International C.H.I.P.ping: Much Fun Wow!

Dearest Kernel Hackers (and others interested in international shipping logistics),

Two weeks ago, we proudly announced that we shipped our first batch of Alpha C.H.I.P.s. Over 900 units to 57 countries in one fell swoop. C.H.I.P.s are in kernel hacker’s hands. Our forums are filling with tons of feedback and ideas.  But the fact remains…

We still have over 100,000 discrete units to deliver to almost 40,000 people in 97 countries over the next seven months. A dress rehearsal was essential.  

HOW C.H.I.P. SHIPS

C.H.I.P. will touch many hands before it gets to yours.  Our factory in Shenzhen to our shipper in Hong Kong through customs in your country to your national mail carrier to regional shipping centers to final last mile delivery. Let’s take a breath and take a look at some early results.

HOW WE DID…

C.H.I.P.s arrived.

C.H.I.P.s were flashed. 

But we were not without hiccups. 

Our logistics partner promised an average of 7-9 days transit time for delivery. Some Alpha C.H.I.P.s arrived before that. Some arrived within that estimate. Some arrived later. A handful have yet to arrive.

1) Our shipper prioritized batches with shorter journeys, which resulted in a much wider range of delivery dates.

2) Shipping integration tests resulted in tracking data becoming available later than promised.  This meant no individual shipping notifications were sent to backers and tracking data was sent to NTC instead.

WHAT WE’RE DOING

We’ve been working closely with our shipping partner to get rid of these hiccups. Tracking issues have been sorted and every KHB has been sent a tracking number, regardless of whether or not you have received your Alpha C.H.I.P.

For most of KHBs, it will confirm the obvious: you have your C.H.I.P. For others, it will estimate the arrival of your C.H.I.P. If there is still confusion, shoot us an email at ahoyahoy@nextthing.co.

GETTING BETTER!

We can get better. We need to get better. Fortunately, we are getting better. Lucky us, we have a chance to prove it. Alpha C.H.I.P., batch 2 is heading your way early next week. What’s changing? Check out this list…

  • Better communication between NTC and our shipping partner.  We’ll be receiving updates at each step of the way. Like GI Joe used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.”
  • Better communication between NTC and you!  Now that we’ve been through this once, we’ll be able to update with accurate shipping estimates.
  • Improved communication between NTC and you!  Now that we’re better linked to our shipper, we can send tracking numbers much sooner, eventually automatically, upon shipment.
  • Even better improved communication between NTC and you! We’re here for you across our support channels: bbs.nextthing.co, ahoyahoy@nextthing.co, @nextthingco. (we also still have a close eye on the kickstarter comments and messages)  We’re always trying to break our response time records.

So that’s our shipping situation, in a bit more than a nutshell.  This first shipment was meant for feedback between NTC and our shipping partnersAND our backers and NTC.  Feedback is crucial to us getting this right by December. Don’t hesitate to give us your two cents at ahoyahoy@nextthing.co.

SO MUCH BUSINESS TALK…LET’S GET EXCITED!

The 9 dollar computer is a thing that is happening!

Tweet us your C.H.I.P. progress @nextthingco!. Watching you flash, hack and experiment is legitimately awesome.  Your excitement is why we’re pushing this giant rock up this giant mountain. So keep it up!

Thanks for your patience. You are, in fact, the best.

M.M.M.T.C. (much much more to come)

hearts – Everyone at NTC (especially Ari)

Ari. Maven of International Logistics.

 

Our Friend, C.H.I.P.py Ruxpin! ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Yep. We went there.

Alpha C.H.I.P.s arriving means C.H.I.P. powered projects!  With a love for reviving 80s animatronics, Andrew (newest member of the NTC team!) hacked the world’s first animated storytelling bear with the world’s first nine dollar computer.

Why make a bearmonster Frankenstein style?

Firstly, it’s FUN!  Secondly, it’s a wonderful way to test what C.H.I.P. can do!  Things like…

  • Search the internet and download files
  • Download, store, process, and playback files locally.
  • Control the motors in a bearmonster’s head in sync with audio.

Andrew’s C.H.I.P.py Ruxpin diagram. More documentation coming soon!

C.H.I.P.py Ruxpin is just a start and we can’t wait to see where our Kernel Hackers take us.

Kernel Hackers – Show us what you’re working on!

Excited about your C.H.I.P.?  Have an awesome C.H.I.P. project in the works?  Let us know! Tweet us at @NextThingCo! Use #MadeWithCHIP

Thanks for the C.H.I.P. flashing livetweet @futurejonesapps! Awesome to follow!

Want another C.H.I.P. (or PocketC.H.I.P.)?  Sign up for the pre-order announcement at nextthing.co.

Have a Kernel Hack? Submit a pull request on GitHub.

Join the community conversation on the NTC forum at bbs.nextthing.co.

For more tutorials, information and instructions, head to 42.nextthing.co, your home for all NTC official documentation.

Clarifying C.H.I.P. Shipping

First peek at packaging for Alpha C.H.I.P. round 2. Shipping Soon!

With C.H.I.P.s arriving into Kernel Hacker’s hands, we’re currently on track to meet our estimated shipping timelines from our Kickstarter campaign. 

December, January, February or March C.H.I.P.s are on schedule to arrive at your door by the respective month.  

PocketC.H.I.P.s, adapter boards, and batteries are estimated to ship by May 2016.

You can change your shipping address at any time by heading to chip.backerkit.com.We’ll also send an address confirmation email around 2-3 weeks prior to shipping for super final address accuracy.

 

Stay Tuned! M.M.M.T.C. (much much more to come)

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ – Everyone at @NextThingCo

 

 

 

Holy Ship! Alpha Ships Have C.H.I.P.ped!!!

THAT’S RIGHT…ALPHA C.H.I.P.s HAVE SHIPPED!!!

This, clearly, is Gus’ happy face.

Our Kernel Hacker Backers, our brave StarC.H.I.P. Troopers, should see theirAlpha C.H.I.P.s arrive in 7-9 days. Keep your eyes on those mailboxes! These things are coming in hot!

More what? Keep reading!

ALL KHBs WILL RECEIVE A SECOND ALPHA C.H.I.P.!

This is a great opportunity for a shipping dress rehearsal as we test our shipping integration.  There will be two different Alpha C.H.I.P. shipments.  The first shipment of Alpha C.H.I.P.s will be shipped unflashed to get our Kernel Hackers hacking immediately.   Don’t worry, we have plenty of documentation to get you started.

First Run Alpha C.H.I.P.s: Safety Tested and Ready to Go!

The second shipment of Alpha C.H.I.P.s (estimated to arrive by mid-October)will be factory flashed with our buildroot image.

Alex, Wynter, and our friend Peter have worked diligently to give everyone a clean and simple C.H.I.P. experience out of the box. Get started with the C.H.I.P. Flashing Tutorial!

If you are a Kernel Hacker Backer, and have not yet confirmed your address, get on it! Shoot us your shipping address at chip.backerkit.com and we’ll shoot your Alpha C.H.I.P.s right back!

Documentation & Sharing

For more tutorials, information and instructions, head to 42.nextthing.co, your new home for all NTC official documentation.

Submit all Kernel Hacks by submitting a pull request on GitHub.

Join the community conversation on the NTC forum at bbs.nextthing.co.

Tweet us what you’re working on!  Find us at @NextThingCo!

GET HACKING!

Shipping Alpha C.H.I.P.s in September is a huge milestone for us.  Just as Dave screamed in the Kickstarter video, we are so excited to see what you can do with a 9 dollar computer! Get Hacking! And don’t forget to write!

We looked so much younger four and half months ago…

\m/(>.<)\m/ – everyone @NextThingCo

 

 

 

 

Green C.H.I.P.s

ALPHA C.H.I.P. ADDRESS CONFIRMATIONS

Kernel Hackers!!! September means you get your Alpha C.H.I.P.s!.  Shipping Alpha C.H.I.P.s means we need our KHB ADDRESS CONFIRMATIONS.  If we owe you an Alpha C.H.I.P., you will receive an email to confirm your address through BackerKit. Keep an eye on your inboxes! (and if you haven’t been through BackerKit yet, now would be a great time)

C.H.I.P. GOES OLD SCHOOL

While walking around the block to get coffee one day, we chanced upon a relic. Thrown away and forgotten.

One man’s trash. Now our pleasure to treasure.

An Apple /// monitor!!! But will it work with C.H.I.P.? (hint: yes! see the video!)

C.H.I.P.’s composite video output means it can be used to with countless old devices.  So hold onto your old tube monitors and televisions C.H.I.P.sters! Old tech is about to get new life!

 

TWITTER, TWEETS, AND THE LIKE

Are you on Twitter? So are we! Find us and follow along.  We are@NextThingCo.

A sample tweet.

Stay tuned!  M.M.M.T.C. (much much more to come)

╭( ・ㅂ・)و – Everyone at @NextThingCo

 

 

Go Go C.H.I.P. Alpha!

ALPHA C.H.I.P.s ARE BEING MANUFACTURED!

Our candles are burning from both ends and we’re leaving so many sheep uncounted, but Alpha C.H.I.P.s are being manufactured!  Gus, our ferociously brave honeybadger, has worked tirelessly to make sure our beloved Kernel Hacker Backers (KHBs for short) get their Alpha C.H.I.P.s in September.

This is Gus’ happy face.

A C.H.I.P.s BEST FRIEND IS ITS SOFTWARE

Wynter, Alex, and the Free Electrons team have been making great strides with C.H.I.P.s software, but our KHBs are our Marines, our StarC.H.I.P. Troopers.  The first users to help C.H.I.P. become all that it can be.  C.H.I.P.’s greatest strength really is its community, so we can’t wait to get the KHBs their Alpha C.H.I.P.s.

Wynter ponders tools and tool-making and is Too Legit to Quit.

HARD AT WORK HARDWARE TESTING

Manufacturing C.H.I.P. at scale requires tools and automation to ensure we’re shipping the functional C.H.I.P.s everyone expects. To that end, Gus and Wynter have designed a series of hardware fixtures and software tools to put C.H.I.P. through its paces.

Gus approves of the flashing fixture prototype he made.

DO YOU TWITTER?

We Twitter too!  Find us @nextthingco!  Tweet at us! We’ll tweet back!

A sample NTC Tweet.

Much much more to come! (M.M.M.T.C.) Stay tuned!

╭( ・ㅂ・)و – Everyone at @NextThingCo