Design / Ease of Use

The WyzeCam has a unique cube design. The flexible base also allows you to aim it where you want, but please note that the camera does not have pan and tilt motors. The base is magnetic, which gives you some flexibility when it comes to mounting it.

Configuring the camera is easy.  The app will walk you through the process, then display a QR code that you show to the camera.  The camera then pulls your Wifi information from that code and configures itself for your network.  Wyze’s cloud services take care of connecting you to a live stream of your camera when you’re away from home, so you don’t need to worry about port forwarding or messing with your router.

Picture Quality

The camera can record in 1080p with a night vision infrared LED. The picture quality looks great — it’s not as quite as good as the Logitech Circle 2 that I recently reviewed, but it’s clear enough to see people approaching the camera. Remember that the infrared night vision LED will not work through glass, so you won’t be able to see or record motion outside at night through a window.

Features

The Wyze Cam will send you a push alert whenever the camera detects motion. Similar to the Logitech Circle 2 camera, you can create a time lapse recording of the day, but you must schedule it in advance and it only records at regular intervals — not just when it detects motion.

The camera also feature 2-way audio, allowing you to use the app to talk to a person near the camera.

While the WyzeCam packs a lot of functionality, it is missing a few features. As I mentioned earlier, you cannot move the camera while you’re away… it is stationary. You also cannot specify specific zones of the image for motion alerting, just the sensitivity (Update: The April 2018 firmware update adds motion detection zones). Also, there is no Apple HomeKit or IFTTT support at this time (Update: The May 2018 firmware update adds IFTTT support).

Audio will always be included when recording to the Micro SD card or when a motion clip is saved to the cloud. You may want to keep that in mind if you plan to keep it running all the time inside your house (Update: The April 2018 firmware update adds the ability to disable the mic). If you don’t want to save any anything to the cloud, be sure to disable the motion and sound alerting options.

Value

Unlike the Circle 2 camera, which only gives you 1 day of cloud storage, the Wyze camera gives you a full two weeks of motion storage in the cloud. You also have the option of using a Micro SD card — up to 32 GB — to record 24/7 locally. So even if your internet connection goes down, you still have a copy of your recordings. That’s another big advantage over the Logitech Circle 2 camera, which has no local storage option at this time.  So while the Logitech Circle 2 constantly pushes you to their higher tier cloud storage options, the Wyze Cam functions are completely free (at launch, there is not even an option to upgrade yet).

Additional Details

• When enabling motion or sound detection, a 12-second clip will be saved to “the cloud” whenever an event occurs.  The clips are stored for 14 days.  If you reach 5 minutes of recordings in the cloud, older clips may be deleted (prior to 14 days).
• If you don’t want to save anything to the cloud, you will need to disable all motion and sound detection options.
• Audio is always recorded to both the cloud (if motion/sound detection is on) and the Micro SD card (if you choose to record locally). (Update: The April 2018 firmware update adds the ability to disable the mic)
• When saving to the Micro SD card, the folders are organized by Date > Hour > Minute. Each minute is saved as a separate MP4 video file.

Updates

• February 2018: WyzeCam v2 has been released, which adds motion detection highlighting (so you can more easily see what triggered a motion alert) and a new CMOS sensor. The WyzeCam team states they will continue to support v1 with firmware updates.
• April 2018: WyzeCam now support motion detection zones and the ability to disable sound recording.
• May 2018: WyzeCam now supports IFTTT! The biggest benefit is that you can now enable/disable motion detection alerts based on your phone’s location.
• June 2018: A pan/tilt version of the WyzeCam is now available.
• July 2018: You can now view your WyzeCam v2 and WyzeCam Pan on Alexa devices with a display. Unfortunately, WyzeCam v1 is not supported at this time.

Wyze Cam 1080p HD Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera with Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, White

Wyze Cam 1080p HD Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera with Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, White

$64.77

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as of October 11, 2023 2:43 pm

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The post WyzeCam Review appeared first on Technically Well.

Note: Please refer to the bottom of this article for new feature updates since the original review.

Sound Quality

The speaker on the Eufy Genie is better than the Echo Dot’s speaker, but not as good as the original Amazon Echo.  The Eufy Genie’s speaker is clearer and louder than the Dot, but is lacking bass and gets tinny at high volumes.  However, it is acceptable for listening to music at medium to low volumes, just don’t expect Bose quality sound.

If you’re not happy with the sound, the Eufy Genie comes with an 3.5mm audio cable and can be connected to an external speaker or stereo system.  When connected to an external speaker, you will still need to speak into the microphone on the Eufy Genie.  Alexa’s response (and any music) will then come from the external speaker.

Alexa Functionality

The Eufy Genie performs many of the same functions as Amazon’s Echo line of speakers.  It can tell you jokes, read you the news, control your smart home gadgets and play music from Amazon, iHeart Radio and paid Spotify subscriptions.  You can use the Amazon Alexa app (available for Apple, Android and Kindle tablet devices) to configure the services for the Eufy Genie.

However, some features are not available on the Eufy Genie.  The biggest omission I noticed is that Pandora Radio is not supported on the Genie (Update 8/11/2017: Eufy states that Pandora support is coming soon. Update 10/19/2017: Pandora now works on the Eufy Genie).  The Eufy Genie is not able to make audio calls to other Echo devices, nor is it able to use the new intercom feature introduced this year (Update 8/9/2018: The Eufy Genie now supports Alexa’s calling features).

I noticed some bugs while using the Eufy Genie.  When issuing a command, such as “play iHeart Radio,” Alexa’s response would sometimes be garbled and drop out.  However, the music would play as normal.  Hopefully, this can be addressed in a future software update to the Eufy.

Official Echo devices have a “smart listening” feature where, if you have multiple Echo devices in your house, it will sense which one is closest to you and the other Echos will not respond if they are within earshot.  The Genie does not have such a feature, and I can hear the Genie responding even if I’m on another floor and a closer Echo device has already handled the request.

Hardware

The Eufy Genie has a small footprint and sits just a bit higher than the Echo Dot.  It’s small enough to set on an end table or a shelf.  The white “Eufy” logo on the top of the unit lights up when it hears “Alexa” and stays on for about 30 seconds afterwards, which is an important consideration if you plan to place this in a bedroom.  A blue LED ring will light up when Alexa hears her name and begins listening.  It lights up “red” when Alexa is muted and “orange” when Alexa needs to  be configured.  The unit is powered by a 5V 2A wall adapter with an integrated Micro USB cable which connects to the Genie.

The microphone does a great job at picking up my voice from across the room.  As with the original Echo, Alexa sometimes has a hard time hearing if there is music playing.  It helps to shout “Alexa” first and then wait for her to lower the music before giving your command.

The Eufy Genie also feature a mute button for times when you don’t want Alexa to be listening, as well as volume controls and a “Action” button for manually invoking the voice recognition.

Unfortunately, the Eufy Genie cannot be paired with Bluetooth devices.  This means that you cannot pair your phone to it to play music, and you cannot pair it to a Bluetooth speaker with better sound quality.  However, there is an Aux Out port on the Genie and a cable is included to connect it to an external speaker’s Aux In port.  For example, I connected it to my Anker SoundCore speaker and it worked great.  Please note that the Eufy Genie will still listen with its built-in microphone and it will not use a microphone on an external speaker.

Interestingly, the Eufy Genie does show up as an AirPlay-compatible speaker on my home network.  This allows me to stream music from my iPhone wirelessly to the Genie’s speaker.   This is an undocumented feature, but I hope the Eufy team decides to keep it when the Eufy is inevitably updated in the future.

Value

The Eufy Genie gives you most of the features of the Echo Dot with slightly better sound quality.  If you don’t care about Bluetooth connectivity or the Echo’s calling features, then the Eufy Genie is a good choice and provides you with most of the features of Alexa while saving you some money over the Amazon Echo Dot.

Important Things to Know When Buying the Eufy Genie

• You do not need to have an existing Alexa/Echo device to use the Eufy Genie.  It will work on its own with just a Wifi connection.  You will need to have an Amazon account (which is free).
• Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and TuneIn music services are supported.  Spotify can be used, but you must cast the music from the Spotify app on your phone.  Pandora and Spotify voice-control are expected to be released in the future.
• The Eufy Genie cannot connect via Bluetooth to your phone or another speaker.
• The sound quality of the Eufy Genie is better than the Echo Dot, but not as good as the full-size Amazon Echo.

Firmware and Feature Updates

• Firmware 8/10/2017: The release notes state that this update improves Wifi connectivity and microphone performance.
• 9/30/2017: Spotify voice control has been added
• 10/19/2017: Pandora started working for me on the Eufy Genie, although the Alexa app still shows “App Support Unavailable” which prevents me from selecting a station in the app.  However, I’m able to ask Genie to “Play Pandora Radio” and it starts playing.
• 12/9/2017: Today’s firmware update allows the Eufy Genie to play nice with other Amazon Echo speakers you may have.  If you give a command where multiple speakers can “hear” you, the Eufy Genie will now only respond if it is the closest speaker.
• July 2018: The Eufy Genie now supports Alexa calling to other Alexa devices and US phone numbers.

Eufy Genie without Bluetooth ( only for iOS)

Eufy Genie without Bluetooth ( only for iOS)

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Last updated on October 6, 2023 1:07 am

The post Eufy Genie Review: How does it compare to the Echo Dot? appeared first on Technically Well.

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Sony - XB30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black

Get an instant party started with this Sony XB Bluetooth speaker. It quickly pairs with your NFC-enabled device at just a single touch, and it enhances upbeat tunes with its EXTRA BASS mode and flashing multicolored line light. This Sony XB Bluetooth speaker withstands splashes and is suitable...

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PROs

• Sound quality: Obviously, one of the most important features of a speaker is the sound quality. The Sony XB30 certainly does not disappoint. Highs and mids come through clear and bass had some kick to it (if it’s not enough for you, you can press the “Extra Bass” button for an enhanced effect). I tested streaming music from Apple Music, Pandora and Slacker Radio and was not disappointed with the sound quality of this speaker.
• Lights: I know some may find this gimmicky, but I really like the lights on this speaker. There is the outer ring that surrounds the speaker on the front that changes different colors and two white LED “strobe” lights on either side. You can set the lights to dance with the music, set a more calming lighting effect or turn off the lights completely by using the SongPal app. The lights really to add a bit of a party atmosphere and helps this speaker stand out from other brands.
• Bass booster: A quick press of “Extra Bass” button substantially increases lows and adds a great bass effect, especially considering the size of this speaker. However, it can make some songs sound a little “muddy” with an overemphasis on lows.
• NFC pairing: If your phone features an NFC chip, it can be used to quickly pair to this speaker with a tap.
• Speakerphone support: You can answer incoming calls on this speaker by tapping the “phone” button. I tested this out and my friend said the sound quality was very good and he could hear me fine. However, if I stepped too far to one side, the noise cancellation feature seems to kick in and makes my voice harder to hear, so be sure you’re in front of the speaker while using the phone feature.
• Siri/Google Assistant support: You can also call up Siri or Google Assistant by tapping the phone button and speaking a command.
• Bluetooth standby: A unique feature of this speaker is that you can leave it plugged in to an AC outlet and it will automatically turn on when you start playing music on your phone. It will go into standby mode (waiting for the next time you play music) if nothing plays for a period of time. This feature can be enabled in SongPal app.
• Charge your phone: The speaker has a USB port on the back. You can use your own charging cable to plug into this port and charge your phone while the speaker is on. This would obviously decrease the runtime of the speaker, but it can come in handy in a pinch.
• Pair with other Sony XB30 speakers: Another unique feature is the ability to pair this Bluetooth speaker with another similar Sony Bluetooth speaker. The other speakers must support the “Wireless Party Chain” function, which currently includes the SRS-XB20, SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40. Up to 10 speakers can be connected.
• Aux in: Non-Bluetooth devices can be used by using an audio cable with stereo mini plugs (not included).

CONs

• Proprietary charger: Unfortunately, this speaker cannot be recharged with a standard Micro USB or USB-C charger. It uses a barrel connector, meaning that you need to remember to bring the included charger with you (and make sure you don’t lose it!). Fully charging the speaker takes about 4 hours.
• No battery life indicator on iOS: Many newer Bluetooth speakers display their battery level on the iPhone/iPad status bar, so you can see when your speaker needs recharged. This Sony XB30 speaker does not do that, although you can use the SongPal app to find it (it’s buried under the Settings option in the app). You can also hold down the “phone” button for about 3 seconds and the speaker will announce its current charge.
• Buggy SongPal app: This speaker seems to use a separate Bluetooth connection when using the app, as I frequently receive messages from the SongPal app that my speaker needs to be paired even while it is currently streaming music from the same device. I’ve also seen multiple instances of the speaker appear in the app even though I’m only using one, so it looks like the SongPal app has some kinks to work out.

Overall, the sound quality and built-in lights of the Sony SRS-XB30 Bluetooth speaker are sure to keep you entertained.  You can start the party anywhere!

Sony - XB30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black

Get an instant party started with this Sony XB Bluetooth speaker. It quickly pairs with your NFC-enabled device at just a single touch, and it enhances upbeat tunes with its EXTRA BASS mode and flashing multicolored line light. This Sony XB Bluetooth speaker withstands splashes and is suitable...

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The post Sony SRS-XB30 Bluetooth Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.