Sometimes the simplest things are the most useful, but rarely something makes me shake my head at how clever and cool it is like the Pocket Tripod 360º has. I keep thinking "why didn’t someone do this before" and "what a great idea that I wish I’d thought of." I’m still blown away that the angle is adjustable like that.
     |
Smartphones are definitely smart and come with a lot of neat features, but sometimes I just wish it were smarter on the physical attachment category. Some apps are great to use when driving, cooking, or exercising, but there are few stands and clip-on accessories that’ll help you keep your phone in place.
Then along came Clipless.
Staying true to its name, Clipless lets you secure your device on a wide range of surfaces, including fabrics, without the need for a clip. You’re supposed to stick the connector on your phone, and the Clipless or NFC mount for fabric and other surfaces (like plastic, metal, wood, tile, or glass) respectively. When using the NFC-enabled mount, compatible devices can even be set to automatically launch specific apps when placed on different mount locations.
Clipless is up for funding on Kickstarter through July 6th. They’ve already surpassed their $25,000 goal, but you can still make a pledge of at least $35 to get your very own Clipless.
I’m not particularly fond of roaches, but I don’t exactly hate them either. I’d just rather not come face to face with any one of these insects because creepy crawly insects just give me the heebie jeebies. That said, I’m still on the fence when it comes to the RoboRoach project by Backyard Brains.
The RoboRoach kit, which is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, includes the “backpack”, a helmet, a battery, and recording electrodes. You’ll have to be comfortable with handling roaches, because you’ll have to anesthetize them before performing surgery on them to place wires into their antennae.
Once everything’s all set up, then you can begin to control the cyborg roach using your smartphone.
In a nutshell, here’s how the RoboRoach works: When you send a command from your mobile phone, the backpack sends pulses to the antenna, which causes its neurons to fire, such that the roach to think there is a wall on one side. The result? The roach turns!
Attempting to control something alive might have ethical implications, and Backyard Brains has got that covered in their ethical statement. They also explain that the roach doesn’t get shocked or hurt when the RoboRoach is on in their FAQs, so you might want to check that section out if you’re concerned about the well-being of these insects.
A minimum pledge of $100(USD) will get you one of your very own RoboRoach kits. Though you’ll have to spend at least $150 if you want them to include some live cockroaches for you to play with.
[via C|NET]
We’re sure there are users out there who bring with them many accessories when they take their tablets out with them. This includes earphones, charging cables, card readers, a stylus and what not, but unless you’re carrying a bag or […]
Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
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.
The problem with capturing panoramic stills with your phone is that you need to keep a steady motion when panning around, but we all know that only a robot can perform such feat perfectly. That’s why this little BubblePod caught our attention. The device is essentially a mini clockwork turntable so no battery is required — just wind it up, slip an iOS, Android or BB10 device into the silicone grip, fire up the BubblePix app and hit the BubblePod’s release button for a steady 40-second rewind.
The sample panoramic shots (or “bubbles”) we saw have almost no visible stitching, and the app can simultaneously record an audio clip to capture the atmosphere as well. Better yet, in addition to its rubberized base, the BubblePod is also built with a universal tripod mount plus a wine bottle insert mount!
This Kickstarter project will offer a unit if you pledge a minimum of £15 (about $23) for the limited early bird offer or £20 (about $31) later on, plus £5 (about $8) to ship outside the UK. Do check out the demo video after the break, and feel free to grab yourself a BubblePod before funding ends on July 9th.
Filed under: Peripherals, Mobile
Source: Kickstarter
What DARPA does with animal test subjects behind closed doors is one thing, but here we have something else entirely: mad-scientist kits that allow anyone at home to control the movement of a real-life cockroach. Backyard Brains, the crew behind Twitter Roach, have been selling RoboRoach sets for creating cyborg insects for some time. But today, after getting as far as they can on their own, they’re seeking Kickstarter funding to improve their design and develop “educational materials” to go with it. The project will go live in the next 30 minutes or so, and pledges of $100 or more will get you a surgery kit consisting of a PCB “backpack,” battery and three sets of electrodes. The PCB pairs with mobile devices via the Bluetooth LE profile and a companion app delivers commands to the ‘roach, allowing you to steer the creature by swiping across your screen. Cough up $150 or more and they’ll send you a dozen ‘roaches to get you started.
The electrodes we mention need to be implanted into the cockroach’s antennae so directional triggers can be sent to the nerves within — effectively fooling the creature into thinking it’s hit an obstacle and needs to change course. This is where it starts to get uncomfortable. Backyard Brains are touting the RoboRoach as an educational tool, specifically stating that “this product is not a toy.” Something that’s glossed over on the Kickstarter page, however, is the allegedly painless surgery step: how you attach the electrodes to the insect. People can make their own minds up regarding the ethics of the campaign, and can start by heading to the Kickstarter source link once it goes live at 9am ET. We’ve also embedded an old tutorial video below we found on the company’s site, which demonstrates the surgery process. Be warned: there’s antenna-clipping and other mutilations involved, which make our skin crawl even more than the thought of handling the cockroaches in the first place.
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Robots, Wireless, Science, Alt
Source: Kickstarter, Backyard Brains (1), (2)
Taking panoramic photos is something most smartphones can manage, but jerky, wobbly 360-degree shots usually come down to user error rather than technical issues. BubblePod is hoping to change that with its new Kickstarter project, a clockwork 360-degree mount that works with tripods for those moments when you came prepared, and slots into the mouth
There are many uses for infrared cameras, one of them being to monitor plant health. Most people who are looking to get one have been held back not by limited availability but by the market prices of these cameras.
Aiming to make them more affordable are the folks behind the Infragram project that’s currently up for funding on Kickstarter.
The Infragram camera was initially developed by Public Lab to monitor the effects of the BP oil spill, but now they’re offering it to anyone who wants a cheaper way to study plants or monitor plant health. If you’re the DIY type, then you can pledge $10(USD) to get the Filter Pack which provides you with a filter and instructions on how to convert a webcam or camera that you already own into an infrared one.
There’s also the Infragram Webcam (at $35) and the Infragram Point and Shoot (at $95) if you want something that you can use out of the box.
The images you shoot using the filter will be uploaded and processed by a site to be set up by Public Lab. A minimum resolution for the point and shoot is 2 megapixels, but that may change with the number of backers that the project gets.
You can find more information or make a pledge to support the Infragram project on Kickstarter.
[via C|NET]
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
