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Maximus Camera Floodlight review

Home security seems to be one of the hot topics at this years CES, with the expansion of the connected home it seems like new home security products are popping up every day. While interior security seems to be getting the most attention improvements and innovations in outdoor security have brought about new products and competitors. One such “new” innovation is the outdoor floodlight. I know the floodlight is not new, but the addition of a camera and speaker system is. These systems have the ability to record incidents as well as allow you to view them in real time. 

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

What is it?

The Maximus Camera Floodlight is just what the name implies, a Floodlight with a camera built into it. But there is more to it than that, it is a security tool. Besides, the floodlight and camera the light has a built in microphone and speaker. Along with the Kuna software package the Maximus Camera Floodlight is a smart security device.

Hardware specs

Per the Maximus web page:

Camera & Sound

  • Resolution: HD full-color 1080p
  • Field of view: 155º diagonal
  • Viewing angle: Adjustable camera (up to 40º left-right, up-down)
  • Two-way talk: Communication through your smart device
  • Siren: 100 dB

WiFi & Detection

  • Wi-Fi frequency: 2.4/5 GHz
  • WiFi network 802.11b/g WEP, WPA and WPA2 supported (WPA2 recommended)
  • WiFi speed: best performance with 2 Mbps upload/download where installed
  • Sensor: passive infrared + motion detection algorithm 
  • Detection range: optimized to detect objects within 70’ (7’ mounting height)
  • Mobile device: iOS devices running iOS7 and above, Android devices supporting Bluetooth LE:4.4 (Kit Kat) an above
  • Internet: internet connection required for both mobile device and location where camera floodlight is installed

Hardware

  • Material: plastic
  • Power type: hardwired continuous power (no batteries)
  • Weatherproof: tested in -4ºF (-20ºC) and 122ºF (50ºC). Humidity < 95%
  • Light settings: dimmable; motion activated + dusk-to-dawn + turn on/off from your phone
  • Lightbulb: 2400 lumens brightness; 5000K color temperature 
  • Dimension/weight: 10.78 (W) x 8.02 (H)
  • Input voltage: rated 100-240V, 50/60 Hz max 90-277V, 50/60Hz

What’s in the box?

In the box you get the Maximus Camera Floodlight, instruction booklet, a welcome card and mounting hardware. 

There are four main components to this floodlight system (not including the WiFi element), the lights, the sensor, the camera and the two way speaker. 

The lights for the floodlight are bright. They are so bright in fact that I dimmed them a little so I would not make the neighbors mad. Being adjustable allows me to set a wide area of illumination so I can see more with the camera. 

The sensor looks like most sensors on outdoor floodlights with the exception of the LED on the bottom of it. This LED is what lets you know when you are connected to WiFi. 

The camera on the Maximus Camera Floodlight is adjustable, it looks kind of like a ball joint with a hole in it. Daylight and nighttime (when the lights are on) pictures are good quality.

The speaker unit is mounted on the base of the floodlight unit, you can see the holes. Besides, being able you yell sayings like “hey you kids get off my lawn” the system comes with preprogrammed sayings that you can activate using the Kuna software on your smart device (I like the dog barking).

Instllation

The Maximus camera Floodlight comes with mounting hardware, and installation is rather simple if you already have wiring and a junction box at the location where you are mounting the camera.  The system is designed to use the junction box as a mounting point. In order for you to be able to take advantage of all of the features of the Maximus Camera Floodlight you will have to be connected to the internet. 

Software

Although not technically in the package there is a software component to this system its called Kuna. The Kuna app is used to set up and control the features of our Maximus Camera Floodlight.  Kuna also has a built in AI that can learn and can distinguish between a car and a person.

One nice feature of the Kuna software is the thumbnail view of recent events. This displays the recordings of events that have happened in the recent past (I believe within the last two hours). That being said, I must say I found the Kuna app hard to navigate at times. Getting to the settings page is not really evident and can be frustrating when trying to adjust the floodlight system. Another issue I observed is that the app does not work well on my iPad Pro. Even though the user interface was not to my liking setting up and connecting to my Maximus Camera Floodlight was easy and straightforward. The app automatically found my device and walked me through the setup.

Design and features

As you may have surmised by now the Maximus Camera Floodlight is designed to compete against other similar products on the market today, mainly Ring. With similar features floodlight, camera, two way speaker both systems work on the same principle. The folks at Maximus (the makers of the system I am reviewing) sent me a design and feature comparison so I could see the difference between them and who they perceive as their main competition. Both Ring and Maximus have a free service and paid service for their apps so I will highlight things what I think are important focusing mainly on the hardware features.

Mounting options: Both products can be mounted on a vertical wall, but the Maximus Camera Floodlight can be mounted on your eves as well. The Maximus Camera Floodlight also has a “Quick Connect” mounting base that made installation easier.

Lighting: Both systems have two lights, the Ring has LED spotlights and the Maximus has LED panels. In the comparison photos I would say the Maximus illuminates a wider area.

Camera: Both cameras seem to be close enough in similarities to call that a wash, but the Maximus camera does allow for some independent adjustment where the Ring’s is fixed.

Software/apps: Both companies offer a paid service and a free service and they have some of the same features, but what stands out to me on the Kuna app for Maximus is the free cloud storage of your recordings. The recordings will stay in the cloud for two hours so you can view and download them. Ring does not offer this in their free service.

What I like

  • Designed for easy installation.
  • Bright and adjustable lighting.
  • Easy setup.
  • Free service basic functionality works well.

What needs to be improved

  • Kuna software

Final thoughts

What’s my bottom line on the Maximus Camera Floodlight? I like it a lot. This system is almost plug and play (minus the hardwiring you do) out of the box. Once you wire it up and connect to the internet you are good to go. The Maximus Camera Floodlight works well with the basic free service, but the pay service has an AI that will learn and help make your system smarter. During my writing of this review this system gained the ability to integrate with Google Assistant which is a nice plus. With a cost of $249 on the Kuna website, the Maximus Camera Floodlight is on par with other similar systems of this type and quality.

Price: $249.00
Where to buy: Kuna
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Maximus

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Life is too short for dumb nightstands!

I literally searched for years for a pair of vintage, mid-century nightstands that I liked and could afford.  I finally found a perfect pair just last summer, and now I’m ready to throw them out for a couple of these Sobro Smart Side Tables.  These smart tables have every feature I never knew I needed!  And the table is controlled by an app, so it’s the ultimate piece for a high-tech bedroom.

Sobro side tables have a whisper-quiet thermoelectric cooling drawer, so you’ll never have to get up in the middle of the night for a glass of water.  The other drawer locks for secure storage – and of course the lock is app-controlled.  The Sobro table has built-in Bluetooth stereo speakers for cranking your tunes before bedtime.  You’ll be able to charge any device, because the top has a built-in wireless charging pad that can charge two devices simultaneously and the base has USB, USB-C, and 120V power outlets with cable control to keep things neat.  Oh, and the legs are adjustable so you can get the perfect height for your bed.

The back of the nightstand has RGB LED accent lighting (app-controlled), and these lights can also be used to help you wake naturally by simulating sunrise.  And of course, there’s a built-in sound generator that will help you fall asleep, too.  The front bottom of the Sobro smart table has an LED light bar that’s a motion-triggered nightlight to help you find your way safely to the bathroom.  The app lets you select warm or bright-white color for the nightlight and lets you set the brightness and the duration the nightlight stays on.

And of course, this beauty is WiFi-enabled for firmware updates and to allow you to control the Sobro remotely.

Right now, Sobro is on Indiegogo with about a month left in their campaign.  They met their funding goal in less than an hour of going live, and right now they are sitting at about 1736% funding.  The Sobro Smart Side Table is available for a pledge of $379 (plus shipping) for one or $699 for a pair.  These prices reflect a savings of more than 50% off the retail price.  Shipping is expected in October 2018.  Pledge for your own Sobro Smart Side Table at Indiegogo.

If you can’t wait until Fall for a smart table, go to the Sobro website and check out their Smart Coffee Table.  It was a successfully-funded Indiegogo project last year.

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The Mophie USB-C Powerstation plus XL keeps your Smartphone charged when you are on the go!


The Mophie USB-C Powerstation Plus XL is Mophie’s most powerful USB-C power pack to date. It is a compact portable charger and power source that has a 12000mAH battery. It boasts the ability to provide up to 45 hours of power to your Smartphone or other devices. It also includes a 15W fast charging USB-A outlet that along with the built in Micro-USB/Lightning Cable allows you to charge 2 devices at the same time. It provides fast charging speeds of up to 18W USB-C PD (Power Delivery).

Another great feature of this Powerstation is that it can be connected to a wall outlet and still charge your Smartphone. The beauty of its design is that when it is connected to a wall outlet with a Smartphone in the chain, it will charge the Smartphone first and then charge itself. This priority mode ensures that your device will be quickly recharged, and is a great and convenient feature for when you are on the go.

If you would like to purchase this charger, you can go to Amazon and pick one up for $77.75

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Saddleback Leather Company Flight Bag, wireless chargers, EDC pocket organizer, and more – Weekly roundup

I hope all my favorite gadgeteers are having a great weekend so far. If you’re stuck home because the of the weather or just can’t get motivated to do much this evening, I have the perfect way to kill a few hours. Check out a list of everything that we posted this week on the site. I’m sure there’s something here to interest you.

News

Twinkle, twinkle, little skirt – Milky Way galaxy version

This gadget solves the age old problem of sorting and folding socks

The Lastolite Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus is reliable gear for the photographer

Forget the knife – get yourself a Swiss Army axe!

The Datacolor SpyderCUBE RAW Calibration Tool keeps your photos true to color

This tracker keeps hikers from getting lost

Replace your Apple Watch band with the beauty of wood and titanium

Edge of Belgravia Teak Star cutting boards, UGEARS bionic horse model, Moasure ONE measuring device, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

BDI’s Olis media cabinet allows your soundbar be heard, not seen

The TTRobotix iTableView Camera Car WiFi moves in the right direction for photos and video

Hang posters without damaging your walls

1.1.1.1 – DNS for faster, more private browsing

Here’s a miniature chess set that fits in your wallet

Stir up some tasty popcorn with the Whirley popcorn maker

The TYPE – II: Camera Bag and Travel Kit by VINTA just might be the answer for hiking with photography gear

These shorts let you carry your favorite beverage hands-free

Hit a home run with this baseball band for Apple Watch

The Promote Systems Promote Control puts you in complete control of your DSLR camera

Tame that nest of snakes in your laptop bag with the Side Winder

Is this April Fools or real news?

Exist app knows if tweets, emails or working out makes you happier

Kronos Lift Desk keeps your workspace organized at any height

You’ll never peel another boiled egg again

The Rotolight Neo 2 LED Light promises a bright future!

Hide your valuables in plain sight

The Hercules may just be the motion that you need

Reviews

iClever BoostCube Fast Wireless Charger review

Thinium ReCharge+ 2.0 backup battery review

Mission Workshop Rhake Backpack review

Spider SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 camera holster review

Saddleback Leather Company Flight Bag review

The UpCart Deluxe stair climbing handcart review

Yellow Birch Outfitters PocKit and PocKit Pro EDC Pocket Organizer review

Belkin Boost↑Up wireless charger review

EcoXGear EcoDrift Bluetooth speaker review

RAVPower HyperAir 7.5-Watt Wireless Chargers review

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Saddleback Leather Company Flight Bag, wireless chargers, EDC pocket organizer, and more – Weekly roundup originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2018 at 5:11 pm.

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iClever BoostCube Fast Wireless Charger review

The iClever BoostCube Wireless Charger can charge a Qi enabled device simply by placing the device on top of it. The adapter supports 5W and 10W charging modes and the power supply is from a USB cable. Read on to see what I think!

What is it?

The iClever BoostCube Wireless Charging station is an adapter that charges Qi enabled devices using USB power. Qi devices are capable of being charged at a distance and the main benefit of this capability is the convenience of charging devices without connecting power cables. The technology relies on inductive coupling between two coils and it works because at least one coil is in the charging base, another is in the target device and there isn’t a large amount of metal between the coils. The speed at which the charging takes place depends upon the power available to the adapter, circuitry in the adapter, circuitry in the receiving device, and the condition of the battery in the receiving device.

What’s in the box?

iClever Wireless Charger
USB Charging Cable
User Manual
Warranty Card

Design and features

Specifications

Input: 9V/1.67A or 5V/2A
Output: 9V/1A or 5V/1A
Power: 10W/5W
Charging distance: 2~8mm
Product Dimensions 2.9 x 0.5 x 2.9 inches
Item Weight 3.68 ounces

Unboxing

The iClever charger comes in a fairly standard printed cardboard box. The side of the box lists the main features of the device, which includes over-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, short circuit protection and foreign object protection.

Plastic molded packaging protects the charging pad and the USB cable inside the box. The user manual and the warranty card come packaged below the plastic form. The instructions and the warranty card are in the English language only.

Design of the Wireless Charger

The top of the iClever charging pad has a leather coating. The leather has a black pigment and is embossed in the center with the iClever logo and name. The leather is a great feature because it makes each wireless charger unique, it provides a professional look and feels to the charger, it’s durable and easy to clean. Also, the natural grain of the leather provides a surface with the ideal texture to keep the device on top of it from moving. Other synthetic materials tend to be too slick or sticky.  The wireless charger is completely round and therefore can be set up with the cord leaving from any direction and not look askew on the surface it is resting on.

The material on the sides and base of the unit is black anodized aluminum. The material is perfect for good heat transfer and durability. The front of the base (the area in front of the iClever logo) has a LED indicator about 3/4″ wide. Four screws are hidden under silicone rubber feet to secure the top to the base. The bottom of the base indicates the model name and number, power information, compliance information and country of origin info.

Operation

The user must supply their own power supply for the included USB cable. It seems likely that most people have many more power supplies than they actually use, therefore this isn’t really an area that needs improvement. However, while the outside box does indicate many of the items features and benefits, it does not state that the unit comes without a power supply. Once the unit is plugged into the power supply the front LED illuminates for 3 seconds, indicating that device is ready to use.

Placing the phone on the wireless charger immediately starts the charging process. Once the battery reaches 100% on the phone the charging LED remains on and trickle charges the iPhone. Once the iPhone battery is full the LED turns off indicating that the wireless charging pad is no longer functioning.

The LED blinks on and off indicating that a foreign object is present between the wireless charger and phone. This function works when a quarter is between the charger and phone.

Performance

I plugged the USB into a 10W USB power adapter and monitored the charging operation with a USB safety tester that displays the voltage and amps and calculates the watts and accumulated amp hours. Even when a 10W power adapter supplies the power, the draw from the USB tester never exceeds 5.1W while charging an iPhone. This is in agreement with the operating instructions because the manufacturer indicates that QC compliant fast charging is not compatible with iPhone. In conclusion, the iPhone battery was charged from 10% to 43% in 70 minutes.

When the iPhone is not in a case, it will still charge with 5.56 mm of Post-it notes between the phone and the wireless charger.

What I like

  • Leather top
  • flexible power supply options

What needs to be improved

  • Box should indicate that the contents does not include a power supply.

Final thoughts

The iClever Wireless Charger is a good looking effective wireless charger.

Price: $21.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by iClever.

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iClever BoostCube Fast Wireless Charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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