Amazon Acquiring Video Doorbell Maker Ring, but HomeKit Support is Still Coming

[mariusignorello]

Probably, integrate QR code reading software to the Ring, and the Amazon door lock thingy and youve got an integrated solution that lets you watch your parcels being delivered.

Nah, you don’t need QR codes. Just scan the tracking number.

 

[xraydoc]

Crap. I have a Ring Pro and I’m happy with it, but not too happy with Amazon’s acquisition.

Nest is coming out with one, but since it’s owned by Google, there’s no way in hell HomeKit support will be added.

Any other solutions? Doesn’t look like it...

 

[xero9]

Unbelievable.

I chose a Ring Pro simply because they are the industry leader on this thing and HomeKit support was a no-brainer for them to support, even though they had done nothing but say "It's coming!" for literally 2 years now.

Now that Amazon has them, am I *really* supposed to believe their crap still? They were on very thin ice with regards to delivering what their customers were asking for, and this honestly looks like it will be the final nail in the coffin for HomeKit support. They can say "I promise!" all they want but it's worth nothing at this point.

I learned this lesson a long time ago. If it doesn’t support a feature at time of purchase and it’s a make or break, don’t buy it. Too many times I’ve been burning hoping for an update.

 

[dbe]

I was looking forward to HomeKit support but in all honesty its not that big of a deal. I'm not going to ditch my Ring Pro for something else just for HomeKit support.

 

[TrueBlou]

Crap. I have a Ring Pro and I’m happy with it, but not too happy with Amazon’s acquisition.

Nest is coming out with one, but since it’s owned by Google, there’s no way in hell HomeKit support will be added.

Any other solutions? Doesn’t look like it...

You could setup a Homebridge server, I believe at the moment you can get Ring and SkyBell doorbells to work with HomeKit by installing a couple of plugins.

It’s not plug and play, but doorbell options for HomeKit just now are like hens teeth. So it’s either that or wait for official support that may or may not arrive.

 

[LbSigman]

Bought a Ring Doorbell 2 about a month ago and it's been an absolute nightmare getting it to work as advertised. Due to how my house is constructed (low pitch roof) and it's age, I was forced to use the battery powered Ring doorbell. I even had 3 licensed electricians come and they all said the same thing.

With that said, Ring's tech support is absolutely horrid. Ring never accepts fault and are quick to blame the end user and their network.

I don't care that Amazon bought them out, actually I'm glad Amazon did. Hopefully they will turn that company around.

 

[oneMadRssn]

They are probably buying for Rings patents. You think amazon couldn’t come up with a ring of their own? Money is in intellectual property

This. Exactly this. Probably a defensive move - they see someone else amassing a large patent portfolio in this space, so they want to get their own to ensure any lawsuits by a competitor will be mutually assured destruction.

 

[ActionableMango]

Crap. I have a Ring Pro and I’m happy with it, but not too happy with Amazon’s acquisition.

Nest is coming out with one, but since it’s owned by Google, there’s no way in hell HomeKit support will be added.

Any other solutions? Doesn’t look like it...

Wait for Apple to catch onto the trend and come out with the DoorPod, which should take about 8 years.

 

[mabhatter]

Unbelievable.

I chose a Ring Pro simply because they are the industry leader on this thing and HomeKit support was a no-brainer for them to support, even though they had done nothing but say "It's coming!" for literally 2 years now.

Now that Amazon has them, am I *really* supposed to believe their crap still? They were on very thin ice with regards to delivering what their customers were asking for, and this honestly looks like it will be the final nail in the coffin for HomeKit support. They can say "I promise!" all they want but it's worth nothing at this point.

Hi kids. Remember early hardware adopters are like the “pre orders” for video games. Cause once they got your money and made you wait past the really short refund time what are you gonna do?

You’d also be slipping if you don’t think Apple is gonna lock down HomeKit even more once Google and Amazon buy up all the device makers and try to mine your HomeKit information.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Amazon owning the market is not good for consumers and businesses.

 

[ActionableMango]

I hope they don't mix Doorbell functionality with Dash button functionality. If so, then every time someone comes to visit, Amazon orders toilet paper for you.

 

[bytethese]

I’m not sure why all the negativity. I’m an obvious Apple guy but I love my Ring Pro. I’m still planning on buying a couple spotcams and floodlights.

 

[69650]

Without a range of Apple branded products, HomeKit will slowly die as Amazon and Google corner the market.

 

[ilfn143]

Not sure what’s the advantage of homekit is for this? I see notification click on it goes to the app to view the live feed.

 

[vipergts2207]

Without a range of Apple branded products, HomeKit will slowly die as Amazon and Google corner the market.

Nah, Apple does best when they focus on a few different things, rather than potentially dozens of product lines. That’s why Jobs eliminated several products at one time, like printers and digital cameras. Besides, what’s the alternative? Apple making thermostats, light bulbs, refrigerators, washing machines, door locks, ceiling fans and on and on? It’s best to let companies that know what they’re doing in those fields handle that stuff and let them make their products HomeKit compatible. Not to mention, most of those products aren’t high margin which is where Apple tends to focus.

It doesn’t really make sense for Google to go that way either. Perhaps Amazon, just because they already sell everything under the sun.

Not sure what’s the advantage of homekit is for this? I see notification click on it goes to the app to view the live feed.

Personally I like being able to manage all of my devices from a single app. The only third-party app I generally use is ecobee. For everything else, I use the HomeKit app. It also allows you to work around a company who makes good hardware (Hunter), but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to software.

 

[dampfnudel]

Wow, this surprises me. Love RING products. Amazon will rule the world someday it seems.

Then Google will rule Amazon.

 

[ipedro]

I was just thinking over the weekend when I got one that I wished Apple would buy them.

Apple could do better and buy August.

Ring’s products feel and look cheap and overdesigned. They’re the equivalent of Android. August on the other hand, produces beautiful minimalist design. It’s a perfect fit for Apple.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Unbelievable.

I chose a Ring Pro simply because they are the industry leader on this thing and HomeKit support was a no-brainer for them to support, even though they had done nothing but say "It's coming!" for literally 2 years now.

Now that Amazon has them, am I *really* supposed to believe their crap still? They were on very thin ice with regards to delivering what their customers were asking for, and this honestly looks like it will be the final nail in the coffin for HomeKit support. They can say "I promise!" all they want but it's worth nothing at this point.

I spoke to their VP of special projects (the person in charge of the HomeKit deal) here at CES and he gave a very different answer. He said the HomeKit software was done, but it was a business decision not to release it. They want Apple to make it so they “own” the customer, so that their app gets the notification, not the home app. If Apple does not allow that, they will not release it. He said that it had been ready for quite some time.

This makes it even less likely that they will do it I would expect.

 

[vipergts2207]

Apple could do better and buy August.

Ring’s products feel and look cheap and overdesigned. They’re the equivalent of Android. August on the other hand, produces beautiful minimalist design. It’s a perfect fit for Apple.

Too late Assa Abloy, one of the world’s largest lock manufacturers, already bought August.

 

[Truckondo]

I’d like to buy a Ring Elite but I won’t bite at that price.

 

[ipedro]

Too late Assa Abloy, one of the world’s largest lock manufacturers, already bought August.

Well, at least it wasn’t a tech giant that competes with Apple. A lock manufacturer will want to appeal to a wide spectrum so HomeKit support should be pretty safe.

 

[Makosuke]

Suddenly kinda glad I never pulled the trigger on a Ring Pro. It had been floating around at the top of my list if they ever actually delivered on Home Kit support (though honestly it did what I wanted even without that), but I don't really care to support Amazon's "ecosystem" if I can help it.

I guess at least it wasn't Google.

 

[LV426]

...Ring’s products feel and look cheap and overdesigned. They’re the equivalent of Android. August on the other hand, produces beautiful minimalist design. It’s a perfect fit for Apple.

I agree. The Ring doorbell is a bit tacky.

Personally, I wish Nest hadn’t fallen out with Apple, as their products are beautifully designed right down to the last screw and packaging. I have a Nest thermostat (gorgeous ergonomics, could have been designed by Apple), Nest smoke alarms (ditto) and a Nest outdoor camera (ditto).

I did buy a Ring doorbell a couple of years ago, but it was so tacky I never got round to installing it. The Nest doorbell, on the other hand, looks just as well designed as all the other Nest products. I’ll probably get one of those when it’s released.

 

[ipedro]

I agree. The Ring doorbell is a bit tacky.

Personally, I wish Nest hadn’t fallen out with Apple, as their products are beautifully designed right down to the last screw and packaging. I have a Nest thermostat (gorgeous ergonomics, could have been designed by Apple), Nest smoke alarms (ditto) and a Nest outdoor camera (ditto).

I did buy a Ring doorbell a couple of years ago, but it was so tacky I never got round to installing it. The Nest doorbell, on the other hand, looks just as well designed as all the other Nest products. I’ll probably get one of those when it’s released.

I started with a Nest thermostat and got a Dropcam (later acquired by Nest) so I went all in and got a Nest Protect. Then Google bought them. I held off for as long as I could but eventually got a HomeKit compatible thermostat and am in the process of shopping for cameras.

I really really hope that Nest adds HomeKit or that someone releases a bridge that enables HomeKit on Google devices. I’d love to outfit my home with Nest devices, including the upcoming doorbell camera.

 

[TonyC28]

Lots of talk about HomeKit support. I don’t have any HomeKit devices yet but was wondering what are the benefits of HomeKit support for something like a camera doorbell?