Hey guys! 

The 1st Over-The-Air (OTA) update has been released! Here’s everything you need to know: 

How does it work? 

First, we upload the update to our servers, then we connect to your neckband ID number, send to your app, and your phone sends the update over BLE to your device. Once you receive the entire update and you turn off your Vi for about 10 minutes, the process will be complete and you will have the new firmware: 02.00.00.00. Then you can take Vi out for a run and will notice new features and improvements!

How long does it take? 

Since BLE is meant for small data transfers, the update can take anywhere between 2-4 hours. For the update to fully transfer from our servers to your app and then to your device, your app needs to be open and your device needs to be turned on and connected to your phone. You can still do other things during the update (like go for a run, listen to music, or even sleep), but make sure to keep your app open and your device on and connected. 

If you want to know if the OTA update is taking place, you can check your settings screen. The numbers next to “Earphones Version” will disappear and then you can check your progress by clicking into that line.

What happens if errors occur? 

Our system was designed to work in the background without you noticing or having to do anything special. It will handle any disconnections, device power-offs, app closing and opening, etc. The update will just pause and continue in the place you left off when you reconnect/open the app again. If any major errors do occur, you don’t have to do anything, the OTA update will be stopped and begin again from the start. (We don’t anticipate this to happen often, but this is the first OTA update ever, so it’s best to expect the unexpected!) 

Here’s a few recommendations to stop any preventable errors: 

• Update your app version now (if you’re not setup for immediate updates). The current Android version is 0.9.26.4 (101) prod. The current iOS version is 1.1.0 (14). 
• Charge your Vi. The neckband needs to have a good amount of battery life for the update to work. You can check the charge in your neckband by pressing the + and - buttons at the same time. If Vi says, “Battery level low,” charge the device. 
• Keep your phone and your neckband close to each other. Frequent Bluetooth disconnections will make the process go slower. 
• Make sure to have an internet connection so you don’t use up all your data! 

If any issues occur that require additional assistance, contact us at support@life-beam.com. Feel free to let us know about anything strange, terrible, (or great!) that you experience during the update so we can improve for the next one! 

Finally… what’s in this OTA update?! 

• The default bass setting will be increased. (App support needed.) 
• The microphone will be optimized and voice command recognition improved so Vi can better understand you. (App support needed.)

• BLE has been improved; any dropped connection will re-connect faster and overall disconnections will be less.
• Vi will now accurately report on her battery levels. For example, she will no longer tell you that you have low battery when you actually have a full battery. 
• Battery reporting for iOS devices has been improved; so the gauge at the top of your screen will tell you the correct level of Vi’s battery. 
• Vi will use less power when you’re in off-training mode; she will last longer when you’re just listening to music or taking calls! (Our next focus will be power optimization in training mode).

• The heart rate to third party apps feature has been added back. 
• The buttons on the device now have a quicker reaction time. For instance, it will be easier to power on Vi, you can skip to the next music track easier, and more! 
• Plus, a bunch of other small bugs were fixed! 

The next OTA update (that we’re already working on) will include more improvements around voice recognition and the automatic speech recognition (ASR) button on the right earbud, power optimization, and more. At this time the 2nd OTA is planned for late June. 

App Updates 

As noted above, the bass and voice recognition features will need support from your Vi Fitness app. This means that until you have the most recent update, you may not see significant improvements in these areas just yet. The iOS app update has just been released and the Android update is planned for the first week of June. (Android was pushed back a bit for more testing of added features for this release- including cycling!) Read our last update for information on some of the features that will be included in the Android update. 

It’s time to take the next step with Vi together. Let’s get this OTA update on the way!

Cheers! 

-The LifeBEAM Team

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a great couple of months and are excited about what’s to come. 

First, Gratitude

The hallmark of a great early adopter is a mix of eagerness and patience. Every one of you has embodied these qualities and we genuinely thank you!

We never anticipated the huge amount of support, positive energy and encouragement that continues to flood in. Nor could we have expected how much we would need it during these past few weeks! Thank you again.

You are not only our customers by a single transaction, but you are our partners by your continued and essential involvement in making Vi the world’s best AI companion for both body and mind!

The Scale of Your Impact

In case you underestimate the importance of your input, you can rest assured we record (and answer) every single comment, suggestion, question and criticism from our community of backers and beyond. Then we translate all of that feedback into one unified backlog so that our R&D and QA teams can refine and update Vi for a continually improved user experience.

We’ve done this since the beginning of Vi's journey. With a public launch behind us, and a full retail expansion (with Amazon and Best Buy) on the way, your feedback is now more important than ever. 

Don’t Call It Finishing Touches

As recently as a year ago, our progress was defined by large advances within major endeavors. While our work today is more focused on what might be called refinement, it is no less of an undertaking. When it comes to perfecting Vi's core experience ingredients, we don’t want to sell you anything short of mind-blowing. Our committed and passionate team is working at full force to ensure the following critical updates will be sent within the next 4 weeks: 

Voice recognition refinement - We have performed extensive trials and data analytics to refine Vi’s firmware (the device’s audio and signal processing logics) and software (Vi’s app). As a result, we are estimating a significant improvement in Vi’s voice recognition performance after completing the upcoming OTA update. (We will share a How-To guide for the update and more information later this week.) I look forward to hearing your feedback to make sure that’s indeed the case.

Android app maturity - As of yesterday, we have finally at a point where the latest Android release showed a fully stabilized experience for 97% of our users. We are now focused on finalizing the missing features for Android to fully catch up with iOS by May 31st.

Additional AI logics and insights - Our R&D team is currently working in two parallel efforts: 

• Immediate Term (next 4 weeks) - Empowering the current experience by adding more contextual and adaptive real-time insights to your workout experience with features related to progress levels, heart rate, weather, HealthKit/Google Fit history and more. 
• Mid to Long-term - Building a more robust AI-profiling and insights generation engine to provide users the most personalized experience possible - on and off training. We’ll share more details on this as we get closer to releasing specific software versions and partnerships.

Expansion of Vi's personality and emotional range - Vi’s intelligence content team is continually adding more value to her emotional intelligence and overall IQ. Their goal is for Vi to go beyond being just a basic trainer and refine her ability to become a truly compelling and entertaining training companion. 

Music interface refinement - We have fixed all music interface/stability issues and will release them by the end of this month. For the mid-term (June/July timeframe), we are looking to add more 3rd party integrations and a more comprehensive music selection interface.

As already published, the first OTA update is on the way and scheduled to be released this week. Check out the last Kickstarter update for more info on this. We are also working on releasing a designated OTA update focused on the right earbud, specifically optimizing the tapping sensor, and some other power management logics by mid-June.

At the end of the day our mission is to make sure Vi doesn’t let you down and helps you become a healthier and happier person. It’s as simple as that. And I can assure you it will remain our #1 priority. 

Watch This Space

Next month, we’ll be discussing product roadmap plans. Talk to you then, take care, and thanks again.

-Omri

Hey guys!

We hope you’re doing well and enjoying your training! We have lots of updates to share.

All Units Fulfilled!

Thank you all for your patience and support during the shipping process! (If for some reason you have not received Vi, message us here.)

We love seeing and hearing about all of your journeys with Vi; here’s an updated map with all the runs Vi has coached so far:

We’re now live on Amazon and are looking forward to seeing this map grow!

Android Update

We want to seriously thank all of our Android users for their patience and commitment to helping us identify bugs and improve the app. We have a couple updates on the way.

The latest Android update was published last night. It addresses bugs, stability, music issues, and other general enhancements. The next update is in internal testing mode and is planned to be released in 2-3 weeks. This update will continue fixing known issues (including music), refine current features, add a bass boost and improve Vi’s ASR. The effort guide and fatigue detection features will also be available! We plan to have the first "official" version of the Android app available at the end of the month.

Quick note about the clipping of Vi’s voice on some devices:

This is an issue with the Android audio decoder, which takes audio files and converts them into what you hear. Unfortunately, on some devices the decoder will chop off the sound at the end of audio files. We are currently evaluating several solutions and testing some of our audio files to work around this problem. We will make sure to share our progress in the next update!

OTA Update

We are still finalizing our 1st OTA update. (Check out our last update for info on the process and what’s to come!) We took a bit more time on this to make sure we got it right and addressed most of the major reported issues. This update is planned for release in 2-3 weeks.

The features that will be addressed are:

• BLE disconnections during training 
• Bass boost options 
• Automatic Bluetooth connection when powering on Vi 
• Overall voice recognition improvements 
• Button refinement (multi-function and + and -) 
• Heart rate to third party apps is back! (Check out this update for info about its removal.)

We will notify you before the update so you know what to expect and how it works.

Our Top Priorities

We’ve been listening to what you guys have been saying here, on social media, and in our support center. Here’s a quick update on our progress:

Heart Rate

Some of you have reported heart rate issues of inaccuracy, no detection, dropouts, etc. We have started a “Vi Education Initiative,” that involves guides and videos for users in-app and on our YouTube page. The first guide we are working on is for Heart Rate Positioning. It’s designed to use the sensor to determine if Vi is placed correctly, and then from those results, she will help you correct the placement with videos and prompts. We hope to have this available at the end of the month.

Here’s some immediate placement guidance: 

• Insert your earbuds by placing the tips into your ear canal to provide some light pressure. 
• Tuck the fins into the fold of the antihelix of your ear. 
• Rotate earbuds back so the green light of the HR sensor is right against the skin of your tragus.

Voice Commands and Automated Speech Recognition (ASR)

As mentioned in our last update, we’re working on improving voice commands and ASR through Vi’s firmware and app. For example, we have refined the communication between the app and device to make sure Vi will hear everything you're saying. We have also optimized the acoustic model, noise filters and the list of words Vi will recognize by using recordings we did with our beta testers.

For now, please remember this info:

• The ASR button (on the right earbud) will only work when you are in training mode. 
• Vi’s proximity sensors must detect the earbuds are in your ear so make sure they are properly placed. Vi is designed like this so there aren’t false triggers in situations like when the user is simply holding the device. So please make sure you’re wearing the correct fins and tips and try taking the right earbud out of your ear for 3 seconds and then replacing it properly. 
• Make sure you are waiting until after the tone before speaking to Vi. Also, if you press the right earbud while Vi is talking this will not open up an ASR session, it will just make Vi stop talking.
• You can respond to Vi by pressing the + button for “yes” and the - button for “no”.

Bass

Next on our list of priorities is the bass. Thanks to your feedback we’re slightly enhancing the bass level and adding a bass boost option. This will be released through a combination of an OTA update (for the bass boost) and app update (for the bass control).

Omri, CEO of LifeBEAM, will talk about these and other top priorities in his blog post coming out later this week.

Thank you all again for your continued support and feedback (positive AND negative). Watch out for our next update where we will share info about the new features we are working on and discuss improvements to music, battery, and GPS.

We’re looking forward to taking the next steps with you guys!

-The LifeBEAM Team

Hi guys!

It’s been just one week since our last update and we already have more to share!

Shipping 

We have started shipping Get Vi- 1st Batch, The Team Leader, Squad Goals, and The Innovator tiers early and will continue throughout the next week! Stay tuned for your tracking numbers.

Some reminders: 

• The cost of your device does not include international customs, duties, taxes, and fees outside of the US. For more info on this, check out last week’s update. 
• We plan to start shipping the Get 2 Vi and Get Vi- 2nd Batch by April 11.

It’s surreal to think that there will be close to 5,000 Vi’s around the world by the end of the month! So far, here are all the runs Vi has coached:

We can’t wait to see how this map looks in a week!

The 1st OTA Update! 

We’ve been working hard to finalize the release of our 1st over-the-air device update. (For more info on how we built Vi with future-ready hardware and what this means, check out this update).  Locking down the process to implement this update has definitely been interesting! 

This is how it works:

1. We decide which features and bug fixes to focus on by priorities set by the product team and urgency of the bug. 

2. We execute and verify each feature and bug fix in our testing lab. Next, we send the update to our internal beta testers (mentioned in our Clinical Trials update) to make sure everything is ok before releasing it to you guys! 

3. Finally we upload the update to our servers and define who should get the update (for example: 'Everyone', 'People in North America', 'Kickstarter backers' etc.). Then we connect to your neckband ID number, send to your app, and your phone sends the update over BLE to your device.

We plan to roll out this first update throughout April. It will include:

• Bug fixes (like making sure it’s easier to power on Vi when you click the button) 
• Heart rate algorithm improvements 
• Upgrades to Vi’s intelligence to make sure she works better

Some of the other things we are currently working on for future OTA updates are: 

• Bass improvement and letting users set their bass levels 
• Continued improvements on automatic speech recognition (ASR) 
• Optimization of the microphone 
• Auto pause when you remove the earbud from your ear
• Increasing battery life 
• Cooler colors for the Vi Logo LED
• Activating Siri from the right earbud 
• And more!

Voice Commands and ASR 

We’ve been listening to all the feedback you guys have been sending to support@life-beam.com. We really appreciate everyone’s dedication to improving Vi and your patience as we continue refining her!

We understand there have been some frustrations with voice commands and ASR causing Vi to misunderstand you.

Here are two tips for you guys when using voice commands and ASR: 

• Make sure that when you tap the earbud to initiate a voice command, you wait until the tone is finished and then clearly say your command. 
• If Vi asks you a “yes” or “no” question and can’t hear your reply, you can hold down the plus sign for “yes” or the minus sign for “no.”

We are currently working on improving this feature and it will be addressed through a combination of OTA firmware updates and app updates.

In the meantime, there are a lot of great features outside of voice commands that can be used right now. We encourage you to keep exploring and let us know your thoughts!

Android App 

We’re so excited to see all our Android users going out on runs and exploring with Vi!

We know it has been a little difficult at times because the app is still a beta version (and will be for a few more weeks). But rest assured our Android team is working day and night to fix bugs and improve stability and the overall state of the app. A few updates are planned to be released over the next couple of weeks.

Please make sure to keep emailing support@life-beam.com with any bugs, reports or general feedback on the app. It’s extremely helpful!

You Guys (Again)! 

Finally, we want to share some more awesome content that was shared with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  Here’s some more:

• Jala Prendes, anxiously waiting to get home and check out Vi! 
• And then sharing her excitement in a quick unboxing video! 
• Minghu Lim, who’s cat was equally excited to check out Vi. 
• Micha Kaufman, sharing some “product porn.” 
• Ellen Ingram, who was so excited, she took a picture before even opening the box!
• Mickeyruns, who can’t wait to meet Vi.

Keep on sharing by tagging @trainwithvi. We really love seeing your excitement! It makes this journey all the more worth it! :)

By the way, as Vi continues to progress, our team continues growing! We’re looking to hire a few positions in NYC and Tel Aviv. If you, or anyone you know, are interested, click on the positions below to apply: 

• Jr. Customer Happiness Specialist- Tel Aviv 
• Customer Happiness Specialist- NYC 
• Senior Android Developer- NYC

Thanks again and talk soon! 

-The LifeBEAM Team

Hey all,

Hard to believe it’s almost April! We wanted to share a few of updates since we began shipping.

Android App Live

The Android app is now available in the Google Play Store! Refer to our last update “The Vi App, Part 2, and Shipping Update” for info on how to find it.

Blue and Bronze Early Bird Units 

We are going to ship to early birds who ordered a bronze or blue-colored device on Monday! You all should have received a 48-hour notice to finalize your addresses and lock down your surveys. Make sure to do that today by going to your BackerKit account here.

International Customs, Duties, Taxes, and Fees

As we noted in our "Reliability Testing Results & Shipping Schedule" update on January 27, the cost of your device does not include international customs, duties, taxes, and fees outside of the US.

These additional fees vary wildly based on what country, state, and province you live in. If there are additional fees, you will have to pay them upon delivery. Or, if your package gets held at customs, you may have to pick up and pay at the customs office.

In case you want to do some googling to find out what the charges might be in your region:

• We are shipping via UPS 
• The price of Vi that is declared is the price you paid during the campaign 
• The description of goods is “bluetooth headphones" 
•  The HS Code is 8518.30.20.00 

If for some reason you encounter any problems receiving Vi, we are happy to provide any additional documentation or certificates you need.

To see the status of your package, click on your tracking link, found in your email; there’s a dropdown that says “shipment progress.”

Unboxing + Quick Start Guide 

When you unbox Vi, the first place to go is your quick start guide. It has all the info you need to custom fit your ear fins and tips, where to download the app, and how to get started. It’s in the pocket with the purple tab on the lid.

Vi’s Heart Rate Monitor and 3rd Party Apps 

We decided to remove the ability to track your heart rate via 3rd party apps for the time being.

After multiple testing sessions and use case simulations, we have found out that by allowing full access to our heart rate and other biometric interfaces to 3rd party apps, via BLE, limitations and/or interference can arise when trying to connect to Vi earphones afterwards. Therefore, in order to limit the risk for any complications, we have decided that these early units will be designed to communicate only with the Vi app (for HR and other biometrics).

Some of the first-sent devices still have the capability to pair Vi to 3rd party apps, but we recommend against this for the time being. If you have already connected Vi’s HR monitor to a 3rd party app via BLE, all you need to do is go into the Bluetooth settings in your phone, disconnect and forget “Vi Earphones,” and then re-pair back to “Vi Earphones” only.

When we find a smart, seamless solution to support 3rd party app integration we will update you and send a software update.

Technical Questions 

Questions? The first place you can check is our FAQ page, here.

If your answer doesn’t live there and you have technical questions/ bug reports/ product feature requests, the fastest way to get them to us is to email support@life-beam.com, not via comments on the Kickstarter page.

You Guys!

Some of you have shared super cool stuff with us on social, check it out!

Nice unboxing video, John Ly! 

And a few more:

• Sarah Morris, with a gorgeous photo 
• Robin Lech, sharing her unboxing video 
• Stephanie Pospichal, treating herself
• Jeff Pomeroy, who may need to share Vi with his wife (update: he did)
• Domenico Polimeno, who is loving the packaging

Find more of Vi’s first few days in the world by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and be sure to tag @trainwithvi in your adventures so we can keep sharing your awesome posts!

Finally, a most sincere “Thank You” for sticking with us during this first phase! Your patience and feedback have been a vital part of bringing Vi to life.

Talk soon,
The LifeBEAM Team