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Simplicam is a new entry in the home monitoring derby
More and more companies want to help you monitor your home or apartment via your iPhone or iPad, and Simplicam has a new system that is attracting some attention. Simplicam provides a camera that works with your home WiFi, free iOS apps to monitor that camera from anywhere, and a sophisticated software/server based system that keeps recordings of movement in the hours and even offers face detection so the family dog won't set it off, but a person entering your house will. Specifications 720p HD Quality output Powered by a wall-USB connection cable Infrared night vision Motion and sound detection with alerts 107 degree field of view iOS software allows settings changes, and camera off/on remotely Once there is an intrusion that video can be reviewed and forwarded Video is SSL encrypted Camera comes with wall mounting bracket or tiltable desktop stand Design Highlights The camera itself is small, weighing just 6.7 ounces. It can tilt to almost any angle, even looking straight up. The iOS software is easy to use. Launch the app and you will see live camera output and a timeline that shows any activity in the house. You can move easily between events and watch any activity. Setup and Use Setup was not as easy as I had hoped. The included instructions show a computer and mobile setup, but don't indicate that you don't have to do both. I tried setting the camera up with my MacBook Air and the laptop simply failed to recognize the camera. I was later told there are some issues setup when using a MacBook Air. Setting up via smartphone or iPad was easier. Press a button on the back of the camera with the Simplicam app running on your device, and a QR code appears on the iOS device screen. Show that code to the camera and the setup is automatic from there on. When I first got the camera running, the image from it was pink. It looked like a white balance issue, but it sorted itself out without any intervention from me, and then the colors were accurate and the picture was sharp. The iOS app lets you trigger alerts by sound, movement or both. It will also detect a person in the house, so your dog or cat won't cause alerts.The face detection feature seems to work well, but understand that face detection is not face recognition. It will detect a person, but not tell you who they are. If the person is wearing a mask or has their face obscured, the face detection will likely not work. In my tests, the face detection worked reliably with regular people walking in and out. A burglar with a mask might not register. Night vision looked very good: although the image is black and white, I could see into every corner of a dark room with good focus and detail. Simplicam also supports two-way audio. You can talk to people in the house, and they can respond. Buying the system The camera alone is U$150.00, either direct from Simplicam or as a bundle from Amazon. The Amazon bundle is $200.00 and includes one year of one day recording services. The camera does not require any kind of subscription, but you will likely want one. With the camera alone you get remote live streaming and event notifications. With a subscription (there are three plans) you add Face Detection and the ability to schedule on-off times and view recordings remotely. Plan 1 is $49.99 a year, and lets you review the last day's recordings, saving one hour of clips. Plan 2 lets you review the last 11 days of recordings, and saves up to three hours of clips. That's $139.99 a year. A third plan lets you review 21 days of recordings, and save up to five hours of clips. That plan is $229.99 annually. Conclusion The Simplicam system is a solid entry in the home monitoring business. The setup is easy, other than the glitches noted. The Simplicam is a direct competitor to the popular Dropcam camera, and it is a little cheaper. Dropcam is also $149.00 for the camera, and a Pro HD edition is $50.00 more. The cloud-based recording plans are similar, but with different pricing. The cheapest Dropcam plan is $99 a year, but gives you seven days of video to review and 168 hours of storage. The deluxe option offers 30 days of video, and 720 hours of recordings at $299.00 annually. Dropcam gives you more storage, but costs more. You can get into the Simplicam system for less of a financial outlay. There are some differences between Dropcam and Simplicam. Dropcam supports activity zones, letting you fire off an alert when something happens in a specific area the camera covers. Simplicam doesn't have that, but does have face detection, which I think is more useful. The cost of home monitoring is dropping, and the Simplicam package is an attractive option. If you want something really inexpensive, there are things like the iCam app ($4.99) for iOS, which mates with just about any webcam, and you can monitor from anywhere. There aren't any fees for monitoring but you can make a small contribution to help with the bandwidth costs. The iCam system also supports sound and motion detection. The updated iCam Pro is free, but to see your camera if you are not on the same LAN you need a one-time $9.99 subscription that never expires.
Your connected home could one day save your life
Consider this scenario: Randall is an elderly man living alone. He's doing pretty well -- until one day he has a mild stroke. In the weeks that follow, he's not as active as usual, getting up later and not leaving the house. Motion detectors, a mattress sensor and a smart door lock in his home detect the change in his activity patterns. Randall's daughter gets a message prompted by her father's activity data in the cloud, checks in on him and takes him to the doctor. Once he's received treatment, Randall returns home, with marching orders to equip his home with additional sensors and cameras that can track his health and upload information to the cloud for his doctor to monitor.
Piper packs security cam, home automation hub into one slick package
Webcams were one of the forerunners of the current Internet of Things boom, allowing smartphone-toting geeks to keep an eye on the office or homestead while out and about. Piper (starting at US$239), powered by iControl Networks, is targeted at the homeowner who wants a solution that provides both visually- and physically-based security by combining a security camera, Z-Wave home automation hub, and an iOS app into one nice-looking package. Let's take a look. Design Highlights My first thought when I pulled the Piper out of the box was that it should come in yellow so it could look like one of the minions in Despicable Me. There's a big "eye" on the upper front of the unit, which has a curvaceous eye-shaped cross section as well. The unit is about 6.25 inches (15.88 cm) tall, about 2 inches (5.08 cm) thick and about 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) wide. It comes in either white or black, with a perforated gray plastic piece on top. Piper is much more than just a webcam, although the big fisheye lens on the front provides some wonderful home monitoring functions we'll talk about in the next section. Piper also monitors inside temperature, humidity, brightness, sound level, and motion in your home. And to top it off, it is also a home automation hub for Z-Wave-based sensors, switches, and other home automation devices. I like the aesthetics of the Piper; having a few of these around a house (more about that later) can literally keep an eye on your house and form a mesh network to extend coverage to far corners of the place, while fitting into your decor like a piece of modern sculpture. Functionality Highlights Setup of Piper is very simple. You pop some backup AA batteries into it, plug it in, wait for an LED on the front to blink amber, then double-tap the power button on the back of the unit to make that LED turn blue. Next, you connect your iOS device to the Piper Wi-Fi network, fire up the Piper app, and the app transfers your Wi-Fi settings to the device. At that point, you can start using the app to monitor your surroundings. The app ties into your device through a secure account and opens to a simple, clean dashboard. In the center top of the app is a circle divided into four quadrants. The quadrant marked with an "X" indicates that the system is "off" -- nothing is currently being actively monitored as the system is not armed. Another quadrant is marked with a small house icon, which when tapped puts the device into "Stay" mode. The light on the front of the Piper turns red, and a voice intones "Stay mode activated". A note about modes -- each mode has a set of rules associated with it. For example, when in Stay mode, I'd probably want nothing to happen when I'm walking around the house so my default setting was to turn off video recording, notifications, the siren (yes, there's one built in), and turn on a particular light in the house. Away mode is used when you're heading out of your home for a while. The speaker on Piper does a pinging countdown, then tells the empty home that "away mode is activated." I set this mode's rules up so that any motion would set off the siren and send me a text message. To say that the siren is ear-piercing is an understatement -- I have a professionally-installed home security system and the siren for it isn't as loud! It will certainly get the attention of anyone who happens to enter your home while you're away. There's a 15-second delay between motion detection and the alarm going off, so hopefully you remember to disarm the system by tapping the Off mode before you enter your home. The system can record video as a result of sensing a loud noise, motion or a door/window alert. That can be useful when working with police to identify an intruder. The final mode is Vacation mode. Think of it as Away mode with slightly different settings -- for example, I could see using this to notify my "trusted circle" of friends or relatives when I'm gone. As for the home vitals, I like the ability to see all of the readings one on screen with a two day history of all of the vitals. I do have one gripe about the temperature sensor -- there should be a way to adjust the temperature, as the Piper does get warm and that skews the temperature quite a bit. For example, it's currently 66.9°F at my desk where the device is sitting, yet Piper thinks it is 72.6°F. Now a bit about the security camera. The fisheye lens provides a 180° view on a 1080p camera sensor. With the app, it's possible to pan, tilt, and zoom in, without needing to have a slow and power hungry motor to control physical movement. There's also a quad view available that can look at four specific points in the camera's field of view. A new feature that was just added allows you to have a two-way video/audio conversation with a person at your home from your iPhone, which could be helpful if you want to let a contractor into your home while you're away and keep and eye -- and ear -- on them. Another brand new feature provided by Piper is the ability to link a bunch of the units together so that they can all be monitored via the app. The new feature lets you create independent security zones in your home (for example, basement, living room, family room, upstairs) that all work together with the app. It's possible to track movements through each security zone and as the company says, "smoothly step between live camera views to get a total view of your home environment." As for adding Z-Wave devices, it's quite simple. I have a number of Z-Wave door and window sensors and wanted to see if I could get Piper and the app to recognize them. The readily available sensor (although not officially supported by Piper ... yet) was recognized within seconds. Likewise, I could add light switches throughout the house for control by the Piper app. The great thing about a solution like Piper is that it makes home security easy and affordable for anyone without having to pay for expensive monitoring services. For example, the cost of 3 Pipers is $649. While that sounds expensive, most home security companies charge a similar amount for installation of a system as well as a monthly fee. In my case, that fee is about $70 per month, so I could bypass the home security company, get a pretty decent security system that would beat the socks off of what I have right now, and be money ahead in less than a year. The company that developed Piper, Blacksumac, was acquired by iControl Networks yesterday. Icontrol Networks provides connected home solutions to most of the major cable (Comcast, Time Warner Cable) and security (ADT) companies, so there's a good possibility that you'll begin to see Piper being offered by your local providers. Conclusion For home security and automation, Piper provides a powerful app-controlled solution that's easy to set up and control. Compared to professionally-installed security systems, Piper is reasonably priced and lets you do the monitoring instead of leaving that job to a nameless person in a call center. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
iPhone-ready Canary home security breaks $1.25M in funding
A few weeks ago, we highlighted a home-monitoring security system called Canary. The system helps you keep track of your home by monitoring a number of variables, including air quality, vibration, temperature, sound and movement. When something is awry, it will send a detailed alert to your smartphone. The system also comes with an HD camera with night-vision functionality that allows users to monitor live feeds of their home if they so choose. Now comes word via MacRumors that Canary has eclipsed the US$100,000 mark it initially sought to generate via Indiegogo. Impressively, Canary recently surpassed the $1.25 million threshold, with MacRumors noting that "the project is on track to become the most successful crowdfunded home product ever." If all goes according to plan, Canary will begin shipping in May 2014 and will retail for $199. Below, check out a video of Canary in action.
Indiegogo project Canary monitors your home
If you're in the market for a home-monitoring system, Canary may be just the device you've been looking for. Funded via Indiegogo, Canary is a smart security device that monitors activity in your home and relays alerts to your iPhone whenever it encounters any unexpected behavior or conditions. It comes with a long list of sensors, including an HD Camera with night-vision capability, a wide-angle lens for maximum viewing area, a high-quality microphone, motion detection, a temperature sensor and even an air quality sensor. Canary contains an HD video camera and sensors that track everything from temperature and air quality to vibration, sound, and movement. Controlled entirely from your smartphone, Canary alerts you when it senses anything out of the ordinary -- from sudden temperature spikes that can indicate a fire, to sound and vibration that could mean an intrusion. Over time, Canary learns your home's rhythms to send even smarter alerts. When Canary senses something is awry, it sends you an alert in real time along with a number of options for how to respond. If, for example, unexpected movement is detected in your home while you're away, you'll receive an alert with the option to make a phone call, send a message (to a neighbor, for example) or trigger a siren. Canary also offers the ability to check in on the latest happenings in your home from anywhere in the world and even includes live streaming. It's worth noting that many of Canary's sensors can be turned on and off from afar. A video promo of Canary can be viewed below. Even better, Canary is a sleek and, more importantly, rather small device. It measures in at just six inches tall and just three inches wide. Here's what it looks like. Canary will retail for just US$199, and according to its page on Indiegogo, the estimated shipping date is May 2014.
Engadget takes Unikey's iPhone assisted keyless entry for a spin
We're still a few years away from the self-opening home front door of the Jetsons. But that's okay -- we're making progress. A few weeks ago we told you about Unikey and Kwikset's Kevo, a keyless entry system for your own front door. Now the fine folks at Engadget have had a chance to work with the system hands on, and they seem to be impressed. The system uses the iPhone's Bluetooth LE to connect with the smartlock. Simply walk up to your front door with your phone in your pocket, tap the lock, and turn the knob. Users and security are handled via iPhone and desktop apps that allow you to share keys with family and friends as administrative, normal or scheduled users. Having someone house sit for you? Register their iPhone with the house for the week and never worry about them forgetting to return your key. Having family come into town to visit? No need to worry about having enough house keys to go around. You can even set on-off access in case someone needs to come by, but only once. At the moment the system will only support the iPhone; Android and BlackBerry 10 support is on the way. Kevo is expected to go on sale soon. Head over to Engadget for their complete run down of the system, or check out the video below. Unikey is currently taking emails at their website for people interested in pre-ordering when the lock becomes available.
Scout sensors, app jump start your home protection
There's a rather nifty crowdfunded project that aims to deliver a "roll-your-own" home security system this August. Using the Selfstarter code available on Github, the Scout Alarm project has so far pulled in almost 800 backers and more than $211,000 in funding. The project is designed to "make the latest home security technology affordable for everyone with no required monthly fees." The hardware starts with a US$80 base station complete with WiFi, a 3G cellular chip and a backup battery. At each door where homeowners want to be able to arm or disarm the system, there's an arm / disarm panel ($40) that uses RFID reader technology to avoid the need for keypads and codes. Windows and doors are equipped with $20 open / close sensors, and there are $40 motion sensors available for those locations where intruders could smash a glass window to enter the home. Tying all of the hardware together is a Zigbee chipset creating a mesh network for the sensors and allowing integration with other Zigbee-powered security devices. The security system can be monitored, armed or disarmed from anywhere on Planet Earth through a smartphone, tablet or computer. Homeowners will get notifications for certain alarm situations and can make their own response (like calling the police), or they can choose to have their home monitored professionally for as little as $10 per month over the 3G connection built into the base station. As someone who has spent much more than $10 per month for the last 29 years to have professional home security monitoring, the Scout system looks very attractive to me. My only wish for the system is that they'd add a deafeningly loud alert siren like the one that came with my system, as well as fire, smoke, CO2 and water sensors. Readers interested in the Scout alarm system can pre-order the components on the company's website.
Lockitron plans to help you unlock your door with your phone
Keyless entry using your iPhone isn't a new thing, but Lockitron has introduced a system that allows keyless entry for your home with some extras geared toward the iPhone. With the US$149 Lockitron, a box fits over your existing deadbolt and allows you to manage your door locks from anywhere via SMS or the Internet. It will allow you to share access with family and friends, which can keep you from running to the closest hardware store to get multiple keys made. If you have an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, you also can use Bluetooth 4 to have your door automatically unlock as you approach it. With knock sensors, notifications and more, it's a pretty nifty gadget. You can reserve a Lockitron now, and it's expected to ship in March. To see it in action, check out the video below. [via Cult of Mac]
Swann TrueBlue 4000 series D1 DVRs pack up to 8 cameras, 1TB of storage for home security
Home security may not have reached all-seeing aerial eye proportions, but Swann's TrueBlue 4000 series of D1 DVR systems can place up to eight digital peepers throughout your island fortress or humble abode. With a resolution of 480 x 704 pixels, the cameras offer "DVD-quality" video and feature night vision with up to 65 feet of visibility. Those hankering to remotely keep tabs on their homestead can load up the free SwannView app for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Mobile 6 and Symbian to watch live video on mobile devices. Footage can also be viewed on monitors using HDMI or VGA connections and can be backed up through USB, eSATA or over a network. The maximum one terabyte of storage space nets continuous recording for up to 30 days -- or longer if the device's motion detection settings are flipped on. A 500GB base model with a quartet of cams rings up at $549.99, while the more expensive $649.99 and $749.99 models each pack 1TB hard drives and eight channel support. However, only the priciest of the trio comes packaged with the octet of cameras. Head past the break for the full PR and a glimpse of the rig in action.
Belkin's WeMo: iPhone-based home automation with a taste of IFTTT
In my futuristic dreams, I'm able to control everything in my house from my iPhone. That dream might not be too far off, thanks to the Belkin WeMo system. The WeMo currently consists of two hardware devices -- a Wi-Fi equipped power switch/outlet and a Wi-Fi equipped motion sensor -- plus a free WeMo iOS app; the entire Belkin WeMo system is an easy way to move into home automation. Let's take a look. Setting up the devices You can currently buy the WeMo switches for US$49.99 each or a set with a switch and a motion sensor for $99.99. I chose to buy the set, as I have some "experiments" I want to try. Belkin obviously looked at how other companies were doing setup of wireless devices and chose to come up with the most simple method possible. To get both switches working took me less than three minutes. %Gallery-162203% You begin by plugging the device into a standard wall outlet. At first, a small light flashes blue and red to indicate that the device isn't configured. Launching the WeMo app, you're given instructions on how to proceed. First, go to iPhone Settings, tap Wi-Fi and select the WeMo's temporary WiFi network. Next, go back to the app, where the device appears in a list. You tell the app the name of your normal home or office Wi-Fi network, enter the password for that network, and then choose whether to store the settings in the app. Doing the latter step makes set up of all other devices a real snap, as the app already knows the name and password for the network. And with that, you're done. After I played around with turning lights on and off for a while, I noticed that there was a firmware update for the WeMo boxes. The process for updating is easy. You basically tap a button on the iPhone screen and wait for about three minutes. Using the app and setting rules There's not too much to say about the app, other than once again it's simple. There are tabs for switches, sensors and rules. For the switches, you'll see a list of all WeMo switches on your network. Each switch, which you can give a custom name, has an on/off button. Tap the button, the device is turned on and the button turns green. Tap it again, the button goes back to gray and the device is turned off. With the motion sensor, there's not a lot you can do until you set up a rule. Rules are exactly that -- "turn on the living room lamp if the laundry room entrance sees motion on Mondays between 2 and 4 PM" as an example. Rules can also be used with the switches. You can choose to program a switch to go on or off at a specific time, or you can turn something on, then off again a few hours later. But the built-in rules are rather simple... WeMo, meet IFTTT Whoever the person was at Belkin who had the brilliant thought to integrate WeMo with If This Then That (IFTTT.com) should get a big raise. If you've never used IFTTT before, give it a try. There are currently 50 "channels" on IFTTT, with everything from Twitter and Facebook to ESPN and weather. You create "recipes" that perform a certain action if a specific trigger is met. For example, I use a recipe that tweets the URL of every post that I write on TUAW from my Twitter account. What does this have to do with WeMo? Well, there are IFTTT channels for the WeMo motion detector and switch. This opens up all sorts of possibilities. Say you want to receive a text message whenever your cat uses the litter pan. You set up a motion detector next to the litter pan, and every time el gato feels the need to go, you get tweeted. There are even wilder things you can set up. Plug a fan into a WeMo switch, then set up an IFTTT recipe to turn the fan on if the local outside temperature goes above 85° F (I tried this -- it works). Have IFTTT call you whenever someone enters the house (it works). And if you want to shut that fan off, you can either write another recipe or just use the WeMo app to shut it off remotely. For push notifications, mix in a dash of Pushover and those emails and phone calls you're receiving on your iPhone turn into regular old notifications. Conclusion While the components are a little pricey, the WeMo system is probably about the easiest home automation system to configure. Anyone can set up this system in minutes, then proceed to control lights, fans, appliances, and more from their iPhone anywhere there's data service. With the IFTTT integration, it's possible to set up a huge variety of recipes to mix and match apps and services to work at your command. Pros If WeMo was any more simple to set up, it would set itself up iPhone app is well written and easy to use Firmware updates are installed with one tap of a button Remote access extends your reach to your home lights and appliances to anywhere with data service Attractive design IFTTT integration turns a simple set of devices into a home automation powerhouse Cons A bit on the expensive side, but still affordable for many Who is it for? Anyone who wants to dabble with iPhone-controlled home automation but doesn't have the skills or patience to build their own hardware or write their own apps.
Dropcam's Android app is now native, improved and live at Google Play
Sure, Dropcam already had an app for monitoring its web-connected home monitoring cameras on Android smartphones. The thing is, it wasn't native -- it was built using Adobe Air and was therefore limited to specific phones, processors and OS versions, while tablet users didn't even get a look-in. The new app, which landed at Google Play just this moment, was built totally in-house to "better match" its iOS counterpart. In addition to broader compatibility with new and old Android devices, a bunch of other improvements come along for the ride, including two-way audio, free-of-charge motion and audio alerts and a "smoother user experience." Head to the link below to download.
Comcast's 'Project Dayview' does PDA duty across TV, phone, PC and tablet (update: video)
While we expected to see Comcast roll out its X1 DVR platform today at the Cable Show, more surprising is the new Project Dayview initiative. As seen above, it attempts to provide a single cross-platform home screen that combines info from its services and third party sources to give customers a quick look at what's important to them, on any screen. Potential sources include Comcast services (DVR schedule from your cable box, voicemails from the home phone, email, or home security / automation updates when you're away) as well as third party information like your current calendar software, social media and local news. While ambitious, it does reflect a futuristic ability to bring its users relevant information (based on the time of day, it could pull the traffic report before you leave for work or TV listings in the evening, for example) automatically. How well it all works remains to be seen once this is integrated with the new DVR software and apps later this year, but you can get an idea of what Comcast has up its sleeve for your four screens from the pictures in the gallery below. Update: Check out a video of CEO Neil Smit demonstrating Project Dayview on the show floor embedded after the break.
Dropcam HD WiFi monitoring camera now shipping for $149
We've had the opportunity to spend time with an early version of the Dropcam HD WiFi monitoring camera prior to its CES unveiling, and now the company is finally ready to get the product out to the masses. Starting today, the bantam security camera is shipping from the outfit's site for $149, with that tally netting you a USB-powered camera with automatic night vision, HD-quality video, two-way audio support, optional DVR-style recording ($9.95+ per month) and always-on access. As stated in our review, users can access a live stream of what it's watching (or they're watching, if using multiple cams) from any web browser, iPhone or Android-based device, and privacy advocates should know that all streams are "encrypted with bank-level security, and streamed through the cloud, not your computer, so it's safe in case of any computer trouble or theft." Head on past the break for the full spiel, or hit the source link to get your order in.
A lesson in simplicity: securing a 'no landline' home with LifeShield and Dropcam
Think of this as an IRL, but longer. Recently, I bumped my head so severely that I would up buying a new abode, and for whatever reason, the insurance company mandated that I have a "monitored fire and burglary system" installed (that's UL-certified monitoring, by the way). Not too surprising when you consider their viewpoint in the deal, and honestly, I needed someone to push me into getting one, anyway. Being a grown-up, resting easier, protecting one's investment -- you know, those types of things. So, here I was, an inexperienced homeowner in dire need of a security system, with nary a place to turn. Well, except the internet. After days upon days of sifting through options and garnering advice from every corner of every related message board this side of http, I decided to phone up a couple of companies an in effort to try a hybrid (or perhaps hodgepodge) approach to keeping an eye on things. Click on through if you're interested in hearing how my time with LifeShield and the Dropcam HD turned out.
Motorola's Connected Home Gateway makes your house smarter, turns it into a 4Home
The world of home automation is one full of disparate, fragmented pieces often requiring high-dollar contractors with trucks full of adapters. Motorola's been trying to streamline that with its 4Home standard and the company's latest attempt at smarthome synchronicity has just been unveiled. It's called the Connected Home Gateway and it looks like your average wireless router, but it's actually much more than that -- according to Moto's press release, anyway, which promises the thing can easily tie together home security, automation and climate control into a single, petite box. Once harmonized, the whole package is said to be easily accessible from a mobile device, something that might help homeowners relax a bit more while on vacation -- or while covering a major convention in Las Vegas. We're still lacking a lot of details here (like, how exactly do all these devices connect to the thing) but we'll try to get a demo and more details as soon as possible.
Ask Engadget: best DIY wireless home security (and fire) system?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Roger, who is just about tired of hearing "ADT." If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm moving into a new place, and I need a good wireless home security and fire system. But here's the thing -- I only have a broadband internet connection and a cellphone. I can't use one of those traditional ADT systems that require a landline, and moreover, the $40+ per month they charge is outrageous. I need a DIY option that monitors both security and fire, and I'm fine paying up to $25 or $30 a month for UL-certified off-site monitoring. SimpliSafe and Lifeshield seem decent, but the former doesn't monitor fire yet. Support for live feeds and alerts on my smartphone would be a huge plus. Thanks!" Looks like SimpliSafe will be the perfect solution when it adds fire support in 2012, but Roger needs help in the here and now. Any paranoid homeowners out there have any other awesome suggestions? Drop 'em in comments below!
Logitech Alert Video Security System gets Dropbox support, lets you park 100GB of footage in the cloud
We liked Logitech's Alert Video Security System when we took it for a week-long spin last year, which at that point allowed remote access to live HD camera footage, and video stored on your PC. But a new partnership with Dropbox adds cloud storage to the equation, letting you boot video directly to the web to supplement the PC- and microSD-based options already in place. Packages are available today, and come with 2GB of storage for free, 50GB for $10 per month or 100GB for $20 per month -- Logitech isn't exactly giving away the service, but when you consider that a bare-bones Alert system costs $300, those virtual add-ons sound a bit more reasonable. Jump past the break for the full rundown from Logitech, and get ready to beef up those passwords -- having your email account hacked is one thing, but you certainly don't want anyone watching you at home, in real-time or the past.
Turn your iOS device and Logitech Alert into a home security system
This is a really neat way to use your iPad. Gear Diary received the Logitech Alert for review, which allows creation of a do-it-yourself indoor or outdoor security system. When you're all set, download the free Logitech Alert app, and you are ready to monitor your home or business when you're not there. You can use the app to access the camera at any time, and you can also have emails sent to you when motion sensors are activated. Gear Diary was pretty impressed with the results, and it's not that expensive to get a basic security system installed in your home starting at around $299. Check out Gear Diary's review, and also one from The New York Times that goes a bit more in depth. If you want other iOS home security solutions, Auntie TUAW has a few suggestions for you.
Xfinity Home Security makes home monitoring and management Comcastic (video)
It looks like Comcast's trial bubble has been something of a success, and now the company is announcing that its Xfinity Home Security Service will be branching out beyond Houston to arm alarms, dim lamps and keep home automation freaks appraised of sports scores in an additional six markets (including Philadelphia, Portland, Jacksonville, Sarasota/Naples, Chattanooga and Nashville). Powered by iControl Networks' Open Home automation and security platform, packages start at $40 a month and feature live video monitoring, lighting and climate control, burglar and fire alarm monitoring, and more -- via touchscreen interface, web portal, and iPhone app. Now you too can put your family's safety in the same hands that bring Gilligan's Island into your home! Video, PR-palooza after the break.
Swann DVR4-2600 kit is 4 cameras and 500GB worth of remotely-accessible home security overkill
We've seen IP cams before, inexpensive ones like the DCS-930L from D-Link that get the job done with no frills, rather fancier ones like the Logitech Alert system that offer a premium feel -- at a premium cost. But nothing quite like this. It's the Swann DVR4-2600, a system that comes with four separate cameras, each offering a "high resolution" VGA that are about 10 years past a time when VGA could reasonably be called "high resolution." They do, at least, offer 65 feet worth of night vision and all-weather functionality. There's also a 500GB DVR included that can be connected directly to a TV or accessed remotely from a plethora of mobile apps covering everything from Android and iOS to Windows Mobile 6 and Symbian. You can get e-mails whenever your prisoners guests move and, the pièce de résistance, the kit includes four theft deterrent stickers. If those don't keep the crooks away, maybe the rottweiler* will. Full details in the PR below. %Gallery-116998% *Rottweiler not included.
