homesecurity
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Security system watches over your home without cameras
You don't have many great choices for home security systems right now. Conventional systems are expensive and effectively fixed in place, while connected cameras are conspicuous and carry the risk (however small) that someone might spy on you. Xandem thinks it has a better way, however. It's crowdfunding a security system that uses motion-detecting wireless mesh networking (previously the stuff of research) to alert you to intruders. It only requires plug-in nodes to work, and the resulting radio frequency web can both travel through objects and follow subjects. If all goes well, you're getting more complete coverage that stays hidden and reduces the chance of a false positive -- you can even track motion in apps or the web to see if it's a burglar or just a family member who got home early.
AT&T's home automation services reach your apartment
AT&T's Digital Life home automation services are tempting if you like the idea of cellular-connected safety and security systems, but you've had to live in a fully detached home to even consider subscribing. Live downtown? Forget about it. Thankfully, your options are expanding. Digital Life is now available in apartments and condos, so you can rely on the carrier to remotely turn on the lights or warn you if someone breaks in. The support is available in all 83 existing Digital Life areas, so the odds are that you can sign up today.
Nest Cam review: a slightly better Dropcam
Keeping an eye on your family, pets, neighbors and maybe a thief or two is the pitch for the Nest Cam. The evolution of the Dropcam Pro WiFi camera isn't much more than a modest hardware upgrade with the Nest name now attached. And while the $199 device shoots higher-quality images and features a better stand, unlike the other two products in Nest's lineup, it doesn't work with anything else you might have in your connected home. Still, it's a great way to keep tabs on your abode while you're away.
Smart camera warns you when guns enter your home
Anxious that you might face an armed home invasion, or that your kids might find the key to the gun cabinet? NanoWatt Design thinks it has a way to give you that crucial early warning. Its crowdfunded GunDetect camera uses computer vision to detect firearms and send a text alert to your phone. If it works as promised, you'll know there's an intruder at the door, or that you need to rush into the den before there's a terrible accident. If you're intrigued, it'll take a minimum $349 pledge to reserve a Cloud GunDetect (which requires a service subscription to process images) and $549 for a Premium model which does all the image recognition work itself. Provided that NanoWatt reaches its funding goal, both cams should ship in February.
ADT partners with LG and Nest to pair home automation with security
ADT already dipped its toe in the home automation waters, but the company plans to make an even bigger splash in the months to come. It announced today that it'll leverage tech from LG and Nest to add to its connected home tool set. First, ADT and LG are working on a so-called all-in-one "Smart Security" device (pictured above) that'll offer not only video monitoring, but it will act as a hub for connecting other gadgets as well. As you might expect, this means you'll be able to control the whole lot from ADT's app; however, the device isn't schedule to launch until this fall.
Dropcam will give you a free replacement camera if yours is too old
Normally, companies don't do much for you when they stop supporting a device. They'll give you a too-bad-so-sad notice and ask you to buy their latest gear. Not Dropcam, however. The Nest-owned company is ditching support for both its original home security camera and the Echo on April 15th, but it's also launching a replacement program that will get you a free Dropcam HD if you own one of the older models. You'll have to switch to a new subscription plan if you want the cam to be useful for cloud video recording, but there otherwise aren't any strings attached -- Dropcam will maintain legacy service for free until the cutoff date, and refund the difference if you've paid for a yearly plan. This isn't really an altruistic gesture (the company makes at least $99 per year from your subscription), but it'll at least take some of the pain out of switching to newer technology.
60 seconds with a simple but smart home monitoring device
There are already plenty of ways to keep an eye on your abode from afar, so any new home monitoring product better have a fresh approach if it wants to stand out from the competition. For start-up Form Devices, the goal wasn't to create an elaborate, connected home security system that did more than existing products, but to make something simple, affordable and user-friendly. And, it must've done something right with its Point home monitoring device, which cruised past its $50,000 Kickstarter goal just two days after the campaign went live, and is now participating in our Insert Coin competition at Engadget Expand. The plain white, palm-sized puck hosts sound, humidity, temperature, air quality and particle sensors, but no camera. This was a very intentional omission, not just because Point is supposed to be small and inconspicuous, but so users have peace of mind that nobody will ever be watching them.
ADT wants to automate your home with the help of IFTTT
Now that home automation is all the rage, household security outfit ADT is looking to dive further into the fray with a hand from If This Then That (IFTTT). Using the home alarm company's Pulse system and the appropriate channel from the recipe-based app, you'll be able to leverage automated chores from IFTTT's library of tasks including disarming the alarm when your wearable switches out of sleep mode. You can also set a coffee maker in your kitchen to start brewing when your phone alarm wakes you and get a real-time video clip when the doorbell rings. ADT Pulse allows for remote control of a home security system from a mobile app, sending alerts and sorting remote video monitoring, too. It can the wrangle the connected thermostat and outlets for lighting and small appliances as well. Right now, the cooperative effort is looking to enter beta testing shortly with plans to open up a channel to the public afterwards that's full of pre-made recipes alongside the ability to create your own.
A first look at the app for Canary's web-connected home security system
You may remember Canary, an all-seeing, all-knowing, net-connected home security system that obliterated its funding target to raise almost $2 million. Now, if we were the folks behind it, we'd be celebrating in Vegas, but instead they're here at CES showing off their progress. While the team have brought final hardware along, it doesn't look any different from the original proposition. Canary's CEO Adam Sager tells us, however, that many of the internal components have been swapped out for better versions as development has ramped up, and Ethernet has been added (in addition to WiFi) due to backer demand. What we were really interested in, though, was taking a look at the companion app Canary has been crafting. Sager demoed the iOS version, which takes many design cues from Apple's latest mobile OS, on an iPod Touch. He showed us how the app handles alerts, including that HD video recordings and all other sensor metadata associated with that event, as well as the various ways you can immediately react. We also saw how live video feeds would be presented, the feed-like alert history, and how you can set up both user and trigger profiles. Considering this isn't "fully functional," as Sager put it, we would call it mighty slick for something deemed unfinished. Development is being steered, in part, by an ongoing internal beta, and backers who signed up for the open beta are due to recieve their hardware within the next month. Everything is on track, too, for the launch proper in May. Head past the break for a brief video walkthrough of the app, courtesy of Sager.
iSmartAlarm updates its iOS-friendly home security system
I took a look at the iSmartAlarm security system some weeks ago, and now the company has pushed out an update to the hardware controller and the iOS app that lets you interact with the system. Among the changes: Give users the ability to change arming delay time (from instant up to 5 minutes) Give users the ability to change alarm delay time (from instant up to 10 minutes) Give users an arming countdown (beep beep beep, so you know how long you have to get out of the house) Quicker login and auto-login options Allows an audible disarming countdown (beep beep beep, so you know how long you have to disarm) Add siren volume adjustment to fit user needs Set the CubeOne and notifications to use your phone's time zone if you want (if you're traveling to other timezones, for instance) Enhanced Family Member page - will allow profile pictures and remote logs Provide online recovery of data Save alarm pictures automatically to your local album Remove requirement to do a manual reboot after recovering data from the cloud When I tested the iSmartAlarm system, I found it stable and useful. I especially liked the optional camera that lets you pan and tilt it by dragging your finger on your iPhone screen, so you can look around your house from a remote location. The changes made were the result of user feedback, and the company expects to add some new hardware and new capabilities to the system soon.
The iSmartAlarm system gives you an effective home security system controlled by your iPhone
You can spend a fortune or a pittance on a home security system. There are wired systems that contact the police or fire department for you, webcams with motion detection, systems with monthly fees, and systems that are DIY and cost you only for the hardware. Mostly, you get what you pay for, but the new iSmartAlarm system that has just launched is a reasonably priced security solution with wired and wireless components, and it can all be controlled with an iOS app. That makes it very competitive with other, more expensive solutions. Design The system is attractive, and has a sort of retro Mac look. The central component is called the CubeOne, which looks a bit like the old Power Mac G4 Cube. There are 2 key ring controllers, a motion detector, and two contact sensors that can be connected to a door or window. An optional add-on is the iCamera -- more about that in a minute. You can add more sensors individually if you want to expand the system. The components are all glossy white and very attractive and the CubeOne lets you know it is functioning with a very Mac-like white LED that 'breathes' on and off. Problems with the device show a red warning light. Setting Up I received an iSmartAlarm system for review, and I can happily report that setup is simple. You unbox the components, hook up the CubeOne to your router and AC power, and that's it. iSmartAlarm boots itself up, and in under a minute it is on your network. The wireless components already have batteries, so you pull a plastic strip out that protects the battery contacts, the device flashes red, and then use your iPhone you register each device. You can also name the location for the device, like 'kitchen' or 'garage' or 'great room window'. There are two key ring controllers, so you can arm and disarm the system, or activate a panic button when you are home. The panic button results in a loud siren that could frighten off an intruder. The system can keep track of when you leave your house, and when you are back home. The optional iCamera was a breeze to set up. You plug it into AC power and your router, and then through the iOS app the camera asks for your WiFi network password. I've seen some reports that the process is not so easy on some routers, but it was a breeze on my ASUS. When the camera is registered, it can be unplugged and placed anywhere in the house. This is a big improvement over many of the WiFi cameras I have tried, many of which need PC-based software. Using the system Once things are set up, there's little effort required. When you leave your home, arm the system. You'll get a beep from the CubeOne, and you have 90 seconds before the system is 'hot'. When you get home, you press the 'home' button on the key ring or on the iOS app, and the sensors will still let you know if doors or windows are opened but the motion detector is disabled. If you are away, and a sensor is triggered, you'll get a text message and an automated phone call reporting what the problem is. If you have the optional camera, a snapshot will be taken and sent to you. You can have up to 3 people on the call list. If the first person does not answer, a voice mail will be left and the next person you designate will be called. The iCamera is quite sophisticated. When you are away from home the live image comes up very quickly even on a 3G network. You can pan the camera up-down and left-right by dragging your finger across your iPhone screen. The camera can't to a full 360 degree rotation, but it looks like it covers about 300 degrees. The ICamera responds very quickly to my commands when I am away from the house. It provides a bright picture, even in darkness when it uses infrared lighting. I tried unplugging the camera a few times to see if it remembered its settings and my wireless password, and it always did. Cost The iSmartAlarm system comes in 2 packages. The Preferred Package (US$199) includes the CubeOne, 2 door/window sensors, 1 motion sensor, 2 remote key tags, and a sign for your window to warn would-be burglars away. The Premium Package ($349) adds the iCamera. My thoughts The iSmartAlarm system is well thought out and worked perfectly out of the box. A non-technical person will have no trouble setting it up. There are no monthly or subscription fees, so you get a sophisticated system at a reasonable price. The iSmartAlarm product will not call the police for you; it calls you or others you designate. If you need that feature, there are other options in the marketplace. I have a few suggestions. I'd like the camera to allow for motion detection -- t's just a matter of software. There is no audio, which I think would be handy. The camera appears to have an audio input, but I don't see any option for a microphone on the company website. I asked the company about its privacy policy, which can be found here. I also asked about the camera feed, and if anyone can see it. The answer is only the users within the network can view or control the camera feed. You can buy the iSmartAlarm system direct from the company, on HomeSecurityStore.com and from Amazon. It's coming to the Apple Store soon. Some buyers in the home security market will want a full-blown system with monitoring by a professional company, and there are plenty of solutions out there. But there are lots of people who are unprotected, and who want something that is relatively inexpensive and reliable. The iSmartAlarm system meets that need, and does it well. I want one.
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.
Scout security system monitors your pad without compromising your feng shui (video)
While home security systems are definitely making strides towards modernization, we haven't seen many that look the part. However, Sandbox Industries' Scout might be the first home protection option that manages to gel with even the most swanky digs. Available in three stylish trims (black, white and wood), this wireless setup uses a base receiver that communicates with its security sensor panels by way of your home's network. Like most home protection systems, Scout offers remote control and monitoring via computer or mobile device, but the big draw here is its aesthetically pleasing equipment and simplified installation process. Set to ship in August, packages start at $120 with additional à la carte purchase options depending on your household's needs. For those of you looking to further secure your bunker, Scout's hardware packs backup batteries in the event of a power outage as well as an optional 3G-powered monitoring service with plans starting at $10 per month. Of course, if you're not feeling such a high-tech setup, you could always place toy cars and Christmas ornaments beneath your doorways and window seals. Hey, it worked for Kevin McCallister.
Biscotti TV phone connects to the cloud, adds home security functionality
As a video conferencing solution, Biscotti's TV phone scores high marks for form, function and charm. But apart from the cutesy name and appealing build, it's more or less a $199 one trick pony -- or it was, anyway. Which is why the company's now tethering the peripheral to the internet-at-large and bolstering its functionality with the newly announced MyBiscotti Cloud Services. The version 2.0 software (available via an OTA update) pushes beyond simple two-way TV video chat with the addition of home monitoring features like the self-explanatory Time Lapse mode, as well as Live Image viewing, which culls streams from all networked Biscotti cams. Further, users that find themselves away from the roost will also be able to swap out settings on the fly simply by visiting the outfit's dedicated site. As of now, there's no extra cost for the expanded suite of services, but you will have to plunk down for the coffee biscuit-shaped peripheral. Official PR after the break.
Logitech Alert security cameras get OS X support for mindful MacBook owners
Logitech's Alert camera system has given security to Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows users alike, yet there's been a conspicuously Mac-shaped void in support. Logitech is plugging that hole with a native OS X version of its Alert Commander app. So long as Alert system owners are running Snow Leopard or later, they'll have an Orwellian view of live and pre-recorded video feeds from as many as six of the HomePlug-connected cameras. The control extends to 16 motion-sensitive zones, digital zoom, backups and desktop notifications for when an intruder disturbs the peace. As the app itself is a free Mac App Store download, the only cost left is a recent camera array like the Alert 750n to keep track of home from a MacBook Air.
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.
