Hasbro’s Star Wars Ultimate Co-pilot Chewie might just be the most adorable thing in the galaxy

There were a lot of cool things unveiled at this year’s New York Toy Fair, but Hasbro may have topped them all when they introduced the galaxy to the Star Wars Ultimate Co-pilot Chewie. As the newest addition to their FurReal line not only is the 16” tall animatronic fuzz ball cute to look at he also comes complete with 100 different sound and motion combinations. If you touch his stomach he’ll laugh, say hello and Chewie will raise his arms and respond with a roar. And he even has a number of surprising facial expressions. Chewie also has a built-in accelerometer which allows him to react to different kinds of movement. Picking him up, flying him around or shaking him will all elicit a different reaction. Possibly the best thing, or, at the very least the cutest thing is when you rock him in your arms he closes his eyes and goes to sleep complete with a loud Wookie snore.

Hasbro’s Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie is for children ages 4 and up and will cost $129.99. The bad news is the galaxy’s favorite furry smuggler won’t be available until the Fall.

Jamee Miller takes on the challenge of dyslexia and hits a homerun with the Read ‘n Style Pen

Jamee Miller is a small town girl who grew up with dyslexia. She came up with the idea of the Read ‘n Style pen while in college and struggling to read assignments.  She then partnered with the startup company Hidden Abilities to turn the concept of the Read ‘n Style pen into a reality.

It is the first digital pen that is designed to assist with the challenges of reading and comprehension, and it is very easy to use. Once it is fully charged, simply press the button near the top and scan the text that you are reading. The text is then converted into audio and transmitted to the user via a small and comfortable Bluetooth earbud. The earbud along with the charger is included in the package, and ensures privacy, convenience and no disturbance to others. The designers were very careful to make sure that no data is saved on the device. This is an important feature since it allows the pen to be integrated into any testing or a confidential environment, without the risk of cheating or theft of data.

While the Read ‘n Style pen was initially designed to address the challenges of dyslexia, it can be used in other ways such as teaching kids to read, including word and sound association. And for those with failing eyesight, the pen may add some level of comfort and convenience to their lifestyle.

The Read ‘n Style pen is available at Indiegogo for $396.00 with a $70 discount for early pre-orders.

This Steampunk Robot lamp is also a charging station

I’m continuing my fascination with charging stations this week with this Steampunk Robot lamp.  The lamp comes standard with “two grounded, tamper-resistant AC outlets, two high-power USB charging ports, a full-range sliding dimmer with blue LED indicator gauge for the lamp, and a smartphone charging cradle that can accommodate even the largest smartphone with a case”.  The second arm is normally just a pipe fitting, but you can have it replaced with either a second phone charging cradle or an Apple Watch charging base (as seen in this image).

The robot stands 12″ tall, and at 5.5 pounds, you won’t need to worry it will tip over with all your expensive devices on it.  It comes with a white incandescent G25 globe bulb, but you can request an LED bulb at no extra charge, if desired.  The lamp in the standard configuration (one phone cradle only) is $199.00.  You can add a second phone cradle for an additional $25.00 or an Apple Watch charging base for $60.00 extra.

The Steampunk Industrial Robot Lamp is available from the SteveGallagherLamps shop at Etsy.

KeyClip2.0, BAUBAX 2.0 travel jacket, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

This week we are bringing you four currently running crowdfunding campaigns from Kickstarter. This week’s campaigns are for people interested in EDC pocket gear, travel gear, and photography gear. Check out our picks for this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.

KeyClip Wallet 2.0 – Combine Your Everyday Carry

What is it?
KeyClip is a minimal wallet that can also hold your keys, USB flash drive, your credit cards, and your cash.

Why do I like it?
I like the KeyClip because it combines a wallet, keychain, and multi-tool into one product. It has been designed to minimize your EDC while maximizing what you can do with one product. Also, the one that has edges that light up in green looks like something Green Lantern would use.

Where can I find more info?
The KeyClip campaign ends on 3/22/2018 and they have just started their journey towards reaching their funding goal of $3000. You can pre-order a KeyClip starting at $60. After the KeyClip campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in June 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

BAUBAX 2.0 – The World’s Best TRAVEL JACKET with 25 Features

What is it?
The BAUBAX is a travel jacket that has been designed to keep you warm and carry your gear without needing to have a carry-on bag.

Why do I like it?
I like the BAUBAX travel jacket because it will be available in 4 styles and has several unique features like a travel pillow that’s built into the collar of the jacket that you can inflate with just a few puffs of air. The BAUBAX also has an eye mask built into the hood and it comes with a small travel blanket and a footrest for maximum travel sleeping.

Where can I find more info?
The BAUBAX campaign ends on 4/15/2018 and they have already way surpassed their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order a BAUBAX jacket starting at $109. After the BAUBAX campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

SWIFT – The Ultimate Bag to Pack & Unpack in a Second

What is it?
The SWIFT bag is a backpack that has a zipper that wraps around the bag in a Z shape that allows you to completely open the bag flat for easy unpacking.

Why do I like it?
I like the SWIFT bag because it offers easy access to everything in the back and will save time packing and unpacking of your gear while remaining lightweight.

Where can I find more info?
The SWIFT campaign ends on 3/21/2018 and they have already surpassed their funding goal of $3,000. You can pre-order a SWIFT bag starting at $59. After the SWIFT campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

LENSCAPT – Set it up once, never lose your lens cap again.

What is it?
LENSCAPT is a specially designed lens cap for DSLR lenses that has a spring-loaded hinge that lets you swing out the cap with a flick of a thumb.

Why do I like it?
I like the LENSCAPT because it will help prevent you from losing your lens caps because you don’t have to remove them to take a picture. Just flip open the cap, snap the picture, and then flip it the lens cap shut. I’m amazed this isn’t how lens caps were designed from the start because the design seems pretty obvious. $25 per cap is crazy pricey though which explains why they are still working towards their funding goal.

Where can I find more info?
The LENSCAPT campaign ends on 3/8/2018 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $5,228. You can pre-order a LENSCAPT starting at $25. After the LENSCAPT campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in April 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

This wireless parking sensor prevents bumps when parking your car

All our cars have rear-view cameras that help with parking, but sometimes you still need a bit more information than the camera can give you.  Two of our cars also have built-in proximity sensors that warn you when you’re getting too close to an obstacle with either the front or rear bumpers, but our daughter’s car doesn’t.  The Bump Avoiding Parking Sensor would be the perfect add-on to her car.

The sensor fits over your existing tag surround and pairs wirelessly via Bluetooth to your Android or Apple phone running a free app.  The phone app will alert the driver with visual, audible, and vibrating alarms when the car is getting too close to an obstacle.  The sensor has an 18″ to 10′ range, and it has an anti-theft alarm.  It is powered by two AA batteries (included).  You’ll also receive a car mount for your phone and all installation hardware.

The Bump Avoiding Parking Sensor is $149.95 at Hammacher Schlemmer.