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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Park a Christmas classic on your front lawn with the Inflatable National Lampoons Christmas Vacation Station Wagon


NEWS – If you’re a fan of the movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation this decoration will assure that your family will have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby danced with Danny (bleeping) Kaye.

The Griswold’s family station wagon is now immortalized in a gigantic inflatable lawn decoration. The old front-wheel drive sleigh comes complete with wooden side panels and the perfect Griswold Christmas tree strapped to the top.

It’s better than a subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club.

This 8-foot decoration self-inflates in seconds, just stake it down and watch the magic unfold. It even has LED lighting that will make you the envy of even your stuffiest neighbors.

Just remember to plug it in before you invite the family outside to dedicate the Family Christmas House.

To get the Inflatable National Lampoons Christmas Vacation Station Wagon, you won’t have to drive out to the middle of nowhere. It’s available at your local Home Depot for $119.

Who knows, maybe if you’re lucky Uncle Eddie will even show up.

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Park a Christmas classic on your front lawn with the Inflatable National Lampoons Christmas Vacation Station Wagon originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 1, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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It’s a Christmas miracle, soon you’ll be able to play Apple Music on your Amazon Echo

NEWS – Well, this is an interesting bit of news. Apparently the long-standing riff, feud, or whatever you want to call it between the two largest tech industry power players Amazon and Apple may be softening. The news is that starting next month (December 17th, 2018), you’ll be able to play Apple Music on Amazon Echo smart speakers and devices. How’s that for an early Christmas present to Echo owners? Soon you’ll be able to say “Alexa, play Post Malone on Apple Music”.

If you’re not sure what Apple Music is, it’s Apple’s own paid streaming music service like Amazon’s Music Unlimited, Spotify, or Pandora. Yes, you have to pay for it. Prices start at $4.99 for students and goes up to $14.99 a month for families but you can get a free 3-month trial. Until now, or on December 17th to be exact, access to the Apple Music service hasn’t been possible through Echo devices.

If you don’t have an Amazon Echo device yet, you’re in luck because you can buy the 3rd generation Echo Dot for only $29.99 right now which would make a great stocking stuffer.

You can read more about this announcement on Amazon’s blog and thanks to Doug F. for the news tip!

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It’s a Christmas miracle, soon you’ll be able to play Apple Music on your Amazon Echo originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2018 at 5:11 pm.

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The BARSYS Robot Bartender frees you up to be the life of the party!

NEWS – A few years ago, we told you about a $25,000 Robotic Bartender that consisted of a computer, a locked bar cabinet, and a lot of stock stored in the cabinet.  That robot claimed to mix drinks for you, but it didn’t fit the budget of many people.  But now, there’s a new Robot Bartender in town, and he’s available for a fraction of the price!

The BARSYS bartender just requires five bottles of spirits and mixers.  You select a drink recipe from the app, including those you’ve created yourself, then watch as the mixing vessel zips around under the appropriate bottles, continually stirring as the ingredients are dispensed.  All you need to do is pour the drink into a glass and garnish it.  And when the party is over, you just choose the cleaning function from the app (iOS or Android), and you’re done!

The BARSYS machine is made of stainless and carbon steels.  It measures 19.6″ long x 13″ wide x 15.7″ tall.  The BARSYS Robot Bartender is $1150.00 at UncommonGoods.

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The BARSYS Robot Bartender frees you up to be the life of the party! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Do some good while decorating your Christmas tree

NEWS – In addition to buying gifts for friends and family members, Christmas is also a time to do a little good for others.  Buying the St. Jude’s Hospital Carson Light-Up Light Bulb Ornament is a way to get a gift for someone or an ornament for your own tree while doing good.  While supplies last, Rejuvenation will donate 30% of the purchase price to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, “which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”

The ornament is a snow globe in a standard light bulb.  It is a snowy scene with trees and a lamp post that looks like the Carson light produced by the Rejuvenation company.  The lamp post actually lights up by flipping a small switch on the ornament.  It is made of glass, tin metal, sisal, cardboard, and it is 3.25″ wide x 5.5″ tall.

Each St. Jude’s Hospital Carson Light-Up Light Bulb Ornament is $19.00.  You can purchase one at Rejuvenation.

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Do some good while decorating your Christmas tree originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 29, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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