The Google Nest Doorbell was the most accurate when it came to identifying types of motion (person, animal, vehicle, or package), and reacted quickly when sending smartphone alerts and displaying live views. The image resolution is only 9601280, which is lower than our other picks, but the picture is clear, and the low-res actually ends up being easier on your Wi-Fi network to allow for smoother streaming. Audio was always clear on either end, with adjustable volume and the ability to switch off the microphone when necessary. While it offers free cloud storage, youll only be able to access footage from the past 3 hours . If you want to keep it longer, the Nest Aware plan (starting at $8 per month or $80 per year) can store video up to 30 days, and adds in Familiar Face Detection. In addition, if you want 24/7 recording to the cloud, youll have to shell out $15 a month or $150 annually for the Nest Aware Plus plan.

The rest is here:
The 4 Best Security Cameras for Your Home of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter - The New York Times

A smart doorbell camera allows you to see whos on the other side of your dooreven when you arent homeso you can weed out guests who dont come bearing Girl Scout cookies.

We recommend the Google Nest Doorbell (Wired) because it delivers fewer false alerts than any video doorbell we tested, accurately distinguishes between people, animals, cars, and packages, and includes the option for 24/7 recording.

If you dont have existing doorbell wiring, the Eufy Security Video Doorbell S220 (Battery-Powered) is an easy-to-use option with a great image, and its battery can deliver about four months of service on a full charge.

This doorbell sends fast alerts, captures clear audio and video, and offers free and paid subscription levelsincluding an option for 24/7 recording.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The second-generation Google Nest Doorbell (Wired) delivered the best performance of any video doorbell in our latest tests. It was the most accurate when it came to identifying types of motion (person, animal, vehicle, or package), as well as when restricting alerts using activity zones to monitor specific areas. It can even identify specific people by name (with a Nest Aware subscription), although it needs to get a good look at the subject. We also found it to be very quick, both with smartphone notifications and producing a live look at activity as it was happening, without a delay. The Nest is also the only one of our picks to supply free cloud storagealthough its restricted to three hours. If you want to record and store motion clips from an unlimited number of devices for up to 30 days and get the aforementioned Familiar Face detection, a Nest Aware plan is $8 per month or $80 per year; bumping that up to $15 per month (or $150 per year) will get you motion event storage for up to 60 days or 10 days of 24/7 recording.

It displays a wide, 180-degree field of view in a square aspect ratio, which reduces blind spots around your porch. It also can ID people, animals, packages, and cars.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with a compatible base station, such as the Arlo SmartHub), Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings

The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell can distinguish among people, animals, vehicles, or packagesalthough we didnt find it to be as accurate or quick to respond as the Nest. For that advanced sensing and the ability to capture video clips up to five minutes long, you need an $8-per-month Arlo Secure subscription. But we find these features to be essential, and the price is fair (otherwise youre restricted to motion/bell alerts and live video streaming). The Arlo doorbell camera also captures crisp video, with a 15361536 resolution and a wide, 180-degree viewing angle in a square format; this provides a comprehensive vertical and horizontal view of whats going on in front of your door, whether its deliveries or visiting raccoons.

This compact model performs consistently and is cheap and easy to install, but it lacks some of the more advanced features of our top pick.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Works with Ring

The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is the solid sub-$75 smart doorbell camera weve been waiting for. Its smaller than most Ring doorbells (and cheaper, too), it captures clear 1080p video, and its accurate with motion and person alerts. However, it doesnt offer alerts that are as detailed as our top two picks and the only smart-home platform it works with is Amazon Alexa. And even though its inexpensive, it does require a Ring Protect Basic plan to record motion events, which starts at $4 per month or $40 per year (and will be increasing to $5 per month or $50 per year beginning March 11, 2024).

This battery-powered model lasts up to four months with regular use, produces sharp 2K images, and has options for cloud and local storage.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Eufy Security Video Doorbell S220 (Battery-Powered) combines solid performance with a strong battery that lasts about four months. It can store up to six months worth of footage for free on the indoor base station, or you can opt for Eufys cloud service, which includes 30 days of video history for $3 per month per camera (or $30 per year per camera). As with many battery-powered models, recording time is limited (in this case to 60 second clips), and there may be a brief gap in between recordings if motion continues. However, the S220s sharp 2K image and strong battery life make it the best smart doorbell for anyone who wants to go wire-free.

Link:
The 4 Best Smart Doorbell Cameras of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter - The New York Times

Vory has been accused of domestic abuse by his girlfriend, with footage showing him threatening to have her killed.

Home security videos that surfaced online on Tuesday (February 13) capture heated encounters between the Grammy-winning singer and his partner inside their home.

In one clip, Vory (real name Tavoris Hollins Jr.) is seen shouting aggressively at his girlfriend with whom he shares a child and backing her down.

Im not doing that. You dont run this. I do! I do! I do! I do! he can be heard shouting while his girlfriend, who is holding their dog, walks backwards and pleads with him to stop.

Another video finds the Dream Chasers signee ordering his partner to remove her phones access to their home security camera before warning her: I will literally get you killed, for real.

Vorys girlfriend detailed the singers alleged abuse in a lengthy post on her Instagram Stories, claiming she has footage of him punching her in the face and spitting on her.

@vory you are a disgusting person, she wrote. You want to paint me out to be this whore/bad person. When its you! I dont want to be with you or take your Valentines Day gift or spend time with you as a family because of all this shit youve put me through for TWO years so you go on social media to tell lies and try to spread this false narrative.

Stop playing on my name before I post the videos of you punching me in the face, spitting on me and threatening to kill me while PREGNANT. I have all of those videos!! Show people who you really are. This man is a professional liar, manipulator and narcissist!

She added: The proof is public. [Simply] google what he has current court cases for: & thats only 2 of the 100 times hes done this. If yall wanna support a man that abuses pregnant women or women in general thats between you and god!

Vory has yet to respond to the allegations, but he released a new song called Why Lie on Wednesday (February 14) on which he alludes to relationship troubles.

related news

Kanye West & 'Donda' Collaborator Vory Join Forces On Pusha T-Approved 'Daylight'

May 31, 2022

HipHopDX has reached out to Vorys team for comment.

The 26-year-old is best known for his appearances on Kanye Wests Donda, as well as collaborations with Playboi Carti, Tory Lanez and his label boss Meek Mill.

He also won a Grammy in 2019 for his songwriting contributions to JAY-Z and Beyoncs Everything Is Love, which won Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Vorys debut solo album Lost Souls was released in 2022 and debuted at No. 1 on Billboards Heatseekers chart.

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Vory Threatens To 'Kill' Girlfriend In Alleged Footage Of Domestic Abuse - HipHopDX

Smart locks are a highly visible part of your home that you'll use just about every day, so it's important to find a reliable pick that meshes well with your smart home. Here are the factors you should be thinking about as you shop:

A retrofit smart lock like the August lock will replace the interior of your existing lock, but not the exterior keyhole or the deadbolt.

Most smart locks will replace the entirety of your existing lock, including the interior thumbturn, the exterior keyhole, and the deadbolt in the middle. Locks like those will also come with their own keys, which will replace the ones you're using now.

Others, like the August Smart Lock, and the Lockly fingerprint model, are designed instead to work with at least some of your existing lock hardware. With a retrofit lock like that, you probably won't need new keys at all, and you might not even need to swap out the deadbolt. Locks like those can sometimes be a better fit for apartments, where the building owners might not allow you to replace the entire lock.

Different smart locks will take different approaches to letting you in. On a basic level, most smart locks will let you lock and unlock the door wirelessly from your phone, using an app. Others add in keypads for coded entry, which can help you rely on your keys a little less while also making it easier to share access with others. Some of the newest smart locks add in touch sensitivity or fingerprint scanning to let you inside with just a tap. Apple has also added a Home Key" target="_blank feature in iOS15 that lets you store a digital house key in your Apple Wallet, which lets you open compatible smart locks using the NFC radio in your iPhone or Apple Watch.

It may be overkill to pay up for a smart lock that offers all of that, so it's fine to dial in on the mode of access that interests you most. You've got a diverse mix of options these days.

The Schlage Encode Plus is the first smart lock to support Apple Home Key. Similar to Apple Pay, Home Key lets you unlock your door using the NFC radio in your iPhone or Apple Watch.

If your household includes multiple types of smart home devices, then your best bet is to control them all from a single smart home platform -- that way, you won't need to juggle multiple apps to keep everything automated. The most popular picks are Amazon Alexa; the Google Home app and the Google Assistant voice controls that come with it; and Apple HomeKit, which brings Siri into play. Samsung SmartThings is another option for a hub-centric smart home.

That brings us to Matter: Matter (and its tagalong protocol Thread) is an important smart home protocol designed in coordination with major brands including Google, Amazon, Apple, and many others. It helps guarantee compatibility across different platforms and adds in extra security and data transfer benefits definitely something buyers should be watching for.

Currently, smart lock companies are still adopting the Matter standard. Our top pick uses it and is one of the best options weve found. Some Schlage Encode locks use it, but it hasnt made its way to our Schlage Smart Level pick quite yet, and the same goes for Yale Assure. August has also announced it's working to bring Matter to its smart locks, so in some cases it just be a matter of waiting for the right firmware update.

Smart locks aren't quite as data sensitive as devices with built-in cameras and microphones, but you'll still want to make sure that you're keeping things secure. Most, if not all of your options will use some form of encryption to keep the wireless transmissions between your lock and your phone or home network secure -- you should also look for locks that use two-factor authentication to keep your account safe from malicious logins. And, as with any connected device in your home, you'll want to be sure to keep your lock updated to the latest firmware, and to set a strong password in the app.

As for lockpicking and other physical concerns, you can look for the lock's ANSI grade to get a sense of its durability, and how well it might stand up against a brute force entry attack. ANSI grade 3 is the most basic rating, but a growing number of smart locks offer ANSI grade 2 or grade 1 ratings, which tell you that they're built with commercial-grade durability. If you're concerned about forced entries, a lock like that might be a good investment.

Your smart lock is going to sit right on the front of your home's exterior, so it's worth aiming for something you won't hate looking at. Some smart locks go out of their way to show off their gadgety features with light-up touchscreens, color-coded LED indicator lights and tech-minded designs. Others take the opposite approach, doing their best to blend in and look just like a standard lock, from the outside at least. Picking a preference between the two approaches will help you narrow your options.

You'll also want to consider how the lock stays powered. Most smart locks will run off four AA batteries, but some take a different approach. The Level Lock, for instance, runs off of a single CR2 battery that sits inside of the deadbolt itself. Meanwhile, Eufy's touchscreen smart lock runs off of a rechargeable battery pack.

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Best Smart Locks of 2024 - CNET

Meet the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro. Boasting pro-level features, it delivers cutting-edge technology to keep your home safe and secure.

Experience Head-to-Toe HD+ Video in 1536p: Get an expanded field of view to see more of whos at your front door. View everything, whether its visitors, deliveries, or potential threats.

3D Motion Detection: This feature lets you configure Birds Eye Zones up to 30 feet away on an overhead map of your property.

Premium Images: The Battery Doorbell Pro brings clarity and clear color with its enhanced imaging sensors.

Person + Package Alerts: These alerts are a Ring Protect subscription feature. Receive notifications when a person or package is detected within a specified zone.

Connect seamlessly with Alexa: Use this gadget with compatible Echo devices for announcements and Two-Way Talk.

Elevate your home security with this smart doorbell!

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The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro has 3D motion detection - Gadget Flow

Ring users are about to see a significant increase in their bill.

The Amazon-owned home security service is planning to increase prices in March for its basic plan to $4.99/month or $49.99/year, an increase of $1 a month or $10 a year. While arguably not a large amount of money, the price increase is a 25% increase over the services current rates.

If you dont cancel your plan before March 11, youll see a price bump on your next bill.

Ringslast price increase happened in June 2022,when the company raised its rates to $3.99/month or $39.99/year. That was an increase of $1/month or $10 a year.

Worth noting: Rings higher-priced plans arent increasing in price. While the basic plan offers cloud storage and recorded videos from just one camera, Ring's next tier up covers unlimited cameras but also comes at double the price: $10/month or $100/year.

In September,Nest raised the prices of Nest Aware and Aware Plus. Its basic plan rose to $8 a month or $80 a year, an increase over its previous price of $6 a month or $60 per year, which had been in effect since May 2020. Nest Aware Plus saw a similar increase, jumping from $12 a month or $120 a year to $15 a month or $150 a year. Arlo did the same last month.

Original post:
Ring Is Raising Rates on Some Plans by 25% in March - PCMag Middle East

An easy-to-use home security camera that works seamlessly with SimpliSafe security systems

Nobody makes home security as easy and hassle-free as SimpliSafe does. In our SimpliSafe security system review, we talked about how it took us less than 30 minutes to install the system, and that system included the SimpliCam.

The SimpliCam is an indoor camera that just plugs into a wall outlet and connects to Wi-Fi. It doesnt offer much in terms of features, but its a reliable camera that just works. It can detect and alert you of movement, stream and record high-quality videos, and it offers two-way audio communication. In our experience, thats all an average person needs to keep an eye on their home while at work or running errands.

Although it works as a standalone security camera, the SimpliCam works best as a part of a SimpliSafe system. Together with SimpliSafe security sensors, the camera can monitor your home and give you visual access in cases of emergency. Moreover, SimpliSafe usually bundles the camera ($99 value) with its security system for free.

One minor drawback of the SimpliCam is that it doesnt record locally. Youll need a cloud subscription. Thats another reason to use the camera with the SimpliSafe security system. Cloud storage costs $4.99 per month for one camera or $9.99 per month for up to five cameras. It isnt the most affordable cloud plan out there, with options like Ring offering cloud storage for unlimited cameras for as little as $10 per month. With a SimpliSafe security system, however, you can buy a $29.99 per month professional monitoring subscription, which includes cloud storage for up to 10 cameras.

Additionally, with this SimpliSafe subscription, youll get video verification. In case of a break-in, SimpliSafe will use your cameras video ability to verify the incident and send the police faster to your home.

Its worth noting that SimpliSafe recently came out with a new indoor camera that is far more advanced than the SimpliCam. Its called the Smart Alarm, and it costs $139.99. This camera can be paired with the Fast Protect monitoring plan to gain access to 24/7 live agent monitoring.

The camera uses AI to detect person-triggered motion events, and when it does, it reports to the live monitoring center. The camera can stream to the monitoring center during emergencies and even create a two-way audio link between an agent and the cameras speaker to potentially ward off intruders.

Thats taking a more proactive stance in protecting your home, and the Smart Alarm might very well be a good upgrade to the SimpliCam. However, there may be some potential privacy implications, especially because its an indoor camera. We value privacy, so for now, SimpliCam is still our top choice.

High-end Wi-Fi and IP cameras with 4K color and night vision

Lorex is known for the quality of its security cameras. Many Lorex camera models are vandal-proof; for example, the ones we tested had heavy-duty metal casings and protected power cords.

Dont be intimidated by their solid construction, though. Lorex cameras are some of the easiest to use security cameras. Although youll need to spend quite some time setting them up it took us almost half a day to completely set up, install, and configure our six-camera Lorex system youll find that once theyre set up, theres not much else to do to keep them running. They are set-and-forget types devices.

One thing we really liked was that it stored footage in a local recording box called a DVR. The DVR has plenty of storage space, usually 1 TB or more, and its expandable with additional hard drives. Lorex can store footage for days on end without cutting. Ours kept recordings of the past two weeks.

Although Lorex cameras seem dated in design, some of them actually have really advanced features. Weve seen dozens and even tested a couple with up to 4K resolution. What really surprised us, though, were the Lorex cameras with artificial intelligence, something we only ever see in more modern brands like Google Nest and Arlo. Certain AI-powered Lorex cameras we tested were capable of distinguishing people from other moving objects, also known as person detection.

FYI: Is artificial intelligence a friend or foe? In the context of security cameras, AI is a friend that improves detection and provides tons of security value. However, thats not the case with all types of AI.

One bestselling home-use Lorex camera is the 1080p HD Outdoor Wireless Security Camera. Its an affordable but dependable camera, retailing for as low as $149. We think this camera really represents Lorex well.

The hardware is impressive. It has a 115-foot night vision range, meaning, it can see as far as 115 feet out in near-total darkness. It can record audio and video, it has a 1080p HD resolution, and the construction itself was solid and rugged. It wasnt perfect we would have liked to see a wider field of vision than its 118-degree lens and it doesnt work in temperatures below zero. However, its a perfectly reliable and budget-friendly option, which is true for most Lorex cameras.

Speaking of which, Lorex offers a wide variety of options. Thats one of the best things about this brand. In most cases, youre free to mix and match different camera models depending on your needs. If you need more indoor cameras, for example, Lorex offers packages with up to eight indoor cameras. That makes personalizing your security camera system a lot easier with Lorex.

Video doorbells and weatherproof cameras powered by batteries, mains electricity, or the Sun

Ring jumpstarted the video doorbell market in the early 2010s, and after being bought by Amazon, it continued to produce innovative security cameras. Today, it has a completely separate line of home security cameras, divided into these models:

Ring cameras leverage advanced technology, but they arent complicated to use. For example, the newest Ring Spotlight Cam models use radar to more accurately detect and report movement, but when we tested it, it worked just like regular motion detection weve seen countless times from other cameras. And thats the thing about Ring: It provides better-than-most features without complicating the user-experience.

Other Ring camera models include motion detection, two-way voice, and Amazon Alexa and Echo integration like the doorbell cameras. Smart integrations let us control our home alarm system with voice commands and send our security video to various in-home displays of our choice. Ring cloud video storage costs $3.99 per month for one camera or $10 per month for an unlimited number of cameras installed in one address.

Ring has an expansive product catalog, but lets take a look at one example: For most climates, the Ring Spotlight Cam is one of the best weatherproof cameras for scaring off prowlers as it can withstand temperatures five degrees below zero. This $200 camera comes equipped with bright spotlights that you can program to turn on when it detects motion. It also has a 110-decibel siren, plenty loud even for an outdoor camera.

An even more advanced version of the Spotlight Cam was released recently at the 2022 Amazon hardware event, which also features 3D Motion Detection. This additional feature uses radar technology to track the movement of prowlers within your property, and in addition to the cameras live feed, 3D Motion Detection enables a Birds Eye View of your lawn. That, in addition to the spotlight feature that comes with every Spotlight Cam makes the Spotlight Cam Pro a solid option to stand guard outside your home.

Not all Ring cameras are super-advanced, though. There are also ones that are more low-tech but very reliable and affordable. One example is the Ring Indoor Cam, Rings most affordable security camera to date. The Ring Indoor Cam is comparable to our top-pick, the SimpliCam. It plugs into an outlet, streams and records videos, and detects motion. And at just over $50, its an affordable option for those who prefer Rings catalog of Wi-Fi cameras.

Whats New: Another new creation by Ring is the $250 Car Cam, a dual-camera hardware designed to protect your car whether its running or parked in your garage. It detects motion, is LTE-ready, and has a built-in Alexa so you can start a recording with your voice while driving.

ADT offers a trifecta of security cameras: An indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and a doorbell camera. Together, these three cameras can watch over your home with their 1080p HD resolution, two-way talk feature, and smart capabilities that help them distinguish between important and unimportant events.

So far, those are pedestrian security camera traits. The very best aspect of ADT cameras, though, is that they come with the ADT home security system. These are not standalone cameras, so you can buy them only if you also buy a security system.

That makes sense, though. ADT is a leader in home security monitoring. Its cameras may not be top-of-the-line in features and tech, but paired with ADTs reliable monitoring service, high-quality home security equipment, and 145-year long history and experience, these cameras become much more useful than similarly-featured security cameras.

Of course, if you really want smarter cameras, ADT gives you options. As far back as 2021, ADT and Google Nest have maintained a solid partnership that saw Google Nests smart cameras added to the ADT roster. Google Nest Cams are some of the smartest security cameras around. We wont go into too much detail as youll soon meet them down this list, but one special feature of the Nest Cams is facial recognition.

For a home security system, ADT is teeming with security camera options. We like the ruggedness of the ADT-branded cameras, especially the outdoor camera (pictured above) with an IP 65 rating. Its water- and dust-proof, and its built to work in cold and warm climates.

That said, if youre looking for smarter security cameras, we recommend Google Nest Cams for your ADT system. Google Nest is another top-rated security camera brand, and if you buy Google Nest cameras from ADT, youll get professional installation, including integrating the cameras to your ADT system.

Whichever you choose, though, ADTs greatest selling point is that its not just a security camera system, but a complete home security system. Security cameras prove great for visual monitoring, but ADT sensors can help detect other dangers that security cameras may not be able to.

On top of that, ADT has a solid professional monitoring service, which includes video verification through ADT-connected cameras. Video verification occurs during emergencies. Rather than simply alerting the police that there might be a break-in in progress, ADT monitoring centers can briefly access security camera feeds to confirm the alert. That way, they can assist the dispatchers in identifying the intruder and also speed up police response.

Budget-priced indoor security cameras with free cloud storage for motion-triggered video

With prices that start at just $29.99, Wyze makes some of the most affordable indoor security cameras with mobile app integration. Cloud storage is free for motion-triggered events, which makes Wyze a very affordable home security solution overall. Wyze makes its cameras for DIY monitoring.

Special features include geofencing (motion detection zones), Alexa compatibility, and the ability to detect specific frequencies. For instance, the camera sends mobile alerts in response to a smoke alarm.

Despite being a budget security camera brand, Wyze has been making a lot of high-tech cameras. They now have indoor and outdoor cameras, cameras that can pan and tilt mechanically, and even cameras equipped with a spotlight or floodlight for scaring intruders. And the best part? They are all more affordable than what we normally see in the industry.

One example is the Wyze Cam Floodlight, which as the name implies, comes with built-in floodlights. Its nothing to sneeze at; the floodlights are 2,600 lumens bright but dimmable, it comes with a 105 dB siren, it has a 270-degree motion detection range, and it has all the smart features of the Wyze Cam v3 like person and pet detection. In terms of price, though, it costs half of most floodlight cameras. The Ring Floodlight Cam costs $200 and up, while the Wyze Cam Floodlight costs only $93.99.

Cutting-edge indoor and outdoor cameras with up to 4K resolution

The standard for high-definition security video is 1080p resolution. Arlo pushed the envelope with 4K ultra-high-definition on the weatherproof Ultra security camera, which costs $299. During our evaluations, the Arlo doorbell cameras, indoor cameras, and outdoor cameras automatically lowered their resolution if they detected low bandwidth.

Arlo loaded each camera with special features such as two-way voice, a siren with remote control, and compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Multiple setup options made Arlo cameras famous, too; cameras plugged in or operated wire-free, and magnetic mounts made setup hassle-free. The video was saved locally on a USB or to the cloud, free for seven days. Arlo cameras work best when grouped together to create an integrated network of security cameras.

While the Arlo Ultra offers the most impressive video resolution in Arlos lineup, there are slightly more affordable options that still provide crystal clear video quality. One of our favorites is the Arlo Pro 4, which is an indoor and outdoor camera that runs wire-free on batteries. Its a slight improvement over the Arlo Pro 3 we reviewed.

The Arlo Pro 4 features a 2K HD resolution; slightly lower than the Ultra, but still above industry average. While it costs less than half the latest Arlo Ultra, it provides similar features such as an integrated spotlight and color night vision. Its also quite rugged for a security camera as sleek-looking; its resistant to rain and sun (it has UV protection, too), and it can operate in temperatures as low as minus four degrees Fahrenheit.

Heads up: The latest from Arlo is the Arlo Pro 5S, a 2K spotlight camera with an extra-wide 160-degree viewing angle, dual-band Wi-Fi, and extended battery life. This latest camera works exceptionally well with the Arlo Home Security System.

Smart doorbells & indoor/outdoor security cams with facial recognition and continuous recording

While our Ring paired naturally with Amazon Alexa, Nest was best with Google Assistant and other Google Home products. Nest cams work intuitively with Google Home speakers. For example, we could say, Hey Google, play the backyard camera on the kitchen Chromecast, and it would perform the task.

The Nest Cam options include the plugged-in indoor model, the battery-powered weatherproof model, and the floodlight-equipped model. There are also wired and wireless video doorbell options. All these cameras share the same core features, including motion detection, person detection, and activity zones. Each can also be added to a Nest Aware subscription, which enables cloud recording plus up to 10 days of continuous recording at the highest tier. But even without Nest Aware, we still enjoyed mobile notifications from the cameras and three hours of event history with snapshots. That being said, we chose to keep our Nest Aware subscription because of facial recognition.

The smartest feature of all Nest Cam models is facial recognition, or as Nest calls it, Familiar Face Alerts. Its one of those features you can only get with a Nest Aware subscription, but if you shell out the monthly fee, Familiar Face Alerts can improve your home security tremendously.

The Nest Cam starts by cataloging all the faces it sees, and then, it relies on you to put a name to those faces using the accompanying app. Nests AI is powered by Google, so you know that recognizing faces is no hard task for the camera.

Now, once it has a database of Familiar Faces (dont worry, your cameras Familiar Faces stays on your account and wont be used in facial recognition of other Nest users), youll be able to really configure your notifications. For instance, you can tell Nest to notify you if this particular person is seen, lets say your kid, so you know they got home safe from school. Its that kind of personalization that makes Nest an incredible partner in home security.

New Feature: You can now view live footage from the latest Nest Cams on Alexa-enabled smart displays and smart TVs. In addition, Alexa can now announce motion detection and doorbell ring alerts, as well as deliver two-way audio.

Video doorbells and indoor/outdoor cameras with easy installation and long-lasting batteries

Blink sells easy-to-use wireless cameras for indoor and outdoor use. These are low-priced at $35 and up, yet excellent quality. Special features on Blink cameras include one-way or two-way audio, a motion sensor, customizable motion zones, a temperature sensor, and the option to use Amazon Alexa for arming and disarming by voice.

The Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor, which are both battery-powered cameras, feature a PIR motion sensor. Although it doesnt sound as impressive as person detection or facial recognition, the PIR sensor is the perfect sensor for these cameras.

PIR motion sensors read heat signatures and are only triggered when the moving object produces body heat. Thats another way of saying that its only triggered by living things. It reduces false alarms, not to mention, saves a ton of battery power compared to motion detection facilitated by the cameras computer vision itself.

Blink provides affordable cloud storage with pricing similar to that of Ring ($3 per month for one camera and $10 for all cameras). You can also access local recording without monthly fees with a Sync Module 2 hub and a USB flash drive.

FYI: Amazon, the company that owns Blink and Ring, announced that its shutting down support for its Amazon Cloud Cam cameras by December 2022. Cloud Cam owners, however, will receive a free Blink Mini Indoor as replacement, plus a one-year free subscription to Blinks cloud plan.

Smart doorbells and indoor/outdoor cameras with long-range and local storage

Swann sells high-quality indoor/outdoor cameras and video doorbells for do-it-yourself monitoring only. Swann cameras feature impressive color night vision, heat sensing, two-way talk, floodlights, competitive pricing, long-range even at night, and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Local storage and cloud storage is available for Swann security cams. With free local memory, owners can save each clip for seven days. Camera ownership also includes two days of free cloud storage per clip.

The Floodlight Security Camera, costing $179, shows off lots of Swann technology. The 1080p camera has a 125-degree lens, color night vision, a heat sensor, two-way talk, a siren, and a motion-triggered floodlight with dimmer. It clearly records nighttime action up to 100 feet away, and with its max floodlight brightness of 2500 lumens, criminals will have trouble finding cover!

A budget camera that doesnt sacrifice quality with all of our necessary features for home security cameras.

Although we use Siri for everything on our iPhones, a security camera rarely works with Apples voice assistantthat is, until the eufy 2K indoor camera. It works with Siri, so we were able to view the live feed on our phones by asking our trusted voice assistant, in addition to Alexa and Google Assistant. Siri also provides end-to-end encryption for footage along with a whopping ten days of extra cloud storage through HomeKit Secure Video. As iPhone or iPad users, we loved using Siri with the eufy 2K camera.

The eufy 2K is a very affordable indoor camera, at only $40. Typically, we shell out over $100 for similar devices. We set it up in our living room, and because we had pet detection turned off, we didnt get notified every time our kitten played with its ball of yarn. Instead, we only got notifications about people. All our footage was recorded directly to our 128 GB micro-SD card in 2K resolution.

With the Eufy Security app, we easily checked in at home from anywhere with Internet access, arming and disarming our camera remotely (or creating an automated schedule). We could count on getting notifications when any people came near our home, which thankfully didnt include any intruders.

A wide range of affordable smart doorbells, indoor cameras, and outdoor cameras

Zmodo sells a wide selection of smart doorbell cameras, indoor-only cameras, and weatherproof surveillance cameras for DIY monitoring. We chose these cameras to serve as crime deterrents, but we had friends who used the Zmodo video cams for keeping an eye on their dependents. Some Zmodo cameras are hardwired, and others are wire-free.

A four-pack of Zmodo Mini Cams costs just $99.99. These indoor cameras have night vision, two-way audio, Alexa compatibility, and optional continuous recording in 720p HD. With free service, we were able to review alert clips from the previous 36 hours. Longer-term cloud storage required a $9.99 per month payment.

Another cheap but effective option is the $39.99 Zmodo 1080p Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera. Along with HD color vision in daylight, it creates crisp low-light recordings with up to 65-feet depth of field. The option to set motion detection zones helps limit false alerts.

Zmodo security equipment carries an impressive three-year warranty and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

A simple security camera perfect for families.

A lot of cameras have person detection, which differentiates between different types of movement from people, animals, cars, and inanimate objects. However, the ecobee SmartCamera takes things a step further. Not only does it detect people, but with a panning function, itll actually follow them around, keeping them in the center of the frame. This feature, Smart Focus, isnt something weve seen from any other security camera, so with its 180-degree field of view, youre sure not to miss anything that goes on at your home.

Originally posted here:
The 12 Best Home Security Cameras of 2023 - Security.org

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See the original post here:
Traveling for the holidays? Keep an eye on your home with the Blink Mini security camera, now just $20 - Gwinnettdailypost.com

ByWXYZ Detroit

Friday, December 8, 2023 3:04AM

DETROIT -- Gangs from South America are breaking into multi-million dollar homes across the country, including metro Detroit, WXYZ reported.

Police said they are highly functional and well-trained.

A police official described the crews, which are believed to consist of four to six people, as highly functional and well-trained.

The thieves reportedly use a jammer to overcome wireless security systems that depend on WiFi to operate. The crews are all dressed in black, with backpacks, and gloves. They are non-confrontational and their goal is to get in and out of the homes quickly, police said.

At least 30 to 40 homes have been hit since September in the Detroit area. Thieves have gotten away with cash, jewelry and expensive handbags within minutes of breaking in.

Police departments in Michigan have formed a task force and urged home owners to have multiple layers of security.

Originally posted here:
Gangs from South America use security jammers to break in to expensive homes across country: police - WLS-TV

To determine the best home security companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 19 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

Pricing is an important factor when choosing among the best home security companies, which is why it accounts for 20% of the total ranking. The editorial team evaluated monthly self monitoring and pro monitoring fees at both the lowest and highest price points as well as contract lengths, policies and limitations.

App reviews, similar to overall customer ratings, can indicate the health of a home security companys user experience for customers. Ratings from the App Store and Play Store were evaluated, and the higher the rating for a company, the more points that company received.

Customer ratings are a strong indicator of a companys performance, making it 20% of the total ranking. The team evaluated customer ratings from platforms like the BBB, Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs.

Customer support options accounted for 14% of the total ranking, and include each companys offering (or lack thereof) of live chat, phone service, community forum, knowledge base and a blog.

Extra smart home features are a commodity in a time of homes adapting to smart home integration, which is why this category received 10% of the total rankings weight. The editorial team evaluated each home security companys list of smart home integrations with platforms including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung, Apple Homekit and more.

A home security companys offering of equipment and package options is paramount when deciding how to approach your homes security needs, which is why it makes up 20% of the total ranking. The team analyzed each companys offerings of equipment including full professionally installed systems, wireless security options, cellular network cameras, night vision cameras, Wi-Fi security cameras, plug-in wired cameras, outdoor cameras, fire detection and smoke alarms, panic buttons, water leak detection, sirens and more.

A home security companys ease of setup and installation policies could be a major factor for homeowners. The editorial team evaluated the setip for each company as well to account for 5% of the total ranking.

Additional points were awarded based on the judgment of our review team. Points were awarded for inclusions such as additional service availability and outstanding achievements or awards.

More here:
Best Home Security Companies Of 2023 Forbes Home - Forbes