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Apple Rumored to Launch Smart Home Doorbell With Face ID and More

How can there be any doubt about video? Isn’t that a baseline requirement for a doorbell these days?
 
rymc02 said:
Apple had the perfect device to expand into home automation 10 years ago but the discontinued it. The Airport was amazing. It would have made the perfect home hub with Apple Silicon. It could handle Siri requests locally for HomePods, Time Machine backups and even have the ability to have local iCloud storage. It could download, store and push updates for all connected Apple devices. If they do make cameras it could store local backups better than most other systems right now that charge for it. Apple would never do this but if they allowed external hard drives to be connected to operate as a NAS, it would be absolutely amazing.
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Except for the router part, I have a Mac Mini acting as the central hub to my home that pretty much does these things, or theoretically could if all the software was there. It would be nice if HomePods could leverage its M chip for Apple Intelligence Siri.
 
Unregistered 4U said:
Can I have “Things that will not be released in the EU as an Apple product simply ‘existing’ is anticompetitive?” for $200, Alex? /s
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I’m seriously concerned as a consumer that simply having ecosystem advantages, maybe the main thing that makes Apple products so convenient, is going to become illegal.
 
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masterleep said:
All I want for Christmas is a decent doorbell with HomeKit Secure Video...
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I have the Aqara G4 Smart Video doorbell. It supports HomeKit Secure video, and can also store video to SD card and network attached storage. Works fine with HomeKit subject to the limits Apple puts on some aspects of HomeKit.

I also have an Aqara indoor security camera/hub, multiple temperature/humidity monitors, and the Smart Lock U100 deadbolt (with HomeKey support).
 
If it has to be used in the cloud, then NOT going to use it. Ubiquity has a perfectly fine doorbell that does not required a cloud subscription.
 
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Introducing HomeLock, starting at $999. We think you're going to love it.
 
willzyx said:
I'd kill for an Apple-built home security system with actual end-to-end encryption. I have Ring now and it's utterly ****. The fact that Ring cameras still can't continuously record is such a brain dead move (Yes, I know it's coming. But it's coming to new cameras only).
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Ubiquiti can, completely secure (ie. no cloud) NVR. 24/7 recording cameras and doorbell. No subscription fees. Doorbell also has fingerprint and NFC reader.
 
rymc02 said:
Apple had the perfect device to expand into home automation 10 years ago but the discontinued it. The Airport was amazing. It would have made the perfect home hub with Apple Silicon. It could handle Siri requests locally for HomePods, Time Machine backups and even have the ability to have local iCloud storage. It could download, store and push updates for all connected Apple devices. If they do make cameras it could store local backups better than most other systems right now that charge for it. Apple would never do this but if they allowed external hard drives to be connected to operate as a NAS, it would be absolutely amazing.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree about the potential, but a device offering non-painful implementations of all those features would likely start at $999, since it would have to be better specced than the base-configuration M4 Mac mini.
 
how do we know Apple is not keeping a database of every person face id'd at your front door?

Scary thought. mass surveillance.
 
phrehdd said:
I'm not disagreeing or agreeing with you. I don't know where the "rumour" originates for this possible device as it isn't mentioned. However, since Apple is creating that future homepod with the screen for possible home device integration and AI, do you think (opinion) that Apple might venture into making devices that tightly integrate with this revised and updated, market?
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Not really, no.

Where do they draw the line if they suddenly want to create their own HomeKit compatible devices?

By this logic they will be making smart lightbulbs. Ludicrous sure as so many others make compelling cheap alternatives.
Robot Vacs? Thermostats? Leak detection sensors? Motion Sensors?

Theres just no need for any of these.

Its all like when the rumours were so rampant about Apple making a TV instead of a set top box - why?
 
Chuckling in Ubiquiti G4 doorbell with local hard drive and no subscriptions
Although I wish Ubiquiti would add native homekit support since my homebridge experiences were pretty lacking
 
I would love to see a stand alone lock with FaceID biometric authentication and NFC, but without wifi connectivity. I realize this would never happen as no company would release a "smart" lock without wifi these days.

Now just need to figure out how such a lock could be hard-wired for power so no batteries would be necessary.

Don't really need a doorbell with FaceID.
 
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Seems like a cool concept, but I’m currently rocking Reolink PoE cameras and doorbell that are attached to my 16 channel NVR that I have running through Scrypted on a M1 Mac mini. I get all of the features of HomeKit Secured Video and 24/7 video recording as well. This wouldn’t be a product that I would personally buy. I also have three Schlage Encode locks for my doors that work very well in HomeKit along with HomeKey for my watch or phone.
 
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stocklen said:
Not really, no.

Where do they draw the line if they suddenly want to create their own HomeKit compatible devices?

By this logic they will be making smart lightbulbs. Ludicrous sure as so many others make compelling cheap alternatives.
Robot Vacs? Thermostats? Leak detection sensors? Motion Sensors?

Theres just no need for any of these.

Its all like when the rumours were so rampant about Apple making a TV instead of a set top box - why?
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We are in agreement but Apple has a way of wanting things at some level in their control. Look at how they do iTunes, movies, and for the longest time, messaging. As for things falling off - look no further than the Apple router and entire server line up. AI changes things quite a bit and Apple for both profit and security needs to have some level of control and that includes any of these home coordinated devices or event/processes.
 
stocklen said:
Not really, no.

Where do they draw the line if they suddenly want to create their own HomeKit compatible devices?

By this logic they will be making smart lightbulbs. Ludicrous sure as so many others make compelling cheap alternatives.
Robot Vacs? Thermostats? Leak detection sensors? Motion Sensors?

Theres just no need for any of these.

Its all like when the rumours were so rampant about Apple making a TV instead of a set top box - why?
Click to expand...
I agree. HomeKit is good but I want more control, closer to the manufacturers control. I have an Aqara door lock that works natively in HomeKit with iPhone/Apple Watch, but I can’t add a fingerprint or passcode without buying an Aqara M3 hub for way too much.

Stick to their lane but they need to allow better cross platform 'matter' control. It’s the whole point of matter!
 
Face ID would be great.

If they used your device’s location to confirm it’s you trying to unlock, game changer and would rule out any photo-hacking.
 
Does anyone trust Apple to get this right? Plus the cost for the door bell will be $999.
 
Too little too late. Most people have already adopted one of mainstream brands, for years. And most of those users are not likely to switch to an even more expensive product.
 
willzyx said:
I'd kill for an Apple-built home security system with actual end-to-end encryption. I have Ring now and it's utterly ****. The fact that Ring cameras still can't continuously record is such a brain dead move (Yes, I know it's coming. But it's coming to new cameras only).
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I agree. I have SimpliSafe, which works well for the most part, but it has no easy HomeKit integration (other than somewhat thru Home Bridge). An integrated H-K solution would be terrific, as there already are ~20 H-K compatible items in my home. It's strange Apple has not more developed an Apple-certified (or designed) H-K integrated security system, given the potential for both hardware and services revenue. It would be a no-brainer to adopt.
 
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