Tip update
Hi everyone,
I have some great news to share with you.
We have developed a brand new tip for Stylus Caps. Before I tell you about the new tip, I want to recap what I learned from the old tips.
The first tips we released had a production issue that only became apparent when they were exposed to prolonged heat and humidity. Basically, sitting on a hot, metal mail truck at the end of August altered them from being slippery to grippy. The tips we tested and approved were not exposed to, nor tested for reaction to heat, so we didn't catch the flaw until after we shipped the first batch.
In spite of their grippyness, the tips were surprisingly well received. And by well received, I mean that only 40% of Backers hated them as opposed to 90% which is what I would expect from a product not performing as intended. Quite a few people liked them actually. It turned out that Backers who wanted to use Stylus Caps primarily for sketching were far more likely to appreciate the grip or "slowness" of the experience. These "Slow Tips" provide a texture and feel that is closer to using a real drawing tool, in this case an oil pastel, something that's lacking in touch screen styluses. This was a revelation.
Of course, not everyone wants a Slow Tip. Listening to Backers who didn't like these tips, it's obvious they needed to have less friction to make Stylus Caps usable for them. Asking a more specific question: "What kind of apps do you want to use with your Stylus Cap?" led to a real insight. The vast majority of Backers that wanted a less grippy tip, wanted to use to use their Stylus Cap for taking hand-written notes. The question to ask isn't, "How do you make the tip less grippy?" The right question to ask is, "How do you make a tip that's better for writing?" Just solving the grip issue is not enough.
Well, I am happy to report that I think we have developed a tip that not only greatly reduces the grip, but also works really well for hand-written notes. I'm calling them "Firm Tips".
FIRM TIPS
Why are they called Firm tips? Most styluses with rubber tips have a bouncy, squishy feel to them which makes it difficult to do precise things like taking hand-written notes.
Firm Tips eliminate a lot of that bounce, making Stylus Caps feel much more, uh… firm, and therefore feel more precise than the typical rubber stylus tip. A few friends and I have been testing Firm Tips over the past week and they have totally rekindled our love for taking notes on the iPad. Check out this sample page I wrote in my all-time favorite note-taking app, Penultimate:
Not only are Firm Tips better for note-taking, but they're also great for doing more detailed sketching work. Here is a portrait I did of my co-worker Rolf:
Besides feeling more precise, Firm Tips maintain all of the advantages of other rubber tips: they're durable enough to toss into a bag or a pocket without a case and yet soft enough to protect your screen from scratches. On top of this you have everything thats great about Stylus Caps: your pen is your stylus and the tips are replaceable.
I'm really happy with Firm Tips and I think that you'll like them too.
Production on Firm Tips began this morning (10/10) and we should be ready to start shipping again as early as Tuesday 10/25. All Backers will be receiving both Firm Tips and Slow Tips with their pre-orders. If you have already received your Stylus Cap pre-order, I will start mailing out your new Firm tip soon after we start shipping again. Best of all, everyone will be getting the new Firm Tips for free. I will send out an update when the new shipments start going out.
Thanks again for your patience and allowing me to get this right. I'm looking forward to getting these into your hands very soon.
Talk to you soon,
Don
ps. Wondering if your Stylus Cap shipped in the first batch? Check out this handy chart.
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Feb 14, 2011 -
Mar 16, 2011
(30 days)
- First created · 7 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: donald-lehman.com
Pledge $5 or more
48 backers
BACKER - Your $5 or more will go towards a coupon of equal value that can be used towards the purchase of a Stylus Cap after its fulfillment to all Kickstarter Backers.
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745 backers
STYLUS CAP PRE-ORDER - 1 Stylus Cap (Stainless Steel) of your choice. Comes with one pen (Sharpie, Bic, or Fineliner). (Shipping in US add $5, to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount)
Pledge $25 or more
526 backers
KICKSTARTER LIMITED EDITION BRASS - 1 Stylus Cap in an exclusive to Kickstarter Brass version of your choice. Comes with one pen (Sharpie, Bic, or Fineliner). (Shipping in US add $5, to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount)
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301 backers
STAINLESS PACK - 1 set of each Stylus Cap (Stainless Steel). Comes with one Sharpie, one Bic, and one Fineliner. (Shipping in US add $5, to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount)
Pledge $70 or more
94 backers
BRASS PACK - 1 set of each Stylus Cap in limited edition Brass. Comes with one Sharpie, one Bic, and one Fineliner. (Shipping in US add $5, to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount)
Pledge $125 or more
52 backers
BOTH PACKS - 1 set of stainless Stylus Caps and 1 set of Stylus Caps in limited edition Brass. Comes with two Sharpies, two Bics, and two Fineliners. (Shipping in US add $5, to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount)
Pledge $290 or more
11 backers
STUDIO PACK - 4 sets of stainless Stylus Caps and 1 set of Stylus Caps in limited edition Brass. (Shipping in US add $5, to Canada add $10, International add $15 to pledge amount)
Comments
Creator Alberto González on January 16, 2012
Hi Don - it's been a while since I last checked these updates. I just recall having received my brass pack (awesome!) but not about these new tips. In any case, the address of mine you guys have on file is no longer good - the courier I use for US mail switched addresses during Black Friday season (how timely of them!) and it probably got lost in the Christmas shuffle. How could I do to send my new address to you guys? Thanks.
Creator Jeff Zugale on January 14, 2012
I got my Firm Tip just before we went away for the holiday and haven't had a chance to post about it until now - sorry about that. The Firm Tip is GREAT!! PERFECT for the feel I was looking for.
It's so slick and accurate that I tried speed-sketching with it at a life-drawing session using Sketchbook Pro and it worked perfectly, didn't get in my way at all. Thanks for the great update Don!
Creator Jason Fletcher on November 8, 2011
Hi Don
Just checking on a status update for the brass pack.
Creator jetsonjoe on November 5, 2011
okay read your update #34...okay...I guess I will have to be patient...It must be annoying when you have such high standards....and are a perfectionist...But...in the end all of us backers will appreciated the attention you give to ALL of your products created. I own several....and I will say loudly to everyone.
THIS DESIGNER IS AWESOME AND HE DOES NOT MAKE JUNK. HE IS A FIRST RATE DESIGNER AND ATTENDS TO ALL DETAILS. Manufacturing being what it is...it all takes time for Quality!
Okay...I am waiting...I trust you will honour all your pledges. Thanks.
Creator Steve West on November 5, 2011
I got the 3 pack of pen caps and wondering when they might be shipping?
Creator aaron campbell on November 5, 2011
@Scott McCorskey, you do understand there is NO guarantee of ANYTHING here on Kickstarter? It's not a straight up e-commerce site. And this whole More/Real project is being undertaken by 1 guy & some helpful family members give it a rest
Creator Scott McCoskery on November 4, 2011
Oct. 25th = 11 days ago. I am tired of waiting.
Creator aaron campbell on November 4, 2011
I love my slow tip, looking forward to trying the fast tip. Also wondering when we can order the other models. I currently have the sharpie and wish I'd gone whole hog and ordered all 3 models!
Creator Tony Adamo on November 3, 2011
Any update with in being Nov now???
Creator Jon Siddle on November 3, 2011
Just checking on a status update for the brass pack.
Creator Robert Cole on November 2, 2011
Can we get another update?
Creator Mohit Gupta on October 31, 2011
Status?
Creator Jill Ostrow on October 31, 2011
Hi Don,
Did they ship? If so, I never received mine. Thanks!
Creator Michael Bleau on October 28, 2011
So when does this actually ship? the chart isn't he most useful in providing information and it seems that this project has dragged on a L-O-N-G time. October 11th was the last update...what's up today?
Creator chris@ULIKO STUDIO on October 18, 2011
Don, I never received the first tip in the mail....any way for me to check the status of that order and/or the new revised tip? Thanks.
Creator William Alexy on October 18, 2011
Cool news! Thanks, Don.
Creator Susann Fletcher on October 15, 2011
Wow! It just gets better and better! So looking forward to my shipment coming in. You are a real upstanding fellow and I will be looking forward to your next genius ideas. Thanks so much. Dr. Susann Fletcher
Creator vildan gorener on October 13, 2011
Hello Don,
I haven't received anything yet? Have you finished sending out the stylus caps?
Thanks
Creator Prashant Agarwal on October 11, 2011
Looking forward to the new firm tip!
Creator Ryan Koziel on October 11, 2011
Glad to hear the progress, i can't wait to get mine...
Creator Nuri Abdur-Rauf on October 11, 2011
looking forward to receiving the new tip! thanks for being so awesome and thorough!
Creator Joe Bradford on October 11, 2011
Great new, thanks for supporting your backers!
Creator Christopher Pickslay on October 11, 2011
Nice update, Don. Thanks for following up on this. Can't wait to try out the firm tips!
Creator Jeff Zugale on October 11, 2011
Very cool Don! Looking forward to trying the new tip to replace my grippy one. Apparently, unlike most of the artists here, I draw really really fast! (dig, dig) ;)
Creator Jill Ostrow on October 11, 2011
Awesome news, Don! Thanks!! Can't wait. :-)
Creator ADDEccentric on October 11, 2011
Don is there any update as to the shipping schedule? The cold weather is fast approaching here in Ontario and I'm hoping to have my brass pack so that my wife and I can use our iPhones without freezing our fingers off.
Creator Clayton Farr on October 11, 2011
Thanks for the amazing service Don; impressive.
Creator Don Lehman on October 11, 2011
@Aidan - Firm tips will be sent to everyone for free.
Creator Howard Klein on October 11, 2011
Fantastic update!! Can't wait to try the new tip! Thanks Don
Creator John H on October 11, 2011
Don stated in bold: "Best of all, everyone will be getting the new Firm Tips for free."
Creator Aidan Williams on October 11, 2011
Hi Don. :) I have to admit I was seriously unimpressed with the tip when the stylus cap arrived. Mine is extremely sticky and therefore very difficult to use. It also very clearly doesn't fit on the stylus well at all. Will we have to pay for these new firm tips or will you send them out to the original backers?
Creator L.W. Brown on October 11, 2011
Great story, great news, and an awesome update!!!
Creator Ira Green on October 11, 2011
This is amazing and wonderful news. I'm so excited I don't even know what to say. I'm soooooo looking forward to getting mine!
also, let me say, I REALLY appreciate how much of the process we've gotten to see. it's extremely instructive, and interesting. thank you very, very much!
Creator Benson Low on October 11, 2011
That's excellent news Don. Really hope you have iterated better tips now. It's has been a long wait but I want the wait to be worth it too.
Creator jasonsack on October 11, 2011
Do you have any status on the Bic stylus? It's been a long time...