Kickstarter can be the home to some rather weird and, frankly, abysmal ideas, but sometimes there's a little gem waiting to be discovered. One of those gems is the Cabin iPhone battery and charging system and, if we could be so bold, we'd have to say it's pretty damn awesome.
Even though Apple's iPhone remains the subject of acclaim for its high-end, premium finish, the same cannot quite be said when it comes to durability, with scratches, scrapes, cracks and dents commonplace among the iPhone-rocking faithful, and as such, the market for protective cases and shields is very lucrative indeed. Logitech, an official distributor of third-party Apple accessories and peripherals, has just come through with a cheap, robust solution for iPhone users looking to keep their handset guarded at all times, and notably, doesn't go overboard with regards to adding bulk.
With Apple reportedly toying with the idea of bringing its own fleet of smart home products in the near future - a speculative project that may or may not see the light of day - more and more companies are looking to stake a claim to this emerging market. Google's acquisition of Nest has sparked a marked rise in start-ups relating to smart home technology, and Beddit, which started off as an IndieGogo campaign raising over half a million dollars last year with its sleep monitoring pitch, has since benefited from the guidance of established outfit Misfit. Today, we get an insight into 'Beddit', the fruit of this collaborative union between Misfit and Beddit, and on first impression, it's a product that could truly revolutionize the way we approach sleepy-time.
As if to really drive home the fact that wearables are becoming the kind of thing that every company on the planet needs to make, Adidas has today announced its very own fitness band, dubbed the FIT SMART.
Wireless charging is the kind of thing that has been around in various guises for a good while now, and with many Android phones featuring the technology as standard, Apple's iPhone has lagged behind the times somewhat, with the company refusing to add wireless charging technology to any of its devices. From what we've heard about the iPhone 6, that's not likely to change any time soon, either.
It's only going to be a matter of time until every major appliance in the home is connected to our mobile devices in some fashion. We already have kettles that can be switched on via a mobile app; intelligent thermostats that evolve and become more capable based on our behaviors as well as lighting systems that can be altered directly from a companion app to suit or moods at any given time. The possibilities are pretty much endless.
The Philips Hue really brought the idea of a smartphone and tablet-controlled lighting system to the mainstream, and since then, we've not looked back. The only problem with Hue and several other alternatives that have since spawned is that, by and large, they're pretty expensive. However, if you want the convenience and undeniable "cool" factor that comes with controlling an LED bulb using only your handset, then this new, app-assisted solution for iPhone not only energy-efficient, but also price-efficient as well.
We already live in a world where computers know pretty much everything about us, and with our smartphones tracking where we go and what we do, there are few corners of our lives that are left untouched by modern technology, and that's just the way we like it. That's why when we heard about a cup that can monitor what you're drinking and then spout out information based on that drink, we got a little big excited.
Since Apple announced and subsequently rolled out official support for third-party controllers, the vendors of said peripherals have been very much on their game. I mean, sure, the iOS device using community mightn't have taken to this new product group as keenly as Apple may have anticipated, but nevertheless, the constant flow of MFi controllers spawns at least one new model per week. Today, SteelSeries has taken the wraps off its new Stratus XL MFi controller, which, as you'll see in a moment, looks very much like the game pad of Microsoft's Xbox 360.
Since Apple introduced official support for third-party gaming accessories, we've seen a slew of renowned peripheral makers jump on the bandwagon, and now Razer has come through with a slide-out "Junglecat" case for iPhone.
