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Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:44 am
by vargis14
Well good luck with it, i wish you the best of luck.

Perhaps a vote on the name to see what the tech community thinks, sling or holster.
Like i mentioned before with your logo holster would be more appropriate. remember just my opinion no pun intended you have a very good idea. I do not carry that much tech stuff around.
Btw just curious is that toyota key for say a around a 2006 camry?:)

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:06 am
by drfish
2003 Rav4. :)

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:57 am
by drfish
New picture! :lol:

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Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:33 am
by ludi
THIS...IS...SPARTA!

No, really, what's up with that mannequin? You guys keep him locked up with nothing but an ab-crunch machine in between display mock-ups?

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:09 pm
by drfish
Ok, these two are not real products but I made a mistake when requesting a sample today and when I realized it I just couldn't help myself.

I present you with, "Portable Storage" :)

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Now I have a strange urge to put a mini-ITX board in one... :wink:

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:40 am
by notfred
Next generation wearable computing?

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:52 am
by drfish
We just need some back mounted solar panels and some induction charging componentry stitched into the sides... :wink:

BTW, that size also ends up being perfect for a Kindle/Nook touch.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:24 am
by vargis14
Drfish knows that i believe, wide adaptability is the name of the game in his en devour i am sure.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:11 pm
by sis_of_fish
JustAnEngineer wrote:
http://news.yahoo.com/joeybra-perfect-under-shoulder-smartphone-holder-video-190709416.html


That seems like a terrible idea to me...As unattractive as it is, I admit I sweat a lot, and anything put in that location would just end up with water damage, especially during a night of clubbing/dancing! I sometimes tuck smaller stuff (ID, phone, cash) in the cups of my bra if needed, and that works just fine. Otherwise, I always try to wear pants with pockets. Being an artist, I usually need more things with me than just those three little things anyhow.
Fish, I should try one of these out for my art supplies sometime :D I have sketchbooks and small painting kits I think might fit in it for on-the-go or plein air studies. Should I advertize this in my art community? There are certainly geeky enough folks to be found there; they might also have interest or be able to provide input.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:16 pm
by sis_of_fish
wirerogue wrote:
i hope you are already married


..Also, perhaps I am biased because Fish is my brother, but I don't see how Fish's involvement in the TechSling is a bad thing (unless I misread the implications of your comment, wirerogue, in which case, my sincere apologies. I read it as, "I hope you're already married, because no girl will be interested in someone so dorky as you." Perhaps I was wrong and should have read it along the lines of, "I hope you're already married, because there's no hope for humanity if someone hasn't snatched up someone as awesome as you right away."). He's showing drive, ambition, dedication, and inventiveness by pursuing this new product, not to mention care for others in asking for public opinion, all of which are positive things to find in a guy...I guess it really isn't just my bias for Fish speaking there *shrugs*

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:12 pm
by drfish
sis_of_fish wrote:
Fish, I should try one of these out for my art supplies sometime :D I have sketchbooks and small painting kits I think might fit in it for on-the-go or plein air studies. Should I advertize this in my art community? There are certainly geeky enough folks to be found there; they might also have interest or be able to provide input.


I can certainly hook you up with one - or get me half a yard of fabric and I'll make one just for you. I'm thinking cotton duck so you can draw or design it yourself... :)

Also, wirerogue was just teasing about it being dorky like cjcerny was. ;)

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:49 pm
by sis_of_fish
drfish wrote:
Also, wirerogue was just teasing about it being dorky like cjcerny was. ;)


Okay, good, cuz no one picks on my big brother and gets away with it! *bounces around with her fists up*

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:46 am
by drfish
Hey hey, I found out a great use for the d-ring! :) I'm using the 5" version day-to-day so it was a little too small for my prescription safety glasses to fit in the pocket side - so I just clipped my case for them onto the TechSling and voilĂ ! Its really nice since it pivots I can leave it on when I sit down or drive and the extra length doesn't even get in the way. 8)

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Also this! :o

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Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:38 pm
by drfish
Woohoo! We have a promotional video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8hkydDMqWw

Of course I'm biased but I think it is incredibly cool. 8)

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:49 pm
by sis_of_fish
I showed the promo video to Nate, and he agreed that it'd fit well into our art community :) I think I'll spread that nifty promo video around now!

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:18 am
by drfish
Just playing around with a few more materials, nothing official to see here but would like your opinions. The plaid one is my new personal TechSling - its a little over-sized to accommodate the Iconia Tab W500 that I'm playing around with Win8 on. On Tuesday I'll embarrass myself by showing you why I made it out of plaid. It also has both the compartment system in it as well as the [removable] back strap. I'm anxious to know what you think about the potential upgrades as well as the video! :)

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Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:04 am
by grantmeaname
The plaid one is actually kinda tasteful, although I fear your plans for it on Tuesday may not be... :P

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:22 am
by Captain Ned
I like the Holstein pattern. Going for the old Gateway 2000 crowd, I see.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:24 am
by sis_of_fish
Agreed! The plaid looks really nice. I'm torn as to whether i like the cow print or purple camo one better... Gonna have to ponder that for a while!

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:26 am
by Coran Fixx
New patterns are looking good. Let me know when the oversized ones are ready (I'm the Thrive owner), I'd definitely try it out. LMK if you need my info again or anything else.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:58 am
by ludi
I likes the plaid, gives it a contemporary-casual flair without looking sloppy. More like a messenger bag and less like "What is that?!" And I know a couple girls who would respectively be all over the purple cammo and Holstein prints.

In reviewing previous photos, though, I am wondering if you really want the most prominent feature of the logo tag to be "TS". Given the more common use of those two letters, that could be interpreted as either complimentary to the product or uncomplimentary... :o .

Also, some girls are really into ladybugs. If you can find a suitable red and black print you might have another winner.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:07 pm
by drfish
Captain Ned wrote:
I like the Holstein pattern. Going for the old Gateway 2000 crowd, I see.


Exactly. :D

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:21 pm
by druidcent
Nice video!

Personally I'm not a big fan of the new patterns, but that's all up to individual taste... I'd dread to think what my wife would say about the holstein or plaid patterns :shudder:

I'd love to try out some of the new features... I'll be honest, not having the compartments got to be a bit of a pain, and I stopped wearing it, since it wasn't as convenient (and I wasn't traveling as much).

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:54 pm
by drfish
I should emphasize that the new patterns are just me screwing around - they are not intended to become standard color options. :o The purple camo was actually just a sample of a new material weight and I happened to have purple webbing to make a matching harness.

What color did I send you druidcent? Would you like a different one? I can probably send a prototype with the divider/back-straps your way next week if you want to continue testing for us.

Coran, same question, which color do you already have or should I send a complete new unit with the divider/back-straps or just the tablet side?

Now that I think about it back-straps might mean late next week or even the week after since I used up all my samples already...

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:27 pm
by ludi
drfish wrote:
I should emphasize that the new patterns are just me screwing around - they are not intended to become standard color options. :o

Really? I think you should reconsider.

The hardcore techie crowd will be all over black nylon/mesh type setup, but revenue-wise, that's a small niche. For broader appeal, it needs to be a fashion accessory. The kid in the cubicle across from me routinely comes to work in plaid shirts and brightly colored shoes, with a light blue canvas messenger bag. If he gets a tablet, there's no way he's buying a black mesh tech sling. The plaid? Very probably.

By the end of this year there will be roughly 100 million iPads on the market, and nearly all of them look identical. A Holstein-patterned carrier is one way to both accessorize and individualize the purchase, and people go for that sort of thing.

In short, do you want to ship 10,000 of these things in the next five years, or do you want to ship them in 10k lots?

Also, I hope you're carefully documenting all of these experimental variations you've come up with and are turning them over to a patent attorney, because when this product succeeds, you're going to have Samsonite and Targus sniffing for a piece of the action. It will be helpful to have some ammunition to fire back at them when that day comes.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:42 pm
by drfish
I'll rephrase, while we definitely plan on having some wild options for prints my specific examples of patterns aren't reflective of the final options that will be available. Could the Holstein and Purple Camo become standard offerings? Absolutely. Will you be able to order one from the web-store when it opens? Not my decision (but I hope so, need to find some pink digital camo next). 8)

Similarly, as the manufacturer and not the inventor, the IP side of things is not something we're in charge of - however it is a Patent Pending product and I/we have good documentation in the form of meeting notes, patterns, emails, and even this thread. You guys are seeing things more or less "live" as we continue development but there are plenty of things you haven't seen yet either. :wink:

Couple more patterns to close out the week, my sewers chose these so naturally they look better than what I picked out:
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Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:17 pm
by TheEmrys
Really dig the seperate pockets. Better than what I was envisioning in earlier posts.

Also, I like the new patterns. Are they a different fabric from the original? Right now, here is what I hear around the house and on the bike path:

1. Wife : Glad you had your phone on you, you didn't wear that out in public did you?
2. Other biker : What's with the outside pockets?

I wore it for about 2 weeks around the house. It was silly how useful it was. I did find that my kindle fire did tend to slip out at funny angles. So there is a smaller one?

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:37 pm
by drfish
Glad the divider is getting positive reactions. :)

The new prints ARE a different fabric, the purple as I mentioned is a lighter weight material but still plenty tough and still polyester. The black and white ones are all cotton - hence why they are not going to be production designs initially, the stiffener and the inside liner are the same as the originals though so you can put your keys or whatever in them without worrying about snagging it or anything. In some ways its nice having the outside be soft but it will get dirty a lot easier of course (not that they can't be washed).

I've made a note to send you a new one with a smaller tablet side and the divided phone side with the back strap once I get more buckles.

BTW, we're thinking that the phone side will stay the same size regardless of what size the tablet pocket is. I've found that the 5" zipper pocket is a little too limiting anyway and it seems unnecessarily complicated to keep the left and right sides the same for no particular reason. Thoughts?

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:50 pm
by idchafee
Sorry if this was answered, I skimmed the thread. Will this thing handle a laptop? When I take the motorcycle to work I have a backpack I put the laptop in, but this looks much more bike-friendly.

Re: What's a TechSling?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:14 pm
by grantmeaname
I think they mentioned that they were thinking about an 11.6" Air/ultrabook compatible pocket. Or did I imagine that?