Author Topic: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project  (Read 36561 times)

SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #30 on: May 18, 2016, 12:49:36 AM »
The latest update:

Update #26

May 10 2016

26 | The Meatrix

National BBQ and Burger Month

Happy National BBQ and burger month to the grillers, roasters, smokers, and all food-fanatics out there! Eat well and post all your food porn pics! #BBQ #happybelly #foodlife Is it a coincidence the hash tag looks like grill marks? We think not.

Production Update

We’ve been very busy bees! Over the past 3 weeks, during our visit with our supplier in Taiwan, we finalized the pilot production plans, ordered the parts from our vendors, built production test rigs and jigs, and reviewed packaging samples. With that said, we have officially begun the Pilot Production phase!

We expect to receive all the pieces early June and begin assembly immediately after. Since pilot production units represent the final version of MEATER, they will go through our engineering and test case gauntlet again, including cases inspired by our backers. When the results of those tests go well, we will move quickly into mass production. Our shipping estimate is now closer to late July/early August so don’t pack up your BBQ too early this summer. But if you’re grill heads like us, BBQ season is all year round.

The android and iOS apps are both +91.438% complete with the majority of the work left for debugging and fine tuning. MEATER Link is operational and we will continue to polish the code to ensure data transmission and connection is robust and stable. Although MEATER Cloud is still under development, we are making significant progress in the code and will provide an update on its status very soon.

As we get closer to summer, the heat is on to finish MEATER and as always, we will continue to push forward and keep everyone up to date with our progress. Thank you again for your patience, love, and support!

Keep cool, stay in school!

Joseph, Teemu, and the Apption Labs Team
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
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old sarge

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #31 on: May 18, 2016, 10:03:50 AM »
Thanks.
David from Arizona
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AlinMA

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #32 on: May 29, 2016, 11:12:08 AM »
Karl, Thanks for the updates.
Al from N'East MA
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SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #33 on: May 29, 2016, 05:53:24 PM »
Update #27
5/27/16
Meat Joe Black

Memorial Weekend

This weekend, we celebrate and honor those who gave their lives for this country. Their passion, dedication, and service are truly admirable, and we thank them for their sacrifice.

Production Update

We hope everyone is doing swimmingly well in the month of May and wrapping things up to head into the next month! As we continue testing and keeping the pilot production train chugging, we are making gains track by track. If pilot production is up to par, pilot production will soon turn into mass production.

Recently in one of our labs (i.e. the backyard), we've been able to successfully test out one of our neat features - MEATER Link! 1 probe, 2 phones, and a yummy dinner. This way if one person is out on a grocery store run, reaching the next save point on Fallout 4, or taking the cat out for a walk, there's another person who can monitor the meat! #teameffort

One cooking reminder we have set up in the app helps users remove their meat from the heat at the appropriate time considering resting period. As you know, food will continue to cook due to high internal temperatures so the MEATER app takes that into account and estimates the perfect time for your desired doneness. 

In other areas, we will soon be making decisions regarding packaging and a proper fulfillment house that will help us sort all the pledges to get MEATER in your kitchens and backyard patios. Every day brings new challenges, every challenge is met with opportunity, and every opportunity leads to accomplishment and a plate of juicy meat.

We're constantly reminded of how grateful we are to have you all as backers that have joined in on this journey of ours. As we collect more data, we'll keep you posted.

Until the next one, have courage, be kind, and don't forget the milk.

All the best,

Joseph, Teemu, and the Apption Labs team
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
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SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #34 on: July 16, 2016, 09:49:53 AM »
30 | MEATbusters - What You Gonna Cook

Production Update

Hello meat fanatics! We're drawing nearer and nearer to completion. Teemu is at the factory, overseeing pilot production. He’s also testing and fine tuning the wireless range capability of MEATER every day, but we think it’s just an excuse to eat steak.


Best case scenario! Actual wireless distance may vary depending on the type of grill or obstructions between MEATER and your smart device.

We received all the parts to build our pilot run and will begin assembly of MEATERs next week. After assembly, we will QA the finished product and if we are 100% satisfied with the results (and nothing short of it!) we'll have the confidence to move onward to mass production.

The first round of MEATERs (from pilot production) will be sent to beta testers (e.g. avid cooks and backers) who can provide feedback to help us validate and improve the user experience. We're aiming to have pilot samples ready to ship by early August!

In parallel, we'll begin testing the integration of our inventory software and fulfillment house to ensure shipments of MEATER will go off without a hitch. Actual safety and FCC testing will also begin and estimated to finish before we start shipping mass produced MEATERs.

We’ve already ordered all the long lead time parts and scheduled to begin mass production of MEATERs in August. We expect to have our first batch of 1000 units completed by mid-August for quality control inspection. Once they pass, we will ramp up production. It's hard to simply press a button on immediately producing 15000+ units! We know you'd rather us ensure the probes are created with perfection, devoid of any defects. MEATER Block will undergo the same motions with pilot production happening in mid-August. All things considered, we're hoping to have begun shipping out MEATERs mid-September and MEATER Blocks in October. Sending good vibes that there are zero to minimal hiccups in this process so we can all start smoking beef tri-tips with MEATER soon!



Several of our eager backers have also asked about the MEATER app being in their respective app store. We're eager too! We'll have the MEATER app for iOS and Android ready and released with product launch :) Also, MEATER Link is finished and operational. MEATER Cloud is ready for iOS and under development for Android (but we expect it to be ready by mid-August). As for the wearable-apps, MEATER notifications are already designed to push to your watches. We plan to have the native apps ready by launch but will prioritize software updates resulting from our beta testing phase.

In other areas, our packaging is locked down! We wanted to design packaging that not only fits our brand, but provides a safe vessel so your MEATERs are unscathed as they travel far and wide to land in your kitchens. We've carefully selected the right materials, precision, and handiwork to ensure MEATER fits snugly, just like when you're properly tucked in at night.



Building a smart and completely wire-free meat thermometer is no easy task especially if there’s no blueprint to copy. Endless nights, hard work and our dedication to perfection has gotten us to where we are today. It was our pipedream to raise the amount of funds we’ve raised so far but we wouldn’t have ever gotten to this point if we weren’t so detail oriented and passionate about building the perfect product. We apologize that everyone has waited this long for MEATER but we assure that you will not be disappointed of the end result. We continue to be thankful and humble for your support and patience. Grill on friends!

Joseph, Teemu & the Apption Labs Team
« Last Edit: August 27, 2016, 05:06:44 PM by SconnieQ »
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
Weber Smokey Mountain (are we still friends?), Weber Kettle Grill (stop complaining WSM, I still have a chance)
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AlinMA

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #35 on: July 16, 2016, 05:47:57 PM »
Kari, Again thank you for the updates!
I am looking forward to the release of the Meater! After 1 year my Mav. 733 is getting a bit erratic. Port 1 is 37 degrees and port 2 is 39 via the ice test. All my other devices read 32 degrees to lo as expected. Before I invest in new probes for the Mav. I sure would like to give the "Meater" a shot!
Al from N'East MA
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Love my Rubs

BedouinBob

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #36 on: July 17, 2016, 11:08:30 AM »
Kari, excited to try this out! Good luck on the launch!
Bob - Colorado Springs
NRA & USN

SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #37 on: August 27, 2016, 05:13:11 PM »
Received this update today.

32 | MEATER Party

Production Update
Hello everyone, we hope you all have been eating delicious foods, spending time with loved ones, and are doing well!

Over the course of 3 weeks, we’ve completed our initial pilot production and have been testing the units rigorously. We are very happy with the production quality and feature performance so far but we also unearthed a few problems. Most were found during the actual pilot production related to the assembly process, assembly and testing fixtures, automated testing program, factory process, etc. This is why we run pilot production: to find problems in the manufacturing process and fix them. It's a typical step to ensure mass production will yield consistent, high quality results.

For all supply chain quality issues, we have now visited the suppliers manufacturing mechanical parts for us. We spent days with them to go over the required improvements, checked their process and are moving full steam ahead. We are getting good results from the improvements and now producing the remaining parts for mass production units.

Rest assured, all the issues found during this initial build have been addressed. We have already begun the next pilot production run to confirm the solutions put in place. With that said, the additional production run will delay our mass production timeline. Our updated plan for MEATER is to start mass production mid-September, finish by early October and start shipping by mid-month.



While this was happening at the supplier, we have been doing lots of cooking and testing with the pilot production units. The products are functioning, generally performing well, and even at times, exceeding our expectations. However because of the improvements required for these units, we decided not to release this current batch to our beta testers until the next pilot run. On the software side, we’ve optimized performance of MEATER Link and MEATER Cloud which will both be available for beta testing. We expect to begin shipping beta units the week of September 5th.


Taking distance testing to the streets (Keye is under the red arrows). Also, searing on a cast iron pan without the hassle of wires.

Since our resources were focused on solving MEATER probe assembly issues, we can now turn our attention to the MEATER Block pilot production (which will commence shortly). Because of the slight shift in schedule, it is looking more like end of October/early November for MEATER Block deliveries.

Our #1 goal is to produce the best possible product we can all be proud of. Remember, you’re the one that has gotten us to where we are today and deserve nothing less than perfection. We apologize for the delay and we are determined with vigor that the delay is the only thing you’ll ever worry about. As a token of our appreciation of your patience, in order to cut down on the schedule, we’ve decided to air ship units from our factory to our fulfillment warehouses (as opposed to shipments by boat) to shave off significant transit time.

Thank you so much for understanding and sticking by our side, it really means a lot to us during this decisive production process.

Until then, keep the coals burning, and all the best,
Joseph, Teemu, and the Apption Labs team
« Last Edit: August 27, 2016, 05:17:54 PM by SconnieQ »
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
Weber Smokey Mountain (are we still friends?), Weber Kettle Grill (stop complaining WSM, I still have a chance)
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dibiase

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #38 on: August 29, 2016, 11:01:56 AM »
You will definitely have to post you feedback once you finally get yours.  I am very curious about these.
Chris from Wausau, WI
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SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #39 on: August 29, 2016, 12:32:16 PM »
You will definitely have to post you feedback once you finally get yours.  I am very curious about these.

There are several of us on the forum who backed the original kickstarter campaign. I have a feeling there will be a lot of butts and briskets smoking that first weekend. Sounds like those who ordered the single probe model with get theirs first. Then the Meater Blocks will come about a month later. I ordered the Meater Block. So I won't be the first to test these out.
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
Weber Smokey Mountain (are we still friends?), Weber Kettle Grill (stop complaining WSM, I still have a chance)
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NDKoze

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #40 on: August 29, 2016, 04:08:37 PM »
You will definitely have to post you feedback once you finally get yours.  I am very curious about these.

There are several of us on the forum who backed the original kickstarter campaign. I have a feeling there will be a lot of butts and briskets smoking that first weekend. Sounds like those who ordered the single probe model with get theirs first. Then the Meater Blocks will come about a month later. I ordered the Meater Block. So I won't be the first to test these out.

I was an original campaign sponsor for a Meater Block too. Sounds like our wait is until the end of October/Early November. I am anxiously awaiting its arrival. This will be really nice to keep track of Snack Stick temps which will let me know when I will need to rotate my trays as I will be able to temp sticks on a few trays at a time.
Gregg - Fargo, ND
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SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #41 on: September 18, 2016, 04:21:29 PM »
33 | Friday Night Meats
Apption Labs

Howdy everybody! After discovering production issues during our first pilot production run, as mentioned previously, we completed updating our assembly rigs and optimized the process. The second pilot production using our new solution has been underway and we look to finish the run next week. Teemu will be traveling to the factory on Monday to QA the 2nd pilot production results and personally oversee mass production. If the new units pass inspection, we can ramp up production and bump up batch quantities. With that said, we are still on track to begin shipping MEATERs mid-October.

In other news, we are still constructing assembly rigs for MEATER Block. Since our focus was on MEATER the past few weeks, we can start to turn our attention to MEATER Block. To show you an example of changes made during our redesign for manufacturing phase, here's an image of the old MEATER Block and the newer model. You'll notice that the previous MEATER Block was two separate bamboo pieces whereas the latest model is constructed with one solid piece. This was changed to streamline the construction, assembly of the electronics, parts and, ultimately, a smoother manufacturing procedure. The finish of the bamboo is lighter in color and more textured, giving MEATER Block a more natural feel, similar to MEATER's aesthetics. We are still estimating shipments of MEATER Blocks mid/late November. 


Redesigning to make things better!

Regarding beta testing, the first small set of beta testing units have arrived and we'll be getting results from their rigorous testing the following week. We'll be releasing more beta units in small quantities, so sit tight if you are a beta tester. Thank you in advance to our testers who will help improve MEATER!



Things are moving along, at about 81.4%, in the fulfillment department. We are working with our fulfillment company with the onboarding process that involves paperwork, testing the fulfillment software with our inventory software, deciding shipment sizes (i.e. carton/pallet specifics), and selecting specific warehouse locations to optimize shipping! The remaining work will be in selecting an optimal freight forwarding company that has the experience, customer service, and good communication with our supplier as well as our fulfillment house. And of course, the very last bit will be the most important part - fulfilling our crowdfunding pledges to you.

Getting product certifications has been ongoing and at about 63.7%. Our goal is to have FCC certification in early October and CE certification mid-October (by product launch, of course!).

Keep the meat juicy, and don't forget to check the injury list before you play that star Running Back.

Laces out,
Joseph, Teemu, and Team Apption Labs
« Last Edit: September 18, 2016, 04:26:13 PM by SconnieQ »
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
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SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #42 on: October 12, 2016, 04:15:52 PM »
I think to be realistic, as I've been saying all along, 2017 delivery. Here's the latest update. I think everyone is getting tired of the "tiny" timeline setbacks over and over. I wish they would just be more realistic, and not keep pushing back week by week. I think I mentioned in my last post, that their previous timeline didn't seem realistic at all to me, unless all of the beta testers had NO problems.

34 | The MEATnificent Seven

Greetings everyone! We’ve been diligently working to assure progression in delivering the best MEATER products from hardware to software. As stated in our previous update, Teemu is currently in Taiwan inspecting samples from our 2nd pilot production run. After careful examination, slight adjustments were needed. The issues do not pose major problems, but unfortunately will cause a delay in mass production.

We are currently working to have a handful of test units at the end of the week to send out to our UK and US engineering teams for testing. If these upcoming units pass our inspection, we'll be releasing more from this batch as beta units. Teemu has an extended stay in Taiwan so that he can personally oversee production and resolve any further issues. If all goes according to plan without any issues within the test batch, we are estimating the first shipment of MEATER for our backers as early as November and our goal to have the bulk of mass produced units shipping in December. Once we've begun mass producing MEATER probes, we will shift our focus to MEATER Block. With supply chain and probe production already established, it should be a very smooth transition to full production. As soon as we have shipping estimates for MEATER Block, we will send out an update at that time.

We've gotten initial feedback from our beta testing program! It’s very exciting as we're getting MEATER into the hands and grills of actual backers and not just the team that's behind the creative process. We're taking notes and modifying the app to make the MEATER experience more intuitive, user-friendly, and overall a more enjoyable cook. These adjustments so far include the minutest details in the software interface/layout, ease of instructions, streamlining the app usability, and various debugged items. Our iOS beta testers have been cooking with MEATER and the native Android app is just around the corner. We're looking to launch the iOS version of the MEATER app in stores in late October, and the Android version released a week after that.

We're still in the middle of searching for our perfect freight forwarder. The good news is we're in contact with several companies and are waiting to hear back with pricing quotes so we can evaluate further and compare services.

In other areas of company development, we're looking into integrated support systems that we can utilize once we have our official product launch. A good support/help system will integrate with our online shopping cart, social media messaging, have live chats, advanced messaging, app availability; all the better to serve our fanbase.

Thank you always for the strong support system,

Joseph, Teemu, and the Apption Labs squad
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
Weber Smokey Mountain (are we still friends?), Weber Kettle Grill (stop complaining WSM, I still have a chance)
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DivotMaker

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #43 on: October 12, 2016, 09:29:40 PM »
I wish them the best!  If they finally do, actually, make delivery, and it is a durable (over time) as they say, I will be an owner!  I just can't help but take a "wait and see" approach to this, though.
Tony from NW Arkansas
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SconnieQ

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Re: The Meater (wireless meat thermometers) - Kickstarter project
« Reply #44 on: October 12, 2016, 11:08:35 PM »
I wish them the best!  If they finally do, actually, make delivery, and it is a durable (over time) as they say, I will be an owner!  I just can't help but take a "wait and see" approach to this, though.

I'm not surprised with the timeline. I think they were overly optimistic from day 1. Part of the problem is that they were so over-funded ($2.5 million when they asked for $100,000), that I think they started to rethink and expand the product. The launch will make or break this, so I'm sure they want it perfect. In the meantime, I've happily got it covered with my Maverick. It's not like there's another comparable wire-free option out there that I could buy instead. And as much fun as an app, cloud and graphing will be, it's not an urgent need, so I can be patient.
Kari from Madison WI "77 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality"
Singing the praises of small and simple. SI Model #1 with "Libby the dog" poultry skin eating accessory.
Weber Smokey Mountain (are we still friends?), Weber Kettle Grill (stop complaining WSM, I still have a chance)
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