Blink(1) USB RGB LED BLINK1MK3

My Blink(1) mk3 is well-made and nicely finished. The lights are bright, and pleasantly diffused by the cover. I downloaded the Windows command-line program and the Windows UI program, and they worked well. The two internal LED's Independently set color, brightness, flashing and fading. I like the included USB cable.I would like to find better descriptions of the storable pattern and "serverTickle" features. Where?After a brief bit of searching, I was able to find the NodeJS API at Github (todbot/node-blink1). I was able to recompile it for electron (electronjs.org), updating the native-based API from NodeJS version 72 -> 73. This works wonderfully, and will add a sweet WOW! factor to my next project.I expect this little $30 gem will pay for itself, in short time.

I bought this in hopes of having it light up when an email arrives in Outlook - two hours after opening the box I got my wish (and most ofthat time was spent googling). I used a combination of four pieces of free software as follows:1. AutoIt: A freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting.2. OutlookEX User Defined Functions (UDF): A user-contributed library that allows AutoIt scripts to communicate with MS Outlook.3. OutlookEX UDF Example Script for New Mail Event (_OL_Example_NewMail_Event): An example script that uses OutlookEX UDF that activates when a new email arrives in Outlook.4. Blink1Control v1.93: Blink(1)'s command line tool 'blink1-tool'.I know all of that looks complicated but I simply installed AutoIt and OutlookEX UDF (I have no idea how they work) then I simply added two lines to the _OL_Example_NewMail_Event script; one line runs blink1-tool to turn the LED on when the new mail arrives, and the other line runs blink1-tool to turn the LED off when you acknowledge the message. See the two 'Run' lines below:Func oOApp_NewMailEx($sOL_EntryId)Local $oOL_Item = $oOApp.Session.GetItemFromID($sOL_EntryId, Default)Run('"c:\Users\<user>\Downloads\Blink(1)\blink1-tool.exe" --rgb 255,153,0')MsgBox(64, "OutlookEX UDF Example Script", "New mail has arrived!" & @CRLF & @CRLF & _"From: " & $oOL_Item.SenderName & @CRLF & _"Subject: " & $oOL_Item.Subject)Run('"c:\Users\<user>\Downloads\Blink(1)\blink1-tool.exe" --off')Simple as that. Works like a charm.I'll be buying more of these, they're slick.H.C.E.

When it was working, it worked exactly as advertised and was great; color was clean and bright, and the blink1-tool command line utility for setting the color gives a very nice, smooth transition from one color to another.Unfortunately, mine malfunctioned; it suddenly started flickering through several colors, and when I unplugged it from USB and plugged it back in, it came on in a state where one side was full-white all the time, and the other side could be controlled. After fiddling with it a bit more (and trying it on multiple computers), I unfortunately found it in a state where it just flickers through colors wildly. I expect an electrical short?That having been said, I'm ordering another one because when it worked, it worked great. For the price point, maybe order two just in case one goes faulty on you.

The ThingM blink(1) is fun and a little geeky. It plugs into a USB port and can be made to blink, display colors, display patterns, and so on via software. There is still a "roll-your-own" feel about the software in that I have spent the bulk of my time playing around on the Mac OS command line, however there is integration into IFTTT, so you do not need to be a total geek to enjoy this. There are samples of other things you can do with the blink(1), if you want to concentrate more on the "what" it can do than on the "how" to do it.

The device works well. However, the PC and MAC app (required to use the device) is Poorly designed and not intuitive.) I had to email the developer for help creating simple rules and light patterns). They were quick with the reply. But having to email for simple instructions should not be required.

Personally I just run the Blink1 control software with HTTP server enabled, which allows you to control RGB color, create patterns, start/stop patterns, etc. with simple GET requests. However if you use one of the many blink1 libraries (they have one for node, python, obj-c, and many more), it's simple to control the device directly without any software running in the background.I use my Blink1 for indicating unit test status: solid red for fail, solid green for success, and pulsing blue when tests are in progress (they get launched by a watcher so tests are being run all the time as I'm writing code). This indicator is much nicer than having to spare screen real estate for terminal output.

Picked up two of these to alert us when email came in to our store. They worked for a short time… then just stopped. Sometimes getting them to work again meant rebooting the computers, or reinstalling their funky software. We’ve finally run out of patience. And apparently their tech support person did too, because they won’t return our emails any more. Now, here I am, writing this lousy review and having to shop around for something else… challenge being that there (oddly) few email alert products out there.

Love this device, I have it connected with some home automation systems, so I have it preform things like telling me someone is at the front door before they even knock or ring my "RING Video Doorbell". Also have it set to remind me of specific time events, the LED color combos/light flashes are so easily programmed, and the uses are almost limitless.