I'm shocked at the price of these for the complexity. How can a smart plug cost around £10, but a smart plug connected to a small motor is almost £200?
Surely the next version will allow manual chain pull. Mechanically its possible, just a rotary encoder and some clever disengage/clutch/gear slip design. As you said smart devices are smart when their existing/legacy functions remain intact.
Came here to say the same. He even gives the smart bulb example and then goes on to say the swipe solution is fantastic. I love his videos but these ad reviews are completely biased and don't address the price point at all and whether he'd buy one if not given for free (an obvious no).
We have the first floors allocated for office space, and the basement for garages. And for all that is above there is a white semi-transparent film on the bottom of the window... very convenient...And with the shutters closed, my eyes don't have enough light. And I become like a mole... I envy you. But it was still interesting to listen...😉😇
One thing not mentioned is how you can use it with a metal bead chain that has a connector in the middle to join the two ends. The blind has a sealed cog wheel which the connector cannot pass through. The smart blind device has a cog that the connector also cannot pass through. The length of the chain between both cogs is not enough to fully open and close the blinds and it's already at the lowest part of the window recess. How do you solve that?
Another thing that's annoying is that it only comes in white. I have gray walls and this thing is like a white monolith sticking out like a sore thumb. At least with the version 1 you could paint the cover to color match the walls or window trim color. But now that the surface is touch sensitive, you're out of luck
Seems overpriced... I haven't pulled the trigger on a roller shade driver but the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 is significantly cheaper. (tho it doesn't seem to support matter yet if you are looking for that feature)
I myself wouldn't be very comfortable with motorized devices with lithium-ion batteries in them fiddling with flammable blinds materials in my absence. Also recharging devices far from outlet is a pain. And overall, unless you live in a castle or somewhere with windows over 3 meter in height, I can hardly justify automating things like that, when it can be used as a part of morning exercise routine. Unless you tend to end up incredibly physically tired after coming back from day job most of the time.
600 bucks on discount for a 4-pack that wouldn't even take care of my living room. That's kind of ridiculous. If I was okay with that level of budget, I'd buy completely new natively smart/motorized blinds.
I’ve had a number of Soma 1 Blinds. I haven’t used this new generation but I don’t recommend Soma as a company. Their devices are inferior compared to Eve and other brands. Their Smart Blinds app is very basic and its design is stuck in 2007. I’ve had 5 Soma Devices die. They are unreliable, buggy and honestly not worth the cost. The cost of Soma 2 is the same as Eve’s blinds which is the industries go-to. Just my 2c.
Thanks for your comments! Interesting and unfortunate to hear about the failures. All mine are still functioning. For me I’m only interesting in HomeKit integration so not wildly concerned about the native app.
I can see how this might be nice. Would definetly prefer up/down buttons though. Would be more reliable and make stopping midway easier.
I'm shocked at the price of these for the complexity. How can a smart plug cost around £10, but a smart plug connected to a small motor is almost £200?
Surely the next version will allow manual chain pull. Mechanically its possible, just a rotary encoder and some clever disengage/clutch/gear slip design. As you said smart devices are smart when their existing/legacy functions remain intact.
Came here to say the same. He even gives the smart bulb example and then goes on to say the swipe solution is fantastic. I love his videos but these ad reviews are completely biased and don't address the price point at all and whether he'd buy one if not given for free (an obvious no).
We have the first floors allocated for office space, and the basement for garages. And for all that is above there is a white semi-transparent film on the bottom of the window... very convenient...And with the shutters closed, my eyes don't have enough light. And I become like a mole... I envy you. But it was still interesting to listen...😉😇
It's crazy. I feel like whenever I research some work flow -related topic, you roll out with a thoughtful video about the same thing a week later.
Ha brilliant!
This would be a better gizmo if it worked with Alexa.
Ikea has super nice motorised blinds that work with their Trådfri hub and app, allowing you to schedule your lights and blinds in the same place.
Very limited size and patterns though. You can’t cut them to size.
So, when is HomeKit coming?
One thing not mentioned is how you can use it with a metal bead chain that has a connector in the middle to join the two ends. The blind has a sealed cog wheel which the connector cannot pass through. The smart blind device has a cog that the connector also cannot pass through. The length of the chain between both cogs is not enough to fully open and close the blinds and it's already at the lowest part of the window recess. How do you solve that?
Switch to the the infinite loop that comes with it :)
Another thing that's annoying is that it only comes in white. I have gray walls and this thing is like a white monolith sticking out like a sore thumb. At least with the version 1 you could paint the cover to color match the walls or window trim color. But now that the surface is touch sensitive, you're out of luck
good point!
Seems overpriced... I haven't pulled the trigger on a roller shade driver but the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 is significantly cheaper. (tho it doesn't seem to support matter yet if you are looking for that feature)
subbed for your barefoot shoe video, and now unsubbed from this vid
not up for a channel doing more than one thing?
I myself wouldn't be very comfortable with motorized devices with lithium-ion batteries in them fiddling with flammable blinds materials in my absence.
Also recharging devices far from outlet is a pain.
And overall, unless you live in a castle or somewhere with windows over 3 meter in height, I can hardly justify automating things like that, when it can be used as a part of morning exercise routine.
Unless you tend to end up incredibly physically tired after coming back from day job most of the time.
600 bucks on discount for a 4-pack that wouldn't even take care of my living room.
That's kind of ridiculous.
If I was okay with that level of budget, I'd buy completely new natively smart/motorized blinds.
I’ve had a number of Soma 1 Blinds. I haven’t used this new generation but I don’t recommend Soma as a company. Their devices are inferior compared to Eve and other brands. Their Smart Blinds app is very basic and its design is stuck in 2007. I’ve had 5 Soma Devices die. They are unreliable, buggy and honestly not worth the cost. The cost of Soma 2 is the same as Eve’s blinds which is the industries go-to. Just my 2c.
Side note: This video is very well done - very clear and shot beautifully! 👏🏻
Thanks for your comments! Interesting and unfortunate to hear about the failures. All mine are still functioning. For me I’m only interesting in HomeKit integration so not wildly concerned about the native app.