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Crowdfunding Roundup: Pocketcopters, Hugs, and speakers
Each week, TUAW provides readers with an update on new or significant crowdfunded Apple-related projects in the news. While our policy is to not go into detail on items that haven't reached at least 80 percent of their funding goal, this update is designed to give readers a heads-up on projects they might find interesting enough to back. Remember swivelCards? They are the business cards that magically fold into a USB flash drive with just enough capacity to send the recipient of the card to a web page, a Dropbox folder, or any other place with an electronic address. The team launched its Kickstarter campaign yesterday and they hit their funding goal in less than eight hours. That doesn't mean that you can't jump on the bandwagon, though. You love your GoPro HD video camera, but since it doesn't have a viewing screen, you're always unsure of how your skydiving/skating/parkour/mountain-biking video came out until you actually look at it on your Mac. You could buy an external portable monitor, but who wants to lug that around? GoRigIt mounts your two trusty companions -- iPhone and GoPro -- together, so that you can view the video as it's being recorded, right on your iPhone. With 24 percent funding and over a month to go, GoRigIt looks like a sure bet for going into production QuarterWave is all about making Bluetooth speakers actually sound good. Made from wood, with a top-end amplifier, Bluetooth 4.0 and excellent drivers, the QuarterWave team wants to offer great sound at the price you're paying for crap speakers today. They're 48 percent funded with almost two months to go, so it looks like this project will definitely move ahead. Want the flexibility of taking aerial shots but don't want the expense or size of a AR.Drone or DJI Phantom II? 3D Pocketcopter is designed to work with your iPhone to give you a mini photography drone. It doesn't have much range, but it's perfect if you want to get a group shot from the air. It's only 1 percent funded with about three weeks left to go, so if you want a Pocketcopter, it's time to cough up some money. One of the most fascinating pieces of hardware at Macworld/iWorld 2014 was the FLIR ONE, a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone to let you "see" hot spots. Now Hema-Imager is seeking funding for a similar product, but with higher resolution and lower price tag. Don't you just love competition? Well, with 19 percent funding and a month to go, it's not certain that Hema-Imager will make it to market, but let's give it a chance. Everyone is always telling us to drink more water. Wouldn't it be nice to have an app tell us that it's time to guzzle down some water so we don't forget? That's the idea behind The Hug, a connected water bottle band that tracks just how much H2O is going into your system. Working with Fitbit and RunKeeper, the app can tell you how much water you need to be drinking to keep up with your activity. It's about 43 percent funded with about a month to go. Pre-order one, and always be hydrated. Have you ever wanted to hang your iPad Air? No, I don't mean putting a little noose around its nonexistent neck and pushing it off of a platform -- instead, being able to hang it on a wall like a picture. That's the idea behind the Loop by Mozzic, an iPad Air case that has an integrated hanging system built into it. You can hang it in the car, off of an airplane tray lock, dangle it from a kitchen cabinet handle. Loop by Mozzic is only 2 percent funded with 39 days to go, so it may not make it to production ... but it is an interesting take on an iPad Air case. And the last of this week's crowdfunding projects is another Bluetooth speaker, this one called the NudeAudio Super-M. It's waterproof, sand-proof, and fits in your jeans pocket. You definitely don't have to wonder if the Super-M is going to make it to market; this project is 744 percent funded with a week to go. It's a Kickstarter Staff Pick! That's it for this week. We'll be back next Thursday for another roundup of crowdfunded projects that you can support or ignore. Many thanks again to Hal Sherman for providing some tips about new and exciting projects, and if you're aware of any other crowdfunded Apple-related projects, be sure to let us know about them through the Tip Us button at the upper right of the TUAW home page for future listing on the site.
