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Twelve South’s TimePorter is the perfect travel companion for your Apple Watch

If one owns an Apple Watch then one can never have enough accessories to go with that Watch. Whether its extra bands or charging do-dads, Apple Watch accessories are almost as essential as the watch itself. The Twelve South TimePorter is an accessories tote, portable charger and travel stand for the Apple Watch. TimePorter holds the charging cable, USB power adaptor, extra band(s), and more in a neatly designed, silicone-lined case. To charge your Apple Watch simply pop the charging disc into the integrated opening inside TimePorter and drape the Apple Watch across the top.

The case opens to create a multi-angle travel charging stand. Perfect for viewing incoming alerts and notifications while your Watch charges. You can even rotate the watch and use it in nightstand mode.

A built-in spool neatly manages extra cable while charging, leaving you just enough to plug into the nearest outlet. TimePorter is the perfect bedside companion whether you’re traveling or just using it on your nightstand at home. The Twelve South TimePorter is available in black or white for $33.99 on Amazon.

Safely extinguish kitchen fires with a Kovenex blanket

Do you keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen like safety experts recommend – and sometimes homeowner’s insurance policies require?  If you have one, do you know how to use it?  Or even how old it is?  If you have a kitchen grease fire and don’t aim the spray from the extinguisher correctly, you can spray burning oil all over the kitchen and yourself.  There are other ways to put out kitchen fires – baking soda and pot lids, for example – but you have to have them in easy reach to be effective.  If you mount the red nylon packaging of a Kovenex fire retardant blanket near the stove, you’ll be able to extinguish that fire before you could find the fire extinguisher and pull out the pin.

The Kovenex blanket is a 35″ x 32″ piece of high-performance fabric with inherent fire-resistant, heat-blocking, burn-protection, and tear-resistant properties.  Simply rip open the Velcro closure of the red mounting package, unfold the blanket, and place it over the fire to quickly put it out.  The fabric is not chemically treated and doesn’t emit toxic fumes.  It’s safe for contact with your skin and even protects your arms as you lay the fabric over the fire.  In addition to smothering a fire, you could wrap the Kovenex blanket around someone as they escape from a fire.

With fire extinguishers, you have to worry about their fill level, but it’s never a problem with the washable and reusable Kovenex blanket.  The Kovenex Home Safety Fire Blanket is $36.00 at The Grommet.

A tasting glass that cools your whiskey without diluting it

This tasting glass was inspired by the Glencairn, the traditional whiskey-tasting vessel.  But this one has a wider base with a dimple in the middle designed to hold it in place on a cooling metal base.  Place the metal base in the freezer for a few hours before using, and it will be ready to chill your whiskey without ice cubes that dilute your drink – and without those metal balls or stone cubes that risk the safety of your teeth.

The metal cooling base should chill your drinks for 30 minutes.  You should pour to keep the level of the whiskey below that of the dimple in the glass, which is said to divide the whiskey and “prevent overpowering alcohol vapors from hitting your nose while you taste”.  The tasting set is completed with a faux-leather coaster to protect your table from the cold metal.

The Whiskey Tasting Glass and Chilling Coaster is $40.00 at UncommonGoods.

Energous receives industry-first FCC certification in the over-the-air, wireless-charging field

A couple years ago, we told you about wireless charging from Energous Corporation.  They created the WattUP wire-free charging technology that allows over-the-air, wireless device charging from a distance of a few millimeters to up to 15 feet away.  In a press release on December 27, 2017, Energous announced their WattUp RF-based Mid Field transmitters had received FCC certification, the first certification in this field.

Energous has developed three power transmitters.  The Far Field energy transmitter can be placed in a TV’s bezel or a soundbar, or it can be placed on the wall or ceiling of your room to extend charging coverage into the room.  Multiple Far Field transmitters can even create a charging network, to extend coverage even further into your space.  A Mid Field transmitter embedded in a monitor or speaker could offer coverage to the devices over the 2-3 feet of your desktop, where all the small devices on your desk could be charged without cables or charging pads.  Near Field transmitters would be the smallest and cheapest wireless charging option; embedded into a laptop or a piece of furniture, it could replace a USB cable to charge a mobile device.  Using software control, the Far and Mid Field transmitters could charge multiple devices simultaneously, and you could even use software controls to prioritize which device gets charged quickest and first.

Of course, devices must have a WattUp receiver to collect and convert the RF energy into electrical energy for charging.  WattUp receivers have multiple antennas that use “pocket-forming technology to accurately direct energy to the receiver. The technology dynamically adjusts the shape and content of the RF waves so they can be directed to a specific location in 3D space. There, the energy is gathered by the receiver’s special antennas where WattUp® ASICs convert the RF signal to DC current, delivering a charge to the battery.”

On December 26, 2017, Energous announced they have been granted “Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification of its first-generation WattUp Mid Field transmitter, which sends focused, RF-based power to devices at a distance. As the first FCC certification for power-at-a-distance wireless charging under Part 18 of the FCC’s rules, this development represents a new era of wireless charging, and opens up a tremendous opportunity for the electronics industry.”  This certification was granted after months of rigorous testing for safety and efficiency of WattUp devices.

Energous announced in the same press release, that they will be demonstrating their very latest WattUp technology at CES 2018, in Las Vegas, NV, January 9-12. They urge you to learn more about Energous, by visiting Energous.com or by following them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Air Sling bag, AKITA IoT watchdog, Magnet Driver, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

This week we are featuring five crowdfunding campaigns from Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Click through to read more details about these seven crowdfunded products.

Magnet Driver™ DDN: The Total Tool to Drill, Drive and Nail.

Blurb by Bob Patterson

What is it?
The Magnet Driver is a sleeve that slides over the bits on your screwdriver or power driver. A magnetic ring in the sleeve keeps your screws in place for easy driving.

Why do I like it?
I was sent the full MICATON Driver Set which includes 5 different sized Magnet Driver sleeves, plus a set of 10 color-matching bits (hex bits, Phillips heads, and a square bit). It really does make driving screws a lot easier. The screws click securely into place when inserted into the sleeve, and don’t waggle about while you’re trying to drive them smoothly into the desired surface. Since the screw head sits in the sleeve, your surface is also protected from scratches. And the magnetic sleeve keeps your screws from falling out, making it much easier to manage tasks in difficult to reach places.

As an added bonus, this it also includes an extension for holding nails in place. Attach the extension to your screwdriver and slide the magnetic sleeve in place. You know have a magnetic clip for holding your nails in place, protecting your fingers from getting squashed by an errant whack with the hammer!

Where can I find more info?
The Magnet Driver campaign ends on 2/5/2018 and they are just beginning their trek towards their funding goal of $20,000. You can pre-order a Magnet Driver starting at $9. After the Magnet Driver campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Morphcooker | The World’s First Electric Camp Stove

What is it?
The Morphcooker is a battery powered collapsible cooking pot.

Why do I like it?
I don’t camp or cook outdoors, but if I did, I’d consider a Morphcooker because it’s battery powered and can morph into a frying pan, pot, and even an oven. It also functions as a flashlight and a backup battery for your other tech gear.

Where can I find more info?
The Morphcooker campaign ends on 1/9/2018 and they have already met their funding goal of $14,100. You can pre-order a Morphcooker starting at $96. After the Morphcooker campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in March 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Air Sling: The World’s First Cutproof Sling Bag

What is it?
The Air Sling is a small wearable EDC gear bag that holds only the gear you need and can be worn cross body style.

Why do I like it?
I like the Air Sling because it reminds me of a much smaller version of the Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L bag that I just reviewed. But the Air Sling features cut resistant waterproof fabric, magnetic latches, and pass through charging port.

Where can I find more info?
The Air Sling campaign ends on 1/9/2018 and they have already met their funding goal of $5,000. You can pre-order an Air Sling starting at $55. After the Air Sling campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in April 2018. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

The World’s Smallest Phone – Introducing The Zanco tiny t1

What is it?
The Zanco tiny t1 is a miniature mobile phone that’s not much bigger than a USB flash drive or a lighter.

Why do I like it?
I like the Zanco tiny t1 because it’s…. tiny! It reminds me of a simpler version of the Jelly Pro phone that I reviewed a few weeks ago. It makes me wonder if tiny phones are going to be a trend for 2018. The Zanco doesn’t have a touchscreen and can’t run apps, but it’s perfect for an inexpensive back up phone for those times when you just can’t carry a phablet.

Where can I find more info?
The Zanco tiny t1 campaign ends on 1/18/2018 and they have already passed their funding goal of $33,444. You can pre-order a Zanco tiny t1 starting at $47. After the Zanco tiny t1 campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

AKITA | Instant Privacy for Smart Homes

What is it?
AKITA is a plug and play IoT (Internet of Things) watchdog hub that monitors all the smart home devices on your network to make sure they are secure and have not been hacked from the outside.

Why do I like it?
If you’re like me, you have more than a couple IoT devices in your home. You probably have security cameras, tablets, smart thermostats, voice assistants like Amazon Echos and Google Homes, and more. AKITA scans your home network for your connected devices looking for any unusual activity and immediately blocks the activity if it detects a problem and notifies you. You can then get live help from AKITA support on how to fix the problem if you want to pay for the monthly subscription which will be priced between $15 – $25 a month. This subscription is not required though.

Where can I find more info?
The AKITA campaign ends on 1/13/2018 and they have already more than met their funding goal of $30,000. You can pre-order an AKITA starting at $89. After the AKITA campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in April 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.