While digging through the Arlo app earlier this week (hello Chime 2), I also uncovered the Arlo Essential Indoor. Although the 1080p camera had been announced at CES, I missed it… suggesting many others did as well. Taking a page from SimpliSafe, the new Arlo cam features a retractable privacy shutter. Beyond that, there’s a … Read more
I opened the Arlo app for the first time in months, as a former customer, and discovered the ability to add the unannounced, unreleased Arlo Chime 2 to my account. Aside from a slight visual refresh, what seems to really set this Arlo video doorbell accessory apart from the original are its musical capabilities — … Read more
By way of the FCC and a deep dive into the company’s Android app, we learn SimpliSafe is poised to close a conspicuous gap in their home security ecosystem by soon offering an outdoor camera. The sleek looking (in renders, at least) SimpliSafe outdoor camera features an LED spotlight, magnetic dome mount, 2.4GHz WiFi communication, … Read more
Thanks to the FCC, we learn that Belkin is poised to release the WeMo Stage Scene Controller. And, unlike the Hue Dimmer retrofit, the WeMo Stage is a purpose-built HomeKit switch. As in: no pre-existing functions are being replaced as button presses (short or long) are programmed. Of course, as the name suggests, Belkin intends … Read more
Wyze has officially expanded their smart lighting footprint with the release of a color bulb. And the new Wyze Bulb Color joins the existing 800 lumen tunable white bulb. Beyond the requisite palette expansion (of 16 million colors), Wyze also bumps max lumens to 1100. However, if the hubless WiFi and Bluetooth bulb is anything … Read more
Looks like the Ring Pro 2 is nearly upon us, given a Best Buy Canada product page (that will surely be taken down). While I cannot tell you Apple HomeKit integration is finally upon us, Ring video doorbell resolution will be bumped from 1080p to 1536p for “expanded Head to Toe View allows you to … Read more
As with so many TiVo initiatives, new management and product ADD priorities have led to a course correction. And TiVo is backing away from the smart home once again when DVR IFTTT integration comes to a hardstop on Christmas day — after less than three years in production. On December 25, 2020, the TiVo service … Read more
Amazon’s Black Friday deals have begun. Again. In earnest, this time. And the video doorbell I recommend, due to its functionality and versatility along with reasonable pricing, sees deep a discount. The $200 Ring Video Doorbell 3 drops to $140 via standard ordering. While that’s a solid deal, you can get the very same Ring … Read more
