Crowdfunded in China: photocopiers, coffee makers, and corded phones

We were beginning to worry about the quality of China’s crowdfunding scene last month when the majority of the most successful projects showed a real lack of originality. But this month has restored our faith with some seriously fun, cool, and weird stuff! Here are our favorite successful campaigns:

OneBoard Pro+

The OneBoard Pro+ is a keyboard combined with an Android-powered set-top box. Plug it into any PC and monitor to use as a typical keyboard, then press the Yinyang key to switch inputs and go into fullscreen Android mode. Here you can use all your typical Android apps, but the company touts gaming as the biggest draw. Dozens of Android games compatible with the desktop interface are at the user’s disposal. The OneBoard Pro+ has raised RMB 767,000 (US$125,000) on JD.

Changer M1000-X

The Changer is a photocopier for books. Rather than requiring the user to open a lid, pick up the book, turn the page, and place the book back into position for each page, Changer cuts that process down to just two steps. Hit the scan button, turn the page, repeat. Users can copy both open pages simultaneously, and it works on everything from school textbooks to your checkbook. Oh, and it can scan normal documents, too. Changer has raised 594,000 (US$97,000) on JD.

Dr. Drinks

Dr. Drinks wants to be China’s Keurig. With a greater emphasis on tea than coffee (although It can make both), the instant drink dispenser touts 18 different types of sphere-shaped capsules. And like most smart home appliances coming out of China these days, there’s an app. It lets you schedule a brew at your preferred temperature and strength while on the way home from work or before you go to bed at night. Dr. Drinks has raised RMB 545,000 (US$89,000) on JD.

Zhimi

Remember those corded telephones with the coiled cables connecting the receiver to the answering machine? Zhimi is bringing that trend back, but on a much smaller scale, literally. As the Chinese smartphone-owning population prefers bigger and bigger phones, people who make long phone calls on them can grow fatigued. Zhimi is a miniature corded receiver that plugs directly into the headphone jack. Sounds stupid, you say? Well, okay, we might be inclined to agree. But the project has met its funding goal with a modest RMB 16,400 (US$2,700) raised on Demohour.

Huayi smart projector