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7 awesome crowdfunded projects that turned out to be complete fails

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
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Ahh crowdfunding sites, the breeding ground of innovation and limitless possibilities.

A space where glorious promises are made every day and you, the consumer, are called upon to invest in some random person’s dream. When things go according to plan, you get the Oculus Rift. When they go south though… well, you get these guys. So be careful of what you back out there.

Zano

Funding: 1,868% of £125,000 goal 

What it promised: Zano was supposed to be the drone to conquer all drones. It’s a palm-sized, intelligent drone with a built-in HD camera that virtually tethers to your smart device and flies around following its movements, negating the need for any manual control. It’s also able to avoid obstacles, hold its position mid-flight and return to your smart device when battery runs low. Imagine the next-level selfies this thing is capable of.

What it delivered: The actual product that shipped out fell far, far short of all those amazing features. It was reported that the battery life and video quality were dreadful and the drone’s GPS system didn’t exist. The drones would hop into the air and land sporadically, or crash wildly into walls, showing no sign of obstacle avoidance or the capability to fly autonomously. The whole campaign was basically a smashing success, until people tried to fly it. 

Arist

Funding: 704% of US$120,000 goal

What it promised: Since people seem to be obsessed with the idea of controlling everything with their smartphones, why not a coffee machine as well? This one lets you download recipes, memorizes your favourite drinks, and provides complete control over every single step in the brewing process, from adjusting the grind size to fine-tuning the pressure, all with a few taps on your phone. It pretty much gives you coffee-snob-approved, barista-class coffee - minus the attitude.

What it delivered: While the estimated delivery was December 2014, backers have yet to see the product and have been crying afoul. Developer updates have been sketchy and hint at numerous production delays. Honestly, it’s simply physically impossible to fit all those features into the shell they’ve promised.

A prototype was demonstrated at a press conference in Hong Kong earlier this year, but the developers didn’t allow reporters to examine the machine closely and also failed to provide exact specifications of the machine. Don’t hold your breath on this one, guys.

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