The Volt is the vampire of charging cables

NEWS – The Volt is a short cable that you can use to charge one device from another device. That’s right, this cable siphons juice from one battery and effectively turns that device into a portable battery that you can use to charge a second device.

The Volt Battery Share Cable will not work with iPhones, but the cable will work with most Android devices that have either a micro USB or USB-C port. The cable is available in two sizes: .25m and .75m (approximately 10 inches and 30 inches) and has a micro USB connector on each end with an adapter that will turn it into a USB-C connector. On one end there’s a USB-A connector so that you can plug the cable into a USB adapter.

Why would you need this cable? It’s less bulky than carrying a portable backup battery and you don’t have to depend on that battery being charged. The only thing you do have to depend on is having a device that can be used as the host while the other device with the low battery (the vampire) sucks the sweet sweet power elixir from the host.

The Volt Battery Share Cable Kickstarter campaign that started today and ends on January 10, 2019. Right now they have raised almost $2,000 towards their funding goal of $15,000. You can pre-order a Volt Battery Share Cable starting at $25. After the Volt Battery Share Cable campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

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The Volt is the vampire of charging cables originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 4:25 pm.

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SCOUT versatile portable charger and the Archon invisible wireless charger – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

NEWS – This week we are bringing you information about two different crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that will be of interest to anyone with gadgets that need to be charged.

SCOUT: World’s Most Versatile Charger

What is it?

SCOUT is a portable 10000mAh backup battery that has built-in cables for USB-C, lightning, and microUSB devices. There’s even a version of SCOUT that offers Qi wireless charging.

Why is it cool?

The SCOUT portable charger is cool because it has the cables that you need to connect it to your devices built right into the charger. You can also plug SCOUT directly into a wall outlet because it has a fold-out plug. If those features weren’t enough to get you interested, there’s also a version of the SCOUT charger that allows it to become a wireless charger. Just set your Qi-enabled device on top and it charges. It’s like a Swiss Army knife of portable chargers.

They sent me a pre-production version of the SCOUT Max (non-wireless charging version) and I like it a lot because it’s slim and built-in cables mean I have less stuff to take with me.

Where can I find more info?

The SCOUT campaign ends a month from now and as I’m writing this, they are less than $25 from reaching their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order a SCOUT starting at $19. After the SCOUT campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in March 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

Archon : The invisible wireless charger.

What is it?

Archon is a wireless charger that can attach to the bottom of a shelf or drawer to hide it from plain sight.

Why is it cool?

I think Archon is cool because you can hide it from view by mounting it under a table or shelf. It’s also cool that it is powerful enough to charge through a wooden, granite, quartz, glass, or plastic table, and thick device cases.

Where can I find more info?

The Archon campaign ends on 12/27/18 and they still working towards reaching their funding goal of $75,000. You can pre-order an Archon starting at $89. After the Archon campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

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SCOUT versatile portable charger and the Archon invisible wireless charger – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 7, 2018 at 2:29 pm.

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The Zanco S Pen can replace your phone, your camera, and your stylus

NEWS – Do you remember the Gi Joe sized Zanco Tiny T1 phone that I reviewed a couple months ago? Well, I’m excited to let you know that Zanco is back with a Kickstarter project that launched today for something even more awesome than that tiny phone. It’s the S Pen (I wonder how long it will take for Samsung to contact them about that name choice?) and it’s a phone in the form factor of a stylus. No, I’m not kidding. But that’s not all this multi-functional wonder can do.

The S Pen packs a GSM phone, a Bluetooth headset, an FM radio, a camera, voice recorder, laser pointer, music player, and…

…a stylus, and more into a pen-shaped device that’s not really meant to replace your smartphone, but can be used as an accessory to it.

The Zanco S Pen campaign launched today on Kickstarter and they’ve already met their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order an S Pen starting at $49 for their super early-bird pricing which is still available. After the S Pen campaign ends on 1/18/19, rewards are estimated to start shipping in April 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details. They plan to send me one of the first test units, so stay tuned for my review coming in a few weeks.

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The Zanco S Pen can replace your phone, your camera, and your stylus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 4, 2018 at 4:57 pm.

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Jacques 777 custom leather backpack, Somiflash smart 1TB flash drive, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

NEWS – This week we are bringing you information about three different crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that will be of interest to bag freaks, and more.

Jacques 777 – Handcrafted Leather Backpack Designed by YOU!

Blurb by Bob Patterson

What is it?

It’s a handmade leather backpack that is fully customizable — you use their online tool to pick all of the leathers and fabrics used in final assembly.

Why is it cool?

Jacques 777 is doing something really interesting here. They’ve developed an online tool that allows you to completely customize your pack with different leathers, fabrics, and zipper colors for each of the pack elements. Then the design is handmade to your specifications by artisans in Vietnam.

I was offered a pre-release model for testing and I can tell you that the quality of the finished product is outstanding. The construction & finishing are excellent. The layout features excellent usability, with multiple internal & external pockets to sort out all of your electronics and daily gear. I’ve gotten many compliments on it at the office already. I think I’ll be using this bag for a long time.

Where can I find more info?

The Jacques 777 campaign ends on 12/20/18 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $15,306. You can pre-order a Jacques 777 starting at $180, but some early-bird pledges at $144 are still available. After the Jacques 777 campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in March 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Somiflash: World’s Smartest 1TB flash Drive

What is it?

Somiflash is a flash drive that can stream wirelessly to other devices.

Why is it cool?

The Somiflash is cool because it’s not only a large flash drive, but it can also stream wirelessly to up to 12 other devices simultaneously for up to 10 hours without needing a connection to the internet. You can also stream 4K video from it and add a micro SD card for even more storage.

Where can I find more info?

The Somiflash campaign ends on 12/17/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $3,500. You can pre-order a Somiflash starting at $89 for the 256GB version. After the Somiflash campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

The World’s Most Creative Lighting

What is it?

Light by RocketLife is creative software and hardware designed to let you add custom LED lighting to almost anything. The core system includes the LightBox Bluetooth processor, a 2-meter strip of addressable LEDs, the LightMobile app, and Light Effects Designer software for Mac and Windows.

Why is it cool?

RocketLife’s background is in digital visual effects (team members won two Primetime Emmy Awards), so they set out to build a new way for people to tell stories with light. Unlike most LED systems that show only one color at a time or preset patterns, Light by RocketLife creates rich color transitions, sparkles, and natural motion effects. You can select presets with a tap on your phone, or easily create your own animations with the drag-and-drop software.

LightBox can run from its internal battery or external power, and it supports a wide variety of popular LED strips, strings, and grids. It can drive seven groups of LEDs at once, each with three layers for crossfades, gleams, and sparkles. Adding animations is as simple as loading a photo of your project into the software and drawing virtual lights on top. You can even connect sensors and sound modules to LightBox to make games and interactive art.

Where can I find more info?

The LightBox campaign ends on 12/13/18 and they are close to meeting their funding goal of $10,000. The core system has an Early Bird price of $99. Other packages include additional LEDs, power supplies, and sensors. After the campaign ends, RocketLife estimates rewards will start shipping in April 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

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Jacques 777 custom leather backpack, Somiflash smart 1TB flash drive, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 1, 2018 at 10:54 am.

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Glowstone flashlight, Braza knife, KEYTO ketosis checker, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

NEWS – This week we are bringing you information about five different crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that will be of interest to EDC and Keto diet fans.

Glowstone Flashlight: The only flashlight you’ll ever need

What is it?

The Glowstone is a rectangular pocket-sized LED flashlight.

Why is it cool?

This flashlight is cool because it’s virtually indestructible. It survives drops and dunks in water while offering a max of 900 lumens, and 8 light modes. You can wear it, stick it to something, mount it, etc. It can shine for up to 32 hours in candle (7 lumens) mode and recharges using a wireless (Qi) charging pad.

Where can I find more info?

The Glowstone Flashlight campaign ends on 12/13/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $12,813. You can pre-order a Glowstone Flashlight starting at $28. After the Glowstone Flashlight campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in March 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Adventur 3.0 Titanium Survival Credit Card Axe Multi Tool

What is it?

The Adventur is a credit card sized survival multi-tool.

Why is it cool?

Adventur is cool because it is 40+ tools in one small credit card sized package that can fit in your wallet and includes an Axe, Knife, Arrow Head, Wrenches, Bottle Opener, and Cord Cutter. It’s made of stainless steel but you can upgrade to Titanium if you’re willing to pay a little extra.

What to consider before pledging

You won’t receive your pledge reward until May of next year – assuming that it ships on time. That’s a long time to wait.

Where can I find more info?

The Adventur campaign ends on 12/28/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $5,000. You can pre-order an Adventur starting at $30. After the Adventur campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Braza Bro Cleaver | Bad A** Pocket & Keychain EDC Mini Knife

blurb by Andy Jacobs

What is it?

An upgrade to the original, this small, compact EDC knife features a locking blade, a pocket clip, multiple material options and now, a “cleaver” style tip for even more functionality.

Why is it cool?

I’m a big fan of the original Braza Bro EDC Folding Knife, which we previously reviewed here. Bastion is back with another Kickstarter campaign for a similar small knife, this one with a “cleaver” style (technically a “Wharncliffe” style) type that gives it even more functionality than the original. The flat backside of the cleaver tip can act as a flat head screwdriver and can even be used to pop caps off bottles. In addition, the compact yet comfortable handle is now available in tool steel, stainless steel or titanium (each with corresponding price increases). If all of those upgrades weren’t enough, the pocket clip can now be mounted on either side to adapt to the user’s carry preferences. All in all, it looks like a great set of improvements to the original Braza Bro, which was already a great little knife.

Where can I find more info?

The Braza Bro Cleaver | Bad A** Pocket & Keychain EDC Mini Knife campaign ends on December 18, 2018. To date, over 900 backers have pledged over $54,000, already shredding (pun very much intended) the campaign goal of $5,000. Pledge packages start at $29 for the Braza Bro Cleaver Super Early Bird and increase from there based on the options selected. Visit the Braza Bro Cleaver | Bad A** Pocket & Keychain EDC Mini Knife campaign site for more info or to become a backer.

Grim Workshop Wearable Lock Pick and Escape System

What is it?

The Grim Workshop Wearable Lock Pick and Escape System is exactly what you would guess that it is. It’s a credit card sized (wearable in your wallet) set of lock pick tools.

Why is it cool?

This EDC lock pick set is cool because I’m a sucker for wallet / credit card sized tools. Even though I don’t think I’ll ever have an opportunity to use it, I still want one… Maybe it’s because I’ve always wanted to be a Ninja or a secret agent.

Where can I find more info?

The Grim Workshop Wearable Lock Pick and Escape System campaign ends on 12/5/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $2,500. You can pre-order the tool starting at $15. After the Grim Workshop Wearable Lock Pick and Escape System campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

KEYTO: The Key to Burning Fat Faster.

What is it?

KEYTO is a pen-sized tool for people on the keto diet that you breathe into so it can tell you if you’re in ketosis.

Why is it cool?

I think KEYTO is cool because it provides an easy way to find out if you’re in the fat burning metabolic state otherwise known as ketosis. It takes the ick (peeing on a strip) and ouch (finger sticks for blood checks) out of checking your fat burning state. It syncs with an app on your phone and provides suggestions and tips for staying in ketosis based on your measured levels.

Where can I find more info?

The KEYTO campaign just started today and they are already half-way to their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order the KEYTO starting at $99. After the KEYTO campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in January 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

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Glowstone flashlight, Braza knife, KEYTO ketosis checker, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 27, 2018 at 12:29 pm.

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