A Smart BUTTON?!

Hey Guys, how are you doing?

HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS!!

It's 2017 already, yet I still remember 2016 like it was yesterday(see what I did there)!

Today were going to be covering a piece of technology that you may not think you need, but may be extremely useful. HUGE shoutout to Cane Wireless for sending out the Cliki Smart Button for me to check out!

The Cliki is a programmable button that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. When I say "programmable" I don't mean computer genius programming, I mean downloading an app and clicking a couple buttons on your smartphone to change how the button behaves when you press it.

The app is well designed and simple but, the functions are VERY limited, there are only 9 FUNCTIONS!!!! I think, BY FAR, the worst part of the Cliki is the lack of support for ANY 3rd Party applications like IFTTT(If This Then That). That would have not been as big of a problem as if there had been more functions included in the app, for $40 on Amazon(click the picture for link), I would have LOVED to see more in-built functions OR the same functions, with IFTTT support! Another Gripe I have with the Cliki is that it can only execute ONE function at a time, if you choose the "My Click" option then it is able to perform different functions depending upon the amount of clicks, but even THAT can only perform about 6 functions out of the 9 functions available! What's good about the "My Click" option is that you can program it to launch an app, find your phone, or launch a web page. My last but not least gripe with the Cliki is that, the function that you have programmed the Cliki to do when pressed, will ONLY work and do what it is supposed to if the app is open or running in the background.

The design of the Cliki is...interesting, it's made mostly of plastic which, at this price is VERY disappointing, I would have loved to see metal or maybe that rubberized plastic matte feel which the Flic Smart Button has(it also fixes almost EVERY problem I mention in this review for $6 less than the Cliki). The Cliki has a very robust, outdoorsy-looking design which makes it perfect for attaching to your backpack via a carabiner clip, that's mostly due to the red(or whatever color you chose when ordering) ring around the actual button, once that is removed(which is easier than you think), the Cliki looks VERY different and now has the design aesthetic of something that you can fix permanently somewhere in your home and have it dedicated to one specific function(which is probably what Cane Wireless had in mind when they included some Velcro Pads in the package, very nice touch).

Now, gripes aside, let's talk about what the in-built functions actually DO. The reason that there is a "microphone" icon on the button is because there is a microphone function, where it records a voice memo when the button is pressed, which it saves to a directory on your phone. There is also a "SOS" option, which I have NOT tested(due to obvious reasons). Another sort of "security" function is the "Tether" function, this makes it so that if the Cliki is long-pressed or moves out of range of the phone, the phone will sound a HILARIOUSLY LOUD alarm. There is also a "Music" function, a "Flashlight" function, a "Voice Control" function(Siri for Apple devices, Google Now for Android), and the last notable function, a camera shutter button, which brings us to the last part of my review, the case.

Now, note that I did NOT receive the case for review, this is PURELY based on what I can see based on images and other press resources. This accessory shouldn't exist, I don't know why it even exists. It's a case for your phone, that has a slot to hold the Cliki on the back of the case, the main use I see for this is when you are taking a selfie with someone and can't reach out to press the ACTUAL button. Another problem with the case is that it ONLY supports the iPhone 6/6S or the Samsung Galaxy S6 which, mind you are BOTH last generation phones from BOTH manufacturers. The worst part of the "smartcase" is the whopping $69.99 price tag! $70 for a piece of rubber that's molded to fit the Cliki, NO THANK YOU! It also looks EXTREMELY bulky, I would not like to have that in my pocket all day.

This brings us to the conclusion, which I'm going to do a bit differently than I normally do. The Cliki is an interesting product, when it's compared to, pretty much it's ONLY competition in this market, The Flic Smart Button, The Flic, comes out ahead BY FAR(it fixes almost EVERY flaw of the Cliki that I mentioned in this review). But, if the Cliki were the ONLY product of it's kind, I would give it about a 5.5/10. I think the Achilles Heel of the Cliki is...the price, at $40 on Amazon, The Cliki is EASILY BEATEN by The Flic Smart Button which solves almost ALL of the Cliki's problems for $6 less. So, in the end, I have a hard time finding ANY reason to recommend The Cliki Smart Button.

Well Guys, thanks for reading and Happy New Year!