In the latest edition of the Canon Expo in Paris we saw how the company focused on smart home and the solutions that could bring within the image and multimedia, the main scope of the company. Brainer considering the general trend in technology and an area that falls Canon Connect Station CS100.

A product that escapes the cameras, lenses and printers to be an intermediary (or substitute) between them, since it is a storage unit with wireless connection that facilitates both live viewing and sending photos. The objective: that the task of backing up our photos is something simple.

Unpretentious basics

The CS100 station is designed to have an operation similar to a decoder being a media player as well as a storage unit. This is an external box with connections (USB, HDMI, NFC and power input) and inputs (SD and CF), so we need as a screen to use it and the corresponding cable (which is not included). Yes includes the command for use and the power supply.

Canon CS100
Image Source: Google Image

Installation is simple; it is simply connecting the appropriate cables and light. Although we are already in these first moments with some aspects to improve, as the fact that the head of the power cord is at an angle and due to the relief of box design has to be oriented towards the HDMI connection colliding with the cable ( or force the “elbow” to open it). Furthermore, the kit does not include any instructions of the steps or the elements, which have relative solution to find the manual on the web as well as some videos that explain the basic tasks.

The limits of simplicity

The first thing you should do (like many devices and not always fall) is a firmware update, which will guarantee us that the device functions to stain all day and prevent some unexpected errors in our experience. So, once connected physically begin the software, the main menu appears after selecting the language to us, we have to connect the CS100 to the network to perform this update as much as other functions.

  • Cable Connection: simply enter the RJ-45 patch cable into the jack.
  • WiFi: go to the Preferences section and within the tab 3 to the first option (wireless settings).

It is software with a very simple interface, which is necessary partly because the user interacts with the device through a simple cursor. However, sometimes it can be too terse, especially when displaying information to the user when there isa connection error in sending information or downloading media.

Despite this, it is fairly intuitive, with a basic main menu (one column with options) for easy navigation. Only we find the handicap usually found in these types of interaction due to the lack of a keyboard (numeric or QWERTY) when you have to fill fields as an email (something that already happens with some of the smart TV).

Easy, simple and for the whole family

IGNITING, DETECT AND IMPORT

The CS100 is the prelude of that “magical” hall of the Expo in which to cross the threshold of the door back up or made ​​backup media content of our cameras or other devices that incorporate (combining the information from both the author as the elements of the photographs), although at the moment is not all so magical. This is the idea of the CS100, whose basic operation is on, detect and import.

Here the star is the NFC, so we need our device camera and photographs have it .In this case simply activate it and bring it (if you know where the antenna NFC, better if we do in this area), then we’ll see what the CS100 signaled by the green LED has been linked (and the device is us show some indication on the screen).

No need to have contact, although the station is designed so that the device can support on it. Something that in practice we see that is appreciated, because although the connection is made ​​in seconds, imports can last up to 20 minutes depending on the amount of information that trespasser.

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Share whatever, wherever and whoever

As for the various imports, the software the CS100 automatically creates folders with each recording device model and photo data (date, time, location). The intention is that in the future there is an intelligent management covering up facial and object recognition, and indeed in this case, although information not yet become so detailed, so far can select albums by device and the date.

There is also the possibility of a physical connection (cable or card), which is also “plug and play”, or in the case of devices with operating system attempting to connect through the browser by inserting the IP we can see in the options Preferences wireless network (a process similar to we do when we configure a router or wireless network). However, in this connection we have experienced many failures.

Photographs and albums can be shared from CS100 for social networks or other units CS100. This part is especially little deductive and in fact it is virtually impossible to understand and configure without a guide. For the configuration of social networks we check in Canon Gateway portal, which process starts from the CS100 and ends from a device with a browser, validating registration by mail and accessing the portal.

Here we can enter credentials for the various social networks that interest us to send photos or albums. Among them are both majorities (Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest) as Irista, the storage service in the cloud of Canon.

Ancient to modern

The CS100 station is a device designed for the amateur photographer looking to have a simple way to perform an automatic backup and to organize it at will from the couch without thinking about the issue. With the lure more “old school” to print the album created, yes, if we have a wireless printer.

The drive is 1TB, which provides for numerous backups, with the possibility to copy content to other devices or other CS100. Yes, but the software works well (without stoppages, reboots or anything) found some mistakes (as we said, the link IP as well as in relation to the sharing features) that should be settled through updates.

Although how to apply it could be improved, it is a plus point there is the Canon Gateway Portal to configure social networks via mobile browser or other device. Thus we do have a keyboard to comfortably write the data required to log on to the various social networks.

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