In late 2012, along with 3400+ other people I backed a Kickstarter project called Instacube (which has since been renamed Hashtag Cube, or #Cube). The premise was simple: it was to be a stand-alone Android-based device that would wirelessly stream and display Instagram photos, when you could only view Instagram photos on iOS or Android devices. I backed at the early adopter $99 level, and the wait began.
If you want the smallest iPhone and iPad travel charger possible, and you don’t want to fool with cables, then the TravelBuddy is going to be your perfect solution. This compact wall charger makes it possible for you to plug-in anywhere and charge your iOS device. For as little as $30 you can get in on this Kickstarter project. The makers of TravelBuddy have already made it through one successful Kickstarter charging product, and they will be producing it in an Apple-Certified Chinese factory. Apple has already approved their initial design, so you can back this product with confidence — it’s not some fly-by-night…
When we moved into our house, the seller’s realtor presented us with a small remote for the blinds in the living room; the prior owners had installed electronic blinds there. We thought it was a silly gimmick, but we have found it quite useful. Now you can automate your blinds, too! Just back Tilt My Blinds on Kickstarter!
The Koala Case is very different from most iPhone cases; it has a minimalist design, allowing the timeless iPhone design to shine through while still protecting your phone from drops. The Koala Case clips onto the corners of your iPhone while crossing the back in an X shape with its unibody design. The Koala Case is now campaigning on Kickstarter.
Yes Man Watches, has been previously successful on Kickstarter by raising 217% of their goal on their first Kickstarter campaign. Now, the Yes Man brand is back with some sick-looking handmade bamboo sunglasses. These gorgeous polarized sunglasses made from bamboo and plastic can now be pre-ordered by pledging at least $30 at the Yes Man Sunnies Kickstarter campaign.
In your quest to make the entire home “smart,” check out emberlight. Emberlight is a brand new device that allows you to turn even your most boring light fixture into a smart light fixture. Emberlight will automatically turn the light on when you walk into the room and connects to your existing WiFi network. Check out the emberlight Kickstarter campaign.
When was the last time you had a truly indestructible, multipurpose bag? Enter King Kong Apparel, who is building gym bags that will last a generation. That’s right, 25 years. King Kong Apparel’s bags are so tough that they are guaranteed for 25 years. Check out their Kickstarter campaign to pledge your support and grab a 15-30% discount.
I’ve enjoyed playing with magnets since I was a kid; I think that everything about them is fascinating, and when I find strong magnets that also look cool, I generally can’t resist getting a set. TiMag Engineered Titanium Magnets fit the bill, and I have some coming soon. Why should you back this Kickstarter project? Well … According to their PR, this is the kind of magnet that Super Man would use — it might even be “the strongest magnet in the world! It’s so strong, it’s up to 50x stronger than any normal refrigerator magnet! Not to mention it’s made from Grade…
It seems like everything these days is hi-tech, except for the great outdoors. Maybe it’s time to change that. The folks at Edyn want to give you a “smart garden” with their new Edyn Kickstarter campaign. Using a combination of WiFi connected devices in the garden and an iOS app, Edyn hopes to revolutionize the way we all garden.
Can you imagine pulling out the Handiheadset when making a call at the office? Okay, maybe it wouldn’t be much fun, because you might look like someone who’d had an allergic reaction while trying a new hand cream. Even so, if the ‘huge hand to face’ is a look you’ve wanted to rock, you’ll probably love the this. Making a call on a Handiheadset puts a big smile on everyone’s face. Shaped like an oversized hand giving the ‘call me’ gesture, the Handiheadset plugs into the headphone jack of your mobile phone. It has a built-in microphone and high quality speaker so you can comfortably talk…
In school systems across the country, arts programs are under budget attack – easy fodder in a system that is loaded with required functions and more attractive programs. Some schools still manage to provide arts education, and more efforts are being made to find alternative resources to fund these critical programs. The latest is Humble “Music in Schools” Bundle.
Professional couch potatoes can skip this one, but if you’re serious about your workouts and are interested in weighed wearables to improve performance, then keep reading. TITIN Force weighted compression shorts add five pounds of weight to your workout routine, focusing on your hamstrings, thighs, and glutes. Sounds like fun huh?
If the idea of bringing home bulk beans, lentils, rice, and loose grains causes you to get nervous because you don’t want to figure out cooking measurements, but you know you need to integrate these healthy items into your diet more, then The Made might just be a Kickstart project that you should back.
Here’s another cool Kickstarter project, and one of the most useful that I’ve seen recently. The LuneCase utilizes the “leaked” electromagnetic energy from your iPhone to show notifications about incoming calls and text messages on the back of your phone before they ever show up on the screen of your smartphone. No battery power or Bluetooth connection is required.
Back in July of 2013 I wrote about Project Ravensdale from Black Forest Games, noting that their success with the multi-platform hit Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams made them a trusted developer. Ravensdale’s Kickstarter failed, and now after regrouping Black Forest Games has named the final game DieselStörmers and launched a new Kickstarter and they’re well on their way to $50,000!
Some crowdfunded projects are wacky, some of them are cool, and some of them are just downright charming. That’s definitely the case for the World’s Smallest Post Service DIY Activity Kit currently on Kickstarter, which aims to bring back letter writing! Your $29 pledge gets a complete letter and package kit in miniature, with enough materials for 24 letters, 6 packages, and one very cute 3D mailbox.
We all know that good oral hygiene is vitally important, but if you’re a parent you also know that it can be quite a challenge to get your kids to brush their teeth and do the job right every time. Grush, the Gaming Toothbrush for Kids, aims to solve that problem and is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo.
You take your laptop on the go and even though battery life has improved the need for carrying a charger is still a constant if you plan to be out for more than a few hours. Thankfully a new Kickstarter project that will have you covered. The Dart Laptop Adaptor is being advertised as, “the world’s smallest laptop charger.”
Just when you thought you’d seen it all, another “interesting” crowdsourced project comes to light. I’m all for being prepared–I keep a roadside emergency kit in my car–but sometimes you can take it just a bit too far. That might be the case with the Peacekeeper Mini, a combination flashlight and pepper spray with bluetooth/GPS “crowd alert” technology.
Smartphones are great, and for many people they replace quite a few things, from alarm clocks and day planners to cameras and GPS. But sometimes you need something more than just your phone, and the MyTask case aims to make that easier than cramming the pockets on your cargo pants. Need a pen or spoke wrench? This case has you covered.
Outdoor Technology, makers of the Turtle Shell 2.0 rugged Bluetooth speaker, which I gave a glowing review, have gone to Kickstarter to fund their next big product, the BIG Turtle Shell. This new speaker is a much larger version of their original, with a very similar design; it also includes a built-in power bank.