The Hearth

Hearth settings

Time on each photo

How long a photo or a written note rests before the next one. Voice notes and videos always play all the way through.

Whose memories play

"Give everyone equal time" makes sure each person gets the same amount of time on the Hearth, even if one of them has shared far more than the others - so no one crowds out the rest. Or just play them all as they come.

Little extras

Every so often, slip a gentle card between memories - the time and date, an "on this day" from a month, six months, or years back, and a soft nudge to add something new. Turn it off for memories only.

Show little extras

Memories on this Hearth

Grouped by who sent them. Tap a name to see their memories; use the switch to turn a whole person off - or open them up to turn off just one. Turning someone off keeps their memories (and any new ones) from glowing here, but nothing is ever deleted from your family's Shadetree.

Lights out

Let the Hearth rest overnight - it goes dark and quiet between these times, then wakes on its own. Tap the dark screen anytime to peek; it drifts back to sleep on its own. (It shows a black screen rather than switching the backlight off - that part is your tablet's own display setting.)

Rest on a schedule

The family's memories

Checking…

Refresh

If a new version was just sent to the Hearth, reload it to bring the update in. The Hearth also refreshes itself quietly each night.

Backup

Because this device is devoted to the Hearth, it holds a full copy of every memory your family has shared - a dependable backup on its own (though it's wise to keep another too). Save all of it to a file whenever you like. And if you ever reset the Hearth, it also re-gathers everything from your family.

The Hearth is lit.

Waiting for your family's memories to arrive. They'll appear here the moment they're shared.

Let's light the Hearth.

Give it a name, then enter an invite code from your family. On your phone, tap Me → My family → Invite someone to get one.

The Hearth needs a fresh light.

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