Ive been using $10-$15 in-line valve for the last 20 yrs. Goes in same place. You set the temp. normally and shut the shower off to lather etc etc. no brainer. Thats saves hot too, more hot than
this useless gizmo. I've never lived somewhere it took more than 20 sec for hot line to fill with hot water. With or without such a thing you open only hot valve all the way first and wait then when hot water hits then you mix it. I dont see any sense in this procuct unless you have some really weird situation where the hot line is hundreds of yards long. And then I would still put it in line with valve. Actually I think all baths should have a post-mix valve built in the wall, but its rare.

It looks like this device is a manual switch too (with no need for both). And I expect it can vary flow, (would be stupid if it can't). They only make one minor mention of that in the story. So I amend my previous post to say that it's instead a marginally
helpful enhancement to an existing good-old product. I think their story is missing the fact that the manual switch part has greater savings potential than the thermal switch if you turn off water whenever you aren't rinsing. (Or in their self-marketing interests at least say it saves $ too and instruct people to use it that way). Whether or not the premium paid for it's worthwhile would (again)
depend on the length of one's pipes and patience, and the device's
durability. If I was impressed with it's constuction and lived somewhere that hot took 60 sec or more to arrive I would consider getting it (my personal threshold, yours may differ). But if there's any chance it could stick 'off' I wouldn't
go near it. I would guess it's made like a car's thermostat, but I dunno.

Seems pretty useless to me too. I don't have ANY gadgets in my house. The only difference between my house (in Japan) and most houses in the west is that my house was built smart. There is only one corner of the house that has running water. We have on demand hot water. There is a switch and settings box right in our bathroom (an actual bathroom with a bath and shower, no toilet -- who ever thought it would be a good idea to bath and relieve yourself in the same place???!!!). You turn on the pilot light with the press of a button when you want to shower and bathe. You press the switch to extinguish the flame after you are done. End result is instant hot water that travels all of 10 feet to reach you.

Compared to my house back in America... well, let's just say that water traveling through the piping of a 6000 sq. ft. house isn't the most ideal way to bathe.

I timed how long it took for the water coming out of the shower head to get hot, 95 seconds! I so need this. Could be newer homes get the hot water there faster, but my house is old and has 3 full baths, they all take forever to get hot water. The downstairs bath does get hot faster than the others, probably because it's closest to the water heater.
Thanks Sarah!

I agree with anon.
I too use a metal in-line valve. (beware of the plastic crap they sell now.) But more importantly I use a brass washer with a 1/8" hole (approx.) behind my shower head. This assures that the flow is minimal at all times regardless of the valve position.
I have a family of four and electricity is a huge concern. With these 'common' sense items the $$ saved is fairly large. Of course getting everyone to shut the valve when rinsing is another issue altogether.
As to this particular product, I could see it used as a safety device. Especially for younger children.
I just wonder if the 'manual' shut off is a simple switch?? That would be better than adjusting my metal manual valve. But then I wonder, does it take batteries? Seems like a 'cutting' edge product could convert the thermal energy to run the unit. Dream on huh!
Chance

Simple solution. Bathe Japanese style. You'll save a LOT more water, and its a heck of a lot better too. I.E. single hot soak tub (which the family shares AFTER soaping/washing off.. not together mind you hehe), and a shower head used for soaping/rinsing before use of the tub. The tub is like a hot spa, darn good for circulation and the muscles, especially for the older folk. Now if only purchasing such things were more cost effective in the west. Plumbing suppliers will gouge you for such things unless you import it yourself or have contacts.

I can't find any cute pictures of the Tech Darling? :)))

Sarah, how about being goofy.... wear a prom dress when you are describing the products( or the valley girl outfits...) (or goth,?) (or private school outfit...)

How is being unintimidating to geeks being a darling?, be a girl ,and ditch the boy t-shirts... (a pearl necklace in the banner?, why not wear that necklace in your video blogs...)

instead of the boring tomshardware print CES reviews, Why not have sarah-the-tech-darling do the CES interviews.

sarah, no need to post this post!