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Wisenet Smartcam N2 Indoor Security Camera review

REVIEW – I am one of those gadget nerds that really likes all types of gadgets, and really likes security cameras that offer security features like face recognition, the option of onboard and/or cloud storage, and programmable notifications.  In addition, the ability to hear and see what is going on remotely, and to communicate verbally completes the desired package. Let’s see what the Wisenet Smartcam N2 Indoor Security Camera can do.

What is it?

The Wisenet Smartcam N2 Indoor Security Camera is a wireless security camera that is capable of abnormal noise recognition and face recognition, has onboard and cloud storage capabilities, and can send notifications whenever a relevant event occurs.

What’s in the box


1 x Smartcam N2
1 x Power Adapter and Micro USB cable
1 x Wall Anchors and Screws
1 x Instruction Packet (Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, GPL License)

Design and features

Specifications:
Additional features

    • The SmartCam N2 only distinguishes human activity, eliminating false alert triggered by your pets.
    • The SmartCam N2 includes Motion Zone Selection that allows you to create up to 3 customizable areas in your camera’s view through the App. When it detects movements within the Motion Zone Selection area, you receive a notification on your mobile device.


On the front of the camera from top to bottom, there is the microphone, the lens, the LED status indicator, and the speaker.


The back of the camera is plain, other than the connector to the stand that allows you to rotate and secure the camera at multiple angles.


When facing the front of the camera, there is a reset button and a micro SD card slot on the left side. The Sd card slot allows you to use a micro SD card for onboard recording which like other cameras can be triggered via motion.
Since the camera is all black and the ports are harder to see, the following picture from the manufacturer’s website shows all of the physical ports and features:

Performance

This camera performs quite well, with a stable wireless connection that has never disconnected thus far, and it produces great images. It has great sound detection and it even recognizes out of the ordinary sounds which it categorizes as abnormal sounds. Its face recognition works even in very low light and once you enable the feature, it sends notifications upon detection.


The Smartcam works on both Android and IOS devices, and via the app, you get very clear and detailed images and video.


The following is a random selection of some of the numerous screens that you encounter when setting up via the App.










What I like

  • The size and design that allows the camera to be inconspicuous
  • The features
  • The lightweight but good build quality
  • The app

What can be improved

  • The price

Final thoughts

Like many of the wireless security cameras that I have tested and reviewed, this camera offers similar features and delivers very well on its specifications and promises. I really do like this camera, and while it is a solid performer, I do hesitate a bit when recommending it only because of its cost relative to other available cameras with similar features. Nevertheless, it is a well built and very functional camera, and therefore for its performance, it gets two thumbs up!!

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Wisenet.

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Wisenet Smartcam N2 Indoor Security Camera review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 16, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Kano Computer Kit Touch review

REVIEW – Have you ever wanted to learn to program/code? Or maybe you have a young child who wants to write their own programs. The Computer Touch Kit from Kano will not only help you learn the fundamentals of programming, but it will let you do that learning on a touchscreen computer that you build yourself. How much fun is that? Let’s find out?

What is it?

The Kano Computer Touch Kit is a Raspberry Pi based computer kit that helps teach kids and adults how to program using Python and Javascript programming languages.

What’s in the box?

USB Board for connecting other devices
DIY Speaker
HDMI Cable connects the screen to computer
Blocks x3 keeps parts connected
Screen Case protects the screen
Power Cables
Battery
Touchscreen Cable
Custom Raspberry Pi – 1.2GHz quad Cortex A53 – 64bit with 1GB of RAM
Power Board
SD Card
Microphone
Screen
USB Keyboard
Stickers
Storybook / User manual

Build your own touchscreen computer

Kano includes everything you need to build a touchscreen computer along with easy to read step by step instructions with clear illustrations. I felt like a little kid spreading all the colorful components on the floor around me as I sat crosslegged flipping the pages in the storybook which lead me through the steps to build the computer.




No tools are necessary for the build as everything snaps into place on the back of the touchscreen just like your favorite building blocks. Kano even includes wire routing blocks for the cables to keep everything neat and tidy.



As you place each component on the board, the book explains in basic terms the function for each part without being too technical or boring.

The computer even comes with a plastic case to protect the parts and to give it a finished look that allows you to see your handy work.


The whole setup is pretty impressive and the build process was fun without taking too long. I didn’t time it, but I don’t think it took me more than 30 minutes to put everything together.

I built a computer, now what can I do?

After everything is assembled, it’s time to turn it on and start learning to program. This is the point where I ran into two issues. First of all, the USB power adapter that was included in the package that I was sent, had a European plug style. But you can use any USB adapter that you already have. That’s what I did and it worked fine.

The next problem that really threw me for a loop for a few minutes can be seen in the image above. When the Kano computer powered up, the screen was upside down. I immediately thought that I had assembled the computer incorrectly and started feeling bummed that I would have to take everything apart and go through the building steps again. But then I looked closer at the storybook/manual and saw a small note that said you could go into the settings to flip the screen. Whew! Crisis avoided. But, I think the screen flip option should come up immediately upon bootup instead of having to find the setting once everything is running. Or maybe even have a physical switch on the side that will flip the display.

The bootup process starts out at a command line and guides you through typing in a few commands. I liked this part because I’m a Unix nerd and this kind of stuff is right up my alley.  Yeah, don’t pay attention to the fact that I left a space out of the command shown in the screenshot above 😉

After the OS boots, you’ll be greeted with a more modern interface with menus and apps that you can launch with your finger or select with the included wireless keyboard which has a built-in touchpad.

You can learn to program by using the story mode option that lets you wander around a forest to talk to people and go on quests. It reminds me of an old-school Zelda style 8bit video game. The programming sections lead you through learning sessions that help you learn how to use drag and drop modules to build and customize a program.



You will learn the fundamentals of building a program including using loops and variables. You can then make the program which will let you compile and run it. Your completed programs can be saved to memory so you can revisit and change them later.

After you go through all the lessons and built-in games, you can add more by visiting the online Kano community for more creations.

The Kano computer isn’t a one trick pony, it’s an actual computer and even comes with other apps like a YouTube viewer and web browser pre-installed.

Be aware that this isn’t going to be a computer that your child or an adult will want to use as a full-time computer because it isn’t very speedy. Certain functions feel sluggish and sometimes I wondered if the computer had crashed because there wasn’t any type of live status message on the screen that indicated that it was still working.

What I like

  • Step by step instructions make it fun and easy to build
  • Teaches basic programming fundamentals
  • The computer can be used for other things

What needs to be improved

  • Make the internet browser and YouTube apps optional for a parent to install

Final thoughts

When I was a kid, I would have absolutely LOVED the Kano Computer Kit Touch. Heck, I’m an adult now and I thoroughly enjoyed building the computer and going through the learning quests. The colorful components and step by step instructions made the process fun while injecting STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math) knowledge and skills.

Price: $279.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Kano.

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Kano Computer Kit Touch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 3:49 pm.

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Jamie Clawson leather iPhone Xs Max skin review

REVIEW – As some of you may have read, Julie and I purchased and reviewed Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone, the iPhone Xs Max. And where Julie returned hers, I continue to love using mine with zero buyers regret. Even though I got AppleCare Plus, I hesitate using the Max without protection (aka naked). The iPhone X(s) is slippery and very droppable, the Max’s larger form factor makes it even more so. From the beginning, I’ve debated case vs skin vs nothing but a screen protector. For this review, I am trying out a handmade leather skin from Jamie Clawson’s workshop in black cowhide.

What is it?

The leather skin is made from a single piece of leather that adheres to the back of your iPhone adding protection and grippability to the very slick piece of metal and glass.

Design and features

The leather skin is handmade, laser cut, and fits the back of iPhone Xs perfectly. The skin protects the Max’s very expensive to replace glass back.

The adhesive Jamie uses is made by 3M “specifically for our products”. Installing the skin is quick (less than a minute) and easy. And as I said, the leather is perfectly sized/shaped for the iPhone.

The skin is surprisingly thick, approximately 1/4 the thickness of the iPhone Xs itself. My fear is that the high edge of the leather will catch on something or the constant taking the phone in and out of my pocket will cause the edges of the skin will stop sticking/fail. Unlike Slickwraps and Brandb skins much longer warranties, Jamie only provides a 7-day guarantee against defects vs any sort of failure to adhere. 

There is no way you could put your iPhone into a case with this skin on…or at least not a very form-fitted one. Supposedly you can remove and reapply it as long as you keep the sticky side clean and schmutz-free. I will be testing this out in the next few weeks, I have several cases inbound where I will have to remove this skin when I start my reviews.

The leather skin feels great on my iPhone Xs Max and adds solid grippability to the sleek and slim device. I was a bit worried the height of the leather being an issue or irritating but surprisingly its not. Based on how I hold my iPhone, other than feeling the leather, the edge doesn’t really affect the form factor of the smartphone when in use.

What I like

  • Precision fitted for the iPhone
  • Made from high quality leathers
  • Adds excellent feel and grippability to the slippery device.
  • Protects the iPhone’s glass back

What needs to be improved

  • Surprisingly thick
  • No warranty

Here you can see just how handmade and personal Jamir Clawson’s products are…right down to the handwritten note thanking me for my order (to the best of my knowledge, he had no idea I was planning on reviewing it 😉 ).

Jamie Clawson makes his skins out of a multitude of leathers including genuine premium cowhide, calf, crocodile, ostrich, pony hair, python, stingray, etc.

Final thoughts

I have been using Jamie’s leather skin for a few weeks now and it continues to get the job done. The edges remain firmly stuck to the glass back of my iPhone Xs Max. And while the skin provides minimal overall protection, it does add grippability and provides decent protection for the back of the smartphone. With it, a tempered glass screen protector, a sure set of hands, and AppleCare Plus…I believe my fancy new $1500 tech-toy, not only feels as Jony Ives intended but is protected enough to face my hectic go, go, go lifestyle.

Price: $25
Where to buy: jamieclawson.com
Source: Purchased with my own funds from jamieclawson.com.

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Jamie Clawson leather iPhone Xs Max skin review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Zanco Tiny T1 phone review

REVIEW – Are you tired of carrying around a smartphone that can double as a piece of workout equipment because it’s so large and heavy? Then you need to take a look at the Zanco Tiny T1 phone. And when I say it’s tiny, I’m not kidding. Just ask G.I. Joe.

What is it?

The Zanco Tiny T1 phone is an insanely small phone that looks like a toy but it’s a real working phone that will work with your existing GSM SIM card for carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Sorry, Verizon and Sprint customers, you’ll not be able to use this phone.

What’s in the box?

Zanco Tiny T1 phone
Silicone cover
micro USB charging cable
Reset tool
Neck lanyard
User manual

Hardware specs

Frequency – GSM850 / GSM900 / DCS1800 / PCS1900
2G
Nano SIM
Memory – Flash -32RAM +32ROM
Display – OLED
Bluetooth
Phonebook memory – 300
Memory for SMS – 50
Battery – 200 mAh
Size – 46.7mm x 21mm x 12mm
Weight – 13 grams

Design and features

You really can’t believe how small the Zanco is until you hold one in your hand. It will fit in any pocket you have, including that little watch pocket in your jeans.

For another size reference, here’s the phone next to an SD card.

The phone has a shiny black plastic shell with a small backlit white on black OLED display and a full number pad below it along with call answer and end buttons, a four-way navigation button in the center, and two other menu buttons on either side. The design is a throwback to the candy bar style phones from years ago.

On the back of the phone, you’ll find the speaker at the top and a microphone at the bottom.

On the bottom edge of the Tiny T1 is a micro USB port that is used to charge the phone.

On the right side is a flexible cover that protects the nano SIM card slot.

I tested the phone with the T-mobile SIM card that I use in my Pixel 2 XL and the card fit perfectly with a satisfying spring loaded click.

Did the Zanco Tiny T1 phone survive my 21-year-old Gadgeteer squeeze test? Surprisingly yes it did. Although it was tough to actually squeeze something so tiny. Even though this phone looks like a toy, it isn’t going to break if you breathe on it. I bet it wouldn’t break even if it was thrown across the room. I’m not going to test that theory though.

Using the Zanco to make and receive calls

The user interface is as basic as it gets. There’s a signal strength meter in the upper left corner and a battery status icon in the right corner with one and a half lines for other info below that.

The Tiny T1 doesn’t have iOS or Android, so you can’t just say Hey Google or Hey Siri, call Jeanne at work and have it call the desired number. It does have a phonebook but good luck trying to add new numbers or access numbers that you’ve added using the tiny keys on this phone. Yes, it’s doable, but just barely.

Once you do end up calling out or receiving a call, the call quality is ok. Just don’t accidentally swallow it while you’re talking to someone 😉

And remember, this phone only uses 2G GSM, so you’ll need coverage in your area. It should also go without saying that you won’t be running Fortnite on this phone or accessing the internet with it.

Using the Zanco to make and receive SMS messages



If making a call with this little guy is tough, reading and sending SMS messages will make your eyes cross when reading them from the itty bitty display. The messages display in a ticker tape vertical scroll when you first receive them and that might make you antsy if you’re like me and want to quickly read the message. But replying using the tiny keyboard is brutally painful in a “oh my goodness these keys are tiny” kind of way. You’ll have to go back to the days of pressing a number key several times to get the right letter to build words. But again, it’s doable – if you want to do it.

What I like

  • Cute as a button
  • Fun little backup phone when you absolutely only need to be able to make and receive calls and nothing else

What needs to be improved

  • Make it bigger? Nah!

Final thoughts

I had a lot of fun with the Zanco Tiny T1 phone. But the fun wasn’t in using it to make and receive calls and texts. The fun was putting it in my pocket, going up to a friend and asking them to call me and then watching their face when the phone would ring and I would take it out of my pocket to answer it. It always got a laugh and “no way” comments. Most people also wanted to take a picture of it. So the novelty factor of this phone is very high. The fact that it actually works and can be used as a phone is also pretty cool. Would I use this as a backup phone? Nope. But if I want a tool to make people smile, I know just the one to use.

Price: $65.99
Where to buy: eBay
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Zini Mobile Ltd.

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Zanco Tiny T1 phone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 14, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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HUGOAI WiFi 1080P HD Wireless Home Security Surveillance Camera with Face Detection review


REVIEW – As technology continues to bring us more innovative gadgets, I am always on the lookout for any device that can perform multiple functions and give me more control and features that I want, in the most affordable way. The HUGOAI WiFi 1080P HD Wireless Home Security Surveillance Camera with Face Detection promises to do just that. Make sure you read to the end of this review.

What is it?

The HUGOAI WiFi 1080P HD Wireless Home Security Surveillance Camera with Face Detection is exactly as its name indicates. It is a small lightweight wireless security camera that provides HD video and images and offers several complimentary features.

What’s in the box


1 x HUGOAI Wireless Camera
1 x Micro USB Cable with Wall Adapter
1 x Base Mounting Plate
1 x Instruction Manual
1 x Wall Anchors and Screws

Design and features

Face Detection & Motion Detection – The HUGOAI camera will send you notifications when members of your family get home and alert you if a stranger is in the house. The motion detection technology monitors movements and pushes instant notifications to your smartphone.
HD Video Quality – 1920 x 1080p resolution with high-resolution live streaming and night vision with a range of up to 30 ft.
Two-way Communication – With the built-in speaker, you can remotely talk with anyone in your home in real-time by simply looking at your phone or tablet.
Remote View – This works with both Android & IOS devices, but only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. It does not support 5 GHz WI-Fi. The camera supports remote access via free-downloaded mobile App anywhere and anytime.
Cloud & Local Storage – The camera supports cloud service. Every video and picture can be stored on the cloud indefinitely. Free lifetime subscription to save 24-hour alert videos to cloud storage without space limitation. There is a fee if you want more than 24 hours stored.


There is also a built-in micro SD card slot for local recording. It supports up to a 128GB micro SD card.

On the front of this black and white camera, there is the lens in the middle, the status LED light above the lens (Flashing blue: Ready for Wifi setup, Steady blue: Camera is connected), and the LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) and microphone below the lens.

On the back of the camera, there is a speaker, the micro USB power port, and a reset button.

When facing the front of the camera, there is a micro SD card slot on the right side of the camera that allows for onboard recording that is triggered by motion.

Performance

This camera works very well and produces very clear video/images. The audible voice commands make the installation process very simple and the warning if/when it loses the wifi signal helps with troubleshooting, albeit that the loss of connectivity is an area for improvement for the camera. The day and night vision are superb.


App
The following are some of the screens within the app that you encounter during setup:





For the facial recognition feature, you can add the faces to the app of family members and/or people you want the camera to recognize. It allows you to add pictures from an existing album or to take the pictures live with your phone camera and save them to the app. The feature requires pictures from multiple angles to work properly, and for this test, I took the required 5 pictures from the phone camera and saved them to the app.





By default, the app allows the addition of one person for free, then you have to pay $4.99 to add 9 more people offered as a lifelong package purchase.


Once the “family member” picture is saved, whenever that person walks in front of the camera, it sends a notification to your mobile device and you can always click on it to see the video of the person walking in front of the camera.


What I like

  • The clear audio from the cameras including the voice prompts and instructions during setup
  • Video/image quality
  • The magnetic
  • The base that allows mounting of the lightweight camera at any angle
  • The face recognition feature

What can be improved

  • Wireless connectivity. At times the camera loses its wireless connection despite a strong wireless signal, The addition of the 5 GHz capability would help.
  • Privacy, Safety, and Security

Final thoughts

This wireless camera with face recognition does a great job, especially for the relatively affordable cost. It seems to easily recognize my face which is the one I saved in the family member area of the app. The additional $4.99 one time purchase required to add 9 more people is also quite cheap and the fact that the video is clear and the camera is very sensitive to motion and does a great job recognizing faces is fantastic. In addition, I love the mounting options that are available because of the magnetic base and plate. The downside is that if it happens to lose wireless connectivity during the night even for a moment, it announces the loss quite loudly which can be startling. Otherwise, this is a great bang for the buck and with the very responsive app and ability to view remotely, it gets a two thumbs up!! –  BUT WAIT!!! One evening, days after I finished this review, I was sitting in my kitchen working on my laptop at the kitchen table when I received a notification from the camera on my smartphone. I immediately wondered what it could be since no one was near the area of the camera. when I clicked on the notification, it took me to my screen with the videos that the camera records when it detects faces and motion. I noticed that the thumbnails of the recent videos did not look like my room. When I played the videos under the “Stranger reminds” heading, I realized that I was looking at the videos of other people in their house. Somehow I had access to their videos and my next thought was do they have videos of mine. In one of the videos, I can hear and see a person looking at their phone and reading what it said, and I quote ” This device has been bound by another user”, “please untie the device…….(clip ends)”, and the rest is hard to hear. The next video shows her looking into the camera and trying to figure out what is going on. I immediately unplugged the camera, and I will not be using it anymore. This camera started out as a “hero” but is now a complete ZERO!!!

UPDATE: Just when I thought that the worse had occurred with this camera, the next day as I was on my way into work, I got another notification from the app. This was even more startling since I had already disconnected the camera from the night before. When I clicked on the notification, I saw a video of the same house again from during the night which showed a man in his kitchen going into his refrigerator and drinking milk from the container, and then another video of a woman in the same house in the kitchen preparing to leave the house. It seems that somehow I have access to their cloud account. This has always been my fear with cloud storage that has access to cameras in my home. I really wanted to include screenshots and the videos of this most unacceptable violation in this review. However, doing so would add insult to injury considering that the family in the videos has already been unknowingly violated. We live in a world that is now overwhelmingly integrated with technology, and privacy continues to be a very credible concern. While companies continue to offer products that add automation to the processes of our daily lives, the inherent obligation should never allow for a security breach like this. There is no place for this product in today’s world.

Price: $31.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hugoai.

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HUGOAI WiFi 1080P HD Wireless Home Security Surveillance Camera with Face Detection review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 14, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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