Kickstarter

The Ergo Kiwi is the best ergonomically-sound X-ACTO blade knife that I've ever used. And I've used a lot. I've used every sort of blade from the most basic $6 metal original-brand knife to the rubbery silicone of the X2000 (my favorite up until now). The Ergo Kiwi is the first 3rd-party craft knife holder (base for X-ACTO knives) that I've been able to use for more than one project - nothing else really made the grade, so to speak.

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This morning Sphero revealed a project called Sphero RVR, a do-it-yourself robot. This robot works with simple-to-use software and 3rd-party hardware, and is part of a Kickstarter right out the gate. In less than 12 hours, the project reached $145k of its $150k goal (with 30 days left to go).

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The folks at Standmac have a device called Wowstick Mini they'd like to deliver unto the world. This device is a pen-shaped and slightly larger than pen-sized device made to screw and unscrew all sorts of stuff. Included with the tool is a set of 56 bits and a built-in battery that's rechargeable with an included USB cord.

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Company Woojer is seeking funding for Ryg, a haptic feedback vest that supports "pretty much" all gaming consoles, VR systems, PC games, and smartphones. The device adds a new layer of experience to one's gaming sessions, enabling players to feel actions in their body as they happen on the screen. This can include, for example, feeling the roar of a dinosaur rumble in one's chest.

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Crowdfunding projects work - sometimes. Transcendent Designs' SuperScreen is not an example of a successful crowdfunding project. The group collected pledges of over $2.5-MILLION USD and 1.5 years after the end of the campaign, it's gone. No delivery of a final product was made, and no refunds will be made (according to the campaign's creator.) Let this be a good reminder: Giving money to companies for products that do not exist is a bad idea.

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Smart home locks are expensive, particularly if more than one is needed to adequately update the house. A new alternative has arrived in the form of Locky, a device that attaches to a house key, transforming the regular dumb lock it belongs to into a smarter, more capable system. The device and its app supports unlocked door alerts, lock sharing, and more.

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AirPods were arguably the flashpoint for the truly-wireless earbuds industry. The market has seen models launched by big and no-name companies alike, some with nearly perfect functionality, others that are barely usable. Now that these wire-free earbuds are more common and competition is stronger, we're seeing makers pack increasingly useful features into their own offerings. Firefly is no exception.

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Bloxvox, a contraption you hold and/or strap to your face, wants to help quiet down the open office workspace, enable phone conversations in libraries, and keep private details private. The device, which is being funded on Kickstarter, is similar to the HushMe devices introduced last year, but designed to accommodate a user's existing headset rather than a proprietary one built into the unit.

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A Japanese company is hoping to launch an e-ink portable typewriter in the US market, a model called Pomera. The typewriter resembles a folding keyboard, but with a twist: a 6-inch e-ink display appears alongside the keyboard, enabling users to type out a document without carrying around a full-size laptop or a large battery. The company is seeking funding on Kickstarter.

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There's a Hifi music player called HiBy R3 out in the wild this week, and it's made for Tidal alone. This is a mobile music player made by the folks at HiBy Music. It has a touchscreen and connects to Wi-Fi to play music specifically and solely through Tidal. It's not made by Tidal, but it works with its own version of the Tidal app - and that's it. This is the specificity you've been waiting for.

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Coffee is serious business but, despite plenty of companies trying to bring traditional brewing methods into the 21st century, one has lagged behind: the French Press. The Rite Press aims to change that, though this is no internet-connected, Tweeting and HomeKit-enabled gadget for geekery's own sake. Instead, it's a thoughtful and effective upgrade to one of my favorite ways to make a cup of coffee.

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Back in October, Japanese company Yukai Engineering introduced a therapeutic pillow called Qoobo. Though it is a pillow, it has a big twist compared to other pillows: it is styled after a cat, including soft fur and a wagging tail. That makes Qoobo as much robot as it is cushion, one designed to give someone a sense of comfort without squeezing an actual living cat.

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