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EricWacker
10
Mar 29, 2017
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As a professional geek, I was extremely disappointed to find out that the Anova couldn't handle my strong Wi-Fi password. (No more than 18 characters and NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS.) I had purchased it at my local Best Buy and after working with tech support, ended up returning it. After a tip from a friend, I ended up buying the ChefSteps Joule and it's fantastic. It's more energy efficient, heats up water faster, is smaller and easier to pack up and throw in a drawer, has a magnetic bottom for sticking to the bottom of a metal pot (well, any with the requisite iron in its alloy), and the app is about a billion times better than the Anova's. If you want to control the Anova while away from home, you have to buy the more expensive Wi-Fi unit, and it requires a different version of the mobile app, which currently doesn't have developmental parity with the bluetooth version -- it's not as up-to-date, has less features, and crashes a lot. Trust someone who's had both -- the Anova is NOT the way to go on this one until they fix some problems.
Mar 29, 2017
partypants
15
Jun 6, 2018
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EricWackerAnova's support team helped me set up my guest wifi network so I didn't have to compromise my main wifi network's security. I haven't found that your assertion about the app is true either. I've used the app for my friend's bluetooth Anova and my Wifi Anova interchangeably. I also cook mainly in a cooler so the thermal efficiency is very good (but that means the magnet on the Joule is worthless to me and I hear the clip doesn't attach well to thicker vessels). The deal-breaker for me was the lack of a screen on the Joule. I don't have to use my phone to set my Anova, so I can do it while running around and prepping like a mad-man.
Jun 6, 2018
EricWacker
10
Jun 7, 2018
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partypantsTo be fair, I'm pretty sure I left this comment well over a year ago, and a lot can change during that time. I have not kept track of how Anova has improved their software or whether they've improved their compatibility with Wi-Fi networks with stronger security. While it's nice that they helped you set up a separate SSID from your primary Wi-Fi network (and in fact such an approach is a good idea for IoT devices) it still does not excuse Anova from having had that problem in the first place. Secondarily, while I can appreciate the upsides of being able to control the unit with buttons that are located *on* the appliance in question, I still prefer having a smaller unit that is easier to pack up, the ability to fire it up and get the water heating as I leave the office, and knowing exactly *when* the water reached target temperature (even though I already threw the food in) from the notifications history on my phone. Different strokes for different folks! As far as cooking in a cooler, I don't personally do it, but there are many people who do that with Joule as well. You can cut a hole in the top of a cooler for just about any size immersion circulator. :-) Good luck with the sous vide-ing!
Jun 7, 2018
jimbolaya
104
Oct 10, 2018
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partypantsIncidentally, ChefSteps sells a bigger clip for the Joule, which may work with a cooler. Granted, as an extra-cost item.
Oct 10, 2018
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