carry all your gear for a weekend or longer. Although it’s large, it will fit in most airline overhead bins.

They sent me a prototype to check out and I was very impressed by the materials, workmanship and all the extra little features that seasoned travelers will appreciate.

Where can I find more info?
With 18 days left in the campaign, the Paq Carry On Travel Bag campaign is still working towards their funding goal of $25,000. You can pre-order a Paq Carry On Travel Bag starting at $178. After the Paq Carry On Travel Bag campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

Yaket Ice – High Performance Ice Packs

What is it?
An upgrade to the classic, scalloped ice pack drink holder for your cooler. Optimized to cool your drinks faster and keep them cool longer.

Why do I like it?
As a product development engineer myself, I really appreciate the idea of taking a product that has been in use for years, or even decades, and thoughtfully re-engineering it to make it even better, thus moving the state of the art of that type of product forward. In many cases, the changes to a product might be subtle, but still very effective, and I think that might just be the case with the Yaket Ice ice pack. Compared to a typical ice pack of this type, the Yacket Ice is larger, heavier, and colder and includes a silicone band to hold your drinks tightly against it. Again, these may appear to be minor improvements, but I think could add up to a more effective ice pack. Also, the Yacket Ice campaign was created by brothers Brian and Dan Conti. Although this is their first campaign together, I’ve backed several Kickstarter projects run by Brian Conti, and I have been very happy with the results, so I have trust in the Conti Brothers to run a good campaign and deliver a great product.

Where can I find more info?
The Kickstarter campaign is in full swing and will end August 31, so there is still time to become a backer. It’s worth noting that the campaign has already met its minimum funding goal of $2,500 with over $6,300 in pledges and 148 backers as of this writing. Pledge package pricing starts at $29 for the Early Bird package and combo packages are available. Estimated delivery is September 2017 for early backer pledges. Visit the Yacket Ice Kickstarter campaign page for more details.

Waylens Secure360 with 4G – Automotive Security Camera

What is it?
The Waylens Secure360 is a 360-degree dash camera that keeps an eye on everything inside and around your car and alerts you via 4G if there’s an issue.

Why do I like it?
I like the Waylens Secure360 because it’s an interesting evolution of the dash cam. It doesn’t just capture what goes on in front of your vehicle, it records everything inside and around the car and will let you live stream when you’re not nearby with the built-in 4G-LTE connection.

Where can I find more info?
With 25 days left in the campaign, the Waylens Secure360 campaign has already driven past their funding goal of $60,000. You can pre-order the 4G LTE version of the Waylens Secure360 dash cam starting at $249. After the Waylens Secure360 campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in March 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

PolarSeal Heated Tops

What is it?
PolarSeal tops are lightweight knit shirts that warm up with the touch of a button.

Why do I like it?
I wear a light weight sweater all year round both at home and my day job because I’m pretty cold natured. I feel like my internal thermostat has been broken since my whole cancer adventure. The slightest breeze can make me break out in goosebumps. So a long sleeve shirt that can instantly ward off chills sounds like something I would buy.

The shirts feature three heating levels and two heating zones. One zone is on the upper back and the other one is on the lower back. The rechargeable battery pack will allow for up to 8 hours of warming.

Where can I find more info?
With 21 days left in the campaign, the PolarSeal Tops campaign has already burned past their funding goal of $49,868. You can pre-order a PolarSeal top starting at $139. After the PolarSeal tops campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Crowdfunded

Paq convertible travel bag, Waylens 360 degree dashcam, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 14, 2017 at 11:46 am.

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It must be a slow week for cool crowdfunding projects because I’ve only found 4 Kicstarter and Indiegogo projects to tell you about. Click through to see this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.

Lauco – NanoSuction car mount for phones & cases

What is it?
Lauco is a simple car or desk mount for your smartphone that uses nano-suction technology instead of suction cups and magnets.

Why do I like it?
I like the Lauco mount because you don’t have to bother with metal plates that go between the phone and a case like you do when you use magnetic mounts. That also means that you don’t even need a case on your phone to use this mount.

This particular mount is effective even in high temps which can happen in a hot car, and it allows for 720-degree rotation so that you can always adjust the phone for the most comfortable viewing angle.

They sent me a prototype to check out and I was happy with the fit and finish of this particular car mount.

Where can I find more info?
With 30 days left in the campaign, Lauco is just getting started working towards their funding goal of $5,000. You can pre-order a Lauco mount starting at $19. After the Lauco campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in September 2017. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

The Color Notebook

What is it?
The Color Notebook is a reusable notebook that can be archived using a smartphone app, wiped clean, and reused over and over again.

Why do I like it?
You can draw or write on the Color Notebook using dry erase pens, colored pencils, and even crayons.

At the bottom of each page is a line of icons that can be used to archive the drawings/writings to different cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and more. The beauty comes when you want to reuse the notebook because the pages wipe clean in a sec.

Where can I find more info?
With 31 days left in the campaign, the Color Notebook has already raced passed their funding goal of $21,500. You can pre-order a Color Notebook starting at $20. After the Color Notebook campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

SparkMaker – The Most Affordable Desktop SLA 3D Printer

What is it?
SparkMaker is an affordable SLA 3D printer that prints in high-resolution.

Why do I like it?
I like the SparkMaker 3D printer because unlike other 3D printers, this one is small enough to fit on almost any desk. It also uses a liquid resin instead of filament to create the models which hang from the print bed like a bat It also does not need to be connected to a network. You just copy the model files to an SD card and insert that card into the printer.

Where can I find more info?
With 32 days left in the campaign, the Color Notebook has already passed their funding goal of $20,000. You can pre-order a Color Notebook starting at $145. After the Color Notebook campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Musvalk. A fierce, yet small and elegant cutting tool.

What is it?
Musvalk is a little knife that is made of ceramics, titanium, and carbon fiber.

Why do I like it?
I like the Musvalk knife because it’s small and has a unique shape that allows it to fit in your pocket or wear it around your neck. The blade is made of zirconium dioxide ceramic (Zirconia) and is almost as hard as a diamond.

Where can I find more info?
With 31 days left in the campaign, the Musvalkv has already passed their funding goal of $25,000. You can pre-order a Musvalk knife starting at $38. After the Musvalk campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Crowdfunded

Lauco car mount, SparkMaker 3D printer, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 8, 2017 at 12:07 pm.

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