The Gadgets & Games Of Kickstarter March 14th 2013 Edition

MUO

The Gadgets & Games Of Kickstarter March 14th 2013 Edition

Perhaps you haven’t heard, but there is this nifty website called Kickstarter where people can pledge to support projects that they’re interested in. Little things – like Android game consoles, eInk watches, and high-budget video games. Each Kickstarter is its own drama representing the hopes and dreams of at least one person. Will it succeed? Will it fail? Will it become a media sensation? By now you have to know all about where people from all around the web contribute to and support the projects that they’re most interested in. These projects include all sorts of interesting new products like Android consoles, interesting eInk watches, or high-budget video games. Each Kickstarter project is unique in its own way, representing hard work and dreams of one person or an entire team of people. Will it succeed? ? Will that Kickstarter project become a media sensation? It’s impossible to know whether a project will succeed on Kickstarter until the money starts rolling in – or doesn’t. Let's explore some awesome Kickstarters to watch.

The Up-And-Comers

This oddly named project aims to create a scanning solution so portable that it can be placed in a backpack. To do this, FOPYDO harnesses the power of your smartphone’s camera with a unique document and camera cradle. Once constructed, users can take pictures of documents and even use barcodes to sort documents, if desired. The project was just launched and has a $50,000 goal.

Many Kickstarters have tried to create personal home hubs, some of which I’ve covered. Most have failed to attract backers. Prizm offers something more than most, however, because it ties connected home functions to a specific device with an intuitive interface. The Prizm hardware includes a touchscreen, and sensors for temperature, humidity and motion. Users can expand on this basic functionality with third-party sensors and cameras. The project’s goal is a lofty $200,000.

This project is in support of an existing invite-only service, SANDBOXR. The service gives users an easy-to-use tool for creating 3D models and SANDBOXR prints them for a fee using 3D printers that are much larger (and more expensive!) than those users can enjoy at home. The start-up is already in need for a second 3D printer, but doesn't have the cash on hand – which is where you come in. Backers who pledge at least $25 can have their custom creation printed at 3 inches tall and everyone who pledges at least $5 receives an invite to the service.

http://youtu.be/Et2vSriOS10 Victory is a new real-time strategy game from Petroglyph, the studio behind as-yet-unreleased MMO-RTS End Of Nations. For reasons unknown, Petroglyph’s publisher has taken development control away from the studio. Rather than give up the developers have decided to start work on new game that follows a similar formula but ditches End Of Nations’ bright sci-fi visuals for a gritty World War II settings. The goal of $700,000 is a lot, but unlike many competitors, Petroglyph already has gameplay to show.

The Contenders

Guardian is the Porsche of routers. At its core, it does nothing another router can’t – Guardian just does it better. Besides a wide range of features, including 802.11n, five Gigabit Ethernet ports and support, Guardian also boasts a custom app that lets users control the router’s functionality directly from their phone. The goal is to make unlocking a router’s potential as easy as using a web browser. Currently the project has made a slim fraction of its $358,000 goal, but there’s still more than a month left.

This project is an interesting cross between art and technology. Rather the providing a product, IMAGOphotour is attempting to take the world’s largest 1:1 portrait camera on tour. This unusual device, which is seen above, can take huge black-and-white portraits that are absolutely unique – no similar device exists in the world. The only problem is location. Currently the IMAGO is tied to Berlin, Germany – but if this project is successful, it will tour across the globe. Funding stands at about half its 95,000 Pound goal with just a few days remaining, so act quickly if you’re interested!

The Losers

A good idea is sometimes enough, but excellent project production values are sometimes needed for success. SuperVault, a hardware file and folder encryption key, didn’t have the best video or images – and that seriously hurt its prospects. Backers pledged well less than half of the project’s modest $20,000 goal.

The Winners

The road to success has been longer than I expected for this project, but it successfully raised its $80,000 pound goal with less than a week remaining. Backers who pledged at least 599 pounds for the “Early Backer Special” will be receiving their 3D scanner in September. Everyone else must wait until October.

Sometimes niche ideas are the most successful as they fill a desire people had, but never thought would be fulfilled. Such is the case with ProjectQ, a motherboard designed to run any operating system. This means it has a full set of ports for Windows, OS X and Linux (among others) including FireWire and . The project launched on March 4but has already beaten its $87,000 goal by a fair margin and still has almost two weeks remaining. What Kickstarter projects have you supported lately?