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Elgato Eve Energy Switch & Power Meter and Eve Button review

I’m particularly fond of home automation and have enjoyed making things light, whirr and spin with a poke at my phone or voice command. Adding the ability to monitor mower is icing on the cake so I was eager to give Elgato’s Eve Energy Switch & Power Meter and Eve Button a try.

What is it?

Eva Power Switch & Power Meter devices allow the control of a single socket via a smartphone app or Siri. Equipped with power monitoring functions, the app allows activation/ deactivation and power draw analysis for the connected appliance.

Adding the Eve Button allows remote control of Eve Power Switches without the need of a smartphone…

Hardware Specs

        Eve Wireless Switch & Power Meter

  • Plastic housing
  • Dimensions: 2.6 x 1.9 x 2.6 inches
  • Weight: 3.04oz
  • Power Rating: 120VAC, 15 Amps/1800 Watts maximum load
  • AC Frequency: 50/60Hz
  • Interior use only

Eve Button

  • Plastic and aluminum housing
  • Dimensions: 2.1 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches
  • Weight: 1.28 oz.
  • Power Rating: 3.0VDC, CR2032 lithium coin cell battery included

What’s in the box?

        Eve Wireless Switch & Power Meter

  • Eve Switch
  • Instruction manual
  • Quick-start manual

Eve Button

  • Eve Button
  • Instruction manual
  • Quick-start manual
  • Several sets of device icon stickers

Design and features

The Eve Switch and Eve Button cardboard packaging are full-color and attractive looking. There is ample support to keep the contents from being damaged in transit. The quick-start manuals have easily understood graphics. The instruction manual is very tiny.

Because of the case design, it’s not possible to plug in two Eve Switches into a single two-outlet socket. However, it is possible for another 3-prong grounded plug to fit in the second socket with the Eve switch plugged into the first. This has been a shortcoming of other manufacturers that Elgato has addressed nicely, although a case design that allows two Eve Switches in a single duplex outlet would be advantageous.

Connecting the sockets to Apple Home was super simple – just plug in, open Apple Home on your iPhone, click the + to add a new piece of hardware, Select “Add Accessory,” Allow the camera to scan the device code, Click the new device “icon,” wait for the confirmation and done and works without installing the Eve app. After successfully adding the switch, Apple Home allows the user to specify the room and give the new switch a name that can be used to verbally turn the connected device on or off. It’s very cool to be able to issue a voice command like,”Hey Siri, turn on the coffee maker.”

Here’s where the Elgato Eve is different: Once connected and functional, the Eve app shows the status,  power consumption, projected cost, total consumption, total cost (based in my energy rate taken from my electric bill), Current (Amps) and voltage. For someone looking to reduce energy costs, this is a valuable tool to find out what’s sucking the energy out of your home. I connected a small 3-cup rice cooker to the Eve Switch and turned it on. Over the next, I watched the power consumption while cooking and warming modes. The Eve app gave me an overview of my little rice cooker’s usage.

I can see this being a great tool for determining where my home appliances are wasting energy. It will be interesting to use the Eve Switches to monitor parasitic drain devices and reduce electrical costs.

The app also provides a mechanism to create scenes, turning any Apple Home devices on and off dependent on environmental issues. It’s not as comprehensive a list of trigger conditions I’ve seen in other products, but in testing everything works well.

Next, I linked the Eve Button to my Apple Home account. The switch is small and sleek and has three button modes – single press, double-press, and long-press. Each mode can be configured to perform tasks on any Apple Home device but requires an Apple TV hub to configure and use. I don’t have one at the time of this writing, but it’s on my wish list. I envision using the Eve Button to turn an entire house of lights on or off at the end of a busy day without the need to go from room to room. Elgato includes stick-on rubber feet and several sheets of appliance icons that can be applied to the Eve switch as a reminder of what it’s configured to control. A nice touch.

 

What I like

  • Snazzy looking
  • Easy configuration
  • Only one can be used per duplex socket
  • Capable app with energy usage feedback

What needs to be improved?

  • It would be nice if an Apple TV hub were not needed.

Final thoughts

I found the Elgato Eve Switches and buttons cost-effective, well-constructed and reliable. The switches work similarly to other manufacturers, but the energy collection data is top-notch.  I am looking forward to fully implementing the system and getting the Eve Button working.

Price: Eve Energy Switches $49.95. Eve Button $49.93
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Elgato.

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Elgato Eve Energy Switch & Power Meter and Eve Button review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 25, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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STM Bags Banks 15″ Laptop Backpack review

Who says business casual has to be dull? The STM Banks Laptop Backpack is a great looking daypack designed to organize your work life, with some clever extras to make your daily commute easier. Let’s check it out!

What is it?

It’s an 18L backpack designed to carry your laptop and daily essentials.

Hardware specs

  • Main material(s): 100% polyester
  • Outer dimensions: H 17.9 x W 12.4 x D 6.5 in / H 45.5 x W 31.5 x D 16.5 cm
  • Device space: H 10.04 x W 14.76 x D 1.18 in / H 25.5 x W 37.5 x D 3 cm
  • capacity: 18 L
  • weight: 1.96 lbs / 0.98 kg

Design and features

Hailing from Australia, the STM Banks Laptop Backpack is all about modern style. A trim, squared profile is highlighted by little design elements (like that racing-stripe fabric strip) that add a bit of sportiness to the overall look. This bag fits right in at the business casual workplace.

The form factor of the Banks is a two-chamber top loading daypack. At a compact 18-liter size, it’s made to organize your tech and work essentials. As we’ll see in the walkthrough, there are some bonus “easter eggs” in the design that add even more functionality.

Your laptop rides in it’s own padded compartment that sits closest to your back, and is accessed by a separate top zipper. This chamber uses what STM Bags calls the “SlingTech” design: it’s suspended above and away from the edges in the main compartment of the bag to protect against impacts. A 15” laptop or large tablet (not both) will fit in this space, and two additional padded vertical pockets will accommodate a notebook, a standard sized tablet, or documents.

The main chamber is accessed from the second top zipper and serves as your open storage space. There’s an additional padded sleeve on the rear face that will take up to a 12.9” iPad Pro in its case, and a fleece-lined top pocket on the front face for delicate electronics or your sunglasses. The whole chamber is 5” deep, but note that this space is shared with the laptop compartment. You’ll have room for some extras if you add a laptop and a tablet, but things start to get tight pretty quickly. 

Moving to the outside of the bag, you’ll find 4 additional storage areas. A 5” by 9” pocket on either side of the bag is sized up for water bottles, but there’s no elasticity to these pockets to accommodate larger hydration bottles. A 5 1/2” by 9” horizontal pocket at the top of the front face serves as multifunctional quick stash area. 

There’s also a 10” by 8” pocket on the bottom of the front  face that’s includes two padded smartphone-sized pockets backed by an internal zippered pocket for smaller bits and doodads. 

There’s also a key leash hidden in that rear zippered pocket. This is always worth bonus points to me. I love the convenience of key leashes. Every bag should have one.

The Banks Laptop Bag also includes a 5” by 10” matching accessory pouch called “The Stash.” It comes attached to an 8” tether in the main compartment, and can be unclipped and removed from the bag if you’d like to use that tether for something else. It’s a generous size for wrangling cables, pens, and any other items that may be less frequently needed.

The STM Bags Banks Laptop Backpack also has a feature called “Cableready” organization. Tucked away against the side panel in the main chamber is a velcroed pocket that will hold a portable charger, along with a hook to keep the charging cable attached the side of the bag. Both the laptop chamber and lower front pocket have pass-through portals so that you can charge your accessories on the go. If you have a multi-port charger, you could theoretically charge a smartphone and tablet simultaneously. Very, very clever.

Here’s the charging cable hooked up to my iPad riding in the laptop compartment.

And here it’s been snaked through to the front compartment to charge my iPhone.

As far as carry goes, the pack features two padded & adjustable shoulder straps and a sternum strap to tweak the harness to your ideal fit. The shoulder straps and back pad both use air mesh surfaces to improve breathability. A nylon grab handle at the top of the bag is also included for quick maneuvers. Padding is generous on both the back panel and the shoulder pads.

I really like the finishing on the STM Bags Banks Laptop Backpack. The primary textured weave material is classy and has a nice soft-touch feel. Internal surfaces are soft with additional quilted padding or fleece lining built into the delicate electronics pockets. Little finishing elements like fabric zipper pulls, angled pockets, and nicely-finished shoulder straps add some class and style to the bag. 

Performance

The STM Bags Banks Laptop Backpack makes for a great compact office daypack. Its trim size rides close to your back, which is ideal for maneuvering in crowds. It will also work perfectly as an under-the-seat carryon. Here are some size pics for reference (I’m 5’10”, 190 lbs.):

Did I mention the business casual style? This is the perfect bag for that look. Not too formal, but not so casual that it looks like you just wandered into the office from the hiking trail.

I really like the layout of this bag for the work essential minimalist. If you’re rolling in with your laptop, tablet, notebook(s), some folders, and the required accessories… you’re good to go. You won’t get your gym gear in here, but you can fit a lunch, a power brick, and some small extras in there even if the laptop area is fully loaded.

Those little design extras really elevate this bag for me. The included accessory bag is great by itself, but including a tether that allows you to pull it out without detaching it from the bag is brilliant (I’m always fumbling for something on the train). The charging solution is equally brilliant, providing a permanent place for your portable charger that stays nicely tucked out of the way. Both of these additions are well thought out for practical use, and I appreciate that level of detail.

If there is one flaw in the STM Bags Banks Laptop Backpack, it’s in the pockets on the front face of the bag. I don’t have especially large hands, but I find myself struggling with the tight openings. Especially that lower front pocket… the opening is a narrow space that constricts access to the two smartphone pockets and the rear zippered compartment. Getting through both layers of zips can be a bit of a wrestling match. It’s actually a plus for keeping out wandering fingers if you’re in a crowded space, but it can be a bit annoying if you’re trying to get to your keys quickly.

What I like

  • Contemporary look.
  • Great size and organization for tech and work essentials.
  • Bonus tethered (and removable) matching accessory bag.
  • Clever solution for charging devices on-the-go (you’ll need to bring the charger).

What needs to be improved

  • Check your daily carry requirements to see if the smaller size will work for you.
  • Water bottle pockets won’t stretch to fit larger hydration bottles.
  • External pockets on the front face have tight openings which may not work for larger hands.

Final thoughts

If you like compact & efficient work organization but prefer a backpack over a shoulder bag, you’ll love the STM Banks Laptop Backpack. A well organized layout, excellent finishing, and little design extras make for a great overall package. Just keep in mind that it is a compact bag, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.

Price: $129.95
Where to buy: But it at the STM Bags Site or on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by STM Goods.

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STM Bags Banks 15″ Laptop Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2018 at 11:10 am.

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Trilens review

A few weeks ago, I wrote a news story on an innovative piece of photography gear called Trilens. Our readers commented and I promised an in-depth review if possible. Friidesigns is the company that makes the Trilens, and they responded by sending a sample for just such a review.
So, here goes:

What is it?

The Trilens is belt mounted rotating lens holder designed for photographers, to securely carry up to 3 camera lens for quick and easy swapping while on the go.

What’s in the box


1 X Trilens
1 x Set of magnets
1 x Adhesive strips
3 x Trilens caps
1 x Belt clip
1 x Carry pouch

Design and features

The Trilens is very well built, and the fit and finish are second to none. The materials that are used make it lightweight but yet solid, and I definitely feel like I can trust it to effectively secure my valuable lenses. Even the inlaid logo is well done and a nice touch. The mechanism that attaches the Trilens to the belt clip is all metal, as well as the body of the Trilens.


The belt clip feels strong and is possibly made of ABS plastic. It includes belt loops and a spring-loaded pin to add or remove the Trilens.

Each of the three lens receptacles comes with a screw on cap and each receptacle is separated and isolated from the other. My sample is designed to accommodate the Canon EF mount, but it is also available for Nikon F or Sony E/FE lenses.

Each lens receptacle has a spring loaded release that must be disengaged to release the lens. While it can be easily and quickly disengaged, it is also very secure. The center of gravity of the Trilens works well, keeping the biggest and heaviest lens at the perfectly balanced position. Regardless of the size or the weight of the lens, the Trilens rotates easily to reach the lens of choice. It can be used with up to 3 lens and remains in place with any combination of lens.



Also included is a set of magnets and adhesive strips that can be attached to the actual lens caps belonging to each specific lens. Once attached, the actual lens caps can be used instead of the included Trilens caps, making swapping each lens much easier and quicker.
When I wrote the news story, one of our readers was concerned about dust getting into the individual chambers/receptacles. I do believe that there is no additional risk because each one is isolated, and the same care that would be used to protect the lens from dust will work with the Trilens.

What I like

I really like the way the Trilens secures the lenses and manages the center of gravity. I like the materials it is made of, and the thought that was put into the design. The belt clip will accommodate most photography gear belts and everything seems built to last.

What can be improved

I am finding it very hard to come up with something that needs improvement on the Trilens. It is well designed and thought out for its intended purpose. I guess the only change I would suggest is that the belt clip could be made from some lightweight metal, to provide and even better level of sturdiness, and less of a chance of breaking.

Final thoughts

The Trilens is simply a well thought out piece of photography gear that works very well and is built to last. The only possible weakness I can determine would be the possibility of issues with the spring loaded releases for the lenses. However, I did not find any current evidence that would suggest such a failure. Regardless, it is now a permanent attachment on my photography gear belt, and will be with me on every shoot when I use the belt, and need to carry and use multiple lenses.

Price: $122
Where to buy: Friidesigns
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Friidesigns.

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Trilens review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Nonda ZUS Heavy-Duty USB-A to Lightning Cable review

Charging cables come with every new phone or tablet we buy. Here at the Gadgeteer, every time someone comes out with a new wrinkle in materials or configuration, however, we are asked if we want to review the third-party versions. When Nonda sent their ZUS USB-A to Lightning cable to us I jumped for it. There are a plethora of options and offerings out there, even if we limit them to just USB-A to Lightning cables. So, why would I particularly notice this one? It has a right-angle plug.

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

What is it?

The ZUS is a 4-foot (1.2 m) cable that has undergone the strenuous testing required to be approved in Apple’s MFI program. That means it can wear the label “Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad”. It has a heavy-duty layered construction in the wire and the connectors, making for a far superior product than the OEM versions. (The pictures in this article show a standard Apple cable in white and the ZUS cable in black for comparison. Note the thickness of materials in the connectors and the strain-relief collars.)

Hardware specs

  • Apple MFi certification.
  • Protected with Carbon Fiber.
  • Lifetime Warranty.

What’s in the box?

Cable with Velcro tie-strap and warranty card

Design and features

The ZUS is a heavy gauge wire, wrapped in a carbon-fiber sheath. This, in turn, is wrapped in an EMI shield, and then in a PVC jacket. This is already one layer more than run-of-the-mill cables, but Nonda then encases the whole thing again in a braided nylon outer skin. At each end, they add heavy-duty stress relief collars and a steel body around the inner wiring of the connector. The wiring just beyond the strain relief collar has been tested to see how many times it can be bent back onto itself. Normal cables are tested to still operate optimally after 5000 bends. Nonda cables surpass this more than ten times this level, with 52,000 bends.

I weighed one of my Apple cables (3 ft/1 m) and found it was 18 grams. The Nonda cable (4 ft/1.2 m) is 27 grams. Even if you give Apple another 6 grams for the extra foot of cable, the Nonda weighs 2 full grams more, meaning there are denser materials – or at least, more of the materials that are there. While weight can’t be counted directly as part of the durability of the cable, my experience has led me to believe this to be true. Your mileage may vary.

What I Like

  • High-Quality materials
  • Strong anti-stress collars to prevent fraying at connectors
  • Steel shell around connector core
  • Over-engineered wire structure for longer performance

What needs to be improved

  • I can’t think of anything

Final thoughts

I have bought dozens of cables, and have been given or had bundled with devices I have gotten probably double that. I used to buy the “cheaper than OEM but MFA-approved” versions, but lately, I have bought several cables similar to this Nonda cable for the same reason I like it: it is truly heavy-duty, and won’t fizzle out on me or damage my devices by developing a short. I’ve come to look at cables as an investment in my devices. If I charge it with a poor quality cable, there is a high likelihood that the power is going to be hampered in some way, and either take longer to charge, or somehow compromise the built-in safety mechanisms the device builders put in place. Or, at the time I need to depend on it, that cheap cable is going to burn out, and I’ll not be able to charge at all. In the immortal words of that internet meme: “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

Price: $25.99
Where to buy: Nonda or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Nonda.

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Nonda ZUS Heavy-Duty USB-A to Lightning Cable review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Geekbes USB Smart WiFi Plug review

Over the past decade, I’ve slowly been adding automation to my home, starting with X-10. Powerful new devices, like Geekbes Smart WiFi Plug, have made it easy to remotely control lamps and appliances with ease, even when outside my home.

What is it?

The Geekbes Smart plugs are single-socket, WiFi modules that turn on or off plug-in electrical devices using a smartphone app, Alexa or IFTTT. Additionally, each unit is equipped with a pair of USB power sockets.

Hardware Specs

  • Plastic housing
  • Dimensions: 3.75” x 2.25” x 1.2” (94.7 x 56.8 x 30mm)
  • Weight :3.8oz (107g)
  • Power Rating: 125V AC 10A
  • AC Frequency: 50/60Hz
  • Operating Temperature: -10C~+40C
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz b/g/n
  • App Support: Android 4.1 and iOS8.0 or higher

What’s in the box?

  • 2x Smart Socket
  • 1 x User Manual

Design and features

The Geekbes Smart Sockets arrived in a subdued cardboard box with black print. The instruction manual provides a QR code for downloading the app and walks through the configuration, Amazon Eco, and IFTTT integration. It’s simple and efficiently written, but be prepared to pull out your magnifying glass, the text is tiny.

A single Geekbes plug can be used in a duplex socket. Unfortunately, only two-prong, non-grounded plugs can occupy the adjacent socket.

Connecting the sockets was a simple process: using the app, scan the QR code, wait for the device to connect, give it a name and you’re off and running. I do have one caveat – if you use a VPN, it will need to be disabled during the connection process. I could not add any devices with my VPN enabled. As soon as the devices are connected, I reconnected my VPN and had no difficulties using the app. There is an icon-based list of devices that can be controlled with the Geekbes app, a much wider variety than other home-automation apps I’ve used.

The app is intuitive and has some desirable features.  There are several app screens one can use to turn the sockets on or off, each with different capabilities. There are also simple and complex timers and scenes that can be created. Scenes can be triggered by temperature, humidity, weather, air quality sunrise/sunset, or even another device. I found this particularly interesting as it’s possible to cascade one event through any number of Geekbes devices. Pretty slick.

Now the bad news: Temperature settings are only available in Celsius, and the list of cities is only available in (I think) Cantonese. This makes using local area weather conditions somewhat cumbersome as I don’t know what cities are represented. As the product matures, I hope to see language options improve, making usage easier.

There is a one-shot timer that can be used to turn a device on or off after a configurable delay, up to 23 hours, 59 minutes. I’ve used this function to keep the living room light on long enough to allow me to walk to the bedroom without tripping over the cat. Additionally, any number of schedules can be created to turn devise on or off at a specified time, on specific days. Think of this function as a lighting timer on steroids. For security, this works great, but I would eventually like to see the ability to turn lights on and off randomly within +/- 15 minutes of the scheduled time. This would give the home a much more “lived in” appearance as none of us turns the lights on or off at exactly the same time every day and helps avoid the “Home Alone Silver Tuna” phenomena.

Linking the Geekbes app to Alexa was as simple as opening the Alexa app and adding the skill. Alexa integration works flawlessly with a lag of only a few seconds. My wife and kids love this.

What I like

  • Well-constructed
  • Easy configuration
  • Capable app with many timing and automated control options
  • Alexa  and IFTTT integration

What needs to be improved?

  • City list in other supported languages (English, German and, Japanese are stated, but not available) is needed.
  • Fahrenheit temperature settings would be welcomed.

Final thoughts

I found the Geekbes WiFi smart plugs to be reliable, convenient and simple to set up. While some enhancements to the app would be welcomed, the system performed well. I am also particularly fond because my daughter has the habit of leaving every light in the house burning. From outside, my house looks like a cruise ship. Being able to turn lamps and other devices off without chasing my daughter all over the house is priceless.

Price: $29.99 for a pack of two
Where to buy:Amazon
Source: Geekbes

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Geekbes USB Smart WiFi Plug review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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