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Awesome tech you can’t buy yet, for the week of December 29, 2013

At any given moment there are approximately a zillion different crowdfunding campaigns happening on the Web. Take a stroll through Kickstarter or IndieGoGo and you’ll find there’s no shortage of weird, ambitious, and downright stupid projects out there – far too many for any reasonable person to keep up with. But here at DT we are not reasonable people. We spend an inordinate amount of time poring through crowdfunding sites and product blogs in search of the next Oculus Rift or Pebble Watch, so we’re here to bring you a quick roundup of the best projects that are currently up and running.

MaxStone: Remote camera shutter and Bluetooth tracker

MaxStoneSmartphone-controlled remote shutters are a dime a dozen these days, but none are as versatile as MaxStone. In addition to functioning as a two-way remote shutter, MaxStone also works as a low-power Bluetooth tracker. The device will shoot an alert to your smartphone if your camera ever goes out of range, which helps prevent it from being left behind or stolen.

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Aurora: Lucid-dream-inducing headband

AuroraLucid dream inducers are officially blowing up. They’re all over the crowdfunding scene these days. First there was Remee, then Luci, and now there are a handful of others, each with their own approach to helping you go lucid. In addition to EEG sensors, Aurora detects when you enter REM sleep by monitoring your body movements, and then plays custom lights and sounds to help you become aware that you’re dreaming.

Climbax: Rock-climbing metrics wristband

ClimbaxThe fitness trackers available on the market right now are really good at tracking stuff like steps taken, calories burned, and how fast your heartbeat gets; but not so great for sport-specific metrics like how many laps you swam or the number of reps you did. Climbax is an activity tracker designed specifically for rock climbers. It consists of two wrist-worn bands embedded with sensors designed to track your movements, stability, endurance, and more. Once you’ve got a grip on your performance data, you can use it to push yourself harder. 

LED dog collar: Light-up dog collar

Bluetooth LED Dog CollarGlowing dog collars definitely aren’t a new idea, but that doesn’t make them any less awesome. They’re a great way to keep track of your pets in the dark, and also keep them visible and safe if they ever go off-leash after nightfall. This collar, developed by Kurtis Reindl of Boulder, Colorado, is designed with reprogrammable LEDs that can be set to the colors and patterns of your choosing. 

Mr. Postman: Smart mailbox

Mr PostmanWouldn’t it be nice if your regular mailbox worked like your email inbox, so whenever you got some physical mail delivered, you’d get an alert on your smartphone to let you know there’s something there? That’s the idea behind Mr. Postman – a Wi-Fi enabled mailbox that  gives snail mail a much-needed 21st-century update. In addition to notifications, the device also features a remote-controlled smart lock that can be accessed with virtual “keys” you can send to friends and housemates.

Drew Prindle
Former Senior Editor, Features
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

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