Home > News > Spectrum Leaves Home Security Subscribers In The Cold

Homeowners like to think that investing inhome security alongside their telecommunications provider might be the bestsolution. However, as Charter-owned cable provider Spectrum has shown, thismight not always be the best scenario. The company intends to shut down itshome security division, with subscribers now left having to seek another optionfor their needs. On February 5th, when the system shuts down completely, remoteaccess to devices and the monitoring service will no longer be available,although individual devices will still work. Customers will not be gettingmonetary settlements for their service termination. However, the company willoffer them deals on Abode or Ring devices, although without a discount on thesubscription for those devices.

The response the company has given tocustomers regarding covering their security needs is unsatisfactory, at best.Some homeowners have spent several times over the cost of a single one of thosenew devices in outfitting their homes with security cameras, confident inSpectrums promise to deliver on service. Now, those customers will be leftwith glaring holes in their security architecture that the company will nolonger be responsible for. While technically, under consumer protection laws,the companys termination of services is legal, it is not fair to thoseindividuals who bought into Spectrums marketing and installed their securitysystems with the intention of long-term coverage.

If anything, Spectrums shutdown has warnedusers that investing a security system, even with their trusted telecomprovider, doesnt guarantee the service will remain operational indefinitely.Consumers should take it as a sign that managed home security and devices carrythe threat of a shutdown with them, especially if those devices arebrand-specific. Dedicated home security devices may offer a better alternativeto homeowners looking for a long-term solution thats slightly more resilientto security brand closures.

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Spectrum Leaves Home Security Subscribers In The Cold - CloudWedge

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MILWAUKEE -- Mayor Tom Barrett along with the Milwaukee Police Department on Friday, Jan. 17 held a news conference to provide a security "footprint" for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. To get reimbursed for the DNC's public safety costs, the city has prepared its $50 million grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice.

"This is not the entire unveiling of the security plan, this is the first step. This is to announce the security footprint, following this there will be more refinements as we get closer to the convention," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "There will be changes."

Mayor Tom Barrett said the Secret Service and Milwaukee police have spent the past six months working collaboratively to ensure a very safe convention.

"I am pleased to say no businesses have been asked to close. We want to make sure people are aware of the security footprint and know that they will be able to go about their normal day-to-day activities," Barrett said. "My biggest priorities are to make sure the events are safe for everyone and that the convention is a success. We are a city -- and that means we will be in full operation at the same time as the convention. So I'm advocating to make sure any security measure is reasonable for the people who live and work here."

Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said the security zone boundaries will be as follows:

"We want to ensure our plan provides maximum security to the convention and minimum impact on residents of the City of Milwaukee," said Special Agent Robert Pacsi, DNC Security Coordinator.

"Within the security footprint, no business is going to be asked to close. Every resident will have access to their home -- and the rest of the city will receive the same level of service that they would receive on any given day," said Chief Morales.

The Democratic National Convention and more than 1,000-related events will bring an estimated 50,000 people to Milwaukee, bringing added emphasis to the importance of Wisconsin in the presidential race.

"We remain very, very excited as a community. This is the first time in the history of the City of Milwaukee, this is the first time in the history of the state of Wisconsin where we are hosting a major political party convention. That means we are in unprecedented territory -- there are a lot of new things that are occurring," said Mayor Tom Barrett.

If you have questions about security plans, you are welcome to email the Milwaukee Police Department at DNCMPD@milwaukee.gov. In the meantime, visit demconvention.com for more information.

CLICK HERE to read a letter to Milwaukee residents and business owners within the "security footprint"

43.045080-87.917386

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Officials reveal security footprint for 2020 DNC: Every resident will have access to their home - WITI FOX 6 Milwaukee

Update: Now down to $109.24 shipped at Amazon.

Amazon is currently offering theSimpliSafe 5-Piece Wireless Home Security System for $112.44 shipped. Usually selling for $225, todays price cut is good for a 50% discount, beats the prior Amazon low by $16, and is well under our previous mention of $175.Included in this bundle is everything youll need to get started with the popular home security system. Centered around the base station, youll receive a keypad, motion sensor, entry detector, and a keyfob.SimpliSafes home security system doesnt lock you into a contract, pairs with both Alexa as well as Google Assistant, and works with a companion smartphone app for viewing alerts. Rated 3.8/5 stars from over 235 customers.

If keeping an eye on your property is at the top of the list of a security systems functionality, consider theBlink Indoor Camera kit instead. Not only will you pocket some extra cash thanks to a $90 price tag, but the systems camera sports 2-year battery life, a built-in motion detector, and HD recording. Plus, it comes backed by a 4/5 star rating from over 6,400 shoppers.

Though if youre set onSimpliSafes system, its worth noting how solid of a value youre getting compared to competing offerings. For instance, the 5-piece Ring Alarm kit sells for $199 at Amazon right now and is tailored to Alexa, rather than being voice assistant agnostic.

Ready to protect right out of the box. Just plug in the base station, place your sensors, and start protecting your home in minutes. No tools required.Optional 24/7 professional monitoring with police, fire & medical dispatch starting at 50c/day No contracts. Pioneering signal burst technology that is powerful enough to cover homes of every size, with up to 1000 ft. range no extender needed.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Save over 50% on SimpliSafes 5-Piece Security System at an Amazon low of $109 - 9to5Toys

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A west Charlotte neighbor said he's thankful his home security cameras were rolling when a man he didnt know showed up at his home with what he believes was an intent to be a burglar.

It was around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when the homeowner said he was alerted by his Ring doorbell camera that someone was knocking at his front door.

He was not home at the time.

After the suspect got no answer, security cameras in the backyard caught a glimpse of him creeping around out back.

At one point, the homeowner says the suspect threw a landscaping brick through the sliding glass door then ran away.

Because the alarm went off when the glass broke Im thinking maybe he left thinking he doesnt have time to do that, the neighbor said.

More than $500 worth of damage was done to the glass door, but thankfully the suspect didnt get a chance to get inside the home to steal anything.

Now, this neighbor just wants to spread the word to others so they are aware of a possible burglar on the run.

This person is in the neighborhood or the area and they could possibly be a threat," he said. "Be on the lookout."

Police are asking anyone who is able to identify the suspect in the video to give investigators a call.

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Watch: Home cameras catch suspected burglar in the act - WCNC.com

Smart technology has shaped not only how we communicate, but also how we live in our own homes. From voice assistants controlling our lights to security systems monitoring our front porch while were at work, these technologies are becoming more prevalent in the 21st-century residence.

As leading experts in their field, the members of Forbes Technology Council follow the trends on smart technology, including the mainstream adoption of certain devices. We asked them which up-and-coming smart device they believe most homes will have in five to 10 years. Their top predictions are below.

1. Electric Charging Stations For Connected Cars

All cars are going to be connected as soon as five years from now. Instead of going to the charging station, we would prefer to have an electric charging station at our home. Along with charging, the device will also communicate with us and the manufacturer about the critical issues to be fixed. It will also talk to the rest of the homes devices about the preferences of the driver when they arrive or depart. - Viplav Valluri, Fastlane Americas, Inc.

2. Master Controller For All Smart Devices

In the next 10 years, there will be a push for the integration of all smart technology into one seamless master controller. There are already dozens of smart home appliances and choices that are available, but the big idea and push will be for one master controller of them all, causing a fully stacked smart home and allowing for efficient and user-friendly control. - Alexandro Pando, Xyrupt Technologies

3. Ubiquitous Voice-Command Integration

In the 10-year range, the bigger development wont be new devices so much as improved integration. Todays voice assistants are all in competition to lock down the home Internet of Things market. Whether its Alexa, Siri or Google, every object in our future homes will take voice commands. As integrations improve we can expect voice-assistant interfaces to be built into the home as well, but integration is key. - Ben Lee, Rootstrap

4. Vision-Based Home Security Systems

Smart security systems with artificial intelligence and computer vision are becoming of extreme importance to most of us. Knowing how effective computer vision can be, I see a growing demand for smart home security systems around the world, especially in countries and cities with high crime and burglary rates. - Chris Ciabarra, Athena Security Inc.

5. Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats will be in every home in the next decade. Trying to keep your house warm or cool without wasting money and taxing the environment is practically impossible. A smart thermostat does the work for you and makes sure you arent consuming more power than is necessary for comfort. Its a good thing for both consumers and the big picture and incredibly simple to use. - Robert Weissgraeber, AX Semantics

6. Wholesale Adoption Of Voice Assistants In Senior Housing

Voice assistants will be standard in the majority of homes in the next five to 10 years because the devices serve a host of use cases. Among the rising use cases that will drive wholesale adoption include senior housing, which will drive down the consumer cost of assisted living, and household energy and safety management to manage lighting, irrigation and security. - Jeanne Teshler, Wellsmith Inc.

7. Voice-Activated Home Diagnostics Tests

Imagine having software that is activated by voice and is able to run diagnostic tests on the state of your home. This type of technology will revolutionize home security. Being able to tell your home OS to check to see if a door or window is unlocked or damaged and then being able to lock down a certain area of your house will improve safety for your family and first responders. - Abishek Surana Rajendra, Course Hero

8. Environmental Sensors

A smart device I predict will be in the majority of homes in five to 10 years will be environmental sensors. Predictive maintenance tools will let homeowners know when filter replacements and professional tune-ups are needed on HVACs. Additionally, these devices can alert families when air ducts are leaking, which could be potentially hazardous. Families will be safer with smarter homes. - Ryan Chan, UpKeep Maintenance Management

9. Pet Tech Products

If there is one thing people love, its their pets. With the rise of pet tech, more and more pet owners will invest in these smart devices, especially if they can monitor their pets health. Tailio, for example, is a monitoring system that sits under a litter box. It can detect pets health problems and track their behaviors, and this information is easy to share with veterinarians. - Christopher Yang, Corporate Travel Management

10. Artificial Intelligence Integrations

AI, whether in the form of Alexa or another bot, will eventually be integrated into every smart home system. It will allow for all of your devices to sense and communicate with each other, share data with one another and ultimately optimize your environment for your lifestyle. This behind-the-scenes automation will be subtle yet extremely powerful in creating fluidity throughout your home life. - Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC

11. Smart Assistants

Voice-controlled technologies are definitely going to be at the peak of their popularity within five to 10 years. Even now, if you look at the statistics, the number of their users is growing, adding almost 6 million people each year. In the future the spectrum of capabilities of such assistants will expand as well, allowing them to manage whole households. - Daria Leshchenko, SupportYourApp Inc.

12. Energy Storage Systems

The solar-energy market will continue to expand in the next decade, and smart home battery technology will expand with it. With the help of smart home systems, internet-connected, battery-based home energy solutions will enable homeowners to use voice commands to check energy storage levels and energy usage and make the switch to battery power when electricity rates are highest. - Ron Cogburn, Exela Technologies

13. In-Home AR/VR Shopping

As online retail continues to take over brick-and-mortar, online retail giants will strive to make trying out clothes, shoes, jewelry and other apparel possible online. Tech is already within touching distance from allowing you to do this; however, its still too expensive. Over the next 10 years, we will see retail giants giving away AR/VR shopping assistants to increase sales. - Tigran Sloyan, CodeSignal

14. Digital Health-Monitoring Equipment

For the most tech-savvy consumers, were already seeing digital scales, blood-pressure monitors and blood-glucose monitors enter the home. With the continued growth in chronic diseases, rising healthcare costs and the adoption of digital health beyond the technorati, digital health- monitoring equipment (including wearables) should be in the majority of homes in the next 10 years. - Steve Pao, Hillwork, LLC

See more here:
14 Smart Home Devices That Will Go Mainstream In The Next Decade - Forbes

Almost two weeks after Google disabled Xiaomis access to its Assistant and Home and Nest devices after a security breach, Xiaomi says it has resolved the issue. And customers can now use its smart security cameras within Googles smart home ecosystem again.

We now confirm that we have fully resolved the root cause of this issue, and Xiaomis Google integration service has resumed from 16, January, a Xiaomi statement reads. Users can now use Xiaomis Mi security camera services via Nest devices. At Xiaomi, we take user privacy and information security as [a] top priority. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused for affected users. We will take even stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Its still not clear exactly what happened, and its likely well never find out. At the time of the bizarre breach, in which users of Xiaomi smart security cameras could see video feeds from other users, the firm only said that it was caused by a cache update designed to improve camera streaming quality.

Xiaomi says that only a few users were impacted, but apparently all of them posted videos to Reddit, since theres a lot of footage to choose from. The firm said early on that it had explained what happened to Google and fixed the underlying issue quickly. The reason for the delay in reinstating Xiaomis access was chalked up to a need to make sure that the root cause of this episode had been really solved so that it never happens again.

Well, Google is apparently now satisfied with Xiaomis fix.

Tagged with Google Home, Google Nest, Xiaomi

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Xiaomi is Back on Google Home and Nest - Thurrott.com

(WBNG) Tis the season to start holiday shopping. With Thanksgiving days away, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday will be here before we know it.

If youre looking to beat the crowds and are shopping online this year, there are some tips you should know.

Make sure the websites youre using are legit.

At the top of your web browser where you search for websites, theres a lock at that top part. As long as theres a closed lock there that means its secured. And thats most websites like Amazon, Bestbuy.com, Walmart.com, said lead technician at 607 Tech Solutions Mathew Jachimowicz.

Besides looking for the lock, you can look at the link in your browser.

When youre going on a website make sure it says https which means secure so its a secure website, you know its valid and its not a fake website, said Broome County Sheriffs Office deputy Robert Stapleton.

Another tip to keep your information safe is to stay away from public WiFi.

Because it could be hacked, just a better idea using your own, said Stapleton.

Once your cart is full and youre ready to checkout, make sure youre using a credit card instead of your debit.

Just in case it gets stolen, the number is backed by the credit bureau, you have that logo on the front of your card. But you want to monitor your credit cards and your credit report, to make sure theres no unauthorized transactions, said Stapleton.

Using something like PayPal so companies, when you do buy something, they wont see your account number or your credit card info at all, said Jachimowicz.

Its also important to keep your packages safe once they arrive at your doorstep.

Around the holiday times we do see an increase in larcenies of packages on peoples front porches, so change that shipping address. Have it sent to work or a friends house or a relatives house that you know might be home, said Stapleton.

The Broome County Sheriffs Office says home security cameras can help steer porch pirates away from your home, and if you run into that situation, you can share your video with local law enforcement.

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Holiday shopping tips to keep your information and gifts safe this season - WBNG-TV

Central Control Panel

Most home security companies provide a control panel that serves as thebrains of the operation. It controls your entire security system from one centrallocation, typically mounted on the wall

A high-decibel alarm will alert you to any threats as soon as they occur.These alarms are also meant to scare off intruders.

See who's at the door, whether you're home or away. Some companies offer2-way talk for their cameras. Live footage can typically be viewed through theprovider's mobile app.

See what's happening outside and around your home. Many cameras now offernight vision and a weatherproof design. You can watch the footage through the provider'smobile app.

Keep an eye on the kids, pets, and any unexpected activity while you'reaway. These cameras are typically motion activated and can be monitored via mobileapp.

Lock or unlock your doors no matter where you are in the world. Smart lockswill automatically lock your door after a preset time, so you'll never have to wonder ifyou remembered to lock the doors

If an intruder tries to enter your home through a window or door, you andthe monitoring center will know about it immediately with these sensors.

These carbon monoxide detectors are designed to alert you of unsafe levelsof toxic chemicals so you can get your family out safely.

These detectors will be alerted to any fire or smoke dangers. The monitoringcompany will contact the fire department for immediate assistance without lifting afinger.

This sensor will alert you to excessive levels of water in the home, whichis ideal for neighborhoods that deal with lots of rain or hurricanes.

You'll be alerted if the home is reaching freezing temperatures, which cancause frozen pipes and other problems.

The alarm will sound if any motion is detected while the home is armed.Many companies have pet immune motion detectors, so you won't have to deal with annoyingfalse alarms.

If someone breaks a window in your home, you'll be alerted immediately towhich window was broken so that you can take the appropriate action.

Place this sensor on your garage or shed to be alerted of an intruderentering through one of these points. It's also great for those who forget to close thegarage..

If you or a loved one has fallen and can't reach the phone or control panelto call for help, all you have to do is hit the panic button on this pendant.

Read the rest here:
Best Home Security Systems & Alarm Companies Near Me ...

What Is the Best Security Camera for Outside?

If you've ever had a package stolen from your porch or had a car broken into while parked in your driveway, there's a good chance that the perpetrator was long gone before you even found out you had been victimized. There's an even better chance that you'll never know who committed the deed. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to invest in an outdoor security camera.

These rugged smart home devices, designed to withstand rain, snow, and extreme temperatures, typically connect to your home Wi-Fi network and allow you to view live video footage of activities occurring outside of your house. They'll also send an alert to your phone when someone or something is out there, record video of the event, and depending on features, let you talk to whoever is on your property, all without ever having to open your door (or even be inside your house, for that matter).

Read on to find out what features to look for when choosing an outdoor security camera, and to check out our top picks. Note that a number of the cameras on this list are suitable for use both indoors and out. If you want a model that's geared specifially for keeping tabs of what's going on inside your home, head over to our list of the Best Indoor Home Security Cameras.

*Deals are selected by our partner, TechBargains

Most smart outdoor security cameras use a Wi-Fi radio to connect to your home network, allowing you to access them from anywhere using a mobile app. But there are also models that can use wired Ethernet, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, or a proprietary wireless technology to connect to a mobile app or a dedicated hub.

Wi-Fi cameras are easier to install than their wired counterparts because they don't have to be located near an Ethernet port and don't require wiring. Battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras are the easiest to install because you can put them just about anywhere (as long as they can connect to your router) without having to snake a power cable into your home to plug into an outlet. These types of cameras typically use rechargeable batteries that can be easily popped out and taken indoors for charging with a USB cable, but they tend to drain quickly in colder weather. Bluetooth cameras are also easy to install, but you have to stay within 40 feet or so to connect to them with your phone.

Look for an outdoor Wi-Fi camera that can connect to either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio band to alleviate network congestion. If you're having trouble getting a good signal outside, try pumping it up with a wireless range extender.

Any outdoor camera worth its salt must be able to withstand exposure to the elements and should carry an IP (Ingress Protection) rating. IP ratings contain two digits that tell you just how well the camera will hold up under most weather conditions. The first digit following the IP prefix tells you how resistant the camera is to the ingress of solid objects such as wind-blown dust and ranges from 0 (no protection) to 6 (total protection against dust and dirt). The second number tells you how resistant the camera is to moisture and ranges from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protected against close range, high pressure spray downs from all angles).

Most outdoor security cameras have an IP66 rating, which means they offer complete protection from dust ingress and can handle water jets from any direction, but shouldn't be immersed in water. They're typically safe from rain, snow, heat, and cold.

There's no use in having an outdoor security camera if you can't recognize who or what the camera is looking at. A camera that captures video at 720p will usually offer a fairly sharp picture, but 1080p video offers more detail and is the most popular resolution for these devices; it doesn't require lots of storage capacity and can be viewed on nearly all phones, tablets, and PCs.

Cameras that capture 4K (Ultra HD) video are also available, but you'll need a very strong network connection to stream it without experiencing choppiness or lag, and you'll need lots of room to store recorded video, which may result in expensive cloud storage fees.

No matter the resolution, try to choose a camera with a relatively wide field of view (viewing angle) and make sure it can capture clear night vision video. Most cameras use IR (infrared) LEDs to deliver black-and-white night video, but there are a few out there that use white light to deliver full-color night video. Look for a camera with a night vision range of at least 30 feet.

Nearly all outdoor security cameras are equipped with a motion sensor that will trigger the camera to record video when motion is detected. The sensor can also initiate a push alert to your phone when activity is taking place, and some will also generate an email alert. For an extra layer of security, look for a camera with sound detection that can let you know if somebody is out there even if they're out of range of the camera lens and the motion sensor. Fair warning: You'll probably have to tweak the sound sensitivity settings to avoid alerts from barking dogs, loud cars, and other random noises.

If the camera has a microphone for sound detection, chances are it has a speaker as well and offers two-way audio communication that allows you to speak with (and listen to) whoever is outside. This comes in handy when dealing with annoying solicitors and can be used to scare off porch pirates and other unwanted visitors. For more ways to see and communicate directly with whomever is at your door, check out our list of the Best Video Doorbells.

Recorded video can be stored in a number of ways. Many cameras offer free cloud storage for a limited number of days (typically seven) before it is overwritten or deleted, while others are strictly subscription based. If you require more than a week's worth of video storage, you can subscribe to a 30-day plan and not have to worry about losing important footage before you've had a chance to review it and download it.

If you're concerned about privacy and would rather not store your video in the cloud, look for a camera equipped with a microSD card slot so you can store it locally. A few cameras will even let you save video to a portable USB or NAS drive, but these devices are few and far between.

And if you want the ability to go back and see everything that's been going on around the outside of your house, look for a camera that offers a CVR (Continuous Video Recording) plan where the camera is always recording and will store up to 30 days of 24/7 video in the cloud.

For an outdoor camera that does more than record video and send alerts, make sure it works with other smart devices. Many recent outdoor Wi-Fi cameras offer support for IFTTT (If This Then That), an internet service that uses mini programs (applets) that you create to have the camera interact with other IFTTT-enabled devices. For example, you can have a smart plug turn on a lamp indoors or activate an external siren when the camera detects motion.

Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands are also finding their way into many of the latest cameras, and allow you to do things like display video from the camera on an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Assistant smart display. If you have a home automation hub, look for a camera that you can integrate into your smart home to have it work with other smart devices like door locks.

Outdoor security cameras are generally more expensive than their indoor counterparts. They can range in price from around $100 up to $400 depending on features. There are plenty of affordable cameras available that offer good video performance, but as with just about any smart device, you'll pay more for features such as motion tracking, facial recognition, cellular connectivity, time-lapse recording, both onboard and cloud storage options, and rechargeable battery power.

Once you've found the camera for your home, check out our tips for setting it up. And for an even more advanced way to keep a set of eyes on your home, both indoors and out, check out our picks for The Best Smart Home Security Systems.

Pros: Excellent-quality 1080p video. Weatherproof. Rechargeable batteries. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Pre-buffered video recording. Continuous recording capabilities. Free and subscription-based cloud storage.

Cons: Expensive. Requires hub (included). Many features are only available when plugged in.

Bottom Line: The Arlo Pro 2 outdoor security camera system is completely wireless, works well with other smart home devices, and offers stunning 1080p video with free cloud and local storage options for event-triggered video.

Pros: No wires. Weatherproof. Detailed 4K imagery with a wide field of view. Color night vision. AI-based motion detection. Integrated spotlight. Auto-zoom and motion tracking. Amazon Alexa, Apple Watch, and Google Assistant support.

Cons: Expensive. Requires a hub. Some features require a subscription.

Bottom Line: The Arlo Ultra is the first outdoor security camera we've seen that streams and records video in stunning 4K. It's expensive, but it's packed with features including color night vision, motion tracking, auto zooming, and intelligent motion detection.

Pros: Reasonably priced. Sharp 1080p video. Local and cloud-based video storage. Supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, IFTTT applets. Built-in strobe light and siren. Easy to install.

Cons: Doesn't interact directly with other smart home devices.

Bottom Line: The Ezviz C3W ezGuard Wi-Fi Security Camera is a very affordable surveillance camera that lets you monitor activity outside of your home.

Pros: Completely wire-free. Sharp 1080p video. Works with Alexa voice commands and IFTTT. Motion detection. No hub required. Built-in siren. Easy to install.

Cons: Expensive. Recorded video requires cloud subscription.

Bottom Line: The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is a versatile battery-powered wireless indoor/outdoor security camera that records motion-triggered video and stores it in the cloud.

Pros: Elegant design. 24/7 live video with 4K sensor, HDR, and close-up tracking. Weatherproof with IP66 rating. Two-way audio. Person alerts.

Cons: Expensive. Facial recognition feature requires extra subscription.

Bottom Line: The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is an intelligent security camera meant to act as the first line of defense in your Nest home security setup.

Pros: Completely wireless. Sharp 720p video. Cloud and local storage. Motion and sound detection. Works with other smart devices. Supports IFTTT.

Cons: Expensive. Requires a cellular service plan.

Bottom Line: The Arlo Go is a completely wireless outdoor surveillance camera that uses cellular communication to deliver live and recorded video to your phone from anywhere.

Pros: Affordable. Sharp 1080p video. Completely wireless. Weatherproof. Local storage.

Cons: Doesn't integrate with other smart home devices. SD card not included. Siren isn't loud.

Bottom Line: The versatile Reolink Argus 2 is a weatherproof indoor/outdoor security camera that doesn't require any wires and is powered by a rechargeable battery pack.

Pros: Easy to install. Completely wireless. Motion-triggered recording. Sharp video quality. Loud siren. Works with Alexa and IFTTT.

Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffering.

Bottom Line: The Ring Spotlight Cam Battery is a completely wireless outdoor security camera with a bright spotlight, motion detection, and triggered recording.

Pros: Reasonably priced. Easy to install. Motion and sound detection. Sharp 1080p video. Free cloud storage. Alexa and Google voice support.

Cons: No IFTTT or HomeKit support. Doesn't directly interact with other smart home devices. Siren could be louder.

Bottom Line: The TP-Link Kasa Cam Outdoor is a reasonably priced outdoor security camera that offers crisp video, free cloud storage, and support for multiple voice platforms.

Read the original:
The Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras for 2019 | PCMag.com

In the past, a surveillance security system typically consisted of several cameras connectedeither hardwired or wireless to a digital video recorder (DVR), which recorded the images and displayed them on a closed circuit television (CCTV) or monitor. Nowadays, its much easier to have a standalone security camera. Whether you have one camera or several, they work with your homes internet network to send footage right to your computer or mobile device. Most consumer cameras store data internally, on a removable microSD card, or remotely on the cloud.

The cameras viewing angle determines how much space the camera will cover. Wide-angle lenses reduce the number of cameras required to monitor your home. Some outdoor security cameras have a wide-angle lens that may show a 360-degree view, but the best security cameras have a view of at least 100 degrees or better.

There are two outdoor security camera designs dome or bullet-shaped. The dome-shaped outdoor security camera is known to be less obvious to unwelcome visitors because they offer a 360 swivel that makes it difficult to determine their direction. On the other hand, bullet-shaped cameras are more common. They have a cylinder shape that clearly stands out to alert thieves that your home is under surveillance.

If you want to playback your homes outdoor activity, youll need a camera with onboard video storage or cloud recording capabilities. Most cameras with recording capabilities have a built-in secure digital (SD) or microSD slot that allows for sufficient recording space. Once the memory card is full, youll need to delete footage or store it elsewhere. Some popular cameras automatically override expired videos, which may not be most ideal if you need to keep a video. On the contrary, some security camera providers offer cloud storage monthly plans to securely store videos on the cloud. You can easily access them anytime, anywhere by signing into your account on your mobile device or using a mobile app.

Surveillance cameras can eat up a lot of energy. Its important to find an outdoor security camera that only records when motion is detected to cut electricity costs or battery usage. Some security cameras are also powered by solar panels to reduce energy costs but include a rechargeable battery and adapter to use as needed.

See original here:
The 15 Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras of 2019 | Safety.com