Hasta La Gadget!

One of the things I like so much about Kickstarter is that you never know what kind of project will turn up. One of the most recent projects that caught my eye is the device called the Knut. This is a small battery-powered Wi-Fi enabled device that you can use for monitoring just about anything you can think of. It can be used to monitor environmental conditions in your home such as the temperature of various things and humidity.

It can also be used to monitor when something is open or closed such as a gun cabinet or liquor cabinet. The Knut is also able to monitor vibration and can be placed inside a box with something sensitive or fragile you might be shipping to monitor if the package is being treated appropriately. You can even use it to remind you to water plants.

The device is controlled by an app that would run on the smart phone or computer and receive the data the Wi-Fi enabled sensor spits out. The device will also e-mail the information to a specific e-mail address so you can check it without bothering with your phone. The user can control how frequently Knut checks sensors, with some sensors such as accelerometers and switches checked anytime they change. This project is seeking $25,000 and has so far racked up $39,834 with seven days to go before funding. It will cost you $80 or more to get one Knut sensor during the Kickstarter project. Delivery is estimated for September.

Knut can monitor just about anything is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Have you ever lost your keys in your apartment? Then, did you end up finding them after searching for hours or days in the most unexpected spot? Then Hone was made for you. These Bluetooth dongles pair up with your iPhone or iPad using a free app and will emit an audible vibration alert when you tap the “Find” button.

Hone is definitely a useful gadget if you frequently misplace your keys or other small items. Keys can slip out of your pocket, into your couch and into the black hole that collects lost keys, change, and the occasional Cheese Doodle. Using this Bluetooth dongle is a perfect way to get them out of there. Each dongle has a 150 feet reach and 6 months battery life.

Hone was crowdfunded through Kickstarter. At the time of writing, the project is already fully funded. They had amassed $52,000 out of a projected goal of $46,000. There are still 22 days left in funding to snag yours. Pledges start at $49(USD) each for the Hone.

[via Uncrate]

This iPhone case looks extremely sturdy, and you can bet that if you drop your iPhone inside of this thing, it won’t get a scratch. The TAKTIK iPhone case is a robust enclosure that will protect your iPhone no matter what happens.

The TAKTIK case was designed by the Chicago-based studio MINIMAL, the same guys behind the insanely popular TikTok and LunaTik iPod nano watches. The case has a shockproof suspension system that’s enclosed between to anodized aluminum bezels and compression seals to prevent water from seeping in.

You can even order it with an additional Gorilla Glass lens to further protect your phone, while still allowing you to use the touchscreen. The headphone jack is made out of aircraft-grade anodized aluminum that snaps up to offer rapid access to the port. There is a dedicated lever to open it quickly as well. They also will be offering an optional bike mount for the case, which is a great idea.

The project is being launched through Kickstarter, and was completely funded within a couple of days. They have already amassed over $200,000, with a goal of $150,000, so it definitely will be produced. The TAKTIK case starts at $75(USD) and goes up to $250 for a ‘Future-Proof’ version that ships with one case for your iPhone 4/4S and one for the upcoming iPhone 5.

[via designboom]

I used my iPad last night in bed and woke up with a pretty stiff neck. In fact, it was stiff for the most part of my day, which gave way to a rotten mood and a ruined day. I get similar aches from using the tablet when I’m sitting down or in a reclined position. So when I saw the Tablift up on Kickstarter, well, let me just say that I thought it was a godsend.

Tablift is an accessory that will make it easy for anyone with an iPad to use it while they’re lying down in bed or chilling on their couches. It’s basically a sturdy stand with super long, bendy legs that can be adjusted independently, so you can use it in virtually any position.

At first glance, the Tablift looks like a bulky accessory, but the cool thing is that it folds down entirely, so you can stow it away and take it with you wherever you might use your iPad.

If you’re interested, you can head on over to Tablift’s Kickstarter page to learn all about it and maybe even back the project. A minimum pledge of $60(USD) will get you one Tablift if the project’s target of $78,000 is raised by July 12th.