36 | Fantastic Meats
over 7 years ago – Fri, Nov 18, 2016 at 10:52:36 PM

We apologize for the silence but when we’re not making noise, it means we’re hyper focused on getting MEATER to production! With both Joseph and Teemu at the factory, they have been reworking the assembly process to resolve issues that failed our high QC standards. We solved production issues that damaged ceramic handles during assembly and adjusted parts that affected RF performance. The difficulty of building something no one has ever done before is that there are numerous factors to account for in every aspect of the development, design, and production. As many engineers/developers/project managers know, changing or fixing even one small part could affect other aspects of the product and process. It’s been very challenging but here we are: Joseph and Teemu froze a version of the MEATER probe for production. Now on to the MEAT!

Schedule

We are moving forward with a small production batch to manufacture 300 units next week. Should the results from that batch pass our QC, we will begin shipping MEATERs to some early backers! As a reminder, shipping will be based on order number. Immediately following the 300 units we will begin to ramp up production incrementally to ensure consistent results. With that said, we will keep you updated on the production quantities so you know when to expect the shipment. The goal is still to be shipping mass produced MEATERs (individual probe with charger) to our crowdfunding backers in December. Our focus has always been quality and want nothing less for our loyal backers.

Software

The iOS app has already been submitted to the Apple store and approved for beta distribution through the iTunes store. This is an easier method to distribute the software to our next batch of beta testers. We plan to release the app to the public the moment we begin shipping MEATERs. The Android app has a few more items to debug but the major functions are all working. We plan to release the Android version in the Google Play store shortly after the iOS release.

Certifications

We’ve submitted the previous iteration of MEATER to the safety lab months ago and it passed the tests. But due to the changes we’ve made in the assembly process these last 2 weeks, we will need to re-submit the final version of the product to the lab. There are 2 paths this could take:

1. The lab will deem our changes to be minor, verify the product, and receive the certification in a week.

2. The lab will review the product and see the need to go through the full gamut of tests again. Since the lab is already familiar with our product, the tests should move quicker and finish in 2-3 weeks.

We will know more once we submit the final version of MEATER next week.

Coming Soon

MEATER Block – Once the MEATER probes are in mass production, we will steer our focus on the MEATER Block. Since the MEATER Block is not subject to strict thermal requirements like the MEATER probe, we expect the process to move more smoothly.

New features – Some have been questioning why the app hasn’t been released yet but we find releasing the app early serves no practical purpose for the user because MEATERs haven’t shipped. While the hardware production is progressing, our software team has taken the liberty in continually improving the experience (e.g. squashing bugs, making functions more intuitive, etc.) and have added some additional features like iPad support (you finally have a real use for the tablet). The MEATER app is now better…stronger…faster!

35 | Edward MEATERhands
over 7 years ago – Sat, Oct 29, 2016 at 12:54:03 AM

Hello everyone! From the last update, a handful of new probes were sent to the UK and U.S. for further testing. The probes arrived safely and have been used in some real-life situations: cooking dinner!

Here's a video of MEATER making friends with a chicken.

For over a month, Teemu has been spending his time away from home, at the factory to commandeer production and is still there working tirelessly performing tests and optimizing the assembly process.

Based on the positive results of the recent U.S./UK testing of the new MEATER probes, we are one step closer to the first large production batch of MEATER. Joseph will be traveling to the factory with the intention to sign off on production together with Teemu, which will be a major milestone for the campaign. We'll make sure to capture this magical process on camera and share them with you on the next update.

Regarding CE certification, MEATER is currently undergoing ESD (electrostatic discharge) testing and we expect to have this part of the test completed by the time Joseph arrives at the factory. Progress is being made!

Thanks all, we can't wait to share the status of production and the progress made in the coming weeks. If it's all looking good, we can start shipping MEATER to backers end of November with the goal of shipping the bulk of the MEATER units in December. As previously stated, we'll focus on the MEATER Block the moment MEATERs have begun mass production.

Have safe, scary, and sugary Halloweens!

Joseph, Teemu, and the Apption Labs team

Shipping Address

Many of you are no longer at your previous homes and have new GPS coordinates. Here's how you can update your address on the Kickstarter website:

1) Go to our campaign page.

2) Click the blue "View Pledge" button.

3) Click the "Survey" tab from the pop-up window.

4) Under your current listed address, click "Edit Address".

Congratulations on your move and new adventure!

Let's Meat Up

Stay in touch with Apption Labs and e-holler at us!

Facebook: Click here and "like" our page

Twitter: "Follow" us on Twitter

Instagram: "Follow" us on Instagram

You can still pre-order MEATER here if you want additional units or your friend missed the campaign.

34 | The MEATnificent Seven
over 7 years ago – Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 12:47:23 AM

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

Shipping Address

Many of you are no longer at your previous homes and have new GPS coordinates. Here's how you can update your address on the Kickstarter website:

1) Go to our campaign page.

2) Click the blue "View Pledge" button.

3) Click the "Survey" tab from the pop-up window.

4) Under your current listed address, click "Edit Address".

Congratulations on your move and new adventure!

Let's Meat Up

Stay in touch with Apption Labs and e-holler at us!

Facebook: Click here and "like" our page

Twitter: "Follow" us on Twitter

Instagram: "Follow" us on Instagram

You can still pre-order MEATER here if you want additional units or your friend missed the campaign.

33 | Friday Night Meats
over 7 years ago – Sat, Sep 17, 2016 at 12:19:15 AM

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.  

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

32 | MEATER Party
over 7 years ago – Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 10:38:24 PM

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.

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

Shipping Address

Many of you are no longer at your previous homes and have new GPS coordinates. Here's how you can update your address on the Kickstarter website:

1) Go to our campaign page.

2) Click the blue "View Pledge" button.

3) Click the "Survey" tab from the pop-up window.

4) Under your current listed address, click "Edit Address".

Congratulations on your move and new adventure!

Let's Meat Up

Stay in touch with Apption Labs and e-holler at us!

Facebook: Click here and "like" our page

Twitter: "Follow" us on Twitter

Instagram: "Follow" us on Instagram

You can still pre-order MEATER here if you want additional units or your friend missed the campaign.