Very strange but stylish devices, from a typewriter with an E-ink screen to a 'smart' forecaster umbrella …
FreeWrite Smart Typer
Kickstarter has always been famous for unusual devices that no standard store would dare to put on their shelves. Such projects are often liked by the public, and the authors of the idea collect the necessary amount. But they usually do not have any special future – the developers will send copies to everyone who has placed a preliminary order, but almost immediately the production will be curtailed.
The FreeWrite Smart Typer (formerly known as Hemingwrite) is a happy exception to this rule. The project successfully raised the required amount in January 2015, the first devices were sent to their owners about a month ago. The user reviews were very good, and the developers thought about starting a serious production.
What is FreeWrite Smart Typer? This is what a typewriter would be if it were invented today. On the one hand, there is an E-ink screen, a computer keyboard, a Wi-Fi module, the ability to synchronize with cloud storages like DropBox and other moments familiar to modern devices. On the other hand, there is an archaic appearance, solid size and a complete absence of social networks, games, browsers and other things that distract from work. And the controls are almost like in PipBoy from Fallout.
At first glance, the idea seems strange, but in fact it makes sense. In some ways, the device resembles e-readers with an E-ink screen – there is also no support for high resolutions and millions of colors, you can’t play games on them either and you don’t really sit on the Internet. Yes, and such readers are by no means cheap – for the same money, you can easily buy a simple tablet that will be able to do many times more. And, nevertheless, among avid readers they are very much appreciated, because such e-books are almost ideal for reading.
FreeWrite Smart Typer is a device of the same kind, but for writers. It is the perfect typing tool that is not only convenient, but really enjoyable to work with. And the fact that she can't do anything else, only for the better – there are fewer opportunities to be distracted by social networks, news and YouTube videos.
But the price of this typewriter is space – $ 499, including a discount.
Official site
Project page on Kickstarter
Oombrella
Trusting forecasters is a thankless job. No matter what they say in their predictions, it will rain on the very day you decide not to take your umbrella with you.
The authors of the Oombrella project are no less tired of this situation. But unlike many other people, they did not sit idly by, but found a rather original solution – they taught the umbrella itself to monitor the weather.
Oombrella is a member of the smart umbrella family. A miniature weather station is built into its handle, which monitors temperature, humidity, pressure and other parameters. All this allows the umbrella to predict the change of weather in advance and inform its owner in advance. It is not necessary to rely only on Oombrella's own strengths – the umbrellas of this brand will be able to exchange information with each other through the cloud service, thereby significantly increasing the accuracy and timeliness of forecasts.
As an ordinary umbrella, Oombrella is also very good – a comfortable grip, a strong Kevlar frame, several interesting colors and even a special mount for a camera or GoPro camera.
Project page on Kickstarter
Oi
The creators of Oi love bicycles but hate bike bells. Bulky, ugly, with a sharp and unpleasant ringing, they become the very fly in the ointment that spoils the impression of even the largest barrel of honey. These bike calls are a thing of the past and have no place in the modern world.
Oi is an example of what a bicycle bell should be. Every detail has been carefully thought out, from size, design and ergonomics to materials, appearance and ring tone. And while I don't really hate old bike bells, I have to admit that the Oi looks really great.
As usual on Kickstarter, the price of the device is not the most democratic (at the moment – $ 26), but it is perfect as an unusual gift for a friend-cyclist.
Project page on Kickstarter
Teplo
I don't know about you, but I really love tea. But to tinker with brewing different varieties and teapots, keeping an eye on the correct temperature and strength of the drink, there is often neither time nor desire. Especially if this is the case at work.
Teplo is a smart kettle for lazy people like me, which also doubles as a thermos and a mug. He will select the time and water temperature for each type of tea, and when the drink is ready, he will simply send a notification to the phone. It is not necessary to drink tea right away – with the lid closed, the kettle can easily maintain the ideal tea temperature for several hours.
After you rate the taste of the drink, the branded app will ask you to answer a few simple questions. With each mug of Teplo tea, more and more will adapt to your personal taste, striking the perfect balance between all the nuances of taste.
Everything is simple, elegant, beautiful and convenient. Perhaps I could really buy such a thing for my office.
Project page on Kickstarter
Pins collective
Everything new is well forgotten old. At one time, the icons practically disappeared, but in recent years they have become fashionable again. They are worn on jackets, shirts, bags, backpacks and even hats. Moreover, the badge is not just a beautiful accessory, but also a way to declare something about yourself to the world.
Pins Collective is a modern digital badge that the authors of the project call the first of its kind. The image in it changes literally in two clicks, through the proprietary application on the smartphone. You can either upload a ready-made image, or you can manually specify the background, texture, lettering, logo and other elements. If desired, the result can be shared with a friend.
One of the 'chips' of the device is the support for animation, however, in this mode the icon will last only 2.5 hours instead of the prescribed 74.
Project page on Kickstarter