Surveillance made easy: SwannEye HD Pan & Tilt All-in-One IP Network Camera

This is a new type of product review for MashButtons and this product comes to us from Swann Security Systems and they have provided me with the SwannEye HD Pan & Tilt All-in-One IP Network Camera. The SwannEye HD is a high definition camera that is chock full of features such as night vision up to 10 meters, 2 way audio, motion triggers, and ability to pan and tilt from PC/Mac, smartphone, or tablet. The wireless camera is designed to provide 24/7 surveillance to both home and small business owners with an included SD card slot to save videos and images along with an option of email notifications when motion is detected. Now that my camera is hooked up to the network, let's see how it fares.

At first I was a bit hesitant to review this wireless camera as someone that does not have a need for surveillance but Swann did a great job creating a product that appeals to those newcomers and surveillance fans alike. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal as there are a few ways to do similar remote monitoring between tablet and computer, but the SwannEye HD allows 350 degrees of horizontal panning and 100 degrees of vertical tilting. Worried about a snoopy roommate or your valuables, from the settings I was able set up notifications to be emailed to me when motion is detected, only caught dogs sleeping in my bedroom. Syncing up was fast, taking about ten to fifteen minutes after reading the instructions and the picture on the free app during use is great along with sound topped with night vision that was better than I was anticipating. I had two complaints, one minor which was that it seems easy to tamper with and the other is the lack of heads up display when tilting and panning as it was hard to tell if the input was accepted resulting in overcorrection.

As a newb to home surveillance, the SwannEye HD was extremely forgiving and easy to set up by use of a QR code to sync and including all the necessary hardware to mount. If you are not a fan of dangling wires, it is equally at home on any desk or shelf since the tilt and pan abilities allow for a very wide range of view. Swann also makes it easy to use multiple cameras to monitor from the same screen in case you get the itch to monitor more rooms or angles whether it be in your business or home. The SwannEye HD is available now to purchase for the price of $179.99 from Swann's store.

Life n Soul's new lineup of wireless audio products gets the MashButtons treatment

Life n Soul has provided us with their latest lineup of Bluetooth devices which consist of headphones, earbuds, and a speaker in a bright assortment of colors. This is a new company to which I am unfamiliar with but vows to bring high quality and trendy personal audio devices to you and me. All the devices come toting Bluetooth 4.0 wireless capabilities, four to six hours of talk and play time, and the ability to sync with two different devices. All devices come in an assortment of if eye catching colors so let's see if they not only look great but sound great too.

First up is the BN301 on ear headphones, which I received in red came in a bright and glossy color. On the headphones are the controls to adjust volume, change tracks, and answer calls without fumbling with an inline remote. Syncing up with my phone was fast and easy and had my playlist bumping wirelessly into my dome. In terms of fit, I actually found the top or the top to be uncomfortable as there was no padding incorporated during design, but the cushioning on the ears felt quite nice. Now for the biggest reason in which we buy headphones, the sound quality, and while it wasn't great, It wasn't bad either. The sound provided offered range for a variety of genres but leaned toward the flat side without the clarity or depth found in it’s competitors. These wireless on ear headphones are available now for the price of $99.99.

Next on the chopping block is the BM208 or the bluetooth speaker in which I received in green. This speaker comes toting two drivers, passive woofer, and on board controls. The sound quality is comparable to other speakers with the same features but what stands out is the design as the bass radiator is up firing under the top of the speaker and the onboard controls allow access to all functions like adjusting track, volume, or take calls. The color of the green is bright and vibrant, while the size is easy to carry with you. The speaker is able to fill a room or small patio with music, but if throwing a party or higher volumes are necessary, then the sound quality will suffer or get drowned out. The BM208 is available now for $79.99.

Last up is the B106 wireless earbuds and I have saved these for last as they were my favorite of the three even though mine came in purple. This was my choice of the three as the earbuds were comfortable and stayed in place during use while sounding great during physical activities whether running or working out. Since these are a small wireless earbud, the controls have been placed on the buds to easily control your playlist and take calls without having to access your phone. Additionally since they have to ability to sync to multiple devices, it was a one a one and done process to sync with my MacBook and phone. The B106 is available now for the price of $99.99.

Ssmart Dynamo is Oregon Scientific's new activity tracker

I have received another activity tracker and this one comes from Oregon Scientific and is aptly named the Ssmart Dynamo. Like a number of the newer trackers on the market, the Dynamo is also able to track sleep history on top of the activity monitoring features. The soft rubber wrist band houses the tracker which connects to both Android and Apple smart phones via Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connection along with being built to withstand water up to a meter deep on top of being comfortable enough to wear overnight. Now that I have had this wrist device telling me to keep going for the last week, it is time to see how it held up and if the Dynamo is the next tracker for you.

Since the Misfit Shine was my preferred activity tracker, there will be a number of comparisons between the two device and my favorite would be the use of a rechargeable battery and the wider, better built wrist band. I had to read the instructions on this tracker as there is a multicolor LED on the band which tells you your status on meeting the daily goal, sleep mode, sync, and indicating battery status. The setup is fast, as I had to sync via bluetooth, input my body profile and goals, then I was good to go. Setting up the sleep tracking is also a breeze, I just hold the button until the light turned purple and the Dynamo tracks how long it takes to fall asleep and the duration of sleep. The app is also really well set up as it tracks your activity level, steps, calories burned, and distance for the day all in an easy to read, swipe friendly interface. 

I really enjoyed the Ssmart Dynamo as it was light and comfortable, making it easier to wear everywhere and the wide band and double button clasp hold the tracker firmly in place. Don't worry about losing your charge on the go because the USB charger is tiny and only takes an hour to charge. I would have liked it more if it had the tracking like the Shine had as the Dynamo only stores 14 days of 24/7 data. Being that it is ninety degrees out and I will be swimming in no time, it is waterproof and can track swimming, so it immediately earned points with that feature alone. Oregon Scientific’s Ssmart Dynamo Activity Tracker is available now for the price of $79.99.

STM provides more trunk for your junk with the Velo 2 laptop bag

We have a laptop bag from a new company met at CES last month,  STM Bags has provided me with the new Velo 2 medium laptop shoulder bag. Lapptop bags have become increasingly popular to transport the incredible shrinking gadgets we have to tote for work and school and each bag brings their own unique designs and features. The Velo 2 brings to the table a variety of colors, side entry laptop compartment, and a waist strap to stabilize your load in transport. The medium sized bag is built to hold most 15" laptops, two pockets for water bottles and/or an umbrellas, a large compartment for text books, camera equipment, or notebooks so let's see how the Velo 2 is on the daily commute. 

This laptop has more space than I was expecting and had no shortage of storage, but I was particularly a fan of the side access pocket for my laptop and the waist strap to hold your cargo against you while on the go. With the big amount of space, it does increase the size of the bag making it a bit bulkier than that of other bags reviewed. The best part of having such a large main compartment is the ability to carry more than the bare necessities, in my situation I used it to pack clothes for overnight traveling or my DSLR and lenses for photo shoots. In terms of comfort, the Velo 2 has both a padded shoulder strap and a padded back for comfort during extended wear. 

STM Bags has produced a solid bag for those trying to carry more than just their laptop, tablet, accessories, and cables. Granted it is a larger bag, so if you are not looking for the added bulk, their other product offerings may be a better fit. I had received my Velo 2 in grey and in the medium size which holds most laptops up to 15 inches, but the bag is available also available in a small size that holds up to 13 inch laptops, and is also available in black or blue colors. What was great were the side pockets for water bottles and/or an umbrella, when most of the laptop shoulder bags do not include space for hydration. The Velo 2 medium is available now from a handful of online retailers for $100.00.