Time to say goodbye to all your old, boring smartphone accessories. These startups will have you digging into your pockets for some awesome tech to make your device more efficient and definitely a lot smarter.
When startups meet smartphones, cool accessories are born. Smartphones are our life lines, but sadly, we still need a bunch of add-on accessories to maximise our experience when it comes to the handheld device. All of us carry chargers, cables, OTG drives, adapters and more for utilising our smartphone's full potential. Fortunately, as phones become smarter each day, a lot of innovation is also surfacing in the smartphone accessories market. Startups for one are foraying into the smartphone ancillaries space, with fresh ideas that will make using your device a more effortless experience.
WonderCube – A keyring for charge, sync, stand and more
Eliminating the most common problem of using a smartphone, WonderCube is a little box-shaped keyring that houses a a host of accessories in a single cubic-inch. Doing away with the frustration of carrying multiple chargers, adapters and drives, WonderCube has a built-in charging cable, acts as a smartphone stand, has an OTG USB, allows for fast sync and can attach to a normal battery for charging your smartphone. Yes, a 9V duracell battery can be directly attached to the WonderCube to charge your phone. Now that is wonderful! WonderCube is up for pre-order on Indigogo for $55 (Rs. 3,714) with an international delivery charge of $10 (Rs. 675).
Slimger PRO- A portable battery that charges itself magnetically
It is very common to carry a power bank around, only to realise it's dead when you most need it. Slimger Pro is a startup project that resolves this issue. The Slimger Pro is a 3000mAh power bank, but if you get a bunch of them, you never need to worry about charging them. When stacked on top of each other, the Slimger Pros charge simultaneously, using their own magnetic force. Slimger Pro is a winner of the IF Design Awards and is also Apple MFI certified. You can pre-order your Slimger Pro double battery pack for $65 + shipping (Rs. 4,391 approx.) and deliveries are expected to begin March this year.
UsBidi – The intelligent charging cable
It's crucial to maintain the health of your smartphone's battery. Over charge it and it loses its effectiveness, under charge it and the battery loses its capacity. The UsBidi charging cable avoids all the hassle and gives you an intelligent charging solution in a single cable. UsBidi not only doubles the charging speed on a computer's USB slot, but also automatically shuts off power once the device is fully charged, so you don't have to unplug it. There are versions of the cable available with a micro-USB, lightning and USB Type C connector. The cable itself is stress proof and tangle proof, making it easy to maintain. The UsBidi charging cable costs $25 (Rs. 1689) and shipping is available worldwide.
eora 3D – A 3D scanner powered by your smartphone
Remember when you forgot your 3D scanner at home and couldn't scan that cool Batman figurine you saw at Comin Con? Well, that doesn't happen to everybody because everyone cannot afford a 3D scanner. Eora 3D aims to solve this problem for the thoudands of designers, architects and model makers who rely on their smartphones for work. The eora 3D captures everyday physical objects and surfaces turning them into high-quality 3D models using your phone. Compatible with both Android and iOS, the eora 3D scanner connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 and the eora 3D App is free to download from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The eora 3D costs $289 (Rs. 19,524) as compared to traditional 3D scanners that cost over $15,000.
Revols – Bluetooth earphones that mold to any ear shape
Finally, a pair of earphones that fit! Revols earphones are also a startup baby and these Bluetooth buds can smartly mold themselves to the shape of your ear in just 60 seconds. Revols also come with audio technology from Onkyo. The earphones give a wire-free listning experience, along with passive noise isolation, app equaliser and in-line volume controls. They also come in a super compact carrying case that doubles up as a charger for the buds. A basic Revols kit with extra add-ons starts at $205 (Rs. 13,849).
uPeek – A microscope for your smartphone
Did you ever imagine that microscopes could one day be as small and sleek as a credit card? Well, that day is here. uPeek is a credit card sized device that attaches to your smartphone and turns it into a professional microscope. uPeek connects to Android and iOS devices with the ease of Bluetooth and houses a 4 element lens for undistorted, high-contrast images. All this comes for a price of $145 (Rs. 9,796) and can be bought from the startup's Indiegogo page.
Blipcast – Stream any audio source to your smartphone and listen in isolation
Ever been hit by a flying pillow for watching late night TV and disturbing others in the house? I know I have and Blipcast is a boon for all those who have faced this problem. Blipcast connects to the audio source of your choice and you can turn your cheap earbuds or pricey, noise-cancelling headphones into wireless headphones for your TV or other audio gadgets. By default, Blipcast will connect to your smart devices over a home wifi network. It can also be configured as a direct access point. Blipcast is one to wait for as the campaign is still ongoing on Kickstarter.
Let us know what you think of our list of 7 cool accessories from 7 equally awesome startups. Keep reading Digit for more of such articles.
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Adamya Sharma
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