Revolutionary CHESS CLOCK to hit the chess scene in December.

Here is a video of this clock : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYYS23qelZw&feature=youtu.be

This clock came out, I think it will catch on but that is strictly my opinion. When players see how simple it is to use the app on the smartphone to set the clock they will agree it is the simplest by far. You can see parts of the app on the ordering page for the clock at the HOS site. It even states "The Official Clock of the United States Chess Federation" for what that is worth.

The positives I see are very easy setting, cost of the clock, comes in both push-button and touch, made in the USA by the same company that makes the Z Smart clock. It looks like quality at a decent cost. 

I do believe colors of the clock will be forthcoming but I have nothing to do with this clock so maybe Shawn Sullivan can expand on this as many like a little flair in their clock. 

Tap N Set Digital Chess Clock

Well, this clock has at least one significant design flaw.  When using increment it will only add the increment time to your clock after your opponent presses his button, starting your time. 

Functionally that really isn't much different than adding it when you hit the clock. I think there have been other clocks that work in a similar manner.

If a player didn't know that's how it worked, that would make time trouble even more nerve wracking the first time it is encountered.

It does not seem to me a problem, but I did not know there are other clocks that give you a choice when to add the increment.  Also considering this with the discount they offer usually 10 or 15% off making by far the lowest priced clock with all these bells and whistles. 

This part I do not know if anything in the way the clock works can be changed via the smartphone app and therefore you get an automatic update without the pain of mailing ti back & forth. But I am not a tech person on how it works. Maybe the maker of the clock can also come to this discusion to better educate us. 

This is the first go-around on the clock and I would think things just get better from here. I just hope they hold the price on this and it doesn't get to the levels on some of the other clocks. It seems the way many things will work in the future. 

I wanted to add........if it added the increment after you pressed the clock completing the move and could not do it in the beginning after your opponent pressed the clock, would this be equally a flaw or does a clock have to give you both options to be a "correct" clock? 

Just curious as I never thought about when the increment could and would be added, but then again I am not a TD sanctioned by the USCF, but the clock is now the official clock of the USCF. So are they equally wrong in choosing this clock? 

Not trying to start an argument but trying to clear up a point about the clock that some do not like and whether or not the app could be altered to accommodate both or would this have to be done "inside" the clock itself.  This is most interesting actually how and if the clock can go through "updates" but no one ever bought a clock for $40-$45 and sent it in after a year to be updated, it would not obviously be cost-effective.  

And to be completely transparent I do not get any break on price anyone here can't get.  I just order like other folks. I do wait on at least a 15% discount and like the past Holiday season 20% off as I do at other sites. 

This clock is just identical to the ZMF-II and the ZMF-Pro clocks functionality wise, except it can also be set via cell phone. The Zmartfun clocks use Fisher increment and they don't have the Bronstein increment. 

Yes, it is the same maker you are absolutely right. Does anyone here know if they use the Bronstein increment in a USCF sanctioned tournament, I know the Fischer increment is very common?   If it just had the Bronstein increment instead of the Fisher would it be a better clock?  I hope the maker of the clock joins the discussion. The most advanced electronics now are interfaced with your smartphone. In a few years, you will see this will be the norm in chess clocks in my opinion. It is the way to go for sure. 

They should put a picture showing the back of the clock.  Had no idea they kept the back open, what are they thinking?  Can you take a picture and post it here?  Now I am curious about what it looks like from the back. I was going to order one for my next tournament.  I don't want dust etc. getting into my clock. If you are not happy with it call up and start a return. I would think they would give you your money back. I just looked on youtube for reviews but did not see any. 

I didn't mean the internals of the clock are exposed. It's hard to explain. Let me see if I can find a photo for you

The internal components are not exposed. It is just a different design and the clock is very sturdy. Somebody posted some pictures here,

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/new-chess-clock-review-zmf-tap-n-touch

I see now. It looks a bit weird I agree.  Someone on the other thread dais his was slightly warped or the feet uneven and it rocked back & forth?  One good thing vs the Chronus it looks like an easy battery replacement. Must be very minimal inside? 

Can you show us what a time control of 40/120 would look like?  That was I believe the first time control of the US OPEN I do not see an hour's place. 

Mike, it would show 02:00 on both sides. The difference with the ZMF-II is that you can now see the number of moves in the display .

I see, so you then lose the seconds till it gets to 99 minutes?  I wish Roberto would have made the display to accommodate the seconds as the full-size Chronus does. A Slightly larger box but I like that feature.  I am sure that will never see daylight since that changes the whole box inside and out. Firmware changes will be much easier to implement in the coming models.  He said would be no problem to have a toggle switch to choose the increment preference, Fischer or Bronstein, but need a firmware change first but not to redo the whole box. I think he might add colors one day too.

I still like the idea of the smartphone app, I feel it's way ahead of the times. 

Here is a demo of the clock being programmed with a cellphone,

https://youtu.be/ZYYS23qelZw

I bought this clock.  It’s alright but not great.  
Yes, you can set it with a phone app.  And you can set it manually, the same way as the other Zmart clocks.  But using the phone app still takes time to make that setting.  After it is set you transfer, they call it write, the setting to the clock.  

 But you really only need to set the clock once in a tournament.  Once it is set, the real stuff is in its operation during a game.  
The display size is nice.

The body and buttons and LED move lights are also nice.

I do not like it that it only shows the seconds in the main time when under 1 hour.  The Chronos, V-Tek, and DGT 3000 always show the seconds.  And to me this is a significant thing.  I won’t be using this clock in any game time over an hour, and that’s too bad.

I think this is more of a scholastic clock.  Most scholastic games are under that hour for the main time control.  Setting the clock, or clocks, with a phone makes better sense if you are going to set a number of them, not one or a few.

The clock is also low priced which makes it better for scholastics where an organizer or coach, like me, will want to buy a decent volume.  I still have over a dozen of those blue Saitek clocks that I bought in volume for my scholastic club.

If someone wants to own and use only one or two clocks for tournament play, the best clock for the money at this time is the DGT 3000.

The V-Tek is the highest quality clock available right now.  But it is also almost 3 times the cost of the DGT 3000 at this time.

Thanks, Ron for clarifying the 1-hour limit. I was thinking it could show 90 minutes and still show the seconds, I guess that would be too confusing in that format.  I have a clock from Wholesale chess which I believe is the better Leap model and it shows the seconds all the time. I feel it is a great clock for the money. Of course, I have seen the DGT 3000 come way down in the last few months (55 on Amazon and 2-day prime delivery). Here is the clock I bought with a 20% discount so the price was right. I even think when it came out they had a sale on it. 

Wholesale Chess Advanced Digital Game Timer with Bonus & Delay