GPS field-testing
Björn, our CTO, has been logging a lot of miles while field-testing the GPS. As you can see, the GPS is doing what it should, registering locations at regular intervals! We can give you some pointers if you ever need sightseeing tips for southern Sweden, a nice bonus from all of Björn’s field-testing 🙂
He made this track while driving around with a regularly assembled Memoto camera. The location fix, the software and algorithms are all working well, so basically what’s happening now is we’re trying to optimize it for all types of use and wear. Improving this as much as possible is important so when, for example, you want to find photos by location, you’ll be able to search for it that way within the Memoto App.
If you’re curious about our journey with the GPS antenna that began this spring, read the posts here, here and here.
Beta testing
We are preparing to begin external beta testing here in Stockholm. This testing will begin once we have received and verified the small batch of cameras coming from our factory in Taiwan, mentioned here, which should be this coming week!
There’s not a “right” way to use the Memoto Camera
Sebastian, one of Memoto’s founders, got creative with the camera during a recent trip to Sicily. Apart from wearing it around the island with his new fiancé (congrats!), he was curious to see how a time-lapse made with the camera would turn out. The Sicilian sunrise was a perfect test subject, so after dinner one night, our own MacGyver, picked out a knife and an empty wine bottle to stabilize the camera and let it do its thing. See the beautiful result below.
Others of us have captured some great moments by clipping the camera to the top of a carton of orange juice. The carton gets passed around the table and you get great photos from different vantage points. Soon you’ll be rigging you own Memoto camera with whatever you can find. What ideas do you all have? Tell us about them!
Time-lapse made with Memoto
Time-lapse captured with the Memoto Lifelogging Camera from Memoto on Vimeo.
Much love!
/Memoto team
20 Comments
can you just send me mine,I live in the US and ill be a beta tester
I know you don’t know an exact day that you are going to ship. But could you possibly give us the information you do have? For example, assuming there are no problems found during beta testing, how long will it take for you to feel satisfied enough to ship it? I know beta testing starts over if you find an issue, but what is the best case scenario? Your FAQ page says you’re planning to ship in September? Is that still realistic at this point? I’m assuming your beta testing is longer than 9 days, but that’s where more communication would be very helpful.
Hi Jeff, if we are satisfied after the beta testing, we will begin shipping, which could mean that shipping will happen in a few weeks, if not, longer – as you’ve mentioned. Our goal is to ship to you as fast as possible without compromising on quality. We’re all very eager for everyone to get their hands on their cameras! /Sarah
In a few weeks, at the earliest? That doesn’t sound very promising at all.
I’m the original Jeff. I work in software and I understand that sometimes you can’t be sure what the results of testing will be. I would rather you take the time to create a solid product. Though, I’d love to have it in my hands today, I don’t begrudge you taking the time to get it right.
My only frustration is with the lack of communication. It sounds like there is a zero percent chance that it will come in September, yet your FAQ page still says September is your best guess. Why doesn’t that page get updated the moment you know it is no longer accurate? Why isn’t the current best guess for a shipping date communicated in the weekly update?
Hi Jeff, I understand the frustration, we all want to get the camera out and we should have something concrete to tell you in the coming weeks. We are so close! Best, SM
You still haven’t answered the questions. It is this lack of openness that has and continues to frustrate your supporters. Is an estimated shipping date that difficult to procure?
I’m an avid long-distance cyclist, and I am looking forward to using the Memoto to capture images from my events. Creating a time-lapse film of an event that lasts 24 hours or more will be a great way to show both the adventure and difficulty of our sport.
We’re looking forward to seeing that! What other ideas do you have? /SM
Once again it looks like we have the same – first near silence/distraction, then obvious evidence of delay, and then perhaps an announcement days before the “end of summer” self imposed deadline.
Hi William, we really appreciate your support and understand that you’re frustrated. It will be worth it! Thanks for hanging in there with us. /Sarah
I’ve not cancelled because ultimately I’m all for this project, but I really dont understand why you cant just have posted a more upfront update on the shipping updates. The last timeline we were given was that the first batch would be “end of summer”. It’s marvellous we now have the weekly updates but where’s the harm in providing a better post on the revised timeline? i see you’ve replied to Jeff etc, and we can all worth within the lines of the post, but i just simply do not understand why there isnt just a “here’s a shipping update” “yep, we’re not going to make it” etc .. “we’re still hopeful to have it by X”. Anyway, good luck with it all! W
“We can give you some pointers if you ever need sightseeing tips for southern Sweden, a nice bonus from all of Björn’s field-testing ”
Yes please! I recently visited Malmö, which has been my second visit to Sweden (first one was Stockholm). I see the GPS route is not very far away from Malmö, so that’s very interesting – from Germany I can get to Malmö in roughly 5 hours by train, which makes it a very cheap and convenient vacation destination. I’m on foot though; I have neither a bike nor a car and I’m afraid of swedish busses. Do you know any attractions or smaller towns that are accessible by train? I know the train from Copenhagen drives farther up north, any interesting stops there? I guess theoretically I could get a car for rent, but that’s pretty expensive for a student I think.
Which other cities in southern Sweden are recommendable?
Hi Willi, I’ll check with him and get back to you! Kivik is a lovely little place in the summer. Most towns are accessible by train too:) /Sarah
I’d suggest Memoto team to study about lean manufacturing process, notably when planning the future after the first shipments.
One example on how to communicate a shipment date:
Delivery to customers* starts in: Memoto’s confidence in the date
September Low
October Low
November Medium
December High
*Who will receive the Memoto? Will it be first come first serve, meaning will it be the backers who receive it first? What should someone who ordered the Memoto in January/in May/Yesterday expect?
Hi Mattias, Thanks for getting in touch and for the suggestion. Shipments will roll out in the order they were received. We’ll send out notifications about when you can expect yours when we have the dates. Best, SM
I was right in my ~prediction of the start of shipment, even though less than 1% of the ordered units are in shipping.
In other words, my guess based on no information was better than yours, company internal “estimate”.
Ridiculous.
Still carrying my big Nikon until Memoto cameras becomes ships !
We had a suggestion to interconnect Memoto pictures (with GPS location) and Moves daily tracking.
Anybody has comments/interest on such interface ?
Keep up the great work!