forgelink???

[nickk]

So from the last input on the patent registry... I can only assume this technology went know nowhere as the registration period expired and was subsequently closed?

Our main Forgelink trademark was recently approved.
We have multiple patents pending.

[techpro2004]

It has been a while any update???

[rpcameron]

As we approach the one year anniversary of the announcement of this new product, is there anything beyond copyright/trademark filings that indicate this is indeed a forthcoming product and not just vaporware.

(IIRC, SD did not attend last year's NAB, which likely would have been the industry conference for SD's portfolio ...

But maybe I am misremembering, and SD did indeed attend industry conferences and has shared details about this elusive product.)

[raypenj]

[removed by moderator - wrong forum]

[gtb]

As we approach the one year anniversary of the announcement of this new product, is there anything beyond copyright/trademark filings that indicate this is indeed a forthcoming product and not just vaporware.

Starting a new business venture (according to nickk, not associated with the existing offerings) can take a lot longer than some might realize (I walk by the buildings of companies that are in ostensibly in "stealth" mode for upwards of two to three years[0], some of which exit stealth mode, some of which end up pivoting, and some of which have their furniture sent to Inside Better Source (a great source of cheap Herman Miller chairs; just saying)).

[0] While I use the term "stealth" in quotes, the issue is that the companies often have at least a few details on the outside of the building for those paying attention, and looking at the badges used to access the facility. I used to occasionally walk by the Apple Car building (which no one was supposed to know existed, except for the part about the notice on the door that said deliver mail/packages to the Apple branded building next door ("whoops"!), and permits about various modifications to the building which only made sense if you have vehicles inside (another "whoops!")). FD: I do live in the valley (silicon, that is).

[jasonl]

Good thing Nick doesn't live in Sunnyvale anymore or you'd be walking by his house trying to spy on things .

[gtb]

Good thing Nick doesn't live in Sunnyvale anymore or you'd be walking by his house trying to spy on things :lol:.

TBH, one of my "entertainments" for years was driving (or walking) by companies HQ and seeing if the parking lot was full on the weekend. That made it very clear there was an announcement of a new product about to be made and the engineers were (as usual) pushing to complete the release before the deadline. Yes, I have a weird sense of humor, but I do pay close attention to the local area tech companies. FWIW, I would have enjoyed seeing Nick's RC car (and the Cray, although the Computer History Museum has a Cray).

[rpcameron]

As we approach the one year anniversary of the announcement of this new product, is there anything beyond copyright/trademark filings that indicate this is indeed a forthcoming product and not just vaporware.

Starting a new business venture (according to nickk, not associated with the existing offerings) can take a lot longer than some might realize (I walk by the buildings of companies that are in ostensibly in "stealth" mode for upwards of two to three years[0], some of which exit stealth mode, some of which end up pivoting, and some of which have their furniture sent to Inside Better Source (a great source of cheap Herman Miller chairs; just saying)).

[0] While I use the term "stealth" in quotes, the issue is that the companies often have at least a few details on the outside of the building for those paying attention, and looking at the badges used to access the facility. I used to occasionally walk by the Apple Car building (which no one was supposed to know existed, except for the part about the notice on the door that said deliver mail/packages to the Apple branded building next door ("whoops"!), and permits about various modifications to the building which only made sense if you have vehicles inside (another "whoops!")). FD: I do live in the valley (silicon, that is).

I was unable to reply earlier, because SD's server restricts logins from VPNs, and I refuse to not use one when traveling.

My issue is not that the venture is "stealth" while in development, it is that it was prematurely announced. If SD wants to give us an industry changing/advancing product, then show us the product. Instead they have essentially said, "We've got something great coming; we won't tell you anything about it, but just trust us."

I've been burned by many companies promising to deliver something, but never shipping. This is starting to feel like that.

[NedS]

Without getting too into civics 101, something happened that changed how importing products into the US works, that has disrupted everyone in the consumer electronics space (and really, everything made internationally). Thankfully, we have experience with Taiwan already, as that is where we manufacture the HDHomeRun, so it looks like Forgelink will be made in Taiwan. This will work out much better than our original plan, where prices would have been more impacted.

[rpcameron]

That's a bit disingenuous, Ned. Nothing actually changed *how* importing goods from foreign nations works, just the costs that importers have to pay to receive those goods. Unless your product is using components deemed embargoed, such as certain chips from China, this isn't really a "civics" issue, but rather an economics and publicity issue.

Of course, none of those issues addresses my actual point: why was this product announced so early? Clearly SD felt it was important enough to announce it a year ago but give no details ... but it's been a year. (Or is this like the Prime issue where extra chips were "found" to continue production?)

(I also note you said "will be made", not "*is* made", so this the understanding is that this "new" technology is still not yet in production.)

[NedS]

Things made in China have new significant costs (and the future is murky on additional costs). We were going to manufacture in China, now we are going to manufacture in Taiwan. That is the only thing that I know of that has added significant time to the product's rollout.

If it looks like I'm picking my words carefully, it's because I rather not start a debate about tariffs (seriously, this is the first and last time I want to see that word even stated in this thread).

It's a new product for us, and we have the luxury of taking our time to do it right and make things easier over all. There's no conspiracy here.

[rpcameron]

I acknowledge there is no "conspiracy". What I question is SD's transparency. You have mentioned a great new product, been silent about for over a year, refused to talk about it, don't show up to trade conventions so not even the professional community knows anything about this "great new thing", and we're just supposed to "trust" you that it's real.

My problem is with SD's approach to the whole thing. Why announce what didn't yet exist?

[NedS]

Eh? There is no transparency here. We are being entirely opaque. We have not told you what it is, what to expect, or when to expect it. You don't have to trust us. You don't have to believe us. We owe you nothing, and you owe us nothing. No transaction has occurred here. This thread was supposed to be a fun little tease, because we're excited about having a totally new product for the first time. You're more than welcome to believe that we're lying about it. That's fine. It literally makes no difference.