Light - The Phone Only Phone
Light Phone is credit card-sized cell phone that pairs with your existing phone. It is designed to be used as little as possible, and comes with no bells or whistles. Both figuratively and literally. Without even a display screen to its name, the light phone can't text, snap photos, surf the web, or help you take time away from all the awesome things you're doing to post Facebook updates about all the awesome things you're doing. And while the Light Phone will ring, it won't ding, ping, or sing Maroon 5 at you all throughout the camping trip you're allegedly taking to unplug and get away from it all. In other words, the Light Phone is just like a...like...phone.
Like one of these! Suggesting Light Phone represents a technological advancement of at least...one, two, three...negative fifteen years!
But just one question: why the hell does it cost $100? When I can get a prepaid flip phone from Sears for $19.99?
That wasn't a springboard for me to launch into all the benefits of Light Phone over no-frills, pay-as-you-go cell models. I honestly don't know. Sure, it's really small and all slick and Apple-looking, but otherwise I don't see much difference between buying it and buying a simple prepaid phone for way less. Light Phone makes outgoing calls and forwards all calls from your primary phone, but it uses an app for the forwarding service and so isn't linked to your phone in terms of mobile number--it has its own--or cell plan--it's still just a prepaid GSM phone that functions independently of your carrier.
It does come preloaded with minutes, along with a SIM card and the forwarding app. And it has a sweet Dot Matrix LED strip to show the time and numbers you're typing. And a touchscreen. And something that, at printing, over 1,700 people had pledged nearly $220,000 to back on Kickstarter. With over a month still to go in the campaign.
Maybe Light Phone is appealing to a younger generation that never knew of such things as Motorola International 3200s and Nokia 1011s. Kind of like how I got all whipped up about Fundies and then someone old was like, "Dude. Those are from the 70s.
In any case, if you want to get your hands on (but mostly keep them off of) the phone designed to be used as little as possible, pledge for yours on Kickstarter through June 27, 2015.
Muchas danke to Manny for the Dude Product Tip.
/sangean-weather-alert-62296.jpg?mode=crop "Sangean Weather Alert Multi-Powered Radio")
Sangean Weather Alert Multi-Powered Radio
Hey there, survivalists, beach bums, and everyone who likes to be prepared with a bit of fun on the side! Meet the Sangean MMR-99, the Swiss Army knife of radios. This isn't just any emergency radio - it's a powerhouse...
/kim-jong-un-nuclear-attack-30658.jpg?mode=crop "Kim Jong Un Nuclear Attack Preparedness Package")
Kim Jong Un Nuclear Attack Preparedness Package
Sometimes, actions speak louder than worries. Putting together a Kim Jong Un nuclear attack preparedness package doesn't just give us something to do besides sit around and worry about North Korea launching missiles and...
SOS Parachute - High-Rise Building Escape System
Panamanian inventor Morris Shahbazi once bragged to disbelieving ears that his SOS Parachute, an emergency evacuation system for people in high-rise office buildings, hotels, and residences, could open in 100 feet, or...
/in-case-of-cabinets-14337.jpg "In Case Of Cabinets")
In Case Of Cabinets
In case of a zombie, vampire, werewolf, or demon emergency take this tiny sledgehammer, break the glass, and prepare to fight for your life. Or run like a girl while tossing Holy Water over your shoulder. In Case Of cabinets...
/emergency-drinking-water-5065.jpg?mode=crop "Emergency Drinking Water Storage")
Emergency Drinking Water Storage
If you have an extra bathtub lying around, have I got a deal for your Zombie Apocalypse preparations. The waterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage Bladder lines everyone's second favorite bathroom basin and, when connected...
Rhino Shield for Smartphones
Although the aesthetics of the shattered screen look are starting to grow on me, I do prefer the functionality of smartphones whose parts are intact. And the very nature of touchscreens--that to work as intended they...
/the-espire-gas-mask-23370.jpg?mode=crop "The Espire Gas Mask")
The Espire Gas Mask
Carlos Schreib created the Espire respirator for professional varnishers and chemical engineers who don't want to work with a heavy filter over their mouth or walk around the office looking like an evil steampunk doktor...
Phonebloks - Modular Cell Phones
Dave Hakkens has the perfect cell phone for you. Or rather, he has a Santa Claus sack of bloks you can use to build the perfect cell phone for you. It's called Phoneblok. It's genius. For as many reasons as bloks comprising...
/victoper-200000-lumen-61527.jpg?mode=crop "Victoper 200,000-Lumen Spotlight")
Victoper 200,000-Lumen Spotlight
Here's a little something for your next interrogation. The Victoper 200,000-Lumen Spotlight doesn't just illuminate, it does the Lord's work. With advanced P70 light chips whose irradiation distance reaches 2,624', it...
SPOT - Smartphone-Satellite Connector
I might say I want to go off the grid for a week, but really I mean I want to be away from people and civilization right up to the point that I need the help of people and civilization because I got my leg stuck in a...
/ringo-water-bottle-with-phone-61470.jpg?mode=crop "Ringo Water Bottle with Phone Holder")
Ringo Water Bottle with Phone Holder
Ringo Water Bottles and their attached MagSafe phone holders are snazzy and all, but how many times do you really need an impromptu mount that doesn't involve a willing partner?...
/dras-foldable-smartphone-19876.jpg "DRAS Foldable Smartphone Concept")
DRAS Foldable Smartphone Concept
You can't buy a DRAS foldable smartphone yet, but the flexible touchscreen technology it uses is at least a little more than just a pipe dream. DRAS stands for Digital Resistive Area Sensing, and it's a real system in...