SmartTerra: Terrarium Revolutionized

COVID-19, The New Normal?
about 4 years ago – Tue, Mar 03, 2020 at 11:30:41 PM

 Hello Backers,

As we are all aware, COVID-19 has been all over the headlines. The world, at the moment, is grappling with the fact that the disease is spreading far and wide. So far, it has disrupted every business sector, and global impact is becoming more evident.  Manufacturing is getting hit especially hard. Supply chains are disrupted and work backlog is building up quickly for manufacturers. From what we know, some of the workers from our factory are still under mandatory quarantine; only a limited number are able to return to work. We are still trying to figure out when our manufacturing will be back in full operation. Tentatively, they said they will be back around mid-March. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Firmware and application development are going well. We have changed the App design to be cleaner and simpler, as you can see from the image above. Some minor Bluetooth connectivity issues remain to be resolved. Overall, we are happy with the progress. They should be done as soon as the end of this month. 

The manufacturing situation we are in is not what we are hoping for. We are not alone in this. Companies, big and small, are feeling the same pain. This uncertainty is the last thing we want, given the unit and hardware designs have been ready for manufacturing since last month. The question that remains is when the factory can get back to work at full capacity. Rest assured that we are still trying to do everything we can in our power to get the project delivered. We will continue to keep you updated on the situation. We are truly blessed to have great backers like you who have always been patient and understanding.

Please, stay safe...

Team SmartTerra

Why Coronavirus, Why Now...
about 4 years ago – Mon, Feb 03, 2020 at 07:14:13 PM

Hello Backers,

A big headline that has been capturing worldwide attention: the infamous Coronavirus. It is affecting people and businesses around the world, especially in China. Unavoidably, this news comes of great concern to our delivery timeline. We mentioned in last updated timeline that full production will begin after the Chinese New Year on February 10th. However, our manufacturer has raised concerns of a delay due to the Coronavirus. Because the situation is so dynamic, our manufacturer cannot guarantee that they will back to work on that date. The news cannot come in at a worse time. We will closely monitor the situation and update you further.

On the other hand, the firmware and Android mobile application development are in their final stages. Once we get the codes from the development team, we will put them through thorough testing. If everything works as intended, we will finish up with the iOS application.

We are doing everything we can on our end to get the product delivered. The Coronavirus caught us by surprise, and it is truly beyond our control. We are hoping that they can resume work sooner than later. Most importantly, our hearts go out to everyone China, and to many more around the world who are affected. Stay strong and stay safe.

Thank you for continued support and understanding,

Team SmartTerra

Happy New Year
over 4 years ago – Thu, Jan 02, 2020 at 10:24:29 PM

Hello Backers,

Happy New Year to all! We wish you a super-duper year ahead. It seems like each year is going by so quickly, and we feel like there is never enough time in a day to get things done. This past year, there have been so many lessons learned. We have to say that the journey has been an eye-opener into the world of outsourcing and manufacturing. For sure it is not for the fainted heart. Yet, we never thought about giving up because we believe in the SmartTerra product and want to see it come to life. We are certain that you will love it too, once you get to experience the peaceful escape and carefree environment SmartTerra creates.

We have fixed issues that we encountered earlier with the PCB Board. We are now making sure that there are no other problems, before we finally send SmartTerra into full production.

That being said, let us give you the latest timeline leading to delivery:

As always, we want to be straight and upfront with you on the project status. We don't want to sugar-coat it and give you a timeline that not realistic. Manufacturing takes time, and the upcoming week-long Chinese New Year celebration adds to the complication. We are urged by the manufacturer to start production after Chinese New Year celebrations are over.

We are looking forward to a great and exciting new year. We cannot wait to get SmartTerra into your hands. Now that all the design challenges are out of the way, we can concentrate on getting SmartTerra produced and delivered. Once again, many thanks and gratitude for your support — it is what keeps us going! :)

Thanks,

Team SmartTerra

Never give up, Never surrender!
over 4 years ago – Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 01:18:19 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Pushing to the Finish Line
over 4 years ago – Tue, Nov 05, 2019 at 09:51:49 PM

The past few months sure have been busy as we push towards the finish line. We have overcome many challenges along the way and we are excited to see everything come together. The critical thing left to do is an in-house final functionality/communication test between the electronics, firmware, and mobile application. So far, we believe we are still on track to ship in December. 

While SmartTerra is still under production, we have been working on the Getting Started with SmartTerra Guide. This guide will provide you with an introduction to SmartTerra and how it works, the basics of plant growth, steps for setting up, recommended plant retailers, maintenance instructions, and more! Please note that the site is still under construction, and the contents are not final.

As always, we thank you for your patient and your support.

Sincerely,

Team SmartTerra