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ZBoard launches crowdfunding campaign for its San Francisco Special, pre-orders start at $1,199
Remember that snazzy special edition electric skateboard we saw roll out at Expand? It's almost ready for launch: ZBoard has launched a Dragon Innovation crowdfunding campaign for its San Francisco Special. Although the limited edition ZBoard's specs haven't changed since earlier this year (20-mile range at 19 MPH) its facade has been given a few tweaks. In addition to wearing a brighter shade of orange, the San Francisco Special now features LED headlights, working tail lights and digitally printed grip tape with a redesigned skyline of its namesake city. Of course, getting your hands on one of the special boards isn't cheap, pre-orders for the electric-powered maple decks start at $1,199. Current ZBoard owners will be able to upgrade, jumping from a ZBoard Pro to the San Francisco Special for $399, or tuning up a Classic for $699. Looking for a new ride? Check out the team's crowdfunding video after the break, or skip on down to the source link to pitch in.
Hammerhead LED-based bike navigation keeps you on the righteous paths (video)
Developer Hammerhead Navigation thinks it has the solution to safer cycling: LEDs. It created a bike-mounted tool that does everything with its flashing diodes: turn-by-turn navigation, suggests crowd sourced-paths (via Strava and MapMyRide) and will even point you to the nearest Citibike exchange. The unit pairs with your iPhone or Android's GPS to help find invisible bike trails through your city, and supposedly it can function without a data connection -- perfect if you're a desert cyclist. A $75 pledge ($70 if you act fast) will get you one gizmo, or a $140 promise will get you two. You like to spoil your riding buddy now and again, don't you?
Dash Robotics's DIY robots controlled by smartphones, look like insects (video)
What could kids find more fun (and parents find more affordable) than fancy toy robots? Toy robots they build themselves that scurry around like horrifyingly gigantic insects. That's what a startup called Dash Robotics hopes to offer if it reaches its $64,000 goal on new crowdfunding site, Dragon Innovation. Each Dash kit contains a flat panel made out of a plastic-and-cardboard material with precut parts you'll have to piece together like Legos. Those parts will enclose an electronic component that lets you control the six-legged robot with either an iOS or an Android app, although the company can't guarantee the latter. Prototypes will be available to the first 1,000 backers who pledge at least $65, but everyone else might be able to get their own later -- Dash Robotics hopes to release its kits commercially and to keep them priced below $70.
