Last year, the company behind the popular Twine Kickstarter project launched a new iOS-enabled food thermometer called Range. That thermometer raised more than $175,000 and now the team is back for more.

Range IO
While not in time for this year's Summer grilling season, Supermechanical has launched a new, an upgraded version of the Range on Kickstarter. The new Range Oven/Grill Intelligence adds Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity as well as a magnetic storage unit that acts as the thermometer's base. The old Range needed to be physically connected to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, but with the new wireless version, users won't need to leave their iPad sitting next to the oven or outside by the grill.

The magnetic base of the Range OI includes additional temperature and vibration sensors -- it's designed to be attached to the front of an oven, detecting when the oven is in use, when it's preheating and when it's on normally. It runs for a year on a single AA battery and the thermometer can measure from -40F to 450F (-40C to 230C).


There are three Range OI models available:

Oven Intelligence ($98) - including a 3" sharp thermometer
Chef Intelligence ($129) - including both a 3" sharp thermometer and a 6" round thermometer designed for candy making, home brewing and other needs, and both thermometers can be used simultaneously.
Grill Intelligence ($160) - including a 3" sharp thermometer and an ambient temperature probe for slow cooking and smoking, as well as an upgraded fiberglass cable for durability even in direct flame.

The OI wirelessly connects to iOS and Android smartphone and tablets, as well as the Pebble smart watch. There are bundles available to purchase multiple versions of the Range OI as well as higher Kickstarter levels that include priority shipping or special grilling aprons. Shipping is anticipated to begin next Spring.

The Kickstarter campaign has raised more than $80,000 with a goal of $250,000 with just over two weeks to go.

Top Rated Comments

wlossw Avatar
123 months ago
I will never back another kick-starter project with the hope of getting a reward.

I have been burned on 2 out of 3 projects.

The whole platform is a haven for clowns and scammers. Kick-starter also takes no responsibility for failed projects, which is the fundamental problem with the system... they take their cut off the top and then wash their hands when a project fails.

As far as i am concerned they are every bit as guilty as the project founders that take peoples money and give nothing in return.

I am sick and tired of reading about "cool" crowd-funding stuff on tech-blogs as if they were real products. It's all smoke and mirrors.

:mad: /rant
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jkestner Avatar
123 months ago
(Creator here.) Sucks to hear that several of you have had bad experiences on Kickstarter. But I've bought bad items on Amazon, and I still shop there. Kickstarter presents ideas, and it's up to you to vet them. It's true that some creators get in over their heads, so read their background and project plan carefully. As Jordan mentioned, we've already delivered two successful products, so you can bet we'll do it again.

As importantly, you're supporting something that wouldn't exist otherwise. We like Kickstarter because it allows small guys to make consumer electronics exactly the way we want to: in the US with better materials and build quality. Our thermometers are very accurate and fast. The Grill Intelligence has heavy-duty fiberglass cables you can't get anywhere else. And the base contains extra sensors to detect when you forgot to turn the oven off, the oven is perfectly preheated, or if you double-tapped the oven to trigger a spoken done time estimate. Thanks to all of you who've backed our vision so far!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Parasprite Avatar
123 months ago
never have I seen so many whiners making broad, sweeping generalizations about things that are either untrue or they simply don't understand.

You haven't been on the internet long enough then. :p
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrxak Avatar
123 months ago
Would I put my iPhone or iPad on the stove? No, I would not. Electronics have a sensitivity to heat.

I've had a number of successful kickstarter backings, personally. You just have to be smart about it. The worst thing I've had happen in a project I backed was a delay in shipping, but the reason for that is because they wanted to make the product better and get safety certified (certifications take time).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlgolson Avatar
123 months ago
In defense of these guys, they have successfully delivered two large Kickstarter campaigns.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dekema2 Avatar
123 months ago
Thank goodness for Kickstarter. It helps those who can't get loans or grants or just need some change to do something.

Also they should make it compatible with Yosemite and add push notifications!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 17

28 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in December's iOS 17.2 Update

Friday December 1, 2023 2:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 28 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released this December. 1. Help...
anker new xmas

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.1.2 With Security Fixes

Thursday November 30, 2023 10:12 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, small updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems that Apple introduced in September. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 come a few weeks after the release of iOS 17.1.1, another bug fix update. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update....
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...
paramount plus logo

Apple and Paramount Considering Discounted TV+ Streaming Bundle

Friday December 1, 2023 4:40 am PST by
Apple and Paramount have discussed bundling their TV streaming services at a discount, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The companies have talked about offering a combination of Paramount+ and Apple TV+ that would cost less than subscribing to both services separately, according to people familiar with the discussions. The discussions are in their early stages, and it is ...
top stories 2dec2023

Top Stories: iOS 17.1.2 Released, NameDrop Misinformation, and More

Saturday December 2, 2023 6:00 am PST by
Apple employees are back to work following a Thanksgiving break, and that means this week saw a number of new operating system updates for both public release and beta testing. This week also saw some misinformation about Apple's new NameDrop feature making the rounds, while Apple and Goldman Sachs appear to be on the verge of a break-up in their Apple Card and savings account partnership,...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...