• Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      7 days ago

      It’s very likely existing smart soldering pens were the inspiration.

      iFixit even mentions they didn’t include a screen like the Pinecil because most people don’t actually mess with the settings that much when they are on the go.

      • mbirth@lemmy.ml
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        7 days ago

        What they probably meant is they didn’t include a screen because this way they can sell their overpriced battery pack.

        • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          7 days ago

          It’s definitely priced significantly higher than a similar setup from Pine64.

          …but it also has some significant advantages and features the Pinecil does indeed lack.

          I definitely think the Pinecil is aimed more at hobbyists and this iFixit iron is aimed at people who solder all the time, in other words, not hobbyists.

          • mbirth@lemmy.ml
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            7 days ago

            Since the Pinecil is running IronOS, it’s just a matter of time for it to also get the fall detection. And apart from the LED ring gimmick, I don’t see any huge advantages over IronOS.

            • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
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              7 days ago

              Since the Pinecil is running IronOS

              What a sentence. I really don’t like the idea of having to do a firmware update on my soldering iron.

              Does it have Bluetooth and a companion app as well?

              • frezik@midwest.social
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                7 days ago

                Firmware was always there in a soldering iron more sophisticated than an old, dumb Radio Shack wall plug iron. That’s how you get good temperature control. Pinecil is just letting you modify it officially.

              • sneakyninjapants@sh.itjust.works
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                7 days ago

                having to do a firmware update on my soldering iron

                You don’t. It works perfectly fine OOTB. Can’t speak for the Pinecil v2 with Bluetooth and the companion app but I have v1 and the software been stable and bug-free enough I’ve never even given a thought to updating the firmware on it

                • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
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                  7 days ago

                  Oh, I was dead serious. You can get battery drills that come with a fucking app now, I’m not surprised at all it’s the same with solder irons.

                  Power and temp up and down is just too simple, I guess.

              • potustheplant@feddit.nl
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                7 days ago

                You do realize that the ifixit solderimg iron also has firmware and that you need to connect it to a computer or their very expensive battery pack to adjust its settings, right?