Home Reviews

PhotoFast Call Recorder review

For years, we have had the ability to record analog phone conversations with little effort. Suction-cup mics, dual-socketed wires that sent the audio to tape or another listener, or even build-in features of corporate phone systems have been around for 30, 40, 50 years or more. But now we have digital cell phones, and end-to-end encryption that blocks or severely limits this ability. What can we do? The folks at PhotoFast have solved this for iPhone users, through a plug-in device called the Call Recorder. (Yeah, catchy name, but accurate, amirite?) They sent me one to test.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

The unit arrived in a hanging package that would feel right at home in an Apple Store beside all the other cases and add-ons. Inside is an EarPod case-sized square box in White with a clear cover. Inside that is an oval tube about the width of the iPhone SE (actual measurements are 2.125″ x 1.25″ x .375″), with a Lightning connector sticking out of the top center of one edge. One one side, there are buttons for play/pause and record, plus volume adjustment. On the lower left edge, there is a .125″ earbud jack. On the back, opposite the jack is a slot for a microSD card. You can record directly to your iPhone’s internal memory, or onto the onboard storage of a card inserted into this slot.


When the phone is unlocked and you first insert the Call Recorder into the Lightning port, the firmware in the device sends a link to the free app on the App Store for you to download.

Once you install this, it will launch automatically when you insert the device. If you just tap to launch the software, there is an automatic check to make sure you have connected the Call Recorder, and that there is an approved headphone connected to the recorder. If you’ve not done this, you will get an error message.


I found this to be a little irritating since many perfectly good earbuds were rejected by this test. Reseating them and jiggling them in the socket did nothing to make them be acceptable. If they were rejected, they would never work.
I tested the Call Recorder by placing a call to my mother. I got her, but the call recorder did not record my side of the message, and she could not hear me while the recorder was attached. Then I called my wife’s phone since she was working out in the yard. Both sides of the conversation were recorded, but since her phone was close by, I think the ringing and some of the other noises associated with me juggling two phones may have interfered with getting a good recording and getting some static.

I was finally able to perfect the task of having the software up, dialing a number, and getting both parties recorded onto my phone. Even after getting good connections, there were still issues at times. I called Mom earlier today through the Call Recorder app and was immediately told she heard an echo, so we hung up. I called back through the regular phone app, with identical results. Only when I removed the device from my phone could she not hear an echo. (My mom is not very technical, being a member of the “Greatest Generation”, so explaining to her about testing a call recorder produced, I’m sure, a glazed-eyed look, and her response of “Oh, OK” revealed her amusement that I’m always playing with “some new toy.”)

Once recordings are made, they are listed in the log by date and time, but renaming to something a little more helpful is easy, as is moving them to or from the external memory, or to a connected account.


This last bit is probably the most beneficial feature of the package. The free PhotoFast ONE app offers a wealth of features for transferring all manner of files to and from your iPhone and devices that can read microSD cards. It can also transfer directly to some services (iCloud, Google Drive, and DropBox), it can gather and .zip or unzip files before and after transfer, and open photos, videos, and .mp3 files natively. (Unfortunately, the renaming is not transferred to the actual file, so when it’s moved over to, say, Dropbox, the original filename is again seen. I recommend listening on the final platform and renaming there to make sure you’re changing the correct file to a name you want.)

I rarely have cause to record both sides of a conversation. If you need calls recorded, there are many apps and utilities out there, many easier to setup and deal with than the Call Recorder. But if you’re needing to move files to and from iOS devices, you’ll find few cheaper alternatives than the free PhotoFast ONE app or the Call Recorder and a microSD card reader.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by PhotoFast. Please visit their site for more info and order through the Indiegogo Marketplace.

 

Product Information

Price: $125.00
Manufacturer: PhotoFast
Retailer: IndieGoGo
Requirements:
  • iOS device with phone capabilities
Pros:
  • Single piece with no battery – powered form phone
  • Launches free software on attachment
  • Software offers many options
Cons:
  • Not all headphones/earbuds are compatible
  • Attachment/Recording is intermittent
  • Small buttons on unit

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

PhotoFast Call Recorder review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2017 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Ecovacs Deebot R95 robot vacuum review

I’m a big fan of robot vacuums for one main reason – I’m lazy and don’t want to push a vacuum around my house when I can get a robot to do my work for me at the press of a button or automatically on a schedule that I set. The newest robot vac that I’ve had the opportunity to test is the Ecovacs Deebot R95 robot vacuum. Let’s see if it sucks… but in a good way.

What is it?

The Ecovacs Deebot R95 is a robotic vacuum and mop that you can control with your smartphone.

What’s in the package?

Ecovacs Deebot R95
Charging dock
Advanced wet/dry cleaning cloths (2)
Advanced wet/dry reservoir
Measuring cup
Direct suction option
Side brushes (4)
Instruction manual

Design and features

Like most robotic vacuums, the Ecovacs Deebot R95 has a circular shaped plastic housing.

The round module on the top cover of the vacuum is the laser distance sensor which the R95 uses to map the room.

There is a button and a panel of four status LEDs on the top of the R95. The status LEDs include a WiFi indicator, a scheduled cleaning indicator, spot mode indicator, and a return to charger mode indicator LED.

The top cover of the vacuum lifts up to provide access to the dirt bin and main power switch.

The dirt bin/filter housing has a handle that allows it to easily lift out from the vacuum for emptying.

Under the lid below the power switch is the upgrade port that can be used to update the vacuum’s firmware and a small tool that can be used to cut strings, hair, or other debris that might wind itself around the brush.

If you flip over the R95, you’ll see the three wheels that propel the vacuum. There are two driving wheels and one smaller wheel at the front that is flanked on both sides by anti-drop sensors.  Two more anti-drop sensors are located above the driving wheels. These sensors prevent the R95 from falling down steps and stairs.

Included with the Deebot R95 are four side brushes that attach magnetically to the bottom of the vacuum. These small brushes help lift dirt from wall edges. Only two brushes are used at a time so two extras are included for use when the first two brushes wear out.

With the side brushes attached and the main brush in place, it’s time to charge the R95 to prepare for cleaning.

The charging dock plugs into a wall outlet and the R95 charges by sitting on two charging pins on the bottom edge of the dock.

At this point, you can install the Ecovacs app on your iOS or Android device so you can take advantage of advanced features like scheduling, do not disturb times, and more. Note that it’s not mandatory that you use an app with the vacuum. You can control the vacuum manually including a basic scheduling feature that set it to vacuum once a day at the same time each day.

Note that it’s not mandatory that you use an app with the vacuum. You can control the vacuum manually including a basic scheduling feature that set it to vacuum once a day at the same time each day just by pressing the Auto button twice.




The app will allow you to set scheduled cleaning times, do not disturb times when the vacuuming will not run even if a prior cleaning was on hold due to battery recharging, and a work log where you can check to see how many hours that the D95 has vacuumed.

I tested the D95 in a carpeted room and in a room with wood floors and found that it did a decent job picking up large pieces of cat fluff and other dirt.

Here’s the dirt bin after vacuuming the basement floor a couple of times. Ick. You can see some Cheerios in the bin. No idea where the heck they came from. Yes, we do like to eat Cheerios, but I don’t know how they got on the floor and how we didn’t see them. I guess that’s what a vacuum is for though, right?

Unlike other robot vacuums that I’ve tested before like the Neato Botvacs, I like that the Deebot doesn’t bang roughly into objects like furniture before adjusting course. The Deebot has a more gentle touch. It’s also less noisy than Botvacs. Unfortunately, that’s the only praise I can give this robot vacuum, because it has some definite issues.



One of the main reasons why I was excited to test the Ecovacs Deebot R95 is because the app is supposed to allow you to mark areas on the map to avoid. The mapping feature is pretty cool and it’s fun to watch a live view of the robot vacuuming when you’re not there. But the problem is that the app (at least the iOS version of the app) does not have the avoidance feature. The instructions say that there should be a special icon on the screen that you can press to then set areas to avoid. I’ve yet to see that icon. But I have seen the message shown in the screenshot above on the right.

I read some reviews on Amazon for the R95 and apparently, it takes MANY hours for the avoidance feature to become available. I’ve used the R95 to clean my floors at least 10 times now and still haven’t seen the feature.

Another problem is that if you toggle power on the vacuum, or move the charging base, the map gets reset and you’ll have to start the process again.

Another problem I noticed is that there’s an option to turn on voice reports. I didn’t even realize that the vacuum talked until I started writing the review and was taking screenshots and saw the option. I had the option turned no but hadn’t heard any voices. So I did a hard reset at which point the vacuum started telling me when it finished vacuuming, or if it was stuck. A voice telling me about a problem is a lot more useful than the Neato Botvacs that just beep when there is a problem. However, the voice reports stopped soon after they started. No idea why.

The R95 also started appearing offline in the Ecovacs app and I wasn’t able to get it to come back online even after doing a hard reset multiple times which has been frustrating.

The vacuum also has a weird habit of continue to run even when you try to stop it. Most robot vacs that I’ve tested will stop running when you pick them up and manually put them on their charging dock. Sometimes the R95 will sound like the brush is still spinning or the motor is still running even when it’s sitting still. I’ve had this happen when I take it to a room and press the auto button so it will just clean that room. When it stops, a voice will say “cleaning complete” or something to that effect (if the voice reports happen to be working) and the vacuum will stop moving but it will continue to make whirring noises until I flip the power switch under the lift up cover.

Final thoughts

The Ecovacs Deebot R95 robot vacuum does a decent job picking up dirt from carpet and also does a good job wet/dry mopping hard surfaces, but app and special features like voice reports, obstacle avoidance, and WiFi connections are buggy which makes using this product frustrating. For those reasons, I’d steer clear of this particular robot vacuum until these issues have been resolved by a firmware update of both the device and the app.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Ecovacs. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $439.99
Manufacturer: Ecovacs
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Can be used manually or with an app
  • Doesn't damage furniture
  • Can vacuum carpet or wet/dry mop
Cons:
  • Buggy voice report feature
  • Buggy WiFi connection
  • Obstacle avoidance feature no available.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Ecovacs Deebot R95 robot vacuum review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2017 at 3:39 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

ODRVM 1080P waterproof Wi-Fi action cam review

I wouldn’t describe my family as overly adventurous, but we do participate in our share of outdoor activities. We enjoy trips to the beach, water parks, and amusement parks. We also enjoy riding our bikes and we’re hoping to get our children into snowboarding this winter.

For these reasons, I’ve been toying with the idea of purchasing an action camera.

Fortunately for me, I was offered the chance to review the ODRVM action camera. It’s a 1080p waterproof camera that can be connected to your smartphone via Wi-Fi.

I’m hoping this is the perfect camera to catch my families outdoor moments.

Specifications

  • Lens – 170 degree wide-angle
  • Video Resolution – 1080P (30FPS) / 720P (60FPS) / VGA (60FPS) / QVGA (60FPS)
  • Video Format – MOV
  • Photo Resolution – 12MP/8MP/5MP
  • Battery Capacity – 900 mAh
  • Waterproof Depth – 30M (100 ft)
  • Memory – supports up to 32GB class 10 micro SD

Design

I’ve never used an action camera before, but I’ve seen others use them; as far as I can tell this camera looks similar to every other action camera I’ve seen.






The front of the camera contains the lens and the power/mode button. On the back is the display and two LED indicators. The top of the camera has an “OK” button and another LED indicator. One side of the camera contains an HDMI port, USB port, Micro SD slot, and the mic opening, while the other side contains the Wi-Fi button and up/down selectors. Finally, the bottom of the camera is where you insert the battery.

As the title of the review implies, the camera is waterproof; however, you have to insert the camera into a waterproof case first.




There isn’t much to the case; it fully encloses the camera, while still allowing you to access all of its buttons.

When the camera is inside the case you can use it with a variety of different mounting options.


Finally, everything can be stored in the included carrying case.


You have to position all the accessories like you’re playing a game of Tetris, but they’re all able to fit inside.

Performance

The action camera is capable of taking both videos and photographs; it’s incredibly easy to use.

When you’re in video mode, you can start and stop recording by pressing the “OK” button.

I first tested the camera by taking a quick movie in my parent’s yard.

I was very impressed with the video; I’ve previously reviewed devices that claimed to record HD video but found the video dark and grainy. This camera’s video was very clear; if you pause the video you can make out fine details.

The part of the camera I was most excited about was its ability to function up to 30 meters (100 feet) underwater.

To test this feature, I literally jumped into my parent’s pool and began to record.


The video was a bit darker but just as clear as before; you can actually make out wrinkles in the pool’s liner.

After testing the recording capabilities, I decided to leave the camera in my bathing suit pocket so it would remain submerged for an extended period. After approximately 15 minutes I removed the camera from my pocket and found it worked perfectly fine.

I next decided to take a few pictures with the camera.



As with the videos, I found the photos to be very clear.

I was pleasantly surprised with this camera. It produces quality photos and videos, something I can’t say about every High-Def device I’ve reviewed.

App

The camera also works with an app, ZSANYCAM, which is available for Android and iOS.




I didn’t find the app particularly useful; it connects to the camera via Wi-Fi and allows you view a live feed, the videos/photos that have been recorded, and change some camera settings.

I tested it for a few minutes and never found the need to access it again.

Conclusion

I was really impressed with the action camera. It was very easy to use and took really good quality videos and photos.

The camera is waterproof and comes with a variety of accessories so you can use it for a variety of reasons. I plan on bringing it to every vacation and outdoor family adventure.

Along with all the camera’s great features, it’s also incredibly affordable at $49.99.

If you’re into outdoor activities and want to capture some great moments, I can’t think of a reason not to purchase this action camera.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Odrvm. Please visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $45.99
Manufacturer: ODRVM
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Good quality videos and photos
  • Plenty of accessories
  • Easy to use
Cons:
  • Video slightly dark underwater
  • Accompanying app not very useful

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

ODRVM 1080P waterproof Wi-Fi action cam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2017 at 8:45 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Alpha Audiotronics Skybuds wireless earbuds review

The Alpha Audiotronics Skybuds wireless earbuds are an expensive, subpar entry into a growing field of better built, more featured-filled wireless earbud options. At $189.99, the sound, build quality, setup, and app functionality all fall well below what one would expect of a product in this category and priced this high.

For all of their shortcomings, the Skybuds do arrive in impressive packaging. A clear plastic cube on top of a bright blue box showcases the size and design of the earbuds.

The interior box slides out to reveal the earbuds and their charging/carrying case.

Along with a small USB-A to Micro-USB charging cable, the Skybuds come with three tip sizes; small, medium and large.

The Skybuds charging case, known as the Skydock, houses the earbuds and an internal battery that charges the earbuds when they are placed inside the case. The Skydock and Skybuds are both made of what feels like cheap plastic, which does not align with the $199 price tag.

The charging case has a small Micro-USB port on the bottom for charging via computer or USB wall plug.

The blue light on the charging case blinks to indicate pairing, pulses while charging, and conveys charge level by the number of lights lit; one light is 0-33%, two lights is 34%-66% and three lights is 66%-100%.

The Skybuds fit easily into the Skydock and the exposed contacts on the earbuds align with contacts inside the case that allow the earbud batteries to be recharged from the Skydock battery. In my testing, I got about three hours of continued use. There are definitely inconsistencies with the Skydock recharging though. Over the course of a few weeks, the time to full charge for the Skydock and the Skybuds varied wildly. Also, the right Skybud will always be at less of a charge than the left because the Bluetooth functionality is handled by that earbud.

The fit and feel of the Skybuds were quite comfortable. Once inserted in the ear, a slight rotation of the Skybuds lock them into place. In my testing, the Skybuds never fell out and only needed adjustment after about two hours of continued use. The Skybuds are small and unobtrusive while being worn. A small LED status light indicates when the earbuds are powered on, charging, or if there is a problem. Take note, there is always a problem.

Initial setup for the Skybuds was an experience of pure frustration. There’s one process for pairing the Skydock and Skybuds with the Skybuds app and then another process for pairing the unit via Bluetooth for use with your device as an audio device.

Over the course of hours, every time I tried to pair the app with the device, it would invariably fail to find one or both of the earbuds. After multiple times attempting the initial setup, checking my phone’s compatibility, and following all of the troubleshooting tips, I finally got the device to pair with the app only to spend just as much wasted time trying to get the device to pair with my phone via Bluetooth.

No matter what I did, I continued to get various Bluetooth pairing errors telling me that there was an “incorrect passcode” even though no passcode was ever inputted, or that the “pairing was rejected” by one or all of the devices.

When I finally did get both pairing sequences to work, I found out quickly that the sound quality of the Skybuds was pretty disappointing. Wireless earbuds in general aren’t known for having the best sound quality, but the Skybud’s bass barely ever rose to more than a small “pop” and the mids were all but nonexistent. I have a cheap pair of Philips wireless headphones that blow these away in comparison. I eventually got used to the high, tinny sound profile, but it didn’t make listening to music an enjoyable experience. On calls, the sound was passable though and my voice came through very clearly to the other party.

The Skybuds both have buttons that can be used for basic functions like play/pause, track advance, and answering calls, but there is no way to adjust the volume via the Skybuds themselves. Activating the buttons can be difficult at times especially for functions that require holding a button down.

The Skybuds app has a few features that are innovative for wireless earbuds. Most earbuds have what’s called “Passive Noise Cancellation”, which just means that because they fit snugly in your ear they naturally block outside noise. Skybuds also have a function called “Awareness”. This feature allows you to adjust how much external noise is allowed through your Skybuds so you can be aware of your surroundings. This is a good idea in theory, but in practice it was pretty useless. The Awareness function works via the mics on the Skybuds and in addition to the sound quality being very poor, there always was a slight delay. Through the Skybuds app, you can adjust the level of Awareness, shut it off, or put it into Adaptive mode which activates it automatically if your music is paused.

Another feature of the Skybuds app allows you to locate your Skybuds if they’re lost. Like with other features though, inconsistencies abound. The app failed to locate one or both of the Skybuds continually, even when they were literally sitting on top of my phone. If this worked every time, it would be a valuable feature due to the small size and high price of the Skybuds.

Overall, I was really unhappy with the performance of the Skybuds wireless earbuds. They failed on a number of levels including hardware build, sound quality, and app functionality. For such a relatively expensive device you’d be better off looking into any of the other similarly featured options on the market.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Alpha Audiotronics. Please visit their website or Amazon for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: 199.99
Manufacturer: Alpha Audiotronics
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Bluetooth
Pros:
  • Stay in your ear
  • Sweatproof / Water-Resistant
Cons:
  • Poor sound quality
  • Expensive
  • Difficult setup / Constant connection issues
  • Cheap plastic build
  • Inconsistent battery life

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Alpha Audiotronics Skybuds wireless earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2017 at 11:37 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Paxamo Zen Bomb aromatherapy diffuser review

Aromatherapy, to some, is like healing crystals, chiropractic, or homeopathy – you either appreciate it and take benefit from it or think it’s a bunch of hooey. Whether it is healing, beneficial, or just a nice scent, though, our olfactory sensations can be pretty powerful tools in our situational awareness. Reviewers here rarely post about a leather item without mentioning the aroma of fine leather. Walking into a bakery, or out on your deck while something yummy is on the grill, or even pulling into the driveway when someone is cooking inside can trigger hunger you didn’t know you had or reflections on past feasts with friends. The folks at Paxamo have a line of ultrasonic mist diffusers that brings scents into your home or office environment and don’t draw attention to themselves. I was sent the “ZenBomb” model to test. (Even before seeing the product name, my Lovely Bride looked at it and said “Is that one of those pirate hand grenades? Is there a fuse?”)

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

The Paxamo ZenBomb looks, for all the world, like a walnut bowling ball. (It is also available in a light wood pattern, about the color of bamboo or maple.) It is much lighter than a bowling ball, of course, and has a slightly tear-drop oval on the top where the vapor escapes. There are three legs around a flattened bottom to allow air to pass through the vents and into the diffusion chamber above. A slight twist separates it into two halves, with the water reservoir in the bottom and the vent in the top.

The interior is almost completely lined with white plastic. The operation is simple: put water and a small amount of aromatic oil (1-5 drops) into the reservoir, close the two halves, plug the unit in, and enjoy the scent. There are two fan speeds to assist in dispersing the aroma, and a subtle light that can be activated as well. These are controlled by two buttons on the front of the lower half.

We filled it with water and put in a few drops of Geranium oil, Vetiver oil, and Tea Tree oil. We left it running for a few hours, and the scent was almost immediately apparent. It never seemed to overwhelm, though, like an air freshener in a car, or an aerosol spray, but was just something we started to notice gradually. The unit functions completely silently and did not get hot or have any performance issues.

Recommended cleaning seems to be easy enough to accomplish, although they don’t suggest it unless you are changing out the type of oil in use, or going to store it away for some time. I have expanded my arsenal of oils with a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond for a trio of blended oils. There are a variety of scents out there, and I found each one worked just fine with the ZenBomb.

If your workspace or home needs a bit more atmosphere, or if you want to try aromatherapy, this may be the path for you. It’s a bit expensive ($30.99 at Amazon) if you’re not sold on the practice already, however. You may want to try another diffusion method to see if you like it first. But if you get into it in a big way, the ZenBomb is a quiet, nice-looking machine that will do the job and look good doing it.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Paxamo. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $30.99
Manufacturer: Paxamo
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Essential oil and electricity
Pros:
  • Quiet
  • Two speeds
  • Pleasant woodgrain look
Cons:
  • Rather large

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Paxamo Zen Bomb aromatherapy diffuser review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2017 at 8:42 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.