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The best outdoor security camera
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to outdoor security cameras. An outdoor security camera is a powerful deterrent to mischief makers and a convenient way to determine whether that thing going bump in the night is a friend, foe, or furry creature. We recommend the Google Nest Cam Outdoor for the job. It's fully weatherproof, and although you need a subscription to get person alerts, set Activity Zones, and store recordings, the Nest Cam Outdoor captures video 24/7, has person detection, and sends motion-activated smartphone alerts. The Nest Cam Outdoor's Wi-Fi camera includes everything a DIY surveillance camera should: crisp, 1080p video; a wide field of view; and two-way audio. The optional Nest Aware subscription (starting at $5 a month) gives you 24/7 recording, customizable Activity Zones, and person detection, which helps cut down on nuisance alerts. The Nest Cam has a weatherproof cord and plug, as well as a convenient mounting system that allows you to aim the device in any direction (however, the power cord limits placement options to areas within reach of an outlet or an electrical cable). Because Nest Aware records everything nonstop, if someone has Internet service with a data cap, it may be an issue. The corded version of the Logitech Circle 2 offers similar features to the Nest Cam. Along with Alexa and Google Assistant, it includes HomeKit support, which the Nest doesn't; it also includes 24 hours of free cloud storage, with an option to purchase more. But even if you get a subscription, the Circle 2 doesn't record 24/7 as the Nest Cam does. Also, the Circle 2's 10-foot power cord may be too short for some outdoor uses, so you may have to invest in a weatherproof extension cord. If you're more interested in checking on your kids or spotting packages than in keeping an eye out for prowlers, the Arlo Pro 2 is also a great pick. Although it can't record continuous motion (without a subscription) and often leaves gaps of a few seconds in between video clips—making it less desirable as a security camera—it is otherwise the best battery-powered unit we tested. It delivers an excellent image, clear two-way audio, practical smart-home integration, seven days of free cloud storage, and the option to add a USB drive for local video storage. For a fee, you can add person, animal, and vehicle detection and more cloud-based video storage. The Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is the most technologically advanced outdoor camera we've tested. It has a close-up tracking feature, which automatically zooms in on motion and then follows it around the field of view. To make those images clear, it has an 8-megapixel 4K sensor, HDR (high dynamic range), and 12 x digital zoom. It can distinguish between general motion and people, so it cuts down on false alarms, and it can even identify people you've labeled (after a learning period). But like all Nest cameras, this one requires the Nest Aware service to do anything beyond live viewing.
The best Alexa-compatible smart-home devices for Amazon Echo
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to Alexa-compatible smart-home devices for Amazon Echo. Imagine walking into your home at night, arms overflowing with groceries. Even if you've installed smart lights, you'd need to put the bags down, pull out your phone, unlock it, open the app, find the control for the lights you want, and then tap the icon—might as well just stick with a plain old wired switch. But with an Alexa, you simply say, "Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights." And it's not just lights; Alexa is capable of controlling everything from basic smart plugs to garage doors. All three smart-speaker platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, and to a lesser degree, Siri) can control a variety of smart-home devices and add an extra level of convenience to your smart-home system. We think Amazon's Alexa has a slight edge over the others because it works with more devices, and the wider family of Amazon Echo products makes it easier to fit them everyplace in your home. However, if you already have a Google Home speaker, the differences aren't large enough for you to need to switch platforms. We have guides for the best devices to use with Google Assistant and Siri/HomeKit. The Amazon Echo (or Echo Dot) offers a convenient interface for your smart home and provides functionality that an app on your phone can't. If you already have some Alexa-compatible devices or one of the three major smart-home hubs (SmartThings, Wink, or Insteon), adding an Echo can make accessing those devices more interesting and convenient. Taking advantage of its near-instantaneous response time and reliable voice-recognition processing is significantly faster than pulling out your phone and opening an app just to turn the lights on or off. Some products, such as Philips Hue lights and Nest thermostats, have native Alexa support, while others require you to enable a third-party skill. We tested plenty of both varieties to come up with the best-performing and most reliable recommendations, which we're continually testing to ensure that each new firmware and app update meets our high standards. Over the past several years, Wirecutter's editors and writers have tested just about every smart-home device of consequence. As more people end up buying smart speakers and platform support gets more and more important, we wanted to provide one place where you could access all of our picks that are compatible with the devices you already own, across all of our smart-home recommendations. Because these devices receive regular updates with additional compatibility and new features, we are continually testing and reevaluating our picks in our own homes to confirm that they still meet our recommendation standards. We'll update this guide as we learn new information, but be sure to read the full reviews if you'd like more details and test notes. If you don't yet have an Alexa-enabled device, or you want to learn more about what Alexa is and what you can do with these things, check out our full guide to Alexa and Amazon's Echo line of smart speakers.
Arlo unveils a home security system with Apple HomeKit support
Arlo is already known for its 4K security camera and doorbell, but for CES 2019, the company has launched a complete security system. The key component is a new multi-purpose sensor that can detect window and door breaches, motion, smoke, carbon monoxide, water leaks and more. The other pieces are a siren, remote control and hub that works with Arlo's various cameras, along with Zigbee and Z-Wave devices.
