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Updates

  • in Updates
  • 3 min read

50% OFF on ALL Merchandise – Only This Black Friday! Show Your Support for Open Source!

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Hey dear Openterface folks,

Exciting news—we’ve launched a new clothing line at Openterface! Our collection features T-shirts and hoodies that embody the spirit of our community. They’re not just clothes; they’re a celebration of our shared values and the Openterface ethos.

What makes these designs even more special? Both the T-shirt and hoodie proudly feature the technical line art of our Openterface mini-KVM, which looks incredibly cool. Plus, we’ve highlighted our mini-KVM’s “Developer Mode” text in the design—an idea we think is absolutely brilliant. When you put on our T-shirt or hoodie, it’s not just about staying warm this winter; it’s about stepping into super developer mode for all your coding and hacking sessions.

OP-Hoodie-Zip-Up

And if you’re wondering how these look in real life, check out how our team’s been wearing them in action! From staying cosy in Developer Mode while coding (see tweet), to a fun photoshoot with David Groom from MAKE: Magazine at the Shenzhen Maker Faire (view photo), we’ve been proudly showcasing our gear. We even got inspired by a talk from the legendary Eric Migicovsky of Pebble fame (see post) while demoing the Openterface Mini-KVM and connecting with tech friends (see more, and here). These aren’t just clothes—they’re conversation starters and a way to celebrate our community wherever we go!

And for this dull winter, why not give our vibrant orange data cable a chance? It’s a perfect way to brighten your workspace while ensuring fast and reliable data transfer.

To sweeten the deal, we’re offering a 🔥 SPECIAL 50% DISCOUNT 🔥 on all items for the next five days for this 2024 Black Friday, starting from the moment you see this message until December 1st. It’s our way of saying thanks for being part of our journey.

Have a browse through our store here: https://shop.techxartisan.com. Check out our new apparel and snag a piece at half price—don’t miss this limited-time offer!

Openterface Merch

openterface merch

Openterface Accessories

openterface accessories

Thank you for being with us through this adventure. Your support means the world to us, and we’re grateful for every conversation, every idea, and every interaction we’ve had.

Warm regards,

Billy Wang
Product Manager
Openterface Team | TechxArtisan

P.S. Got any thoughts or feedback? We’re all ears! Join the conversation on Reddit or Discord, or feel free to drop us an email at info@techxartisan.com ✉️.

  • in Updates
  • 5 min read

The Ship Has Sailed & Extra Cables Added for the Toolkit. What’s Next?

Hello, Openterface community!

We’re thrilled to announce that our Openterface products have officially shipped. They’re currently at the port in Shenzhen, ready to board a cargo ship bound for the US!

cardboard boxs to Crowdsupply product packing

Here’s what’s new:

Fulfillment Preparations: Quality Checks and Packing

Before packing and shipping, we thoroughly tested each unit to ensure the highest quality, as we mentioned in previouse update: DIY Challenge, Cool Prizes, and Production Nears the Finish Line!. Every cable was scrutinised for signal transmission stability using our Mini-KVM.

Now, let’s talk about the news—both the bad and the good.

BAD News: Some Orange Cables Didn’t Meet Expectations Under Tough Conditions

Our Mini-KVM transmits video, audio, mouse/keyboard control, and USB data via a single Type-C cable. The cable’s performance is critical for data stability, especially in challenging environments.

To simulate real-world interference, we wrapped the orange Type-C cable around an electric fan motor while running multiple computers nearby. This created a high level of electromagnetic interference (EMI), to evaluate our cables’ data transmission stability.

Testing Setup A budget-friendly yet effective testing method.

Check out our video tweet showcasing one of our performance tests for comparison.

Under these conditions, some orange cables struggled with signal loss, raising concerns about their reliability in complex environments such as data centres or during critical IT operations.

To address this, Kevin Peng, our tech director, developed a bespoke testing programme. This tool, allowing you to test the quality of your own USB cables, will soon be open-sourced with more updates later.

Testing programme interface Our programme makes cable testing a breeze.

While our orange cables, with its soft, silicone-like texture and attractive appearance, are great and are perfect for everyday use like fast charging and regular data transmits, they fall short in a heavy transmits work in tough conditions, like high EMI.

GOOD News: Our Solution is Here

We’ve immediately sourced high-quality nylon USB 3.2 cables to include as an extra in the Toolkit version—at no additional cost to you. These durable cables come in three lengths in grey color: 1M (3.2 ft), 1.5M (4.9 ft), and 2M (6.5 ft). You’ll receive one randomly selected cable from these length options in your Toolkit version, ensuring you have a robust and reliable connection for your Mini-KVM.

New Grey Nylon Type-C cables

In future Mini-KVM Toolkit versions, our orange cable for connecting to the host side of Mini-KVM will be upgraded to the nylon Type-C 3.2 cable, combining functionality, stability, and style.

Custom Nylon Type-C cables

We hope you appreciate this decision and continue to rely on Openterface during critical moments on your tech frontlines.

Shipping Schedule

When can you expect your Mini-KVM? If everything goes smoothly with our shippment, our products should arrive at Crowd Supply’s Mouser warehouse by mid-December, then they will get our Openterface shipped out according to each orders accordingly.

  • For backers in the US: there’s a small chance for delivery before Christmas, but this isn’t guaranteed, since everything tends to slow down as the holiday gets closer.

  • For backers outside the US: Delivery times will vary. Our best estimate is mid-January.

Here’s hoping for a smooth journey for our Openterface products—no seasickness, carsickness, or jet lag! 😃

Cool Openterface T-Shirts and Hoodies

We’ll be at the Shenzhen Maker Fair this weekend (16–17 Nov). To gear up, we’ve designed team apparel, including T-shirt, zip-up and pullover hoodie.

Take a look and let us know what you think: Openterface T-shirt and Hoodie

Support Our Development

If you’d like to support our open-source development further, may also check out our TechxArtisan Shop. You can purchase cables, T-shirts, and hoodies—all while helping us financially continue to innovate. Every purchase counts and supports the open-source community spirit.

What’s Next: Host App Updates

Now that shipping is underway, our focus will shift back to refining our host apps. We’re working on getting them verified across various app stores to ensure a seamless experience as you get started with Openterface.

App stores

What’s Next: Join Our USB DIY Contest

Why not join our USB KVM DIY Challenge 2024 once you’ve got your Openterface Mini-KVM in hand? It’s a great opportunity to contribute to our open-source development and even win a prize——including two special editions Openterface Mini-KVM and more! For more details, check out the Crowd Supply's contest page.

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Wrapping It Up

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Your support and feedback keep us moving forward. If you have any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation in our community on Reddit and Discord.

With gratitude,
Billy Wang
Product Manager
Openterface Team | TechxArtisan