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Awesome tech you can’t buy yet, for the week of June 8, 2014

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.

Jyrobike — Invisible Training Wheels

JyrobikeTraining wheels didn’t necessarily need a high-tech update, but they just got one anyway. As you may or may not have guessed from the name, Jyrobike makes use of gyroscopes inside of its wheels to help keep the bicycle itself upright — even when there’s nobody on it. When acted upon by outside forces, the spinning wheel inside the jyrobike’s front wheel resists that force and will keep the bike from tipping over. Therefore, if a child starts to tip or wobble on it, Jyrobike corrects the steering and stabilizes both the bike and the rider. As a result, children can learn to ride without training wheels. According to the team that developed the bike, even kids who’ve never ridden a bike before in their lives can oftentimes learn how to ride in a single afternoon.

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Sabertron — Foam swords that keep score

SabertronFoam swords are a brilliant invention — they basically allow you to do battle with anybody you choose to without having to worry about killing them in the process. The only problem is that, since they don’t leave cuts, bruises, or gaping torso wounds in the person you’re fighting, there’s no easy way to determine the winner of a foam sword fight. But thanks to the miracle of modern technolgy, there’s now a safe way to keep score. Sabertron swords — which look a lot like beefy lightsabers — are equipped with an array of accelerometers and special software that can tell the difference between a sword clash and a body hit. And they keep score too — land a hit on the body, and the built-in health meter on your sword will drop one bar. Get hit three times, and you’re dead. Why the hell wasn’t this invented until now?!

Edyn — Smart garden sensor

EdynTo be sure, Edyn certianly isn’t the first smart garden sensor to hit the market. These kinds of devices have existed for years now, but even so, this one is arguably one of the most advanced iterations we’ve ever seen. Much like its predecessors, Edyn is capable of measuring variables like light, humidity, temperature, soil nutrition, and moisture. It can also cross-reference this information with plant, soil science, and weather databases to recommend specific plants that will thrive in your particular garden. These features are pretty much par for the course for products in this category, but Edyn also boasts a number of features that you wont find anywhere else — namely, solar panels that provide the power it needs and allow it to take constant readings, Wi-Fi connectivity that allows it to sync with your smartphone and react to local weather forecasts, and also a connected water valve that allows it to water your plants at the exact moment they need it. 

iFind — Battery-free Bluetooth item finder

iFindBluetooth item finder tags are a dime a dozen these days. Between Indiegogo and Kickstarter, we’ve seen about a zillion of them come and go over the past couple years, and at this point we hardly even notice them anymore. iFind, however, managed to catch our eye with a truly groundbreaking feature: battery-free operation. It can communicate with your Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth just like other item finder tags, but unlike the rest of the pack, you never have to worry about iFind running out of power. Using patent-pending technology, the tags recycle ambient electromagnetic energy and store it in a special power bank — effectively freeing you from the need to charge or replace batteries of any kind. And as if that wasn’t cool enough already, the tags also come with a unique “rope” feature that gives you alerts if you leave something (your keys, wallet, etc.) behind.  

VisioBike — Electronic smart bike

VisioBikeElectronic bicycles are another tech category that’s seen a fairly sizable boom in the past year or so, but VisioBike takes the idea of a smart cycle to a whole new level. The $5,303 bike is made of ultralight carbon fiber and has a dock for your phone. Special software gives you a speedometer, transmission control, and a variety of other treats as you scoot around town. Much like the Copenhagen Wheel, the bike can store energy while you coast and use it to help you power up hills or speed along flats. It also has a camera in the seat for rear-facing views of traffic behind you in real time and for recording if someone rear-ends you. In the event that your bike comes to a sudden stop (like, really sudden), a built-in emergency alarm will use your phone to contact the authorities. When seconds count, that could be a lifesaver. It’s definitely a bit on the spendy side, but considering all the useful high-tech features it’s got under the hood, $5,000 isn’t really that bad.

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Cadillac offers first glimpse of upcoming Optiq-V performance EV
cadillac optiq v teaser ev

Cadillac has released the first official teaser images of the 2026 Optiq-V, offering a preview of the brand’s second all-electric model to join the performance-focused V-Series lineup. The images, which highlight subtle styling upgrades, mark the first confirmation of the new variant ahead of its full reveal later this year.
The Optiq-V builds on the foundation of the standard Optiq, Cadillac’s compact electric SUV introduced for the 2025 model year. According to the automaker, this V-Series version will feature a more dynamic driving experience, with enhancements to steering, suspension, and overall agility. While technical details remain limited, Cadillac’s press release emphasizes that the Optiq-V was engineered for “precision” and an “exhilarating” feel behind the wheel.
Reports from CarScoops suggest the Optiq-V could produce up to 515 horsepower through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, significantly surpassing the 300 horsepower of the base model. Teaser images reveal a diamond-pattern mesh grille, V-Series badging, and a rear spoiler — all nods to its performance orientation. Photos also hint at additional visual updates, such as redesigned bumpers, 21-inch wheels, and larger brakes.
The base Optiq, reviewed recently by Digital Trends, is positioned as Cadillac’s entry-level EV and shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Despite that connection, the Optiq features premium materials, a curved 33-inch display, Google built-in tech, and standard dual-motor all-wheel drive. While the review noted some drawbacks in steering feel and performance tuning, it praised the vehicle's cabin quality and overall comfort.
The Optiq-V is expected to retain the standard model’s 85-kWh battery and roughly 300-mile range, though final figures have yet to be announced. Cadillac says more details on specs and pricing will be available closer to the model’s official launch.
With the addition of the Optiq-V, Cadillac continues expanding its electric lineup while reinforcing its V-Series as a key part of its identity — now in the EV era.

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Nissan delays price increases until June amid U.S. tariffs
nissan rogue hybrid 2025 2024

Nissan buyers, take note: if you're eyeing a new ride, you might want to make your move before summer. The automaker has announced it won’t raise prices on imported vehicles until at least June 2, giving car shoppers a brief reprieve from the impact of the new 25% U.S. import tariffs.
According to a memo sent to U.S. dealers and reported by Automotive News, Nissan is able to hold prices steady thanks to a stockpile of tariff-free vehicles—enough to last nearly three months. But once that inventory runs dry? Prices are likely heading north. Nissan’s U.S. sales chief Vinay Shahani assured dealers that the company is working to "minimize the impact" of tariffs on customers, but he was also frank: “There will be an impact.”
To soften the blow, Nissan is ramping up production at its U.S. plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi. Those factories were only running at about half capacity last year, so there’s plenty of room to grow. The Rogue—Nissan’s best-seller—will get a second shift on its assembly line, increasing production by about 60,000 vehicles. Other models like the Pathfinder, Frontier, and Murano will also see higher domestic output.
The goal? Build more cars stateside and dodge the tariff altogether.
Nissan’s move puts it in line with other automakers holding the line on prices—at least for now. Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda have made similar pledges, while rivals like Ford and Stellantis are rolling out temporary discounts to ease the pain.
As Digital Trends noted, Nissan’s decision comes as it rethinks its production and pricing strategy in the face of shifting trade policies and a nervous market. With high-volume imports like the Sentra and Ariya still coming from Mexico and Japan, this pricing grace period might not last long.

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Buick, Audi, and Nissan score top marks in latest IIHS safety ratings
2025 Audi Q6 e-tron front quarter view.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has added four more vehicles to its coveted 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ lists. If you appreciate knowing your vehicle is built with safety in mind, this update is worth noting.

Among the standout performers: the Audi Q6 e-tron, Buick Enclave, and Nissan Armada—each earning the institute’s highest honor, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The GMC Acadia also made the grade, picking up a Top Safety Pick award. For Buick and GMC, these honors mark a significant return to form, as neither brand had received IIHS awards in several years. In fact, it’s the first time since 2013 that the Enclave has been recognized.
So, how does IIHS hand out these awards? Picture a battery of tests that simulate real-world crashes—everything from small overlap front impacts to updated side crashes. To make the list, vehicles must ace (i.e., earn a “good” rating in) key crashworthiness tests, show competence in pedestrian crash prevention, and offer headlights that don’t blind oncoming drivers. For the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+, there's an extra hurdle: a “good” rating in the updated moderate front overlap test, which now factors in rear-seat passenger protection.
Improvements to the Enclave and Acadia’s headlights, introduced after January 2025, helped push them over the finish line. Unfortunately, not all models in this testing round were so lucky. The Cadillac Lyriq, Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, Kia K4, and several Nissan models—including the Kicks, Rogue, and Sentra—fell short. Common issues? Poor headlight performance or incomplete testing.
The IIHS notes that these evaluations are ongoing. Not every vehicle released for 2025 has been fully assessed, and late-year updates can still improve a model’s score. For the full list of safety awards, you can check out the IIHS website.

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