If you’re one of those folks who happen to be in the market for a versatile yet minimalistic portable desk but can’t be bothered with the funky patterned colors, or the spongy cushion material on your lap while surfing the web, the Portable Lap Desk Kickstarter by Liyang Liu may just solve all of your problems.
Where is the line between a wonderful shared love and creepy stalking or codependence? I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure this new product is on the WRONG side of that line! It is called the Entacup, for “entangled” cups, and the cups are paired over Bluetooth and know when the other one is filled. Um … yeah.
This year we were fortunate – we did a lot of online shopping for holiday clothes gifts, and hardly had to send anything back! But we also knew the sizing of the brands and items we were ordering – or it might have been a different experience. ON from XYZE seeks to make online shopping easier by helping you always know your size!
The two-man team at Ivent have made Strength of the Sword Ultimate, “the kind of game you beat instead of finish” after working “in the garage for five years”. Their efforts have already paid off with an initial $14,000 Kickstarter goal met for this “3D fighter vs brawler with old-school vibe”.
Already this year I’ve lost several friends, mentors, and coworkers from my past. Each one had a different online obituary site, and most had some Facebook presence, but the ability to fully communicate felt limited. A new IndieGoGo project called RIPCemetary seeks to allow loved ones to “create a space to honor a person and keep the memories alive forever.”
One of the biggest challenges when you become a parent is figuring out what you NEED versus what you WANT your kid to have. Kiddos are expensive, and their gear is too. Some items are a must-have, and some are a luxury. The “Milk Nanny” is definitely a luxury!
We’ve reviewed internet radios in the past, and the Sugr Cube is similar to those, but it also does much more. It can stream music directly through your router’s WiFi from sources such as Tunes music, Pandora, BBC radio, 8Tracks and Douban FM, and you can transfer hundreds of songs from iOS, Android, PC and Mac devices to it.
Whenever I see a game like Tulpa, I go back several years when it seemed the small developer was gone, that everything was headed to AAA games on consoles. Fortunately that didn’t happen, and innovation is alive and well, as demonstrated in Tulpa, described as a surreal puzzle platformer. It is now available for PC, Mac and Linux on Steam.
Back in the pre-Doom world of 1992, Ultima Underworld was a revelation – coming before Wolfenstein 3D it offered 3D immersion, player-based choice and consequences, and a richly detailed and dynamic world to explore. The game was hugely influential and led to games such as Thief and Deus Ex. Now the adventure continues with Underworld Ascendant from the original creators.
Do you have trouble focusing on tasks that need to be done? Did you try setting reminders and timers, only to get distracted by your phone, a call, your DVR, or facebook? Hit up Kickstarter, and check out Esington Glass; it’s a fancy hourglass timer that wants to keep you on task!
Regular readers of Gear Diary may remember that I’ve mentioned before that I played a lot of rugby in my college/post college years. Besides blood and dirt, the defining substance of rugby is probably beer. Ruggers love their beer. So the Handle This Cup Kickstarter project has my attention as a way to hold beer AND keep it cold!
I wear a fitness tracker; not because I’m some athletic superstar, but because I like the constant reinforcement I get by seeing if I’ve reached my goal of 10,000 daily steps. They usually aren’t that fashionable — much less personable — though; that’s where the Mira comes in.
We all know that proper hydration is critical, especially when being active. When we’re away from home we bring water bottles or other hydration sources, but there are risks such as hyponatremia or weaker muscles or bones from too much acidic fluid intake. DYLN contains a VitaBead diffuser that generates alkaline water for maximum benefits.
True story: a great deal of the gifts I got for family and friends this year came from either Kickstarter or Quirky, and if this keyboard waffle iron had only been available in time, I know exactly who I would have given it to! It wasn’t, but for $60 I’ve backed it, and I’ll be ready for next year!
Greg Ward is one of my favorite young artists, and has been featured here in my ‘Best of 2011’ with his ‘Phonic Juggernaut’ release and in my ‘Best of 2012’ with ‘Living By Lanterns’. His group ‘Fitted Shards’ released the acclaimed ‘South Side Story’ in 2010, and now has a Kickstarter campaign to help fund a new album. So why do I think you should check out and help fund this campaign? Some background … Here is what I said about Greg Ward’s Phonic Juggernaut: I found out about Greg Ward because I loved his stuff on Sam Tracpchak’s album,then…
Most phone mounts I’ve used are not what you would consider elegant by any stretch of the imagination. They are usually made of thick black plastic, and they use a large claw-like clamping system to secure the phone. When your phone isn’t mounted, the equipment is unsightly; the iMagbond phone mount is not.
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.