SpotCam Sense Pro review


The availability of low-cost high-resolution cameras, robust internet networks, sophisticated video compression and 128-bit encryption make modern IP cameras a possibility, yet it is the ever growing desire for video monitoring and automated security that drives innovation in this market. A prime example of this growing trend is the SpotCam Sense. Announced in February 2017, the SpotCam Sense camera combines technologies that enable daylight and 0-lux recording, in addition to temperature, humidity, light level, motion, and audio trending.  These features can be leveraged by IFTTT, in which the camera is both a trigger and action, to permit novel automation. Of course, as automation and technology become more prevalent in our daily lives, security becomes a greater concern. This review will also consider some security measures taken by SpotCam. Read on to see what I think!

The SpotCam sense comes in two flavors: The Sense is a glossy white unit designed for indoor use and the Sense Pro is a matte black unit designed for indoor/outdoor use. Besides the color difference, the Sense has a speaker mounted to the top of the unit while the Sense Pro has a speaker mounted to the backside. Also, in order to prevent intrusion from moisture, the DC plug on the Sense Pro is gasketed and the switch to change the Wi-Fi operation from Access Point (AP) to Client is rubber booted. The premium for the weatherproofing is only $20-$30, so it’s not too much to spend if you’re only interested in the aesthetics of the SpotCam Sense Pro. (People will undoubtedly pay more for something that is “Batman Matte Black” – Apple charged $200 more for a black MacBook in 2006, but you also got a 20 GB bigger hard drive, and I’ve just demonstrated I’ve been a tech geek for at least 11 years.)

I was provided the SpotCam Sense Pro indoor/outdoor smart cloud camera. Inside the box is the camera, a wall mounting bracket with 3 screws and anchors, a power adapter with a 10 ft cord, instructions in 5 languages, an FCC interference/Wi-Fi connection guidance, and a window sticker for SpotCam Cloud Video Surveillance.

The camera is cylindrical in shape, with a nearly 3″ base and a nearly 2″ body. The camera base is on a hinge and can rotate up to about 70-degrees back (so the camera is angled 20-degrees down if mounted on a wall) or about 40-degrees forward. Note that in each of these cases the base is not heavy enough to keep the camera from falling over. If the camera base is perpendicular to the lens then the camera is about 5-7/8″ tall.

The camera has a rubberized foot for installation on most flat surfaces and comes with a plastic clip mount that can be screwed into a wall or ceiling for mounting in other orientations. Neither the camera nor the recording software has a way to correct video shot at an angle, so if you don’t mount the camera in alignment with the hinge the resulting shot will be askew. I’d prefer to see something threaded into or through the base of the camera to provide a more secure fixture.

The 10′ power cord is generous and useful if you plan on mounting the camera remotely. However, if this is to be installed in a hard to reach location you’ll want to power it on to set up the camera with your wireless network before permanently mounting it. Several other devices that use my Wi-Fi network, including my Honeywell thermostats, WeMo switches, and LEDVANCE hub will automatically transmit a wireless Access Point when not connected to a Wi-Fi network. The SpotCam is different in that it has a physical switch on the rear of the camera to toggle between AP (access point) and Client.

Setting up the camera is quite easy and can be done on a PC, Mac, Android device or iPhone. It involves setting up an account if you don’t already have a camera, adding the camera to the account, and providing your login information. Going from powering on the camera to previewing a picture from the device can take less than 5 minutes. This is much simpler than having to specify the IP address, gateway, DNS, and network type. Before completing the setup I ran the NMAP port scanner on the access point site and discovered the following activity:

PORT     STATE SERVICE         VERSION
23/tcp   open  telnet          security DVR telnetd (many brands)
3000/tcp open  ppp?
5501/tcp open  fcp-addr-srvr2?
5503/tcp open  fcp-srvr-inst2?
5552/tcp open  unknown
MAC Address: IM:NO:TT:EL:LI:NG (Shenzhen Bilian Electronicltd)
Device type: general purpose
Running: Linux 2.6.X|3.X

I tried to log into the telnet server with a selection of common default passwords without any luck. Once the camera was switched to client mode I ran NMAP again and got a different set of ports:

PORT     STATE SERVICE         VERSION
23/tcp   open  telnet          BusyBox telnetd
3000/tcp open  ppp?
5503/tcp open  fcp-srvr-inst2?
5552/tcp open  unknown
MAC Address: IM:NO:TT:EL:LI:NG (Shenzhen Bilian Electronicltd)
Device type: firewall
Running (JUST GUESSING): Fortinet embedded (87%)

The device type and running OS are just conjecture from the NMAP program. At least the output is significantly different than the results published here by Pen Test Partners LLP in July 2016. Most importantly, the camera doesn’t seem to be running a web server any longer, so I would say that the security issues that have to do with that vulnerability are resolved.  I also tried several obvious American login and password combinations to telnet once the camera was in client mode and didn’t have any success logging in.

Once the camera is set up the iOS and Android user experiences are fairly similar but the web interface provides slightly more capabilities. Julie reviewed the SpotCam HD here in 2014 and had some difficulty accessing the web interface. I didn’t have any problems using Microsoft Edge 38.14393.0.0, Internet Explorer 11.953.14393.0, and Safari 11602.1.20.0.10. Flash plugin is required to view the video, which may explain the difficulties that Julie encountered.

Upon logging into the www.myspotcam.com website you are presented with a screen that displays all of your matched cameras and options for upgrading the NVR service provided by SpotCam. As of April 2017, SpotCam is the only provider of free 1-day continuous CVR (Cloud Video Recorder) service. This feature will save the user about $100 per year over competitive device services. A preview picture of each of the connected SpotCams is shown on this page. The unsecured preview image identified in the Pen Test Partners is now password protected and only stored for a limited time. 

The gear settings icon below the preview picture brings up the same settings window that is available in the main viewing window of each SpotCam but the web interface has more settings than what is available on the iPhone or Android devices. The first two settings windows available on the web are several screens long so I’ve pasted them together here for your review. The UI has a lot of capabilities but it is heavily dependent on Flash and JavaScript, which means sometimes it lags. Also, some of the UI isn’t entirely localized:


Under the general tab, there are settings to rename your camera.  (I have mine as the default “My SpotCam”.) The Camera sleep is an interesting feature that will only stream video when a motion event and/or audio event is detected by the onboard computer. 180° rotation is useful if the camera is ceiling mounted. Flicker reduction adjusts the camera to avoid rolling frequency bands in the recorded video and will work with either 50Hz or 60Hz.

There are a number of settings here that a user can take advantage of to limit the chances that the camera will capture undesirable moments. The camera schedule option allows the camera to be turned off for specific periods during the day or for an entire day and allows a different schedule on each day of the week. The status LED determines if the bring blue LED on the camera front is energized while the camera is recording. Audio can turn on or off the audio monitoring and adjust it’s sensitivity.

The night vision capability of this camera is superb thanks to a mechanical IR-Cut filter switch and 12 IR LEDs to permit 0-lux recording. Because the night vision is IR illuminated there is no color – only B&W. One complaint about the cut filter is that it is rather loud when its position is moved in front of or away from the lens.

The events tab has some of the same settings that is called “alerts” on the iPhone and android apps. This tab allows the user to define the types of alerts that the camera will generate a message for, either on the device by app, through email, or both. The SpotCam Sense and Sense Pro includes a built-in lux meter, hygrometer, microphone and thermometer to detect changes in illumination, humidity, sound and temperature. The camera is used to detect motion, and interruption of the camera feed to the server is used to determine if the camera is offline. These settings are the same settings the trigger IFTTT alerts.

The motion masking is only set using the web interface and is accomplished by selecting what combination of 16 blocks are used to detect motion on a preview of the camera image. I would think that a more sophisticated method would be available, such as a larger number of regions or drawing polygons on the screen.

The siren volume is not loud at all and sounds more like a child’s toy than an intrusion deterrent. Also, calling attention to the camera used for surveillance is counter-intuitive. The volume of the speaker used for two-way communication is much louder than the siren, and dismisses the possibility that the weatherproofing of the Sense Pro has muted the volume. If you’re looking for a loud siren, the SpotCam Sense Pro will disappoint.

The sharing screen allows additional users to view the same SpotCam. After granting additional users permission, the rights to view can be revoked on the same screen. As far as I can tell the person to whom access s granted can’t make movies, but can look at all of the sensory data, can take pictures, zoom in to the picture and look at NVR and sense data since before the access was granted. So sharing pretty much grants full access to your camera.

You can also set up the SpotCam for public, uncontrolled viewing. There is a lengthy T&C policy that surrounds this option.

The settings are a lot to take in, and the video screen has addition features and options. The main video screen shows the camera image front and center. When the image is zoomed the main window can be dragged to change the area within the zoom window. A red square on the preview window illustrates the zoomed area viewed in the main window and the preview window itself can be relocated around the screen. The video shown here is of my pet turtle while we are on vacation. The video recording conditions are awful and the lens is probably not clean from the glare on the image. Yet, that’s unmistakably a turtle and if there was an intruder the turtle wouldn’t bark but thanks to the SpotCam I’d sure know about it. I recommend going to https://www.myspotcam.com/en/onair and reviewing some of the public SpotCam footage to get an idea of the image quality. The 1 Day NVR is accessible on public cameras too so you can see the same image in different lighting conditions.

The top of the page has a tab for my film, which is where the time lapse and recorded video shorts are stored. The videos produced for time-lapse and record are in the FLV format, so you’ll need to run them through VLC or similar program to convert them to MP4.

The icon at the top right, with the heart in the house, is the location of all of the sensor data. It provides a strip-chart graphic of the conditions where the camera is located. One thing that would improve this display is the recorded time and date at the red line to the right. Without this, you need to guess where you are based on the date and time at the bottom of the display.

One last item is the IFTTT integration. The following is the complete list of SpotCam Sense triggers and actions. There are a lot of opportunities for automation here. From energizing connected devices based on sensor data to logging the conditions based on time or threshold value, IFTTT has you covered. Now that IFTTT works with SmartThings the capabilities of using sensor data and image data are virtually endless.

In conclusion, the SpotCam Sense Pro is a novel entry into the world of video monitoring. SpotCam has dramatically increased the automation capabilities of the camera by bundling several environmental sensors within the device. Of course, the camera wouldn’t be useful if its image wasn’t sharp and detailed. Although my camera is positioned poorly and doesn’t capture the best image the cameras available for public viewing on SpotCam demonstrate the true potential of this device. The 1-day free NVR/CVR provides real savings compared to other devices. Lastly, the integration with IFTTT brings powerful automation to this device.  If you are looking to step into the world of IP cameras or you have an established automation environment that you want to incorporate a host of sensors into you won’t go wrong with the SpotCam Sense or Sense Pro.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $169.99 / $189.99
Manufacturer: SpotCam Sense / SootCam Sense Pro
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • 2.4Ghz frequency bands and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • AC outlet within 10 ft.
Pros:
  • Full HD 1080P video streaming and recording up to 30FPS
  • 155-degree ultra-wide viewing angle
  • Monitors temperature, humidity, and lux levels
  • Free 24/7 continuous cloud recording
  • Two-way audio recording
  • Free timelapse function
  • Configurable temperature, humidity, light level, motion, audio, disconnection alerts
  • Built-in siren for intruder deterrence
  • IP65-rated weatherproof SpotCam Sense Pro
Cons:
  • Siren is low volume
  • IR Cut Filter movement is loud
  • Mounting plate could be more substantial
  • Web Software can be laggy.

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SpotCam Sense Pro review originally appeared on on April 24, 2017 at 8:12 am.

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Orbino SE Pantera 7 Hand-stained Mahogany Leather iPhone 7 case review


It has been quite a while since I have reviewed anything from Orbino. I had forgotten how nicely done their leather products are. So much so, that you almost need a case or carrying bag to carry the case that is protecting your smart device…silly as that sounds. Their products are “made entirely by hand in Italy at the Centro Stile Orbino”. In this instance, Orbino has created a new version of their Pantera line of iPhone cases for the 7 and 7 Plus. For this review, they have sent me one for my Plus to check out. 

Orbino sent me one of their latest creations, the iPhone 7 Special Edition Pantera Flap Case in Orbino’s signature hand-stained mahogany Tuscan leather. The Pantera case is gorgeous, perfectly fitted for the iPhone, engineered to “cloak your iPhone 7 in a unique and precious luxury accessory”. Italian craftsmen meticulously craft the SE Pantera in special vegetable tanned leather which is then stained by hand in their workshop.

The Pantera has a form fitted design that fits the iPhone like a glove. Two pieces of leather are stitched together by hand with premium high tensile waxed thread. All of the edging is hand applied, with 4-coat of lacquer. The stitching is truly distinctive, giving Orbino products a timeless look all there own.

The picture of the Special Edition Pantera 7 on the Orbino website is a bit misleading, it looks to be a (nearly) solid brown. But the case I received has a great deal of color variation giving the SE Pantera an interesting and unique look. In person, the case looks like it is made from stained wood. But in reality, the case is made from exquisitely finished, high-quality Italian leather.

The Pantera 7 covers 95+ percent of the iPhone, protecting its back, sides, corners, and edges.  For added protection, it also has a non-removable, rigid front flap that covers the screen when not in use. The case allows access to the iPhone’s home button even when the flap is closed.

While the flap does a good job of protecting the iPhone’s screen, it does flop around in the way occasionally when on a call, surfing the Net, watching a video, reading eBooks, etc. The rigidity of the flap keeps it from being able to be folded back out of the way.

The left side of the Pantera has two cutouts for accessing the mute and volume buttons.

The iPhone is held securely within the case by a flap that wraps over the top of the smartphone and held in place by a polished, monogrammed snap.

The right side of the case has a cutout for accessing the power button.

The base has cutouts for both speakers and the lighting port for recharging or listening to music.

This picture does a good job of showing just how rigid and contoured the front flap is. It is held closed by an embedded magnetic closure system.

The back has a cutout for the iPhone’s camera assembly.

Orbino also offers an optional removable spring loaded combination belt clip and desk stand in polished palladium metal. The belt clip is just as nicely engineered and finished as the Pantera iPhone case itself.

The highly polished clip is bi-directional that not only holds your iPhone securely on your belt but upright on your desk or aircraft plane tray for easier hands-free viewing as well.

The Pantera 7 is available in a wide range of leathers and colors.

The Pantera 7 is gorgeous, handmade from some of the finest materials in the world, and fits the latest & greatest iPhone like a glove. This type of high-quality accessory is definitely a luxury item, costing a decent percentage of the device itself. And yes, I know that you can get a smartphone case for under five bucks these days but that isn’t the point. The Orbino Special Edition Pantera 7 handstained mahogany leather iPhone 7 case has an old world style, eye-catching design, and level of craftsmanship difficult to find in today’s hectic, mass-produced existence. The case is not only protective but definitely, stands out in a crowded field.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $219
Manufacturer: Orbino
Requirements:
  • iPhone 7/7+
Pros:
  • Handcrafted from fine Italian leathers
  • Old World craftsmanship & style
  • Perfectly fitted for the iPhone 7
  • Stylish polished chrome highlights
  • Provides excellent protection
  • Available in many colors and leathers
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Flap can get in the way/be bothersome
  • Flap can not be removed

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Orbino SE Pantera 7 Hand-stained Mahogany Leather iPhone 7 case review originally appeared on on April 23, 2017 at 9:17 am.

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EasyAcc Quick Charge 3.0 20000mAh Power Bank review


In a world where mobile devices are proliferating, the need to keep them topped off and rapidly charged is a constant struggle. While battery life is slowly improving, so is the demand on our phone and tablet processors, making them easier to drain than ever.

Fortunately, there’s also a huge market for external battery packs. The EasyAcc Quick Charge Power Bank is another entry in a sea of similar devices, so what makes this one different from the others?

The Power Bank has a solid, unassuming design, and nice features.

EasyAcc’s entry into the mobile charger arena is exceptional. The aesthetics are clean and simple. I like the color scheme, mostly black with an orange strip running along the sides. It made it easy to find in a dark backpack pocket. I wouldn’t call it rugged, but it could survive some drops.

The Power Bank sports 4 USB charging ports, one of which is a Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 output for use with devices that can utilize this. The other ports are “smart” in that they detect the maximum charge your device can receive and sends that amount of power through.

That green port at the top is your fastest charger.

It didn’t come with a wall adapter, so you’d have to either have one handy or charge it off of a USB outlet charger or some other powered USB source, like a desktop computer or laptop that is plugged in. I imagine most people would have some way of getting some energy to the power bank. It did come with two short micro USB cables, both of which can be used simultaneously on the pack’s two micro USB ports to bring the 20,000mAh battery to a full charge in just 5 hours.

Two, count ’em, two cables.

I suppose it’s worth noting that it didn’t come with a lightning cable, which I’ve seen other battery packs ship include, but I had some extras laying around.

Rated at 20,000mAh, the battery holds enough juice to charge an iPhone 7+ over five times, or an iPad mini twice.

Oh man, what a great feature.

That’s all well and good, but to me, aside from the double-barrel input charging, the standout feature has got to be the built-in flashlight. Seriously. When I opened the box and realized that this thing had a light built into it I thought to myself, “That’s genius.” Is this a relatively new thing? Probably not, I just don’t think I’ve noticed that as a normal inclusion on mobile USB chargers.

Their site states that the light should last about 100 hours and it’s pretty darn bright. The light is also in a good spot to handle the power bank like a proper flashlight. Making this part of my EDC kit, I could leave the other medium-sized flashlight in the car or somewhere else outside of my bag. Nice.

The one oddity I could find is when plugging in a device, sometimes it would start charging the device right away and other times I would have to turn on the battery pack first before it began charging. It seemed random. Perhaps my phone was registering as fully-charged since it was getting pretty close, and the pack was shutting off to preserve energy.

To be honest, this was the first battery back I’d ever used, but to me it’s quite a nice entry in a very saturated market.

The EasyAcc Quick Charge 3.0 Power Bank is available now on Amazon for $39.00. That’s a sale price, by the way, so I’m not sure how long it will stay that price, but what a great deal!

Source: The sample for this review was provided by EasyAcc. Please visit their site for more information or order directly from Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $69.99 MSRP
Manufacturer: EasyAcc
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • very rapid charging, both ways
  • generous number of ports
  • that flashlight… I love it
Cons:
  • lacks a wall plug/adapter

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EasyAcc Quick Charge 3.0 20000mAh Power Bank review originally appeared on on April 22, 2017 at 8:45 am.

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Tronsmart Element T2 Bluetooth speaker review


Outdoor party season is fast approaching, folks! At my house, that means it’s time to fire up the grill, dust off the patio furniture, put the drinks on ice, and fire up the tunes. To help in the music department I’m testing the Tronsmart Element T2, an outdoor water-resistant Bluetooth speaker, to see how its holds up under outdoor party conditions. Does it rock? Let’s find out!

Unboxing and Overview

First impressions are always important, and Tronsmart does a nice job with packaging on the Element T2. The unit comes in an attractive, durable box that opens book-style with a magnetic clip that will be great for storage. In addition to the speaker, you’ll also find all the accessories you’ll need for operation: a USB power cable, an audio connector cable, and two options for carrying (a lanyard and a carabiner). It’s got everything you need to get started.

The Element T2 is very portable. At 5.6″ by 2.75″ by 1.8″ and 14 ounces, the Element T2 is roughly the size & weight of a can of soda (or your favorite beverage). The lanyard or carabiner attaches to an integrated loop on the speaker, enabling you to either clip it to an attachment loop on your bag. This is especially handy if you are hauling your stuff to the beach or the campsite.

Rounding out the details, the Element T2 is encased in a rubberized housing that looks pretty durable. The control buttons are molded into the housing for water resistance. You’ll find the auxiliary jack, micro-USB charging port, and a micro-SD card slot hidden behind a sealed panel on the side of the speaker. There’s a pair of LED indicators on the top of the device, and rubber feet on the base to keep it from skidding off of slick surfaces. Generally speaking, the construction is tight and seamless.

Setup and Use

One of the first things I noticed on setting up the Element T2 Bluetooth speaker are the friendly controls. Each isthe 5 buttons are big with good tactile feedback, and have simple icons to indicate their purpose. The system also uses distinctive sound effect cues to indicate functions such as powering up, discovery mode, etc. This all makes for easy setup; I didn’t feel that I needed to go digging through the user guide to figure out how it all works.

Pairing and switching between devices is easy. When you power up the unit, a blinking Bluetooth LED indicated that the device is in discoverable mode. Once you connect it to your device, a tone indicates successful pairing. The device automatically connects to the last device it was paired with, but you can also press and hold the Bluetooth button for two seconds to put it in discoverable mode if you wish to switch devices. If using the auxiliary cable is your thing, you can push the Bluetooth button once to toggle between the aux cable and Bluetooth connection. Over the course of a few weeks, I have played the speakers all over my house and yard using multiple devices, and have yet to encounter an issue.

Once you’re connected, it’s all go-mode from there. Play your music through your favorite app, and you’re off and running. There’s a built-in “pause/play” button on the device that works just fine with every app I have tried in Bluetooth mode, but all the other controls come from your device. You can adjust the volume from either the speaker or your device, which comes in handy if you find yourself on a sudden phone call and the speaker is on the other side of the room.

The Element T2 uses Bluetooth 4.2 and sports a strong connection with a 50-foot range. I’ve tested the speaker & paired devices on different floors of the house as well as 50-60 foot distances with no loss of quality.

Power usage is excellent. Tronsmart claims a 12-hour life on the battery without a recharge, and I have found this to be pretty accurate in testing. You do need to keep the included power cable handy and have a USB-enabled port for charging, but this does give you options for charging from your computer or stealing your USB-enabled outlet or converter.

The Element T2 also supports Bluetooth calls. If your phone rings while paired to the unit, you can press the Bluetooth button to answer, and again to disconnect. It’s a nice bonus feature, which allows you to keep your phone stashed safely away from the elements (or in the house).

Does it bring the rock?

After extensive indoor and outdoor testing, I was pleasantly surprised at how much punch the Element T2 possesses for a compact, inexpensive speaker. The sound is crystal clear with a broad range thanks to enhanced bass and a 20 band equalizer adjustment capability. The bass is ridiculously good, especially if you’re listening to pop music (or old school funk and hip-hop, in my case). In the picture below, we were loading up the island themed tunes. 🙂

It’s important to note that this speaker is not designed to produce 360 degree sound. I found this out by trial and error, because it was not clear in any of the documentation. The reason for this is that the main speakers are designed to project from one side of the device, while the bass projects from the back. This means that you will want to position the speaker at the edge of the desired space, directing it towards the listening area. I found that this wasn’t a problem in use; I’d position the speaker open the far end of my kitchen or the deck to get the full sound. Tronsmart has designed this speaker so that you can pair two of the units together to provide full stereo sound; I did not test that feature here, but I would imagine that the quality would be excellent.

To take full advantage of the sound quality, You’ll really want to use the Tronsmart Element T2 Bluetooth speaker in more open spaces. I tested the unit in my home office (12’ by 14’), my kitchen (14’ by 25’), and outside in numerous locations. The bigger spaces really allow you to take full advantage of the speaker’s power and deep bass enhancements. It will do fine in a smaller office area, as volume is very manageable… but you really want to rock, right?

A quick note on the equalizer capability: not all music apps and devices support equalizer modes. My apple devices do, and it works great when switching from one style of music to another. There is no equalizer control on the speaker, however, so check your device and software if this feature is important to you.

One last note: we did do a test using the aux plug on our turntable, and sound quality was just as good playing vinyl with the old-school plug. We tracked through AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock”… and we did rock. Well.

It gets the hose…

One of the benefits of being a device tester is that you really get to stress test stuff to see if it meets the claims of the manufacturer. For the Element T2, this meant the dirt & hose treatment.

The Tronsmart Element T2 has an IPX rating of 56, which effectively means that it is resistant to small particles (dirt, sand) and direct exposure to water. To validate this claim, we dragged the speaker around the yard all day while mowing the yard, planting the garden, etc. When finished, we gave it a bath with the garden hose while playing music. I think it was Bob Marley’s “Trenchtown Rock” that was on the playlist at the time this photo was taken.

The speaker endured the hose at full blast for about a minute and continued to play without missing a beat… even when the speaker bay was pooling with water from the continuous hose blast. There was some minor fuzz in the sound as it dried out from residual water on the speakers, which disappeared in about 5 minutes of drying in the sun. Considering that the speaker is not rated to withstand being submerged in water, that’s really impressive. I’m confident that it will survive sudden downpours, drink spills, or the stray water balloon with no issues whatsoever.

Conclusion and Pricing

The Tronsmart Element T2 is a portable, durable, compact, water-resistant Bluetooth speaker that brings excellent sound quality to the party with a couple extra bonus features like super-long battery life and Bluetooth-compatible phone pickup. What else is there left to talk about?

The price. As in under $25 on Amazon Prime right now. I was ready to give the Tronsmart Element T2 a full-fledged endorsement, but at this price, I think it’s a steal. You can even get two of them to take advantage of the paired stereo capability… just drop me a line and let me know how it works out for you!

Rock on!

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tronsmart. For more info visit their site and order one from Amazon.


 

Product Information

Price: $49.99 MSRP
Manufacturer: Tronsmart
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Amazing sound with broad range and deep bass.
  • Slim and portable.
  • Fully water resistant.
  • Easy to setup for bluetooth pairing with multiple devices.
Cons:
  • Directional speaker — should be pointed towards the listening area, not set up in the middle of it.

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Tronsmart Element T2 Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on on April 21, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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Pearl RearVision wireless rearview camera review


We have reviewed numerous dash cams over the years, but I believe that this is the first backup cam that we’ve reviewed. If I’m wrong about that, then the Pearl RearVision rearview car camera is definitely the first wireless backup cam that we’ve ever reviewed on The Gadgeteer. Let’s put the car in reverse and check it out.

What is it?

The Pearl RearVision is a backup camera for your vehicle that doesn’t require you to route wires for power or to a display. It uses a solar charger to keep its battery charged and it uses WiFi and Bluetooth to transmit images to a smartphone.

What’s in the box?

Pearl RearVision license plate frame camera
License plate frame adapter
OBD adapter
Smartphone car mount
Installation tool

Design and features

The Pearl RearVision looks like a license plate frame, but the frame has two cameras along the top edge. The cameras have up to 180° field of view and a special coating that repels water. One of the cameras has infrared for night vision, and the other one is optimized for daytime.

The frame also has a built-in solar panel that charges the internal battery on bright sunny days, as well as cloudy days.

The frame is composed of two pieces that include the black metal frame that installs on the rear of your vehicle.


A special tool is included with the RearVision. This tool is used to detach the RearVision from the metal frame so that it can be installed on the vehicle.

Although the Pearl RearVision does not require any wiring to a power port inside your car since it can use solar power to charge its internal battery, you can also charge it with the built-in USB cable.


The USB cable is integrated into the frame with a rubber cover that protects the connector from moisture and weather.

Installation of the Pearl RearVision rearview camera

Although not required, the first thing I did before installing the Pearl RearVision was to charge it using the built-in USB cable.

I then took the RearVision, the special tool install tool, the included OBD adapter, and my Nexus 6P Android smartphone out to the garage.

First I removed my existing license plate which was attached to the back of my 2013 MINI Cooper with 4 Phillips screws. Note that the Pearl RearVision is compatible with cars 1996 and newer.

I then attached the RearVision frame to my license plate using the provided screws and then attached the frame and plate to my MINI using 2 of the original screws that were holding the license plate in place.

The RearVision hooks to the bottom of the frame and then snaps in place. The special install tool is used to tighten the theft-resistant set screw which holds the camera securely to the frame.

Looks great, although I was a little concerned that the frame covers and partially obscures some of the info on my license plate including the state and expiration info. I haven’t been pulled over by a cop yet, so I guess it’s not a problem.

The next step of the installation is to plug the OBD adapter into the OBD port in the MINI. This adapter communicates to your phone and the RearVision frame using Bluetooth and WiFi and has a built-in speaker for audio alerts.

The OBD port in my MINI is located under the dash on the driver’s side. The location of this port varies per car make and model.

Installing the adapter is easy but awkward because I had to do it mostly by feel.

I thought I was all set until I needed to get into my trunk and discovered that the top edge of the RearVision camera blocked access to the trunk latch. Whoops… Lucky for me, the folks at Pearl had included an adapter plate which I didn’t think I needed to use. Wrong!

I removed the RearVision, installed the adapter plate which lowers the frame to allow access to the trunk latch. The extra step was easy, but I felt foolish for not noticing the problem the first time around.

Ahhh, that’s much better.

Note that the frame adapter is not included with the RearVision. But if you find that you need it, they will send you one for free according to their installation troubleshooting page.

You can use the included magnetic car mount to locate your smartphone inside your vehicle for optimal viewing. I skipped this step because I already use the iOmount iOauto Pro mount in my MINI.

After the RearVision is installed on the outside of the car and the OBD adapter is installed inside the car, the last step is to install the mobile app which detects the OBD adapter and RearVision camera to complete the setup.


There is a setting in the Pearl app to automatically launch the app when you put the phone on the included magnetic mount, so the mount must have an NFC chip in it (I am just guessing and haven’t proven this theory). I have noticed that my Nexus 6P will sometimes (not always) automatically launch the app when I get in the car and turn on the screen even if the Pearl app wasn’t the last app that I had been using. This doesn’t happen every time though.

The app shows a live view with white guidelines to help you avoid obstacles. These guidelines can be calibrated through the app’s settings by doing a few easy measurements.

The image will show ripples, a red border will show along the edges of the screen and the OBD adapter will sound an audible alert if there’s an obstacle in the path of the car. I tested this by walking behind the car. The RearVision also picked up my cat Max as he walked behind the car.

The RearVision live view disappears after a minute and then shows the app launcher screen that you see above. You can modify the delay from 10 seconds to 2 minutes before the launcher appears.

The launcher can be customized to add apps from a list of music, navigation, and utilities. Unfortunately, you can’t add your own apps to the list.

You can change the view from landscape to portrait mode.




In portrait view, the backup camera shows a split screen that has a wide angle and zoomed views. You can swipe the top to zoom the edges.

I have been testing the Pearl RearVision rearview camera for several weeks. It works well 90% of the time and provides a clear view of what is behind my vehicle.


The view from the RearVision cameras works equally well in daylight and night.

If you try to access the cameras while you’re driving, you’ll see this message.

I’ve seen the message above on more than one occasion. I’ll usually have to close the app, toggle Bluetooth off and on, and relaunch the app to fix the issue. After a recent update to the system, I don’t believe I’ve seen the message, so it could have been a bug that has been fixed.

See it in action

I’ve been using the RearVision for several weeks now and it works well although it hasn’t alerted me of obstacles (yet).

Sorry for the jerky video. I was holding a phone in one hand to capture the video and trying to drive backwards with the other hand while just looking the display.

It has been tough making myself look at the screen since my brain is programmed to only use my rear view and side mirrors when I’m backing up. When you’ve been driving for 30+ years like I have, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks 🙂

Something to consider before buying the Pearl RearVision

It’s important to realize that to use the Pearl RearVision camera, you have to have your phone with you. Without it, you will not be alerted of obstacles in your path. If someone borrows your car and doesn’t have the paired phone, it will not work.

Final thoughts

I like the Pearl RearVision rearview camera because it doesn’t require a complicated/expensive install or modification of your vehicle. The all wireless design including the solar charging frame makes this rearview camera system attractive to people who want a quick and easy setup. However, the price of this system is considerably higher than other DIY backup cameras systems with dedicated displays. Pair that with the fact that you MUST use your phone with it are issues to keep in mind before considering a purchase.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $499.99
Manufacturer: Pearl Auto
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • 1996 or newer vehicle
  • iOS or Android device
Pros:
  • Easy to install
  • Solar powered and wireless
  • Simple app
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • May need a frame adapter which is not included in the package
  • Only works if paired with an iOS or Android device
  • Can't record video or take snapshots

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: ,

Pearl RearVision wireless rearview camera review originally appeared on on April 20, 2017 at 8:08 am.

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