Beam Light Socket Smart Projector

Product Description

Features

• A smart projector that fits in any light socket
• Beam projects al your digital content integrated in your home
• It responds to you, showing you the right things at the right moment
• You can use any app on beam and control it with your smartphone or tablet
• Designed to be an integrated part of your interior

Top Reviews

likely because of the good buffering capabilities it has
by Joe Larkin (1 out of 5 stars)
January 17, 2017

I bought it direct from Beamlabs, not Amazon. I received it in early May. There has been only 1 SW update since it's release and it didn't address what I consider to be the biggest flaws. 1. Streaming drops. Doesn't matter what app you're using to stream, Netflix, hbogo, Amazon video (if you can manage to get it installed on this one version of Android), they all drop the stream and kick you back to the menu every 20 mins or so. The only video streaming app it works decently with is kodi, likely because of the good buffering capabilities it has. 2. Bluetooth audio doesn't sync to video. So no chance of using other speakers due playback, you're stuck with the very weak builtin speakers which is oft times too low to hear certain programs fully. Now both of these problems are supposedly (per Beamlabs) a result of the EXTREMELY old version of Android it's running, version 4.2.2. They are now saying they will update the SW to Android 4.4 within this month. Keep in mind android 4.4 was released in 2013, so yeah they're way behind the times. Hopefully this fixes the 2 major issues though. Additionally, while touted as a smart projector, it isn't that smart except for running an old android version. There is currently no Integration to home automation products or hubs or even IFTTT. It does have a few builtin actions that can be configured but they're not very useful and are spotty at best. And the application sets are constantly having the apps disappear which is an annoyance.

Another major annoyance is you cannot even shut it down or reboot it (which has to happen far too often due to it crashing) using the control app, you have to use the physical button on the device.

The projector is only 100 lumens so it's not very strong or bright at all. Any light in the room and you'll be challenged to enjoy it. Blackout shades are a must have to use this during the day. It claims HD but the most you'll get is 480p out of it.

Is quite heavy to be in an adjustable light socket. Almost all flex lighting or desk lamps won't be suitable.

I had high hopes for this, but I regret it. It's really just more kickstarter crap. They're more focused on the marketing gimmick than the actual usability and tech. It won't offer a great experience especially at the price tag they're asking. It's a novelty item that costs like 500 euros.

Note: I am a techie, an engineer and an early adopter to lots of tech, especially smart tech. I would consider this review very carefully before purchasing this product. It's a far too expensive and impractical novelty buy that I personally regret. And the speed of updates to fix issues preventing the main intended uses of this device (video enjoyment) are abysmal. It's been essentially unuseable since I received it in May 2016. Good Luck!

Note: the above review was posted in January. It's now 6 months later and they still don't know how to update the software over the air and there are no ports on the device to do a local update. Beam labs are clueless. They did offer to ship me a replacement which they updated locally to the latest software, but only if I would take down my review. Fail :)
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Lies, incompetence, and a useless product.
by alexander rhees (1 out of 5 stars)
January 9, 2018

This was probably the worst technology purchase I've made in a long time. I found out about it from Unboxed Therapy, after having caught a few glimpses of it around the web while it was funding on Kickstarter; the reviews on UT were insanely positive, and seemed to support a lot of what their site says. Unfortunately, it's a house of lies.

The Beam device itself isn't a Cast device, which I was lead to believe based on their home page saying that it is, AND using the Google trademarked Cast device logo. Discussing this with support didn't get very far as they elected to be elusive, enumerating all the other options I have with my Beam rather than answering me directly about the capability of the device; I finally pinned them down on the subject and they admitted they couldn't get Cast to work.

Well, there goes 95% of the value I was hoping to get out of this thing.

It ALSO doesn't work terribly well as a miracast device, with it's preinstalled receiver app only registering that something is trying to connect to it intermittently. Figured it might be an issue with my network, but 4 networks later and it's still only sometimes grabbing it. -4%.

DNLA works! But hardly anything I want to use as a media source supports DNLA. Still at 1% value.

It's got YouTube installed, but can't really install much else on the enormous 2 gig storage this device has, with a great amount of it's space already taken up by pre-installed junk that doesn't really do much to improve the experience (Beam Actions, for instance). Storage is non-expandable, so the issue isn't readily addressable. -1%. This thing is now useless to me. A $300 lie sold by a company that had a cool idea, couldn't execute it and decided that false advertising and falsehoods were the best approach to the situation.

I thought that maybe I could make the shuddering waste of silicon and copper somewhat worthwhile, but it's not rooted or rootable, so there's no real hope there. My plan is to begin bombarding the support folks until they give up a root procedure for this thing, and failing that starting to dismantle it so I can see what might be fixable.
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Great concept, but the execution is underwhelming
by Sonya Jenoubi (1 out of 5 stars)
September 26, 2017

The quality of the picture projected is not what it should be, especially for the price. The software used makes it very difficult to download apps-which was the main reason I purchased the product. Great concept, but the execution is underwhelming.
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Not the greatest resolution. Some streaming issues (must have top notch ...
by Amazon Customer (3 out of 5 stars)
March 22, 2018

Not the greatest resolution. Some streaming issues (must have top notch internet). Sone issues turning off and on.
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Seemed like a cool gift idea for the wife
by Kyle S. (1 out of 5 stars)
August 29, 2017

God awful product. Spent two months trying to configure the Beam and get any apps to download. By that time, I couldn't return it. Ask for support help through Amazon and no response and then the support window closed. Seemed like a cool gift idea for the wife, but this is a very expensive POS that I'll likely have to pay a good deal more money for outside tech support to get running, if that even helps. About the only thing I can rely upon the Beam to accomplish is jacking up my wireless internet service for the next three days. Thanks, Beam.
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Eh
by Amazon Customer (2 out of 5 stars)
October 28, 2016

I absolutely loved my Beam when I first got it. Really clear picture, lots of applications, really fun to use. Since then it's been pretty buggy, drops streaming videos every 30 minutes or so, and is slow to respond to the remote app.
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its handy the picture is not fantastic but its ok
by Henry Bjrane Theil (4 out of 5 stars)
December 20, 2016

its handy the picture is not fantastic but its ok , we toke it with us on holiday but could not get it to work on the hotels internet so that a bit of a set back, in the hotels you have to click a square who say that you accept the hotels terms and you cant do that, not very smart.

but at home no problem
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Get a Pico projector for a third the price. It will suck less.
by Brandon N. Wirtz (1 out of 5 stars)
August 28, 2016

Not very bright. Consumes a light socket which is not likely to be where you want it. Low resolution. Speakers sound like crap.

I thought I would like this, but it is not as good as any of the Pico projectors that are a third the price.
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Maybe second generation will be better.
by Seascape (3 out of 5 stars)
December 21, 2016

The concept is good--4stars on concept, but at the price point for its low brightness & quality--only 2 stars, I split the difference giving it 3 stars. Maybe second generation will be better.
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Doesnt really work.
by David Shamma (1 out of 5 stars)
October 30, 2018

Ya you can install an android app on it i guess...but it doesnt work as a casting (google or airplay) device despite they say it does. So it's kinda just a bad lamp.

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