runtohell121
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2013
- Messages
- 823
- Reaction score
- 304
- Country
- United States
- Dash Cam
- Viofo A139 Pro, A139, A229, Vantrue E3
Thanks to ddpai for sending me the ddpai mini 2 for review.
Links to product spec/info/images: http://en.ddpai.com/mini2.php
First impression of receiving the unit was that it was nicely packaged in a small box. Love the simplicity of the box and had a pretty pleasant unboxing experience. The build quality if the unit is pretty good for plastic devices, in the hand, it feels pretty sturdy, just that the color of the unit isn't the best for dash cams, as it is shiny silver/grey. I do wish that ddpai made the unit a matte black instead of the shiny silver/grey.
Compatibility
I've notice that if you're a Mac user, time-lapse videos will not play on quicktime. It will play fine on a Windows computer.
Also to note, 64gb microSD card is not compatible with Mac; so if you're using a Mac, I would advise you to get a 32gb microSD for ddpai dash cam, otherwise, you will not be able to read files off of the microSD card on the Mac. It works fine on Windows, as I've been transferring files back and forth from my Windows to Mac, mainly because of this compatibility issue.
ddpai app
Not much to note, as it is a pretty simple app. First, go download the app from the iOS App Store or for Android, the Google Play Store. Next, go to your settings and find the ddpai connection, enter in the default password of 1234567890. Then once connected, open the app, and go to the second tab below and tap the "+" to view the dash cam live feed. Within the live feed, you're able to tap on it and bring up the menu (3-slash) to bring up the settings for the dash cam. But to be honest, there isn't much to change there.
*****Update 8/25/2016*****
-heat issue-
As you can read below in the comment post after the initial post, I am experiencing possible heat issue, where the ddpai mini 2 will restart itself in the middle of driving, losing about 30 second of footage. You will normally hear the "startup" chime if you have sound enable and if you hear that when driving, it is most likely the camera restarting from possible heat protection of some sort... Not exactly sure why, or it could be a buggy firmware or something else. At the moment, I'm not really sure what details I can provide.
With parking mode (post #20) on a constant power source, parking my car for more than 7 hours, the ddpai mini 2 experienced 2 reboots. The first reboot (since it was the morning...), it only lasted 28 seconds of losing footage. The second reboot (where the day got hotter...), the camera seems to have shut down for 1 hour 2 minutes and 53 seconds, and that is losing valuable footage if anything ever happened to your car at those time the camera wasn't recording. When going through the memory card, I noticed that the camera did restart after it seems to have cooled down and continue on with regular recording mode for first 15 minute and then went back to parking mode afterwards before I got back to my car.
----------------------------end 8/25/2016----------------------------
Here are images of the unit and the box:
Screenshots of video footage will be provided below here to compare between other dash cam.
ddpai mini 2 vs. Mini 0806 daytime screenshot; seems to me that ddpai is a bit sharper and can read the license plate of the car on the right lane as I pass by it.
At night time, both aren't readable when moving, though that is to be expected with most dash cams. At the speed limit sign, it seems the Mini 0806 is a bit sharper.
*****Updated 08/27/2016*****
ddpai mini 2 vs Viofo A119
During daytime, both are pretty good performer, but that is to be expected. Both of the dash cam can read the license plate for the car merging into my lane.
ddpai
A119
During the night, both are pretty grainy and nothing is really clear that can be read...
ddpai
A119
ddpai
A119
***********End 08/27/2016 update***********
Parking guard footage will be provided here; upon request, I will upload original files via dropbox or other file hosting sites, but for now, I will be putting them up on YouTube.
I'm actually enjoying the parking guard/time-lapse feature. It tends to save space and to me, it is clear enough to provide some evidence in case of any accident happening near my car. I was running the ddpai mini 2 off of a 10,000mAh battery bank, as I have not hardwire it to my car yet.
Another parking guard video, not too much to show, but more movement in the parking lot this time around to show how it might be useful in some situations.
Links to product spec/info/images: http://en.ddpai.com/mini2.php
First impression of receiving the unit was that it was nicely packaged in a small box. Love the simplicity of the box and had a pretty pleasant unboxing experience. The build quality if the unit is pretty good for plastic devices, in the hand, it feels pretty sturdy, just that the color of the unit isn't the best for dash cams, as it is shiny silver/grey. I do wish that ddpai made the unit a matte black instead of the shiny silver/grey.
Compatibility
I've notice that if you're a Mac user, time-lapse videos will not play on quicktime. It will play fine on a Windows computer.
Also to note, 64gb microSD card is not compatible with Mac; so if you're using a Mac, I would advise you to get a 32gb microSD for ddpai dash cam, otherwise, you will not be able to read files off of the microSD card on the Mac. It works fine on Windows, as I've been transferring files back and forth from my Windows to Mac, mainly because of this compatibility issue.
ddpai app
Not much to note, as it is a pretty simple app. First, go download the app from the iOS App Store or for Android, the Google Play Store. Next, go to your settings and find the ddpai connection, enter in the default password of 1234567890. Then once connected, open the app, and go to the second tab below and tap the "+" to view the dash cam live feed. Within the live feed, you're able to tap on it and bring up the menu (3-slash) to bring up the settings for the dash cam. But to be honest, there isn't much to change there.
*****Update 8/25/2016*****
-heat issue-
As you can read below in the comment post after the initial post, I am experiencing possible heat issue, where the ddpai mini 2 will restart itself in the middle of driving, losing about 30 second of footage. You will normally hear the "startup" chime if you have sound enable and if you hear that when driving, it is most likely the camera restarting from possible heat protection of some sort... Not exactly sure why, or it could be a buggy firmware or something else. At the moment, I'm not really sure what details I can provide.
With parking mode (post #20) on a constant power source, parking my car for more than 7 hours, the ddpai mini 2 experienced 2 reboots. The first reboot (since it was the morning...), it only lasted 28 seconds of losing footage. The second reboot (where the day got hotter...), the camera seems to have shut down for 1 hour 2 minutes and 53 seconds, and that is losing valuable footage if anything ever happened to your car at those time the camera wasn't recording. When going through the memory card, I noticed that the camera did restart after it seems to have cooled down and continue on with regular recording mode for first 15 minute and then went back to parking mode afterwards before I got back to my car.
----------------------------end 8/25/2016----------------------------
Here are images of the unit and the box:
Screenshots of video footage will be provided below here to compare between other dash cam.
ddpai mini 2 vs. Mini 0806 daytime screenshot; seems to me that ddpai is a bit sharper and can read the license plate of the car on the right lane as I pass by it.
At night time, both aren't readable when moving, though that is to be expected with most dash cams. At the speed limit sign, it seems the Mini 0806 is a bit sharper.
*****Updated 08/27/2016*****
ddpai mini 2 vs Viofo A119
During daytime, both are pretty good performer, but that is to be expected. Both of the dash cam can read the license plate for the car merging into my lane.
ddpai
A119
During the night, both are pretty grainy and nothing is really clear that can be read...
ddpai
A119
ddpai
A119
***********End 08/27/2016 update***********
Parking guard footage will be provided here; upon request, I will upload original files via dropbox or other file hosting sites, but for now, I will be putting them up on YouTube.
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