A Compass that doesn't point north-HAIZE

HAIZE is a compass that doesn't point north. Instead it points to where you want to go because most of the time that direction isn't north. HAIZE was developed by onomo to provide a more convenient way to get to your destination. As avid cyclists, onomo decided that using your phone to navigate while biking is simply a bad idea, and bike mounts for your phone are too big and inconvenient.
 

Not seeing any better options on the market, they decided to create the better option. HAIZE is a digital compass that always points to your destination via the outer LEDs (see image above), and the central LED flashes to indicate how close you're getting to your destination. You might be thinking that this won't account for obstacles in your way, and you would be right. However, often as a biker or walker you can see ways of getting around obstacles besides just taking the streets. Yet, sometimes taking a set path is the best route so HAIZE will also provide turn by turn navigation.



HAIZE works by communicating with a application via your smartphone, so it's inner workings aren't that complex and allow for it be small. I really like the overall design of HAIZE and think there's room for a lot of improvement. My single biggest concern is that onomo will not be able to keep up with the ever changing smartwatch market.

CROWD FUNDING LINK:

HAIZE – a compass reinvented. Navigation for urban cyclists
PROS:

• small-it's very important as a bike attachment
• long battery life (2 weeks on a single charge)
• records information about your ride
• light sensor to adjust LED brightness to conserve power
• simple (also a CON)*

CONS:

• not open source**
• only has outer LEDs and central LED
• a smartwatch app could potentially do the exact same thing.
• simple*

*this is a PRO and a CON because the simple design does not detract from cycling, but many may like more features

**If this was open source you could create a lot of cool games with this device

WIBI?

No, but maybe if I biked more. I could see getting all the features with a smart watch.

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Want to start your own civilization? GVCS can help!

Marcin Jakubowski decided to investigate the process that turns a pre-industrial society into a post-industrial society. Inconspicuously, the process is industry. Industry is the economic activity concerned with taking raw materials and turning them into something useful. Marcin discovered that most machinery is only designed and manufactured for a post-industrial consumer. This results in high-tech machinery that often becomes obsolete in a few years or less, and it costs way more than any third-world citizen could afford. Marcin started the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS). According to their wiki it is defined as the following:

http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Global_Village_Construction_Set

In other words, GVCS freely provides the means for people to make their own industrial machines that are at the core of an industrial society. The best part of GVCS is that it is all open source forever, but the sad part is that it's still got a long ways to go. The team behind Marcin and GVCS (Open Source Ecology) still need more funding and innovative thinkers to make the GVCS a full blown reality.

GVCS's open source tractor prototype (LifeTrac)

Site:

http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Global_Village_Construction_Set

Crowd Funding Project:

The Liberator | Compressed Earth Brick Press

PROS:

• Open source everything (CAD, Video Tutorials, and more)
• Low-Cost
• User-Serviceable
• DIY (also a CON)
• Closed Loop Manufacturing
• High-Performance Machines
• Flexible Fabrication (each machine can be scaled to meet needs)

CONS:

• DIY
• Strictly Instructional (provides only the knowledge to build these machines)
• Only 1 product is close to full release (CEB Press)
• They need more money and innovative thinkers

Would I Buy It ?

There's nothing to buy here, but I buy into their vision. :)

Sometimes you just have to roll the dice. Or do you?-Boogie Dice

Nimrod Back thought traditional dice could be more fun, so he created Boogie Dice. Boogie Dice have a motor and three LEDs that will activate when you make a sharp sound such as a clap or snap. So you no longer have to shake and roll the dice, you can simply snap or clap to make these dice dance.

They are also fully programmable, so it made me think... is there a way to make them always land a certain way? No, the team behind Boogie Dice wanted to make sure the dice's weight were evenly distributed so they would be fair. These dice are a fun addition to any game and are certainly worth checking out.



Crowd Funding Link: Boogie Dice - Self rolling, sound activated gaming dice!

PROS:

• You don't have to roll the dice
• They are rechargeable
• They are more fun than regular dice
• You can program them with an app

CONS:

• You can't use your special dice rolling ritual
• You do have to charge them
• Cost $22 for 1 die and $16 for each additional

WIBI?:

Yes, and I'm deciding if I should back them.

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Keep Losing Everything? Not anymore! -Lapa 2

If you're like me you constantly have problems with losing or forgetting things. Even if you're not like me, and you are super organized and remember everything the hustle of life can sometimes cause things to escape your person. Lapa realized this and created Lapa, but now they're back with Lapa 2.



Lapa 2 is a small device you can attach to anything via a key ring, and it enables you to find those devices through a smartphone application. Each Lapa is equipped with an led and sound (up to 90 decibels), and two way communication with your phone. Lapa not only allows your phone to find the attached item, but you can press the Lapa button to find your phone.

Wait--it gets better--the Lapa app allows you to customize how each Lapa device works, so you can use it to alert you if you're too far away from a certain item. Also, you can recruit other Lapa users to locate your items or pets if something happens to them. So no matter what happens to your things--Lapa will help you stay connected to them!

Crowd Funding Link: Lapa 2: The evolution of object finders

PROS:

• Helps you locate objects through light and sound
• Warns you when you're leaving an object behind
• Helps you find your phone when you lose it
• Great range (200 ft)
• 1 year battery life
• Waterproof
• Can recruit other users to locate object if it runs away (figuratively and literally)

CONS:

• Kinda expensive, so you might not want to attach it to everything ($29)
• Uses Bluetooth, so expect your phone battery to drain much faster
• No other shapes available (couldn't think of another CON)

Would I Buy It (WIBI)?

Yes, they are expected to ship before Christmas, so if you have anyone you want to get a small gift for this would be perfect!

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Pooch Selfie...Ok.

I have been reviewing a lot of cool inventions like the markerarm. But now I'm going to review a product that is fully funded, but I personally don't like. It's the Pooch Selfie, a plastic device that attaches to your iPhone (or smartphone) to assist you in taking a selfie with your pup. It has a squishy, squeaky tennis ball you can use to get your pups attention then attach it to the cellphone.  The product design is a single plastic body with friction grips, so it probably won't work well if your cellphone has a case. It would have been better to have a spring loaded grip with pads to ensure the device won't scratch your iPhone and will work with a case. In addition to the design flaws, I doubt you'll have it with you whenever you want to take a selfie with your canine. However, this project is fully funded ($40,000 out of the $7,000 asked), and has decided they will donate Pooch Selfies to animal shelters if they reach their stretch goals. I doubt the customers will find their Pooch Selfie very useful, but it's an inexpensive item anyways so not much harm has been done. If you disagree... make sure to let me know.

CROWD FUNDING LINK: Pooch Selfie: The Best Way to Capture Selfies with Your Dog!

PROS:

• May trick your pup into looking at the camera, or at least close enough.
• Simply design and comes with a ball for fetch
• Not very expensive ($13)
• I can't think of another

CONS:

• Uses friction grips and may scratch your iPhones
• Does not work with all smartphones
• May not even work with a case on
• Awkwardly shaped so you'll probably have to be intentional about using it

Would I buy it?

No, I could probably do with an app that just makes a barking noise to get my dog's attention.

Better Dog Stuff:

Finally! Truly Wireless Earbuds-KANOA

Kanoa makes wireless earbuds. The earbuds are wireless. Let me rephrase, the earbuds have no wires. Unlike the most "hip" wireless earbuds like Jaybird, Beats and others as seen below...

...Kanoa earphones don't have a wire connecting the right and left earphones. They sit in the ear and there's no annoying wire at all. 

Also, they are fairly water resistant so you can use them with water sports (probably not diving). Kanoa different rubber tips you can replace so they fit perfectly in your ear, and the design team has absolute confidence--despite them being low profile and having no wires--they won't fall out!

 Another cool feature is the carrying case; it's rigid and filled with foam for protection, and it acts as wireless charger (these guys really dislike wires). I think this product is a much needed evolution of earphones, and make sure to check out their site they are allowing pre-orders for 50% off retail.

SITE: KONOA-A WORLD WITHOUT LIMITS

PROS:

• NO WIRES (CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH)
• Touch control on the sides
• Very water resistant (designed by water sports fans)
• Three silicon shells and tips to allow for the perfect fit
• Fast charging, 30 minutes for 4-6 hours of audio
• Case doubles as a wireless charger
• Running a special for 50% off for the pre-orders

CONS:

• Not out yet (release date is set for April, 2016)
• Not an established company
• You're their guinea pig

Would I buy them?

Yes, I'm going to.

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Rocketbook Wave! -I can stop buying more notebooks!

Alright, so I write sloppy, and I don't really need to access many of my notes very often. However, when that off chance day comes where I need to find some notes I wrote down... I take 30 minutes or more sifting through stacks of notebooks trying to find my notes. However, Rocketbook Wave is fixing that in an easy to use format. They do a really good job explaining the product in their video...

For those who didn't watch the video... Rocketbook is a notebook that allows you to use Pilot Frixion pens on it. Each page has a black border and several symbols that you use to categorize the note. Once you're done writing your note and you categorize it, the Rocketbook app snaps a picture of the notebook page, enhances the notes using the black border, and sends it to the right location via the category symbols. Once you've used up your notebook, you simply throw it in the microwave and the Pilot Frixion ink will turn clear and the notepad is ready to reuse.

CROWD FUNDING LINK: Rocketbook Wave: Cloud-Ready Microwavable Notebook

PROS:

• No need to buy multiple notebooks and wonder where they ran off to
• Reusable
• Helps you organize your notes and back them up

CONS;

• Only reusable for about 10-20 times (10 for me since I write hard)
• Pricey $35, but that's only $1.25-$3.50 for a 100 page notebook.
• Need to snap and upload pages soon because of ink properties

Would I buy it?

Yes, but I'm not going to back them. I really like the organization aspect of the product because I'm fairly disorganized.

Questions?

Please, leave your comments and questions below!

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