OBDLink MX+ professional OBD2 adapter review and comparison

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image of obdlink mx+ mx plusOBDLink MX+ is a Bluetooth OBD adapter that turns your mobile device into a sophisticated diagnostic scan tool for vehicles. The MX+ has all features of the MX, plus some exclusive features. There are two major distinctive features. One is that it’s compatible with iOS devices in addition to Android and Windows. And the other is that it’s capable of enhanced diagnostics on selected manufacturers.

Specifications

  • Dimension: 1.97 x 1.77 x 0.91 in (50 x 45 x 23 mm)
  • Weight: 3 oz (85.1 g)
  • Interface: Bluetooth

What’s in the box

  • OBDLink MX+ adapter
  • Quick Start Guide

Free Enhanced Diagnostics Add-on

Enhanced Diagnostics allows you to access other modules such as ABS, Airbag, Transmission, Body Control, and so on. You will be able to get more parameters of sensors than ones from standard OBD2. Please note that availability of additional parameters over Enhanced Diagnostics Add-on depends on your vehicle’s make, model, and year.  At the time of writing this post, supported makes are Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Nissan, Infiniti, Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and GM.

How to Activate Enhanced Diagnostics Add-on

You need to activate Enhanced Diagnostics Add-on in OBDLink app. Click here to see the instruction. A purchase of OBDlink MX+ come with ONE free add-on activation. If you need another one for different make, year, or model, it will cost $9.99 per add-on.

OBDLink MX+ vs. OBDLink MX (Bluetooth)

image of obdlink mx+ compatible with iosBoth MX+ and MX are Bluetooth OBD adapters. However, the MX+ is compatible with iOS devices while the MX is not. And the MX+ comes with a free Enhanced Diagnostics Add-on activation. Except for these, all the features are the same. MX+ may be a little faster, and also battery consumption is a little less. But, the differences are too subtle to notice.

Read Also: OBDLink MX review

OBDLink MX+ vs. OBDLink MX WiFi

Both MX+ and MX WiFi are compatible with iOS in addition to Android and Windows. MX+ uses Bluetooth to connect to your mobile device, and MX WiFi uses WiIFi. MX WiFi and standard MX were released at almost the same time, and they have been on the market for years. However, the MX WiFi isn’t as popular as the MX. Reportedly, its WiFi connection is not as stable as Bluetooth. Above all, the price of the MX WiFi is always more expensive than the MX by $50 or so. And, it’s more expensive than the new MX+. So, if you have iOS devices and think about purchasing an OBDLink-line adapter, you should choose the MX+ for stable connectivity, a free Enhanced Diagnostics Add-on activation, and more reasonable price.

Read Also: Bluetooth vs. WiFi OBD2 adapter Which is better?

OBDLink MX+ vs. BlueDriver

BlueDriver is a professional OBD adapter. It uses Bluetooth, and it’s compatible with iOS and Android devices. BlueDriver app is specialized for vehicle repairs related OBD2. And enhance diagnostics feature is also available on the following manufacturers. GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and Nissan (available worldwide), BMW, VW, and 2003+ Honda (available in North America) at the time of writing this post. Unlike the MX+, there is no in-app purchase. You don’t need to pay for enhanced diagnostics feature for other makes, years, or models. Update 12/29/2018 all add-ons are free.  You can also access to free vehicle-specific Repair Reports drawn from a database which is verified by certified auto mechanics and frequently updated.

image of obdlink mx+ compatible with iosAs you can see, BlueDriver has more coverage for enhanced diagnostics, and it’s much better than any other OBD adapters on the market when it comes to vehicles diagnostics. The only drawback of this adapter is that it exclusively works with the BlueDriver app. With BlueDriver adapter, you can’t use Torque, DashCommand, obdCANeX, or any other third-party apps.

Read Also: BlueDriver Bluetooth Professional OBDII Scan Tool review

Conclusion

image of obdlink mx+OBDLink MX+ is a Bluetooth OBD adapter, upgraded version of OBDLink MX. It’s added iOS compatibility. OBDLink app has also added a feature of enhanced diagnostics. The MX+ comes with one free enhanced diagnostics add-on activation, But activation for other makes, years, and models will cost $9.99 per add-on. For this reason, this adapter is not for an auto mechanics who work on many different makes, years, and models. BlueDriver is the best choice for auto mechanics. However, if you want to use many different apps such as Torque, DashCommand, and obdCANeX, OBDLink MX+ is the only adapter which meets the criteria. Click here to the latest price of OBDLink MX+.

Oculus Quest overview – Release Date, Price, Specs, etc

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image of Oculus_Quest_FrontOculus Quest is a highly-anticipated standalone VR headset which will be available in Spring 2019. It’s an all-in-one VR headset, no wires and no PC like Oculus Go, but six degrees of freedom (6DOF) experience like Oculus Rift. Oculus Quest is expected to take VR gaming to the next level and bring Virtual Reality industry into the mainstream.

All-in-one VR headset

Everything you need to start VR with Oculus Quest is inside the box. Setup is as easy as Oculus Go, and performance is as high as Oculus Rift.

Read Also: Oculus Go all-in-one standalone VR headset review

Insight Tracking System

image of Oculus_Quest_Lifestyle_3With Oculus Quest, you can move forward, backward, left, right, up, and down. All your movements in real-world reflect in the world of virtual reality. It’s the same experience as Oculus Rift, but Oculus Quest uses a new tracking system called Oculus Insight. Four wide-angle sensors are built into the corners of a front plate of the headset. Insight tracking system eliminates the need for any external sensors to track your movement.

Read Also: The Best Virtual Reality Headset for a stater – three different types of VR headset

Speakers

Just like Oculus Go, Oculus Quest has built-in speakers into side straps. They provide 3D spatial audio without the need for headphones.

Head Straps

Unlike Windows Mixed Reality or PlayStation VR headsets, Oculus Quest utilizes similar head straps to Oculus Rift. Both sides and top of the head strap have an adjustment. And a flexible spring system allows you to slip the headset on your head like a baseball cap.

Display

With a resolution of 1600 x 1440 per eye. It’s the same optics as Oculus Go.

Touch Controllers

image of Oculus_Quest_ControllersTwo fully tracked hand controllers are included. They have the same amount of buttons as ones for Oculus Rift. But, rings for tracking sensors are on the grips, rather than under the grips. That’s probably better for the tracking sensors of Oculus Quest to see the controllers. If you put the controllers behind you or where the tracking sensors can’t see them, it loses track. This is the problem found in all Windows Mixed Reality headsets. But, tracking sensors of Oculus Quest are wide-angled. So, this problem may less frequently happen than Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

Read Also: What’s the best Windows Mixed Reality VR headset?

Beyond Room Scale

image of Oculus_Quest_Lifestyle_2No external sensors give you not only a benefit of ease of setup but also use anywhere. It doesn’t matter space is big or small. Oculus Quest fits and works with all your environment.

Miscellaneous

Quest will have an internal cooling fan, rather than a heat-dissipating front plate of Oculus Go.

There is a power button, a charging port (USB-C, it may be possible fast-charging), and 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to use your headphones. On the bottom of the headset, there’s an IPD (Inter-Pupillary Distance) adjustment slider and volume buttons.

Games

50 game titles are expected to be released at the launch of Oculus Quest, including a popular climbing simulator, The Climb, and adventure-puzzle game, Moss.

What’s in the box

  • VR headset
  • Touch controllers for Oculus Quest
  • Power adapter
  • Eyeglass spacer
  • Oculus Insight tracking system

Price

It will be $399.

Release Date

Oculus Quest will be available sometime in Spring 2019. There is no official date yet.

Click here to see the updates, questions and answers, setup email you when available.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano review and comparison

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image of anova nano sous vide cookerAnova Nano Sous Vide cooker is launched in 2018 with updated technology. It is smaller, quieter, more efficient than the previous model. It only has Bluetooth. There is no WiFi to control remotely away from home. The dial has been eliminated. All settings are done by touch buttons on display on the top or mobile app on Android or iOS devices.

Specifications

  • image of anova nano sleek designDimension: 4.1″ x 2.2″ x 12.8″
  • Weight: 3.04 lb
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2
  • Precision: ±0.1° precision
  • Power: 750 W
  • Anova App: Includes Anova App
  • Recipes: 1,000+ Recipes
  • Voltage: 120V

Anova Nano vs. Anova WiFi version

Anova Nano doesn’t have WiFi. So, you can’t control it when you are away from home. But, I strongly doubt the necessity of remote control of sous vide cooker. You always need to be home to prepare a water bath and put food in it. What’s the significance of starting a cooker remotely? You can stop the cooker on the way home, but the food remains in a water bath, anyway.

Read Also: Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker review

Anova Nano has Bluetooth only just like the 1st version of Anova cooker. You can control via the Anova app on Android or iOS devices or using touch buttons on the display of the cooker. A dial to set temperature or timer has been eliminated. You can set temp and timer with touch buttons on display. Speaking of the timer, you will probably find out how to set it without looking up a manual or anything. (setting a timer on the previous models is like a secret command. I believe you never find out how for yourself. Watch the video below to see how to do it.)

WiFi version outputs up to 900W, and Nano does up to 750W. It seems WiFi version is more powerful than Nano, but actually, there is not much difference in performance. So you can consider it as an improvement. Nano is more energy efficient than the previous model. And it’s noticeably quieter.

The previous version can remove the bottom part that is called Skirt to clean heating element, circulator, and an inner wall of the skirt. But, Nano is almost all solid, even the clip is not removable. Thus, it is more difficult to dry or clean than the previous model. Instead of this inconvenience, Nano is waterproof. An accidental drop in a water bath won’t be a problem.

How do I clean the Nano?

Anova Nano vs. ChefStep Joule

ChefStep Joule is much smaller, but it’s more powerful than the Nano or any other Sous Vide cooker on the market. You can use Joule in a larger water bath, but, you can also use it in a shallow pot or frying pan thanks to its sophisticated design. It has both WiFi and Bluetooth. So you can control it remotely. The only drawback of Joule is that you always need a mobile app to operate it. Without a mobile app and device, it’s completely useless. If you cook the same food many times, you probably remember the cooking temperature and time. In such cases, you may feel bothersome to open the app to set temp and start the cooker.

Read Also: Chefsteps Joule sous vide immersion circulator review

Conclusion

image of anova nano sous vide immersion circulatorAnova Nano has many improvements over the previous model. It got more stylish, more efficient, and waterproof. The display on the top looks more sophisticated, and it’s a lot easier to use, especially setting a timer. It doesn’t have WiFi for you to control it remotely. So, if you want the cooker that you can control away from home, the Nano is not the right product for you. But, a WiFi feature is not that practical. You may use WiFi feature or a mobile app to start a cooker for several times at first, but you will probably end up with only using directly on the touch buttons on the display when you get used to sous vide cooking.

If you already have the previous model, I don’t think you need to upgrade because overall performance is not much changed. But, the Nano is recommended for those who need the first or another sous vide cooker or for Joule owners who don’t like about having to use a mobile app every time. Click here to see the latest price of Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano.

Show Mode Charging Dock review – turn Amazon Fire tablet into Echo Show

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image of show mode charging dockIf you have Amazon Fire HD 8 or HD 10 tablets released in 2017 or later, you can turn them into Echo Show. When you ask Alexa to enable Show Mode or enable manually by tapping in the quick setting tray, your tablet displays the same screen as Echo Show. Letters are bigger and bolder so you can see them from a distance. And Amazon’s official accessory, Show Mode Charging Dock automatically enables Show Mode when you place your tablet into the dock.

Specifications of the dock for Fire HD 8

  • Dimensions: 8.6” x 5.3” x 0.9” (219 x 134 x 23 mm)
  • Weight: 16.1 oz. (457 g)

What’s in the box of the dock for Fire HD 8

  • Show Mode Charging Dock for Fire HD 8 (case and stand)
  • 1.5m USB 2.0 charging cable
  • Amazon 5W power adapter
  • Quick Start Guide

Specifications of the dock for Fire HD 10

  • Dimensions: 10.5” x 6.5” x 0.9” (267 x 165 x 23 mm)
  • Weight: 17.9 oz. (507 g)

What’s in the box of the dock for Fire HD 10

  • Show Mode Charging Dock for Fire HD 10 (case and stand)
  • 1.5m USB 2.0 charging cable
  • Amazon 9W power adapter
  • Quick Start Guide

image of amazon official power adapterPlease note that Fire HD 10 require 9W power adapter while Fire HD 8 does 5W. If you buy HD 8, HD10, and both docks, make sure to use 9W adapters for both of the docks. One is included with Fire HD 10 tablet, and the other is included with the dock for HD 10. In this way, you can dock the HD 10 tablet on either dock without worrying about slow-charging.

How does it work?

The dock consists of two main parts, case, and stand. The case fits your tablet and has a micro USB connector that plugs into a charging port of the tablet. Electrical wires run internally through the case from the connector to two metal contacts on the back of the case.

The stand also has the two metal contacts that mate the contacts on the case when docked. Built-in magnets help them aligned and kept in the right position. Electrical wires run internally through the stand from the contacts to a micro USB port on the back of the stand. The port receives power from the outlet using a micro USB cable and AC adapter, which is included in the box.

The tablet enables Show Mode automatically when docked. If not, check the settings.

  • Open Settings
  • Tap Show Mode in Device section
  • Find Automatic Mode Switching and tap to turn on

For some reason you don’t want Show Mode enabled automatically, you can leave it off here. And please note that Automatic Mode Switching requires Show Mode Charging Dock to work. Connecting a micro USB cable directly to a charging port of the tablet doesn’t enable Show Mode.

Things to consider before you buy Show Mode Charging Dock

  • Although Show Mode allows you to use your Fire tablet as Echo Show, a microphone and speakers aren’t as good as Echo Show. You can use external speakers, but you have to use a microphone on the tablet. Unlike Echo Show or other Echo devices, the microphone of Fire tablet doesn’t have the technology of far-field voice recognition to catch your voice from a distance. So, while streaming music or in a noisy environment, it’s very difficult to wake Alexa.
  • As long as your tablet is HD 8 or HD 10, released in 2017 or later, you can use Show Mode without Show Mode Charging Dock. What the dock does exclusively is to enable Show Mode automatically when docked. Without the dock, you can easily enable Show Mode by asking Alexa or tap on the quick setting tray.
  • Other cases or covers including even Amazon’s official a full-cover case are not compatible with Show Mode Charging Dock. All these have to be removed and replaced with the case come with the dock.
  • The case doesn’t have a kickstand. The stand is very good quality. It’s the sturdy and adjustable angle. However, when you pick up the tablet from the dock and use it elsewhere, you may need another stand because the case doesn’t have a kickstand or anything to make it stand up.

Conclusion

image of show mode charging dock allows you to handle your fire tabletShow Mode Charging Dock is a very good quality tablet stand. It has a unique feature that automatically enables Show Mode when docked. If you want to see Show Mode all the time while charging and also frequently use as a tablet (reading e-books, playing games, etc.) the dock will make it a lot easier for you to handle your Fire tablet. Click here to see the latest price.

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About Alexa Hands Free and Show Mode on Amazon Fire Tablets

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image of amazon fire tabletAmazon Alexa, a personal voice assistant, was available on Fire tables since September 2016, when 6th generation of Fire tablets was launched. Since then, you can talk to Alexa with Fire tables. You can have Alexa play music, video, and audiobooks, check weather and traffic, set the timer, alarm, or reminder, and even tell a joke. However, there was one thing that Fire devices couldn’t do at that time, and that feature clearly separates Fire devices from Echo devices. It’s a Hands-Free feature.

A year later, 2017, Amazon released Fire HD 10, which is the first Fire device, which equips Alexa’s Hands-Free feature. Months later, the hands-free feature became available on the 7th generation of Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 via software updates.

How to enable or disable Alexa Hands-Free

Swipe down from the top of the screen, and you can find Alexa Hands-Free in a Quick-Setting tray, along with Bluetooth, WiFi, a slider for adjusting brightness, etc. Tap the icon to enable or disable Alexa Hands-Free. It’s nice to have the setting where you can switch on and off easily.

image of amazon fire tablet alexa hands free

You can also find it via Settings. Open Settings and tap Alexa in Device category. Look for Hands-Free Mode and tap the toggle switch on the right. As you see, you can change all other settings regarding Alexa here.

What is Show Mode?

image of show modeIn 2017, Amazon has released the first smart speaker with a display. It’s called Echo Show (1st gen). Echo Show can provide visual responses and performance in addition to audio. For instance, you can watch news from Reuters or CNN, see a slideshow of your photos, make video calls, or read lyrics scrolling with a song.

Show Mode is a new feature for Fire tablets released in 2017 or later. However, Fire tablets were able to provide visual information before Alexa Hands-Free became available. So, how is Show Mode different from the normal tablet mode?

First, letters are bigger so you can read from a distance. More extended information is split into a sequence. Everything is dedicated to better visibility from a distance. Second, you can set Home Cards, Photo slideshow, etc. And accept video calling and drop in. And please note that the device needs to be plugged to enable Show Mode.

Personally, I don’t use Show Mode because I don’t speak to Alexa or see the display from a distance. The quality of mic and speakers aren’t as good as Echo devices, anyway. I just use it in a normal mode. I like it has a hand-free feature and portability which Echo Show doesn’t have.

How to prevent it from going to sleep

If you like Show Mode, but you may not want that going to sleep. Show Mode automatically goes to sleep after 30 seconds or so. It happens even when you streaming music.

To prevent the device from going to sleep, you can enable a setting called “Stay Awake.” The display stays on while plugged in, but dims after a few minutes of inactivity. This setting works in both Show Mode and normal tablet mode.

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap Device Options
  3. Find Serial Number and tap it 7 times
  4. “Developer Options” should now appear below Serial Number
  5. Find “Stay Awake” and enable it.

How to enter and exit Show Mode

You can give a voice command “Alexa, switch to Show Mode.” And, you can also manually enter the mode. Swiping down from the top to open quick setting tray, and you will see a slider at the bottom of the tray (above notifications)

image of amazon fire tablet show mode

To exit Show Mode, you can say “Alexa, exit Show Mode.” or manually switch back on the quick setting tray.

Automatic Mode Switching

For the owner of a charging dock, there is another way to enter and exit Show Mode. It’s automatic to enter the mode while docked and exit when undocked. There is a setting called Automatic Mode Switching. You can find it in the setting of Show Mode section.

image of show mode charging dock

Conclusion

Amazon fire tablet is versatile, yet very reasonable. The only drawback is some useful apps are not available in Amazon Appstore. For example, Google Maps, My Cloud by WD. You can find alternatives for the former, but none for the latter. However, there is a way to install the Play Store to turn the Fire tablet into an Android tablet without rooting. After that, you can download and install those apps from the Play Store. Please note that this post focuses on Alexa-related and Show Mode features, but many other features are useful and unique. Click here to see the latest prices of Amazon Fire tablets.

Amazon Echo Show 1st and 2nd Gen comparison

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Size

  • 1st: 7.4” x 7.4” x 3.5” (187 mm x 187 mm x 90 mm) 41.0 oz
  • 2nd: 9.7” x 6.9” x 4.2” (246 mm x 174 mm x 107 mm)  62.2 oz

Since the 2nd has a larger display, the 2nd is bigger and heavier than the 1st. However, it’s interesting that the height is actually shorter because of changing the position of speakers. Although it has a larger display, the 2nd looks more compact and stylish than the 1st.

Speakers

  • 1st: Dual 2” stereo speakers
  • 2nd: Dual 2” neodymium drivers & passive bass radiator

Both have the same size speakers, but speakers of the 2nd have improvement on bass. The 1st has speakers facing to the front inside the circle-mesh panel, and the display is placed above them. Many people mocked that it looked like an old-fashioned portable TV.

You may have to care about the place to put the 2nd. Where you have to put the 1st is obvious. Just face it toward where you mostly are. It doesn’t matter you put all the way back to the wall. The 2nd, however, you may have to care about the place because of rear side-facing speakers. A wall or something similar may help the sound expand and fill your room, but you can’t place the 2nd too close to walls. It will block the sound.

Microphone

image of 1st echo show microphone locationBoth have eight-array of microphones with far-field technology. But, the placements of them are different between the 1st and the 2nd. The 1st has eight microphones around volume and mic-off buttons on the top. This placement makes the device thick on the top, and Alexa sometimes has trouble catching your wake word while playing music or video. The 2nd has four microphones on the top (three buttons are between them,) and the other four facing to the front. This allows the device to be very slim on the top, and microphones performance is optimized.

Material

The back plate of the 2nd is coated by fabric while the 1st is all plastic. The 2nd looks more modern than the 1st. The speakers of the 2nd are invisible inside the fabric-coated back panel. That is also nice instead of covering by the conventional circle-mesh panel.

Color

There are two colors available on the 1st, Black and White. For the 2nd, there are the same colors, but it’s called, Charcoal and Sandstone.

Display

  • 1st: 7-inch, 1024 x 600
  • 2nd: 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800

The 2nd has a larger display with a higher resolution. Thus, the 2nd is obviously better for you to see from a distance. What’s more important is that this upgrade is made along with other improvements such as the quality of speakers, the placement of microphones, and the compact design. In other words, there is no trade-off to have a larger display even the price.

YouTube

Sometime in 2017, Google blocked Fire TV and Echo Show from accessing to YouTube videos. Before that, the 1st had no problem on YouTube, but now no YouTube. Fire TV devices are able to work around the issue by accessing YouTube through Silk or Firefox browser. The 1st can do a similar method, but its a long process, and its not stable. On top of that, you need to repeat the process every time you watch a video on YouTube.

Amazon made the 2nd work the same method as Fire TV devices. It works flawlessly. But voice commands don’t work.

Smart Home Hub

image of echo show 2018 built in smart home hubThe built-in smart home hub is the new feature, which the 1st doesn’t have. The hub can connect Zigbee smart home devices such as Philips Hue and control them without needing an original hub from a manufacturer.

Visualize Smart Home control after a command

It’s also the 2nd-only feature. When you ask Alexa to do something, say turn on the light, not only does the 2nd turn on the light, but it shows a control panel of the light on its display. With it, you can easily adjust the brightness or change the colors.

Conclusion

As you see, the 2nd gen Echo Show is better in every aspect than the 1st gen Echo Show. And the original price is the same $230. But, it’s worth noting that the 1st gen Echo Show is now sold at a deeply discounted price after the release of the 2nd. If you accept in something inferior to the 2nd, the 1st may be a good deal now. If you want 2nd and you are not in a hurry, you may want to wait for a month or so, and you will find a good deal in a holiday season. Click here to see the latest price of the 2nd Gen Echo Show (2018.)

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Amazon 2nd Gen Echo Show 2018 Review – 10″ display, Built-in smart hub, Youtube videos

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image of echo show 2018Last year, Amazon introduced Echo Show, the first Alexa-enabled device with a touchscreen. And 2nd gen Echo Show (2018) is sleeker, yet with a larger screen than the 1st gen Echo Show (2017). The sound quality is improved, and new features are added. You can get this handy smart home device at $229, which is the same price as the 1st gen.

Design

image of 2nd gen echo show fabric on the backThe 2nd gen Echo Show is a lot sleeker than the 1st gen. In any direction, it appears modern and stylish. Unlike the 1st gen, the speakers are not facing to the front. Amazon puts the speakers on the back, facing to the side. So, it looks just like a tablet when you face it directly.

The surface on the back is covered by fabric. And on the bottom, there are a power port, micro USB, and Kensington Security Slot. Three buttons are located on the top, a microphone and camera on/off, volume up/down. You can see a camera at the center of the top edge of the screen. And eight array of microphones are built-in in the same area.

Because of the new layout of speakers, the thickest part of 2nd is thicker than one of the 1st gen. However, it gets a lot thinner on the top. And rounded edges and fabric coating make the 2nd gen Echo Show look compact and modern.

Specification

  • Size: 9.7” x 6.9” x 4.2” (246 mm x 174 mm x 107 mm)
  • Weight: 62.2 oz. (1765 grams)
  • Display: 10.1” touchscreen
  • Camera: 5MP

Screen

image of 2nd gen echo showJust like the 1st gen Echo Show, you can watch videos, music lyrics, security cameras, photos, and more. You can also make a video call to your friends and family who have Echo Show, Echo Spot, or smartphones with Alexa app installed.

The 2nd gen Echo Show has a 10.1-inch screen while the 1st gen has a 7-inch. Despite its larger screen, the height of the devices is almost the same (Actually, the 2nd is a little shorter.) because of the new placement of speakers. The resolution is 1280 x 800, which is considered a little low for a 10-inch screen. As a comparison, it’s the same resolution as the 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display, and it’s a little a lower resolution than the 10-inch version of Lenovo Smart Display (1920×1200, and it’s $20 more expensive.)

Youtube

Here is a way to get around Google’s blocking Youtube videos from showing on Amazon devices. Open a web browser either Silk or Firebox, and you can go to youtube.com from there. Amazon’s Fire TV devices can play Youtube videos with the same method, but unfortunately, this method doesn’t work on the 1st gen Echo Show and Echo Spot.

It’s not perfect. Although you can watch any videos on Youtube with this method. Voice commands don’t work. You can’t open Youtube by voice or search videos. When you ask Alexa to search,  results will be never from Youtube but Dailymotion, Vimeo, or Prime Video.

Built-in Smart Home Hub

image of echo show 2018 built in smart home hubThe 2nd gen Echo Show has a built-in smart home hub so you can connect and control Zigbee devices such as Philips Hue products without a hub from a manufacturer. The built-in smart home hub, however, it may not be so important these days. Because there are many smart home devices on the market which are Wi-Fi enabled, meaning they don’t require a hub in the first place.

When controlling smart home devices, the 2nd Echo Show takes advantage of the screen. Let’s say you turn on the living room light. Echo Show displays the status of living room light with a slider for adjusting brightness. This is the feature that the 1st gen Echo Show doesn’t have. I believe it’s very convenient for all smart home devices users.

image of echo show video callYou can also use the screen as a display of video intercom and make a video call to other Echo Shows or Echo Spots as well as other mobile devices on which the Amazon Alexa app is installed.

Conclusion

The 2nd Echo Show (2018) has lots of improvements over the 1st gen Echo Show (2017). The screen gets larger, yet the overall design looks more compact and stylish than the previous model. There is also the improvement on the resolution of the display and sound quality of speakers. As a brand new feature, the built-in smart home hub can connect and control Zigbee devices without needing an original hub. Plus, you can watch Youtube video through Silk or Firefox web browser.

The Echo Show is for those who want a display to watch videos, music lyrics, security cameras, photos, or make a video call with hands-free voice assistance by Alexa. Click here to see the latest price of 2nd gen Echo Show.

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Amazon 2nd Gen Echo Plus (2018) Review – premium sound with built-in smart hub and temp sensor

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image of 2nd gen echo plusThe new Amazon Echo Plus (2018) ditches a tall cylindrical design which was from the very first Echo debuted in 2014. It has become squatter and shorter. Now, it looks more like the 2nd gen Echo (2017), but have fabric on the side and rounded edge on top and bottom. The price $149.99 is the same as the 1st gen Echo Plus (2017).

Design

The 2nd Gen Echo Plus look more like the 2nd gen Echo. It becomes shorter and wider. A fabric mesh covers all around the side of the device. The physical volume dial has been replaced with +&- buttons. Action and mute buttons are placed on the top with volume buttons just like other recent Echo speakers.

A LED ring is around the edge on the top. The edges on top and bottom are rounder than 1st gen Echo Plus or 2nd gen Echo and Echo Dot. On the side near the bottom, there are a power port and 3.5mm AUX output port.

Color

Three colors are available, Charcoal, Heather Gray, and Sandstone. They are simply three different tones of grey. The 3rd gen Echo Dot (2018) has exactly the same color variations.

Specification

  • Size: 5.8” x 3.9” x 3.9” (148 x 99 x 99 mm)
  • Weight: 27.5 oz. (780 grams)

Actual size and weight may vary by manufacturing process

Stereo Pairing

You can use two Echo Plus as a left and right speaker. This feature is compatible with that the 2nd gen Echo Plus and 3rd gen Echo Dot which are both released in late 2018. With another new Echo line, Echo Sub, you can create a 2.1 audio system with boost bass performance.

Built-in Temperature sensor

image of echo plus built-in temperature sensorA temperature sensor isn’t a fancy device, but many things would be possible when it works with a smart speaker. The new Echo Plus has the built-in temperature sensor. It monitors room temperature. You can ask Aleax the current temperature or set up home automation. (e.g. when the temp is above 75 degrees, turn on the fan, etc.)

Sound

The new Echo Plus has improvement on sound, too. While it has 0.8-inch sweeter, a subwoofer gets a little larger to 3.0-inch. There is a stronger bass as compared with the previous models.

Built-in Smart Hub

image of echo plus 2018 philips hue light bulb bundleThe new Echo Plus continues to have a built-in smart hub to control a range of other smart home devices such as lights, thermostats, cameras, and switches. A free Philips Hue White light bulb is bundled with Echo Plus at Amazon. If you prefer, you can choose the Echo Plus only for a slightly discounted price.

The built-in smart hub allows Alexa to control many smart home devices. However, there are many smart home devices which don’t require a hub. For example, TP-Link has a range of smart home devices such as a smart plug, security camera, and light bulb. None of these requires a hub. And you can control them with any Echo devices, even the very first Echo speaker from 2014.

image of philips hue starter kitPhilips Hue products are a different story. They all need a hub. Thanks to the built-in smart hub, Alexa can control Philips Hue light bulbs. But, you can’t use the full features of Philips Hue products without the original hub from Philips.

Philips was one of the first manufacturers to enter the smart home market, and now they have a wide range of products. They are not only lighting but also switches and sensors. The built-in smart hub of Echo Plus is not capable of handling the full features of Philips Hue products.

image of echo plus built-in smart hubWith Echo Plus, of course, you can do a simple task like turning on/off and changing colors, but you can’t even set up a light switch or motion sensor. And if you just want to turn on/off or change colors, you can choose the smart light bulbs and switches that don’t require a hub like TP-Link from the beginning. You don’t have to have Echo Plus for those products. You can control them with Echo and Echo Dot.

The point is that the built-in smart hub is not a significant feature of Echo Plus. It would be fascinating if software and hardware updates make the built-in hub equivalent to the Philips Hub. But, it is far from it for now.

Conclusion

image of echo plus 2018 philips hue light bulb bundleThe 2nd gen Echo Plus (2018) has an improvement on bass sound. Stereo Paring features allow you to use two Echo Plus as a left and right speaker. The design is more like 2nd Echo 2017 version with fabric on its side. Its new built-in temperature sensor is physically a simple addition, but it seems to have a lot of usages. The built-in smart hub doesn’t have much significance because many smart home products can directly connect to the WiFi network and controlled by any Echo devices. Overall, however, the 2nd gen Echo Plus is worth a price, and it has many improvements over the 1st gen with the same price. Click here to see the latest price.

Roav Viva Pro by Anker review – Alexa-Enabled 2-Port USB Car Charger with FM transmitter

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image of roav viva proRoav VIVA Pro is an Alexa-enabled two-port USB car charger. It allows you to bring Alexa voice assistance into your car. It’s the same concept as the original Roav VIVA, and they look almost identical. The differences are that an Aux-Out port and an FM transmitter are equipped in the Pro. So, there are extra options to connect to your car’s stereo in addition to Bluetooth and USB.

Design

It looks the same as the original Roav VIVA except for the existence of the Aux-Out port. The face of the VIVA consists of the two microphones, a big button, and a LED ring.

The button works as Action and Mute

When you press the button, you don’t have to say, “Alexa.”  Just start with your command or question, and Alexa will respond. Holding down the button mutes the microphones, and the LED ring and the microphone icon turn red. Holding down the button again will un-mute.

LED Indications

image of Roav Viva LED indicator descriptionThe LED will change colors and behaviors depending on the status of the device. It even turns yellow when you get a notification just like Amazon Echo devices. You can look up a full list in the image on the right.

Anker Fast Charging Technology

Roav is a subsidiary of Anker, which is popular and famous for their mobile device’s accessories like portable chargers. Two USB ports of the VIVA can charge two mobile devices simultaneously. They both have the Anker’s exclusive fast-charging technologies; PowerIQ and VoltageBoost, and provide up to 2.4 A to charge your device quickly.

Setup

  1. Plug the VIVA into your car’s cigarette lighter socket. Start the car, and the LED ring will turn blue with a circulating cyan light.
  2. Download the Roav VIVA app from Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
  3. Open the app, select “Roav VIVA_XXXX” to complete a Bluetooth connection to your phone.
  4. Follow the instruction in the app to link with your Amazon Alexa’s account. If you never use any Alexa-enabled devices such as Echo, Fire tablet, or Fire TV, you need to create Amazon Alexa’s account. Install the Amazon Alexa app for iOS or Android and create the account. It’s free, meaning that you don’t have to own other Alexa-enabled devices in your home. It’s totally fine that the VIVA is your first or only Alexa-enabled device.
  5. image of roav viva pro fm transmitterLastly, choose how you connect with your car’s stereo to have sound come out of vehicle’s speakers. The Pro has more connection options than the original Roav VIVA. The choices are Bluetooth, Aux cable, USB, and FM transmitter. If your car’s stereo has an Aux-in port, you can directly connect the Pro to a car’s stereo (a cable is not included.) If you use an FM transmitter, choose a frequency which is dead in your area and set up through the app.

Firmware Update

After completing setup, check if a firmware update is available. Firmware update doesn’t start automatically. You will need to open the app and start for yourself. An update needs to be done in your vehicle, with the engine on, and your phone connected to the VIVA.

Who is Roav VIVA for?

The VIVA always needs a smartphone to work with. And the smartphone already has its voice assistance feature such as Google Assistant or Siri. Why would you need an extra gadget for a voice assistance feature? Here is the thing.

For those who have Alexa-enabled devices

If you are heavily invested in the Amazon Alexa’s ecosystem, you probably want Alexa with you everywhere even while driving. If you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, you’d be happy with a complete hands-free control of the music player on demand with tens of millions of songs. If you have some Alexa-enabled devices in your home, you’d prefer the same voice assistance in your car. And thousands of Alexa skills enhances the experience with Alexa-enabled devices, which other voice assistance can’t even compete.

For those who want a Hands-free operation with Alexa

Amazon Alexa app is evolving. It has more features than it used to be. Tap the circle icon in the center at the bottom and command or ask a question, and Alexa will respond. Unlike the Reverb app, it can play music, news, podcast, etc. You can create a widget and place it on the home screen of your smartphone instead of opening the app and tap the icon so you can speak to Alexa quickly. But, this is not hands-free. If you want a hand-free feature with Alexa, you still need an Alexa-enabled device.

Roav VIVA Pro or Roav VIVA

The difference between the Pro and the original Roav VIVA is only a selection of connecting methods to your car’s stereo. For older cars whose stereos don’t have Bluetooth, Aux-in port, or USB port. FM transmitter may be the only option to get it to connect. So, you need the Pro. In other words, if your car stereo has either Bluetooth, Aux-in port or USB port, you don’t have to pay extra money to get the Pro. The original Roav VIVA will be just fine.

Conclusion

image of Roav VIVA, by Anker, Alexa-Enabled 2-Port USB Car ChargerThe Roav VIVA is not for everyone. If you are happy using Google Assistant, Samsung Galaxy’s Bixby, or Apple’s Siri, there is no reason to buy it to bring Alexa into your car. But, if you prefer Alexa, the Roav VIVA will work seamlessly in your vehicle just like Echo devices in your home. If your car’s stereo doesn’t have either Bluetooth, Aux-in port or USB port, the Pro offers a wireless connection with a built-in FM transmitter. And remember, the VIVA is also a car charger with two USB outputs equipped Anker’s fast-charging technology. Click here to see the latest price of Roav VIVA Pro.

Amazon Smart Plug Review – What is it different from TP-Link and Wemo?

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image of amazon smart plugAmazon has released a smart plug along with a new lineup of Echo devices in 2018. Amazon Smart Plug is the first official smart plug by Amazon.

Amazon Smart Plug is similar with TP-Link MIni and Wemo Mini

What it does is the exactly the same as other smart plugs. Plug some dumb devices like a fan and coffee maker and turn it on and off with using a home WiFi network and a mobile app or voice assistant speaker. Amazon Smart Plug doesn’t have a fancy feature like energy monitoring. It’s small enough to put two plugs in the same outlet. It’s very similar and comparable to TP-Link Mini or Wemo Mini smart plugs.

The price is reasonable

The price is $24.99. It’s very reasonable but not too attractive because of the timing of the release. Multiple manufacturers already released similar plugs a few years ago. And now they are on the market with a discount.

For example, the original price of TP-Link Mini is $34.99, and now it’s around $25. The original price of the Wemo Mini is also $34.99, and now it’s about $25. If you buy multiple packs, it’s possible to get less than $20 each. So, there is not much difference in price now.

Works with Amazon Alexa only

image of amazon smart plug with 3rd gen echo dotThese two popular smart plugs, TP-Link and Wemo, are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. And, Wemo Mini is also compatible with Apple HomeKit. So, Wemo Mini is the most versatile smart plug among similar devices on the market.

Read Also: Wemo Mini works with Apple HomeKit without Wemo Bridge

On the other hand, Amazon Smart Plug works with Amazon Alexa and Alexa app. There is no way to control it with Google Home speakers or Apple’s Siri. However, you can do it with Alexa app on iOS devices.

The benefits of Amazon Smart Plug

image of amazon smart plug 1The specifications, features, and prices are all similar among these mini smart plugs. And it’s limited in Amazon’s ecosystem. What are the benefits of Amazon Smart Plug?

Ease of Setup

One of the benefits is ease of setup. Let’s say you already have an Alexa-enabled device like Echo speaker and installed Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone. All you need to do is to plug it into an outlet and open the app. Soon, you will receive a notification that your new Smart Plug was named “First Plug,” and you can turn it on by saying “Alexa, turn on First Plug.”

That’s it. Of course, you can rename the plug in the app later. You can also set up a timer, schedule, or routine in the Alexa app. And that is another benefit, meaning that you don’t need to install another app to set up and manage it. The Alexa app governs all devices and controls them all.

No third-party app

Devices probably have a strong connection between them because they’ve been in the same Amazon’s ecosystem without any third-party apps involved. I have Wemo Mini, Light Switch, and Insight (smart plug with energy monitoring) and usually control them by voice with Alexa. The Mini responds most of the time, but the Insight and Switch got out of connection very often. If Amazon releases a smart plug with energy monitoring or smart light switch, I would like to try them and hope they respond all the time.

Read Also: Tips and tricks of Wemo Insight smart plug

Conclusion

Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa only. If you use Google Assistant or Apple Siri to control your smart home devices, this is not the right product for you. But, if you already have Alexa-enabled devices, you will make use of it. Ease of setup and no need of third-party app are some hidden benefits.

The original price of $24.99 is competitive with similar products, and it’s a good start. It’s probably getting cheaper in the future, or there may be some promotions like 2 for $xx, buy three get $xx discount, etc. Click here to see the latest price of Amazon Smart Plug.

A bundle of new Echo Dot (3rd gen) and Smart Plug save you $10 instead of buying two times separately.