Author Topic: The uBeam FAQ  (Read 639325 times)

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Offline Buriedcode

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #500 on: September 11, 2016, 02:47:19 am »
They've been heads down gearing up for mass production for nearly a year now. Surely they've got one prototype working by now, just how long does it take to rewrite the laws of physics.
 :horse:

Now there's that negative thinking again, it holds back technology and stifles progress!  As we've heard many times, anything is possible if you just believe! *clutches rose quartz close to chest*
 

Offline timb

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #501 on: September 12, 2016, 11:05:56 pm »
You've got to ask why a top acoustics person would not put the hottest and most high profile acoustics company on the planet on their LinkedIn profile?
A tad embarrassed maybe?
He's having a  :palm: moment.

They've been heads down gearing up for mass production for nearly a year now. Surely they've got one prototype working by now, just how long does it take to rewrite the laws of physics.
 :horse:

"Ya kn'not rewrite the laws of physics, captain!" -Scotty
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic; e.g., Cheez Whiz, Hot Dogs and RF.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #502 on: September 28, 2016, 12:23:02 am »
They're hiring!
"Director of HR & Culture"  :-DD

Because they haven't been able to hire any acoustic experts any more, they think a HR droid will work magic  :horse:

https://ubeam-inc.workable.com/jobs/339784
« Last Edit: September 28, 2016, 12:25:20 am by EEVblog »
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #503 on: September 28, 2016, 12:29:15 am »
Here is the uBeam crew, all happily shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic
 

Offline LabSpokane

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #504 on: September 28, 2016, 01:02:30 am »
They're hiring!
"Director of HR & Culture"  :-DD

Because they haven't been able to hire any acoustic experts any more, they think a HR droid will work magic  :horse:

https://ubeam-inc.workable.com/jobs/339784

Quote
uBeam is seeking a hands-on, eager...

I would think that "hands-on, eager" would be the qualities one was *not* looking for in an HR manager.  You just can't make this stuff up.   :palm:
 

Online Phoenix

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #505 on: September 28, 2016, 03:18:45 am »
They're hiring!
"Director of HR & Culture"  :-DD

Because they haven't been able to hire any acoustic experts any more, they think a HR droid will work magic  :horse:

https://ubeam-inc.workable.com/jobs/339784

Quote
uBeam is seeking a hands-on, eager...

I would think that "hands-on, eager" would be the qualities one was *not* looking for in an HR manager.  You just can't make this stuff up.   :palm:

But they need to be hands to create their market leading uniforms...

Quote
and defining the couture best able to position the organization as the leader in the market place
 

Offline The_Next_Theranos

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #506 on: October 08, 2016, 01:53:44 am »
Because they haven't been able to hire any acoustic experts any more, they think a HR droid will work magic  :horse:

Of course. The whole ubeam project is about magic, not science. They even say so themselves!

Quote from: http://ubeam.com/team/
This isn’t a science project – we‘re executing on a rigorously mapped vision that will change the world.

There you have it. The science doesn't matter! It's the rigorously mapped vision that matters!

It's also amusing that the "team" page above shows only the "leadership" team and the investors, but not anybody who's actually making anything. Those people aren't part of "the team"? On second thought, seeing as how the real corporate mission seems to be fleecing investors based on a physically-impossible and rigorously mapped vision, then maybe all those pesky people with engineering degrees and Aspergers are just dead weight after all.


To quote the CEO in her own words:
Quote from: MEREDITH PERRY'S BRAIN
If it smells like a fish, looks like a fish, and tastes like a fish, it’s probably a fish.

Perhaps that should become their new corporate motto?
« Last Edit: October 08, 2016, 01:55:52 am by The_Next_Theranos »
 

Online Fungus

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #507 on: October 08, 2016, 05:13:52 am »
To quote the CEO in her own words:
Quote from: MEREDITH PERRY'S BRAIN
If it smells like a fish, looks like a fish, and tastes like a fish, it’s probably a fish.

Wasn't the expression about Anatidae?

Perhaps that should become their new corporate motto?

Seems like a good choice for a company owned by somebody who'd take a common expression and replace a well defined family of Anseriformes with an entire Phylum in an attempt to show how she thinks "out of the box".
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #508 on: October 08, 2016, 05:27:20 am »
It's also amusing that the "team" page above shows only the "leadership" team and the investors, but not anybody who's actually making anything.

I don't think there is anyone left actually making anything  :-//
Also, uBeam can't be the next Theranos, because Theranos actually shipped something that people used.

Quote
Those people aren't part of "the team"? On second thought, seeing as how the real corporate mission seems to be fleecing investors based on a physically-impossible and rigorously mapped vision, then maybe all those pesky people with engineering degrees and Aspergers are just dead weight after all.

Of course all you need is vision, engineers just get in the way  ::)

Quote
Perhaps that should become their new corporate motto?

Doesn't matter, they'll fold soon enough. The charade can't keep going much longer.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2016, 05:29:28 am by EEVblog »
 

Offline Holmes34

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #509 on: October 13, 2016, 03:01:22 pm »
Whilst it seems obvious you're not going to be able to provide anywhere near enough power to charge the beasts we carry around in our pockets without going full Samsung on the user, it may be they have just targeted the completely wrong problem area? It's always the way with blue-sky thinking, the dreamers get fixated on the wrong application for their technology. Just look at organic solar cells as an example, and tell me when was the last time you saw a commercial one?  :-DD Turns out organic semi's are much more useful in sensors!

If ultrasonic power transmission is feasible but only with lower power applications, what about bioimplants and niche applications where rogue magnetic fields (inductive charging) are unwanted? Are there any interesting inflection points where ultrasonic beats inductive?
 

Offline Danseur

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #510 on: October 26, 2016, 12:08:36 am »
You know it's going to be bad when the article starts with a homeless guy peeing on a mural of Meredith Perry.  It even goes into the story about Meredith's brother who goes by the name "Penis Bailey" who sees himself as the savior of Hollywood and wears a large penis shaped necklace.

http://epicmagazine.com/silicon-is-just-sand/

Paul Reynolds also talks about the Energous scam where the CTO and his parents have sold off all their stock.
http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/
« Last Edit: October 26, 2016, 12:13:32 am by Danseur »
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #511 on: November 08, 2016, 06:25:06 am »
Looks like the last remaining tech stallwart Sean Taffler left in October.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantaffler

Looks like poor new sucker Larry Pendergrass hasn't got any engineering department left to manage?
Must be lonely shuffling the empty deck chairs on this Titanic.
 

Offline HackedFridgeMagnet

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #512 on: November 08, 2016, 08:33:12 am »
Sean is probably scanning Indiegogo for more "Blue Sky opportunities".
 

Offline Howardlong

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #513 on: November 08, 2016, 08:57:31 am »
Looks like the last remaining tech stallwart Sean Taffler left in October.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantaffler

Looks like poor new sucker Larry Pendergrass hasn't got any engineering department left to manage?
Must be lonely shuffling the empty deck chairs on this Titanic.

It can't have long to go now before it implodes with nothing more than a few patents. Those investors conned by the VC BS, and all their VCs' thorough due diligence (not) must surely be asking how to get out.

It's going to be difficult for the VCs to make anything on this one I'm sure, there's almost nothing to sell on, but they only have themselves to blame for loss of reputation. I live in hope they've actually learned something, that pissing away other people's money has reputational consequences. Regrettably I doubt it, they are thick skinned, they'll put it down to the numbers game rather than actually change their ways.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #514 on: November 08, 2016, 09:22:33 am »
I live in hope they've actually learned something, that pissing away other people's money has reputational consequences. Regrettably I doubt it, they are thick skinned, they'll put it down to the numbers game rather than actually change their ways.

Nope, the likes of Suster will never learn:
https://bothsidesofthetable.com/what-is-it-like-to-wake-up-and-have-the-press-ready-to-torpedo-your-business-351f27ca6d67#.pzee23vgz

They will never admit an idea was brain dead from the start and they just didn't see it.
They will always think that all you need is the vision, tenacity and resiliency and you can do anything.

And ironically, their two big hitting PhD's names in that article are now gone.
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #515 on: November 08, 2016, 11:18:19 am »
There has to be an entertaining book to be written about this whole saga. (Apart from the one Meredith will probably write when the VC wages run out)
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Offline StillTrying

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #516 on: November 08, 2016, 02:51:39 pm »
Sean Taffler's time there was very successful. :) :bullshit:  :horse:

Thought leader on technology and strategy for system and ultrasonic transducer assembly

Whilst reporting directly to the CEO, grew the team of engineers and scientists and ran the development of the power delivery and reception system from white board to prototype and EVT.

Translated business requirements into achievable product visions and timelines that were actionable
Designed the overall system architecture and responsible for the realization of that vision.

Managed departmental resources, staffing and mentoring to enhance and maintain a world-class engineering team whilst motivating them to realize the product.

http://www.taffler.com/Taffler/Resume.html
.  That took much longer than I thought it would.
 

Offline coppice

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #517 on: November 08, 2016, 03:02:08 pm »
Managed departmental resources, staffing and mentoring to enhance and maintain a world-class engineering team whilst motivating them to realize the product.
http://www.taffler.com/Taffler/Resume.html
Did he miss the end off that sentance?  ;)
 

Offline Dubbie

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #518 on: November 09, 2016, 12:33:41 am »
Quote
Did he miss the end off that sentance?  ;)

Yes! here is the rest...

"...is never going to work despite the fervent belief of the founder that if you dream it then it is possible."
« Last Edit: November 09, 2016, 12:36:04 am by Dubbie »
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #519 on: November 09, 2016, 12:40:22 am »
Managed departmental resources, staffing and mentoring to enhance and maintain a world-class engineering team whilst motivating them to realize the product.[/i]
http://www.taffler.com/Taffler/Resume.html

Damn, that's funny!  :-DD
You'd think that changing the world would be motivation enough. But not when you are an engineer who knows the product you are working on will never work as claimed, that requires some serious motivational BS
 

Offline The_Next_Theranos

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #520 on: December 03, 2016, 07:14:12 am »
Looks like the last remaining tech stallwart Sean Taffler left in October.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantaffler

Looks like poor new sucker Larry Pendergrass hasn't got any engineering department left to manage?
But as of November, they're hiring a new manager! https://ubeam-inc.workable.com/jobs/370494

Notice the wording on one of the responsibilities:
Quote
Hire, develops and coaches engineering staff

See how the verb "hire" is lacking the "s" for consistent conjugation, but the other verbs are conjugated with the "s", i.e. "develops" and "coaches"? Could it be that the original requirement simply read "Develops and coaches engineering staff", and then, upon realisation that no engineering staff exists anymore, the word "hire" was tacked on as a last-minute, inconsistently-conjugated afterthought?  ;D

I thought we were supposed to see the uBeam technology in action within this year. Only a few more weeks to go!

On the other hand, perhaps Meredith's recent tweet Goodnight uBeam can be interpreted as an admission that the whole thing is nearing critical implosion?
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #521 on: December 03, 2016, 07:47:50 am »
See how the verb "hire" is lacking the "s" for consistent conjugation, but the other verbs are conjugated with the "s", i.e. "develops" and "coaches"? Could it be that the original requirement simply read "Develops and coaches engineering staff", and then, upon realisation that no engineering staff exists anymore, the word "hire" was tacked on as a last-minute, inconsistently-conjugated afterthought?  ;D

 :-DD

Quote
On the other hand, perhaps Meredith's recent tweet Goodnight uBeam can be interpreted as an admission that the whole thing is nearing critical implosion?

Critical implosion is guaranteed.
No need to waste energy lighting that huge empty engineering space. Turn the lights out until you can hire more with your last remaining VC funding who will then be left to shuffle the deck chairs on the RMS uBeam. Iceberg ahead captain!
 

Offline StillTrying

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #522 on: December 04, 2016, 12:49:21 am »
Her last (I don't mean latest  :) ) appearance didn't seem to get much publicity.

http://sites.ieee.org/ttm/speakers/#perry

https://www.facebook.com/IEEETTM/posts/1199645150108784:0

I think it's  G a m e  O v e r.
.  That took much longer than I thought it would.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #523 on: December 04, 2016, 01:03:23 am »
I think it's  G a m e  O v e r.

Who is she going to blame I wonder?
It won't be the practicality of the idea. If only those annoying non outside-the-box engineers had stayed and seen it through with as much vision as her ::)
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

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Re: The uBeam FAQ
« Reply #524 on: December 04, 2016, 01:43:24 am »
Youtube channel:Taking wierd stuff apart. Very apart.
Mike's Electric Stuff: High voltage, vintage electronics etc.
Day Job: Mostly LEDs
 


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