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Conbrov T11 Mini Spy Camera Review


The Conbrov T11 Mini Spy Camera is a great, compact video recording device that has a number of possible uses. The Conbrov’s long battery life, adjustable camera head, and small form factor offset some minor control issues and make it a bargain solution for a range of needs.

The Conbrov comes in a nondescript cardboard box. Conbrov isn’t much on packaging design, but everything you need is included.

In the box:

  • Conbrov T11 Mini Spy Camera
  • Micro USB to USB-A cable
  • Factory reset tool
  • Instruction manual

Inside of the box you will find the Conbrov T11 Camera, a Micro USB to USB-A cable, an instruction manual and a small tool used to factory reset the unit. To function properly and to save footage, the camera requires a Micro SD card up to 32gb, which is not included with the camera.

The camera itself has a very simple design. A black plastic textured housing holds the electronics and non-replaceable battery. The adjustable camera head has a lens at its center and is surrounded by six black LED lights for night vision use. The small raised dome at the center of the Conbrov is a passive infrared sensor (PIR) which allows the camera to detect motion by measuring infrared light radiating from objects in the camera’s field of view.

On the bottom of the camera there are three control buttons, an audio switch, a factory reset hole and a tiny multi-colored LED. The three buttons are for power, recording and to activate the motion detection mode. The switch enables or disables audio recording. There is also a tiny LED status light next to the power button. The LED turns blue when powered on, yellow when charging and red when in motion detection mode. The light is small and very difficult to see, which sometimes makes it hard to know which mode the camera is in.

There is a small Micro SD card port on the back of the camera along with a Micro USB port.

The camera’s lens has 120° angle allowing for great coverage of an area. The PIR sensor has a 60° detection angle and is effective to a range of about 15-20 feet. The camera head itself is adjustable and can flip completely over 180° to face the rear of the camera.

This adjustability comes in handy when placing the camera in stealthy locations. Although, because of the raised PIR sensor on the front and the Micro SD card on the back, you can never really lay the Conbrov completely flat on the length of its body. You can, however, adjust the camera head up slightly to compensate. Also, the PIR sensor only works properly if it is facing in the same direction as the camera lens.

The camera can be set to record in two different modes; constant recording or motion detection. Activating the different modes was a bit hit or miss for me though. I would have to hit the buttons several times before getting the correct color LED to show up or to power the unit off.

Both recording modes work when powered solely by the battery or when connected to a 2A USB power source. In my tests, when recording continuously on battery power the camera recorded a little less than four hours of footage, which is right in line with the manufacturer’s claims. When connected to a power source and set to continuous record, the camera can capture footage indefinitely in ten minute long blocks. When recording in motion detection mode, the camera records in one minute long blocks. When the Micro SD card fills up, the camera overwrites the oldest files and starts again.

You can retrieve and view your recorded videos by connecting the camera to your PC or Mac via the USB cable and mounting the camera as an external hard drive. Alternatively, you can remove the Micro SD card and use a card reader. All of the recorded videos are time-stamped and are labeled numerically on the Micro SD card.

 

One problem I ran into was that the L-shaped Micro USB head on the cable that is included with the camera makes it impossible to place the camera in its default standing position while recording and connected to a power source unless it’s placed precariously on a thin ledge. Luckily, the Conbrov works with any Micro USB cable. I tested several other cables of different lengths and manufacturers and they all worked fine.

Conbrov included a small reset tool with the camera. You can factory reset the camera by inserting the tool into a small hole on the back and pressing the internal reset button. You’ll have to reconfigure the time and date settings after doing this.

Footage from the camera is of decent quality. But, even in well-lit areas the footage is grainy and either blown out or completely black in high contrast areas. The night vision seems to activate too early in low-light situations and works well, but in complete darkness, the camera is reliant on the six small LEDs for illumination. Because of this, visual range in complete darkness is limited to only about 3-5 feet in my tests.

Stills from Camera Capture

Low light scene. Click image for larger version

 

Well-lit scene. Click image for larger version

One other issue I had with the camera is that the motion detection activation is quite slow, often activating the camera several seconds after motion is detected. This is indicated in the manual and might not be an issue for some, but the recording will never include the initial motion event.

Conbrov states that the camera has a maximum of one-year battery standby when fully charged. I haven’t had enough time with the Conbrov to prove this statement, but I used the camera off and on for about two weeks, keeping it in my bag between uses and it was always powered and ready to use. A battery level indicator would be great. Currently, the only power level indication is the camera’s small LED changing to yellow when charging and off when fully charged.

The Conbrov T11 Mini Spy Camera is a fun little device. I found uses for it as a body cam, a dash cam, and even an action cam. Of course, it can also be used as intended as a security or nanny cam. The price and functionality of the camera make it a great buy.

Specifications:

  • Size: 4.3 x 3.1 x 2.1 inches
  • Weight: 9.6 ounces
  • Battery: LiPo
  • PIR detection angle: 60 degrees
  • PIR detection distance: 5-10 meters
  • Camera angle: 120 degrees
  • Max day time recording time: 4 hours
  • Max night vision continuously recording time: 1.5 hours
  • Full-Charging time: 3.5 hours
  • Camera Resolution: 720P
  • Camera FPS: 30FPS
  • Max SD storage: 32GB

 Source: The sample for this review was provided by Conbrov. Please visit their website or Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $64.99
Manufacturer: Conbrov
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Micro SD Card up to 32gb
Pros:
  • Small
  • Long battery life
  • Affordable
  • Many uses
  • Works on battery power or plugged into power source
Cons:
  • Controls difficult at times
  • Motion detection slow to activate
  • Non-replaceable battery
  • Motion detection only works in one position

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Conbrov T11 Mini Spy Camera Review originally appeared on on May 2, 2017 at 8:30 am.

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This one time at space camp… I built a Saturn V rocket out of LEGO


Oh LEGO, you know the way to a geek’s heart is through their love of rockets and space. Just take a nice long look at this ultra cool model of the NASA Apollo Saturn V rocketship. Designed by Felix Stiessen and Valérie Roche of the LEGO Ideas team, this model is a 1:110 scale replica of the rocket that was the first one to put humans on the moon and it also launched Skylab.

This LEGO model stands over 3 feet tall and features 1969 pieces which just happens to be the year that the Saturn V took the first humans to the moon.

Included with the model are 3 minifig astronauts and 3 stands that allow you to display the Saturn V in sections horizontally.

The model will be priced at $119.99 and will be available on June 1st, 2017. For more info go to the LEGO Ideas blog.

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This one time at space camp… I built a Saturn V rocket out of LEGO originally appeared on on May 2, 2017 at 7:39 am.

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Aukey EP-B39 neckband wireless Bluetooth headphones review


From its beginnings in Germany in 2005 and relocation to Mainland China in 2010, Aukey has produced a steady stream of clever devices and earned a substantial customer fan base for quality at a reasonable cost. Their new EP-B39 Bluetooth headphones are no exception. 

The headphones arrived in an easy-to-open cardboard box with a form-fitting plastic insert to keep them from rattling around. Included inside were a tiny instruction manual, warranty card, two additional ear tip sets, and an eight inch Micro USB cable. Unless you plan on dangling these headphones from the charging adapter like grapes hanging on a vine, I would suggest using a longer cable. Chances are, Dear Gadgeteer Reader, since you are reading this, you probably have several lying about 🙂 .  Aukey is confident enough in their quality that they offer a two-year warranty that I find refreshing.

The power supply is not included but uses any 5 Volt DC USB source. Initial charging was a reasonable two hours, using a 2.1 Amp “wall wart,” but your mileage may vary depending on the current your power supply can provide. I was eager to test their touted “20-hour playtime” claim so I put them into operation immediately.

Pairing was a simple one-button procedure with no surprises. Next, I selected the medium-sized earbud tips and turned on the music. One issue I ran into was the cords exit the earbuds at an angle I found irritated my ears after prolonged use. As for the neckpiece, I noticed the weight, but it was never uncomfortable.

One of my gadget pet-peeves for portable electronics is short battery life. I generally look for devices that can supply my gadget-craving needs for an entire workday, 9 hours, without needing to be re-tethered. In my book, if a device has to be frequently reconnected to recharge, it’s not very mobile. In this respect, the EP-B39 headphones do not disappoint. Over the course of seven days, listening for two to three hours each day, they did not require recharging. By my calculations, the headphones provided my musical needs for 19 hours without missing a beat and were still going strong. After recharging the second time, they played music continuously for a whopping 22 straight hours, beyond the manufacturer’s claim of 20 hours. Impressive! Well done Aukey!

My music tastes are very eclectic so I pulled up a playlist that included classical, jazz, heavy metal and pop. When Rimsky Korsakov’s “Russian Easter Festival” started, I found the treble lacking “crispness” and the bass a bit “muddy.” The audio quality of these headphones probably won’t be wowing any audiophiles, but to be fair, the sound is, well… decent. It was certainly good enough to listen to a few dozen albums. For the price, I didn’t expect reference quality so I really can’t complain.

The flexible ear tips created a good seal between the earbud frame and the side of my skull, reducing extraneous noise to tolerable levels. The isolation was good enough for me to mow the lawn listening to Pink Floyd’s “Division Bell” at a volume that wouldn’t cause hearing damage, but still, I could still hear quieter passages. Call audio was very good, but the person I was connected to complained about loud static several times. On subsequent calls, I received no complaints.

Controls are limited to an on-off slide switch, volume up and down pushbuttons surrounding a central button for play/pause and answer/disconnect. Audio track forward and reverse controls were absent.

Overall, I really liked the Aukey EP-B39 headphones. The battery life is outstanding, audio quality is acceptable and the price is reasonable. I would have liked to see track controls, slightly redesigned earbud cord exits, but in my book, these headphones are a winner!

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

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Aukey EP-B39 neckband wireless Bluetooth headphones review originally appeared on on May 1, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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The highly anticipated Monoprice Maker Select Mini 3D Printer V2 is now shipping


After teasing at CES in January, Monoprice has started shipping the Maker Select Mini 3D Printer V2. This is one of the most widely acclaimed entry-level 3D printers on the market. The V2 boasts some exclusive improvements to the V1 including an all-metal print nozzle and mainboard cooling fan,  as well as some ergonomic improvements. 

Look for my first foray into 3D printing and a detailed review in the next few weeks. For more info on this printer visit Monoprice. The Maker Select Mini 3D Printer V2 is priced at $219.99 and can be purchased directly from Monoprice or Amazon.

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The highly anticipated Monoprice Maker Select Mini 3D Printer V2 is now shipping originally appeared on on May 1, 2017 at 7:00 am.

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Urbanears challenges you to get active with their new Stadion headset


Earlier this week Urbanears introduced their new Active collection including the light and flexible Stadion wireless Bluetooth headset that features stretchy coils and EarClick technology for a custom fit that is comfortable for any head shape.

With a sweat-proof design and a 3-button control on the back, the Stadion wireless Bluetooth headset lets users shuffle through their favorite music, adjust volume, and answer calls without worrying that the headset will get in the way or fall out of their ears.

“It can be a challenge finding the right pair of workout headphones that deliver your music without feeling restrictive,” says Oscar Axhede, Chief Evangelist & Co-founder, Urbanears. “With Stadion, we wanted to remove as many distractions as possible and make something that would almost become a part of you. It’s lightweight, there’s no cords, nothing that bounces. It’s just an easy, dependable fit you don’t even have to think about.”

Urbanears Stadion comes in four colors and is now available for purchase for $99 at urbanears.com, and soon at select retailers worldwide like Amazon.

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Urbanears challenges you to get active with their new Stadion headset originally appeared on on April 30, 2017 at 2:59 pm.

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