Pressy – A smart little button that’s receiving a lot of attention

 

Yep, it’s another Kickstarter project and yes, this one is doing rather well. Very well in fact – it’s almost reached the intended goal and there’s still 46 days remaining.

What is it?

Well, you know that annoying unlock you have to do when you want to use your phone? On some handsets it’s a press of the power button, then a screen unlock, then you need to find your favourite app. Here, “Pressy” plugs into your 3.5mm audio port and activates the app you want instantly. You can short-press to activate one app (such as your flashlight for example), long-press to do something else and maybe a double-click to hit something else.

As I type $33,411 has been pledged, and they need $40,000, so you can see how close they already are. The button itself sits fairly flush and, although you do have to give up your 3.5mm audio port to make this work, it’s certainly sparked a large amount of support.

 

Once it arrives the actions are controlled via an app, so you can get it to do most things, and you could perhaps invest in some Bluetooth headphones to replace the corded ones you can’t use. Personally I’d love for them to look at a pass-through system so that you could use this with normal headphones that lack that magic button on the cable.

Either way, if you’re interested, join the funding here.

For those who like moving pictures there’s even some of them to explain further!

 

Trolls of patents at the center of attention. Will it turn the tide?

Patents are generally a good thing. Protect your work, your idea, your product. However, as we have seen happen too often, "Patent Trolls" abuse often demanding payment system, or licensing of patents, despite being vague and generic, have been approved.

Now a growing trade body is expressing his anger about trolls from patent seeking high amount only to resolve cases that bring. The Association of Internet is now part of the Group and are both radio and print ads in 15 States to protest against the trolls.

The President of the Association of Internet, Michael Beckerman, said...

Patent trolls use bad patents to intimidate companies of all sizes, in all economic sectors, from coast to coast. This is essentially legalized extortion, forcing companies work hard to go to court or a check.

We hope that this, along with calls to Congress addressing the problem, hope to mean less of these claims of patent holders that are nothing more than the entrepreneurs want to make fast money.