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Crowdfunding is changing the way new gadgets and accessories make it into the world. By giving small companies and inventors a low-barrier means to make money, they can see their prototypes become a reality, even without thousands in venture capital backing or a deep bank account. Because of this, we've seen a lot of truly unique and useful products make it into the market that never otherwise would have. But, that's not good if you don't know about it. We checked out Kickstarter and Indiegogo for the best new campaigns that launched this month. Read on for our picks.
Image may be NSFW.
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QuietOn
Right now, noise canceling headphones are typically large and bulky. QuietOn pairs that technology down to earbud size. Rather than just muffling out all sounds, as a pair of earplugs would do, the earbuds are designed to block sounds that interrupt your sleep, such as snoring, so you can experience true silence. You can pre-order a pair for $130 on Indiegogo.
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Bambooti
I love those wooden cases and backs for smartphones. They look beautiful and unique. Now, Bambooti will offer a similar option for your Macbook, with variants in Walnut, Black Ash, Bamboo, Mahogany, and Cherry. The wood backing is 70 mm thin, and sticks onto your Mac via 3M sticking technology, which can be removed at any time with no residue. You can pre-order yours for $55.
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Grove
If you've always wanted a garden, but the lack the outdoor space or the green thumb, Grove could be your solution. It's an all-in-one system composed of a fish tank on bottom, two plant beds, a storage area, and lights that use aquaponics to grow fresh produce. Thanks to the balance of the fish, bacteria, and the plants, your greens are provided with nutrient rich soil, and the fish tank with clean water. It's a big investment at $3,400 (and that's at its pre-order discount), but is certainly an interesting idea.
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Brains On!
If you like learning about science, and also enjoy listening to podcasts, you might want to support the Brains On! podcast, which is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. Recorded by kids, and fueled by their questions, it's billed as a "science podcast for curious kids and grown-ups" and will "explore things like space, animals, volcanoes, and farts!" COUNT ME IN.
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Faraday Cortland
When I first moved to San Francisco, I was intimidated to try to ride a bike around because of all the steep hills. An electric bike fixes that issue, giving you an extra boost when you call on it. Faraday's Cortland design doesn't look like it's hiding a 250W motor — it just looks like a cute townie. If you're feeling flush, you can pre-order one for $2,400.
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CARV
You've clearly advanced past the bunny slopes, but you feel like you sure could use a little guidance before tackling a technical black diamond. If you don't want to take actual ski lessons, you could try using CARV instead. CARV is the first wearable for skiing. It attaches to your boots to give you real-time feedback on your technique, which you can check out as soon as you finish a run, and can even coach you through different drills. For $200, you can pre-order two sensors that attach to the back of your boots, and a pair of inserts you put inside.
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Sense
Sense is kind of like the Amazon Echo, but you can also use it control different connected products around your home, such as Philips Hue lightbulbs. If your home were an orchestra, it would be the conductor. It will reportedly be able to detect your presence in a room, recognize both voice commands and physical gestures, and learn your home preferences so things like lighting and temperature are optimized when you enter a room. It also looks cool, classic (thanks to the wood base), and futuristic at the same time. You can pre-order one for $250.
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