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One Meter Shipped + iOS App Available + Apps Open Source

Dear Reader,

Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

Shipping Test

Before Christmas we mailed out the first meter.  We wanted to test the shipping system before trusting many meters to them.  This was a shipment to France and it arrived safely in 7 days.  It’s the first fulfilled Mooshimeter order, and an important milestone.  Shipping of the bulk of orders is still contingent on app development, but it’s great to know the pipeline seems to work as expected.

iOS App In The App Store

It got approved over Christmas.  You can download it here.  Hooray!

Features it has:

  • Scan and connect to a meter
  • Textual display of meter data
  • Set most meter configuration options
  • Slow graphical display of meter data over time
  • Fast capture of a single sample buffer (for viewing 60Hz waveforms)
  • Ability to upload new firmware images to the meter

Features it hasn’t (yet):

  • Logging is still problematic and will need to be patched in a firmware update
  • Ability to connect to multiple meters and display values simultaneously

iOS App Source Code

iOS source code is on Github here.  Thank you to everyone who signed up to beta test.  If you want to contribute to the Github repo send a pull request and we’ll get a build sent to the beta group.

Want to help with Android?

Android development will be happening in a public repository and you can contribute.  The repository is here.  The code is forked from TI’s Sensortag Sample Application.  We tried writing from scratch but weren’t making headway fast enough, so recently pivoted to a fresh start from TI’s codebase.  Fortunately their licenses allow us to do so.  If you’ve got Android experience and want to help, leave a comment, or just fork the repo on Github.

That’s all for now, thank you

~James

38 Responses to “One Meter Shipped + iOS App Available + Apps Open Source”

  1. Seth January 7, 2015 at 4:21 pm #

    I downloaded the app, just waiting for the hardware now :) My engineer friends are gonna be so jealous when I show them my new “toy” :)

  2. chet cline January 9, 2015 at 11:55 pm #

    fascinating contraption. I’ll buy some when you have it up and going. Keep me in the loop. This product may help us by integrating it into our product, but will certainly benefit our business helping us to do more.

    all the best, Chet

  3. Nathan January 11, 2015 at 5:24 am #

    Thanks James for making you Apps source code available. You may know already but if you don’t there is a new tool becoming available called MyAppConverter. This is supposed to be full iOS to Android native conversion…..for selected frame works. Of course CoreBluetooth isn’t one of them but it may prove useful for screen layouts etc. Oh the only other issue is that it isn’t available until Feb. Note I think the free month or so usage is still available if you sign up before the Public Release. I haven’t used it but it is something I will be looking into.

    • James January 12, 2015 at 3:58 pm #

      Very interesting – Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately another of the main libraries in the iOS app – CorePlot – doesn’t port easily to Android either. So in this case I don’t think MyAppConverter is going to help too much.

  4. Ross January 13, 2015 at 7:43 pm #

    Shipping a meter is great news! Any idea of when you will ship the remaining orders? I need to characterize the power consumption of a battery-powered device pretty soon and the Mooshimeter would be perfect for this.
    I’m also wondering if there is Linux source available for logging meter values. That would be most helpful, especially since iOS logging isn’t working properly, and for those of us who don’t have iOS devices. Thanks!

    • James January 14, 2015 at 1:53 pm #

      There is not Linux source for this, but if you are a developer and wanted to start something on Github we would contribute to the project. It may be a while before there’s time to write something from scratch. I know works for talking to a TI sensortag, which means it can talk to a Mooshimeter, it just needs the GATT profiles updated and some application logic.

  5. J. Knight January 13, 2015 at 10:38 pm #

    I backed you on Dragon Innovation. I’ve moved and need to update my address before you ship. I can’t seem to figure out how to do that. Can we work something out?

    • James January 14, 2015 at 1:42 pm #

      No problem – this is probably the case for many people so we are sending out a batch email and survey for people to update their addresses. You’ll see it soon.

  6. smanders January 14, 2015 at 12:06 am #

    App looks good and seems harmless without the Mooshimeter ;-). What’s the outlook to begin shipping the initial batches?

    • James January 15, 2015 at 1:14 am #

      About half of the pre-orders are ready to go, just need to confirm shipping details. The apps will be updated in the field, but people have waited long enough for their hardware and we are extremely eager to get meters in to the wild to gather feedback to improve the product.

  7. Chris January 14, 2015 at 5:06 am #

    :D
    Last night I was looking for my multimeter and remembered I am waiting for my Mooshimeter!
    Can’t wait for my new toy!

    Hope you get to shipping soon, as I’ll be leaving for South Korea in a few weeks and want to take it along!

    Good luck with the last stretch!

    • James January 14, 2015 at 1:42 pm #

      Much appreciated, thank you!

  8. Jay January 14, 2015 at 11:54 am #

    This project has turned me off from crowd funding. it’s been almost a year since the project ended, 5 months past the ship date and still nothing but ‘almost ready’ . And now to find out that android app development was trashed and has started over from a different base entirely, 8 days ago! money lost, never again.

    • James January 14, 2015 at 1:44 pm #

      Very sorry to hear this! Without crowdfunding backers this product would not be getting off the ground. Your meter will be shipped to you soon regardless and I hope we can regain some of your trust.

      • Jay January 15, 2015 at 10:40 am #

        You get points for responding and allowing negative comments to the blog, that shows a lot of integrity and a willingness to be out in the open. I’m done with crowd funding, but I’m glad my last few bucks went to someone that seems to have class.

        • James January 15, 2015 at 1:23 pm #

          Thank you. It always hurts a little to approve a negative comment, but I know most people writing them just want to make their frustrations heard. I hope you’ll reconsider crowdfunding down the road – I’m not trying to excuse this project but delays are extremely common in the crowd-funding world. It’s people trying to do things that haven’t been done before, and while there are definitely some bad apples out there most people will work extremely hard to make their campaigns a reality.

  9. AC January 14, 2015 at 7:11 pm #

    I am also left jaded by the experience and have had to spend more money on more tools since the mooshimeter is still nowhere in sight, on top of looking like a fool after telling numerous people I was expecting to have it in my hand by y month.
    I guess I should have know better than to repeat something which isn’t accompanied by a Service Level Agreement.

    • James January 15, 2015 at 1:29 am #

      I’m very sorry about all the delays. Some of them we don’t have control over them, but a lot are our fault as well and we know that. They hurt over here as well. All I can say is we’re working hard and we’ll keep doing so.

      • AC January 15, 2015 at 3:08 am #

        Thank you for your measured reply.
        I have revisited your project page and reminded myself that you are actually doing a lot with what is really quite a small amount of money, both in aggregate and per meter.
        I know how hard it can be for a venture not to proceed as quickly as you had envisioned and should have cut you more of a break.
        I think once you’ve shipped this batch (and got us off your back) you will feel a lot better about having created a great product that you can do with as you please

        • James January 15, 2015 at 4:25 am #

          I really appreciate this AC. Don’t worry, in my position you learn not to take anything personally!

          And yes, I’m very eager to be able to work on a project without the feeling of a thousand backers eagerly/anxiously watching :) The pressure is quite high.

          Thanks!

  10. Jesse January 15, 2015 at 1:28 am #

    I’m excited. I knew it would be a while in development, and didn’t have a whole lot of need for a device like this when I backed the project but I could use something like this now!

    • James January 15, 2015 at 1:50 am #

      That’s great to hear! Thank you :)

  11. Vincent Royer January 15, 2015 at 2:40 am #

    I’m super bummed about the android app. It was supposed to be cross-platform from day one. And now we’re back to a dev kit demo app? It seems like you should not have proceeded this far without a working concept for the app on all intended platforms. The delays would have been forgivable but to have this type of delay, and then no app in sight, is very disappointing. Not only did I tell everyone about the mooshimeter, I convinced many people to back to project. Some of them even purchased multiple meters, and will be looking at me for having convinced them to waste their money. Surely there was some budget allocated to fund the app development? I really don’t get why the IOS app got the spotlight in the first place. In the world of tech, there are 2 types of people: those who know how to use multimeters, and those who use IOS.

    • James January 15, 2015 at 3:26 am #

      I understand Vincent, and just want to reiterate that both platforms will be supported. Android development is proceeding much, much faster than iOS development did. The text-based interface (what I’ve been referring to as the “meter view”) is already working, and the graphing interface is in the works. On iOS this took months because bugs in firmware had to be hammered out simultaneously. On Android this has taken about 8 days (while simultaneously working on fulfillment) because it can follow in the footsteps of the iOS app.

      Both platforms will be supported. As to your question about “why the iOS app got the spotlight in the first place”, it’s because I had an iPhone when this project started. Not the greatest reason from a market research perspective but when you’re self funded you start with what you’ve got.

  12. Kathleen January 15, 2015 at 2:58 am #

    Congratulations on yet another important milestone, and on chronicling the journey with transparency and integrity. We see far less ambitious projects, with far more funding, take much more time. (Or just never happen!). This is real. Your commitment is impressive.

  13. Nathan January 18, 2015 at 7:02 pm #

    Hey James – so what is your Android ide of choice out of interest?

    • James January 22, 2015 at 4:42 pm #

      Android Studio

  14. Jason January 21, 2015 at 1:50 pm #

    Wonderful, I have my meter!! But no application to go with it since the requirements are IOS8. Thanks for the long wait, built up excitement and dashed hopes. Now how long will I wait for the android app?

    • James January 22, 2015 at 4:36 pm #

      There is a version of the Android app available now, follow the instructions on the card. Also didn’t realize that users with iOS 7 would be prevented from installing, will investigate.

    • James January 22, 2015 at 4:42 pm #

      Hi Jason,

      iOS7 should work, didn’t realize iOS7 users would be prevented from running the app. I’ll try to get a new build submitted for the app store.

      There is a build of the Android app available if you follow the instructions on the card. New features are still being added but the core functionality is there.

    • James January 23, 2015 at 5:09 pm #

      Jason,
      I found the bad build setting that was causing iOS7 to be rejected. The most recent version of the app now runs in iOS7 and is awaiting approval in the app store. Apple approval unfortunately takes about a week. I can probably get you a build sooner through testflight if you join the beta program:

      http://tflig.ht/1939Lyl

      Best, sorry for the inconvenience.
      ~James

  15. Bernhard January 22, 2015 at 4:07 am #

    IOS8 only ?!?
    Seriously? Do You really require any Functions IOS7 does not provide?
    I hoped to use my old iPhone4 as Mooshimeter Display exclusively. :(
    Have you even tried building it for IOS7.x?

    Best Regards,
    Bernhard

    • James January 22, 2015 at 4:37 pm #

      Didn’t realize iOS 7 would be prevented from installing, looking in to it. Apologies. iOS7 will be supported.

      EDIT: Note that your device must have hardware support for BLE, also known as Bluetooth Smart. In Apple devices this was introduced in the iPhone 4S.

    • Nathan January 22, 2015 at 6:54 pm #

      Hi Bernhard – I don’t know if you left the s off of your IPhone model but I think the meter App is ble only. BLE was introduced in the iPhone 4s onwards.

      • James January 22, 2015 at 7:01 pm #

        Thanks for the reminder Nathan – amended my previous comment and most recent blog post to clarify

        • Nathan January 23, 2015 at 5:19 am #

          No problems James. For clarity this hardware stipulation would apply to Android? If so then we are talking about Android version 4.3 for some phones and more fully in version 4.4 phones onwards. Android is a little tricky as ble availability is manufacturer specific and in most cases model specific. The cheapest way to get a ble capable device is to get an iPhone 4s (i was given one as someone had it laying around after they upgraded, ipod touch 5th gen, galaxy s4 (I think) etc.

          • James January 23, 2015 at 5:29 pm #

            The Android app is built on API level 19 (Android 4.4). It might work against API 18 but I haven’t tested that yet, like you said 4.4 really made BLE much better. Hardware-wise I’ve been testing on a Galaxy S4 Active running 4.4. I hear you regarding the heterogenous Android landscape… thankfully it’s very fast to release new Android apks so bugs can be swatted faster.

            I’ve needed a few iOS devices as well for development and the cheapest I’ve found is the iPod touch 5th gen :)

    • James January 23, 2015 at 5:08 pm #

      Hi Bernhard,
      Just wanted to follow up and let you know I found the bad build setting that was causing iOS7 to be rejected. The most recent version of the app now runs in iOS7 and is awaiting approval in the app store. Apple approval unfortunately takes about a week. I can probably get you a build sooner through testflight if you join the beta program:

      http://tflig.ht/1939Lyl

      Best, sorry for the inconvenience.
      ~James

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