This popped up on Hackaday Projects today. (
Here's a lo-fi mirror in case they take it down, but there's not much content anyway.) I've already commented there. I don't know why they thought that was a good platform to promote it on. It's about as bad as trying to promote it in this forum! It's a good way to make sure Hackaday (who will slam it if they cover it at all) knows about it, I guess.
Anyway, they have
an Indiegogo campaign and
a website. It looks like another "attempt" at the same thing
Ritot "tried". The main difference is that Blamix also includes touch surfaces for input and a finger ring that is to function as a telephone speaker. Blamix also claims to project on the palm instead of on the back of the hand. They call it a phone but say it connects to your existing phone using Bluetooth. No details whatsoever on the other technology they plan to use, of course. Get a load of this (emphasis mine):
Not to disorient you, we didn’t use means of Photoshop for processing of photos with people. We made them unrealistic on purpose, as we have no functional prototype at the moment. It’s just an approximate view of our device in your hand.
yet
Usage of high-quality materials and components gave an opportunity to increase the device’s working time
and
We developed an innovative projecting system which let us accomplish the project and gave us a possibility to create such a small device. Soon we are planning to release the first production sample. Materials and components are chosen and we are starting creating a developmental prototype. We will be informing you about the course of the project.
Further, the Gallery page on the website says they're going to stuff a 1700 mAh battery in that narrow bracelet…
The "streanch goals" include GPS (what for?) and "contributors choice" (no details on that—I hope they don't plan to just let backers ask for whatever feature they want!).
Comparison with Ritot:
| Ritot | Blamix |
very many photos of models wearing it | yes | yes |
unisex, ambidextrous, one-size-fits-all | yes | yes—with "air cushion" to make up the difference on small wrists |
device models "available" | 2 | 1 |
"available" in multiple colors & materials | yes | yes |
planned battery capacity | 1500 mAh | 1700 mAh |
comes with inductive charger | yes | yes |
water resistance (good for washing hands!) | waterproof | water-resistant |
changeable projection color | yes, 20 (choose using charger) | yes (choose using charger) |
dark projection capability shown in photo | yes | yes |
safety | "absolutely safe for your skin and health" | "No danger for your skin and health" |
materials | "Due to high quality materials and technical components, Ritot has extended operation life." | see second quote above |
stretch goals | more colors, fitness tracker, contributors [sic] choice | more colors & materials, voice control, GPS, contributors [sic] choice |
electronics made to fit using a shrink ray | yes | probably |
quantities "available" | 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20 |
I'll let you be the judge of those similarities
. And I did check—the creators are not the same people (or are using false identities). These people are apparently from Moscow; the Ritot people were from SF.
Also, that's at least three impossible crowdfunded products recently with bizarre names—Ritot, Blamix, and Bleen. Seems like a trend.