Review: Logitech Alert home security HD camera system

by Scott Carmichael on

A review of a home security camera system may not immediately make sense for a travel site, but just because you are on the road, does not necessarily mean you can’t keep an eye on what is going on with your home. We have looked at other camera systems in the past, but the new Logitech Alert is the first HD security system specifically designed to install yourself.

In this review, we’ll take a closer look at their outdoor master system. The Alert 750e master system consists of a rugged and waterproof HD camera, a powerline transmitter and receiver and an assortment of accessories and cables.

Installing the camera system is a breeze – you place the camera where you want, then connect it to the outdoor powerline transmitter. This obviously means you will need a power outlet outside, or you’ll need to find a way to route the cable inside.

Then, you plug the powerline receiver into an outlet, and hook it up to your home router or modem. The best part of a powerline solution is that you do not need to pull Ethernet cables to the camera.

To get the whole setup working, you then install the Logitech Alert software, and provide a few pieces of information. From start to finish, I had the system up and running in about 15 minutes.

The biggest selling point of the camera is its video quality – and it really is something amazing. The camera monitors your home in HD video, using a wide angle lens. At night, the system switches to night vision, which is powerful enough to monitor a dark driveway for about 45 feet.

The camera includes a variety of mounting materials, and a screwdriver is all you need to attach it. A rubber cover protects the screws from the elements. The camera itself is very rugged – with a strong metal housing and waterproof cover for the cable and memory card.

Behind the rear cover is the connector for its power/communication cable and the MicroSD memory card slot. This memory card is used to record video when motion is detected. The camera comes with a 2GB card, but you can expand that with any card you want (up to 32GB). Recordings are stored on the camera, or in the desktop software package (more on that in a moment).

The Logitech Alert Commander is where you can view live video, configure settings or monitor multiple cameras (if you add more than one). Video is very smooth and the application is simple to use.

Inside the Alert Commander, you can configure how motion detection is used – it can monitor the entire area, or you can draw your own zone. This is handy if you have parts of an image you don’t want to monitor, or if part of the screen has things that move on their own (like a tree).

Inside the app, you can also view recordings. Since the camera only stores 2GB, you can tell the application to copy camera based video to your PC for archiving. If you are worried about crime in your area, having a place to store video could come in handy, as long as your computer isn’t stolen in the process.

Now, none of this is especially interesting for travelers – so Logitech also allows you to access your camera using the web or a mobile application. Almost every feature of the desktop based commander can also be accessed inside your web browser – anywhere in the world.

The alerting option can send you an email when motion is detected – and it can include a snapshot of the recording, along with a time stamp.

Mobile applications are available for the iPhone, Blackberry or Android devices. These apps are all free of charge. Included with every Logitech Alert package is free remote viewing. If you want access to remote or web playback of recordings, you’ll need to upgrade to the Web and Mobile Commander version for $79.99/year.

Night mode is probably one of the most impressive features of the Logitech Alert – as soon as daylight is gone, the camera automatically switches to this mode. With an array of infra-red lights and a sensitive camera sensor, even the darkest of porches will be perfectly viewable.

The Logitech Alert system comes in two versions – indoor and outdoor. Both systems include one camera and the powerline receiver. The indoor package costs $299.99 and the outdoor package costs $349.99. Additional cameras can be added without the need for extra powerline receivers – an extra indoor camera is $229.99 and the additional outdoor camera is $279.99.

The travel related uses for this system are endless – you can use it to monitor for packages, record suspicious activity or even watch your child(ren) play in the back yard. Image quality is the best I have ever seen for any consumer camera system, and the installation is a breeze.

To learn more about the Logitech Alert system or to place an order, head on over to the Alert product pages.

Review: Motorola Defy on T-Mobile – rugged Android phone

by Scott Carmichael on

Back in September, we mentioned the Motorola Defy – the world’s first GSM rugged smartphone. And a little over a month later, the phone is already lined up to hit store shelves. As we promised back then, we’d get our hands on a review unit – and today we’ve got the photos and review to help keep that promise.

The Defy is Motorola’s second rugged Android smartphone, after their i1 on Sprint Nextel. The arrival of the Defy on T-Mobile means Motorola has firmly secured a top spot in the world of rugged Android phones.

First the basics – Inside the Defy is an 800MHz processor, Android 2.1, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accelerometer, electronic compass, a 5 megapixel camera, FM radio and a MicroSD card slot. In other words – not too much astounding as this is quickly becoming the bare minimum anyone expects from an Android phone. Storage for the phone comes from 2GB of shared storage memory and 512MB of ram. Its 3.7″ 480×854 pixel screen sits behind a Gorilla Glass panel.

What makes the Defy special is that it can survive the elements – scratches, sand, snow, dust and water. This doesn’t necessarily mean the phone can come swimming with you, but as I’ll explain later, a bit of water won’t hurt this phone.

%Gallery-106402%

The phone is surprisingly light – most likely because I’m used to large devices like the G2 or the Nexus One, but holding the Defy is an unexpected pleasure – despite it weighing just four ounces, the whole package feels really sturdy.

On the top is a power switch and headphone jack (with a plastic cover). On the left side is the sync/charge port, also covered by a plastic cap, and on the right side are two volume rockers.

On the rear of the Defy is its battery cover, which is locked in place by a sliding switch. The back is also where you’ll find its 5MP camera and LED flash.

Behind the cover is space for the MicroSD card (it takes cards up to 32GB), the SIM card slot and of course the battery. The entire back portion contains seals and gaskets, and the rear of the battery cover has a small amount of sealant, all designed to keep water out.

A review of a rugged phone would not be complete without putting the phone to the test with some water – I sprayed it continuously, then left it wet for ten minutes. I then sprayed it again, and turned it on. I repeated this test four times, and I’m happy to report that it survived just fine. I eventually dried it off, but there are absolutely no traces of the phone having been soaked.

Of course, there is a difference between soaked, and submerged, but “underwater” is not listed in the elements it’ll survive. It will get through a rain storm just fine, and it won’t have a problem with a day at the beach.

The front panel is made of Corning Gorilla Glass – a specially formulated glass which is much stronger than previous generations of panels. This alone makes for a much more rugged device.

There is not much I can say about the Android Operating System that hasn’t already been said. The Defy runs Android 2.1 – which is a bit of a disappointment, because it means your brand new phone already comes one version below the current one (2.2). I’m hoping this will eventually be updated.

Included on the phone is the Motorola Blur interface on top of Android – which means you get easy access to messaging and social media tools.

One pleasant surprise on the phone is the addition of T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi calling app. This new Android feature allows you to access the T-Mobile network using Wi-Fi. This is obviously fantastic for people abroad or if you have no signal. Calls are routed over Wi-Fi, and minutes come out of your regular pool.

When you go outside the country, you simply pull up a Wi-Fi connection and you’ll be able to make calls. And while this technology is not new, the Defy is one of the first to offer it on Android. You do not need to sign up for anything extra, and there is no configuration necessary – simply turn it on, and it works.

Other pre-installed apps include the T-Mobile Mobile App Pack, Audio Postcards, Blockbuster video streaming, a DLNA media streaming app, the Amazon Kindle reader, Quick Office, a task manager, Swype keyboard, Telenav GPS navigation and T-Mobile account tools. These are all of course in addition to the Moto Blur apps like Family Room.

Motorola also included a better music player than the default Android version – and this one supports the built in FM radio, streaming radio and music recognition through Soundhound.

(photo from the built in camera – hi-res versions are in the gallery)

Photos from the 5MP camera are are actually quite good – as long as there is enough light. Indoors, the camera can use its flash, but the results are hit or miss – too close and they are too bright, too far away and they are too dark. Video is only in VGA resolution, so no HD shots from this smartphone.

Final Thoughts

Putting aside the fact that I absolutely love Android – the Defy has taken me by surprise. It is light yet rugged, compact yet speedy. Not everyone will love the Moto Blur interface – but that is the nice thing about Android – if you find something you don’t like, you simply replace it with something else.

The phone survived my basic elements tests fine, call quality is good (even when on speakerphone) and the touch panel is very responsive. The screen is also quite usable in sunlight – and looked much better than my G2 or Nexus One.

Battery life is rated to be just under 7 hours of talk time and 9 days of standby – I’ve not had the phone long enough to check that claim, but as with most smartphones, anything that can last more than a day should be considered good.

Included in the box is the phone, battery, battery cover, a 2GB MicroSD card, MicroUSB cable, a charger and a headset.

The Motorola Defy on T-Mobile launches in November for $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate, when purchased on a two-year agreement with a data plan. To learn more about the phone, or to order one when it becomes available, head on over to T-Mobile.com.

Review: Sewell PC to TV converter – your own movies on the hotel TV!

by Scott Carmichael on

If you travel with your laptop, chances are you’ve come across problems hooking up your laptop to a hotel TV. Even though a lot of hotels have started upgrading to more modern flat panel TV’s, plenty of hotels still think you are happy using a 15 year old tube TV with a single non HD input.

The main advantage of connecting your laptop to the hotel TV is that you can watch movies or other stuff on a larger screen – sadly, almost every laptop lacks the connector required to plug into a normal video input, found on many of these older TV’s.

This is where the Sewell PC to TV converter can help. This $34.99 box plugs into your computer using three cables – one for VGA video, one for USB (to power it) and one for audio. On the other side of the box, it outputs a composite video signal suitable for almost every TV. The three cables merge into a single cable heading into the unit, making things very neat and tidy.

Of course, the video quality does drop a little when you go from VGA to composite, but it is still decent enough for a Powerpoint presentation or a movie.

Installation takes just 20 seconds, and once everything is hooked up, the only thing remaining is to press the button combination on your laptop to enable video output.

Sewell made a video showing all the features, and how easy it is to use their PC to TV converter. Best of all, since it powers off USB, you do not need to bring a power supply, and the total weight of the unit and its video cable is under ten ounces.

The Sewell PC to TV converter may be a high on the geek factor, but anyone that has suffered through 5 channels of mediocre hotel TV knows how handy it can be to watch your own content.

The PC to TV converter is available from Sewell Direct, and retails for just $34.95. Click here for the product information and ordering page.

Review: Future Sonics Atrio Special Edition headphones

by Scott Carmichael on

It doesn’t take an audio aficionado to know that you can’t settle for the headphones that come with your MP3 player – even though plenty of people still wander around with their standard white buds, travelers are one group that will usually invest in a pair of headphones designed to keep the music in, and the noise out.

In this review, I’ll introduce you to the headphones that artists like U2 and Keith Urban pick when they want to enjoy their music – the Future Sonics Atrio Special Edition.

The new Atrios Special Edition headphones come in an environmentally friendly box – and the included case is made of reclaimed rubber, made from old inner tube truck tires!

Inside the Atrios Special Edition headphones are Future Sonics MG7 transducers – and while that on its own doesn’t mean much, all you need to know is that these headphones do things to music I did not think were possible. In fact, these headphones make music sound so good, that I actually started to regret having so much of my music collection in relatively poor MP3 format instead of in lossless. To put them to the test, I started with some MP3’s, but later switched to lossless files (in FLAC).

For fans of numbers, the Atrio Special Edition headphones reproduce 18Hz – 20,000Hz Response, Sensitivity level of 112dB @ 30Hz with /- 26 dB Ambient Noise Rejection.

Inside the box, you’ll find two different sets of earpieces – silicone flanged and expanding foam. The silicone earpieces are pretty standard, and come in three different sizes. The foam ones are what you use when you really want to kill the noise around you. To insert, you roll them flat, then pop them in your ears to let the foam expand. The results are amazing – noise is canceled to the point where you can hear yourself blink. Even standing 4 feet away from a running dishwasher blocked out almost all of its noise.

The headphones do not come with an in-line microphone, or remote control buttons – so they really are designed for owners to enjoy their music – and may not be a solution for someone looking for a day-to-day pair of headphones. But to be honest, the audio performance is so good, that you’ll not want to be disturbed by calls or anything else while wearing them.

My only minor quibble with the headphones is that the silicone earpieces tend to attract a lot of dust. I’m not sure whether they are made a little stickier to keep the seal effective, but they will need a bit of a wipe after a few days use.

And speaking of cleaning, the headphones also come with a handy ear-wax removal tool, because the downside to in-ear headphones is that they’ll accumulate grime as you use them.

I’d be crazy if I told all my readers to all go out an invest $229 on a pair of headphones, but if you value your music, and appreciate being able to block out almost all outside noise, these are a better bargain than some active noise canceling headphones, and a lot easier to carry around.

You’ll find the new Future Sonics Atrio Special Edition headphones at futuresonics.com or at Airport Wireless stores around the country.

%Gallery-106099%

Browsing Facebook & Twitter on the road? Don’t get hacked.

by Grant Martin on

Unsecured wireless networks have always been a danger for traveling technophiles — the data that we transfer through open spaces can always be intercepted and decrypted by wandering spies, including bank accounts, passwords and heaps of other sensitive information. That’s why most people refrain from logging into private websites while in public places.

With the proliferation of social media in today’s mainstream culture, however, many are concerned about the privacy of those accounts in public places. It used to be that the relative difficulty of hacking a Facebook account versus a bank account meant that most people felt safe using social media at a neighborhood cafe. Why spend the time changing someone’s online status versus stealing their money?

Now, however, sites like Facebook and Twitter are encoded with such simple technology that web developers can write apps to steal random social media passwords — all inside of a simple web browser. This means that any old person with Windows XP and Firefox can boot up their browser, turn on an application and start poaching Facebook data. Five minutes after sitting down with your tall non-fat latte you might find yourself with a new fancy status message, group of friends and password to boot.

You can read the full details of the technology (and even try it out!) over at codebutler.

The only solution? Don’t log into social media when browsing on an untrusted, unsecure network. Will that stop anyone? Probably not. It probably won’t happen to you, but don’t say that Gadling didn’t warn you when your Facebook profile turns to mush.