The coolest Kickstarter gadgets
Creative crowdfunding platform still a great place to find new niche products, writes Blayne Slabbert.
Kickstarter is famous in the tech world for giving life to Oculus Rift, one of the most popular virtual reality headsets.
The funding platform helped raise nearly US$2.5 million (NZ$3.4m) for Oculus Rift in 2012 before it was bought by Facebook for US$2.5 billion two years later.
That campaign showed how potent people power can be when companies are building products.
Kickstarter is still a great place to find new gadgets, especially ones that have a niche application.
Here are a few products from the past and present that may help improve your digital life.
QLYX
This is a smartphone mount for your car but it has an extra trick – when you attach your phone it automatically launches an app.
The mount clips onto your car’s dash vent and you place a magnet in your phone’s case. This means it attaches easily and there’s no fiddling to get it attached.
It links to your phone via Bluetooth, and once connected it automatically launches the QLYX app. That app then opens apps you’ve chosen, including Google Maps or Spotify. It can also track your driving statistics.
It works with iPhones and Android phones.
The Kickstarter campaign has just finished but you can buy one for US47.99 (NZ$65) plus US$13 for shipping to New Zealand.
Moment
If you fancy getting more out of your smartphone when taking videos then this product promises to make a ‘‘small camera as good as a big camera’’. The Filmmaker Collection by Moment is series of products that connect to your smartphone.
It includes an anamorphic lens which helps create horizontal flares and a widescreen, letterboxed look. There’s also a battery photo case with a dedicated shutter button and a mount so you can use a filter like the ones used on a DSLR lens.
Moment products have been popular on Kickstarter and the company has funded several campaigns.
A lot of those products are now available from shopmoment.com, including telephoto, wide angle and macro lenses that attach to smartphones.
Lou board
While Marty McFly’s hoverboard remains a far-fetched dream, electric skateboards are here and they are fun and easy to use.
SoFlow, based in Zurich, turned to Kickstarter to released its Lou boards. The base model (US$449) can get up to 28km/h, generate 1.5kw, and has a range of 10-15km.
The company raised about US$320,000 on Kickstarter and is now shipping its skateboards around the world, including to New Zealand.
While there are several electric skateboards on the market, the Lou stands out as it looks like a normal board as the battery is built into the deck, which also makes it water resistant.
It’s controlled by a wireless handheld remote and it’s designed to be ridden like a standard board so it can handle street skating and ramps.
Somewear Global Hotspot
If you love getting into the outdoors then this gadget may be worth considering.
The Somewear Global Hotspot turns your smartphone into a satellite phone.
It connects to your iPhone or Android device and then links to a satellite to allow two-way texting and email from anywhere in the world.
It can also act as an emergency transmitter even when your phone is dead. It does this in the same way rescue beacons send GPS coordinates.
Its Kickstarter campaign is currently underway and it’s already reached its goal.
It’s not available in New Zealand yet but if you like adventuring then keep an eye on this company or order it from overseas.
Hudway Glass
This nifty accessory turns your smartphone into a heads-up display (hud) for any car.
The hud is a see-through panel that is attached to your dashboard and shows information from your smartphone, such as directions and your speed.
You need to use specific apps, such Speedometer which alerts you when you are exceeding the speed limit. It works with Apple and Android smartphones.
The Hudway Glass offers an affordable way to upgrade your car to be more digital-friendly and is especially handy if you regularly need directions.
The company raised more than US$600,000 on Kickstarter and is selling the Hudway Glass for US$49.95 plus shipping to New Zealand.
While Marty McFly’s hoverboard remains a far-fetched dream, electric skateboards are here and they’re fun and easy to use.