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Crowdfunded Project News: The best of Kickstarter, Indiegogo and the rest
Every week, TUAW provides readers with an update on what new or significant crowdfunded Apple-related projects are 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. Note that we're not covering those "projects" on Indiegogo where people are trying to get someone else to cough up money for a new computer or tablet... From Kickstarter Bringrr, yet another one of the "find your lost stuff" Bluetooth tags, but this one actually makes sense. You can change the batteries in the tags (unlike those that you simply throw out after a year or two); they're small enough to be pet-friendly; and it comes with a car charger/alert so that you can actually make sure you've got your tagged stuff before you drive off -- 68 percent funded with 19 days to go. Everydisk from Avatron is about halfway funded, but only has 10 days to go to meet its goal. If you'd like a nice, encrypted personal cloud storage solution from a trusted name in the app world, get behind this project. EyeShield has to be one of the goofiest-looking iPhone cases around. The idea is that you have a sunshade that can fold over the top of the iPhone 5/5s screen so you can see it in sunlight. Or you could just turn your body and provide your own shadow to make the screen visible... 7 percent funded with 17 days to go. Smartlet. Why just look nerdy with an oversized smartwatch on your wrist when you can strap your iPhone to your wrist? 28 percent funded with eight days to go. Moment is a high-quality wide-angle and telephoto lenses for the iPhone camera from people with experience in the lens business. The lenses can be used on a variety of smartphones using a thin metal adapter. This one is in the bag -- 166 percent funded with 29 days to go. (Hat tip to Hal Sherman for telling us about this one) TEO, a keyless padlock that is unlocked with an app. No keys to lose, no combinations to forget; 35 percent funded with 51 days to go. We covered this last week; it seems to have gained some traction and looks like it might keep gaining momentum. I guess there were a lot of us who forgot our locker combinations in high school... meMINI, the wearable camera from last week, is funded -- 101 percent, with 21 days to go. From Indiegogo Airtame is billed as "wireless HDMI for everyone," and this project is a winner -- 511 percent funded with six days left; think of it as an AirPlay/Chromecast that works anywhere you have an HDMI port. Athene is an interesting idea -- a designer bracelet that works as a Lightning charging cable, USB flash drive and fashion accessory -- 58 percent funded with 31 days left. Now if they could just make a utility belt... FitCute is a smart body analyzer (i.e., Bluetooth-enabled scale) that works with an iPhone app to provide info on eight different body stats. Too bad that it's 22 percent funded with less than three days to go. Oh, and that logo looks way too much like the Withings app icon... Birdi. Are you upset that Nest was purchased by Google? Here's a solution: Birdi is a smart air monitor/smoke alarm that works with an app and provides details on inside air quality. It's at 72 percent funding with 10 days left in the project campaign. Now if we can just get them to make a thermostat, too... Eyebloc -- paranoid much? Worried that the NSA is looking at your face through your webcam? Don't have a piece of electrical tape that you can put over the camera to stop THEM from watching you 24/7? Then back Eyebloc, which is a little piece of plastic that goes over your camera. Yeah, I thought it was pretty dumb, too -- 12 percent funded with 25 days left. Woodster is a goofy idea that actually has some merit -- it's an iMac stand with two USB 3.0 ports built into it, made out of wood. Perfect for those situations where you need to prop your iMac up a bit higher (low desk or tall person). It's 40 percent funded with 33 days left. 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.
International HD news roundup
Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, до свидания!Read - RTVE to launch HD next year Read - Lithuania's TEO adds three HD channels to Interactive GALA TV Read - We can convince ITV HD to support Blu-ray recording, says Panasonic Read - More HD for Russia's Platforma Read - UEFA Champions League and FA Cup Final airing in HD next week
TEO MP-301 brings Jesus and the MP3 together at long last
Good lord. No, really. Good lord. The TEO MP-301 MP3 player from IceTech USA crams 1GB of media storage into -- as you can see -- a very Jesus-friendly form factor. The $49 player features a built-in microphone with voice recorder, mirrored front panel, and even a little speaker. According to reviews, the player has some serious interface issues and a weak screen, but if crucifixion is your thing, you can't go wrong with this necklace cross-cum-MP3 player. Or is that the other way around? Is this an MP3 player that's also a cross? Anyway, there you have it: the cross-shaped MP3 player, indeed.[Via Crave]
Fujitsu unveils three new DeskPower machines
Fujitsu pumped out three new DeskPower LX-series machines today, and they're slightly less ugly than the visually criminal EK30T. Apart from having been designed by someone with eyes, the new machines feature built-in 19- or 22-inch displays, 2.2GHz E4500 Core 2 Duos, digital and analog TV tuners, and dual layer burners. All of these are on sale now in Japan, for anywhere from ¥21,000 to ¥26,000 ($1854 - $2,296), depending on specs.[Via Akihabara News]
Fujitsu launches FMV-TEO HTPC with Blu-ray recorder
If you'll recall, Fujitsu's unsightly TEO HTPC was first seen way back in January, and while the newest iteration most certainly steps it up in the hardware department, the aesthetics are still sorely lacking. Nevertheless, the TEO90X/D sports a 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, 2GB of RAM, a half terabyte of HDD space, integrated multicard reader (SD / Memory Stick / xD support), WiFi, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, audio in / out, and of course, a Blu-ray writer. Furthermore, you'll find an optical digital audio output, HDCP-compliant HDMI / DVI connectors, an ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics set (um, weak?), digital TV tuner, and Vista Home Premium runnin' the show. Slated to hit Japan here shortly, the TEO90X/D is priced at ¥265,000 ($2,282).[Via AkihabaraNews]
Fujitsu showcases slim Teo HTPC, rocks HDMI and TV tuners
Fujitsu's known for kicking out some fairly svelte looking laptops, but whomever's heading up the desktop design team should seriously be reevaluated. Sure, the firm's Teo HTPC isn't nearly as hideous as this catastrophe, but it's not exactly the sexiest piece of equipment we've seen to shove in your AV rack either. Nevertheless, the relatively slim machine comes to ready to rock as your home theater companion, packing an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, 400GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g, dual TV tuners, 56k modem, Ethernet, and your choice of Windows Vista flavors. You'll also find a plethora of USB 2.0 ports, 4-pin FireWire, flash card reader, DVI / HDMI outputs, audio in / out, and optical digital out to boot. While pricing hasn't been set just yet, Fujitsu should be loosing these in Japan within a couple weeks, and should give Sony's XL3 some much needed competition. Click on through for a shot of the back.
