4ourth Mobile Sketch Phone
The Sketch Phone made it to Kickstarter and everything, but then failed to get backing. I have given up, entirely.
You know you should get out of the office, sketch your ideas, test them in context and with real people. But do you?
Maybe you even have a favorite pen, and carry around a Moleskine. Sketching on paper is fine, but it's still a piece of paper. What then? How do you really try out the sketch, in your hand, walking around, in the context it will work?
Well, now you can get a Sketch Phone.
For years I have been taping sketches to my phone, and building cardboard and plywood tablets and phones to do this. But now I've partnered with some very clever manufacturers and friends here in the area to make an even better version. It's machined as two pieces, and the center works a dry-erase board, so you can quickly sketch without paper.
Oh, the paper! Put the bottom down, lay a roll of 2-1/4" receipt paper in there, and put the top on. Not sure how it holds together yet; for a while we were thinking of magnets, but now after using the prototype I think o-rings will work better to hold it in place.
You can tear the paper off, to work on it portably, or after you have made a sketch, you slide it up and tear it off to save for later. You can slide the paper with your thumb on the screen, to simulate scrolling as well.
I do have a prototype – the black phenolic one in the photo above is real – so if you bump into me feel free to ask to see it. It does not have all the features, like the whiteboard, so is not final. Also, if wondering about the color. I am thinking of something more brown for the final version, to make it look less like a real phone, but it will partly depend on the material. Thinking of aluminum for the final one so we'd paint them. Feel free to have your own opinions, but most everyone will get the same color.
Pre-Order Your Sketch Phone Today
Pretend this is a Kickstarter, but just like the Touch Template I am doing it independently. I was going to have to buy a couple hundred originally but have changed manufacturing, so even if no one else orders, it'll get made. However, after the first batch, I may give up. If you don't order now, you may never get one.
$49 for a complete 4ourth Mobile Sketch Phone pre-order with PayPal
If it somehow fails or you decide you are tired of waiting, just ask and you will get your money back. I think I can't do anything about PayPal fees, so you may loose a buck or two.
Production time is... up in the air. I am currently hoping to cut the next prototype (there are design changes) by the first week of October. I'd think mid-November would be possible for final production, but always feel free to ask for updates.
I intend to include a proper-sized register roll with each order. If not, they are cheap and readily available, though you may need to get a 12 pack. Of course you can just cut paper to fit or use the whiteboard part alone.
This does not necessarily include shipping. For domestic (US) orders, I will try to include shipping in that price, but I haven't yet bought packaging, so we'll see. For international orders I am very likely to have to charge you extra, and there may be customs paperwork, but I'll try to figure that all out before I ship them. If I need to charge for shipping, then I'll email you all with the details, and invoice you for that when it comes up.