List of Dodgy Crowd Source Funded Projects

[Simon P]

Hi All,

While watching the MU-Opic TIC fiasco, I came across this one as soon as their campaign started;

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thumbtrack-the-world-s-smallest-wearable-mouse--2#comments

I mean these guys were going to Prototype, Produce and bring to market a brand new type of Wearable "Mouse" for $500.  Sounded fishy from the getgo.

They ended up raising >$31K and have now stated they are creating an additional campaign to raise MORE money.  I knew $500 wouldn't do it

Simon

[janoc]

There have been attempts to build these "finger mice" before, there are even some products like that on the market already. E.g. the Genius Ring mouse (http://www.geniusnet.com/Genius/wSite/ct?xItem=47711&ctNode=105) or http://www.techisdom.com/tag/finger-based-mouse/

There are others, but apart from the novelty value, these gadgets universally suck because of the poor ergonomics. Those Indiegogo folks really had to be smoking something very strong thinking they could sell it for $500.

[coppice]

Does anyone remember the HP notebook from the 90s with a tiny mouse that pulled out from the side in a little arm? 

[PlainName]

HP notebook from the 90s with a tiny mouse

Yes, my partner had one. I thought it was brilliant

[Rasz]

Hi All,

While watching the MU-Opic TIC fiasco, I came across this one as soon as their campaign started;

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thumbtrack-the-world-s-smallest-wearable-mouse--2#comments

I mean these guys were going to Prototype, Produce and bring to market a brand new type of Wearable "Mouse" for $500.  Sounded fishy from the getgo.

They ended up raising >$31K and have now stated they are creating an additional campaign to raise MORE money.  I knew $500 wouldn't do it

Simon

mmm so innovative

http://www.gizmag.com/genius-wireless-ring-mouse-release/18639/

[Simon P]

There have been attempts to build these "finger mice" before, there are even some products like that on the market already. E.g. the Genius Ring mouse (http://www.geniusnet.com/Genius/wSite/ct?xItem=47711&ctNode=105) or http://www.techisdom.com/tag/finger-based-mouse/

There are others, but apart from the novelty value, these gadgets universally suck because of the poor ergonomics. Those Indiegogo folks really had to be smoking something very strong thinking they could sell it for $500.

Hi Janoc,

No, I didn't mean it will sell for $500.  What I meant is on their original funding goal, they set the amount at $500.  They ended up with $31K.  This smelt of BS the first time I saw how much they were trying to raise.  They say the retail will be $145.

I mean who in their right mind could think realistically they could even think about endeavoring on a project like this for $500 start up ?  Now they mention that they are starting a Second IDGG campaign.  Quote;

"b) We are thrilled that our last campaign raised a little more than $30,000. However, to be able to visit potential manufacturing partners in China and to bring ThumbTrack™ into production, additional funds are needed"

I think they are trying to lead more lambs to the slaughter. 

I also foresee backers leaving similar comments with this mob as the MU-Opics backers left MU-Optics i.e. Pleading for their money back.  I reckon that pretty soon, when the deadline comes and goes, there will be a few BS updates and slowly but surely there will be few and far between answers from them until they disappear................. Not that I am sceptical or anything.

I CANNOT believe how many suckers there are out there 

Simon

[andtfoot]

I can't believe Indiegogo or whoever allows a single person to start multiple campaigns for the same project...

[coppice]

I can't believe Indiegogo or whoever allows a single person to start multiple campaigns for the same project...

I can't believe Indiegogo cares one way or the other, as long as their site gets traffic.

[Simon P]

I can't believe Indiegogo or whoever allows a single person to start multiple campaigns for the same project...

I can't believe Indiegogo cares one way or the other, as long as their site gets traffic.

The next "Scam", sorry meant "Campaign" is underway at a HIGHER price per unit.  Already over $5K.  I cannot believe how stupid and gullable people can be

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thumbtrack-wearable-mouse-better-than-ever

Simon

[janoc]

Hi Janoc,

No, I didn't mean it will sell for $500.  What I meant is on their original funding goal, they set the amount at $500.  They ended up with $31K.  This smelt of BS the first time I saw how much they were trying to raise.  They say the retail will be $145.

Sorry, I have misunderstood, I thought they were trying to sell it for that price. However, flex funding campaign with a $500 target trying to raise money for things like FCC/CE certification, injection molding and whatever (according to the latest campaign he has posted linked few posts above), that's just off-scale    That's actually even worse than trying to sell this thing for $500 as it is obvious the guy cannot be actually trying to produce this.

[dustout]

Supposedly a hoverboard has been invented. Sure. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/142464853/hendo-hoverboards-worlds-first-real-hoverboard

[0xdeadbeef]

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/3d-pocketcopter-the-flying-camera

I'm still not 100% sure if this is a simple scam or just the project of complete idiots.
When they started it, they didn't even understand how a coax heli works or what a swashplate is for. They didn't get that a few mm parallax for a stereo camera just doesn't make any sense.
They still don't grasp that the camera picture will look like filmed by a drunk sailor and they think that using a "12V battery" in a flying gadget is a good idea. Well, I could continue endlessly.

I doesn't really matter anyway that they still don't have a prototype or any experience in creating helis or designing a project for production because if you look at their price point (89€) for a coax heli with 3D camera on a pan and tilt gimbal, 3axis gyro and magnetometer, Bluetooth/Wifi app control for which nothing is developed at this point, you just can't take this project seriously.

Still people threw their money on them, all the gadget side reported about the thing being "pen size" (though the current "specs" say 400g and 16x5cm) and praising the "creator" while everything they created at this point (and up to now) wss a lousy rendering of a thing that could not remotely fly and a video where they used other people's footage.

[FrankBuss]

Supposedly a hoverboard has been invented. Sure. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/142464853/hendo-hoverboards-worlds-first-real-hoverboard

Looks real. Some people tested it:
http://recode.net/2014/10/20/its-not-quite-marty-mcfly-but-the-hoverboard-is-here-video/
If they are using some the eddy currents in some clever way it might work. You can do some amazing things even with static magnets:

But I wonder how long the battery lasts. It might need a lot of power for the induction, or a clever combination of static and dynamic magnets.

[Marco]

But I wonder how long the battery lasts. It might need a lot of power for the induction, or a clever combination of static and dynamic magnets.

It uses rotating permanent magnets, the energy goes electromagnetic drag. That said, it would be much cooler with electromagnets ... because that way at least there would be a chance you could do tricks with it (with a couple of kg of rotating magnets in the thing you're not going to flip it).

[Hade]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1602632816/qeg-for-everyone?ref=category

I wouldn't even class this one as dodgy. It's just plain fraud.

[Derresh]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1602632816/qeg-for-everyone?ref=category

I wouldn't even class this one as dodgy. It's just plain fraud.

This makes you just one of the ppl that try to hide the truth form the current establishemnt

I just find it sad how basic physics skill are overshadowed by conspiracy theories

[Derresh]

Something i came across today when being bored.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mglintzer/adicon-analog-to-digital-converter-for-hifi-enthus?ref=category

I like it how the stress out all the external features. they are so much more important then what DAC they used or other components. But hey it has a high tech made front panel in two colors and some nice flashy LEDs

[Jeddychan]

this showed up on my facebook newsfeed today.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rayton-solar-cheaper-than-fossil-fuels

[electr_peter]

Something i came across today when being bored.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mglintzer/adicon-analog-to-digital-converter-for-hifi-enthus?ref=category
I like it how the stress out all the external features. they are so much more important then what DAC they used or other components. But hey it has a high tech made front panel in two colors and some nice flashy LEDs

What is so dodgy about this project?
It seems they have a production ready(?) prototype and know what they are doing. Product claims are reasonable. There is whitepaper available showing at first glance nice looking internal construction, schematic and some measurements.
If I was looking for such item, I would consider backing this project. Good luck to them.

They want to have a nice case and front panel - what is wrong with that? Product otherwise would just be black box with audio in/out and power cables.

[Derresh]

Well might have been a bit to hastly to call it dodgy, but the marketing on it makes it seem... weird, If you have a product like that and you want to sell it to ppl that know stuff about audio you should work with technical stuff not showing off a set of flashing LEDs and the front panel.

I do hope this thing works as they make it look like, since that is a useful thing, but the hipster audiophile marketing makes it look like a toy rather the audio product they claim it to be

[miguelvp]

Not many good ADCs out there but for $400 you can get this if your computer still has firewire:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/731/features/

4-in/4-out 24-bit/192kHz

Of course they have more current devices:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/category/498

For around $1000 you can get:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1268/498

And for around $200 you can get:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1166/498
but only 2 channels at 192KHz

On the $600 range this is a nice one as well:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1127/498

But I do wish them well, maybe their equipment is better.

[Derresh]

Yeh true, despite the weird (at least form my prespective) marketing I do hope this will live up to expetation.

Also i came accross this
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/neo-neurophone-n-neural-e-efficiency-o-optimizer

Can someone tell me what the hell is a Pink Fibonacci Frequency ? This looks like some new age bs... founded at 300%

[codeboy2k]

Can someone tell me what the hell is a Pink Fibonacci Frequency ? This looks like some new age bs... founded at 300%

Google around for pink noise and Fibonacci Phi and Binaural beats.. I think it's related. 

Yeah, it's definitely some new age bs.

I tried to listen to the Fibonacci binaural beats you can find on youtube and I just wanted to vomit.

[Derresh]

Can someone tell me what the hell is a Pink Fibonacci Frequency ? This looks like some new age bs... founded at 300%

Google around for pink noise and Fibonacci Phi and Binaural beats.. I think it's related. 

Yeah, it's definitely some new age bs.

I tried to listen to the Fibonacci binaural beats you can find on youtube and I just wanted to vomit.

I tryed... but when I did google for it and read it... i felt like i saw listen to pink noise and it didn't make much sense. How do ppl buy in to this ?

[FrankBuss]

I think I found the patent mentioned in the campaign, at least looks like it is the only patent from Gillis P Flanagan: https://www.google.com/patents/US3647970 . It was cited at the bottom of this page: http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/supressed_inventions/suppressed_inventions23.htm where Flanagan wrote about a conspiracy regarding NSA who forbid his patent, which is strange, because you can clearly see it on Google patents

This is the Youtube video of the pink fibonacci frequency:



Looks like just a few low frequency sine waves and very quiet at -47 dBFS, which doesn't make sense, because you have to turn up the volume and then later other audio is too loud. Original spectrum:



37 dB amplified waveform:



And of course the device works, no matter what sound it produces, because of the placebo effect. Production cost would be much less than $50, nice profit. Works best with his Megahydrate snake oil (the $33 pledge on the same Indiegogo campaign), which is described here: http://www.megahydrate.eu