Shipping update, and company launch happening today
Hi, everyone.
Its been two weeks since we started shipping Touchfires, and we've shipped about half of the Kickstarter Touchfires; over two thousand units. We are shipping in the order that people backed us.
Our factory is ramping up production quickly, so it will probably take less than two weeks to ship the remainder.
We have gotten lots of feedback and delivery acknowledgments; many thanks, keep 'em coming! Here are our general impressions of how its going.
- Overall, people really, really like typing on Touchfire! But there is a learning curve. For some people, it is just a few seconds. For others, it takes a few days to get used to it.
- We've created an interactive Typing Tutor Web application to help you get up to speed. It seems to be working well, but we'd love to get additional feedback on it. Go to www.touchfire.com/start with your Touchfire-enabled iPad and try it out.
- The biggest issue we've heard about so far is that Touchfire is sometimes too tacky or sticky when it first arrives. This is because a freshly manufactured Touchfire can sometimes be too clean! Silicone naturally attracts the microscopic dust particles that are everywhere, and we designed Touchfire to work well in that environment. The tackiness is a temporary condition that won't last very long. And normal cleaning with tap water will not cause the tackiness to return.
On another topic, we are launching Touchfire the company today, and announcing general availability of Touchfire at www.touchfire.com. Of course, we will ship all Kickstarter Touchfires and all pre-orders before shipping new orders.
We did send some Touchfires to journalists, and many of them will be publishing their reviews today. We have our fingers crossed!
A Time Magazine review came out early this morning. It is asking Touchfire's Kickstarter backers to chime in with their impressions. The Time article is here:
http://techland.time.com/2012/07/11/touchfire-ipad-keyboard/
There will be other articles and reviews coming out today - you can find them by doing a Google search for "Touchfire news".
Today should be a fun day. Please join us in celebrating what we've created together!
Steve & Brad
3,146
Backers
$201,400
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Oct 20, 2011 -
Dec 13, 2011
- First created · 31 backed
- Bradley Melmon 138 friends
- Website: facebook.com
Pledge $1 or more
83 backers
THANK YOU! Pledging any amount you feel comfortable with will help turn this project into reality. You will be listed as a contributor on the TouchFire Web site.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $45 or more
2096 backers
Congratulations, you've just pre-ordered the TouchFire Standard Pack! It contains a keyboard, a storage case and a pair of cover clips, all in black. Shipping is free in the U.S. Please add $10 to your pledge for shipping to Canada, $25 for International shipping.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $80 or more
877 backers
KICKSTARTER SPECIAL! We created the TouchFire Variety Pack exclusively for Kickstarter - 2 keyboards in black and white, 2 storage cases and 5 pairs of cover clips in colors that complement the iPad Smart Covers. This is a $100 value. Free U.S. shipping, please add $10 for Canada, $25 for International.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $200 or more
59 backers
Five TouchFire Standard Packs. Outfit your friends, co-workers and clients with TouchFire! Plus save $25 over the single unit price. Free U.S. shipping, please add $10 for Canada, $25 for International.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $350 or more
16 backers
KICKSTARTER UBER-SPECIAL! Five TouchFire Variety Packs - 10 keyboards in total! The perfect gift for your group of iPad toting compadres. This is a $50 savings over the single unit price. Free U.S. shipping, please add $10 for Canada, $25 for International.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $1,000 or more
6 backers
Customize TouchFire! Add a graphic (your logo, your signature, or whatever you'd like) to the bottom of the TouchFire keyboard and choose your keyboard and cover clip colors. 20 custom units are included in this reward, and you will be able to order more of your customized TouchFires at volume prices. Free shipping anywhere in the world.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2012
Comments
Creator Timothy Dixon on August 5, 2012
Just got my Touchfire and initially I was incredibly disappointed as the magnets did not work, then i realized that i put it on the wrong side of the iPad (FAIL!) Now i have realized my stupidity and put it on the right side it is brilliant and very easy to use, don't know how i coped without it. Thanks for a great product.
What is next?
Creator Mathew Cobbett on August 2, 2012
I received mine in Singapore on the 30th. Thanks.
Creator ZippyFund Inc. on July 30, 2012
Received our new Touchfire's and love them! They work great and take using both an ipad 3 and ipad 2 from screen typing to true touch typing!
Even with the delay, kudo's for the final product, packaging and storage case.
Andre Choquette
Zippy Fund Inc.
Creator Keith Mullins on July 29, 2012
How can I check to see if my touchfire has been shipped?
Keith Mullins
Creator Ed Balogh on July 29, 2012
This is typed on a Touchfire. It took a while to learn how to type on it, as I had learned how to type on the iPad. Now it is easier on Touchfire, and fast. The typing tutor was a real help for me to practice. I now use Touchfire as my keyboard.
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 27, 2012
@Carla @Steven- I have messaged your tracking information to you. @Sean- See my email response. Thanks!
Creator Sean Shapcott on July 26, 2012
I have to change my shipping information. How do I find out if my touch fire has shipped and how do I change shipping info?
Creator Steven Popkin on July 26, 2012
Any chance I will receive the 10 Touchfires I ordered soon??? I think it's long enough...
Creator Carla Stucklen Sather on July 26, 2012
Steve, I've received neither the initial Touchfire, nor the one I ordered in July. Any suggestions?
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 25, 2012
@Jeannette - Not to worry! The tab won't wear out if you continue to use it this way. Your magnets are working, but what I suspect is happening is, your keyboard is a little more sticky than usual because it is fresh from the factory. The tab was put there to help either lift the keyboard, or keep it down. But we designed it to be pretty balanced, not strongly biasing towards one direction or the other.
Creator Jeannette Sersen on July 25, 2012
Was really happy to receive it after waiting since Dec. However, the magnets do not attach the TouchFire to my Smart Cover. When I lift the Smart Cover the TouchFire remains on the i pad 2 and I have to peel it off using the tab. Will the tab wear out if I keep having to do this? Why aren't the magnets working?
Creator Charles Pich on July 23, 2012
What a quick response time on the shipping information and it looks like my package will be delievered on July 26th! What Steve and Brad have done in a short amount of time is incredible and I look forward to backing any and all of their projects moving forward!
Creator Charles Pich on July 23, 2012
I havent got mine either but I cant wait for the delievery. Thanks again for all the progress and I am ashamed I was one of the commentors that was angry abou the delayed process! I would back any more projects you decide to build again!
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 23, 2012
We have been sending emails with shipping status to everyone who has commented here. If you'd like a shipping update,, the easiest thing is to just send us an email at info@touchfire.com; thanks! We are getting close to having shipped all Kickstarter Touchfires
...
Creator BarryG on July 22, 2012
I was one of the first, but still haven't gotten mine.. Hopefully this coming week!
Creator Kevin Reinhart on July 22, 2012
Yep, also waiting for touchfire. I don't believe I was one of the very last backers but nothing so far.
Creator Paul Ip on July 21, 2012
Hi just checking the status of my two touchfires? Thank you
Creator Heather Scott on July 21, 2012
Hi Steve & Brad-
I'm wondering if you can provide me with a shipping update. Mine was a large order and besides my personal anxiousness, I have many colleagues wanting theirs and wondering what's going on. I'd love to be able to give them some good news that includes an ETA. Thanks!
Creator ZippyFund Inc. on July 20, 2012
Waiting for our two... Can you sense our frustration...
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 20, 2012
@Elizabeth- I have messaged you your tracking information
@Adam- Awesome! Email us at info@touchfire.com to let us know what you think!
@Ken- I have also messaged you your tracking information. Kickstarter units are being shipped out before any pre-order or online units are sent.
Creator AJ Triano on July 20, 2012
Hi Steve and Brad:
Just wondering how soon my touchfires will arrive. Thanks!.
AJ
Creator Ken Siegel on July 20, 2012
I haven't heard anything about my touch fire shipping. I hope it will be shipped soon as you are selling them on your site and still haven't fulfilled all of your pre-orders
Creator Adam Tollinger on July 20, 2012
Hello Brad and Steve. I received my Touchfire today 7/20/2012. I can't wait to get home and try it out on my iPad.
Creator Elizabeth Yin on July 20, 2012
Hi Brad and Steve -- I also have not received my order yet...has it been shipped? Please let me know...thanks!
Creator Mike Carr on July 19, 2012
I find it difficult to close the iPad cover with the TouchPad attached. The TouchPad tends to buckle a bit, forming a lump that keeps the cover from closing firmly enough to shut down the iPad's power. I think what I have to do is close the last two sections of the cover as one piece, rather than letting it fold down one section at a tine. Hope more practice solves the problem.
Otherwise it meets all my expectations!!!
Mike
Creator Anna on July 18, 2012
Make that "my" order. Auto-correct #%!!
Creator Anna on July 18, 2012
Hi:
I was one of the "under $10K" backers and still haven't received anything. I DID add a second one later on, but just wanted to be sure MIS order is in the works. I am in NYC. Thanks.
Creator Neal Brophy on July 16, 2012
Just received my Touchfire in Dublin, Ireland this morning. Thanks!
Creator Tobster on July 14, 2012
Hi guys. Can you please confirm if we will receive confirmation about shipping? I am an international backer. Thanks for your time.
Creator Joshua Anderson on July 14, 2012
I too am eagerly awaiting my TouchFire. :)
Creator Paula Eisenberg on July 12, 2012
I haven't had any feedback to my repeated emails about the status of my shipment. I'm eager to get my Touchfire and blog about it!
Creator Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon on July 12, 2012
@Sally - Touchfire now works for all three generations of iPads. You're good to go. Your Touchfire has shipped; looks like it will arrive end of this week or the beginning of next week.
@Michael - Your Touchfire will be delivered to you by Canada Post. So you don't have to do anything other than what you would normally do with your mail when you go away for a week.
@Touchfire Backers - Thanks everyone for giving us feedback on Touchfire delivery; and by all means keep it up! At this point I'm cautiously optimistic that we've achieved International mail delivery nirvana - the Touchfire package is being treated just like a priority package delivered by the national post of each country. So far, none of our International backers have had to do anything special to receive their Touchfire, and International deliveries are arriving in backers mailboxes within 4 - 8 days.
Creator Wayne Lewis on July 12, 2012
@Jackson White: You seem to have confused "funded a startup" with "purchased a product." And to be fair, there IS a video on the project's front page clearly demonstrating exactly how the Touchfire is designed to work with third-party cases on the original iPad. Did you watch it?
Creator Michael Klein on July 12, 2012
Hi,
Could you let us know by what method these are being shipped? (I'm in Quebec, Canada.) I'm out of town the next week+ and want to make sure the touchfire doesn't get "returned to sender" because I haven't called UPS or whatnot.
Thanks!
Mike
Creator Sally Crispo on July 12, 2012
Hello. I haven't received any info on my touch fire
Do you know when it will be shipping out to me? And I don't
remember filling out any info on what model iPad I have. Please advise
me if you need the information. Thanks
Sally Crispo
Creator Jacquie Heffner on July 11, 2012
Love the Touchfire! So much better than typing on the glass. Still getting used to the fell, but love that I can now type without having to watch the keyboard. Cngrats on a wonderful product and hope you enjoy amazing success.
Creator Jackson White on July 11, 2012
I was one of your original funders. My Touchfire arrived today. I have an original iPad that, for more than two years, has been used with an InSight leather cover. With this configuration, your keyboard is useless. .The keyboard is hard to get into place and, when you do, it does not align properly with the on-screen keyboard. Also, there is no way to get the keyboard out of the way without removing it and putting it aside. This requires lifting the bottom part of the cover and pulling the keyboard from beneath that wide strip. In short, it is too difficult to set up and take down to be usable -- even had it aligned properly with the screen keyboard. I will be glad to return this item, but want my money back. Your promotion materials said this keyboard would work with all models of iPads, but the instructions tell you to use it with a Smart Cove, which was first announced with iPad 2. After all this time, what a disappointment.
Jackson S. White, Jr.
The White Law Office
P. O. Box 286
Abingdon VA 24210
276-619=3831
jackwhite@whitelawoffice.com
Creator Marcy Chartier on July 11, 2012
You guys have a great website!! Well done.
Creator Eric Falsken on July 11, 2012
And press review units are usually still of *almost finished* quality.
Creator Evan M. Jones on July 11, 2012
I think its great they are telling us all this and even better that they sent some to the press for review. Its a business launch for Pete's sake and we have been a part of it. I have not gotten my unit yet but I highly doubt the delay is because some went to the press...
Creator Sam Rigby on July 11, 2012
Why are you shipping Touchfires to journalists before you've sent all your Kickstarter pre-orders? Moreover, from a PR standpoint, why are you telling us this?