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Pebble Kickstarter Repeat Ethics Fundraising Venture Financial Time Core
Business, Editorial, Watches, Wearable Technology

Why Pebble’s Reliance On Kickstarter Strikes Us As Odd

May 27, 2016

Pebble Kickstarter Repeat Ethics Fundraising Venture Financial Time Core

It is great to see one of the original smartwatch makers continue to progress and release new and updated products, but its reliance on Kickstarter is starting to become odd. We understand that Pebble found tremendous success with their original watch on Kickstarter and likes to return to the platform for the benefit of the company’s supporters and fans. But if Scrubs star Zach Braff got raked over the coals by major news outlets for funding a movie via Kickstarter, why is everyone ok with an established tech company turning to the platform for a 3rd consecutive product launch. At least with last year’s Pebble Time campaign, the products were fully developed and within weeks of shipping. This time around the devices are at least 4 to 8 months away from being in customers’ hands. The whole thing rubs us the wrong way. Yeah, yeah, yeah…you are giving customers the opportunity to show their loyalty and purchase the items at a significant discount from retail, but that could have been done other ways and closer to launch. The reality of the situation likely lands someplace a bit darker and murkier. We think there are two main reasons behind Pebble’s approach.  

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by Doug Parker
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Pebble 2 Time Smartwatch Core Fitness Wearable GPS 3G Kickstarter
Watches, Wearable Technology

Pebble Turns To Kickstarter For New Watches & Wearable

May 26, 2016

Pebble 2 Time Smartwatch Core Fitness Wearable GPS 3G Kickstarter

Pebble has announce a new Kickstarter campaign that includes refreshes to almost all of the company’s product lineup and a brand new wearable device. Both the 2012 Pebble smartwatch and 2015 Pebble Time are being updated to version “2.” The biggest headline feature for both: a heart rate monitor; both the Pebble and Pebble Time now include an integrated optical heart rate sensor. The inclusion of the sensor also means an improved Health App. Similar to Google Calendar’s new Goal feature, the Pebble app will look for available pockets of time in your schedule and encourage you to work out during those breaks. The watch will also monitor your activity and customize activity goals to fit you – not too challenging but not too easy. The heart rate data is also being integrated into activity tracking (which also is tracking steps, calories, distance, and sleep) and graphs (which shows heart rate zones, average wake up times, and more with daily, weekly, and monthly breakdowns). All of this health data, including heart rate, can also be fed to Apple HealthKit or Google Fit.  

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by Doug Parker
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Elizabeth Clarke Unstainable shirt workwear sweat-proof kickstarter
Clothing

Elizabeth & Clarke Add Workwear To “Unstainable” Collection

May 4, 2016

Elizabeth Clarke Unstainable shirt workwear sweat-proof kickstarter

Last May, online clothing retailer Elizabeth & Clarke hit Kickstarter with a clever new product. Available in a handful of different shirt styles, the company created what they called the “Unstainable” shirt. The tops were constructed from a textile featuring a special blend of hydrophobic coatings and cotton / silk that allowed the fabric to be soft, breathable, and water repellent. The shirts really did feel amazing, especially the tees; you would never have guessed that the fabric had been treated.

Twelve months after the success of the “Unstainable” shirt, Elizabeth & Clarke are back on the crowd funding site with a new line of products featuring the company’s signature hydrophobic fabric. Included in the collection are a dress, blazer, skirt, and trousers, all designed to be perfect to wear at the office. This time around, they have improved their “Unstainable” fabric by adding a Sweat-Proof lining. The inner layer of the fabric used for the workwear collection is designed to pull sweat away from your body to a middle layer of fabric. The moisture then is able to evaporate while the inner and outer layers remain dry. The nano-coating used for the lining also offers odor protection, killing 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria. The end result is workwear that is vegan and sustainable, stain resistant, sweat proof, machine washable, wrinkle resistant, and odor resistant!  The pants or skirt are currently being offered for $80 and the blazer or dress for $100. And, just as Henry Ford said, “You can have any colour as long as it’s black” (though more colors might be unlocked through stretch goals). The Kickstarter campaign ends on June 3rd.  

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by Doug Parker
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JS Shoes 3D knitted printed kickstarter
Manufacturing, Shoes

World’s First Entirely 3D Knitted Shoes Launch On Kickstarter

February 11, 2016

JS Shoes 3D knitted printed kickstarter

While most of us understand the concept of 3D printing, you might be a little less familiar with 3d knitting. The ingenious technology allows you to three dimensionally create fabric items in a specialized loom. This means that an entire garment can be created at once with zero waste; it emerges from the loom as a complete garment. Not only is this amazing for the environment, it also results in more comfortable clothing, since they are seamless. From a designer’s perspective, 3D knitting means clothing can be prototyped in a fraction of the time (and cost) versus the tradition cut and sew approach. The technology isn’t new (it emerged in the 1990’s) but it is finally gaining traction thanks to reduced costs and advances in tech. In fact, one of the very first stories we covered was an open source 3D knitting machine called Open Knit.  

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by Doug Parker
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Avegant Glyph Shipping Release 2016 Kickstarter Amazon Headphones Video
Wearable Technology

Avegant Glyph Hybrid Headphones & Video Headset Ready To Ship

January 12, 2016

Avegant Glyph Shipping Release 2016 Kickstarter Amazon Headphones Video

Last January we told you about a clever pair of headphones that had an integrated video screen in the headband. Two years after its original Kickstarter the Avegant Glyph is now ready to ship. In the expanse of time since the device’s successful crowdfunding, Avegant has redesigned the Glyph numerous times, most recently obsessing over comfort. As a refresher, Glyph looks like a typical pair of premium around-the-ear headphones except that you can pivot the cans so that the headband is over your eyes, revealing an integrated video screen. Well, maybe “video screen” isn’t exactly the correct terminology because the device actually projects the image into your eyes using a micro mirror array. Avegant claims that their display technology, sorry “Retinal Imaging Technology,” is far superior to traditional screens because it causes less eyestrain since the light is being reflected into your eyes similar to how we see the world around us. The image displayed is equivalent to a 65″ display and by design you have peripheral vision above and below the device. As far as video content, Glyph features a HDMI plug that can accept video from smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Thankfully this means you do not have to carry around a separate unit to store videos and provide power. Speaking of power, the Glyph’s built-in battery has an expected battery life of 4 to 5 hours when viewing video and for just audio the headphone uses passive drivers. You can order the Avegant Glyph through January 15th for $599, after which the price will jump to $699. The company is currently shipping Kickstarter pledges and website preorders and expects to sell the device via Amazon in March.  

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by Doug Parker
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2015 Year In Review Wrap Up Most Popular Posts
Year In Review

Year In Review: The Most Popular Stories Of 2015

December 30, 2015

2015 Year In Review Wrap Up Most Popular Posts

2016 promises to be an unbelievable year for fashion tech, retail innovations, and wearable devices. The Fashion in an Age of Technology themed Met Ball in May has the potential to be the real coming out party for wearables and we can’t wait. But there are plenty of other exciting happenings this coming year – CES is only a few days away, a new Apple Watch is rumored for March, New Balance’s 3D printed shoes will soon hit the shelves, and we might finally see the reimagined Google Glass. And then there is everything we can’t yet imagine!

As we forge ahead into the new year, we wanted to take a look back at some of the stories that were most embraced here at Circuits And Cable Knit. Head past the break to see the most popular stories of 2015!  

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by Doug Parker
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Falyon Self Drying Jacket SDJ-01 Kickstarter
Clothing

Back To The Future Inspired Self-Drying Jacket Hits Kickstarter

December 23, 2015

Falyon Self Drying Jacket SDJ-01 Kickstarter

It seems like 2016 could be a very exciting year for Back To The Future 2 fans. Not only will we see self-lacing Nike Mags going on sale, but it appears that you will also be able to own a self-drying jacket. The SDJ-01 is the work of Falyon, a startup that has turned to Kickstarter to launch the jacket. The campaign has already surpassed its $12,000 goal, so if everything is legit, the SDJ-01 is going to become a reality. The idea is pretty simple; there are 2 “air amplifiers” that blow air into the jacket at a very high rate (similar to a hair dryer). The circulation of the air then causes the jacket to dry from the inside out. Each of the “air amplifiers” weighs about as much as an iPhone. They are powered by a small rechargeable battery that is good for 30 minutes of drying time. The forced air is vented from the jacket from 3 vents along the neckline and everything is controlled from a small power button near the front zipper. Falyon claims that it takes between 1 and 2 minutes to dry the jacket from rain or a small spill. A full on dousing in the pond in front of the town courthouse is likely to take substantially longer though. If you are looking for some utility out of the jacket, it also features internal smartphone and tablet pockets. The jacket is available in a variety of colors, including a familiar looking red/black style. The Back To The Future special edition version requires a pledge of $159 while any other color will set you back $149. Falyon expects the SDJ-01 to ship in April.

Besides being a fun thing to show off to your friends or add to your Halloween costume, we are not sure how practical the SDJ-01 is. After all, how many times have you thought, “I really need my jacket to be dry in the next 60 seconds!” But it is an intriguing concept. If everything works as promised and they continue to flesh out efficiency and miniaturization, Falyon might be best served to seek a licensing deal. Partnering with a large outdoor appear brand could make the tech more compelling to consumers. That said, we love that people are working relentlessly to bring fictional items to real life! We just hope that the SDJ-02 is also self-fitting!

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by Doug Parker
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