Post by Admin on Jan 4, 2018 14:27:57 GMT
Please see below for the latest KickStarter update:
"4k Shipments
We completed the 4K design and production validation in November. Well before that, we had placed orders to fulfill all our Kickstarter and website pre-orders. Unfortunately, despite what our team considered good planning, we miscalculated the future availability of a semiconductor component. A switching regulator (AP65550FN-7) made by Diodes Inc. The component was not available at any parts distributor around the world - and we called about nearly a hundred different companies that distribute them. The component costs about 20 cents and in hindsight, we could have easily purchased it. However, we made the mistake of listing it with other commodity items we typically use - resistors, capacitors, transistors etc.
In November, we learned that our order for about 10,000 of these parts (each 4K board needs one) would be processed in March 2018. The lead time had suddenly ballooned from a week to 24 weeks. Our team had a crisis on our hands as this delay would not just mean a significant upset in fulfilling Kickstarter orders, but would threaten our go to market plan - placing cash flow issues on our startup business.
By end of November, all items were ready in our fabrication house - PCBs, HDMI processing ICs, test rigs - tens of thousands of dollars of parts - waiting for a 20 cent component. Our engineering team considered redoing the section of the PCB and using an alternate regulator - a costly exercise that would need additional testing, recertification, and scraping of the older version.
In the midst of this, in late November, our representative to Diodes Inc, was able to secure two sample orders of this part (amounting to 1000 pieces). With this, our pcb production line was alive again in early December and we have started 4K shipments. As of the last week in December we would have completed 140 4K Shipments and we are targeting completion of all 4K shipments by last week in January. Good news is the first 4K units have been shipped out and we're hoping to continue this momentum.
The HD Flex LEDs are being shipped in parallel and many of you have received it. Unlike the Classic, Mega and Xtreme DreamScreen sizes, both the Flex and the DIY do not come up with LED count assigned - as we do not know how many your TV would need. We recommend the following steps:
Refer to Manual to see how Flex LEDs are installed.
Place LEDs on your television and attach LED connector to Hub.
Use the App> Installation Settings> Flex/DIY to set up the LED Count and the direction of install.
Verify that all the LEDs you need are illuminated and turn off power to the Hub.
Cut the unused LEDs.
From backer feedback, we have learned of an oversight - we missed information in the documentation on where to cut the unused strip. After installation, the Flex Strip can be cut half way in between the last used and LED and the first unused LED. We are going to put an insert into our remaining Flex shipments while we get the manual updated.
Our development team will continue to improve on DreamScreen experience and introduce more features and address any bugs over the next few months. The recent updates to the Android and iOS Apps carry Widgets that will allow for toggling modes and switching HDMI inputs without having to open the app.
Thank you for all your support and hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
- Best Wishes from The DreamScreen Team"
"4k Shipments
We completed the 4K design and production validation in November. Well before that, we had placed orders to fulfill all our Kickstarter and website pre-orders. Unfortunately, despite what our team considered good planning, we miscalculated the future availability of a semiconductor component. A switching regulator (AP65550FN-7) made by Diodes Inc. The component was not available at any parts distributor around the world - and we called about nearly a hundred different companies that distribute them. The component costs about 20 cents and in hindsight, we could have easily purchased it. However, we made the mistake of listing it with other commodity items we typically use - resistors, capacitors, transistors etc.
In November, we learned that our order for about 10,000 of these parts (each 4K board needs one) would be processed in March 2018. The lead time had suddenly ballooned from a week to 24 weeks. Our team had a crisis on our hands as this delay would not just mean a significant upset in fulfilling Kickstarter orders, but would threaten our go to market plan - placing cash flow issues on our startup business.
By end of November, all items were ready in our fabrication house - PCBs, HDMI processing ICs, test rigs - tens of thousands of dollars of parts - waiting for a 20 cent component. Our engineering team considered redoing the section of the PCB and using an alternate regulator - a costly exercise that would need additional testing, recertification, and scraping of the older version.
In the midst of this, in late November, our representative to Diodes Inc, was able to secure two sample orders of this part (amounting to 1000 pieces). With this, our pcb production line was alive again in early December and we have started 4K shipments. As of the last week in December we would have completed 140 4K Shipments and we are targeting completion of all 4K shipments by last week in January. Good news is the first 4K units have been shipped out and we're hoping to continue this momentum.
The HD Flex LEDs are being shipped in parallel and many of you have received it. Unlike the Classic, Mega and Xtreme DreamScreen sizes, both the Flex and the DIY do not come up with LED count assigned - as we do not know how many your TV would need. We recommend the following steps:
Refer to Manual to see how Flex LEDs are installed.
Place LEDs on your television and attach LED connector to Hub.
Use the App> Installation Settings> Flex/DIY to set up the LED Count and the direction of install.
Verify that all the LEDs you need are illuminated and turn off power to the Hub.
Cut the unused LEDs.
From backer feedback, we have learned of an oversight - we missed information in the documentation on where to cut the unused strip. After installation, the Flex Strip can be cut half way in between the last used and LED and the first unused LED. We are going to put an insert into our remaining Flex shipments while we get the manual updated.
Our development team will continue to improve on DreamScreen experience and introduce more features and address any bugs over the next few months. The recent updates to the Android and iOS Apps carry Widgets that will allow for toggling modes and switching HDMI inputs without having to open the app.
Thank you for all your support and hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
- Best Wishes from The DreamScreen Team"