At Home with Tech

June 22, 2025

Drones for Dummies: I Bought this DJI Model with Zero Flying Experience

I’ve always been fascinated with drone videography. Over the years, I’ve watched the technology mature away from the professional video market and extend into prosumer and then squarely into the consumer market. And all along, I’ve wanted to buy a video drone for my personal projects. But I’m not a drone pilot. I knew the flying part would be a challenge.

I felt that way, because years back, I tried flying a couple toy drones around the house, with disastrous results. I couldn’t imagine buying a more expensive camera drone to crash in the great outdoors.

Still, I wanted one.

The ability to generate cinematic shots from the sky is a compelling proposition for anyone who has a passion for photography and videography.

Your Drone Can Fly Itself
Then DJI began building “subject tracking” autonomous flying skills into entry-level drones. First with the DJI Neo (135 grams) and then with the DJI Flip (under 249 grams). With this auto-pilot superpower (called QuickShots), these drones can visually lock onto you and record a variety of programmed flying maneuvers around your body. No human flying skills required.

So, you can leave the flying part entirely to the drone? Interesting.

Granted, these intelligent shooting modes are limited ways to fly any drone, but it’s certainly a start. Sure, you’ve got to know your preflight steps and provide your drone enough empty space to maneuver in without obstacles. Otherwise, crashes are still possible (more on this later).

Of course you can still fly these ‘smart’ drones manually, but the QuickShots feature offers an enticing onramp for any drone novice.

Look Ma, No Hands!
Is this cheating? Not actually flying a drone, but giving up the stick to code?

Well, my primary goal is to get the shot I envision. The flying part is more of a means to an end. I see a drone as a gimbal-stabilized camera that flies…not a flying drone with a camera. But of course, I know the two are entirely connected.If DJI can give me training wheels to help get me started, I say that’s a great idea.

So, I took the leap and bought myself a DJI Flip. I chose the upgraded ‘Fly More Combo’ package with 2 extra batteries and the nicer remote controller (RC 2) with its own built-in screen.

Sub $1,000 Price Point
You can spend as “little” as $439 plus tax on the DJI Flip when paired with the more basic RC-N3 remote controller that uses your smartphone as your flight screen. The Fly More Combo package cost $779. But when you add in a micro-SD card and the 2-year protection plan, plus tax… it creeps closer to $1,000.

Still, that’s not a bad price point considering what drones cost a few years ago.

The DJI Neo is even less expensive… It starts at $199 plus tax.

But the Flip is more advanced with longer fly times and a better camera sensor. It can record 4K/60fps video and slow motion at 4K/100fps.

It’s also got foldable full-coverage propeller guards for added flying protection.

The Flip can snap photos too, but for me it’s all about the video.

Flip Flying 101 = QuickShots
After my DJI Flip arrived, my first step was to learn the preprogrammed flying maneuvers using the DJI Fly app, which I downloaded to my iPhone. You can also activate these short QuickShots directly on the drone by simply togging through button settings. (no phone required).

Another superpower is the Flip can take off and land on your outstretched hand. (Yes, your hand is the take-off pad!)

It’s a nifty trick and greatly simplifies the complexities of take-off and landing.

Shouldn’t Everyone Have a Drone?
I imagine the population of drone owners is relatively steady these days. (If you had a specific need for a drone, you’ve likely bought one by now.) The barrier to entry for new customers like me has been the inability to fly. (Plus, it’s an expensive investment, especially if you think you’re going to crash it.) So, it’s a smart business decision to build auto-piloting skills into entry-level drones to attract video enthusiasts.

Yes, I think this is a whole new market for DJI, and I’m pleased to be a part of it.

Examples of QuickShots
Sure, I’ll invest the time to learn to manually fly my DJI Flip using the RC 2 remote controller.

In fact, I’ve quickly figured out how to access the QuickShots’ menu on the RC 2. And I generated these nifty shots in the park on an early test flight.

This ‘dronie’ video is a great closer for any number of video ideas.

I just need a mountain background to fully realize this “Sound of Music” moment.

Auto Braking System
Happily, my Flip has a front and bottom-facing infrared sensing system, which enables the drone to auto land and prevents it from flying directly into obstacles. But it’s not a 360-degree obstacle avoidance system like other DJI drones have.

So, crashes are completely possible. (Of course, I’ve purchased the 2-year protection plan.)

Practice Makes Progress
I know that mastering any new hobby or passion takes time. So, I’ll try not to rush it (or crash it).

Just being able to generate some nifty (though preprogrammed) cinematic shots with the DJI Fly app on my iPhone and the remote controller has been enough to instantly make this novice a functioning camera drone operator.

I couldn’t be more pleased.

June 15, 2025

Here’s Why Attaching a Bumper to Protect your Apple Watch is a Smart Idea

A long, diagonal crack mysteriously appeared on my Apple Watch screen. No, there wasn’t an ‘incident’ or moment of impact that I could recall. Yes, it was shielded by its OtterBox integrated bumper and screen protector.

I could feel that the crack went deep. But I didn’t know how far down it went and whether it reached the surface of my Apple Watch Series 9.

Yes, I was concerned.

Apple Store ER Visit
So, I visited my neighborhood Apple Store and booked an ‘instant’ appointment with an Apple Genius. (Do they call them that anymore?)

My Genius walked over to me like a doctor entering an examination room. He asked me to take off my OtterBox’s bumper. I quickly realized I couldn’t. It was stuck on. Really stuck (like an alien face-hugging Xenomorph). I asked if he could help. He had trouble too.

It took the Apple Genius a couple minutes, and he needed to use a special Genius ‘tool.’ But eventually, he pried the bumper off. The integrated screen cracked further along the way, but it eventually revealed my Apple Watch’s screen… in perfect condition.

Phew!

But a fair amount of ‘particulate matter’ had accumulated in all the nooks and crannies. My Apple Genius happily polished it up for me and then handed over my Apple Watch.

Time for Another Bumper?
My naked Apple Watch rested in my palm, gleaming. So now what?

No, Apple doesn’t sell bumpers or screen protectors for Apple Watch.

However, my Apple Genius mentioned how much he liked the OtterBox brand and that I could probably buy a replacement bumper online.

I strapped on my Apple Watch as it was meant to be worn… without any third-party protection. But I must admit… I do occasionally hit my wrist against doors and walls. So, my experience may fall outside of Apple’s definition of ‘normal.’

I walked out of the Apple Store with my next mission: Buy a replacement bumper.

In Search of a Better Bumper/Screen Protector
I jumped back online and searched OtterBox’s website. I didn’t want to buy the exact same OtterBox ‘Eclipse’ bumper/screen combo. Not because it only lasted for barely more than a year. I didn’t appreciate how difficult it was to remove.

OtterBox didn’t offer another choice. So, I expanded my search.

There aren’t many manufactures in this market, and even fewer from brands I recognized. The options on Amazon mostly fell in the sub $10 price point. Sometimes, you’d get two bumpers for ten bucks… even with the built-in screen protector.

How good could any of these really be?

And I couldn’t find consensus with reviews… the few that I could find. It’s like this was a forgotten/abandoned product category.

Perhaps Apple is right… Apple Watch doesn’t need protection.

Still, I knew that mine did.

OtterBox EXO EDGE
After my exhaustive search through uncertainly, I eventually ended up back where I started with the one brand I knew.

OtterBox also makes the EXO EDGE bumper without a screen protector. I figured the simple bumper by itself would be more structurally flexible without a rigid screen protector on its top.

So, I gave it a shot… Click.

And in fact, the EXO EDGE bumper does have a bit more give and take. It popped easily onto my Apple Watch. More importantly, I expect it will be simpler to remove when the time comes.

And here’s my Apple Watch with its new EXO EDGE bumper
(and Nomad leather band).

No More Screen Protection?
Case closed, right?

Well, what about the screen? It’s now exposed to any number of dangers with no net.

Yes, I’d prefer to also have a screen protector on my Apple Watch, but I don’t want to use an integrated solution that can cause damage when removed.

My EXO EDGE bumper should offer sufficient protection from most scenarios. But no, it won’t protect against a sharp object at 90 degrees moving directly towards the screen.

You Can’t Protect Against Every Situation
I could seal my Apple Watch in bubble wrap and duct tape. Or perhaps I should just keep my Apple Watch in my pocket all the time. But, of course, that’s all absurd.

I’ve taken reasonable precaution to protect my Apple Watch’s body and screen with a simple OtterBox bumper. We’ll see how far this sensible approach takes me this time.

This topic falls under a larger question I sometimes have regarding the practicality of manufacturing expensive, shiny surfaces that require constant protection. (Wouldn’t it be great to drive a car with a tough, rubberized exterior?)

Alas, I know you’ve just got to travel your life’s path without worrying about every possible stumble.

But it’s okay to be smart and apply certain protections.

And just try not to trip.

June 8, 2025

From Dark Path to Smart Glow: My Quest for Backyard Solar Lights

We’ve set up a small fire pit area in our backyard, complete with a new Solo Stove and Adirondack-style chairs. After trying out our newly created outdoor space at dusk, I discovered a problem. It was too dark while walking out on the gravel path that leads to the back of our property and our Solo Stove. The path, which traverses a small slope in our yard needed a bit of lighting.

This requirement became clear while we were hosting dinner for a few friends on our deck. When we walked down the deck stairs in the near-dark onto the path to fire up the Solo Stove, my friend commented that it was hard to see the path’s surface for that final step down.

That’s code for, “Someone’s going to break a leg!”

A leap of faith to my fire pit? Maybe tripping and falling down my little hill? No, that’s not what I was going for. So, it was time to illuminate the situation.

Solar Power to the Rescue
The obvious solution was to buy a few solar pathway lights. They charge up during the day in the sun, and then they shine throughout the night. There’s about a trillion of them on the market. They’re relatively inexpensive… some are under ten bucks.

I’m no stranger to this outdoor lighting strategy. I bought eight solar path lights years ago for the front of our house. But I damaged a couple with my lawnmower, and the rest broke or wore down over time. Ultimately, I didn’t replace them, as our landscaping focus moved to other priorities.

While that was a nice-to-have lighting solution, now I had a specific need. So, I began my research anew…

Shopping for Smart Solar Pathway Lighting
Solar landscape lighting tech hasn’t seemingly advanced that much. Some lights make it through the night. Others… not so much.

But that important variable really didn’t address my total need. I wanted more control of my solar lights, beyond set-it-and-forget it. I might choose to turn them on during specific nights or just when we’re hosting a party.

So, yes.. I’m talking about smart solar lighting. And yes, I wanted to control them with an app on my iPhone.

(Cue the tumbleweeds.)

Astonishingly, no company makes that for the consumer market. Well, none that I could find.

Nobody… except for Ring.

Ring Solar Pathlights
Ring appears to be the only manufacturer that’s in the smart outdoor solar lighting market.

Ring’s Solar Pathlights integrate into Ring’s larger home security ecosystem… doorbells…cameras… alarms. Beyond the pathlights, the one extra piece of Ring gear you need is a Ring Bridge. That’s the Wi-Fi hub that connects these smart pathlights to Ring’s smartphone app.

App-tastic
And the app works great. You can manually turn all your pathlights on and off via the app. You can schedule them. You can let them go all night long.

You can also activate the built-in motion sensor on each Ring Pathlight (which aligns back to Ring’s home security focus).

Pricing
Yes, Ring’s smart solution costs more.

Each Solar Pathlight: $34.99 (There’s a 4-pack discounted bundle for $29.99 each.)
Ring Bridge: $49.99

So, all in… my 4-Solar Pathlight kit cost $169.91… plus tax.
(Compare that to a fifty buck price point for 4 old-school solar lights.)

But again, as best as I can tell, Ring is the only player in this market. So, I signed up and joined their team!

Set Up
Setting up my four smart pathway lights took a bit of time, but the process was straight forward.

Download the app onto my iPhone
Set up the Ring Bridge near a window facing my backyard
Add each Ring Solar Pathlight into the app (using the QR codes included in each box)

When that was done, I had total control of my new pathway lights, planted in our bed of pachysandra on the edge of the gravel path.

My Experience Using Ring’s Solar Pathlights
My current plan runs these lights from dusk till midnight. Since their positioning doesn’t give them a ton of direct sunlight during the day, I was originally concerned my solar pathlights wouldn’t have enough juice at night. Happily, that hasn’t been a problem. They’ve been operating just fine.

The pathlights’ overnight glow is moderate… not exactly ‘bright.’ But they do have more oomph. You can manually activate brighter settings (up to 80 lumens) for shorter periods or when their motion sensors turn them on. Clearly, their solar batteries can’t handle a 100% brightness load all night long.

That’s okay. Their illumination is sufficient, and I can kick it into a higher gear whenever I want.

What Comes Next
It’s odd this market isn’t more fully built out. But I’m happy with my Ring Solar Pathlight purchase.

No, I don’t own other Ring products. But now that I’m a part of its ecosystem, who knows what might come next…

The Lester smart home is an always an evolving story.

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