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GJS GEIO gaming robot review


REVIEW – I have never really been into gaming gadgets and quite frankly, the only games I play are usually card type games on my smartphone while I pass the time traveling on the railroad back and forth to work. When I got the opportunity to review a pair of the GJS GEIO gaming robots, I readily accepted because they look like nothing I have seen before and I was intrigued by them. I wonder if they will get me hyped or just bored? Let’s see!!

What is it?

GEIO is an innovative gaming robot equipped with an intelligent visual recognition system. It is capable of high-speed mobility and includes a flexible biaxial battery which allows for more game modes. “It adds a powerful long-range unit to the [mechanized battlefield]. Its small size does, however, not impact its power.”

What’s in the box


1 x GJS Battle Robot (2 were provided by the manufacturer for this review)
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Rechargeable Battery
1 x Instruction card
4 x Totem Game Cards

Design and features

Features


Specifications

Size: 170mm x 170mm x 160mm
Weight: 730g
Turret Angle – Horizontal: 0-160°
Turret Pitch: 0-90°
Material: Aluminum Alloy, ABS
Battery: 7.4V 2000mAh
Supported Mobile Phone System: iOS / Android
Camera Resolution: 300,000 pixels
Visual Identity Range: 50cm-2m
Internal Sensor Infrared Sensors: Magnetic Sensor
Connectivity: WIFI
Operating Frequency: 5GHz
Maximum Transmission Distance: 70 m

The GJS Robots are well designed and very attractive. They have built-in LED lighting all around their frame and they are well built. They utilize Totem cards as a part of some of the games to give gain weapons and health, etc and they actually have the ability to read the cards. The various pictures below highlight some of the design features.



The picture below provides a clear view of the camera that is mounted on the turret and the guns that have built-in LEDs in each barrel. The LEDs in the gun barrel flash like strobes when they are shooting.


The picture below is just another angle showcasing the design and the LEDs that are all over the robot.


Underneath the robot, there are 4 sets of double wheels that allow for great versatility in movement including sideways. In the center, there is a connection for the rechargeable battery.



On one side of the rechargeable battery, there is a micro USB port for recharging. The battery can be charged separately, or while connected to the robot. The micro USB charging port is still accessible when the battery is connected. This is shown in the third picture below.



Performance

Once the batteries are charged and installed, the robot is ready to go. On the back of the robot there is a power button, and once pressed, the robot turns on, makes robot-like sounds, the turret moves around and the “eye” seems to be searching. Once you download and install the GJS GEIO app, and the robot is turned on, it shows up in the WIFI list on your mobile device. You can select a single robot mode or multi-player mode. Controlling the robot is easy but you have to get used to the on-screen controls because they are quite sensitive. The robot can move very quickly, is very responsive to the controls, and can move in just about any direction and orientation you choose. You can also turn the direction of your phone and the robot will respond to your movement. This is especially helpful in the AR mode when fighting virtual robots. When you place the Totem cards within the battlefield, you can focus in on the pictures on the cards for various gains. There are lots of capabilities but they not that easy to describe unless you actually use the robot. The instruction card that is included is not that helpful and since it is also not that detailed, you have to figure out some things on your own. The print on the card is also quite small. The following pictures are of the two sides of the instruction card:


The following is one of several short videos on the GJS website that show the robot in operation:

You can view additional videos here.

App

The screenshots from the app below show some of the choices of operation modes that are available via the app.







The next app screenshot below shows the start screen. You touch red or blue depending on which robot you want to control.


The following app screenshots are of various POV views from within the app.





The video below shows the POV from within the app. It is a bit grainy but the point is to show how it looks with the movement from the screen while controlling it. (It would be clearer with better lighting)

What I like

  • The overall design
  • The attractive LED lighting
  • The versatility to be able to move in just about every direction
  • The speed of movement
  • The interactive capabilities
  • The first-person POV view
  • The realistic and visible weapons lighting
  • The game options
  • The build quality

What can be improved

  • Better instructions for directions and visibility
  • Better battery life

Final thoughts

I am not a gamer, but when I first saw these robots, I was intrigued. I was worried if they could keep my attention long enough and whether they would be more like a toy for my 4-year-old. Well, I was so wrong. This robot is great, designed for older kids and adults, and even better if you have 2 so that someone can play against you. Maybe I am not as advanced as some in regards to Artificial Intelligence, but I find them to be amazing at how they operate and interact, and I can spend lots of time playing around with them until the battery dies. In my “What can be Improved” comments, I mentioned the battery life because, for this type of gadget, I want the battery to give me a few of hours of playing time like a video game. It gets more than an hour depending on use, but I want more time between charges. Maybe the solution is to purchase additional batteries. I will have to see if that is possible. This robot is well built, well designed, loads of fun and just great. Two thumbs up!!

Price: $199.99 each
Where to buy: Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by GEIO

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GJS GEIO gaming robot review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 10, 2019 at 2:26 pm.

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MECO clothing steamer review

REVIEW – I would think that most people are not a fan of wrinkled clothing, however, I tend to be one to throw a damp towel and a wrinkled shirt into the dryer to knock those wrinkles out and hope for the best. Well, those days are over for me thanks to the MECO Steamer I recently had the pleasure to review.

What is it?

The MECO Steamer is a handheld corded steamer that allows you to iron or steam your wrinkled fabrics. It has a 90 degree push button rotating head, digital display, adjustable temperature and adjustable steam level. It also has an “anti-ironing” and brush attachment.

What’s in the box?

  • MECO Steamer/Iron
  • Base
  • Measuring Cup
  • Storage Drawstring Bag
  • Anti-Ironing Attachment
  • Brush Attachment
  • Manual & Warranty Card

Design and features

I went into this review expecting nothing more than a basic steamer and I was quickly proven wrong. First of all, this is a pretty hefty tool, coming in at a shade over 2 pounds in weight. It has a sturdy handle with a convenient trigger button for the steam underneath; as well as the power, steam level and digital display in plain view on top.

The push button rotation makes it very simple to adjust to a vertical steaming mode that covers a wider swath of fabric. This turns it into a 2-in-1 horizontal and vertical clothes steamer and steam iron/dry iron. Simply press down the button when rotating the iron plate head.

There is a 7 temperature gear, by pressing the power button repeatedly after turning the unit on, it cycles through 80/100/120/140/160/180/200 degrees CELSIUS – I emphasize this for our readers accustomed to Fahrenheit indicators. There is a handy chart in the manual that gives you clear usage instructions for the type of fabric and temperature setting.

There is a small cover at the front of the ironing head where water can be poured into the unit. It is best to use the provided measuring cup with a spout, as the hole to pour the water into is small but the cup has a spout on it that makes it easy to pour without spilling.

Setup

Setup on this device is pretty simple – plug it in and hold the power button down for 5 seconds to get it to power on. Then press the power button to cycle through to the temperature you want to use. Steam is only generated when set at 180 or 200 degrees. Then press the steam button on the top of the handle to set your steam level (low, medium, high) if desired. As the unit heats up, the temperature will flash, once it reaches the set temperature it will stop flashing and the temperature will show in the digital display in solid blue numbers.

Performance

I tested this steamer in two applications: ironing and steaming. First, I had a shirt that I had received months ago and put on a hangar hoping the wrinkles would fall out. They didn’t. It was a cotton shirt so I set the iron temperature to 180 degrees with steam on low to start, as I progressed through the process of ironing the shirt, I adjusted it up to high to get the last few wrinkles out. This was a great test of its horizontal function.

As you can see, it got all the wrinkles out. I used a standard flat ironing board under the shirt to prevent scalding the clothing and it worked great. I consider any deficiencies in performance to be related to my inexperience ironing clothes, I was pretty impressed with its ease of use as well as overall functionality. It heated up quickly and the steam that I used along the way didn’t leave spots or stains as I’m accustomed to in my past uses of an iron.

The next thing I tested was the steaming function. Our guest bath had a polyester shower curtain that still had massive wrinkles in it despite 5 years of being on the curtain rod. This made a perfect test of the vertical application of the steamer with the head rotated 90 degrees. I attached the “anti-ironing” attachment, heated the head to 180 degrees and turned the steam level on high.

In less than 15 minutes, the shower curtain was pretty much wrinkle free. Again, it was easy to use, the steam function worked perfectly and with the head rotated it was pretty easy to maneuver to get to all the wrinkles without feeling like you had to have a hard surface to press it against. Holding the head of the iron about an inch away from the fabric, I was able to simply hold a bit of tension to the fabric and the wrinkles started coming right out.

The base that is provided is rather handy as well. You can set the unit in the base while it’s heating and at any desired temperature as it has pads to protect it from melting. As always with a steam iron, you need to release all the water once cooled and this is as easy as opening the flap and turning the unit upside down over a sink. On the Amazon link we were provided, it is touted as easy to pack for travel. At two pounds, this does take a good amount of weight in a suitcase but with the travel bag provided, it would definitely be an item worth taking on a trip especially if you have business attire or dress clothes for a special occasion. The brush attachment is also designed to remove pet hair, while MECO also touts their iron for uses such as sterilization, replacing laminators, sealing snacks, cleaning candle wax and more.

What I like

  • Multiple heat settings correlated to the fabric types.
  • Ergonomic controls and design, easy to handle, move and situate.
  • Easy to fill/empty water reservoir
  • Performs very well at ironing and steaming
  • Rotating 90 degree head really does make a difference when steaming vertically.

What needs to be improved

  • Instruction Manual – the translation of the manual to English is pretty rough and leaves room in some places for interpretation. For an inexperienced user, it was confusing at times. Additionally, it never explained exactly how or when you’re supposed to use the attachments.
  • A bit top/front heavy when using for a long time in a vertical application.
  • Celsius temperature settings are not normal in US, possible to have a switch for Fahrenheit setting.

Final thoughts

The pros of this unit greatly outweigh any cons I may have. With my wife previously buying several steamers, I finally found one that I could have some confidence in and want to use without feeling like I’m going to ruin my shirt with a water stain or spend entirely too much time trying to get a single wrinkle out. I may have finally ended my days of finding a damp towel to throw in with my wrinkled shirt.

Price: $42.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by MECO.

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MECO clothing steamer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 10, 2019 at 9:54 am.

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Wahl Lithium-Ion Vacuum Trimmer review

REVIEW – Do you have a beard, mustache, or goatee that needs trimming? I do, and over the years I’ve owned lots of trimmers, some good, some bad. The one thing they all had in common was the huge mess they left behind. That’s where the Wahl lithium ion vacuum trimmer promises to be different. It uses a powerful built-in vacuum to capture hair that usually ends up all over the bathroom countertop. Wahl recently sent me a unit for review. Can it eliminate my messy post trimming cleanup?

What is it?

The Wahl lithium ion vacuum trimmer is a facial hair trimmer the uses a powerful motor to capture hair in a chamber for no mess and easy cleanup.

What’s in the box?

  • Lithium-Ion Vacuum Trimmer
  • 8 Individual Guide Combs
  • 6-Position Adjustable Guide Comb
  • Charger
  • Blade oil
  • Beard comb
  • Cleaning brush
  • Executive Travel case

Design and features

The trimmer has a sleek design featuring a chrome finish and a detachable self-sharpening precision blade. (Self-Sharpening Blades are made to maintain their shape and sharpness for extended periods).

It’s a little larger than my current trimmer, but it’s still very lightweight and ergonomic.

What makes the trimmer unique is the built-in self-contained vacuum system. A powerful motor creates a suction that captures hair as you trim.  As you can see from the pic below it kind of works like a mini jet turbine.

The trimmings are vacuumed into an easy-to-empty collection chamber. Trimmings are filtered from the air as it passes through the trimmer. The easy-to-empty collection chamber is located directly behind the blade on the top of the unit.

The chamber has a multi-position hair chute that allows you to adjust the vacuum stream to get the best results for your beard.

To empty the chamber just pop the top for quick emptying, or remove it for a more thorough cleaning.

The Smart LED charging status light located on the bottom of the trimmer pulses blue when the trimmer is charging and is solid blue once charging is complete.

The trimmer will run for 90 minutes on a full 90-minute charge. If you forget to charge the trimmer in can be used while it’s plugged in because it can’t be overcharged.

The kit also includes 8 individual guide combs ranging from 1/8” to 1” in length along with a six-position trimming guide to trim and taper your beard.

Wahl also included a storage case to keep everything organized.

Time for a trim

Once finding the correct length guide comb, it was time to put this vacuum trimmer to the test. The trimmer worked well with Wahl’s precision blade making quick work of my goatee. I posted before and after pics below.

After I was finished there was very little hair on the countertop, the built-in vacuum did an exceptional job. There were a few stray hairs, but I was able to clean those up by turning the trimmer over and using the vacuum to suck them up.

The photo below of the chamber illustrates just how much hair the vacuum chamber captured.

One thing I didn’t like was that Wahl didn’t include any other blade attachment heads with this trimmer. I think including one or two different blades, or even a nose trimmer attachment would have added more value.

To be fair, you can purchase extra blades and attachments from Wahl’s website.

What I like

  • Lightweight
  • Cordless and corded use
  • Multiple length guide combs
  • NO MESSY CLEANUP

What needs to be improved

  • No additional blades included

Final thoughts

Do I like the Wahl vacuum trimmer? Yes. Does it provide a quality grooming experience? Yes. Does the built-in vacuum eliminate my messy post trimming cleanup? Yes. Nothing more needs to be said.

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Best Buy or Walmart
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Wahl.

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Wahl Lithium-Ion Vacuum Trimmer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 9, 2019 at 9:30 am.

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Mobvoi TicWatch S2 Wear OS android smartwatch review

REVIEW – Along with being a tech junkie, I’m definitely a watch guy thru and thru…mechanical, quartz, digital, fitness, smart, luxury, beater, etc. I have tried many flavors of timepieces and enjoyed the experience of wearing them all. Currently I waffle between nice mechanical watches and their high-tech, smartwatch brethren. Late last year Julie reviewed the TicWatch Pro, an android/WearOS smartwatch that Mobvoi released as their flagship device. Recently Mobvoi released several less expensive variants, the TicWatch E2 and S2 of which they have sent me the more hardy, sport version the S2 to checkout.

Backstory and details: I have used more than my fair share of smart-/fitness watches over the years from simple stopwatch function to GPS/speed/distance/heart rate monitoring to the latest Wear OS, Tisen, and Apple Watch. My current smart devices of choice are the iPhone Xs Max and Apple Watch Series 3 amount others. So, this review will be more skewed towards an iOS Apple user’s experience of the Mobvoi TicWatch S2 and Wear OS.

What is it?

The Mobvoi TicWatch S2 is a sport-centric smartwatch powered by Google’s Wear OS with a built-in heart rate monitor, internal GPS, and hardened to military specifications, all combining for a smartwatch ready for whatever epic workout you throw at it.

What’s in the box?

  • TicWatch S2 android smartwatch
  • TicWatch Charging Dock
  • User Manual

Design and features

The TicWatch S2 has a 1.39-inch diameter, 400 x 400 pixel AMOLED display. The screen pops and is bright enough to see outdoors, rain or shine. Its resolution is sharp and you’ll have to strain to see individual pixels. The overall viewing experience is very good. That said, it lacks an ambient light sensor so you’ll have to adjust the brightness manually. Though at moderate brightness, battery life easily lasted a day of normal use with an hour or two of exercise (with GPS and streaming music via Bluetooth). To save/extend battery life, the S2 has an always-on display mode (far left pic), which shows basic time and battery percentage when the watch is by your side or is not in use. When you rotate your wrist, the watch face comes back to life. According to Mobvoi, the S2 has two days of battery life and for the most part I agree.

Specifications:

Dimensions (mm) 46.6 x 51.8 x 12.9
Colors Black or White (coming soon)
Watch Case Polycarbonate
Watch Strap Silicone (interchangeable), 22mm
Operating System Wear OS by Google™
AI Technology Google Assistant™, Mobvoi TicMotion
Phone Compatibility Android, iPhone
Platform Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™
Display 1.39″ AMOLED (400 x 400 px)
Connectivity Bluetooth v4.1, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
GPS GPS + GLONASS + Beidou
Sensors Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart-rate sensor, low latency off-body sensor
NFC Payments No
Battery Capacity 415mAh (up to 2 days of battery)
US Military Standard 810g MIL-STD-810G: Operational between -20ºC to 55ºC; resistant to humidity, dust, and salt fog.
Waterproof Rating 5 ATM (swim-ready, up to 50m)

The Mobvoi TicWatches are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Setting up the TicWatch S2 with my iPhone was easy enough though a bit frustrating compared to an Apple Watch. The Mobvoi iOS app epically failed and has yet to work. I finally gave up and used the Google Wear OS app that got me up and running without too much hassle. Though using the two together isn’t as seamless as living completely in the iOS ecosphere but it does work.

The TicWatch S2 case is made from a rigid black polycarbonate that is not only durable but lightweight as well. The overall build quality is good for a plastic smartwatch. The TicWatch S2 is relatively hardy, built to a MIL-STD-810G U.S. Military rating for durability and ruggedness. The bezel has a nice carbon fiber look with minutes numbers (15/30/45/60) and tick marks etched into the plastic…but since the bezel does not rotate, they are more for show than anything else.

The TicWatch is a large smartwatch measuring 46 millimeters in diameter…that’s Breitling big. The lug to lug wingspan is nearly 52 millimeters. I have a 7 inch wrist (relatively average IMO) and the lugs hang over my wrist by a few millimeter on each side.

The S2 sits 13 millimeters tall on the wrist. The overall dimensions (46.6 x 51.8 x 12.9) make the TicWatch pretty clunky.

Here you can see the S2 compared to the Suunto Elementum Terra and 42mm Apple Watch Series 3…definitely not small or petite.

That said, at less than 2 ounces the S2 is lightweight and comfortable to wear. When exercising, you hardly know this fitness watch is on your wrist.

In addition to the watch’s face being a touchscreen, there is a single button on the right side of the watch to help you navigate the operating system.

The band is made from a soft, silicone rubber that is comfortable and flexible.

It’s length fits my wrist very nicely.

The bands lug width is 22 millimeters and has an easy removal pin, making swapping the band effortless.

The heart rate sensor is solid and compares nicely to both my Apple Watch and sensors on my elliptical machine. The GPS function and accuracy also compares well to my known routes and GPS on my Apple Watch. It is quick to locate and lock onto the satellite’s GPS signal.

The S2 charges via a propitiatory charging pad with four metal pins that must make contact with the four points on the back of the smartwatch. This is a bit old school compared to the standard wireless charging that most smartwatches use today.

The TicWatch S2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear processor, running Wear OS. My main criticism of this watch is definitely how laggy and glitchy it is. Many apps took multiple attempts to get them to activate/startup and that was the standard vs the exception. I found the Tic exercise apps mediocre at best. I ultimately downloaded Google’s fitness and media apps. That in of itself was a painful experience, then downloading my running music/playlist took forever with several crashes.

What I like

  • Inexpensive Wear OS device
  • Solid utilitarian design
  • Bright clear touchscreen
  • Sweat-/weather-/waterproof
  • Heart rate and GPS sensors
  • Solid battery life (nearly 2 days)
  • MIL-STD 810G durability certification

What needs to be improved

  • Laggy, mediocre performance
  • Regularly crashes
  • No NFC or LTE
  • No Google Pay
  • Doesn’t wirelessly charge
  • Mobvoi software is completely unnecessary

Final thoughts

I hate to say it but the TicWatch S2 is fine and that is where the sentence stops. That said, it does work and gets the job done just with a few bumps along the way. It is clunky in form and operation, definitely irritating/frustrating to use at points. But from what I have read, mediocre to cr@ppy performance applies to every Wear OS smartwatch available today. You can find the Apple Watch Series 3 and Samsung Tisen watches at or below $200 these days, both with better performance. At $179, the TicWatch is not a great value considering other options currently available.

Price: $179.99
Where to buy: The TicWatch S2 is available on Amazon or directly from Mobvoi.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Mobvoi.

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Mobvoi TicWatch S2 Wear OS android smartwatch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 8, 2019 at 11:40 am.

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Just Mobile Gum Slim power bank review

REVIEW – One of the very first battery banks I ever reviewed was from Just Mobile. It served me well for several years and was passed along to a friend just a year or so ago. Today’s offering from the same company offers about the same charging power but in a unit half the size, and almost a third the price. Battery tech marches onward, and the Just Mobile Gum™ Slim has landed in my review queue.

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

What is it?

The Just Mobile Gum™ Slim is a highly pocketable, fast-charging battery pack for modern electronics in a slim, rounded metal case that could be mistaken for a phone on first glance.

Hardware specs

  • Simultaneously charge 3 devices
  • USB-C and 2x USB-A output
  • PD/QC dual-standard fast-charge
  • Fast charge USB-C input
  • USB-A to USB-C cable included
  • USB-C: 5V/3A, 9V/2A 12V/1.5A (PD 3.0 / QC 3.0)
  • Output：USB-A1: 5V 3A 9V 2A 12V 1.5A (QC 3.0)
  • USB-A2: 5V 3A 9V 2A 12V 1.5A (QC 3.0
  • Total: 18W
  • Capacity：10000mAh / 3.7V 37Wh
  • Indicator：4 LEDs

DIMENSIONS

  • 13.85 x 7.3 x 1.5 cm
  • 247 g
  • 5.4 x 2.8 x 0.6 inch
  • 8.7 oz
  • Material：Aluminum

What’s in the box?

  • Battery Pack
  • USB-A < => USB-C cable
  • User manual

Design and features

The Just Mobile Gum™ Slim is a 10,000 mAh battery pack that offers two USB-A jacks and a USB-C jack as output options. It can charge from all three at once, and each is metered to deliver the correct power according to the device at the other end of the charging cable. Total combined output is 18 Watts. You can also charge from the two USB-A ports while charging the unit itself through the USB-C port.

Performance

In the ten minutes, since I started this review, my iPhone 8 Plus has gone from 20% and wanting to be on Power Reserve to 34%. That’s a pretty fast recovery! I’m seeing similar speeds on other devices in other parts of their charge range. (Remember, today’s devices fast charge up to a certain level, then slow-charge or trickle charge to complete charging. The 20%-80% range is where you’ll see the fastest charging the device can handle, usually.) For such a small item (it’s about the same size but a tad heavier than the phone), it really packs a punch.


I’m also noting that the Gum Slim keeps it’s charge a long time. This was true of earlier Gum units, but I’ve noticed quite a few others that lost power when sitting idle. This speaks to the quality of materials and design.

What I Like

  • USB-C Charging
  • USB-C to USB-A cable included
  • 18 Watts charging is amazing

What needs to be improved

  • I can find nothing I would improve.

Final thoughts

Battery packs are going to be with us for the foreseeable future unless we invent some type of forever battery that pulls power out of the air. Having one that is thin, powerful, and fast to recharge, as well as being flexible in use is quite a bonus. This device has taken its place in my EveryDay Carry bag.

Price $49.95
Where to buy: JustMobile’s webstore
Source The sample of this product was provided by Just Mobile.

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Just Mobile Gum Slim power bank review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 8, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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