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Deal : Severin Filka KA 4850 in the test: fully automatic for filter coffee?


The premium coffee machine aims to set standards in terms of comfort and setting options. We tested the Severin Filka.

Table of contents

  • Good filter coffee is a matter of attitude
  • Stepless grinder
  • Simple operation

  • Excellent taste

  • Hassle-free care
  • Severin Filka: Prices and models
  • Severin Filka KV 4850 in the test: conclusion

With Filter coffee machines You are often left with a few options: pour water into the tank, insert the filter and fill it with coffee powder, press the button and the device starts brewing. You can only influence the amount of coffee and the taste manually and by choosing the coffee powder. Severin Filka would like to offer you far more options at the touch of a button. That’s why the German manufacturer advertises its premium coffee machine with the snappy slogan “fully automatic for filter coffee”. We tested the Filka KV 4850 and revealed whether Severin keeps his word.

Good filter coffee is a matter of attitude

In fact, the Severin Filka KV 4850 is similar in terms of operation Fully automatic coffee machines. There are sensor buttons on an LED control panel that you can use to make all sorts of settings. This also includes choosing the vessel into which the coffee should flow. There are five programs to choose from: small cup, large cup, to-go container, Thermos flask (for two to eight cups) and glass jug (for two to ten cups) – extremely practical for everyday use. In addition, the desired amount of coffee for cups (100 to 150 milliliters), mugs (175 to 225 ml) and to-go containers (250 to 350 ml) as well as the coffee strength can be adjusted in three levels. You can also adjust the Filka to the water hardness level.

Another useful feature is the optional cup shelf, which you can use if necessary. To do this, remove the cup shelf at the top in front of the water tank and hang it under the spout. The shelf has two different sides, which offer enough space depending on the size of the cup or mug. Great: Depending on the vessel selected and the preset amount, the machine only draws the required amount of water from the tank.

Stepless grinder

The Severin Filka KV 4850 is one of them Coffee machines with grinders and therefore also has a round bean container. The container sits on the top, offers space for around 230 grams of coffee beans and can be removed from the machine for cleaning purposes. The lid has a rubber seal. Tip: Before adding fresh beans, you should wipe the container with a slightly damp cloth.

Below is the conical grinder made of stainless steel, which can be infinitely adjusted. You can change the grinding level by turning the bean container to the left (finer) or right (coarser). Small markings on the casing of the coffee machine provide a little help. To find the right grind level, select the middle position. If the coffee tastes too bitter, choose a coarser grind. If the brew is too sour, set a finer setting.

After the grinding process, the ground coffee ends up in the swivel filter, which swings out to the right. Here you will also find the filter holder, which can be easily removed with one handle. The scope of delivery includes a loose cover and a gold tone permanent filter (size 4), which also has a carrying handle. This saves you from buying paper filters and reduces the waste produced.

The water tank, which can be removed from the top, can be found on the back of the coffee machine. The capacity is just under 2 liters (l). With a standard cup size of 125 milliliters (ml), one filling is enough for around 16 cups – quite a lot. Great: You can install a water filter in the Filka. Only a few filter coffee machines offer this, which is why the Severin machine also gets a slight upgrade. However, the tank does not have any markings for reading the water level.

The KA 4850 model tested comes with a non-insulating glass jug that offers space for approximately 1.25 liters of coffee (equivalent to ten cups). To ensure that the bean infusion stays nice and hot for a long time after preparation, the premium coffee machine from Severin has a warming plate under the spout.

If you occasionally remove the pot from the warming plate to pour yourself a coffee, you can do so without worry. The drip stop function of the filter holder prevents coffee from dripping onto the hot surface. A small metal spring relaxes and the spout is locked. In our test, this mostly worked well. Every now and then a drop still slipped through.

Simple operation

Preparing filter coffee works without any problems with the Severin Filka KA 4850. First make sure that there are enough coffee beans in the bean container, the water tank is filled appropriately and a paper or permanent filter is inserted in the filter holder. Then select the container size and the coffee strength using the quickly responding sensor buttons. Last but not least, place the cup, mug or jug ​​under the spout and start the preparation using the start/stop button at the bottom center. Now the grinding process begins, which takes about 75 seconds for ten cups. However, the mill is not quiet at up to 76 decibels. The machine is even advertised with a PR image of a sleeping woman next to the device. At least the Filka doesn’t make any annoying screeching noises.
After grinding, the brewing process starts including automatic pre-brewing. After 9:15 minutes (for a pot with ten cups), the machine emits a loud beep and signals via the blue flashing LED ring above the grinder that the coffee is ready and the warming plate is activated. If you need a little help with the controls, you will find what you need in the detailed operating instructions. However, you will have to figure out some of the operating steps because they are almost only explained using pictures and not in writing.

If you occasionally use pre-ground coffee, for example for decaffeinated coffee enjoyment, you can also pour the coffee powder directly into the filter. Then press the ground coffee button (second button at the bottom from the right) and start preparation. Unfortunately, a coffee spoon is not included in the scope of delivery of the Severin Filka.

Excellent taste

Many functions or not: In the end, what counts most is the taste of the filter coffee. To test the Severin Filka KA 4850, we again used freshly ground specialty coffee for filter methods with notes of milk chocolate from a private roasting company at a ratio of 6 g per 100 ml. We put a 1.25 liter (ten cups) pot on and tried it.

The result after preparation is, in a word, excellent. The Filka produces extremely delicious filter coffee that beautifully emphasizes the milk chocolate flavors and has a full-bodied body. The coffee is neither sour nor bitter and smells extremely pleasant. In terms of taste, the filter coffee from the Severin machine is just as good as the one from the Moccamaster KBG Select from Technivorm.

Hassle-free care

If you use the Severin Filka KA 4850 mill, you must also clean it regularly. But it’s easy: First, remove the bean container by turning it as far to the right as possible towards the symbol with the open lock and removing it upwards. You can then remove the remaining coffee beans from the grinder cap. The use of a vacuum cleaner is recommended for this. Then turn the grinder cap to the right and pull it out. You can now remove coffee beans and grounds from the conical grinder with a vacuum cleaner and clean it with a cleaning brush (not included). The grinding cone of the mill can be loosened with a Phillips screwdriver and then removed for more thorough cleaning. Cleaning does not take more than five to ten minutes in total.

In addition to cleaning the grinder, the rest of the maintenance of the coffee machine is also easy. You can safely put the filter holder, gold tone filter and glass jug in the dishwasher. You only have to clean the water tank by hand, ideally with a bottle brush and a little dishwashing liquid. The Severin Filka also offers automatic programs for descaling and quick rinsing of the pipes. Not every device in this product segment can claim that.

Severin Filka: Prices and models

The Severin Filka is available in two technically identical model variants: KA 4850 with a glass jug (1.25 l) and KA 4851 with a thermos jug (1 l). Like the coffee from the filter machine, the price is also quite high: at the time of testing, the version with a glass jug cost just under 250 euros, and the sister model with a thermos jug even cost around 300 euros. There are already entry-level fully automatic coffee machines for this purpose.

Test results

Test results

Severin Filka KA 4850

Manufacturer information

 Variants: with glass jug (KA 4850), with thermos jug (KA 4851)
Price: 250 euros
Power / filter size: 1520 watts / 4
Water tank / coffee container capacity: 2 l / 1.25 l

Furnishing
(35%)

 Prepare 1 to 10 cups at once, to-go function available
Glass jug (non-insulating) included
Integrated grinder (stepless), removable bean container (230 g)
Swivel filter, filter holder removable
Permanent filter included
Coffee quantity (1 to 10 cups and milliliters) and coffee strength (2 levels) selectable, automatic pre-brewing
Drip stop, heating plate and timer available
Anti-slip feet, automatic switch-off (15 to 60 minutes) and illuminated switches available, no child lock

Grade: 1.8

Service &
The taste
(35%)

 Easy to use via sensor buttons
Detailed but somewhat confusing illustrated operating instructions
Just one press of a button to start the brewing process (1.25 l in 9:15 minutes)
Outstanding filter coffee taste

Grade: 1.3

cleaning
(15%)

 Programs for cleaning and descaling available, water hardness adjustable
Easy to clean surface
Water tank a bit difficult to clean
Filter holder and jug dishwasher safe

Grade: 1.6

Technical tests
(15%)

 Average power consumption when making coffee, low in standby without the heating plate activated
Quiet brewing process, very loud grinder
A bit uncompact

Grade: 3.3

Upgrading

 Water filter can be installed

-0.1

Test results

 good (grade: 1.7)

Severin Filka KV 4850 in the test: conclusion

Fans of filter coffee who are also looking for the convenience of fully automatic machines will find what they are looking for and be happy with the Severin Filka. The coffee machine is easy to use and clean, offers many useful functions and is extremely versatile thanks to the adjustable vessel size. The integrated grinder also does a good job. And the coffee from the Filka tastes outstanding. For the high price between 250 and 300 euros, the accessories are a bit puny. But the bottom line is that the purchase is definitely worth it.

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Deal : Medion Akoya P63025 in the test: Fast, quiet, economical and compact


Chic, small, nimble and everything on board: There was little to complain about when testing the compact Medion Akoya P63025 desktop PC.

In 2011, the world’s largest computer manufacturer Lenovo took over a majority stake in the Essen-based company Medion. However, Medion continues to work almost independently and regularly brings new notebooks and desktop PCs onto the market. This also applies to the recently introduced Akoya P63025 – a compact computer that doesn’t have to hide under the desk. The test of the Medion Akoya P63025 shows what the small desktop PC can do – and what it can’t.

Akoya P63025 in the test: With hot-swap frame

The Medion Akoya P63025 is housed in a simple housing with a slightly structured surface. At the top of the front of the case there are two USB sockets and ports for one Headset. Underneath, the Medion has a hot-swap frame in which there is a 2.5 inch SSD or have a hard drive retrofitted.

Core i5-12400, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD

Anyone who opens the left side wall can take a look at the (tidy) interior:

  • Processor: The heart of the Medion Akoya P63025 is the mid-range processor Core i5-12400 from Intel Alder Lake Series.
  • Random access memory: The Core i5 stores calculated data in a large RAM of 16 gigabytes.
  • SSD: Windows 11, users save programs and data on one M.2 SSD with an effective 932 gigabytes of memory.

Fast work pace

The Medion Akoya P63025 performed impressively in the speed measurements: it was visibly underchallenged with office programs such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint, and with tasks on the Internet anyway. Computers need a lot of steam for complex photo and video editing, but the Medion also did that at a decent pace. In particular, programs that can distribute calculations across many processor cores benefit from the Intel CPU with its six computing units – including software such as Photoshop or Premiere.

Test table Medion Akoya P63025

Test table Medion Akoya P63025

Test results

processor

 Intel Core i5-12400

graphics chip

Intel UHD Graphics 730

random access memory

 16GB (2x8GB)

SSD

 932GB Western Digital

hard disk

 unavailable

Speed ​​with Office

high (58.6%)

Pace with photo and
Video editing

high (28.3%)

Game speed with 1920×1080 pixels

very jerky (10 frames per second)

Game speed with 3840×2160 pixels

 not playable

SSD speed

 slow (34.3%)

USB speed
(Read Write)

 764 / 503 MB/sec.

Noises in office applications

 very quiet (0.2 sone)

Noise level under full load

 quiet (1.2 sone)

Power consumption in office applications

 32 watts

Power consumption under full load

 109 watts

Mixed electricity consumption per year (electricity costs)

 101 KW/h (33 €)

power adapter

 Medion Power Block 250 (250 watts)

connections

 1x microphone, 1x headphones, 2x audio input, 1x audio output, 1x HDMI, 1x DP (can be used at the same time), 1x network (1 Gbit), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0

Radio connections

 WLAN-ax (Wifi 6; 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1

Upgrade options:
Expansion cards /
Random access memory /
mass storage /
DVD-BD drives
1x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot
–
1x NVMe, 1x 2.5″/3.5″ combination slot
–

Keyboard/
Mouse

 Pressure point spongy /
somewhat light, well suited for office tasks

Quiet and economical

Also good: The average energy requirement was at a very low level: on average, the Medion didn’t even consume 32 watts! The noise level wasn’t high either, the Medion remained nice and quiet – even under full load during strenuous image and video editing (maximum 1.2 sone).

Decent upgrade options

The Medion does not have a memory card reader, its upgrade options are not outstanding, but quite decent (picture above):

  • CPU and RAM: The Core i5 processor (1) RAM available to the side (16 gigabytes (2)) can be expanded to 32 gigabytes.
  • SSD: The existing SSD storage (932 gigabytes (3)) users can add a second M.2 SSD and a hard drive if necessary 2.5 inch SSD expand.
  • Graphic card: A separate graphics card could be installed in the Medion (4)but only models with a maximum of one Nvidia GTX 1650-Chip (from 170 euros). For more powerful models, the power of the power supply (250 watts) is sufficient (5)) not.

WLAN-ax on board, card reader missing

The Aldi PC connects to the network either via cable or wirelessly via fast WLAN-ax. It has Bluetooth on board for wireless synchronization with tablets and smartwatches. It’s a shame: the Medion Akoya P63025 doesn’t have a memory card reader.

Medion Akoya P63025 in the test: conclusion

The Medion Akoya P63025 can be retrofitted with 2.5-inch SSDs or hard drives using the hot-swap frame on the front – if the rather large SSD storage of just under 1 terabyte is not enough. And the Medion in the MD34330 equipment variant tested here also did well in the test: it worked really quickly, wasn’t annoying with loud fan noises and didn’t put an unnecessary strain on the electricity bill. Great: It’s not a roll-container-sized example, but rather barely larger than a shoebox.

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Deal : Hoymiles DTU WLite: This is how setup and throttling work


The Hoymiles DTU WLite gateway accesses inverters to regulate their performance and monitor power generation. SamaGame shows how to set up and throttle the stick.

Table of contents

  • Set up Hoymiles DTU
  • Throttling Hoymiles DTU

In this country, balcony power plants are allowed to feed 600 watts into the home network – this will probably happen in the future 800 watts. The performance is limited by a so-called Inverter. Some of these devices are able to regulate their performance. This makes them future-proof and still legal in Germany today. Also the popular inverter Hoymile’s HM-800 is included. It can be throttled using the manufacturer’s own gateway DTU WLite. To do this, the Hoymiles DTU WLite and inverter must be installed “S-Miles installer app” be integrated. You can see how this works step by step here.

Setting up Hoymiles DTU WLite: This is how it works

In order for the setup to be successful, you need one that is already connected Balcony power plant, whose inverter is compatible with the Hoymiles DTU WLite. This applies to models from the HM and MI series and monitoring is possible for up to four solar modules, and it can also control several inverters. Attention: Other accessories are required for Hoymiles HMT and HMS inverters.

Step 1: Stick into the socket

The Hoymiles DTU must be connected to the socket in the home network. To do this, you need a power plug (like a smartphone charging cable) or use a suitable multiple socket that has a USB port. After plugging in, the DTU should flash colorfully.

Step 2: Download the Hoymiles app and create an account

Next, download the app from the App Store on your smartphone S Miles Installer down. Then create a user account. Select the option No account, to register.

Step 3: Integrate DTU into the WLAN

Integrate the DTU into the in-house WLAN. Proceed as follows (here using iOS as an example):

  1. Open the Wi-Fi settings on the smartphone. There you should have a network with the name “DTUL…” see. Select this so that the cell phone connects to the DTU.
  2. Go back to the S-Miles app. Go to the middle icon on the bottom ribbon. Tap on Network config.
  3. Choose among WiFi the name of your router (for example FritzBox) and enter your WiFi password.
  4. Confirm with Send to DTU.
  5. Wait for the DTU to connect to your router and tap Completeas soon as the connection has been established.

Step 4: Integrate the inverter and DTU as a system

Go to the left icon at the bottom of the S-Miles app menu. Tap the small plus icon in the top left corner to add an attachment. There you enter your name, performance, time zone and your region (for Germany: scroll to Germany) at. Next you need to provide the serial numbers of the DTU and then the inverter. You can find these on the devices and with the scan function (via the small symbol in the input line) you save yourself having to enter the numbers.

In the next step you can then enter details about the system (orientation, angle) and enter your electricity price. If you use a new DTU, the integration should work without any problems and the system will then be visible.

Hoymiles DTU WLite: Setup error?

You should get the error message “the DTU-SN already exists” received, this means that your stick is already stored on the Hoymiles server. In this case, contact Hoymiles support or your dealer. An unauthorized reset is not possible. There is the word Reset on the stick, which suggests that you can reset the device. But this is apparently only there to reset the network settings.

Throttling Hoymiles DTU WLite

To record electricity generation, there are also cheaper and simpler solutions than the Hoymiles DTU – the measurement data is more of a nice addition, even if Hoymiles prepares the data in a very attractive way. The function of throttling the balcony power plant is probably more important. The DTU ensures that an inverter does not feed in more than 600 watts, even if it offers higher performance.

Throttling works like this:

  1. Go to the left tab in the bottom menu. Choose your system.
  2. The menu with the house opens and there is a new ribbon at the bottom. In it, tap on the right icon.
  3. Choose Performance adjustment.
  4. Enter a percentage value for the Active power a. In the case of an HM-800, enter 75 percent so that the inverter only feeds in 0.75*800 = 600 watts.
  5. Press Save.

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Deal : This is what continues at Gigaset after bankruptcy


The DECT telephone manufacturer filed for insolvency just over a month ago. Now there are new details about what will happen next with Gigaset.

Gigaset submitted one at the end of September 2023 Application to open insolvency proceedings a – the communications technology provider says it is insolvent. Now there is news about what will happen at Gigaset in the future. Gigaset said in a statement that it had succeeded in continuing its operational business Press release from October 26, 2023. Now the search for an investor as a long-term partner begins to secure the economic future of the company from Bocholt. Gigaset is getting help from Clearwater International because the consulting firm specializes in, among other things, company acquisitions and sales. Experts call this focus “M&A”, which stands for “Mergers & Acquisitions” – in German “Merger and Acquisition”.

Investors express interest in Gigaset

“We are well on schedule. After around a month we can start the investor process to find the best possible future partner for Gigaset,” said Dr. Magnus Ekerot CEO and Chairman of the Board of Gigaset AG. Identifying a long-term partner for Gigaset is a key success factor for the company’s further realignment. “We want to create a sustainable and long-term economic basis for Gigaset. In initial discussions with potential partners, clear interest in Gigaset has already been expressed. That makes us very confident,” says Dr. Ekerot continues.

What do Gigaset customers have to consider?

A Gigaset spokesman told SamaGame that insolvency should not be equated with bankruptcy and thus the end of the company. “We are using the situation to prepare ourselves for the future and then operate successfully in it,” said the spokesman. The insolvency proceedings should not change anything for customers. Production continues in Bocholt and on the evening the bankruptcy was announced, employees on the late shift were producing tens of thousands of DECT telephones. “Products can be purchased and used. Our service can be reached by telephone and email,” said the Gigaset spokesman. If you want to be on the safe side as a Gigaset customer, it’s best to secure accessories such as batteries and chargers. Because these components might be difficult to obtain in the event of bankruptcy.

How did you file for bankruptcy?

According to the company, the board of directors of Gigaset AG had decided to submit an application to open standard insolvency proceedings for Gigaset AG and an application to open self-administered insolvency proceedings for Gigaset Communications GmbH at the Münster district court. The aim is to reposition the company. The background for the insolvency application is essentially an unexpected and significant decline in sales in the second half of 2023 and business development that was significantly below plan. In addition, there is persistent and increasing weak demand for Gigaset products as well as purchasing reluctance in Germany and Europe.

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Deal : Welcome Center under Windows 10/11: Recreate the Vista Welcome Center


Windows Vista, released in 2007, had a welcome center. It contained quick start links for calling up on-board functions and loaded when booting up (can be switched off). Can something like this be retrofitted under Windows 10 and 11?

The Windows 7 predecessor operating system Vista had something in common with the welcome center that was exclusively integrated into it: both were unpopular. The Welcome Center wasn’t the main contributor to Vista’s bad reputation, but for some it was the negative icing on the cake that users shattered in reviews. The main problems with Vista were its high resource requirements and software and hardware/driver incompatibilities. Microsoft managed to fix some of this, but its reputation is still ruined to this day – and the operating system often appears in mentions of bad OS, also in the context that a bad one should be followed by a good Windows and so on.
The OS makers had good intentions with the welcome center: a PC layperson would certainly appreciate the fact that the on-board function included assistance and possibly that it loaded automatically when booting up – similar to the desktop mini-applications (gadget.) introduced with Vista , widgets) did posing in a sidebar. Since Windows 7 there is no longer a welcome center, which is essentially the successor to the XP tour was (Windows Vista followed Windows XP); In Windows 7, a sidebar is no longer mandatory for running the mini-applications, and they no longer load automatically on a freshly installed OS after the user logs in. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that mini-applications are on hold under Windows 8 and higher . Microsoft saw security risks with them, but they probably weren’t that bad. With the 8GadgetPack retrofit the pretty helpers.

Windows Vist

a: Get the welcome center as a clone

Some people don’t swim with the crowd and emancipate themselves from the monotony with their opinions. Are you, like the article author, a fan of Windows Vista and its concepts? – Some of the system’s features live on in Windows to this day, one example being the Breadcrumb Explorer address bar. If you have a mix of sympathy and a desire for nostalgia, it might be a good idea to recreate the welcome center under Windows 10 or Windows 11. You don’t do this because the feature would be so useful. Rather, the motive “because it works” plays a role here and that the look is nice.
Let’s review the functional range of the welcome center: The window displayed the name of the operating system and edition (e.g. Home Premium), as well as the name of the processor (in a virtual machine alias VM, when researching for this article we got the Intel Core i7-6700K model listed), the amount of RAM, information about the (VGA) graphics card and the computer name.
By clicking on buttons you could “View computer details”, “Transfer files and settings”, “Add new users”, start a “Windows Anytime Upgrade”, you could explore “Connect to the Internet” and “What’s new in Windows Vista”. . Displaying the computer details with a click corresponds to the Windows-Pause key combination. Transferring data comes from calling Windows Easy Transfer same, which you also use Windows-R and migwiz transact. Under Windows 7 and Windows 8, the EasyTransfer on-board tool was still included in a variety of ways, under Windows 8.1 it was considerably deprived of its functionality, while under Windows 10 and Windows 11 it no longer appears at all. The welcome center was part of the Control Panel and also linked to online resources.
Retrofit the welcome center: Microsoft does not offer a Welcome Center for download. A resourceful user but has published a replica on DeviantArt, which you can download there after registering for free. Functionally, the clone doesn’t come close to the original, but it doesn’t have to. Visually, the construct should be sufficient to transport you back to ancient times in a sufficiently authentic way. On the linked page you will receive a zipped EXE file. Unzip it, but don’t open it yet. To get it started, open the properties of the file (double-click on it while holding down the Alt key) and activate it there Compatibility mode; select “Windows XP (Service Pack 2)” as the pretend OS. Double-click the EXE file. The “Welcome Center 2.0” is in English, but has an impressive design with a transparent title bar. It also transports the typical Vista colors into modern times. In terms of options and smooth operation, the presentation is less convincing, among other things because some of the system information provided (amount of RAM installed, operating system) is incorrect – whereas the Welcome Center should display the processor and the computer name correctly.

The more modern way to a welcome center: Go for Linux. The Distribution”Linux MX“, for example, brings an equivalent. Nostalgia in the form of Windows features that live on under Linux also exists in the sense that on some Linux systems the window title bar text is centered. This is reminiscent of Windows 8(.1) , where this optical property is also common Ribbon GUI based programs is.

Alternative to the welcome center: build your own launcher

During the Vista era, professionals were busy modifying the welcome center: the buttons in it could be enriched with their own counterparts with other functions. The file “oobe.xml” served this purpose. That no longer makes sense today – at best in a virtual machine. But in this way the welcome center could be upgraded to become a more useful launcher.
Windows XP, however, brought with it the Active Desktop, a function that allowed websites to be integrated into the desktop as elements. This option has been a thing of the past since Vista. In our testing in an XP VM in 2023, Active Desktop performed poorly with online/WAN resources. As an alternative to both the rudimentary welcome center launcher qualities and the Active Desktop, there are software tricks and tools: On You will find a tool that displays websites on the desktop in a freely positionable location within its own environment; the frame around it can be moved. This gives you a replacement, especially for the Active Desktop feature. You can create one for this and the welcome center by setting up your own small local HTML website from which you can start programs by clicking on the links. It’s not extremely useful, it has a fiddly character – but the fiddling with XML file internals with regard to the Vista welcome center was also a problem back in the day.
To create such a “website starts programs” tool, use the editor (accessible with Windows R, notepad and the Enter key) a file that you save to the drive with Ctrl-S with the ending “.htm”. Give her the following content:

Program starter

Program starter

Click on the links below to start programs:


Start Notepad


Call Winver


Call CMD


Call Explorer



function startProgram(programPath) {
try {
var shell = new ActiveXObject(“WScript.Shell”);
shell.Run(programPath);
} catch (e) {
alert(“An error has occurred – any error message can appear here”);
}
}

Important: Edit the code so that it says “Script” instead of “Xscript”. For technical reasons, we are publishing the two phrases differently here. Modern browsers do not run the work because it relies on ActiveX technology, which practically only Internet Explorer can handle. This is not a problem if you use the add-on “IE Tab” install to the IE rendering engine to spill over into the modern Google Chromium fork. Before a program starts when you click on the associated hyperlink on the HTML page, a security warning must be confirmed. ActiveX is suitable as an attack vehicle in other contexts. Better safe than sorry. In this respect, Microsoft has not built support for this into its Edge browser and other web clients do not support ActiveX either.
We have designed the example HTML code so that the website accessed via it with links triggers the start of Winver, CMD and Explorer. The whole thing is just as outdated as the tool from stefanbion.de linked at the top of the article, which is based on the Internet Explorer renderer “Trident”. Browser bookmarks and are useful in everyday life Taskbar shortcuts. But they don’t have the nostalgic charm of old technologies that lies dormant in Windows Vista and Windows XP.

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Deal : VW will soon discontinue the We-Connect app – this is the alternative

Over and over: Volkswagen will stop operating the “We Connect” app in a few weeks. SamaGame reveals what this means for users and what alternatives there are.

Surprising news from Volkswagen: The Wolfsburg-based car manufacturer will discontinue the “We Connect” app on November 8, 2023. That reports Mobiflip and refers to an email that Volkswagen is currently sending to affected users. This is the second service for which the German car manufacturer has announced an end to operations within a few months. At the end of July 2023, the Wolfsburg-based company announced that it would discontinue the “We Connect Go” app – which turned older cars into networked vehicles in collaboration with a Bluetooth dongle – on December 31, 2025.

Functions in the Volkswagen app in the future

But despite the “We Connect” app being discontinued in a few weeks, drivers of a compatible vehicle do not have to worry that the car manufacturer will take away functions. As Volkswagen says in the email, the features that were previously accessible via the “We Connect” app can be used as usual via the official Volkswagen app after the shutdown. The application, which, like the “We Connect” app, is used to control and monitor your vehicles, stands for both Android– as well as iOS-Devices available free of charge.

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Deal : Peaq Portable TV in the test: This television does not need a socket


The Peaq PTV 32GH-5023C is a portable television for all situations. The SamaGame test reveals why he knows good and bad times in the garden

Table of contents

  • Peaq Portable TV: The 32-inch TV is not that small
  • Handy TV with complete equipment
  • Android with apps and Google Assistant

  • Operation with ups and downs

  • The image quality is surprising
  • Thanks to the battery, it runs without a socket
  • Test conclusion Peaq PTV 32GH-5023C

Where is the final? Wherever you want! The Peaq Portable TV can be used more flexibly than almost any other TV and doesn’t even need a socket. An antenna or WiFi are enough for the not-so-small TV viewing pleasure, which can also take place on the terrace and in the garden. The portable television from Peaq can do some things better than similarly priced counterparts or even than notebooks and tablets. However, the test also shows the limits of this concept.

Peaq Portable TV: The 32-inch TV is not that small

Tablets and notebooks have long since established themselves as mobile televisions. They show practically all the TV programs you want via internet stream, all you need is WiFi nearby. However, more than one or two people will not enjoy it because the screens of these mobile devices are too small. This is where the Peaq Portable TV 32GH-5023C comes in. Its screen with a diagonal of 32 inches or 80 centimeters has an area four times as large. However, the television cannot keep up with the image sharpness of modern monitors and tablets; it has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. That’s enough for HD suitability (HD ready), but the image looks a little grainier than usual from less than 2 meters away.

Handy TV with complete equipment

Everything you need to watch TV is built into the Peaq Portable TV, plus all the relevant connections are available on the back:

  • TV reception: For classic reception of television programs including HDTV, the Peaq has a cable, antenna and satellite connection. To decrypt private channels, a corresponding module can be inserted into the CI+ slot of the television.
  • HDMI: The Peaq has two HDMI inputs, to which a computer or a DVD player can be connected, for example. They can also be used for a games console. However, experienced gamers will notice the comparatively long video delay; the latency is 37 milliseconds. One of the HDMI ports can also output current sound, for example for a soundbar.
  • AV: For example, old game consoles or camcorders can be connected to the AV input.
  • Digital output: The optical connection can be used, for example, for older home cinema systems or wireless headphones.
  • USB: Photos and videos can be played via a USB port in the most important file formats, except for WMA and DTS sound. TV recordings on USB hard drives are not possible.
  • Headphone output: There is a corresponding jack socket on the Peaq for conventional headphones with cables, and you can also use them Bluetooth headphones pair – but only operate one at a time.

Android with apps and Google Assistant

Compared to other televisions, the Peaq PTV 32GH-5023C is compact and affordable, but no less smart. It accesses the Internet via network cable and WLAN and publishes contributions Media libraries on his screen, as well as YouTube videos and paid films and series Streaming provider. The television works with the Android TV operating system in the current television version 11. This ensures almost complete app availability, and even the Sky offshoot Wow, which is otherwise often missing, is available here. If desired, the Google Assistant can help you find the desired genres, films or series. There is a microphone in the remote control and it listens when you press the colorful Google button.

Operation with ups and downs

Conventional control of the Peaq Portable TV via remote control is at least as easy. It fits well in the hand and has large, clearly labeled and sensibly arranged buttons. So that it doesn’t get lost on the portable television, the Peaq has a suitable holder on the back. The menus add more guesswork: some of them are translated incomprehensibly and don’t show any explanations. Anyone who wants to rearrange the channels after they have been used for the first time will despair. Luckily, it’s very easy to create a favorites list. The help app is also far too brief and superficial to be really helpful. It’s good that the printed operating instructions are comparatively detailed.

The image quality is surprising

At a cheap one 32 inch TV With “small” HD resolution, expectations of image quality are not particularly high. But the Peaq Portable TV outperformed them in the test with natural and almost unadulterated colors, largely smooth movements and decent contrast. The image brightness of 200 candela per square meter is typical for this price and size range and is usually sufficient in the kitchen, bedroom or student apartment. However, if you want to use the portable television outdoors, you have to pay attention to the time and position of the sun. When the sun is shining, you can’t see anything on the screen, and there’s nothing you can do about it with any menu setting. Even in the shadows, the television image can be more easily guessed at than recognized. In the twilight it looks completely different, and the crisp picture is quite pleasing. No wonder that the manufacturer advertises “cinema feeling under the starry sky”.

Peaq Portable TV in the test: Technical data in comparison

Peaq

Panasonic

Amazon

resolution

Brightness (HDR max.)

contrast

Color deviation dE

color temperature

Color space DCI-P3

Latency (60Hz)

Entrances

The color matching is a bit cool from the factory, the setting Film/Drama We liked it better in the test and was also brighter. Little Peaq also really worked hard when it came to sound. Its two loudspeakers are clearly visible at the front and deserve to be called a loudspeaker with surprising assertiveness. It doesn’t sound nice at full blast, but it’s worth its weight in gold outdoors with a good-humoured audience. At normal volume, the PTV sounds a bit nasal and tinny, but still a class better than the one of the same size and price Amazon Fire TV 2 and especially as notebooks and tablets.

Thanks to the battery, it runs without a socket

A battery is built into the Peaq PTV 32GH-5023C for use away from sockets. Depending on the image settings, it lasts a good three hours on one charge, and four hours is possible if the screen setting is very dark. The operating instructions prohibit changing the battery or opening the housing. In principle, this is possible: The battery is a standard model with a plug and sits in a compartment closed with four screws. In continuous operation, power is supplied via a small external power supply. Use in a car or motorhome requires either a 230-volt socket or battery operation. However, the television cannot be operated on a 12-volt vehicle connection, but this option is offered 24 inch TV more often.

Test conclusion Peaq PTV 32GH-5023C

The Peaq Portable TV 32GH-5023C stands out from other televisions with its flexibility: With its built-in battery it can be used mobile, and thanks to the carrying recess in the housing, it is very easy to move quickly. Nevertheless, it is a fully-fledged 32-inch television that does not have to shy away from comparison with conventional competitors. The picture quality is good, the equipment is complete including Android and all desirable streaming options, and the sound is surprisingly powerful. Overall, mobile television works much better than with tablets or notebooks. Nice: Peaq offers the portable TV with a light blue speaker bar as shown in the pictures (32GH-5023C-BL), alternatively it is black (32GH-5023C-B) or white (32GH-5023C-W).

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Deal : LC Power LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2: Gaming at a competitive price!


A lot of pictures for little money? This is what you get with the LC Power LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2. SamaGame reveals in the test what else sets the gaming monitor apart.

Table of contents

  • High quality, but only tiltable
  • What the product name says
  • Curved for gamers

  • Buttery smooth gameplay

  • The resolution is completely sufficient
  • Bright and high contrast
  • Geared for gaming

  • LC Power LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2 in the test: Conclusion

“LC Power? Never heard of it.” That’s probably what most gamers will answer when asked about the German hardware manufacturer. LC Power has been on the market for over 20 years and has specialized in production inexpensive computer hardware specialized. The 32-inch model, which has been available since August 2023, deserves special attention.Gaming monitor LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2. The strongest selling point: The screen is available over the counter for the ridiculous price of 240 euros. In this test we will clarify whether the part is good to play with.

High quality, but only tiltable

The LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2 is installed and ready for use in just a few simple steps. Despite its low price, the workmanship is first class, and the metal base ensures it stands firmly on the desk. The rear view of the LC Power is impressive thanks to the individually adjustable RGB lighting and is visually reminiscent of Samsung’s Odyssey series. Compared to about this Odyssey Neo G8 However, the ring on the back cannot be made to glow. The ergonomics options of the LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2 are also limited. The screen can only be tilted. It cannot be adjusted in height, swiveled or turned into portrait format.

What the product name says

On the other hand, the monitor was convincing in almost all other areas. Many of the inner values ​​can already be found in the product name. The LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2 comes with a large 32-inch display, (W)QHD resolution (Wide Qetc High Definition) and a refresh rate of 165 Hertz. The “C” stands for Curved. Thanks to its expansive size (80 centimeter screen diagonal!), up to three DIN A4 windows can be placed next to each other, making the monitor also suitable for working or multimedia applications. If you use Excel a lot, you should use a flat panel to get a flat row display.

Curved for gamers

However, the curvature is perfect for gaming. The manufacturer compresses the display with 1,500R. The information means that the panel is curved with a radius of 1,500 millimeters (i.e. 1.5 meters). This allows gamers to delve even deeper into the game.

Buttery smooth gameplay

Particularly important for gamers: a high refresh rate. Thanks to the 165 Hertz image frequency, the LC Power updates the image 165 times per second. This ensures wonderfully fluid movements when playing and ensures that opponents literally appear on the scene earlier. Short switching times are required so that what is happening on the screen is not only fluid but also streak-free.

The switching time describes how long it takes for a pixel to switch from black to white or between different shades of gray. Due to their design, VA monitors often have long switching times, which can lead to the formation of streaks when moving quickly. It’s different with the LC Power: the monitor takes just 6.1 milliseconds to change the image. In the test, the short response time ensured that the panel did not smear even during hectic movements.

The resolution is completely sufficient

The monitor is also sharp enough for gaming. With its WQHD resolution it shows 2560×1440 pixels, which enables a detailed image impression. The color fidelity is somewhat low at 96 percent, which leads to minimal green cast on faces in films and series – but the very high color space coverage in the sRGB range (99 percent) ensures an overall crisp color representation. However, the LC Power is unsuitable for photo and video editing: the monitor only covers 87 percent of the HDR color space DCI-P3.

Bright and high contrast

The contrast of the LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2 is impressive. Thanks to a ratio of 4,351:1, particularly dark scenes come into their own when gaming (and watching films). The monitor is also bright enough with its 408 candela per square meter. In the test, the factory brightness setting (level 43) proved to be sufficient even in daylight.

Geared for gaming

The connection options are more than sufficient. In addition to dual DisplayPort, the LC Power has HDMI on board. Only a USB hub is missing. The monitor scores points with its extensive gaming features: FreeSync and G-Sync are on board to counteract image tearing. The FPS counter is also useful for gamers (frames phe second).

LC Power LC-M32-QHD-165-C-V2 in the test: Conclusion

Price-conscious gamers can hardly ignore the LC Power LC-M32-QHD-165-C. Although the monitor doesn’t cost much, it impressed in the test with a high refresh rate, short switching times and rich contrast. The only drawback is the lack of height adjustability.

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Deal : WMF Perfection 680 in the test: cold coffee pleasure?


With the slim 600 series, WMF is expanding its fully automatic coffee machine portfolio. SamaGame tested the top model Perfection 680.

Table of contents

  • Is it all cold coffee?
  • A lot in a smaller format
  • Good touchscreen

  • Espresso happiness at second glance

  • Cleans itself
  • WMF Perfection 600 series: prices and models
  • WMF Perfection 680 in the test: conclusion

In addition to the large format models Perfection 740L and 880L WMF now offers this Fully automatic coffee machines the 600 series. They come with a more compact design and a new cleaning system for the milk system. The WMF Perfection 680 also prepares cool refreshments. We tested the top model in detail and revealed whether the new fully automatic machine is worth it.

Is it all cold coffee?

As the first WMF fully automatic coffee machine, the Perfection 680 also offers three programs for cold coffee drinks. Unlike, for example, DeLonghi Eletta Explore Cold Brew, in which the eponymous cold brew drinks are prepared with water at room temperature, the WMF machine always comes out with hot coffee. However, that’s not as bad as that Krups Intuition Experience+ EA877D has already proven. The models from WMF and Krups are virtually identical or at least similar in construction, as both brands belong to the SEB Group and therefore use the same or similar technology.

The two programs “Chilled Coffee” and “Iced Latte” are basically nothing special. You fill ice cubes into a glass, start the preparation and coffee or coffee and milk are served hot and then cooled down by the ice cubes in the glass. The most interesting of the cold coffee drinks is “Nitro Coffee”. To do this, put a handful or more ice cubes into a large glass (around 400 ml), but also put the milk lance with the hose connected in and start the preparation. Everything then works as usual: the WMF machine dispenses hot coffee, which is cooled down by the ice cubes in the glass.

After a short break, the brew is drawn again via the milk hose through the cappuccinatore in the central spout. This gives the drink a fine head of foam that is reminiscent of beer foam. The WMF version – analogous to the Krups version – has little in common with the original recipe for a Nitro Coffee. Previously prepared cold brew coffee is drawn through a dispensing system with nitrogen. But the taste verdict for Nitro Coffee à la WMF is: very tasty and a nice change.

A lot in a smaller format

With dimensions (height x width x depth) of 37.1x25x41 centimeters (cm), the WMF Perfection 680 is significantly slimmer than its fully automatic siblings 740L and 880L (each 39.5×28.5×48 cm). Despite the compact design, the newcomer’s features don’t have to hide from the larger models. It starts with the bean container on the top, which holds almost 250 grams of coffee beans. To ensure that the beans stay fresh for longer, the compartment has a flap with a rubber seal. The bean container also contains the rotary control for the stainless steel conical grinder, which can be adjusted to five grinding levels. By the way, there is no shaft for ground coffee.

The tank on the back holds up to 3 liters of water. The cool water is pumped through the machine at a pressure of up to 15 bar. If necessary, the included Claris water filter can be installed in the tank. This will prevent the device from becoming excessively calcified. You also have to descale the machine less often. You can set the water hardness level using the settings menu on the display.

Like the other WMF machines, you can also use the Perfection 680 to prepare milk coffee drinks. The well-known milk system is available for this, consisting of a rubber hose, stainless steel lance and glass carafe (here: 600 instead of 1,000 milliliters). The hose is attached to the central spout on the right and the milk is frothed using a cappuccinatore. Thanks to the double thermoblock technology, coffee and milk are heated independently, meaning that all ingredients reach the cups at the optimal temperature.

Good touchscreen

The WMF Perfection 680 offers an approximately 3.6 inch (9.2 cm) color touch display for operation. This is framed on the left and right by four sensor buttons for switching on and off, the main menu, the hot water output and the settings as well as four different profiles. The control works smoothly with the proven operating concept: all inputs are implemented quickly, the display is large enough, bright and clearly visible.

In the settings menu you can make all sorts of adjustments for the start screen, display brightness, etc. When you select a drink, you can set the coffee strength and total fill quantity on the next screen. For black coffee drinks there are milliliter values ​​here, for milk coffees only the T-shirt sizes M, L and XL. The three dots at the top right take you to the extended drink parameters. In addition to the brewing temperature and pre-brewing time, the amount of coffee and milk foam intensity can also be adjusted here. The amount of milk can only be changed using the total quantity setting – we already know this from the big WMF brothers. After making the adjustments, you can save up to eight individualized drinks in up to eight profiles. By the way, you can also connect the WMF machine to your home WiFi so that the device can always get the latest operating software. This can be particularly interesting if it means you get additional coffee programs over time.

Espresso happiness at second glance

With the WMF Perfection 680 you can choose between 17 different coffee programs that are installed on the device ex works. The cold drinks mentioned above are of course accompanied by some coffee variations without milk, including Ristretto, Lungo, Americano, Caffè crema and Espresso. The latter has to prove itself in the taste test and does so – but only on the second attempt. Because the first batches were a bit of a failure: too weak, too watery and rather average in taste. After a day’s break, the WMF Perfection 680 suddenly delivered really good espressos and hasn’t disappointed since. The sweet notes of the coffee beans come through well, the espresso is full-bodied, hot and strong without being overpowering. Why did it only work at second glance? We ask ourselves that too. In the end, we just want to say: espresso good, everything is good. The “Breakfast Coffee” program also receives extra praise: like Long Coffee from DeLonghi machines, it is prepared using a surge brewing process and is reminiscent of delicious filter coffee with a balanced, gentle aroma.

In addition to cold drinks and black coffee, you can also get different types of milk coffee from the WMF Perfection 680. Unlike the Perfection 880L and analogous to the 740L, the milk foam has an ideal temperature and comes out of the machine nice and creamy. The latte programs include cappuccino, latte macchiato, caffè latte, espresso macchiato, flat white and Italian cappuccino. The new WMF machine also offers hot water for three different types of tea, which is dispensed via a separate nozzle to the right of the central spout. You can find more delicious coffee recipes here.

Cleans itself

Like the other WMF fully automatic machines and the Krups counterparts, the Perfection 680 has a permanently installed metal brewing group. The advantage here: The brewing unit regularly rinses itself and is automatically and thoroughly cleaned using the integrated self-cleaning program and a cleaning tablet. Some coffee fans prefer a removable brewing group. For more comfortable coffee drinkers, the permanently installed version is a nice simplification in terms of care. In addition to self-cleaning, there are also programs for rinsing the coffee circuit, the tea circuit and for automatic descaling.

There is also a program to choose from for cleaning the milk system: To do this, insert the rubber hose into the cappuccinatore in the central spout and the other end without the stainless steel lance into the hot water nozzle to the right of it. Then place a container under the central spout and start the washing program. Hot water and steam are then passed through the hose and the cappuccinatore to remove any milk residue. After a few seconds the program has run through and the machine is ready for use again. The cappuccinatore can be removed by hand from the central spout and dismantled into four parts for thorough cleaning.

Thanks to its slim design without many corners and edges, the surface of the WMF Perfection 680 can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. The front part of the case is made of the manufacturer’s own Cromargan stainless steel, the rest is made of plastic. You can put the drip tray, including the cover and stainless steel grid, in the dishwasher. You must wash the water tank and the pulp container by hand. To do this, use gentle dishwashing liquid and a dish and/or bottle brush. You can find further tips and tricks for caring for and using your fully automatic coffee machine here.

WMF Perfection 600 series: prices and models

In addition to the Perfection 680, another WMF fully automatic coffee machine belongs to the 600 series. You can’t get the Perfection 660 in Germany yet, but the device is already available in Austria. Here is a brief overview of the Perfection 600 series:

Test results

WMF Perfection 680

Manufacturer information

Furnishing
(30%)

Service &
The taste
(40%)

cleaning
(15%)

Technical tests
(15%)

Test results

WMF Perfection 680 in the test: conclusion

With the top model from the Perfection 600 series, WMF delivers a good fully automatic coffee machine with an elegant design. The cappuccino, espresso (with some warm-up time) etc. taste delicious, the cold coffee drinks are a tasty alternative for everyday life. Added to this is the extremely easy cleaning concept with a permanently installed metal brewing group and the new “Click & Clean” program for the milk system and the simple operation via touch display. On the other hand, there is the comparatively high power consumption when preparing espresso and the somewhat loud grinder. The price of just under 1,300 euros is also quite high if you consider that the similar Krups Intuition Experience+ is available for significantly cheaper and performed better in our test.

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Microsoft will continue with acquisitions even after the Activision Blizzard deal


In an interview with CNBC, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer says that Microsoft will continue to make acquisitions after the Activision Blizzard deal. According to Spencer, it is a very “competitive market” in which there is no room to “take a break.” Both Tencent and Sony are mentioned as examples. Both companies are ‘bigger’ and continue to ‘invest’.

$MSFTs @XboxP3 talk #Tencent, #JRPG‘s, and @discord – and explains why it’s not time to follow $SONY‘s hike in prices. #Xbox #PlayStation pic.twitter.com/BCIY0wE8Gt

— Squawk Asia (@asiasquawkbox) September 16, 2022

Spencer indicates that the goal is still to remain a ‘big player’ in the market. To this end, investments are not only being made in ‘internal teams and collaborations’, but ‘possible acquisitions’ are also being looked at. The work “never stops” to keep “innovating and staying ahead of the competition,” Spencer said. You can see the whole story in the video above.

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Microsoft launches bizarre site to explain Activision Blizzard deal


The battle between Microsoft and Sony over the Activision Blizzard deal continues. Microsoft has therefore now launched a special site to explain the consequences of the acquisition.

In January, Microsoft announced it plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The deal is still not done, because it must first be approved by the various watchdogs. There are doubts whether Microsoft will not become too powerful after the takeover, partly fueled by statements from Sony.

  • Pre-order Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 now with a discount!

To explain the consequences of the Activision Blizzard deal, Microsoft has now launched a special site. On the site you can read what the vision of the American publisher is with the company behind Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Diablo, among others.

With the page, Microsoft also wants to make it clear that the company will not become too big a power within the game industry. In fact, according to an overview, ‘Sony and Nintendo remain the largest players’ in the field of games. Microsoft will also ensure healthy competition in the , where ‘a number of large players now dominate’.

Investigation into Activision Blizzard deal launched

The fact that Microsoft has now launched a special site to explain the consequences of the acquisition does not come at a strange time. In September it became clear that the EU and the watchdog of the United Kingdom have launched an investigation into the takeover. In particular, the possibility of Call of Duty becoming an Xbox-exclusive franchise would cause problems.

The deadline for the EU investigation is 8 November. On that date, the European Commission must give its approval, block the takeover or there is still a possibility to launch a more in-depth investigation. So it will be a while before we get more certainty about the Activision Blizzard deal.

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Deal : Balcony power plant storage test: Three battery systems in comparison 2023

New storage solutions should make it possible to use even more electricity from the balcony power plant itself. We tested three storage systems for balcony power plants in a practical test.

Who a Balcony power plant sooner or later the question will probably arise: Can I add storage to my system? Using balcony solar systems is the easiest way to generate electricity yourself, but they have a weakness: often only a small part of the energy is used at the time they produce it – the rest goes to the network operator as a gift . And in the evening, when the television is on, the system does not generate any electricity.

Bigger Solar systems, which aim for high self-consumption, ultimately solve the dilemma with an electricity storage system that holds the energy for later use. But this was not previously planned for balcony solar systems with their maximum output of 600 watts. Their simple microinverters usually don’t even have a second connection for electricity storage – unlike hybrid inverters. Some manufacturers have now developed storage solutions specifically for balcony power plants. The three battery systems differ. Anker and Zendure can be mounted on an existing balcony power plant. EcoFlow, on the other hand, builds the concept around the in-house power stations.

Practical test winner Zendure SolarFlow

Like Anker, Zendure’s SolarFlow system belongs between the solar modules and the inverter. SolarFlow but consists of two parts. A box, the so-called PV hub, forms the control center. It is connected on one side to the solar modules of the existing balcony power plant, and on the other to the Zendure AB1000 storage unit (839 euros including PV hub) with 0.96 kWh and the inverter of the balcony power plant. Four batteries can be combined (600 euros each). The practical test showed that the system is set up quickly. All cables are included in the package but must be hidden on the balcony. The app offers many functions. Everything can be set by hand. Their consumption can also be prioritized using an additional Zendure socket. The exciting function of first charging the storage until it is full and then feeding the solar power completely into the house was also available after an update.

All in one device: Anker Solix solar bank E1600

The Anker solution is based on a new in-house electricity storage system for balcony power plants called Solar bench E1600 (999 euros) with 1.6 kilowatt hours (kWh), the capacity of which can be increased with a second solar bank. It is plugged between the solar modules and the inverter of the balcony power plant. If you already have a balcony power plant, you can easily expand it with a battery using the Anker Solix solar bank E1600. This allows excess solar power to be used when the sun is not shining. Ideally, the storage is sufficient to cover the basic load of half a day in the household without complex controls. Installation is easy, the battery can also be left outside on the balcony (in the shade).

All about the power station: EcoFlow PowerStream

Anyone who already has a mobile EcoFlow electricity storage system can convert it into a storage system for a balcony power station. This essentially requires EcoFlow’s new PowerStream inverter (276 euros), which is connected to compatible solar modules, an EcoFlow power station and the power grid. In theory, the EcoFlow app promises great control, but in practice it is not yet fully developed because the system does not always carry out the settings in practice, but rather thinks about protecting the battery.

This is how the controls work

The structure of the three systems may be different at the hardware level, but in all cases they are controlled via an app on the smartphone. When setting up the system for the first time, the manufacturers guide the apps automatically; the three testers managed it very easily. Another similarity: The systems communicate via Bluetooth and 2.4 gigahertz WLAN. The respective app displays the flow of electricity and enables the energy to be controlled. The following guardrails can be set for all three systems:

  • Power requirements: How much energy does the household need permanently? Unlike a large photovoltaic system including smart meter data, the tested balcony power storage systems do not communicate with the electricity meter in the house and do not know what is actually being consumed. Instead, users themselves determine what power the house network should maintain at a constant rate, although with Zendure control is only possible in 100 watt increments, while with the other two systems it is possible to control it in 10 watt increments.
  • The energy flow can also be controlled by all three schedules Mistake. EcoFlow and Zendure also offer smart sockets. These are used to determine the needs of the devices connected to them and to add this power requirement to the amount of energy to be fed in. So if you hang the smart socket(s) in your home office, for example, you increase the amount of electricity you need by its requirement value. The EcoFlow Smart Plugs beeped a bit in the test, but the manufacturer sent us a newer batch that only made a barely audible beep. Good: With Zendure, Shelly accessories (previously the 3EM current sensor and the Plug S smart socket) can also be integrated into the app. This is intended to enable smart energy control that is based on the actual total consumption in the household.
  • Prioritization: Does the home network or storage have priority? This can be determined more or less for all three systems. At Anker the principle applies: as simple as possible. Everything here is done by entering the required house electricity, the rest goes into the storage. Anyone who changes the setting needed a little patience during our test under beta software. EcoFlow takes a granular approach: You determine whether the storage or home network has priority, but at the time of testing the focus was on the charging and discharging status of the battery. Users determine the limits within which the storage state should be. The EcoFlow control system was sometimes stubborn and did not accept the setting. With Zendure there is also the option to set the storage status and assign priorities: for the battery or the smart socket.

  • Full memory: With EcoFlow, anyone who has completely filled up their electricity storage on a sunny day will be surprised at what happens next. In the practical test, EcoFlow capped the power and only continued to feed in as much power as previously set. Zendure initially had the same problem, but after an update the “battery priority mode” worked as intended and allowed the solar harvest to flow directly into the house when the battery was full. Anker supplies surpluses up to the 600 watt limit applicable to balcony power plants completely to the house network.

  • Control on the go: For all three systems, the data can be displayed on the go using an app. Anker and Zendure can also be controlled remotely. With EcoFlow it’s not that easy. Who one FritzBox uses a trick – using the WireGuard protocol to remotely control smart home devices. You can find out how to set up the necessary VPN connection to access PowerStream remotely in our counselor.

Working without mains power

Many people are interested in a (balcony) solar system because they want to continue to be supplied with electricity in the event of a power outage. But the small power plants per se are not intended to bridge this emergency. The inverters need the grid frequency to work. Exception: The EcoFlow storage solution makes it possible to power important devices even in the event of a power outage. The in-house ones Power stations supply external devices via their sockets and USB ports – even without a network.
The Anker solar bank Solix E1600 does not have such connections. But at least there is a way to charge some anchor power stations smartly using a balcony power station. According to the manufacturer, this has so far been possible with the Anker Solix F1200 (around 1900 euros). This works via app control and by users simply connecting the power station to a socket in the house.

Save more money with storage?

One goal of operating a balcony power plant is to reduce the electricity bill. After a few years, the purchase of a plug-in solar system (around 400 to 1200 euros) will usually pay for itself. In order to clarify the question of whether a balcony power storage system potentially increases savings, as the manufacturers promise, the following must be considered:

  • Counter type: Anyone who has an old Ferrari electricity meter will lower their electricity bill when the meter turns backwards because the balcony solar system generates more electricity than the household uses. This practice is illegal, but widespread and lucrative. Mathematically, no storage is worthwhile for illegal operation. Modern electricity meters should be installed in households across the board by 2032 at the latest – and then what already applies to legally registered power plants will apply to all balcony power plant operators: in order to benefit from self-generated electricity, a high level of self-use is important. You can find out more about electricity meters for balcony power plants in the relevant section counselor.
  • Usage behavior: If the sun is shining and the washing machine, dishwasher and home office use electricity at the same time, a household uses a high proportion of the balcony power plant electricity even without storage. If little electricity is used during the day and the balcony power plant is properly connected to an electricity meter with a backstop, a storage system helps to increase your own consumption. But: It is at least as expensive to purchase as the balcony power plant itself. Therefore, those interested should analyze their own consumption behavior and think carefully about whether it is worth buying it.

Lifespan of the balcony power plant storage

In addition to the purchase price of the storage unit, you should also include its expected price in the calculation lifespan. Anker and Zendure promise a 15-year lifespan and 6,000 charging cycles and give a ten-year guarantee. With EcoFlow, the promised service life depends on the power station model you choose. The Delta 2 series comes with a five-year guarantee and 3000 charging cycles.

Conclusion

The idea of ​​a storage system for balcony power plants immediately makes sense: Thanks to it, self-produced electricity can be used regardless of the sun – whether in the evening or on a rainy day. However, such storage makes installation more expensive. And in practice, energy control doesn’t always work optimally – even if the apps are beautifully designed and they constantly receive updates. No system has yet taken total consumption into account, but EcoFlow and Zendure do take some consumption data into account. Zendure impresses with the best-functioning control system and, like Anker’s storage system, can be hung on an existing balcony power plant. The EcoFlow inverter is worthwhile for owners of their own power stations.