This will be a short but nice newspost - it's 3am already, and I'm trying to get at least a bit of sleep these days (after having two weeks with almost no sleep since the preorders started...)
But I think nevertheless, you'll like it.
The main hardware -----------------
First up: Nikolaus is on a relaxing holiday this week, so there won't be much coming from him right now. Most of the hardware has been tested though, tons of software bugs have been squished (which prevented us to test the hardware properly!) with quite some help with the TI kernel guys, we're on the finish line of the hardware design!
The plan is to have everything fixed until middle / end of June. That includes implementing the hardware changes into the PCB design files, so that we can order the PCBs afterwards (production of those will take about 6 weeks).
Thanks to the preorders, parts with a long leadtime will be ordered upfront, so that they should arrive together with the PCBs as well. After a quick test run, we will be ready to start the mass production anytime them (so hopefully August / September).
TAKE THESE PLANS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT THOUGH!
While we will hurry, we will not rush. So if there is something within the hardware we need to confirm to be working first, we will do that, even if it delays things a bit. In the end, I don't think you all want Pyras with a serious hardware issue, but would rather wait a bit longer, right?
The case --------
Tweakings of the case are almost done. According to my contact in Greece, they will most likely be produced next week (or shortly after), in different colors. This will be the time when we can assemble more prototypes and make pictures of the colors, so we all can decide which one we'll take (black will be one, that's for sure).
I can't wait for those :)
The prototype orders --------------------
Speaking of prototypes: When we receive the cases, I'll send mails to all prototype orders asking what they would like. We will be able to build prototypes, but the won't have the final keymat yet and not the new touchscreen. They will also have some minor hardware faults which will be fixed for the final release.
You will be able to choose whether you still want one of those (it's a pretty neat collectors item) or whether you want to wait until we do the quick test run (which will still be before the mass production happens), as that would be an almost final unit - but of course, you would still get the case in the color you've chosen, so it will always be something special :)
Do we have enough money? ------------------------
Well... I got a confusing answer for you: Yes, we have enough money to produce 1000 units and no, we don't have enough money for those yet.
While this sounds confusing, here's a quick explanation:
As you know, the Preorders come with a downpayment only. That money will be needed to do a downpayment for the production itself. But some parts already need to be paid in full in advance.
Once we have about 900 preorders, we have enough funds from the downpayment to start a full production of 1000 units.
But you might ask: What will happen if we don't reach 900 preorders? Well, no worries: Then we'll split the production into two batches of 500 units.
We can easily fund the production of 500 units already, and once we receive the final payments for only 100 of them, we can already fund the production of the next 500 units. So that would mean, there would be a short break of about 3 - 4 weeks after the first 500 units have been delivered, then we'll continue with the rest.
But I think, once we receive the final prototypes and I'll make more videos with those, we'll receive more preorders, so we probably don't need to split the production into two batches.
emails... and replies... ------------------------
I have to admit: I'm far behind with those.... sorry for everyone who is still waiting for one. I'm only one guy, trying to fight myself through my normal job, the shop and the emails I receive right now.
Thankfully, for the shop I got help, but there are still many things I need to do myself.
Next week, I'm on holidays - which means: I'll have time to reply to the emails. I'm planning to catch up with all of them! I will not forget you!
You can discuss about that here: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/cases-colors-and-emails.77466/