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Sengled unveils new smart bulbs, features at CES

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AndroidGuys

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January 5, 2020

Smart lighting company Sengled has added expanded its product lineup for 2020 and is also making things smarter for the new year.

Key among the new products for Sengled is the introduction of a LED Edison Filament Bulb which adds a vintage style to its lineup. As a clear build, it packs a filament visible at a 2100k color temperature which is not only cozy, but warm.

Additionally, candle light bulbs are also coming to Sengled’s portfolio, and they’ll offer up to 16 million color options. The Smart LED E12 Candle Light Bulbs will fit in chandeliers, night lights, and ceiling fans and spruce up otherwise traditional (read: boring and uninspired) lighting.

Also joining the roster this year is a Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring. This is a great way to turn your existing lamps, lights, and appliances into smart ones. Users can remotely control the plug, schedule power on and off, and, of course, monitor the energy consumption.

It’s not just new products for Sengled in early 2020 as the company brings about enhancements to its Smart Hub. The 3rd generation is even more intelligent than ever, supporting over 64 smart lights and accessories. What’s more, it integrates with Apple HomeKit and gives users the option to use Siri in the same way it already supports Alexa and Google Assistant.

Other noteworthy feature enhancements include:

New Light Effects: Six new effects to showcase fun and style, including Festival, Christmas, Color Cycle and more.
Simplified connection: Seamless setup of Sengled LED bulbs through Amazon Alexa devices, that includes immediate connection as soon as the device is powered on.
Account Linking: The Sengled app will allow third party link capability, linking Sengled devices to Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT accounts within the app versus opening multiple apps.
Scheduling additions: Additions to the scheduling options include a dusk to dawn setting, geofencing that allows the smart bulbs to turn on automatically when the owner comes home and Vacation Mode, which turns bulbs on and off randomly at night while owners are traveling.

Availability and pricing

The Sengled Smart LED Edison Filament Bulb (2-pack) – $30
The Sengled Smart LED E12 Candle Light Bulbs – $25
The Sengled Smart Hub – $30
The Sengled Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring- $20

TP-Link debuts Deco Mesh network solutions with Wi-Fi 6 support

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AndroidGuys

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January 5, 2020

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TP-Link today introduced a new family of products for consumers looking for wireless network solutions. Joining its Deco line, the new whole-house mesh offerings are comprised of three options with varying features and price points.

The new products support the latest in 802.11ax protocols and technology, also known as Wi-Fi 6. Indeed, they don’t just blanket the home with stronger, more reliable networks, but they’ll also provide for incredibly fast speeds.

AX6600 Triband, 2-Pack (Deco X90)

With a sleek and modern aesthetic, the Deco X90 supports up to 200 devices and covers upwards of 6,000 square feet. It uses a Tri-Band mesh technology to deliver speeds and bandwidth up to 6,600Mbps and really takes advantage of the gigabit fiber speeds you’re seeing from providers in 2020.

To be clear, the speeds are broken down as follows:

574Mbps @ 2.4GHz
1201Mbps @ 5GHz_1
4804Mbps @ 5GHz_2

The so-called dynamic backhaul technology can leverage all three bands to provide super fast and stable connections between units if or when more backhaul is required. The system features a 2.5Gbps WAN port that makes full use of 1Gbps internet access speeds.

AX3000, 2-Pack (Deco X60)

Nearly as impressive, and likely more than enough for the average homeowner’s needs, the Deco X60 also serves up Wi-Fi 6 coverage speeds to around 5,000 square feet.

A dual-band technology powers this system with speeds and bandwidth that can theoretically reach up to 3,000Mbps.

Here’s how it shakes out for this system:

574 Mbps @ 2.4GHz
2402 Mbps @ 5GHz

Users can connect more than 150 devices at the same time. Even if you outfit an entire home in smart lights, phones, tablets, TV’s and other connected devices you’ll have bandwidth left over.

AX1800, 2 or 3-Pack (Deco X20)

A budget-friendly way to add Wi-Fi 6 capabilities to your home, this one is offered in two-pack and three-pack kits. Using a dual-band technology, you’ll get nearly 1,800Mbps in bandwidth.

574 Mbps @ 2.4GHz
1201 Mbps @5GHz

TP-Link doesn’t indicate how many devices can be connected to this network nor does it say how big of a footprint one might expect in the two-pack or three-pack.

All of the Deco Wi-Fi 6 Mesh systems feature TP-Link Deco Mesh Technology, which means seamless roaming, adaptive routing and self-healing. Your devices will have no problem moving throughout the home.

Users ought not worry about getting too bogged down in one particular end of the house or fear one device hogging all the bandwidth for online gaming.

Other features include DL/UL MU-MIMO technology, support for WPA 3, app control for monitoring and managing, and premium antivirus and IOT security through TP-Link HomeCare Pro.

Pricing & Availability

The Deco X90 (2-pack) will retail for $450 and is expected to be available in April 2020.
The Deco X60 (2-pack) comes in at $270 and arrives a month earlier in March 2020.
The Deco X20 (2-pack) runs $190 while the Deco X20 (3-pack) will be $270; both are expected in March 2020.

Nanoleaf offers up smarter “Learning Series” light system

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January 5, 2020

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Because it’s not cool enough to have lights that glow, dance, pulse and change colors, Nanoleaf has introduced new products that take things to the next level.

The lighting company ushers in 2020 with a new “Learning Series” of lights which aim to make things even more friction-less for users. As more intelligent lights, the new line learns from its users and reacts to needs.

As Nanoleaf advises, its new system minimizes the need for manual adjustments and even voice control. It reacts to behaviors and provides light when and where needed. From the sounds of it we’re thinking “Nest thermostat for lights” might be an apt description.

The U-IQ learning system will work with light panels and light bulbs. Indeed, the company has evolved and expanded to include bulbs which can be added to lamps, ceiling fans, etc.

The Learning Series will include a Learning Switch ($50), Button ($15), and a Bulb ($20). A Gateway will also be offered; however we’re not exactly certain of the price or if it’s sold separately. Nanoleaf will provide a starter kit for $100 but exact timing of availability is unclear at this point.

Users can mix and match to form a network of lights that gather personal behaviors. The proprietary algorithm will work to make each piece communicate with the others and predict the lighting you might need.

READ: Nanoleaf Canvas are the coolest lights in your house

An example of how this plays out in the real world might be lights that detect when you enter the room, and which slowly turn on or automatically turn off when you exit.

In addition to the Learning Series, Nanoleaf is also announcing a new interoperable Unified Light Panels family of lights which will have shape interconnectivity.

As MacRumors tells it, the first lights line will include touch-reactive Unified Hexagons which allows users to create all new configurations, including geometric layouts and replicas of characters and shapes.

As for the hexagonal shaped lighting system that Nanoleaf introduced at CES 2019? According to The Verge, it will be available for purchase later this summer in a 9-pack $120 kit with 3-piece expansion bundles at $60 each.

Simplisafe Home Security and Smartlock review

Accessory Reviews

Andrew Allen

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January 3, 2020

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Last year I started shopping DIY home security options for my home. After long studies of all the players, I went with Simplisafe and honestly couldn’t be happier. I’d like to share my overall experience along with my time with the company’s latest addition Smart Lock.

Why Simplisafe?

I’d original shopped three names: Ring, Nest, and Simplisafe. I’m not quite sure what ultimately drew me to Simplisafe, but I’m a sucker for the underdog. I backed Palm and then Android when Apple and Microsoft were still kings. I use Linux on the desktop. I seem to like the little guys.

Whether this was the deciding factor, I’m not sure, but Simplisafe seemed like a good bet. I also like that it’s not beholden, at least not as of this post, to a larger corporation. I’m sure that Ring and Nest are great products. However, I like knowing that Simplisafe has a driven focus of only providing me with security systems.

Setup

Getting up and running with Simplisafe was all in the name. Simple. Following a few steps from the included setup guide and you are good to go.

Base Station

Decide where you want to place your base station
Find the power port and plug in your station
Pull the tab for the backup battery power
Wait for the LEDs to let you know it’s ready with a nice glow

There are a few small items to consider before you continue with the setup. It’s recommended that your base station is centrally located in your home for the best coverage. You should also start mapping out the rest of your installation.

Depending on what kit package you’ve chosen, even the Essentials pre-built kit comes with one keypad and three entry sensors. Most will follow a similar path of positioning the keypad next to the main door into the house and the entry sensors on all the exterior doorways. If you want to stray from this map, you should make the preparations.

Keypads

After you’ve completed the installation, it’s time to really fire the system up. Grab the first keypad and pull the battery tab. Once you’ve introduced power, the keypad and base station will attempt a handshake. Then follow the steps.

You will be prompted to choose a master PIN
Enter the master PIN and confirm
Mount the keypad in the desired location

Mounting the keypad can be done in a couple of ways. You can choose a more temporary solution with the included 3M tape on the back of the keypad or you can make it more permanent with screws and drywall installation kit.

Addons

After performing these first few installation steps you are now ready to add your auxiliary elements of the Simplisafe ecosystem. This can include a long list of items that add features to your home security. On top of the standard entry sensors, you can add smoke alarms, cameras, panic buttons, doorbell cameras, or indoor cameras.

Every add-on follows the same basic steps to get it running go on the system. Remove the battery tab on the add-on, find add sensor from the system keypad, hit the test button on the add-on you are bringing aboard. The keypad then finds the add-on and prompts you to give it a name based on the location in the house.

The system is very flexible. You can set all this up with a one-time purchase that you max out your wallet. Or you can do like I’ve done and started with the Essential kit and then periodically added more entry sensors to my downstairs windows as well as smoke detectors. And that brings us to Simplisafe’s newest addition…

Smart Lock

After I had my system set up and used Simplisafe for some time I started really wanting a connected lock option. Luckily for me, the company launched it’s Smart Lock and also allowed me the opportunity for review.

Much like the rest of the addons, the Smart Lock integrates flawlessly with the system with little effort.

Remove your old deadbolt
Choose the correct adapter for the lock you have from the colored options
Install the deadbolt
Position your outside keypad
Remove the front cover and add your batteries
Add the smart lock to your system via the Simplisafe keypad you have in the house
Sync the keypad and lock via the app (this assigns the lock to the door it’s installed for the lock with alarm feature)

You’re done! Now you have a great option to access your lock via the app. This gives you remote permissions to unlock or lock your house if you’ve forgotten. Or maybe you have a seasonal cleaning service you’d like to have a custom PIN. You can also have the lock to activate whenever you arm the security system.

App and subscription

I’d be doing this review a disservice if I didn’t cover the app. While remote access will cost you $25, I feel it’s well worth the peace of mind and Simplisafe has built a great, modern application for Android.

You can arm or disarm the system with just a few taps. You can view your cameras if you have them. You can also alter the PINs for that new Smart Lock.

If you don’t think the additional features of the app are worth it, you can still use Simplisafe as a local option to monitor the perimeter. It still offers great cover of entry chimes to know when someone is coming or going to your home. Or, you can still scare the crap out of an intruder with the amazingly loud panic buttons.

Final impressions

It’s pretty simple for me. I love my Simplisafe. The support has been awesome. The app is great. And it’s even given me a discount on my home owner’s insurance. Add the new Smart Lock in the mix and I feel secure and futuristic at the same time with my Simplisafe system. As previously mentioned, most people go for the monitoring fee to get the full extent of the security system, but you really can make it what you want.

Systems start as low as $229 for the Foundation kit or you can max it out with the Haven kit at $489 (hit the website now for even cheaper prices). If you’d like to start out even smaller you can build your own system starting with just a base station and keypad.

I wouldn’t hesitate in the least to recommend Simplisafe to a reader looking to secure their homes. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go consider adding the Simplisafe Video Doorbell next.

This 8-course bundle is the perfect starting point for Java, PHP, Python, and other web coding languages

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January 3, 2020

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Samsung offers up Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy Note 10 Lite

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AndroidGuys

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January 3, 2020

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As if there weren’t enough versions of its phones to begin with, Samsung today announced two new variants of its Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 models.

The Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite are Android 10-based phones which feature largely similar hardware specifications. A key difference, of course, being that the Note 10 Lite has a digital stylus experience.

Read: Galaxy Note 10+ review

Both phones have a 6.7-inch full HD Super AMOLED display (2,400 x 1,800 pixels) and 4,500mAh battery with fast charging capabilities. Moreover, they come with in-display fingerprint readers and have 6GB/8GB memory with 128GB internal storage.

The cameras are similar in that there are three on the rear and a 32-megapixel front-facing shooter. Both phones have a hole-punch front camera.

The Galaxy S10 Lite is outfitted with a wide-angle 48-megapixel, ultra-wide 12-megapixel, and 5-megapixel macro configuration.

The Galaxy Note 10 Lite packs a 12-megapixel dual-pixel, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and 12-megapixel telephoto array. Present in both phones are optical image stabilization and auto-focus.

Availability and Price

Samsung has yet to announce pricing and timing for its new phones. It’s not clear whether all carriers will get both models but we’d be surprised if they do not.

The Galaxy S10 Lite will be available in Prism White, Prism Black and Prism Blue; the Galaxy Note10 Lite will be available in Aura Glow, Aura Black and Aura Red.

SoundCore Liberty Air 2 and Liberty 2 Pro review

Accessory Reviews

Andrew Allen

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January 2, 2020

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Anker has made high-quality chargers and cables for years now; however, you may not know that it has also branched out into wireless audio via its SoundCore line. With this new branding, Anker has started balancing well-made audio accessories with attractive prices.

Under the SoundCore moniker, Anker’s premium offerings are the Liberty Air and Liberty Pro. We loved these two audio devices last year and 2020 brings the 2nd generation with the Liberty Air 2 and Liberty Pro 2. I spent the last three weeks with both devices and came away with some generally great impressions.

SoundCore Liberty Air 2

Design

The first stop of this ride will be the “less premium” Liberty Air 2. These buds come in at $100 but still pack a ton of nice features. The earbuds design has become a very familiar look with the stemmed “AirPod” tear-drop.

I personally don’t care that the Liberty Air 2 buds and the case favor Apple’s product. It’s a proven design that I’ve come to enjoy for comfort and the Bluetooth antenna being in the elongated stem allows the connection to be more consistent.

The Liberty Air 2 offers a more comfortable silicon tip on each bud that offers a customizable fit depending on your ear. The buds also come in two color options of black and a stone white that we have here.

Audio and controls

The Liberty Air 2 are solid contenders in the audio output department, but I’ve found that all earbuds with this design lack in overall volume. That aside, the Liberty Air 2 has a good range of mids, highs, and bass. While the combo won’t drown out a jackhammer, it does offer a good balance of performance and a crisp sound that makes it to the top of my “Android AirPods” list.

There’s also aptX Qualcomm onboard. For those that don’t know, this offers a codec with higher quality than the older AAC and SBC that most other headsets default towards. I’m not a huge audiophile, but the Liberty Air 2 have a better sound than other units I have lying around. No question.

Controls are one of the few limited components with Liberty Air 2. You essentially only get two combinations of playback controls. The buds default to double tap on the right is a play/pause, and the same on the left moves to the next track on your music playlist. Tap and hold for 2 seconds and you’ll be greeted by your voice assistant of choice.

These controls and software updates can be handled via the SoundCore mobile app. Unfortunately, there’s just not a lot of changes you can make due to the Liberty Air 2 having just one capacitive touch area. You can only change two input combinations of double-tap or hold for two seconds. By default, these are set to previously mentioned settings and can only be altered to things such as volume control or reverse track skipping.

Call quality

I’m in these reviews for more of the music playback, but I’d be remiss if call quality isn’t covered as well. I’m happy to report that both ends of phone calls were top-notch. Callers said my voice was clear and had little issues. The same can be said for my end of the conversations.

Battery and case

Anker rates the SoundCore Liberty Air 2 at seven hours per charge with just the earbuds. I’ve always found Anker’s estimate to be pretty spot on and the Liberty Air 2 didn’t disappoint. I consistently got close to that mark with each power-up.

When you do run out of juice, you can charge the Liberty Air 2 headset with the included case up to three times. This gives you 28 hours of total usage away from an outlet. What happens when you do need to recharge? The Liberty Air 2 supports both USB-C and wireless charging with any Qi-compatible charger.

You can monitor the charge time with the LED indicators on the side but it takes around two hours to completely charge the case and Liberty Air 2 via USB. If using a wireless pad, that time extends to about 3.5 hours to fully charged. Including both modern charging standards is a huge win for the Liberty Air 2 headset.

SoundCore Liberty 2 Pro

Design

I love the look and feel of the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds. These are the first of the more traditional “bud” style devices I’ve used in some time. Most of the truly wireless models of late have been the Liberty Air 2 stemmed design. I was surprised how comfortable and stable the fit was with the Liberty 2 Pro.

The minimal design of just one button and a silicone earloop result in a great balance of function and feel. The Liberty 2 Pro remains seated in my ears better than almost any other wireless headset I’ve used. If the fit is off at first, try one of the other sizes of tips and loops included in the box. The physical button also leads to no ghost touches or incidental input while simply placing the buds into place.

Audio and Controls

This is the section of the review where the Liberty 2 Pro really starts to separate from the Air 2. SoundCore is touting an Astria Coaxial Acoustic Architecture that’s endorsed by 10 different Grammy Award-winning producers. While I immediately took this as marketing fluff, the results of the Liberty 2 Pro earbuds are compelling.

The Pro buds have a great balance of bass, mids, and highs. The overall volume is also a step above most in the segment. There’s just a robust output in volume and quality that is a step above most other wireless headphones I’ve reviewed. The Liberty 2 Pro is indicative that Anker has just as much focus on quality audio for less much like the company has provided chargers and cables over the years.

You can even customize your listening experience with Soundcore’s Hear ID. This takes a noise sample of your surroundings as well as a listening test of each ear. The software then builds a custom equalizer setting for that user. I honestly couldn’t tell a huge difference in the results but those with better-trained ears may see an improvement.

The app is also a great resource to customize your quick controls via the button on each earbud or perform a software update. Much like the Liberty Air 2, the Pro buttons only offer a few options of alterations in the button inputs, but it’s nice to see.

I think it’s worth noting that I received two firmware updates for both models of the Liberty series during my review. Each was shown to be general bug fixes, but it’s impressive to see Anker making it clear that these are not just a money grab accessory to them that will never see any development support.

Call quality

I did find the call results of the Liberty 2 Pro weren’t as good as its little brother. Many of my callers could hear well and we could carry the conversations just fine. However, a couple said that they could hear a hum or “noise” even when I was in a quiet room.

The Liberty 2 Pro has the same four-microphone system of noise cancellation as the Liberty Air 2 but I’d attribute this to just a weakness in the design. Without the longer stem to pick up better reception of the outgoing conversation, I think the 2 Pro just struggles to separate the outside noise.

Battery and case

I’m happy to report that the battery and case are an upgrade from the standard Air 2 as well. The earbuds will get you around eight hours of playback and the pebble-shaped case will extend that with three full charges of the Liberty 2 Pro buds. That’s a total of 120 hours of up-time.

Oh, and again, we have a modern charging array of options. You have a quick charge via USB-C or plop the 2 Pro down on a wireless charger to replenish the battery. The case is a little larger than most but I had zero issues with its performance.

Final thoughts

Anker has proven for years now that the company offers quality accessories for less than its competitors. Soundcore continues this tradition within its new audio brand. The Liberty Air 2 and the Liberty 2 Pro are exceptional options for those looking to join the wireless movement in listening.

At $99 and $149, respectively, both the Air 2 and the 2 Pro offer compelling options to compete with the likes of Apple, Jabra, and Bose. Whether you prefer the Airpod stem look or the traditional aesthetics of the Soundcore 2 Pro, Anker’s new brand has you covered for less.

Master digital marketing and SEO tricks in 2020 with this $39 online training bundle

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January 2, 2020

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