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LuDela Candles Perfect Pillar Starter Set remote controlled candle review

REVIEWS – LuDela Candles aren’t your typical candles, and you know that because LuDela candles come with a remote control.  It might better be called a lantern that looks like a candle, because the waxy pillar you see is merely a covering for the flame device inside.  Unlike normal candles, the LuDela shell never melts, because you’re actually burning a liquid fuel.  This pillar has electronic ignition, and it can even blow itself out at the end of the timer period or if it tips over.  Unlike battery-powered flameless candles, LuDela candles look better because they have a real flame.  The LuDela Perfect Pillar sounds like the perfect candle!  How does it work?

What’s in the box?

  • Perfect Pillar candle device with Ivory shell
  • 2 Caring Candle refills
  • 2 SunScent Rings
  • Remote
  • Charging cable and power supply

You can see all of the contents of the kit in the top photo.  This photo shows the contents of my box, minus the candle and remote.

The Thank You note seen here explains a little about their Better Light, Better Lives charity.  “LuDela is a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation and pending B-Corp with the mission to deliver Better Light, Better Lives for our customers and the global community. For every innovative candle product sold LuDela donates a book to help bring libraries to underserved communities with their non-profit partner Books for Africa.”

The company was founded by Jamie Bianchini.  “He was traveling by bike in Africa, when in Burkina Faso, Jamie spent the night at a rustic guesthouse where he was given a candle as a light source. He accidentally fell asleep with the candle burning and woke up to a room filled with thick smoke from a candle fire. Luckily, he was able to put the fire out with his boxer shorts. As he rode his bike onwards the next day the inspiration for the LuDela Perfect came to him.  After helping his new Ugandan friend named Innocent realize his dream for the Good Hope School in Uganda, Jamie was inspired to use the patented LuDela innovation as a vehicle to illuminate the minds of more children around the world by giving the empowering gift of literacy.”

Design and features

Let’s look a little closer at the candle before moving on.  I received the Perfect Pillar in ivory.  This is the standard color used for all candle starter sets at this time.  The metal piece you see extending above the pillar is the top of the device that houses and controls the flame.  It normally rests below the level of the pillar, but I had released it for removal for this photo.

You’ll notice that there’s a sun logo embossed near the bottom of the candle.  The remote control receiver is behind this logo.  You need to have this side facing out to be able to control the candle with the remote.  The logo isn’t as cleanly embossed on the candle I received as it is in the stock photo at the top of this review.

Here you’ll see the combustion device beside the wax shell.  Those columns inside the shell ensure that the interior device is always oriented correctly for the remote receiver to work properly.

The bottom of the shell just has a label and three little feet.  It also seems to have a limited-edition number on the bottom.

The top of the interior device is metal.  You can see two wires in the center of the opening.  Those wires apparently spark the flame when you turn the candle on with the remote.

The open sunburst design can be left open as you see above, or you can insert a fragrance ring, as seen here.  The starter kit comes with two rings of the same color/fragrance.  If you want to use fragrance with your candles, you can purchase additional rings in six other color/fragrance combinations for $10 for a set of two, or you can get a complete set of 12 rings (2 of each fragrance) for $40.00.

I won’t be using the fragrance rings because everyone in my family has a lot of allergies.  They add a nice color, but I just can’t risk the fragrance around my asthmatic daughter.  I wish you could get some unscented color rings.

Setup

There’s not a lot involved in setting up the Perfect Pillar candle.  The manual is pretty comprehensive, but you’ll also want to watch the video here to learn how to open your Perfect Pillar device, charge it, and insert the fuel before you’re ready to light it.  I charged my Perfect Pillar overnight before loading up the fuel cartridge.

You get two Caring Candle refills in the starter kit.  Each cartridge burns for about 20 hours.  They come sealed inside a plastic bag that has the zipper-opening equivalent of a child-proof bottle cap.

Each cartridge has a double cap on it to be sure there are no leaks.  Once you take these caps off, you need to keep the cartridge upright to prevent spills.

The cartridge slides up into the bottom of the interior flame device.  I didn’t remove the caps before I took the picture you see here;  I didn’t have anyone to hold the device upright at the time.  After I got the pictures, I removed both caps, inserted the cartridge in my fully charged combustion device, then inserted it into the candle shell.

Performance

You need the remote control to light up and control the Perfect Pillar.  (Just a note here:  You can actually light the candle with a match or a lighter, but none of the smart functions will be operational.  It will not extinguish the flame if the candle tips nor will it blow out the flame automatically unless you have first ignited the candle with the remote.)  To prevent children from playing with the candle, you need a security code to use the remote.  There’s a label on the back of the remote control with the unlock code.  Once you’ve remembered the keypress sequence, remove the label to prevent children from lighting the candle.

The remote control has a mounting plate that can be attached to the wall with either the supplied screws or double-sided mounting tape.  Put it beside your room’s light switch so you can quickly make the decision for candles or light bulbs as you enter the room.  The same remote can operate all the candles in your room, but you will have to point the remote at each candle or grouping to light them.  Also remember that you must have the sun logo on the candle facing into the room to receive the remote signals.

I did the unlock sequence on the remote and chose a time for the candle to burn, and the candle immediate lit up!  That was so cool to see, because it means I could put my candle anywhere without having to worry that short me would be able to reach it later when I wanted to use it.  After it burned for a while, I decided to try out the tipping function.  I just tilted the candle with my hands instead of knocking it over – because I’m overly cautious – and the flame was puffed out before the candle was tiled more than 10 degrees (estimation).  I heard a little puff of air before the flame was extinguished.  There’s a little fan inside that blows the flame out.

I lit the candle again and set it for a one hour timer.  The flame burned steadily for a full hour, then I heard the puff again and the flame was out.  The flame never guttered nor flared up during the hour it burned in my first test.  It hasn’t done so any other time I’ve used it, either.

The center of the cartridge has the wick you see burning here.  After I’ve used it for a while, it is just the slightest bit blackened on the very tip of the wick, but it isn’t being consumed by the fire like the wick in a normal candle.  It’s not burned away because it’s simply the substrate for the liquid fuel to burn on.  You won’t have to worry about adjusting or trimming wicks with the Perfect Pillar.

What I like

  • You can change the appearance of this candle by swapping the flame device into new, colorful, relatively inexpensive Flex Shells (currently $20 each).
  • I like the safety of a candle that can put itself out if it tips.
  • I like the timers for burn times.  I’d still never leave a live flame unattended, but it’s still comforting to know the candle will extinguish itself, if necessary.
  • The candle is very attractive.
  • It looks like a normal pillar candle unless you are looking down into the combustion device.
  • It always looks new, because the waxy shell is never consumed.

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing really, but I wish I could get unscented color sunburst rings for the top.  (Somebody send me one of those blue fruit cobbler-scented rings after the scent is gone, please! 😉 )

Final thoughts

I love the safety features built into the LuDela smart candles.  It’s nice to know I won’t set something on fire if I tip over the candle, because it will put itself out.  I like the remote lighting function because I’ll be able to set the candle someplace without worrying if I can reach it later – plus it’s just darn cool to light a candle with a remote control!  It’s a little expensive to get the starter kit, but you’ll be able to change the color of the wax shell or change the fragrance for a reasonable price.  And refill cartridges are reasonably priced at $10/pair , too, especially when you consider how expensive normal wax candles are.  The LuDela Perfect Pillar always looks nice and new, because the outside never gets burned away.

Price: $129.00
Where to buy: LuDela Candles; accessories here
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LuDela Candles

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LuDela Candles Perfect Pillar Starter Set remote controlled candle review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 15, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker review


REVIEW – These days, almost every electronic gadget features some type of wireless capability, and for leisure time, wireless Bluetooth speakers have become quite popular. I have tested a few of them, and most of them have been quite good for what they are designed to do. For this review, I will be playing around with the Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker.

What is it?

The Tronsmart is a Bluetooth indoor/outdoor portable wireless speaker that is Bluetooth Speakers Outdoor, Tronsmart Portable Wireless Speaker IPX56, Waterproof, 12 hours of playtime on one charge, blue LED Light Effects for the speakers and can be paired with another similar Tronsmart for True Wireless Stereo effect.

What’s in the box


1 x Tronsmart Element Blaze Speaker
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x 3.5mm AUX Cable
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty card

Design and features

Specifications:

Bluetooth Version: 4.2
Bluetooth Compatibility: A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP, AVDTP, SPP, AVCTP
Material: ABS + metal
Battery Capacity: Built-in lithium battery, 3.7V/1800mAh
Charging Time: 1-2H
Play Time: 10-12H
Output: 7W x 2
Frequency Range: 10m/33ft
Driver Unit: 45mm diameter, 4Ω inner magnet
Connectivity: Micro USB charging port, 3.5mm aux-in port
Dimensions: 180 x 69 x 69mm / 7.08 x 2.71 x 2.71in
Net Weight: 424.5g / 14.97oz

On the top of the speaker, there are 5 buttons that are waterproofed by rubber caps. From left to right as pictured below, there is the play/pause/Handsfree button. It is used to play and pause music and if there is an incoming phone call, it is used to answer the call, place it on hold or reject it. You can also press and hold it to redial the last dialed phone number. Right next to the play/pause symbol on this button, there is a small LED that lights orange when the speaker is being charged. The next button is the previous trace/volume button. You press to lower the volume or hold to select the previous track. The next button the light control/TWS9True Wireless Stereo)/Bluettoth button. For LED light control, each press increases the intensity up to 3 presses and then turns the LED off. On the 3rd press, the lights go into strobe mode. I do not have a second speaker so I was unable to test the TWS (Click here to download and read the User Manual). The next button is the next track/volume up button. You press to raise the volume or hold to choose the next track. That last button which is all the way on the right is the power button that you hold to turn the speaker on or off. right next to the symbol on this button there is a small LED that lights and blinks blue when the speaker is in pairing mode.


On the bottom of the speaker, there is a 1/4-20mm mount that allows to you use it on various types of mounts with a 1/4-20mm stud.


Each side of the speaker has a small built-in handle. On one side, the handle has a hole that you can add a carrying clip to or otherwise use to hang the speaker.


On the back of the speaker, there is a rubber door that covers the ports to keep them waterproof. Once you pull back the rubber door, there is the charging port and an auxiliary port.



On the front of the speaker, there is the branding on top and a microphone the 2 speakers behind a speaker grill. You have to look very closely to see the microphone hole since it is well hidden behind the grill. The picture below shows the speakers with the LED lights on.

Performance

As soon as I powered the speaker on, it went into pairing mode and showed up in the Bluetooth choices on my phone it paired very easily and was ready to go. It sounds pretty good and better than I expected it to given its small size. There is no great distortion with any of the genres of music I played on it, including jazz and R&B, etc. The blue LED lights are a nice touch and overall the speaker works well as a wireless speakerphone with good clarity to the calls. It is well built and quite sturdy and feels solids in my hands. While I did not dunk it in water, the rubber seals are tight and did not leak with the simple splash test that I performed. The auxiliary port allows you to plug in an external player. These days with wireless connectivity becoming a regular feature of most music players, there is not much use for this option. However, I did plug in the output from my projector and it sounded decent enough to watch a movie although it was lacking the true power and desirable frequency range and separation for such an application. It is also nice that its portability allows me to place it wherever I want to.

What I like

  • The build quality. it is a solid little speaker
  • The size
  • The sound for such a small size
  • The ease of use
  • The blue LED lights and the ability to adjust them including turning them off
  • The 1/4-20″ built-in mount

What can be improved

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

The Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker is a nicely built and decent sounding speaker that in my opinion is a nice value. It is small and compact and very portable and the waterproof feature allows you to carry it just about anywhere without worrying too much. The speaker is not designed to offer audiophile sound, but rather to offer convenience and the ability to enjoy your music wherever and whenever you want. The Blue LED lights on the speakers are a nice touch, and the ability to adjust them allows you to set a mood if you choose to. Keeping in mind the perception of a device such as this is individually subjective, this speaker gets two thumbs up from me.

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tronsmart.

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Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 15, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Structure Sensor 3D scanner review

REVIEW – The iPad market share has hovered around 20 to 30% for the past few years. Imagine how different our world and experience would be if each one of those cameras had 3D capture ability. The Structure Sensor is an attachment to the iPad that provides the ability to capture 3D information. Read on to see what I think!

What is it?

The Structure Sensor is an attachment to an iPad, but also works with non-iPad tablets, iPhones, and can be modified to work with standalone applications. It contains two infrared LEDs, an infrared structured light projector, and an infrared camera.  The Structure projects a unique infrared pattern of dots out in front of it, and the infrared camera captures the projected pattern as it is reflected off of objects. Apparent variations in the position of the captured dots are interpreted by software to determine the relative position of a captured image. The graphic below, by Paul Kah of the Lappeenranta University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, illustrates the technique in a cartoon.

The Structure Sensor uses images from the iPad’s built-in camera, so aligning the Structure sensor up to the built-in camera is critical. The Structure Sensor provides a custom designed mount to ensure alignment. The sensor software also uses the iPad accelerometer, compass, and computing power to generate the 3D images.

What’s in the box?

My employer purchased this device so I didn’t see the box it came in. The following description is from the Structure website:

Structure Sensors purchased directly from the Official Structure Sensor Store will arrive in a gift box, like so:

 

Structure Sensors purchased from Amazon.com will arrive already assembled, in a new “bento box” style, which doubles as a carrying case for your Structure Sensor, bracket, and cables:

Regardless of where it was purchased, your Structure Sensor should arrive with the following:

  • One Structure Sensor
  • One Lightning cable
  • One Power Adapter
  • One magnetic screwdriver
  • Eight (8) M1.6 screws
  • One user manual

Precision Bracket with Aluminum Latch

The Precision Bracket with Aluminum Latch will arrive in a separate box, like this one:

Precision Brackets with Aluminum Latch for iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 4 will arrive in a “bento box” style, which doubles as a carrying case for your assembled Structure Sensor, bracket, and cables:

Structure Sensor Bracket For iPad Pro

Your Structure Sensor iPad Pro Bracket should arrive with the following (shown from top to bottom):

  • One Bracket Alignment Tool
  • One Structure Sensor Base Plate
  • One Bracket

This is what the bracket looks like when not attached to the camera:

The bracket surrounds the iPad camera so that a specially designed 120-degree lens may be installed for use with some applications. The camera lens may be unusable by other hardware add-ons if the bracket secured with an adhesive is applied to the rear of the iPad.

Design and features

The Structure Sensor is an anodized aluminum device with a glass front and a plastic back. The back is designed to fit into or screw onto a bracket that connects it to the iPad. The Structure Sensor has its own internal battery to preserve the battery life of the iPad, The bottom side of the camera has a port for the dedicated AC charger. An LED indicator on the Structure Sensor’s glass face will pulse when your Structure Sensor’s battery is charging. As soon as your battery is completely charged, the LED indicator will be illuminated continuously until the AC charger is disconnected.

There is also a port for the data cable to lightning adapter cable

If the Structure Sensor is used with a non-iPad device a separate cable may be purchased that terminates in a USB type-A connector. This cable may also be used with a USB power adapter to charge the Structure Sensor and will charge the battery more quickly than the standard Power Adapter.

When the sensor is latched to the rear of a device and connected with the dedicated data connection to the device it looks like a kludge to repair an inoperable camera. Technically its similar to taping a Microsoft Kinect to the back of the iPad. However, despite its appearances, the bracket and camera are sturdy when attached and function as if the Structure Sensor were an integral part of the tablet.

The biggest feature of the Structure Sensor is that it was designed as a piece of standalone hardware and not a custom attachment for a specific program. Occipital, the makers of the Structure Sensor published an SDK for the hardware very early on. This development philosophy helps establish this hardware as a well-supported attachment to the iPad. There are over 80 apps built for Structure Sensor as of December 2018.

Rapid 3D scanning of objects and people and 3D scanning of interior spaces were the features I used. The sensor can also be combined with a virtual reality headset to provide augmented reality experiences that incorporate real integration of the 3D environment. 

I’ll talk about two of the apps I was able to use with the sensor.

Scanner – Structure Sensor Sample

The scanner app allows you to capture 3D models of objects and people by simply walking around them with your iPad and the Structure Sensor accessory. Captured objects can be sent via email (uses OBJ format). The camera collects color information as well to make a texture file. When scanning I got the best results moving the iPad up and down to cover the entire model and then making sure I captured distinct areas, such as the face, all at once so that the iPad would provide the best result when the data is stitched together. Having patience is important; moving too quickly will cause the model to not be assembled correctly. I make models of each of my children. You can see that the model I made of my son’s hair is corrupted on one of my earlier tries.

After some practice, I got the hang of it and was able to capture both of my children without any model errors. Here’s a model of my daughter.

You can view the full model here. The models import into the Windows 10, 3d builder in the wrong orientation and with an error, but the orientation can be rotated and the error is fixed by the program.

Canvas

Canvas is another app for the Structure Sensor. This app is designed to render a room in 3D and has an option to have the 3D scan converted into a CAD (computer-aided design) file so that architects and builders can use the captured measurements as a starting point for modification.

I decided to model a downstairs hallway in my house that has a number of doors and a coat rack area in order to test the capabilities of the device. I had some guidelines to go on but since the time I have made the renderings and now, a video on the scanning process has been published by Occipital. The video below gives an impression of what it is like to use the software.

Once some familiarity is gained with using the software, the whole process is quite fun. The software indicates the rendering of the space by apparently covering it in a white foam. The end result is that the entire scanned area looks like it is covered in shaving cream or marshmallow.

Here are some pictures and screenshots that I made of the capturing process.

This shows a screenshot of the other end of the hallway.


Instead of showing the camera image, it is possible to show the image depth view rendered in false color

The model files I made include the stairwell going upstairs.

Here is a view of the stairs from the opposite angle.

This is my best rendering. The remainder of the attempts below have some shortcomings. Some, like the capture with an incomplete floor, would be fine for conversion into a CAD model.

Both sides all crooked

Floating coat rack

Odd looking ceiling

Good but some missing wall

Incomplete floor

One side crooked

Rotated during scan

Like the Scanner app, the models import into the Windows 10, 3d builder in the wrong orientation and with an error, but the orientation can be rotated and the error is fixed by the program. CloudCompare is a good cross-platform alternative, has a portable build, and doesn’t have any importing issues.

What I like

  • Unique device
  • Powerful features
  • Open development

What needs to be improved

  • Learning curve
  • Cost
  • The adhesive bracket may limit camera use
  • The camera cannot be used with a case

Final thoughts

With the Structure Sensor, a whole new dimension can be experienced with your iPad. 

Price: $379 to $499
Where to buy: Structure
Source: The sample for this review was provided by my employer.

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Structure Sensor 3D scanner review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 14, 2018 at 11:04 am.

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Adonit Auto-Clamping Wireless Car Charger review


REVIEW – Almost every state in the USA now has laws prohibiting the handheld use of cell phones while driving. As a result, the marketplace has been flooded with auto mounts of various designs that hold your cell phone within reach and many offer wired or wireless charging as a feature. The Adonit Auto-Clamping Wireless Car Charger is a part of this very crowded field. Let’s see if it stands out as better than the rest.

What is it?

The Adonit Auto-Clamping Wireless Car Charger is a dashboard/windshield/vent mount for your cell phone that offers easy access to your phone and charges your phone while it is in the mount.

What is in the box


1 x Adonit Auto-Clamping Wireless Car Charger
1 x Micro USB cable
1 x DC Car Adapter Power Plug
1 x Air Vent Adapter
1 x Dashboard/Windshield Mounting Arm
1 x Instruction Manual
1 x Warranty Card

Design and features

Specifications:
Input: DC 5V/2A or 9V/1.67A
Output: 5W, 7.5W, 10W fast charging supported
Charging Distance: ≤ 8mm
Conversion Efficiency: > 75%
Working Frequency: 110 – 205KHz
Product Weight: 245g
Product Dimension: 131x77x13mm
Materials: ABS + Silicon Rubber

On the back of the charging unit, there is a ball mount that allows you to mount either the Air Vent Clip or the Windshield/Dashboard mounting arm.

The dashboard/windshield mount includes the ball mount on an extension arm that allows you to move the charging base and therefore the phone closer or further away from you. At the base of the mount, there is the suction mount pad and the mechanism to depress or lift to secure or remove the suction mount to or from the surface in the car. There is also a knob at the side that allows you to raise or lower the extension arm.


At the bottom of the charging unit, there it the micro USB port that you plug the micro USB cable into to provide power to the unit and to the left of that port is a LED that shines green when the unit is receiving power and a phone is in the mount.



On the face of the charging unit/cell phone holder, there is the Qi wireless charging interface in the middle and an infrared sensor at the bottom that allows the unit to detect when a phone is near so that it opens and closes the securing arms.


On the lower left side of the charging unit, there is a silver touchpad that when touched triggers the arms to open so that you can remove the phone.


The DC power adapter plug has 2 ports, a quick charge 3.0 port, and a 3.1A port and a blue LED light around its surface.

Performance



The Adonit Auto-Clamping Wireless Car Charger performs as expected. As you can see in the pictures below, I use the mount on my dashboard. While I did quickly test the air vent mount and can confirm that it does clamp onto the vent louver as it is designed to do, I absolutely despise air vent mounts and chose to use the dashboard mount since I have other devices mounted to my windshield. The mount with the phone it is very stable even when driving on rough surfaces. So far, the phone has never dislodged from the base unit. The one issue that I have with it is that the infrared sensor in the base unit is very sensitive and even when I am sitting back in my seat, it will at times detect me or some movement and the arms will repeatedly open and close even though I am not attempting to mount a phone. The arms also make a very annoying squeaking sound when moving. In terms of charging my phone, I usually have varying amounts of charge remaining on my battery phone when I place it in the mount, and I have never tested the charging when my phone battery is completely drained. However, I am very impressed at how quickly this mount charges my iPhone 10 XS Max.

What I like

  • The build quality
  • The grip of the securing arms
  • The wireless charging feature’
  • The sturdy dashboard/windshield mount
  • The overall appearance

What can be improved

  • The sensitivity of the sensor that controls the gripping arms so that it does not activate so easily and from so far away
  • Possible the addition of a baseplate for the bottom of the phone to rest on

Final thoughts

This dash mount/windshield mount wireless charger works well and I have been using it continuously since the day I opened the box. I was concerned that with just 2 side arms/clamps and no baseplate to hold the phone, that it would fall when driving on bumpy roads or in the case of a sudden stop. So far, it has proven me wrong and has held strong. Only time will tell if continuous use reduces the clamping power and grip on the phone. Other than the overly sensitive sensor for the automatic arms that grip the phone, this charger is well made and a good buy.

Price: $48.74
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Adonit.

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Adonit Auto-Clamping Wireless Car Charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 14, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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ScreenBeam Mini2 wireless display adapter review

REVIEW – Have you ever wanted to display content from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop wirelessly to a TV or monitor without bringing your home’s WiFi to its knees? Actiontec has a solution for Windows and Android devices called the ScreenBeam Mini2. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The ScreenBeam Mini2 is a wireless display adapter that plugs into an open HDMI port on a display/TV and receives streaming video from a Windows laptop, Android smartphone, or Android tablet through the WiFi network created by the ScreenBeam Mini2 adapter and not your home’s wireless network.

Hardware specs

  • Supports up to full 1080p30 HD video and 2 channel stereo
  • Dual Band: Supports both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequencies

Compatibility

  • Windows device running Windows 8.1 or newer AND supports WiDi
  • Android device running v4.2 or newer AND have native Miracast, Smart View, or Mirroring support.

What’s in the box?

  • ScreenBeam Mini2 wireless display adapter
  • HDMI extender cable
  • Micro USB cable
  • AC adapter
  • Instructions

Design and features

The ScreenBeam Mini2 looks like an oversized USB thumb drive, but instead of a USB-A connector on the end, it has a full-sized HDMI connector.

On one side is a reset switch and a micro USB port which is used to power the adapter.

Installing the ScreenBeam Mini2 adapter is simple as long as you have a TV or monitor that has an available full-sized HDMI port.

All you have to do is plug the adapter into the HDMI port and also connect the included micro USB cable to the power adapter and plug it in. If you don’t have an outlet near the TV or monitor, you can do like I did and plug the micro USB cable into a USB port on my Denon AV receiver or even one on your TV or monitor.

I tested the ScreenBeam Mini2 with two different displays and four devices. The first test was with the BenQ 27 inch PD2710QC monitor and the Huawei MediaPad M5.

After plugging in the ScreenBeam Mini2 adapter, I switched to the HDMI input with the ScreenBeam Mini2 adapter and was greeted by the screen you see above.

The next step was to go into the MediaPad’s settings and start MirrorShare which is a built-in feature of this tablet. As soon as I enabled it, it started scanning for available devices and displayed the ScreenBeam Mini2 as an option.

Tapping the icon on the MediaPad changed the display on the monitor to show that it was connecting to it.

Just as a reminder… Unlike Google’s Chromecast dongle, the ScreenBeam Mini2 does not require that you have a WiFi network in your home or any internet connectivity at all for that matter. The adapter itself uses its own WiFi to connect the two devices without any need to configure, type in login IDs or passwords.

Within seconds, I was viewing the same thing on the monitor that was displaying on the tablet. I was able to see a mirror of the Android tablet’s display while running apps, browsing the web, viewing pictures from the image gallery, videos I’d recorded, etc.

But within minutes I ran into some issues worth noting. Although the Netflix app launches and displays the interface on the mirrored display, as soon as you begin watching a video, the mirrored display turns black. You can still hear audio though. I then tried the Hulu app and had the same disappointing results.

But when I tried YouTube, I had success. Videos played fine and looked great. Look, it’s Casey Neistat. Love that guy!

One other thing to note is when I turned off the display on the tablet, the connection between the two devices was broken.

I then tested the Huawei P20 with the ScreenBeam Mini2 and my VIZIO M-Series (M65-F0) 4K HDR Smart TV by plugging the ScreenBeam Mini2 into the AUX HDMI port on my Denon AV receiver.



As expected, the setup was pretty much identical to using the MediaPad with the BenQ monitor as the P20 also has the MirrorShare feature.

One thing to keep in mind is that for best video and audio results, the source device (in this case the P20 smartphone) should be placed within 30 feet of the receiver (in this case, the Denon AV receiver connected to the Vizio TV).

Just like with the MediaPad, viewing my pics, local video, apps, browser, and YouTube all worked fine and turning the phone to landscape view would cause the video to go full screen – or almost full screen. You can see that there is a big “frame” around the video on the Vizio TV.

But as soon as I tried to play a Netflix flick, I was denied…

Hulu fared the same. 🙁

My third test was with my Pixel 2 XL and I had even worse luck with the previous tests because good ole Google removed screen sharing features like Miracast from Pixel devices because they want people to buy their Chromecast. Grrrrrrrrrr… Google, you’re not my friend right now.

For my fourth and final test, I tried my Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 and whaddya know, it was the best combo yet!

Samsung’s mirroring feature is called Smart View and it works wonderfully in a couple different ways. First of all, Netflix works perfectly, no black screen of sorrow!

And second of all, the screen will blank out on the tablet to conserve battery life. Yay!

What I like

  • Easy to install
  • Doesn’t require an existing network

What needs to be improved

  • Needs support for Apple devices
  • Needs to be able to work with Netflix, Hulu, and other popular streaming services through all mirroring types
  • Needs to support streaming 4K Ultra HD videos.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a dirt simple way to mirror your Android or Windows screen on a TV or Monitor without using your network or wires, the ScreenBeam Mini2 might be the perfect solution for you. That is if you have an Android device that supports Miracast, or a Windows device that supports WiDi AND you don’t mind potentially not being able to use it for Netflix or Hulu depending on your device. Yes, there are a lot of caveats to this product, but I think it will be an easy way to bring my favorite shows with me when I’m on vacation and want to watch them on a larger screen.

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by ScreenBeam. Please visit their site for more info.

Filed in categories: Reviews

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ScreenBeam Mini2 wireless display adapter review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 13, 2018 at 12:52 pm.

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