Tronsmart Element T6 Wireless Speaker review

First off let me proudly say that my college days of throwing obnoxiously loud house parties where the sheer volume of the party may or may not have attracted the presence law enforcement are far behind me.  Because of this, I no longer need the biggest, loudest most industrial looking speakers that appear that they were taken out the back door of a Pearl Jam show.  I now look for speakers that are portable, have crisp sound with a balanced range of highs, mids, and lows, have a long battery life and pair easily with my phone.  Check, check, check and check. 

Out of the box, the Tronsmart Element T6 is attractive and has a nice weight to it.  Not too heavy to be a burden if you want to put it in a bag for an outing but heavy enough to have that good feel in your hand…you know what I’m talking about, right?  The size comes in at 7.68″ tall with a 2.95″ diameter with a weight of 19 ounces.  All about the same as a small water bottle.  The body of the speaker is wrapped in a soft woven mesh that has a nice texture but doesn’t interfere with the sound of the speaker. Color options for the mesh covering are black as shown in this review and also red.

Pairing with my iPhone 7 plus was a breeze, just turn it on and it is already in Bluetooth pairing mode and quickly showed up on my phone’s Bluetooth menu.  Once paired, it will pair with your phone automatically the next time you want to use it.  It also supports voice calls with its built-in microphone should you receive a call while listening to music.  Simply short press the phone button to answer and long press it to hang up and resume listening to music.

The design is very simple and elegant.  All of the controls are on the top of the speaker.  The gray, bezel-like ring at the top is actually the volume control, making it easy to adjust with a simple turn when needed.  The bottom of the speaker houses the subwoofer and is slightly raised by 3 rubberized feet to allow the sound waves to escape.  This feature gives a great low end if you are listening to anything with a little or a lot more bass.

    

Powered by a 5200mAh battery, Tronsmart claims that the speakers will run up to 15 hours…I did not test this, I will take their word for it though.  Charging time is 3-4 hours for a full charge and is accomplished through a micro-USB cable (included).  The T6 does not support data transfer through the micro-USB so if you want to plug it into a device, you must use a 3.5mm audio cable (included).  Both of these ports are found in the same place on the side of the device and are protected by an attached rubberized cover.

    

The 360° surround sound makes listening to music uniform, no matter your position in relation to the speakers.  I was pleased with the sound quality and range of sound I experienced both inside and out.  Are there crisper sounding speakers or ones that will direct sound further in an outdoor environment?  Sure.  But for the price point of $45.99 on Amazon, these would be hard to beat in my opinion.

Pros: Affordable price; very respectable sound quality, volume, and range; long battery life; simple controls and Bluetooth pairing; automatically reconnects to your device after initial pairing; attractive design.

Cons:  Does not support digital data transfer through the micro-USB, and instead relies on an analog 3.5mm audio jack, which reduces audio quality in the occasion you don’t have Bluetooth; not water resistant; the User Manual recommends keeping the device out of direct sunlight or hot places (I don’t know if this is just a precaution for an electronic device or if it is a real problem.  I know most of the time I am outdoors, I am in the sun but I still plan on using this).

Overall I think the T6 from Tronsmart is a great option for those looking for a very solid portable Bluetooth speaker but don’t want to break the bank.  If you are in the market for a portable, easy to use Bluetooth speaker with very good sound quality, I would definitely recommend you consider the T6.

The sample for this review was provided by Tronsmart and can be purchased on Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $45.99
Manufacturer: Tronsmart
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Affordable price; very respectable sound quality, volume, and range; long battery life; simple controls and Bluetooth pairing; automatically reconnects to your device after initial pairing; attractive design.
Cons:
  • Does not support digital data transfer through the micro-USB, and instead relies on an analog 3.5mm audio jack, which reduces audio quality in the occasion you don't have Bluetooth; not water resistant; the User Manual recommends keeping the device out of direct sunlight or hot places (I don't know if this is just a precaution for an electronic device or if it is a real problem.  I know most of the time I am outdoors, I am in the sun but I still plan on using this).

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Tronsmart Element T6 Wireless Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2017 at 12:53 pm.

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

OneLogFire makes campfires simple and portable

My idea of camping is sleeping with the windows open. But if I was actually going to camp outside, I would consider taking a OneLogFire with me. The OneLogFire is a self-contained campfire with everything you need except a match.

These kiln dried fire logs burn from the inside out. They are made from Minnesota harvested Red Pine trees and feature a rope handle for easy transport and a non-toxic firestarter on the side of the log for easy lighting.

Each log will burn for about 2 hours and since there are no chemicals involved, you can feel free to roast marshmallows and hotdogs over them without making the food taste weird or making you glow in the dark after you eat them.

OneLogFire logs are priced individually at $18.95 from www.onelogfire.com and you can find package deals on The Grommet and Amazon.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

OneLogFire makes campfires simple and portable originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2017 at 11:19 am.

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

EZVIZ Mini Trooper wireless indoor / outdoor security camera system review

Choosing from the vast selection of WiFi security cameras that are on the market can be daunting. We’re here to make your job harder by telling you about a brand that you may not be familiar with. The EZVIZ Mini Trooper is an affordable camera system that includes a completely wire-free camera. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The EZVIZ Mini Trooper is a WiFi security camera that runs on batteries so it can be placed anywhere in or outside your home and does not need to be tethered to a power cable and does not require a cloud-based subscription service.

What’s in the box?

Mini Trooper Base Station
Mini Trooper Wire-Free indoor / outdoor camera
Magnetic base
Hardware
Ethernet cable
4 CR123A Batteries
Quick start guide

Design and features

Mini Trooper camera

The EZVIZ Mini Trooper setup requires both a camera and the base station. Let’s check out the camera first.

The 720P camera reminds me of an egg in both shape and color. This camera can be used indoors or outdoors as it has an IP65 rating and can stand temps from as low as 14° F to as high as 131° F.

The front of the camera has the lens, a microphone, a photoresistor, LED indicator, and a PIR sensor which measures infrared light radiating from objects.

The bottom of the camera has a threaded socket in the battery cover which can be used to connect it to a tripod.

The cover opens to reveal the battery compartment which can hold 4 CR123A batteries. Interestingly enough, the camera can be used with just 2 batteries like you see above. Using all 4 batteries will result in the longest runtime of up to 9 months.

The Mini Trooper camera can sit on a flat surface or you can attach the included magnetic plate to mount it on a wall.

The Base Station

The Base Station is a hub that provides a dedicated connection for up to 6 EZVIZ cameras.

If the EZVIZ Mini Trooper camera looks like an egg, I think the Mini Trooper Base Station looks like a bug.

The Base Station has built-in prongs so it can be plugged directly into an outlet. It also has an Ethernet port at the bottom and a reset switch on the side.

On the opposite side of the base station is a micro SD card slot which can be used to store video clips.

The Base Station’s “wings” are antennas that unfold to enhance the wireless signal between the cameras and the base station.

Setup

Setting up the EZVIZ system is pretty easy if you opt to plug the Base Station into your existing network router using the included Ethernet cable. You can also set up the system wirelessly, but it requires a little extra effort isn’t as straightforward.

All you really need to do is install the EZVIZ app on your iOS or Android device and follow the prompts that will tell you to plug the Base Station into the wall, load at least 2 batteries into the Mini Trooper camera, and place the camera within 300ft of the Base Station.

EZVIZ application


The EZVIZ application has a simple user interface that shows a live view of the camera with a battery indicator at the top and a timeline of detected activity at the bottom.

A messages screen shows thumbnails of events that were captured by the PIR sensor. Clicking a thumbnail will show the motion detection video if a micro SD card has been inserted into the slot in the Base Station.

Picture and video quality are decent given that the camera has 720P resolution with a 116 ° wide-angle lens and up to 25’ of night vision.



The EZVIZ Mini Trooper security camera system is really easy to use because it has a basic set of features. And that’s the problem with this system, it’s a bit too basic. It is missing some key features like the ability to manually turn off night vision, two-way audio communication, and the ability to set motion trigger areas.

At first, I noticed that the motion detection feature was very hit and miss. I could walk right past the camera waving my arms and it would not notify me of detecting motion. I finally realized it was because I was pointing the camera through a window and the camera’s PIR sensor will not work through glass. Placing the camera outside fixed that issue.

Final thoughts

There are quite a few things to like about the EZVIZ Mini Trooper security camera system:

  • Wireless camera that can be used indoors OR outdoors
  • Does not require a cloud storage subscription
  • Relatively easy to setup

But then there are things missing or lacking like:

  • Motion trigger areas
  • 24/7 recording to microSD card
  • Night vision toggle
  • Night vision is pretty weak
  • Can’t detect motion through glass

If you’ve already used other security camera systems that have some of the features missing from the Mini Trooper, this system will leave you wanting more. However, the EZVIZ Mini Trooper security camera system does make a decent first-time security camera system because it’s relatively inexpensive, doesn’t require monthly payments, and is pretty easy to set up.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $149.99
Manufacturer: EZVIZ
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Easy to setup
  • Completely wireless camera
  • Does not require a cloud storage subscription
Cons:
  • Have to use a base station
  • No motion trigger areas
  • Can't toggle night vision manually
  • PIR sensor doesn't detect motion through glass

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

EZVIZ Mini Trooper wireless indoor / outdoor security camera system review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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

Meet the new member of the Amazon Echo family: Echo Spot

“‘Echo Spot combines the popular small design of Echo Dot [it measures 4.1” x 3.8” x 3.6” or 104 mm x 97 mm x 81 mm], the display of Echo Show, and the features you love about Alexa into an all-new, stylish and compact device,’ said Tom Taylor, Senior Vice President, Amazon Alexa” (according to Amazon’s Press Release). Using Spot you can use all the features of Alexa (like ordering a pizza or requesting an Uber, controlling your thermostat or lights, or asking questions) and ask her to show you news flashes, the lyrics to Amazon Music songs, your calendar, the weather, etc. Its small design makes it perfect for use as a smart clock on your nightstand or your desk or really for any room in the house.

The Echo Spot connects to your home network via WiFi just like the other Echo devices. It has a built-in speaker you can use or you can connect it to other speakers via Bluetooth or 3.5 mm audio cable. It also has a front-facing camera so that you can make hands-free video calls or if you have one of these in each room in your house and you enable the Drop-In feature which allows you to connect it to other Echo devices, you can check in on each other (e.g. check on your baby sleeping in her room or check in on mom in the kitchen to see when dinner might be ready). Oh my gosh, I love this design and I love my Echo Dot so this has a definite future in our home. The Echo Spot comes in black or white and is available for pre-order right now from Amazon for $129.99 and will start shipping on December 19, 2017.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Meet the new member of the Amazon Echo family: Echo Spot originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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

Is the LG V30 the best new bang for your buck smartphone this year?

I just heard that the LG V30 will be available here in the US starting on October 5 from Verizon and then later on October 13 from T-Mobile. This may sound surprising, but I’m more excited to try this Android smartphone than I am to get my hands on the iPhone X which isn’t due to ship until Nov-freaking-ember.

Maybe I’m feeling this way because I’m starting to get a little bored with my iPhone 7 Plus which I’ve been using for the past 3 months. My boredom levels didn’t improve even after last week’s OS update to iOS 11 which in my opinion, didn’t feel very magical.

Maybe it’s because I got the opportunity to review the Samsung Galaxy Note8 and it reminded me of why I love Android and started giving me thoughts of running back into the arms of that loveable green robot.

It could also be due to the fact that I like LG devices and used the LG G3 for a year before moving to the Nexus 6P.

Or maybe it’s because the LG V30 is priced up to $200 less than the iPhone X, and has a microSD card slot, wireless charging, 3.5mm headphone jack, 13MP/16MP dual rear lens camera, Quad DAC audio, and a 6″ 18:9 FullVision OLED display.

The only disappointment in the specs that I noticed so far is the OS version – the V30 ships with Android Nougat (v7) instead of the latest Oreo (v8).

I can’t wait to get my hands on this phone. Anyone else interested in the LG V30?

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Is the LG V30 the best new bang for your buck smartphone this year? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 28, 2017 at 12:49 pm.

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