Smartrod Could Be Future Of Fishing

smartrod Smartrod Could Be Future Of Fishing None of us over here at Ubergizmo are fishing experts, and we tend to fish for Facebook comments and interaction with our dear readers more than the scaled and finned variety, but we are definitely down for some sushi as well as salmon steak if we were famished. Still, the Indiegogo project known as the Smartrod might be useful for anglers, and if you are one who loves to be out in the open sea or lakes to wait patiently for a bite, why not share your insight on whether the Smartrod could be useful to you?

Edward Hope is the one behind what he calls the “world’s first and only computerized fishing pole using Computer Controlled Accelerometer Technology.” Right now, they have collected half a grand out of the $50,000 required to bring this project to life, and you might want to offer them some financial support if you believe in their idea.

Basically, the Smartrod will inform you whenever you get a bite via an audio or visual alert, and turn off the alert when you reel in the fish so that your fishing experience will not be interfered with. There is a digital readout for High Med or Low sensitivity settings.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Toshiba SDHC Memory Card With TransferJet Capability, Touchy Turns Humans Into A Camera,

Insert Coin: 2012’s top 10 crowd-funded projects

Insert Coin: 2012's top 10 crowd-funded projects

This trip around the sun has been a monumental one for crowdfunding, marked by big projects and astronomical numbers. Take Kickstarter wunderkind OUYA, for example, which raised more than $8.5 million in funding from 63,416 backers. Kickstarter itself has even grown and matured, expanding to the UK and putting its foot down when it comes to pitching hardware by requiring working prototypes and assessments of risks and challenges. Out of the 60 crowdfunding efforts that crossed our desks as Insert Coins in 2012, 47 were successfully funded, four still have time to rake in funds and nine fell short of their goals or were otherwise stymied. We’ve handpicked and placed the top 10 projects that won our hearts and, on occasion, our hard-earned scratch after the break.

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The GravityLight is an affordable lamp powered by gravity

gravity light The GravityLight is an affordable lamp powered by gravityWith most of us living in countries where running electricity and water is commonplace, it would be hard for us to imagine what it might be like living in countries where the supply of electricity might not be as stable, which means getting access to a decent light source at night could be tricky. Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves from London have recently come up with an invention dubbed the GravityLight, a device that uses gravity to power a lamp and that will only cost $5 to purchase. The project was launched on Indiegogo but has since surpassed its goal by more than 500% with 21 days left. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Solar-Powered Snowboard Is One Cool Tool, Solar-powered Water Purification System,

Insert Coin: Emukey EK1 runs mouse, keyboard macros purely from hardware (video)

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

Insert Coin Emukey EK1 puts mouse, keyboard macros in open hardware video

Software testers don’t have it easy these days. While it’s been possible for ages to record keyboard and mouse commands as macros, quality assurance teams sometimes can’t have any tracking software running — a real pain when trying to recreate a bug in an online RPG or other input-heavy apps. Emukey’s proposed EK1 box could save testers from manual troubleshooting by running those macros from hardware. By taking scripts pushed out from a host Windows PC, the EK1 can run pre-recorded keyboard and mouse instructions on a slave PC without any software interference. The script-based approach makes it easy to reproduce a glitch on other machines by sharing files, and the use of PS/2 peripherals (with USB adapters if needed) prevents lag from skewing the results.

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Source: Emukey (Indiegogo)

Pintofeed Pet Feeder Does The Wi-Fi Jig

If you tend to travel a whole lot, then it is not too advisable to have pets around the home. After all, being a responsible pet owner includes caring for them, looking out for their every need, and basically to ensure that your pet has its meals on a regular basis, with plenty of fresh water to boot. For folks who still want a cat or dog and yet tend to live out of a suitcase, the Pintofeed automated pet feeder will be connected via Wi-Fi to the Internet, and using your smartphone’s display, it can dispense meals at a touch on the right button.

Capable of holding food of up to 5lbs or 10lbs in capacity, the Pintofeed is a quick learner, picking up your pet’s meal pattern after a while, where the built-in algorithm will then create a personalized schedule, and will even notifying you of feeding sessions using SMS, Twitter or Facebook. Right now, it is an IndieGoGo project, and you will have to pledge $100 if you want something like this to be in your hands assuming it achieves adequate funding in due time.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Ubi – the voice activated home computing system is now available for pre-order, LG Hom-Bot robotic vacuum cleaner debuts internationally,

GravityLight uses weight to illuminate without batteries or fuel (video)

GravityLight uses weight to illuminate without batteries or fuel video

The lack of reliable electricity in developing countries puts a damper on more than just technology use — having to run kerosene lamps, or even those based on solar power, often involves recurring costs that whittle away at very modest incomes. GravityLight has built an LED lamp that just might lift the burden. As the name implies, a weight (usually the very bag that the lamp ships in) generates electricity through natural force: the few seconds it takes to lift the weight can generate 30 minutes of light without ever replacing a battery or fuel supply. The simple construction also has helpful side benefits, such as powering up other devices and a clip that can replace the bag with most anything that weighs around 20 pounds. The crowdfunded project’s donation tiers ask $25 to donate a light to the developing world or $50 to also get one for yourself, but it’s a small price to pay in the long run — and when mass production should see prices fall below $5, the GravityLight might just change the lighting landscape for those who need it most.

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Source: IndieGogo

StickNFind Bluetooth Stickers: Never Lose Your Phone or Keys Again

I usually don’t misplace things, but from time to time, everyone misplaces their keys, phone or wallet. Instead of raging like an animal, tearing apart your place, why not simply stick on an Bluetooth sticker that will allow you to easily find them again.

sticknfind bluetooth stickers

StickNFind combines small Bluetooth-enabled stickers with an accompanying app that will help you locate your missing objects, keys, wallet, or anything else. The stickers are the size of a quarter, and they aren’t too bulky, so it’s not too complicated to find a place to stick them on. The app can also be set to alert you when your objects are out of proximity, which will allow you to never leave your house without your keys or wallet. This feature also makes it great for keeping tabs on kids – though it does have a range limit of 100 feet.

virtual leash radar sticknfind

The StickNFind app can pinging users when they are near the object, but can’t pinpoint the exact location of them, so you’ll still have to search a little bit for them. Still, it’ll quickly get you in the vicinity of your lost items, and you can cause the stickers to beep or light up remotely making them much easier to find.

Each sticker has a replaceable battery, though you can expect each of them to last for a year, with an average use of 30 minutes a day. StickNFind was launched  an Indiegogo crowdfunding project. You’ll have to pledge $35(USD) to get 2 stickers. $65 gets you 4 stickers, $90 gets you 6 stickers, and $150 buys you 10 stickers. So far, they’ve amassed about  $10,000 of a projected goal of $70,000, with 45 days of funding left.

[via Ubergizmo]


Popslate launches iPhone 5 case with four-inch E Ink screen (video)

Popslate launches iPhone 5 case with fourinch E Ink screen

This is pretty darn cool. It’s called Popslate — an iPhone 5 case with a four-inch E Ink screen on the back — and it’s launching right now on Indiegogo for $79 in two colors. Combined with a bespoke social imaging app, it lets you take and share pics, then “pop” them to the back of your phone. Better yet, the always-on, ultra low-power, black and white display becomes a canvas for notifications, sports scores, maps, lists and notes, all just a glance away.

An open API allows third-party developers to design custom apps for Popslate — including accelerometer support to interact with the backside screen by tapping on it. Imagine a micro e-reader app which uses the E Ink display instead of the main panel to conserve battery.

The company is still in the early stages of development and sadly didn’t have a prototype to show us, but it’s already gathered a team of talented designers, engineers and developers. It’s also secured a partnership with E Ink to use the latest in ruggedized e-paper technology and is hoping to raise enough funds to make Popslate a reality. Two colors are available at launch (black and white) with prices starting at $79 for the first 500 supporters, then $99 and up. Hit the break for the demo video and IndieGogo link.

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Intellipaper USB Drive: The Green Flash Drive

If there’s one thing that people tend to toss around a lot, it’s USB flash drives. Since they are getting so small, they can easily be lost. In order to cut down on all that electronic waste, why not get a green USB flash drive, one made out of paper?

intellipaper usb paper drive

The Intellipaper USB drive isn’t completely made out of paper, but the memory chip is printed on paper, allowing you to mail it, modify it, and cutting down on weight. It also allows for easier recycling. The memory is between 8MB and 32MB, so its aimed at sending around small batches of files, or for things like business or greeting cards, brochures and ads with data embedded into them.

Intellipaper’s USB drive was launched as an Indiegogo project to raise funds for ramping up production. Unfortunately, they’ve only raised about $300 out of a goal of $300,000, so it’s unlikely that this project will ever be made, though I’m keeping my fingers crossed for them. You’ll need to pledge at least $30 to get a box of 10 disposable thumb drives.


Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel

The Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel is said to be the first of its kind – assuming it actually manages to obtain the necessary funds from Kickstarter-like platform Indiegogo. If released, the Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel would obviously carve out a whole new accessories category by itself, and just in case you were wondering why it is called Kolos, that is because it means “colossus” in the Slavic languages. The Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel intends to function as a tabletop steering wheel which will cradle your iPad safe and sound while letting you experience a more authentic driving experience no matter where you are.

The company behind the Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel intends to raise a minimum of $150,000 within 28 days, and once this financial target is achieved, you can be sure that it would not be too long before the Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel will literally end up in the hands of avid iPad gamers everywhere. Features of this gaming wheel include a comfortable, anti-perspirant rubber coating, and with a narrow diameter, the wheel will be able to handle iOS racing and flying games in a far easier and relaxed manner. With a high quality metallic-colored base and a clamp which holds tight to almost any table, you can be sure that the Kolos iPad Gaming Wheel will play nice with the iPad 2, third and fourth generation iPads.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: The KOLOS is a gaming wheel designed for the iPad, KOLOS iPad-centric gaming wheel launches on Indiegogo,