Dot ~ The other one

[Teken]

I know there were a few UDI members on here that supported this project so wanted to know if they could relay what the last update stated for all of us: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1867163750/dot-the-physical-push-notification/comments

 

From reading, the majority of the public comments in the Kickstarter forum stated the *Dot* didn't even come close to offering the features and capabilities seen in the Advert. Lots of folks indicated the Dot didn't even work or had the ability to download the smart application to set it up?

 

Anyways on the surface it was a great idea and concept but the execution wasn't there. I'm not sure how they came up with the $20K target goal for this hardware. But they raised more than $115401.00 in backing so that is literally five times what they needed to achieve their self imposed goals.

 

One thing which is quite uncommon is the vendor has committed and has begun to offer full refunds. This is extremely uncommon given the endless scams on Kickstarter & IndiGoGo. Good for him standing up and saying what ever it was couldn't be done and offering a full refund to the backers.

 

Please quote the entire November 15, 2017 final update here so we can see it in its entirety.

 

Thank You! 

[Scottmichaelj]

So much potential, it’s really too bad. I saw the writing on the wall this summer. Not all backers are getting refunds though.

 

My KS backer to actual product is less than 50% now. Lost $500 on my Staryboard eSkateboard too. I am done with these projects. I’ll wait to see if they work out and if it costs me more once the product is released then so be it.

 

Edit-KS Update:

 

Iota Labs Backers,

 

Over the past year, we've undergone the entire journey of making Dot a reality. The team has been grateful for the opportunity to build and ship a product with your support.

 

Unfortunately, to continue running an IoT service like Dot, our servers have a relatively high overhead cost that we are unable to continue paying for at this time. We regretfully announce that Dot's hardware and app are no longer supported and Iota Labs is shutting down.

 

We are currently looking into open sourcing all of our code to enable users to run their own servers. If you're interested in this, please send us a message.

 

If you have not yet received your Dots, due to anything from bad postage to unfilled surveys, please contact us by December 1st, 2017 so we can process any refunds.

 

Best,

Iota Labs

[Teken]

So much potential, it’s really too bad. I saw the writing on the wall this summer. Not all backers are getting refunds though.

 

My KS backer to actual product is less than 50% now. Lost $500 on my Staryboard eSkateboard too. I am done with these projects. I’ll wait to see if they work out and if it costs me more once the product is released then so be it.

 

Edit-KS Update:

 

Iota Labs Backers,

 

Over the past year, we've undergone the entire journey of making Dot a reality. The team has been grateful for the opportunity to build and ship a product with your support.

 

Unfortunately, to continue running an IoT service like Dot, our servers have a relatively high overhead cost that we are unable to continue paying for at this time. We regretfully announce that Dot's hardware and app are no longer supported and Iota Labs is shutting down.

 

We are currently looking into open sourcing all of our code to enable users to run their own servers. If you're interested in this, please send us a message.

 

If you have not yet received your Dots, due to anything from bad postage to unfilled surveys, please contact us by December 1st, 2017 so we can process any refunds.

 

Best,

Iota Labs

 

Much appreciated the product had lots of potential maybe next time. All of these projects are a risk and many years ago I decided to complete as much due diligence and ask the hard questions up front. I'm happy to say I haven't been scammed or burnt by any bad actors which there are many. There's supposed to be another project similar to this one spooling up in 2018 which I don't recall off the top of my head.

 

Based on what I read on one of those news feeds it might actually work out . . .

[Scottmichaelj]

Much appreciated the product had lots of potential maybe next time. All of these projects are a risk and many years ago I decided to complete as much due diligence and ask the hard questions up front. I'm happy to say I haven't been scammed or burnt by any bad actors which there are many. There's supposed to be another project similar to this one spooling up in 2018 which I don't recall off the top of my head.

 

Based on what I read on one of those news feeds it might actually work out . . .

I had a beta DOT and saw the “slack” channel fall off everyone’s radar shortly after the launch. I voiced my concerns but it was disregarded.

 

I would have loved to have one in each room of my house and then if the room was off then the light would turn on/off as programed. The price point of $25 was reasonable.

 

Things that were an issue was the app. They came out with iOS after promising Android too, however that never came. The iOS app had issues out the gate which hurt them and developers had a hard time getting their apps on the app itself.

 

Then there was the name change. It was the DOT first but couldn’t compete or fight Amazon after they released the DOT so then they changed it to something else which the Apple App Store already had an app named the same, so it surely didn’t help.

 

The last straw was the case. People hated the new rubber case and the led inside was hard to see for notifications. The final product was nothing like what was shown.

 

I saw this as a cool device that could possibly be put in a restaurant or bar. Sit down and press the button or it saw a Bluetooth phone/device in range and could pop up a drink menu, appetizers or whatever on a small display for ads. A waiter could be notified when needed, etc.

 

Again so much potential lost. Not sure what happened. Good guys, bad execution.

[Teken]

I had a beta DOT and saw the “slack” channel fall off everyone’s radar shortly after the launch. I voiced my concerns but it was disregarded.

 

I would have loved to have one in each room of my house and then if the room was off then the light would turn on/off as programed. The price point of $25 was reasonable.

 

Things that were an issue was the app. They came out with iOS after promising Android too, however that never came. The iOS app had issues out the gate which hurt them and developers had a hard time getting their apps on the app itself.

 

Then there was the name change. It was the DOT first but couldn’t compete or fight Amazon after they released the DOT so then they changed it to something else which the Apple App Store already had an app named the same, so it surely didn’t help.

 

The last straw was the case. People hated the new rubber case and the led inside was hard to see for notifications. The final product was nothing like what was shown.

 

I saw this as a cool device that could possibly be put in a restaurant or bar. Sit down and press the button or it saw a Bluetooth phone/device in range and could pop up a drink menu, appetizers or whatever on a small display for ads. A waiter could be notified when needed, etc.

 

Again so much potential lost. Not sure what happened. Good guys, bad execution.

 

Yes, I'm not sure why the case was and LED was so different from what the Advert had shown. Based on the comments section that took lots of people aback. Then it was the post it notes I think where the LED was supposed to change color based on X conditions. Since that campaign rolled out there has been no less than five other little buttons of sorts that have come to market.

 

None of them seem to offer what this product was supposed to.

 

If Amazon or who ever simply took Iota Labs concept and made it into a reality this would be a money maker. I think its worth sending this link to that new company and see what they can come up with! 

[Ajax]

Yeah I got 10 of them and used maybe 3, great idea but bad execution. The cover was horrible, and no no more support, supposedly they are going to open source their code. SO if anyone is looking for them they can have mine  

[larryllix]

When a bunch of these products like this first came out, all I could think was?

 

....."Now I have to learn Morse code?"  What a too specific usage, abuse of technology.

[Teken]

When a bunch of these products like this first came out, all I could think was?

 

....."Now I have to learn Morse code?" What a too specific usage, abuse of technology.

This product offered on paper more than that.