Reviews – Page 247

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: Bluetooth speaker

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

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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: security camera

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

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Tom Bihn Stowaway and accessories review

Tom Bihn is a legend in the carry community with a reputation for creating well-designed, impeccably constructed bags and accessories. The Stowaway is the latest creation in the Tom Bihn lineup. It’s designed as a feature-rich, compact personal carry-on that will fit under an airline seat while giving you plenty of room for your stuff. In my testing, I found that the overall design and flexibility of this bag enables it to do much, much more.

Oh, and did I mention that it also converts to a backpack? To the review!

Design and Construction

When you first size up the Tom Bihn Stowaway, you might feel underwhelmed. It’s a compact bag, measuring 14” by 9.4” by 8”. The profile is simple and streamlined, with a pair of top-carry handles and attachment points for the shoulder strap as the only external features (besides a bunch of zippers). How is this little guy going to handle all of your stuff?

The magic, my friend, is all on the inside.

Six different storage compartments are found in the bag. For smaller items, you’ll find a full-width quick grab pocket on the front face, accessed by a horizontal zipper, subdivided into three sections including a padded phone/sunglasses pocket. Two additional quick-access padded pockets are found on the rear face of the bag, accessed by vertical zippers, that run 2/3 and 1/3 the width of the bag respectively. The three main storage areas in the body of the bag each run the width and height of the bag and are each 1.8” deep. The middle of these compartments is accessible by a side zipper, while the other two compartments load from the top of the bag. Every square inch of the layout is maximized, allowing the Stowaway to hold an impressive amount of stuff despite the measured 12 liter carrying capacity.

On top of excellent pocket design, the layout sports numerous additional features that enhance the usability of the bag. Curved zippers on the quick-access pockets allow for easier access and keep things from accidentally slipping out. Dual zippers on the front quick-grab pocket and top-loading compartments enable left- or right-hand operation, and the zips on the top-loading compartments extend halfway down the sides of the bag to facilitate access to your gear. A centered mesh water bottle pocket subdivides the front top-loading compartment into three sections, but you can unzip it to open up the space if needed. You’ll also find 8 of Tom Bihn’s “O” rings positioned throughout the bag, providing attachment points for additional accessories (which we’ll discuss below). An 8” key strap is included in the purchase, and attaches to the “O” rings. Taken as a whole, these additions are a testament to the thought that has been put into making the Stowaway as functional as possible in day-to-day use.

The Stowaway also boasts a three-way carry system. There’s a pair of grab handles on the top of the bag for briefcase-style carry, and an excellent shoulder strap that provides both good padding and a grippy undersurface to keep it from sliding around on your shoulder. Backpack mode is achieved by unzipping the bag along the center line. The bag now opens to reveal a pair of adjustable nylon-webbed shoulder straps. The two front compartments now form the top of your backpack, while the rear compartments rest on your lower back. There are also attachment points for an optional waist strap. The whole process of converting to backpack mode (or back again) takes seconds to operate, which is really handy when you’re on the run.

Travelers and road warriors swear by the quality and durability of Tom Bihn bags, and the Stowaway is no exception. Denier HT ballistic nylon is the fabric of choice here, bringing excellent durability and water resistance in a total bag weight that’s under 2 pounds. Burly YKK zippers are used throughout the bag, and include Aquaguard water-resistant seams on all storage areas. Every bag is handmade in Seattle, and you won’t find an unfinished seam or bad stitch anywhere. It’s an astounding build, and it’s made to last.

In Use

The Tom Bihn Stowaway is a serious multitasker. The compact size, flexible layout and three-way carry system make for a bag that easily adapts to the needs of the traveler, the commuter, and the adventurer.

The Stowaway is a joy to use as your mobile office. Its compact size makes it easy to carry for extended periods of time. There’s plenty of room to stash all your chargers, notebooks, laptop, water bottle, and assorted work accessories (including some snacks). Everything is easy to get to, even if you’re on the move. You also have multiple options to organize your stuff based on your needs. And backpack mode is seconds away if you find yourself hauling armfuls of binders to that board room presentation. Personally, I like to bring doughnuts to loosen up the crowd… but that’s me.

Got a flight to catch? Meet your new personal carry on. It’s designed to fit under the stingiest airline seats, and the streamlined profile has no buckles or straps to get caught on things as you board. All of your quick-grab items (books, a kindle, travel documents, etc.) have a well-organized place in the outside pockets for easy access. The main storage areas will handle your laptop or tablet as well as a fresh shirt, socks and underwear for an overnight trip. You could ditch the laptop and pack a light change of clothes for a long weekend. The convertible backpack mode allows you to quickly get hands free if you’re grabbing a coffee and sandwich at the terminal before boarding, or navigating your carry-on bag down the aisle. Again, options galore.

Just for fun, I decided to test out the Stowaway as my one bag for a recent two-day camping trip as my go-bag. I swapped out the office gear for two days worth of light clothes, toiletries, medicines, and some camping tools. The Stowaway was happy to be stuffed in a small space in my (overpacked) trunk for the drive, and served as a well-organized station for all my stuff in the tent when we hit the campsite. No fumbling around for my glasses and flashlight in the middle of the night when that “mysterious noise” is heard. Bliss.

I hope you’re getting the idea here. As a flexible multitasker, the Stowaway is a little beast. And it’s durability ensures that it will happily take out any punishment that your wandering throws your way.

Adding Accessories

While all Tom Bihn products stand on their own as carry solutions, the bags really start to shine when you start to add their accessories to customize your kit to your specific needs. Let’s look at some specific examples.

Over the years I have a collected a variety of different sized Tom Bihn organizer pouches, and I can’t live without them. Stash your small bits into the pouches, clip them to the “O” rings, and your organization reaches a zen-like state of bliss. Padded pouches, mesh pouches, clear pouches, pouches for business cards, pouches for first-aid gear… Tom even makes one designed for knitting tools. The combinations and possibilities are endless.

I’d also recommend the Tom Bihn zipper pulls. I was provided a set of these for this review. Not only do they provide easier zipper operation, but they add some noise dampening to clanky zipper dongles. Check out the instructions for customizing your installation to match your style preference… it’s a magical little detail that will make you smile.

I was provided a pair of Stowaway Packing Cubes for this review. Travel blogs have been singing the praises of packing cubes for years, and these are custom designed so that two of them will fit perfectly side-by-side in any of the three main compartments. For my camping trip I was able to stash three t-shirts in one cube and two days worth of socks & underwear in the other, keeping my clothes separated from the rest of my stuff. I’m a fan.

I was also provided another new accessory to test for the review: the Tom Bihn Cubelet. Measuring in at 5.1” by 5.1” by 2.1”, it’s intended to wrangle all of chargers and cables. This little guy goes everywhere with me, keeping my Apple charging accessories and headphones from creating a rat’s nest in my bag.

These examples only scratch the surface of the list of accessories Tom Bihn provides on their web site. If you need something to make your work/travel life a little easier, they probably have it. Just go check their site out for more information.

Caveats and Considerations

The Stowaway is a great bag, but it’s not going to be for everyone. There are some specific issues related to its compact sizing that you’ll need to consider, and a few nitpicks about the three-way carry system that are worth your consideration.

First and foremost, the Stowaway is designed for a 13” laptop or an iPad Pro. I can *just* get my work-issued 14” ThinkPad in the center compartment (the one with the side zip), but larger laptops just won’t fit.

The backpack straps have no padding, and are not intended for extended carry. I don’t find them to be uncomfortable given their intended use, but it is something to consider. The option for a waist strap is nice, but I don’t know that it’s necessary in a bag this size.

I also feel that the nylon-webbed grab handles could be a little longer. I don’t think they need extra padding, but they do ride tight against the bag which may be an issue if you have bigger hands. An extra inch of length in the handles would solve for this.

Finally, it is important to note that the 3 main storage areas are relatively narrow. This isn’t a duffle bag, and you won’t fit wider items (like a pair of sneakers) in these compartments. You’ll want to check the dimensions of your usual gear loadout to make sure that you won’t have any issues.

If you think these issues may be a concern for you, I would highly recommend that you take a wander over to Tom Bihn’s amazing user-driven community forums. You’ll find a bunch of great folks that are welcoming, knowledgeable, and always willing to help answer your questions based on their own experiences. It’s worth a visit.

Conclusions and Pricing

The Tom Bihn Stowaway is a superbly designed and well-constructed bag. Despite being compact, every square inch is optimized in such a way that it carries much more than you would expect. Given the compact size of the bag, however, you’ll need to consider the sizes of your regular gear. Overall usability is excellent, providing outstanding day-to-day functionality and adaptability to both travel and business use. The three-way carry system is well-implemented, providing additional flexibility to handle whatever your journeys throw at you.

The Tom Bihn Stowaway retails for $180.00, and is available in 6 different color schemes. The Stowaway Packing Cubes and Cubelet retail for $20 each, and the Cord Zipper Pulls retail for $5 for a pack of eight (I used two packs for all the zippers on this bag). Other accessories vary in price. Check out the Stowaway and all the accessories at the Tom Bihn web site.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tom Bihn. For more info visit their site.

Product Information

Price:	$180.00
Manufacturer:	Tom Bihn
Pros:	Excellent organization and bag layout. Impeccable construction and materials. Fits more than you would expect for a 12 liter bag. Lots of additional features that add usability. Compact and easy to toss around
Cons:	Will not fit larger than 13" laptops (some 14" laptops may fit). Grab handle could be a little longer. Made for narrow items; check your regular carry requirements for fit. Unpadded backpack straps are designed ]for short trips; may not be comfortable for extended carry.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Backpack, Bags

Tom Bihn Stowaway and accessories review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 28, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Samsung Dex Station review

Ever since the first days of the Palm Pilot PDA, I’ve wanted a small handheld device that would function as my phone, my camera, and my desktop computer. One device to rule them all!

Companies like Motorola with their Atrix phone flirted with this concept six years ago, and I’ve even tried turning an Android smartphone into a pseudo computer by connecting a mouse and a keyboard using an OTG adapter. With the right apps, it’s possible to get real work done with this type of setup but working on a phone’s small display is pretty painful.

Samsung has a solution for this. It’s the DeX Station. Verizon Wireless sent me one to test. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Samsung DeX Station is a docking station for the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and Note8 smartphones. It allows connection to an HDMI display, a keyboard, mouse, and speakers, to turn the smartphone into a multi-windowed multi-tasking desktop workstation.

What’s in the box?

DeX Station
AC adapter
USB Type C cable

Design and features

The DeX Station is a black plastic module that reminds me of a bulging hockey puck.

The top cover slides open and turns into a backrest for the phone which plugs into the exposed USB Type-C connector.

The lid has a built-in fan that turns on to keep the phone cool when it is working hard from displaying multiple windows and apps.

Verizon sent me a Samsung Galaxy S8 to test with the DeX and it fit in the docking station perfectly. The DeX will also work with the Samsung Galaxy Note8, but it won’t work with other smartphones that have a USB Type-C connector. The DeX Station is only compatible with Samsung Galaxy S8 and newer devices.

Along the base of the DeX, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports that can be used to connect a keyboard and a mouse. There’s also an Ethernet port if you need a hard wire into your network.

Next to the Ethernet port is an HDMI port and a USB Type-C port which is used with the included AC adapter to power the DeX.

Setup

Hooking up the DeX Station is simple as long as you have a monitor with an HDMI input and an HDMI cable. I connected the DeX to an LG 29″ monitor. I also connected the Samsung Galaxy S8 to a Logitech K780 keyboard using a USB dongle, and I paired a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse to round out the setup.

When connecting the S8 to the DeX connected to the monitor, you’re given the option to mirror the display as shown above.

Or you can go full screen which effectively turns the smartphone into a desktop computer that can multi-task with multi-windows, a taskbar, app shortcuts, etc. The effect is pretty awesome and really made me feel like my one-device-to-rule-them-all gadget daydream had finally come true.

Launching the Chrome browser really feels like you’re surfing on your laptop or desktop and you forget that you’re using a smartphone. You can do multiple things at once like having multiple tabs open in the browser while updating files through the Play store.

My first gotcha was noticing that Gmail through the Chome browser showed the mobile version of the site instead of the desktop version which I prefer.

I tried requesting the desktop version through the browser settings and tried using an incognito window too but didn’t have any luck.

To get around this issue I tried the Samsung browser and discovered that it does allow you to load the desktop version of Gmail. Yay! The desktop version of Gmail lets me have my multiple inboxes and stars just like working on my Mac or Windows machine. This is a big deal for people like me who get eleventy billion emails a day.

Although the DeX desktop doesn’t look like your phone, notifications still come in like normal and can be accessed in a panel on the bottom right corner of the display.

You can also see thumbnails of open apps to easily switch between them.

There’s also a launcher screen with all your installed apps listed for easy launching.

And there’s a nice big settings picker window.

Working through a browser feels very much like you’re working on a laptop or desktop computer. But when you try to use some of your favorite apps, you’ll start running into issues because they probably won’t work in full-screen mode like you’d expect and want with this type of setup.

Examples of this include Words With Friends, which launches in a phone-sized window that cannot be resized.

The Netflix app has the same problem. What’s even worse is that I couldn’t get the Netflix app to load a video. It would stay on the loading screen forever. But if I tried using my iPhone to watch the same video that I was trying to pull up on the S8 connected to the DeX, it popped up just fine when using the same WiFi connection.

The Samsung internet browser usually works the best to go to the web versions of apps and services vs. the mobile apps that you have installed on the phone. So I thought I could get Netflix to work that way, but it just showed a blank black screen.

I also tried the Chrome browser but it would just launch the Netflix app.

Some apps won’t launch at all when connected to the Dex Station like Verizon’s Messages+ app and even worse, the Firefox browser won’t work at all.

However, you can use Samsung’s messages app to send SMS messages while connected to the DeX.

A few other things that I noticed:

Right mouse click is supported with Dex optimized apps.
Double-clicking the mouse to select a word in the Chrome browser in an edit window will not work but it does work in the Samsung browser.
Trying to edit images in Google Photos just brings up a blank black screen.

Who is this product for?

I was excited to try the Samsung DeX Station, but after I used it, I started thinking what I would use it for and came to the conclusion that it would not be useful for someone like me who already has a laptop at work, a laptop at home, and a tablet.

The DeX would be perfect for a minimalist who has no extra room or need for multiple computers but does have an HDMI display, a keyboard, and a mouse to use when a full-screen desktop experience is required.

I can imagine a time in the not too distant future where our smartphones really WILL be our only devices and we’ll have docks like the Samsung DeX Station at our day job and our home.

Final thoughts

I enjoyed using the Samsung Dex Station and am excited for the future of devices like this one. I would happily go down to one device if the OS on that one device was beefed up a little more, all apps took advantage of full-screen mode, and there were docks to turn the phone into a laptop and a tablet too. I think it’s just a matter of time and I can’t wait.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless. Please visit their site for more info.

Product Information

Price:	$149.99
Manufacturer:	Samsung
Retailer:	Verizon Wireless
Pros:	Easy to use Turns the phone into a desktop computer Multi-window, multi-tasking Phone charges while docked
Cons:	Most apps appear in small phone sized windows that can't be resized Netflix would not work Some apps won't work at all while docked in the DeX

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Android, docking station, HDMI

Samsung Dex Station review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2017 at 4:04 pm.

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Thinkware F800 dashcam review

I’ve been patiently waiting for the Thinkware F800 dashcam to make it to the US market since Thinkware announced their latest flagship @CES 2017, hopeful they would send one my way to review. The F800 is similar to the Thinkware F750 Julie reviewed last year in many ways. Though Thinkware has added polish and features to its latest flagship dashcam making it even more tech-worthy in the process. Let’s see if my patience has been worth the wait .

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

Like Thinkware’s previous F-series flagships, the F800 is screen-less, shaped more or less like a thick deck of cards with a growth on its side to house the lens assembly. I’m not saying that is a bad thing. I love the minimalistic, non-distracting form factor of the F800. Other than verbal/audio notifications, you can hardly tell it’s installed in my fast car being tucked behind my SLK’s rearview mirror. In addition to just looking sweet, the F800 is packed full of the latest tech, features, and Sony’s 2.13MP Exmor CMOS camera.

Specifications:

Camera	Sony Exmor CMOS 2.13MP (Same for rear camera)
Resolution	Front & Rear: Full HD (1920 x 1080P)
Capacity	Micro SD Card 16GB / 32GB / 64GB UHS-I
Recording Modes	Continuous Recording, Incident Recording, Manual Recording, Audio Recording
Sensor	3-Axis Accelerometer G-Sensor (3D, ±3G)
GPS	Embedded GPS
Power	Input Power: DC 12/24V
ETC	Security LED / Operation Status LED/ GPS Receiver LED/ Wi-Fi LED

Package Contents:

Main Dash Cam Unit
Mount with 3M tape (1ea)
Cigar Jack Adaptor
Adhesive Cable Holders
MicroSD memory card with adapter(consumable)
Quick Start Guide/Warranty Card

F800 Hardware:

The F800 is one of Thinkware’s latest dashcams featuring full HD resolution, GPS, WiFi, 3-Axis Accelerometer G-Sensor, Night Mode 2.0, dual channel recording, etc. As I said, I really like the F800’s form factor…preferring screen-less dashcams, finding them less distracting or intrusive.

The top of the F800 has four slots that slide onto the mounting plate which allows for easy installation and removal of the device. The mounting plate is securely held to the windshield by a 3M adhesive strip (vs suction cup mount). The dashcam locks into place with a secure, wiggle-free connection.

The main face of the F800 has the mute, SD card format, WiFi, and power buttons in addition to the GPS, recording, and WiFi status LEDs located on the left. The F800’s speaker is also located on the front of the device. I have to say the speaker impressed me, definitely the clearest and loudest dashcam sound I have experienced to date.

The bottom, front facing edge of the dashcam has LED security lights that are managed via the Thinkware smartphone app.

The F800’s camera is on the left side of the device, engineered to sit very close to the windshield to reduce distortion and glare. The camera housing is able to rotate vertically approximately 90 degrees to accommodate nearly any windshield angle and vehicle design.

The right side of the F800 has its video-in, power, and external GPS ports.

The top of the F800 has the recessed reset button, microSD card slot, and microphone.

Other than the mute, format, WiFi, and the power buttons, configuring, managing and viewing/downloading video is all done via the Thinkware app available for iOS and Android devices.

Setup and Management:

To customize the F800’s multitude of settings, you have to connect to the dashcam via WiFi and use the mobile app to tweak things as you like. The process requires you to press the WiFi button on the front of the dashcam, directly connect to the its WiFi (for me it is Thinkware53), then start up the app.

In addition to accessing the F800’s camera (memory card/camera/recording/road safety/system) settings, the app also provides a listing of recordings and enables you to download these files from the microSD card to your smartphone wirelessly. Each 85mb file takes approximately a minute to download. Viewing videos are definitely easier by removing the microSD card and watching them on the Thinkware viewer on your computer.

Noteworthy Features:

Built-in GPS sensor – the F800 has absolutely the FASTEST built-in GPS I have ever tested.
Driver assistance – Includes lane departure, forward collision avoidance, and forward vehicle departure warning.
Speed camera alerts – the F800 has an internal database that warns you when you’re coming up to an intersection or location with a known speed camera standing watch.
High-temperature protection system – a built-in thermal sensor protects the F800 hardware and data against intense heat by automatically turning it off to prevent overheating.
Dual channel capable (aka second camera) – Thinkware also offers a rear camera that captures HD video @30fps.
Optional Parking Mode with permanent installation – Thinkware has an optional wiring kit that allows you to hardwire their dashcams directly into your cars electrical system. This enables you to use the F800’s Parking Mode with time-lapse recording to capture video when you leave your car or regular video if it detects an impact.

Daytime Video:

Like the X550, the F800’s daytime video is good with solid resolution, excellent color, and better than usable image quality. Even though the F800 has a 2.13MP Sony Exmor CMOS image sensor, some details are lost at HD (1920 x 1080) quality video.

The F800 uses the Ambarella A12 Chipset able to record 1080p simultaneously on both channels. The lens has 140 degrees of viewing angle with little fish-eye effect.

Here is a screen capture from this video where you can make out the street sign but not the vehicle’s license plate passing by.

As I have stated in past Thinkware reviews, I firmly believe Thinkware needs to up its game in this department, bumping its higher-end dashcams up to 4MP – 2K (2560 x 1440 @30 fps) HDR video.

Nighttime Video:

Thinkware’s Super Night Vision 2.0 and Sony Exmor CMOS image sensor are very good at capturing light, producing excellent nighttime video. The example shows excellent control of glare and exposure while producing well lit, very usable video.

Thinkware Viewer:

The Thinkware PC viewer is one of the best features of using their dashcams, very well polished and intuitive. Other dashcam manufactures either create a half-baked viewer or do not offer one at all. The Thinkware viewer is an excellent integrated tool for viewing not only your driving video but speed, lat/long, Google map location, and three-dimensional G-forces the car is experiencing at any particular moment. These G-forces are illustrated in the bar graph under the video and the dial with a car in it with X- Y- and Z- axis in the lower left corner of the window. Like the X550, the F800 records in 1:00 minute blocks that are approximately 85mb in size. The only issue I had with the viewer was the Google mapping integration was a bit hit or miss but I believe it might be the security settings on my Mac and/or iPhone.

F800 vs F800 Pro:

Thinkware also creates a F800 Pro version of its flagship dashcam. Other than its very cool all black casing, I have not been able to find any significant difference between the two. The Pro version is available on Thinkware’s worldwide website but not in the US.

Bottomline:

I really like the F800’s screen-less, minimalistic form factor. This feature rich, WiFi enabled dashcam is without a doubt a keeper. I would prefer a high resolution sensor but Thinkware’s flagship device has solid video quality and definitely gets the job done. Many of the Road Safety Warning System features may not be for some users but can be disabled in the Thinkware app. The hardware, smartphone app, and viewer are all well thought out and very nicely done. If you’re in the market for a high end dashcam the Thinkware F800 is definitely worthy your consideration.

Source: The samples for this review were provided by Thinkware. Please visit their site for more information and visit Amazon to order.

Product Information

Price:	$299.99
Manufacturer:	Thinkware
Retailer:	Amazon
Pros:	Great build quality Stealthy/minimalistic form factor Good video quality (especially Night Vision) Dual channel/camera capable Quick GPS lock Excellent PC viewer Easy to install/use Solid companion smartphone app
Cons:	Needs 2K resolution Some of the driver assist features need work

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Car Gear, dash cam

Thinkware F800 dashcam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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