Hoverboards Electric

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Hoverboard Patent Wars Heating Up

 Hoverboard Patent Razor VS SegwayThe most confusing thing to try and understand about electric 2 wheel standing scooters is who owns the rights to make and sell them. As a hoverboard review site we are always struggling to find reputable safe products that will be around long enough for us to want to recommend them.Ever since this hoverboard craze started last year (in 2015) the companies making them have been suing each other left and right.Most people thought Razor had the only legal patent for the hoverboard design because Razor started suing everyone for infringement on its patent and was spending up to $1 million a week suing people.Now we have a new player getting in on the suing game. This time it is Segway who claims it is the only one with the rights to make and sell hoverboards. Segway recently won a law suit for this claim.The confusing thing is no one really knows if most designs of hoverboard infringe on this patent. Some claim it does not because the patent says it must have handle bars which most do not. And then again some are claiming the opposite.One thing we know for sure is the patent wars are never good for consumers or for the continued development of technologies. This was the case with the smart phone patent wars as well. Innovation stagnates and the only winner is the company holding the patent because they can raise prices and corner the market.We don’t really know where this situation will end up any time in the near future.Newsweek posted the best explanation we have seen so far about this whole situation. The excerpt below is the article we read on Newsweek. You should find it very informative: This article first appeared on the Foundation for Economic Education site.Back in December, just in time for Christmas, Amazon was filled with opportunities to buy a hoverboard, the auto-balancing skateboard that runs off infrared sensors, gyroscopes and motors. Of course it isn’t a real hoverboard like in the movies. It is more properly called a self-balancing, handle-free, two-wheel scooter.Regardless, it is pretty amazing and dreamy: a foreshadowing of the future we all hope to experience. It’s a scaled-down version of the awkward looking Segway personal transporter used by police and warehouse workers. What the Segway needed for mainstream acceptance was a cooler design and a lower price: exactly what these self-propelled skateboards achieved.Then patent law intervened. The patent holder Razor USA sued (spending up to $1 million per week!) to shut down the myriad “pirate” hoverboard beings sold online (and on the streets), mostly from China. They cost a fraction of what a “real” hoverboard cost.As a result, many of them were taken off line. Choice became limited. Prices began to rise again. Suddenly a widely demanded consumer product was stopped from being an affordable part of mainstream life to become a luxury good. Big win for Razor, right?But the story hardly stops there. If you search today for hoverboard on Amazon, what you find are hoverboard skins, hoverboard chargers, hoverboard decals, hoverboard simulators, hoverboard refrigerator magnets. What you will not find is an actual hoverboard. Right now, you can only get those on eBay.This is because the International Trade Commission has issued a ban on their importation due to a patent infringement case brought by Segway itself. This decision hit Razor along with dozens of other companies that were producing what was becoming one of the world’s most popular consumer products.Live by the patent sword, die by the patent sword. The pirate-hunting monopolist was itself made to walk the plank for piracy.The legal complications here are so complex as to have no real resolution. There is no original inventor we can go to and say: “You own the idea of the hoverboard.” The pertinent patents here are up to and probably exceed 400, and they have been sold and sold again.I asked patent attorney Stephan Kinsella about possible competing claims. He noted the following:It appears that hoverboards have technology covered by Segway’s patents and also by patents licensed to Razor. And who knows what other patents are lurking that cover technology in these devices? This means that Razor can’t sell its own hoverboards even though they have a patent license from the so-called inventor, because of Segway’s patents; but Segway might also have trouble selling hoverboards, because of Razor’s patent. And this may be why you can’t find Razor or Segway products anywhere—or those of pirates. What may ultimately happen is, as with the smartphone patent wars, Razor and Segway may cross-license their patents to each other, to permit each to manufacture hoverboards. But the prices will remain high and the incentive to innovate diluted because other competitors will still face patent threats from Razor and Segway. In this way, patents help lead to anti-competitive cartels, with a small number of patent-wielding big players facing limited competition due to their combined patent threats.The mythology of patents is that they protect the intellectual property of creators and thereby incentivize people to create more. A further myth is that they pertain to justice, since the creator is entitled to the fruits of his or her labor.The reality is that patents are nothing but a state-granted privilege to exclude competitors, and these privileges are traded in an open market and enforced by violent means. The results in the real world have nothing to do with justice and incentive for creators. They have everything to do with large-scale industrial monopolies.What does this fiasco mean for consumers? Most often it just means higher prices and slower innovation (since innovation requires competition, not monopoly). But in this case, the snags and snafus are so egregiously complex that it means what would be unthinkable in a free market: the absolute unavailability of a product that everyone wants.The technology exists. The product exists. The factories to make them exist. The channels to buy them exist. And yet, you can’t get them.To be sure, some people are blaming safety issues. Some of the pirate models—produced so fast and furiously to meet the demand—had problems. There were stories of exploding batteries.The Consumer Products Safety Commission intervened to ban models that didn’t pass a certain regulatory test—as if any company really wanted to sell defective products. As a result, some commentators chalk up the disappearance of the hoverboard to bad manufacturing.But the safety issue is a red herring. The patent itself is the significant and defining factor for the banning of the product. It happened through a circuitous route, and in the name of defending property rights. As the Tech Times notes: “It isn't the safety factor in question here. The big issue in question is that Segway claims the fundamental design of the hoverboard trespasses upon their original product, whether or not the scooter has handlebars.”What’s more, the patents themselves exacerbate safety issues. It is not the reputable companies seeking long-term relationships with consumers who are willing to defy them but rather than bottom-feeding, fly-by-night companies who thrive in an overly restrictive market hobbled by intellectual property claims.Government interventions can sometimes have opaque results, so far removed from the consumer’s experience that explaining cause and effect can be difficult. In this case, it is not so hard: The government has effectively banned something you love, all in the name of a paper legal claim. A claim to enforce rights has actually violated them.If you are looking to buy a hoverboard but can’t, you can now place the blame squarely where it belongs: on fake rights invented by legislation called patents. They are the source of the problem. And though they have been around hundreds of years, and trace their origin to mercantilism, their cost has become more obvious in our times than ever before.Not only do they not protect and guarantee a competitive market, they disable one, at the expense of economic and technological development.Does anyone actually believe that in 20 years there will be only one hoverboard maker or that they won’t be available at all? Of course not. This patent dispute will only succeed in delaying the future. Instead of going back to the future, industrial patents are pushing us forward to the past. Hoverboard Patent

Hoverboard Patent Wars Heating Up Find more on: http://hoverboardselectric.com/

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Ninebot One C, C+, E, and E+ Reviews

 Are you looking for information on the Ninebot One unicycle scooter?If so then you are on the best possible page for that. These days it's hard to get all the info you need in one place. You have to go searching the internet on dozens of sites to get all the facts you are looking for. Well not today you don't.Ninebot One Review side viewThis review is the most comprehensive Ninbot Review you will find anywhere on the net.With this review you get a complete Ninebot One breakdown including - information about the company, safety information, warranty information, all the specs of all the models, as well as the pros and cons.In addition we are going to tell you the differences between the Ninebot One C, C+, E, and E+ models.Just so you know some people spell it “Ninebot 1” but that is not correct. It is spelled “Ninebot One”. If you are looking for info on  Ninebot One P Pro review please note that this model has been discontinued and is no longer being produced. Therefore we see no reason to give a review on it.

About the Ninebot Company

The Ninebot One standing unicycle scooter series is produced by Ninebot Inc. a parent company of the recently acquired Segway company. As you may or may not already know Segway is the original corporation that (14 years ago) gave birth to the first electric standing scooters.Those later evolved into what we now know as the hands free 1 and 2 wheel electric standing scooters. So there is no longer any Ninebot vs Segway because they have joined forces and are now part of the same main company.Ninebot One E+ pedals upNinbot Inc. is a robotics company that received investment funding from Xaiomi to purchase Segway in 2015.Xaiomi in turn is a multi-billion dollar technology giant and one of the largest producers of smartphones in the world.Ninebot is unique in that it is one of the few companies making electric standing scooters who actually have a background in technology.You should take notice of this because the quality control of electric standing scooters in the last few months has become a MAJOR problem.Units have been exploding, catching fire, and burning down houses. This is mostly due to inexperienced startup companies (with no technology experience whatsoever) outsourcing the manufacturing of these devices to random Chinese factories. Many of those factories have resorted to using dangerous cheap batteries and parts. Cheap lithium-ion batteries or substandard chargers have the potential to cause explosions and fires!Having said that you can rest easy knowing that Ninebot is now part of Segway, the leader in scooter vehicles for the last 14 years. Because of this we can be sure they are not going to outsource to those factories making the fake cheap knock off products.This is one of the few instances of a personal transportation device where the brand name tells us a lot about the safety of the products.Safety should be your #1 concern when you are thinking about getting an electric standing scooter. Whether it is 1 or 2 wheels makes no difference. The technology that is used inside them is practically exactly the same. And therefore the fire hazard is the same. You need a safe product, period. Price and features should come second to this very important factor. 

Ninebot One Specs

Next you will obviously want to know the specifications for each Ninebot Model.The first table shows what all Ninebot One models have in common.Then tables 2 through 6 show the differences in all the models.You will notice that they all look exactly the same. However they have slightly different weight, speed, and range differences. The main component making the difference is the power, weight, and charging time of the battery packs. But the construction of all other parts is basically the same.[wpsm_comparison_table id="12" class="hover-col1 center-tablealign"] 

Models C, C+, E, and E+ Comparisons

 As you can see from the above tables the E and E+ models are the way to go, especially E+. For about $100 more you get significantly higher power, speed, and range. It seems like a no brainer to us.Please also keep in mind that the figures given above are approximate and indicated by the ~ symbol. For example one reason for this is because range and speed are dependent on the weight of the person riding, the power left in the battery pack, the terrain, and the slop or incline. Your actual results could be slightly higher or lower depending on those factors. Ok so let's get more down into it now. Below we are going to get specific on what we love and hate about Ninebot One. Then we give an overall perspective weighing the pros and cons.  

What We Love About Ninebot One

 

1. It Looks Amazing

 
  • At first glance you will notice that Ninebot One has a very sleek futuristic and appealing look. In our opinion it is the nicest looking of all unicycles (so you can travel in style).
 
  • It has a retractable carrying handle for better aesthetic appeal.
Ninebot handle 
  • Adding to the futuristic look are dazzling programmable led lights located on both sides. You can set these party looking lights to pulse or circle in different crazy colors and patterns. Or you can turn them off completely. The color choices allow you to choose virtually any colors you can imagine. You can literally choose between tens of thousands of color choices!

 

2. We Love the High Quality Construction Materials

 
  • The unit has a very solid sturdy dense feeling. It does not feel like a hollow piece of cheap plastic.
 
  • The outer shell is made from Lexan Plastic which is a polycarbonate polymer. This type of plastic has an excellent balance of unique properties for stiffness, hardness, toughness, impact resistance, and weathering resistance. It is a very strong resilient plastic that also blocks electric shock and heat.
 
  • You can choose from a huge array of skins to change the look and feel of your scooter. Just order additional different styles and color skins for different unique looks. Then quickly snap them on. The three examples below are just a sample of many many more unique available shells. If you scratched it or scuffed it up no problem. Just get another skin for a brand new out of the box look. It is quick and easy.
Ninebot One Skins 
  • The foot pedals and frame are made from the AZ91D Magnesium Alloy composition for a super lightweight, strong, and corrosion resistant unit.
 
  • In addition the pedals are a little higher off the ground than some other unicycles. This allows you to lean harder for a tighter turning radius and better maneuverability. They are equipped with anti-skid grip pads.
 
  • Just above the pedals are soft pads on both side for your legs. These help to grip and cushion your ride for better comfort, and more control.
 
  • The tires are not solid but contain air inside a tube. This air provides a much more cushioned smoother ride, both on and off road. Also controlling the air pressure in the tires you can customize it to ride better on different surfaces.
 
  • The unit is one of the most waterproof unicycle scooters on the market. Surprisingly it can be used in wet waterproof unicycle electric scooterconditions and inclement weather (although not recommended to submerse in water such as a deep puddles).
 
  • The Ninebot One has an IP65 waterproof rating meaning it can be sprayed with low pressure jets from any direction and not sustain any damage. That means you can also wash it off with a hose to clean it.
 

 

3. It is Self-Charging

 
  • Ninebot One has a unique feature that allows it to charge itself while breaking or going downhill. This gives you a longer lasting battery life between charges! Just be careful that you don’t start out going downhill on a fully charged battery. This could cause it to become overcharged and thus it will automatically shut itself off for safety reasons.
self charging 

4. Ninebot Comes With a Fully Functional Advanced Smartphone App

Ninebot App Main Screen   Ninebot App stat screen
  • With the Ninebot app for both iPhone and Android you can do some pretty cool things. Like customize the default ride settings - including speed limits, LED light colors, and LED flash patterns.
 
  • The Ninebot Bluetooth enabled app has live a speedometer, wattage specs, range, compass direction, and heat readings. It also shows you how much battery life remains on the device, and can even be used as a remote control!
 
  • You can sign into the Ninebot app from either a Facebook account or you can create a new app account. You can then use the app if you wish to connect and communicate with other Ninebot users all over the world.
 

5. Best Electric Unicycle Ride Experience 

  • Ninebot One models are some of the smoothest riding unicycles on the market. They can climb 15 ° to 20 ° angles easily and quickly. Many people have even successfully climbed steep inclines up to 30 ° although the company does not make claims to this ability.
smoothest unicycle ride

6. Ninebot One C, C+, E, and E+ Warranty

  • All Ninebot One models come with a 1 year warranty against manufactures defects. With the exception of the 1 year warrantybattery and tire.
 
  • The battery is warranted against manufacturer’s defects for a period of 180 days after purchase. And the tire and tire tube for 90 days after purchase.
 

7. You Can Purchase Many Different Fun And Useful Accessories to go Along With Ninebot One

  • One of the things that makes is so fun are all the different accessories that you can get for the unit. Some of these include Ninebot Training Wheels, Skins, and a mounting attachment bracket for things like lights or even a camera.
  

What We Don’t Like About Ninebot One

 
  • We think it is a little bigger than it looks in most pictures. However the scooter will still fit underneath your shopping cart or a seat for example.
 
  • The closed bottom design near the tire could potentially cause small rocks or other foreign objects to get caught and cause rattling noises. This could potentially be more of a problem with off- roading. If this happens to you turn the unit upside down and gently shake it to dislodge the objects. Then you should be good to go again.
 
  • It might take a little longer to get to top speeds than some other unicycles but the top speed is higher for the E and E+ models (however we feel the acceleration was still plenty fast).
 
  • It can take 1-4 Hours charging time depending if the battery is completely empty and which model you have. So it’s not the fastest charging unicycle. But the battery pack has a larger capacity than some other one wheel scooters which is probably the reason it takes longer to charge. Also it is safer to charge slower, so less of a fire hazard. This point could be either negative or positive depending on how you look at it. In addition their is an option to purchase an upgraded Ninebot charger that can charge in half the time and you can also purchase additional batteries so you don't have to wait to charge.
 
  • Some people report problems connecting the Ninebot app to their phones Bluetooth connection. Since most do not have problems connecting we believe this is most likely due to a problem with the smartphone or phone settings rather than the scooter or app.
 
  • The Ninebot prices are a little higher than some other brand names. But this is more than made up for in the quality of the product. You won’t find a better quality unicycle scooter anywhere. The saying is true in this case that “you get what you pay for”. When it comes to an electric scooter you do not want to shop based on price. Cheap unicycle scooters are a dangerous fire hazard.

Our Final Thoughts for This Ninebot One Review

Overall the Ninebot One gets our highest possible rating for appearance, features, quality construction, functionality, and safety.These are all of the most important features to consider in buying a 1 wheel electric standing scooter.The Ninebot One series is our #1 top pick for electric one wheel unicycles in 2016. It is a well-made safe product backed by some very large experienced technology companies.Most hoverboards and unicycles are made by inexperienced new companies who have no business making electronic products. Ninebot is not some fly by night one wheel kickstarter product. We have confidence this is a high quality safe product you can trust. And for that reason the Ninebot One cost is well worth the higher price tag.If you are looking for the best of the best this is it.
Ninebot One C, C+, E, and E+ Reviews was first seen on http://hoverboardselectric.com/

Friday, March 11, 2016

Hoverboard Industry Alliance Forms

  Moves big moves are happening in the hoverboard industry. A new trade association from China has formed called the Hoverboard Industry Alliance. It is made up of factories that make the devices. The purpose of the association is to provide a central guiding body to help manufactures comply with safety certification standards and patent […]

Hoverboard Industry Alliance Forms Find more on: hoverboardselectric.com

Hoverboard 360 Smart Balance, 2.0, and XL Reviews

  Are you looking for a Hoverboard 360 review? If so it is a good thing you are doing your research. Otherwise you may have ended up being ripped off by this company. These are the stats for the boards we are referring to:   In this industry the huge array of fake knock off […]

Hoverboard 360 Smart Balance, 2.0, and XL Reviews was originally published to hoverboardselectric.com

Monday, March 7, 2016

Hoverboard Price How Much Does a Hoverboard Cost

  Recently the popularity of hoverboards or electric standing scooters has exploded to become the latest craze. It is the hottest gadget everybody wants to get their hands on. Naturally if you are thinking about buying one you will want to know how much they cost. The truth is that they come in a huge […]

Hoverboard Price How Much Does a Hoverboard Cost is courtesy of hoverboardselectric.com

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Hoverboard Laws Review – Where Are They Are Banned or Restricted?

  Let’s talk about hoverboard law for 2016 and beyond. As is often the case with personal transportation devices many countries, states, cities, universities, airlines, airports, and malls are making rules and laws to either restrict or ban hoverboards. One main reason for this is due to the increasing fear related to instances of hoverboard […]

Hoverboard Laws Review – Where Are They Are Banned or Restricted? Read more on: hoverboardselectric.com

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Comparing Hoverboards to Bicycles

  It’s funny – history shows us time and time again how people inherently fear new inventions and try to get them banned. I was reading an article today about the arrival of the bicycle and how it was met with many of the exact same reactions we are seeing with hoverboards today. That article  […]

Comparing Hoverboards to Bicycles was originally published on hoverboardselectric.com