Project Updates for 16995392 on BackerKit Page 4

Fri Dec 20 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Fri, Dec 20, 2019 at 10:52:05 PM

Dear Wynd Backers,

Orders continue to ship out, and, over the past week, we took the time to hand-deliver a few units to get some first impressions. The feedback has been really positive, and the backers we met with have been really excited to start using them in their daily lives. It was a joy to personally get our products into backers’ hands, and we look forward to completing all deliveries in the near future!

Hand-delivered units to backers.

We’ve enjoyed talking to our backers, and we’d like to take the time to answer some of the more common questions we’ve received:

I’m having trouble pairing Halo to the app/WiFi. What should I do?

1. Try resetting both your smartphone & Wynd Halo. (You can reset your Halo by cancelling pairing and navigating to the settings tab to select "Reset WiFi & Purifier".
2. After reset, turn on your Wynd Halo and follow the steps on the screen.
3. Connect your smartphone to a WiFi signal with a 2.4Ghz frequency.
4. Open up the Wynd App on your smartphone and go through the steps to pair your Halo to the app.

Note: When prompted by the headline, "Connect your Wynd Halo's WiFi", be sure to connect to the network called "HALO". (example; HALO_123)

5. When paired, Wynd Halo's screen should appear with a checkmark. Your smartphone will take have to connect to the Wynd Network, register your Halo on our database, and reconnect to your Wynd Halo. This process may take up to two minutes.
Other tips:

Make sure that the app and your smartphone’s operating system are updated to the latest versions.
Your Halo may be low on power. Plug the included USB-C charger into the Halo while pairing

My Halo disconnected from the app. What should I do?

1. Plug in the provided USB-C charging cable into the Wynd Halo.
2. Under the Devices tab in the Wynd app, select your Wynd Halo and tap the “Unpair this Halo” button.
3. Restart your iPhone and reset your Wynd Halo by going into the “Edit Settings” tab and pressing "Reset WiFi & Halo".

The screen blinks when it’s updating. Is that okay?

Yes, this blinking is normal during updates. While this will not affect your day-to-day usage of the device, we plan on addressing it in a firmware update.

The Halo is making a buzzing sound. Is it broken?

Nope, the slight buzzing sound comes from the small fan inside the Halo. This fan pulls in air so that it can be sampled. For now, if the sound is bothering you, we recommend placing the Halo at a distance and monitoring your air quality through the app. You can also shut down the Halo by holding down the top button for 2 seconds. We are currently looking into creating a silent mode as a long-term solution.

Do I have to use the wall mount, or can I move it around?

Nope, the wall mount is optional. The Halo can last over 3 hours disconnected. To charge your Halo, you can either use the wall mount or charge it directly with the included USB-C cable.

Thanks to our devices’ Over the Air Update capabilities, these and any other issues we discover can be fixed wirelessly through new firmware versions.

Product Delivery

Managing worldwide logistics and global customs policies has been a complicated process, but we are dedicated to minimizing these burdens to our backers and will be working throughout the Christmas holidays to do so. We’ve been working with our shipping partners to ensure a straightforward import experience. Many of you should have already received a message notifying you of your shipping status. For those of you who have not, be sure to keep an eye out on your inbox - please be sure to check your spam folder and email filters. We understand that many of you will have questions about your orders, so we will be sure to respond to messages within 24 hours if not sooner (including Christmas!).

Stay tuned…

Be on the lookout for confirmation codes, tracking numbers, and more shipping updates. If you have any questions about shipping or need any assistance setting up your devices, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].

-Wynd Team

Wed Dec 11 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Wed, Dec 11, 2019 at 11:36:35 AM

Dear Wynd Backers,

We hope you’re all enjoying the holidays! So far, over 1,000 backers have received their shipping confirmation codes, and we look forward to sending out more as additional units are completed. For this update, we’ll discuss the state of production as well as some improvements we’ve made to the app.

Be on the lookout for an email with the subject line: “Your Wynd order is ready!”

Production

Wynd Halos delivered to our Bay Area office.

Halo’s complex calibration process is a bit tricky to learn. Consequently, there’s a steep learning curve that has slowed down our assembly team. However, we are continually working with them to improve efficiency, and we foresee a complete ramp-up in the near future.

App update

Since launching our app in the iOS and Google Play stores, we’ve received some valuable feedback on login and device connectivity issues. We’ve since taken the time to debug the app and add some new features.

Shipping

Shipping orders to dozens of countries across the globe is a complicated process, but we would like to answer some of the more generally applicable questions in this section:

We will be sending shipping confirmation codes for all orders by the end of the year. For shipping, the longest routes will take 4-6 weeks, but most will arrive sooner.
Our customs policy varies from region to region. If you have not received one already, you will be receiving an email shortly detailing the customs process for your region and expected cost.
Tip: Be on the lookout for an email from [email protected] for your confirmation and tracking codes.

For more detailed or country-specific questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Wrapping up…

Thank you for all your trust and patience as we work to deliver your units. For those of you who have yet to receive a code, we are working closely with our manufacturing partners to get units down the line as rapidly as possible while maintaining quality. We’re incredibly sorry for the delays and are working hard to ship out products during the holidays. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any questions, comments, or feedback. We’ll make sure all your questions are answered quickly and will continue to keep you updated on our progress.

-Wynd Team

Sun Nov 24 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Sun, Nov 24, 2019 at 04:15:11 PM

Dear Wynd Backers,

For those of us in the US, this time of year is for giving thanks - hence Thanksgiving Day this week. This year we’re especially grateful to have all of you as backers, many of whom have been our supporters since our first campaign 3 years ago! ?We know Halo and Home Purifier have been a challenging journey to start shipping, but we couldn’t have asked for more patient or understanding partners.

Now to proceed to the “giving” portion of Thanksgiving: in this update, we’ll be discussing the app launch, continued production, and more confirmation codes!

App Launch

The Wynd app is now available in the iOS App Store and Google Play stores! If you’re curious about all the details, we’ve covered many of the new features in previous posts (Manufacturing Updates #5, #6, #7, and #8). In short, this app will act as the central hub of all your air quality needs.

Once you receive your products, you’ll be able to connect them through the app. In the meantime, you can benefit from the app to monitor your outdoor air quality and control your other Wynd devices. Feel free to send us feedback at [email protected]!

Continued manufacturing

Mass production of both the Halo and Home Purifier is progressing steadily. After each batch of units is completed and approved for quality, a confirmation code will be sent out to every backer on a rolling basis.

If you have not received one already, we appreciate your patience, and you can expect to receive one soon.

Testing

As a scientific environmental monitor, quality and accuracy testing is an integral part of the manufacturing process for the Halo. Below, are a few shots of the Halo testing process at the manufacturing facility:

LED testing is performed to ensure each LED is working and that consistent light is emitted.

Battery testing to ensure charging works properly.

Consistency testing to ensure readings remain within a narrow band of error.

Accuracy testing to ensure Halo readings reflect true airborne particulate concentrations.

Inspections are performed along the assembly line to ensure components have been properly installed.

Wrapping up

We’re still working hard to get units down the line as rapidly as possible while maintaining quality. As we continue to ship out these products over the next few weeks, we will be sending out confirmation codes accordingly. Thank you for all the support you’ve shown us since the inception of this campaign, and feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any questions, comments, or feedback. We’ll make sure all your questions are answered quickly, and will continue to keep you updated on our progress.

With love and excitement,

Wynd Team

P.S. Be sure to check out this project too:

LUMZAG: The Smart Bag Packed With 7 Cool Features

Lumzag Smart Bags are the most innovative and smart carry system to date, designed with high end materials and 7 smart features. Presented in the trinity of the Backpack, Messenger and CrossBody, Lumzag Smart Bags are the ultimate definition of what you always missed in your bag: intelligence, power, safety and control.

Check them out on Indiegogo here

Mon Nov 11 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Mon, Nov 11, 2019 at 06:09:58 PM

Shipping

Logistics map showing journey of products from factories to major ports. Please note that this is a representation and is not comprehensive of all final shipping destinations or routes.

International shipping has been one of the most challenging aspects of every campaign. With trade wars and protests on top of the normal complexities of shipping to over 90 countries, we had to think creatively to ensure all orders get delivered to their destinations in a timely manner. While we are very excited to begin sending out units, we want to set realistic expectations for delivery speed. While not immediate, nor exceedingly lengthy, shipping will take a few weeks to reach all backers. The map above outlines the journey units will take from our factories in Asia to our 3PL (3rd Party Logistics) partners in Hong Kong, to major ports or airports, and then to your homes and offices.

Shipping order is based on a number of factors, including backer numbers, regional backer density, availability of region specific units, and more. We can’t wait to get our products in your hands, so we are doing everything possible to shorten delivery time as much as we can.

Wrapping up

Lastly, we wanted to thank everyone for their support and patience. Getting 2 new products out into the market is not an easy journey, but we are heartened by the community that has stuck with us every step of the way. Please continue to send us questions, comments, and feedback to [email protected] and we’ll make sure to answer them quickly. We’ll also keep everyone updated on our progress.

With love and excitement,

Wynd Team

Mon Nov 11 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Mon, Nov 11, 2019 at 06:08:09 PM

Dear Wynd Backers,

We hope everyone is enjoying the start of the holiday season. Thank you for everyone’s patience and support. Our team is working hard, and half our team is practically living at the factory to manufacture the products, and problem solve any issues along the way.

As usual, we want to provide the latest update on our progress, and share our challenges and achievements.

Needed rest after a coding sprint.

Home Purifier production

Home Purifier production is going well and last week finished units have begun to ship out. Some backers should have already received their confirmation codes for these units, and we’ll be sending out more confirmations on a rolling basis as units are completed. Given these are 12 kg each the shipping may take a few extra weeks than a small box item (like our first Kickstarter product).

Completed Home Purifiers on pallets ready to be shipped out

There are two versions of the Home Purifier that look and work almost the exact same. The only difference is that one SKU (product type) uses 110-120V (56% of orders) and the other 220-240V (44% of orders). This split was designed to ensure compatibility with electric infrastructure in different countries. We are currently finishing up 1,700 110-120V units with the remaining 1,300 (220-240V) units to be manufactured next, and will ship out soon after.

For bundle orders, we have also designed unique packaging which will contain both the Home Purifier and Halo. This special packaging protects the devices and helps to ensure you receive both units at the same time.

While these electrical and packaging differences increase safety and efficiency, they do add some complexities to shipping. Furthermore, since Halo is manufactured in Shenzhen, and the Home Purifier is manufactured in northern China, each batch of units will be sent to our logistics partner in Hong Kong for bundling and shipping. Not to worry though, our teams across product development, manufacturing, and operations are keeping everything organized.

Special packaging designed to protect and contain both the Halo and Home Purifier for those who ordered a bundle. The white part is made of recyclable EPE foam.

Halo production

We had a hiccup in manufacturing the Halo due to an unexpected supplier component change. In order to adapt to the new WiFi chip, we’ve had to re-tune our Halo firmware to account for a slightly different way to communicate to the component, including changing timeouts, transmit / acknowledge messages, etc. We are happy to report however, that this issue is behind us, and that production of the Halo has resumed and we are catching up on production quantities.

Wynd App

iOS and Android apps

Our new apps for iOS and Android will be released next week. This new version of our Wynd app will add the following features:

Wynd Score - a comprehensive scoring system (on a scale of 0 to 100) that will help you make sense of all the different pollutants detected by the Halo.
Compatibility with the Halo and Home Purifier, and the ability to connect multiple units of each.
Ability to remotely control the Home Purifier’s fan speed, activate night mode for both devices, and enable auto mode for effortless air purification,
Provide Home Purifier filter monitoring to allow you to know when is the best time to replace your filters, and an easy way to replace filters.

To give you a better idea of what the new app experience will be like with the Halo and Home Purifier, we’ve put together some walk-throughs to give you a sneak peek:

Home Purifier Pairing