Great Hardware, App needs work – Ember - Temperature Matters Review

If I were to gift this wonderful Ember Ceramic Mug to a friend, I would advise them to just try it without the app at first. The mug actually works seamlessly and reliably stand-alone. The app itself is an interesting beginning with some useful features such as customizing temperature presets, prompting you when you add hot liquid (“What are you drinking?”) to choose a preset, notifying you when you beverage has reached your target temp, and even helping you track caffeine consumption via the Health App. The app can also update the mug firmware if needed. There is even an Apple Watch app! On my iPhone XS running iOS 12.4, the app must be manually opened before adding liquid to the mug for notifications to work. It doesn’t seem to auto-launch or auto-connect, and I must tap on the icon of my mug (I only own one). I guess I’m spoiled by my AirPods automatically connecting to my phone when I use them and would expect the mug to do the same. The Apple Watch App initially just indicated there was a connectivity problem to my phone. Reading the reviews here prompted me to try using the Watch app with the phone unlocked and the Ember app in the foreground. It finally worked! It continues to work even with the phone locked and the app in the background. When the Watch app works, it shows temperature and allows adjusting it with the Digital Crown. It would be great to have a watch face complication, Mug battery level, and swipe up for presets. Even better would be independence from the iPhone - direct Watch to Mug Bluetooth. As an app developer, I know what a headache it can be to deal with background processes and the challenges of Bluetooth. Some of the ember app problems I would blame squarely on Bluetooth fussiness and iOS background restrictions. Even AirPods misbehave on occasion. All that said, I do love the Ember Ceramic Mug. It’s just the right size for me (10 oz), comfortable to hold, and does what it says it’ll do. Sure, Qi wireless charging would be nice, but that wouldn’t keep up with active heating (40W), so I understand the choice to use contacts (plus more efficient). The gold rings look spiffy on the black.
Review by PianoGeoff on Ember - Temperature Matters.