What have we learned so far?

When Mike and I started this Kickstarter project, Our vision was simple, create a really valuable device that in our minds was a no-brainer. In value, we mean that the user will save a lot more money than the device cost them and it would be easy to use and only needed batteries once a year or even longer. That is still a vision of ours as we believe that the power companies should give the device away to their customers as there is a mutual benefit to everybody.

We were a bit short-sighted not to offer a wireless version(s). Sure we had already talked about it but for some reason we felt like a lower costing version would get our volumes up to where they need to be. We should have known, Kickstarter and crowd-funding is a forward thinking concept and it seems to reason that the people who use the site to back projects are forward thinking as well.

A lesson learned.

Well, we added a ZigBee wireless version to focus on a couple forward thinking home automation controllers that had huge success on Kickstarter (Smartthings, WigWag). It wasn't too much of a stretch given we have had some experience with low power wireless and our backers seemed to be receptive to a little longer delivery. These are cloud enabled devices as so you can get a notification to your mobile device as long as you have an Internet connection.

We will consider a stretch goal of a Bluetooth 4.0 version. It turns out that the RF radio we are considering has pin compatible version for both ZigBee and BT 4.0. More software is needed and hence to reach delivery goals, we would have to hire someone to get the mobile software written. A BT version is what we consider a LOCAL RF solution versus a cloud solution. Your watching TV and you get a notification that your filter needs changing.

WiFi is a little power hungry for our taste and so that solution will have to wait a while.

Hopefully all the confusion of adding a feature such as wireless AFTER the fact has been cleared up. I know it is a bit confusing to see all the rewards and wonder what you are getting but I can't change the text so I am left with creating new rewards and explaining to current backers what they are getting for their pledge.

I made it simple, early backers get the MAX device at whatever level they came in at. New backers will need to pledge $50 for that version and $25 for the BASIC version (the one we think the power companies should give out for free).

All you Smartthings and WigWag backers where are you!!!

Feel free to ask any questions or make any comments here...

John