Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

This USB-equipped coverplate snaps into place. SnapPower

Smartphones, tablets and gadgets, oh my! Wall warts suck all the space out of our electric outlets. If only every outlet also came with a separate USB port. Oh wait...they all can. The SnapPower Charger coverplate on Kickstarter wants to transform all your outlets into USB charging stations.

USB wall outlets have been done before. Take the U-Socket for example, a device that replaces a standard receptacle and wall plate. What makes the SnapPower so appealing is that it requires no wiring work. You remove the old wall plate and snap the new one into place. You don't have to fiddle with any wires. The USB port sits at the bottom of the coverplate and draws power from the screws inside the outlet.

The coverplate offers 1-amp charging, which may mean larger electronics like tablets take longer to charge. Backers are hoping SnapPower will up the ante and perhaps go with a 2.1-amp charger as a stretch goal. SnapPower has considered the possibility, but currently has no plans to offer the upgrade.

SnapPower is available for either duplex or decor-style outlets and comes in three colors: white, light almond and ivory. Early-bird pledge prices start at $12 for a single coverplate.

The clever coverplate comes from the same creator who successfully launched the SnapRays Guidelight on Kickstarter in 2014. The Guidelight has the same easy installation process as the SnapPower and includes a downward-facing LED light at the bottom of the coverplate.

SnapPower launched this morning and was fully funded in an hour, which is a testament to the appeal of this sort of product. It has already raised more than $200,000, rocketing past its $35,000 goal. We all have tons of USB cables and associated wall warts hanging around. The idea of simplifying the gadget-charging process is a tempting one.

These prongs snap into place and draw power from the outlet. SnapPower

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SnapPower USB electrical outlet coverplate requires no wiring

By John R. Delaney

The Wi-Fi Video Doorbell ($199) from SkyBell is the latest smart doorbell to hit the digital homemarket. Much like the Ring Video Doorbell, it sends a live video feed to your smartphone when somebody presses the button, and allows you to initiate a two-way conversation with the person at your door. It installs in minutes and offers motion detection and on-demand video, but otherwise falls far short of the Ring. The SkyBell ismissing a few important features such as cloud-based recording of calls and motion events, and its picture quality is barely adequate.

Design and FeaturesThe SkyBellis round and measures 2.8 inches in diameter and 0.8 inches thick. You can order it with a silvery Brushed Aluminum finish, or an Oil Rubbed Bronze finish that looks more like flat black with bronze highlights. Whereas the Ring doorbell can be powered by either internal batteries or a low-voltage doorbell transformer, the SkyBell must be wired to a doorbell transformer using the two wires protruding from the back of the device. If your home is not currently wired for a doorbell you'll have to run wires and install a transformer to use it.

The SkyBell has a relatively low-resolution (640-by-480-pixel) camera with a 130-degree field of view. It connects to 802.11b/g wireless networks on the 2.4GHz band and works with Androidand iOSdevices, but it does not yet have a Web browser app. On the face of the doorbell is the camera lens, a motion sensor, an infrared night vision LED, and a backlit ring button. Below the button are a speaker and a microphone.

The kit comes with mounting screws and three base plates for various mounting applications (flush, wedge, and doorframe). It also comes with a small Allen wrench for securing the device to the mounting plate, and an installation guide. Additionally, SkyBell's site offers comprehensive installation and troubleshooting instructions.

When you launch the app, a list of connected SkyBell doorbells is displayed. In the upper right (in Android) or left (in iOS) corner is the Settings icon that takes you to a page where you can view account information, enable push notifications, and add new SkyBell devices. Push notifications can be sent to multiple mobile devices, but the app does not offer a list of calls or motion-triggered events.

Tapping the SkyBell icon on the main page takes you to a Device Settings screen that lists your Wi-Fi ID and gives you options to enable motion detection, turn the chime on and off, and view live video without waiting for a doorbell call or motion trigger. Missing is an option to adjust motion sensitivity, and a listing of recent calls and motion-triggered events. While viewing a live video feed you can take a snapshot, adjust image contrast, and initiate two-way audio communications, but there's no way to record video like you can with the Ring doorbell, at least not yet. SkyBell plans to include server-based video storage in the near future.

Installation and PerformanceIf you are replacing an existing doorbell, installing the SkyBell is a piece of cake. Simply remove the old doorbell and choose the mounting plate that best fits your installation. Attach the plate to your mounting surface using the included hardware, connect the two doorbell wires to the two white wires on the SkyBell, and snap the SkyBell onto the plate. Use the Allen wrench to tighten the set-screw which holds the device firmly in place.

When you download the app you'll be asked to create an account using your name, email address, and a password. Once registered, you can add the SkyBell to your device list by tapping "Add a SkyBell" in the Settings menu and entering the device ID, which can be found on the device and on the box. Next, select your Wi-Fi network from the list and enter your password. Within 20 seconds or so, the SkyBell will connect to your network and you'll be good to go.

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SkyBell Wi-Fi Video Doorbell

Allen-Bradley FLEX I/O modules designed for extreme conditions are now available for process applications that support HART protocol

MILWAUKEE, Rockwell Automation has introduced a HART-enabled Allen-Bradley FLEX I/O-XT module, an industrially hardened I/O platform that helps OEMs and end users reduce wiring, installation time and enclosure costs.

As industrial applications continue to move into remote locations of the world, the market requires specially designed control equipment to survive extreme environments. The new HART-enabled I/O modules access data from smart field devices that were previously isolated in harsh environments, helping feed performance data into asset management software for a more holistic view of operations and maintenance needs.

FLEX I/O modules remain one of the top selling distributed I/O platforms today, said Chan Wai, product manager, Rockwell Automation. The HART-enabled FLEX I/O-XT module further strengthens our portfolio, and is an ideal fit for the Integrated Architecture and PlantPAx applications from Rockwell Automation with extreme environments.

The FLEX I/O-XT modules are conformally coated to protect against corrosives, dust, gases, salt, condensation, humidity and fungal growth. This industrial hardening eliminates the need for an enclosure, and the additional installation and energy costs associated with auxiliary heating and cooling systems.

The industrial coating to protect from airborne pollutants and moisture, paired with a minus 20 C to 70 C (minus 4 F to 185 F) temperature range, make the FLEX I/O-XT modules ideal for environmentally demanding environments, including energy and power generation, water/wastewater and on-ship applications.

About Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 22,500 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

Media Contacts Paul Whitney Rockwell Automation 414.382.3696 pwwhitney@ra.rockwell.com

Allen-Bradley, FLEX, FLEX I/O-XT, Integrated Architecture, LISTEN. THINK. SOLVE. and PlantPAx are trademarks of Rockwell Automation Inc.

HART is a trademark of the HART Communication Foundation.

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HART-Enabled I/O Modules access smart field devices.

Who knew so many people couldn't stand their smartphones' outlet chargers?

A new Kickstarter project called SnapPower is tapping into this apparent loathing with an outlet cover plate that has its own USB charger. In just a day, the project has raised more than $360,000well beyond its $35,000 goal.

USB outlets are not new, but SnapPower is promising a much easier installation that doesn't involve replacing your outlet. The inside of the plate has a couple of prongs sticking out, which slide around the sides of the outlet and draw power from the outlet's side screws. The prongs then deliver power to the USB jack on the bottom of the plate and deliver 1.0 amps of power to the USB port. The whole setup should only require a screwdriver.

SnapPower is offering a couple shades of beige plates along with a standard white, and a Dcor-style outlet opening for users who don't have the traditional duplex. Kickstarter pricing is $16 for one cover plate, with some early-bird and bundle pricing available as well.

The usual crowdfunding disclaimers apply: While the design is finalized and there is a working prototype, the product hasn't headed to production yet, and with any project like this things can go wrong. But as Gizmodo points out, the company has experience bringing things to market already, having built an outlet with an integrated nightlight that works in nearly the same way. SnapPower hopes to start shipping to backers in August.

Why this matters: While plugging in an outlet charger isn't a huge burden, the built-in USB port does have a couple advantages: It frees up spaceespecially for larger power adapters that might cover up both outletsand it allows furniture to sit nearly flush with the plate while still allowing a USB cord to sneak through the side. If it works as advertised, it could be a cheap way to make standard outlets a little more useful.

Just don't get too invested in this version before everything gets replaced withUSB Type-C.

Jared writes for PCWorld and TechHive from his remote outpost in Cincinnati. More by Jared Newman

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This wire-free USB outlet cover is raising a killing on Kickstarter

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