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posted by martyb on Friday November 03 2017, @12:45PM   Printer-friendly
from the didn't-get-a-fair-hearing dept.

https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/1/16591970/augmented-reality-earbud-startup-doppler-labs-shuts-down-here-one

Doppler Labs, the company behind Here One smart earbuds, has announced that it's shutting down all operations today, as reported by Wired.

Founded in 2013, Doppler Labs debuted the prototype of its Here Active Listening System two years later in 2015. The battery-powered earbuds, according to Doppler Labs founder and CEO Noah Kraft, were built to enhance sound in the world around you. By using the accompanying app, users could, in theory, apply any manner of EQ settings that did everything from reduce overwhelming bass frequencies at a concert to dim the midrange chatter of co-workers while in an office. Kraft's vision for Doppler's future was an compelling idea — "we want to put a computer, speaker, and mic in everyone's ear" — but the Here Active Listening System was met with mixed reviews.

[...] Unfortunately, in bringing Here One to market the company was met with a raft of problems. According to Wired, a manufacturer change pushed production delivery from the fall 2016 to February 2017. There was also bad news on the battery front. The company hoped to offer 4.5 hours of battery life using augmented hearing and three hours of music streaming, but the unit's Bluetooth chip wound up diminishing those expectations.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 03 2017, @01:17PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 03 2017, @01:17PM (#591653)

    Most startups are the result of someone having a decent high-level idea while sitting on the toilet:

    • "Hey! I'd love to tune out my wife's through-the-bathroom-door nagging about my need to get a job!"

    However, none of the important details are figured out up front, because, you know, "first mover's advantage" or some bullshit like that:

    • "Details? We'll cross that bridge when we get to it! Gotta have faith!"

    The devil is always in the details. Either you get extremely lucky, or you grow your business slowly from a tiny, viable, easily managed, low risk seed.