Travel photographers can’t wait to hear this. Your mobile phones could turn into an adventure photography device soon with the Buzz Technology’s, a British start-up, testing a pocket size phone case with drone technology fitted into it.

Dubbed “drone-in-a-phone” concept was recently selected as a finalist in British Inventor Project and could also be seen as an alternative to selfie sticks. Attached to an integrated drone, it would enable long flight times and high-resolution photography. The four-propeller drone is tethered to your mobile and, drawing battery from the phone, it is able to remain in flight for 25 minutes according to the website of developers Buzz Technology.

The device is slotted on a magnetic mounting. It can take action shots with less risk and more flexibility. If reversed, it could eliminate the need for a selfie camera. The small camera module enables a selfie pole to be built into a phone casing or housing. For hands-free recording, he camera can be added to various types of equipment.

Image: YouTube screenshot of Buzz Technology

The development has almost been wrapped up and the Kickstarter campaign is due to launch by September 2016.

To be notified when they are ready to launch so that you can try and get an early-bird offer, please leave your contact details here.

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Realising that you forgot to turn off electricals at home while travelling will probably make you anxious for the rest of your trip. Apart from the added electricity costs, there could be risks of damage of property. While a slew of smart home solutions have come up recently, high cost is limiting the rate of adoption. The latest addition to the list of smart home solutions is Kasia which also claims to be the most affordable.

Its Kickstarter campaign is getting lot of attention from backers. Working of Kasia is pretty simple. The plugs and switches in your home have to be replaced with the smarter ones from Kasia. This will allow you to control the appliances plugged into the plug or lights and fans being controlled through the switch. Other devices include a ‘Remote’ to control the devices, ‘Open’ to keep track of doors and windows and notify you if you leave something open. ‘Presence’ to detect your position using Bluetooth and ‘Hub’ to store all your data privately offline.

The devices can communicate with each other and the mobile app to automate various processes. You can control the system using the mobile app from anywhere. The system can react differently when you are away and give you timely alerts about your home. You can also schedule the lights or any other appliances to turn on or off on a schedule when you are away. The project is raising funds on Kickstarter and is just USD 1,300 shy of USD 30,000 goal with another 32 days to go. You can find more details on their Kickstarter page.

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Most of the passengers face a common problem while travelling in flights.They complain about the small legroom space available right in front of their seats. To help out passengers in such situations, The Airhook can be the ideal gadget for the air travel! It is an all-in-one cup and electronics holder that can be attached to the back seats in front of the travellers thereby removing the need for tray tables.

Craig Rabin – the inventor of ‘The Airhook’ – has extensive experience providing strategy, management and implementation services within the business-to-consumer and business-to-business markets. Also, he has an in-depth understanding of core processes, including overall program development, process planning and production. We spoke with him to learn more about him and the story behind ‘The Airhook’. Here’s an excerpt from the conversation:

By introducing yourself, can you please share with us about your past experiences in the business world?

My name is Craig Rabin, I’m the inventor of The Airhook. From an early age, I spent my time dreaming up inventions. These are now a source of inspiration as I begin to make the sketches from my childhood a reality, thanks to 3D printing. My entrepreneurial spirit and passion led to starting my first business when I was 16 years old. Since then, moving to Seattle from Chicago, I’ve gone on to create eleven companies. It was during one of these business endeavors that I developed a love for travelling and started thinking about how to could improve the experience for others.

What was the idea behind developing a unique gadget like ‘The Airhook’ for travellers?

The idea for The Airhook came from a flight I took over a year ago now, as I was wearing a sport coat and considered using the tray table as a way to hold my coat up. I went home and created a few versions using my 3D printer and on my next journey, used it to hold my coat up as planned! I then ordered coffee and realized I’d have nowhere to put my cup if using his tray table for a hook. This sparked me and a small team of engineers to create a two-in-one solution that incorporated a beverage holder with a device holder that features an adjustable cord, so it could hold a larger range of mobile phones and tablets.

Who are the users of this gadget?

Travellers all over the world! Since launching on Kickstarter on June 11th, we have sold over 6,000 Airhooks, with orders from 28 countries. Our first production run begins in December and we fulfill all pre-orders before the New Year.

What was your early traction?

Kickstarter was a huge jumping off point for The Airhook. The Airhook was funded in 73 hours and ended 481% above our funding target.

How is ‘The Airhook’ different from others in the fray?

Our concept was built around better accommodating today’s travel needs, but without affecting your fellow passenger. We wanted to create a system that only leveraged your “airspace”, which differs from other products promising a more convenience flight.

What are your future plans?

Continue to develop The Airhook and accommodate additional forms of transportation. Our invention shop (which produced The Airhook) also has a handful of other unrelated products we are working on.

Before we come to the end of this interview, would you like to share with us anything more?

For anyone trying to invest a new product… know it’s not as easy as it was coming up with the idea and sketching it on your bar napkin. You will find good days and bad day along your journey. In the case of The Airhook, we spent 13 months developing the concept. Design – build – breakdown – repeat. We went through 9 versions of The Airhook and there were times I was ready to throw in the towel. Luckily, I surrounded myself with people who’d go out of their way to support me. Do the same. Bring others into your inner circle and make the journey as a team. You will find that your team will motivate you to keep your head up and even out those highs and lows. Teamwork makes the dream work!

To learn more about ‘The Airhook’ gadget, you can visit its website. Since its inception, it has been a highly popular gadget. This is evident as ‘The Airhook’ project was funded in just over 73 hours in Kickstarter.

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To make your travel easier while flying around the world or just walking across the town, we introduce you an exemplary travel companion called MOS Pack. It features a built-in charging station and internal cable management that helps you charge your gadgets without taking them out of your backpack.

MOS Pack for travellers

(Photo Credit: Image by Macrumors)

During journeys, you usually face the trouble of charging your gadgets like smartphones, laptops and tablets. At times, you might have to charge all your devices simultaneously or you might not find enough plugs to fit all your adaptors. This unique backpack will help you out in such situations.

Feature-wise, MOS Pack holds 20 litres of storage space with a range of organisational options to keep everything within reach. It has utility pockets like Passport Pocket, Smartphone Pocket and Bottle Pocket. It has the latest version of MOS’s (Reach) extension cable and magnets built within the pack that keeps the cables organised. The cable can transform any power outlet into a mobile charging station with its built-in magnetic cable management system.

It is quite slim, making it a comfortable luggage for travellers. The stylish yet professional appearance of the bag makes it an ideal luggage for both business and leisure travellers. According to the makers of the backpack, it is rugged enough for trekking and other outdoor activities. MOS Pack can act as an everyday commuter bag, weekender bag or carry-on bag.

To enhance your travel experience with MOS Pack, do watch the video by Kickstarter below:

MOS Pack has successfully grabbed the attention of the both international and domestic travellers. It has already achieved its funding goal of $15000 within seven hours of its launch at Kickstarter.

Would you like to try out MOS Pack for your next travel?

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With the increasing number of tech savvy travellers, we have recently seen a rise in the number of smart luggage options. Earlier we came across Bluesmart, which comes brimmed with technology, and Trunkster, a travel companion that brings innovation in terms of design. (Read: Meet the iPhones of travel luggage) Now another carry-on bag is making news all over and is raising funds on Kickstarter. This new carry-on is called G-RO and comes with a design suitable for a tech savvy traveller and can take up lot more abuse than the conventional carry-on bags.

Backers have already pledged over USD 1.6 million for this carry-on. This is the most funded luggage on Kickstarter beating Trunkster by a significant margin already. Add Indiegogo to the mix and Bluesmart still takes the crown of most funded crowdfunded project with USD 2.2 million raised but it might change in the 16 more days G-RO has got to raise funds.

G-RO has been designed keeping the modern traveller in mind. It sits within the size limits for airline carry-on luggage and uses the space inside efficiently. It has pockets on the exterior to carry devices like laptop and tablet easily. Just above that you will find the charging station so you can simply plug in your devices and put them in the respective pockets. The top of the bag also doubles up as a stand for laptop or tablet, something that might be useful in the airport waiting area. Inside they have added special pockets that you can use for your personal items.

The most prominent pieces in this bag are the wheels. Conventional bags come with small wheels that are fitted using multiple rivets. The G-RO however comes with large wheels that aren’t mounted at the centre. Instead they are large discs. Large wheels make it easier to pull the bag on rough surfaces and as the centre of gravity is closer to the wheels, it is much less effort. To further ease things for the traveller, it has got a handle significantly longer than the industry standards. To prevent the bottom from scraping on bad surfaces, the belly is arched and has been made of waterproof materials to keep the items in bag safe.

For added security, one can choose to get USD 99 optional electronic module which includes a 23,000 mAh battery, location tracker and proximity detector. This battery pack powers the USB ports included at the top of this bag.

You can find more details about G-RO on the Kickstarter page here. They are raising funds for another 16 days and you can pledge to get your hands on it early. Shipping is estimated to start around August next year.

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