The Ovale PCB does not look like a switching regulator from what I can tell, but I'd have to see it better to say for sure. Can you take it out and show both sides of the PCB up close?
The LM2596 switching regulators are used a lot by people. They work well from what I've read, though I haven't used one personally. They are not the most efficient or compact, but do the job well enough. My favorite buck regulator is the OKR-T/6, very compact and good efficiency but they don't have an on-board pot. You have to add one yourself.