Hardware Alpha Test Program

Hello,

At MeowTalk we work hard to help you better understand your cat. Our team designed a revolutionary SmartCollar that listens to your cat and instantly plays meow translations via a miniature built-in speaker. It is a magical experience where your cat wearing the SmartCollar is speaking to you!

We are looking to test the SmartCollar device with MeowTalk Trendsetters, a select group of enthusiastic users who get exclusive access to test our new gadgets and features before anyone knows they even exist!

If you have not already done so, fill out this survey to join MeowTalk Trendsetters and -if selected- you will receive a free SmartCollar to test for us and then keep it as a gift from MeowTalk (a $50 value).

After you receive your email notification that you were selected to join the Alpha Test Program please follow the instructions below to connect the SmartCollar and perform the simple test.

We cannot wait to bring magic to you and your cat!

Sincerely,

Javier Sanchez

MeowTalk CEO

Test Process

Step 1 - Delete / Uninstall the MeowTalk App

Warning: This requires you to delete or uninstall MeowTalk which could result in lost history if you do not have a MeowTalk account setup.

The test process requires you to install a test version of the app that has SmartCollar support enabled. This version of the app is connected to a test database and test accounts. The current version of the MeowTalk app must be deleted/uninstalled to avoid stored data on the phone confusing the test version of the app.

Step 2 - Install the SmartCollar Enabled App

As part of the acceptance process to the Alpha Test Program, you will be given access to the SmartCollar enabled version of the app. Warning: This requires you to delete or uninstall MeowTalk which could result in lost history if you do not have a MeowTalk account setup.

iPhone Users: If you have an iPhone you will need to share your Apple ID with MeowTalk so that we can add it to the Apple Test Flight service; Test Flight is an Apple app and service that allows users to participate in testing apps before they are released to the App store. Once MeowTalk adds your Apple ID to Test Flight, you will get an email noticication with instructions to install Test Flight and then access the MeowTalk app.

Android Users: If you have an Android phone you will need to share your Google Play email address wth MeowTalk so that we can add it to the App Tester service. App Tester is a Google Firebase services that allows users to test apps before they are released to the Google Play Store. Once MeowTalk adds your Google Play account to App Tester you will get an email with instructions for downloading the app and optionally installing the App Tester app (which makes things easier but not required).

Once you recieve your email instuctions please follow them to install the SmartCollar enabled MeowTalk app.

Step 3 - Create a MeowTalk Account

A MeowTalk account is required for this test. You can use your existing account if you already have one.

You can create a MeowTalk account from the log in screen by selecting "Sign Up".

Step 4 - Enable MeowRoom Mode

After you have created an account and have logged in, switch the app to MeowRoom mode. This is the cat smart speaker mode of the app.

You have an opportunity to switch to MeowRoom mode from the onboarding screens after logging in. There will be an onboarding screen that asks if you would like to switch to MeowRoom mode.

You can also switch to MeowRoom mode at any time from the "MeowRoom Setup" screen which you can access from the Profile Screen. The process would be to: 1) Select the Profile Screen tab; 2) Select the MeowRoom Setup menu item and 3) Select the "Switch to MeowRoom" button at the bottom of the screen.

If you are launching MeowRoom for the first time it will ask you to select a default listening location (e.g. living room) and a default cat profile.

Once complete you should see the MeowRoom listening screen with an icon in the bottom right with a cat wearing a MeowTalk SmartCollar. The next step will walk through the process of connecting the collar to MeowRoom so that it uses the collar's microphone and speaker instead of the phones.

Step 5 - Connect the SmartCollar to App

The process is slightly different depending on if you have an Android phone or an iPhone.

iPhone User:

From the MeowRoom listening screen, select the button of the cat wearing a SmartCollar. This will open the phone's settings screen.
Select the Bluetooth menu item from the settings list
Activate the SmartCollar by holding the button down for 3 seconds. When on you should here "SmartCollar on , pairing" and a blue light should blink 4 times a second while it is in pairing mode.
On the phone's Bluetooth screen you should see the SmartCollar show up in the list of available devices as "MwTk HW Beta". Select this device to pair with the SmartCollar. The SmartCollar will say "connected".

Note: The SmartCollar is now a connected Bluetooth device to your iPhone. It can play music, make phone calls, and answer calls while connected to your phone. If it starts playing music just stop the music through your iPhone or click the button on the SmartCollar. The SmartCollar is intended to be connected to MeowRoom running on a spare phone. In this scenario there will not be an issue with making calls or playing music.
Open the MeowTalk app again, there should be a link at the top left corner of the screen to return to the MeowTalk app.
Select the "On" button in the middle of the screen to enable active listening. The SmartCollar will say "Listening"
The collar is now actively listening for meows.

Android User:

From the MeowRoom listening screen, select the button of the cat wearing a SmartCollar. This will open a Bluetooth device list.
Activate the SmartCollar by holding the button down for 3 seconds. When on you should here "SmartCollar on , pairing" and a blue light should blink 4 times a second while it is in pairing mode.
On the Bluetooth device list screen select the "Refresh List" button. You should see the SmartCollar show up in the list of available devices as "MwTk HW Beta". Select this device to pair with the SmartCollar. The SmartCollar will say "connected".

Note: The SmartCollar is now a connected Bluetooth device to your iPhone. It can play music, make phone calls, and answer calls while connected to your phone. If it starts playing music just stop the music through your iPhone or click the button on the SmartCollar. The SmartCollar is intended to be connected to MeowRoom running on a spare phone. In this scenario there will not be an issue with making calls or playing music.
Navigate back to the MeowRoom listening screen by selecting the back button on the top right of the screen.
Select the "On" button in the middle of the screen to enable active listening. The SmartCollar will say "Listening"
The collar is now actively listening for meows.

Step 6 - Perform One Meow Translation

While the app is open and the SmartCollar is actively listening, have it on or near your cat to capture one of their meows. Ensure the speaker icon is enabled (second icon to the right at the bottom) to ensure you hear a voice when a meow is detected.

To ensure sound is being detected by the SmartCollar enable audio visualization (second icon to the left at the bottom). Blow into the back bottom of the SmartCollar (where the mic is located) and you should see a visual response on the screen to that loud noise.

After you capture one meow you are done with the testing but feel free to capture as many as you like. Have fun with the product. All captured meows will be available from the MeowTalk History Screen.

Step 7 - Turn the SmartCollar off

Turn the SmartCollar off by closing the MoewTalk app then holding the SmartCollar button for 3 seconds.

The collar can run for up to 18 hours on a full charge. But, for the Alpha and Beta Test Programs it should not be left on your cat when you are not supervising your cat's usage. The SmartCollar will make a "Low Power" indication that your cat will not appreciate. This is a behavior that must be enabled for the Alpha and Bet Test Programs and will be disabled or managed in the final release of the product.

Step 8 - Give MeowTalk Feedback

Send us an email to hwtestprogram@meowtalk.app and tell us if you were successful with the test, any issues you encountered and your general feedback of the experience.

The goal of the Alpha Test Program is to confirm the hardware can connect to the App on your phone and capture one translation. If we accomplish that then we were successful with this stage of the testing.