Frequently Asked Questions
OTA (Firmware Upgrades) & Parental Registration
Q: What is OTA? Why is this important for me to know?
A: OTA is a firmware upgrade to your Meep! that brings the Meep! to the most current software version. In the
initial production of Meep! tablets, the first OTA needs to be initiated by the user. The OTA will show up in the
bottom-right corner within a few minutes after turning on and connecting the Meep! via Wi-Fi. After the first OTA
has completed, there may be additional OTAs that will automatically upgrade the Meep!. As we will constantly
strive to improve the Meep! experience, we will continually update the software.
Q: Why must a Meep! be registered? And how do I register the Meep!
A: Once the OTA process is complete and the Meep! is at least at version 1.1 (you can check by clicking help on
the right scroll wheel; the version number and serial number will be listed), you will then be able to register the
Meep! on the parental portal. The Meep! must be registered by an adult in order for the child to gain online
access. This is to ensure parents can set up the Meep! with as much restriction or allowance as they desire for
their child. To register the Meep! you must use either Google Chrome or Apple Safari, as it is coded in HTML5. Go
to meeptablet.com and click on create an account. Enter in all the information and once complete, you will have
access to parental controls for the Meep!. At this point your child will then have access to the Internet based on
the parental controls that you set.
Q: Why is a credit card required to register the Meep!?
A: We require a $1 charge to a credit card in order to maintain COPPA (Child Online Protection Act) compliance,
which ensures that an adult is registering the Meep! This is a one-time charge and the one dollar is converted to
100 Meep! coins that are then available for the Meep! store. We do not maintain the credit card information. It is
strictly used only as a way to confirm that the Meep! is being registered by the parent or an adult.
Q: Does upgrading the Meep! improve performance?
A: We're constantly working on optimizing the Meep! experience and adding new features. Even after you
purchase a Meep! you'll be able to upgrade the software "over-the-air" (OTA). We strongly recommend
downloading the OTA package. Once your Meep! is online, the following process occurs:
1. Our system will automatically check if the software version on your Meep! is the latest one. If there is an
updated version available, a notification will pop up in the bottom-right corner of the Meep! and ask you
to download the OTA package. Please make sure that your Meep! has enough battery remaining or is
plugged into an electrical outlet via the adaptor when you perform the whole process.
2. Tap on the icon to start the download. It may take a few minutes.
3. Once the download and installation have completed, your Meep! will automatically shut down and perform
the version upgrade.
Parental Portal
Q: Why do you require Google Chrome or Apple Safari to register the Meep! and use the parental
portal?
A: The short answer is both of these browsers are HTML5-capable browsers. This is not true for all versions of
Explorer and Firefox.
Q: Why must I set up a Gmail account? Why should it be separate from my own Gmail account?
A: A Gmail account is necessary in order to access Google Play. We highly recommend that you set up a Meep!specific Gmail account for your child rather than using your own Gmail account. If you use your Gmail account to
set up Google Play, then if Gmail is set up on the Meep! your messages will flow into the Meep! Therefore, it's
best to set up a Gmail account for your child.
Q: Can you explain the parental controls in greater detail?
A: Meep! parental controls allow you to set timers for each individual activity. For example, you can set one hour
of playtime for games, and at the end of that hour, your child will no longer be able to play games. This is handy
when trying to manage time for the Meep! with everything else going on in the household. The timers reset the
following day. So in this example, the child would have an hour each day for games until you change the setting
to another one. You're also able to set access the Meep! store, Google Play, and the Meep! communicator (chat)
in the parental controls. Lastly, you're able to set the overall access to the Internet. You can limit the child to
only websites that are Oregon Scientific-certified for kids, or as your child gets older you can open it up so they
can type in their own URLs. However we always maintain a blacklist of inappropriate sites no matter what the
settings are for the parental controls. If there are websites that you feel are appropriate for your child, you can
add them via the portal and the website will show up on the Meep!.
Q What is the bad words list? What is blacklisting and white listing?
A: We maintain a "bad words list" and you can add to that bad words list as well. This precludes your child from
using bad words that you feel are inappropriate in chat or in search. Oregon Scientific maintains a blacklisting of
websites that are inappropriate for children, which includes sites containing content such as porn, gambling,
drugs, etc. However, we also want to provide parents the option to add sites that they feel are appropriate for
their kids that are not included in the websites that are preloaded on the Meep! This is called white listing. On
the parental portal it's easy to add websites or YouTube videos that you would like your child to have access to.
All you need to do is add the URL to the white list and it will then appear on the Meep! in the browser section.
Meep! Software Issues
Q: Some of the software on Meep! seems like it’s meant for young children. Is there content available
for older kids?
A: Yes, either through the Meep! Store or via Google Play. You should be able to find plenty of games, books,
movies, and other apps that are age-appropriate for your child. Meep! was designed for kids 6+, but younger
kids and even some kids older than 11 can still find enjoyment and content that works for them.
Q: The filmstrip view loads slowly. Is there anything I can do?
A: The more apps on the Meep!, the more the menu needs to load. You can click in the upper-right corner and
use the Meep! grid view for faster loading.
Q: It seems the harder I press on an icon, the less responsive it is. Why?
A: Meep! uses an optical interface. It actually has greater sensitivity to a lighter touch. We will continue to
improve the interface with future firmware updates.
Q: Why doesn’t Meep! let me watch Flash videos?
A: This is not a Meep! issue as much as it is an Android™ issue. In August 2012, Adobe dropped Flash support
for Android in lieu of HTML5 video standards. It will take some time for websites to incorporate the new HTML5
code for video playback. We are looking at ways to solve this issue until HTML5 is more widely incorporated.
Q: Sometimes I can’t use the YouTube player. Why?
A: It may be because access has been blocked to the online functions. All online functions are blocked by default
in order to provide a safe environment for Meep! users. Unlock these functions in order to obtain access.
Q: Sometimes I can’t use the Web Browser. Why?
A: It may be because access has been blocked to the online functions. All online functions are blocked by default
in order to provide a safe environment for Meep! users. Unlock these functions in order to obtain access.
Q: Sometimes I can't view the website I want or can't read some content on the website. Why?
A: It may be because the website is blocked by us or by parental controls. If you can’t read some content, it may
be because Meep! doesn’t support the file format of the content.
Q: Sometimes I can’t use the Communicator. Why?
A: It may be because of blocked access to the online functions. All online functions are blocked by default in
order to provide a safe environment for Meep! users. Unlock these functions in order to obtain access.
Q: How do I add content to the Meep! from a PC or Mac?
A: If you connect the Meep! via USB to PC or Mac. On the Meep! screen, click Connect. You can then open up the
file folders for the Meep! on your computer. To transfer data, open the Home folder and find the type of data you
want to transfer. For example, if you are trying to transfer pictures, open up the Home folder, then open the
Pictures folder, then open the Data folder. From there you can drag files into the data folder and the photos will
show up on the Meep! This same process works for videos, eBooks, photos, and music.
Q: I've tried to view some files from my SD card on my Meep! I followed the instructions, but it still
doesn’t work. Why?
A: It's probably because Meep! doesn’t support the file you’re trying to view. Here is the list of file formats
supported by Meep! There are many free file converters available to convert other files to these formats. Please
make sure the file extension is in the lower case! (i.e. "photo.jpg" not "photo.JPG"). Audio files: MP3(.mp3),
WAVE(.wav) Image files: JPEG (.jpg), PNG (.png) Video files: MPEG-4 (.mp4)
Meep! Hardware Issues
Q: What can I do if my Meep! hangs or has sluggish performance?
A: It's normal for a "smart device" to experience temporary slow performance or even hang, especially when the
device has been used nonstop for several hours. Please try the following:
1. Switch off the device. (Press and hold the button for around 10 seconds) and switch it on again. Any
unsaved content will be lost in the process.
2. Press the reset button on the back.
3. Make sure that you have downloaded the latest OTA package, as we keep updating the software to
optimize the user experience.
Q: I still can’t get my Meep! connected to the Internet. Why?
A: Make sure you have followed the instructions in the Meep! manual. Please pay attention to the following
points:
1. Make sure that there is a Wi-Fi hotspot nearby.
2. Make sure that you have setup the Wi-Fi connection in Settings.
3. The connection quality depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal. Any security settings on the network
can affect the online experience of Meep! So make sure any password enabled WIFI service has the
password entered on the Meep!
4. If you have 3G or 4G on your smartphone, you have to switch the signal to Wi-Fi on the smartphone and
share to Meep!
Q: How do I view files from an SD card on my Meep! ?
A: Please read the SD card section of the user manual on the Meep! If you can’t find the answer there, then
make sure that you put the desired document on the top level of the file structure. Please note this feature only
supports video, pictures, and music. Meep! only supports SD cards with capacities of up to 32 GB.
Q I’m having trouble having key presses register on the Meep! The scroll wheel seems to spin around
often and I can’t get the menu to register a key press. What can I do?
A: First, make sure you've completed the OTA process and are using version 1.1. Second, use a light touch when
selecting icons as this is an optical screen. A lighter touch works best. We will continue to make future
improvements and updates to improve overall touch screen functionality.
Q: I completed a factory reset and now all of my apps and data are missing. What can I do?
A: All the applications that were preloaded on the Meep! are located for free in the Meep! store. If you've done a
factory reset by accident, you can download all of the preloaded apps from the Meep! store or just the ones that
you want.
Q The battery seems to drain quickly. Is there something I can do to extend battery life?
A: A Wi-Fi signal tends to drain the battery faster, so if the child is not online and is mostly playing games or
other activities it's best to turn Wi-Fi off. Additionally, processor-intensive activities such as movies and certain
games will make the battery drain faster. It's important to note that we included a charger but also that the
Meep! can be charged via USB. We also intend to have a car charger available on the market shortly.
Q: I notice the Meep! comes with a Wall charger. Does it also charge the battery via USB?
A: Yes, the Meep! battery will charge if connected via USB to a PC or Mac.
The Meep! Store
Q: Sometimes I can’t use the Meep! Store. Why?
A: It may be because access to the online functions has been blocked. All online functions are blocked by default
in order to provide a safe environment for Meep! users. Unlock these functions in order to obtain access.
Q: The Meep! store does not show up on my Meep! Why?
A: Please make sure that you have enabled Wi-Fi, performed the OTA (firmware upgrade), and registered the
Meep! via Google Chrome or Apple Safari at https://portal.meeptablet.com. Once you are registered, the Meep!
Store will show up on the right wheel menu of the Meep!
Google Play
Q:How do I access Google Play for the Meep!?
A: From the parental portal, click on account and then click on the Meep! registered to the account. There will be
an open Google Play button on the onscreen Meep! When you click that button, Google Play will then open on the
Meep! itself and selections can be made. Additionally, you can log into Google play using the Gmail account
associated with the Meep! and make selections directly from the web browser to install directly to the Meep!.
Q: We have Netflix. Does it work on the Meep!?
A: The answer is yes, however the current Android™ version of Netflix put out in early September 2012 has
issues with many Android devices, and does not currently run with Meep! We expect that will be fixed by Netflix
shortly.
Q: Does Skype work on the Meep!?
A: Yes, Skype works on the Meep! Please make sure that the parental portal settings are set to medium and that
you can open Google Play and download.
Q: Does Facebook work on the Meep!?
A: Yes, the Facebook app works on the Meep! Please make sure that the parental portal settings are set to
medium and that you open Google Play and download.
Q: Does "Cut the Rope" work on the Meep!?
A: Yes, the "Cut the Rope" app works on the Meep! Please make sure that the parental portal settings are set to
medium and that you open Google Play and download.
Q: Does "Where’s My Water" work on the Meep!?
A: Yes, the "Where’s My Water" app works on the Meep! Please make sure that the parental portal settings are
set to medium and that you can open Google Play and download.
Q: Do all Google Play apps work on the Meep!?
A: Most do, but not all. If the app requires phone features, it may not run on the Meep! Google Play will let you
know if it is not installable on the Meep!
Accessories
Q: What accessories are available for Meep!?
A: We have a whole host of hardware accessories to round out the Meep! experience, including a Meep! joystick,
steering wheel, headphones, microphone, piano, drums, and a "gamepro" carrying case. See meeptablet.com for
more info.
Q: Do the accessories come with their own software?
A: Yes, most of the peripherals come with a coupon for three downloadable games that are specific to the
accessory.
Miscellaneous
Q: I’m still having problems with my Meep! Who can I contact for help?
A: We want to make sure your Meep! experience is an excellent one. We have a dedicated customer service
organization that can be reached at 800-853-8883 from 8am–5pm ET, Monday–Friday. Additionally, you can find
support and how-to videos at www.facebook.com/MeepTablet.US and www.portal.meeptablet.com. Drop us a
note! We want to hear what you love or suggest can be improved on Meep!
Q: Where is the 4GB SD card located when I open my Meep!?
A: The 4GB SD Card is packaged in a clear plastic bag that is taped to the clear plastic outer wrap over the
Meep! retail box.
Information provided by Oregon Scientific.