August Debuts New 'View' Video Doorbell for $230 Without HomeKit Support

[MacRumors]

Smart home company August today revealed the August View, a new wire-free doorbell camera that streams video of your doorstep directly to an iPhone or Android smartphone. The August View is the next in line of the company's smart video doorbells, following the Doorbell Cam Pro, but like its predecessor, the new device does not support HomeKit.

August View streams 1440p resolution video to a smartphone and supports two-way audio so you can have real-time conversations with guests who arrive at your door. The device has a rectangular shape with a camera on the top and doorbell button on the bottom, and there are eight different interchangeable faceplate designs to choose from. These include $29.99 metal faceplates (satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, satin brass, midnight gray) and $14.99 plastic faceplates (black, red, blue, and white)

The new doorbell camera can connect to August smart locks -- and any smart lock under the Connected by August umbrella -- so that you can also unlock your door when people arrive. August View supports motion alerts, minimal fisheye distortion for a more realistic view, zoomable video, and access to video for up to 15 or 30 days with Gold or Platinum subscription plans.

Despite the lack of HomeKit, August confirmed the August View does support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. According to August, the company is "continuing to explore opportunities with Apple," but when the August View launches later in March you won't be able to connect the camera with Apple's Home app or interact with it through Siri. August does sell other products that support HomeKit, including the August Smart Lock Pro.

August View will be available to purchase March 28 for $229.00.

Article Link: August Debuts New 'View' Video Doorbell for $230 Without HomeKit Support

 

[BigBoy2018]

Contrary to what some in this forum will probably say, the smart home world does not have to revolve around homekit.
I’ve got Hue lights and a couple of Ring cameras and I’m getting along just fine without using homekit, thank you very much.

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Contrary to what some in this forum will probably say, the smart home world does not have to revolve around homekit.
I’ve got Hue lights and a couple of Ring cameras and I’m getting along just fine without using homekit, thank you very much.

Same. I have some alexa speakers throughout my home. And mix that in with my homepods. Love all the stuff i can control with Alexa.

 

[jmh600cbr]

This device makes no sense to me. Batteries? Not hooked up to my existing chime? No homekit?

 

[BigBoy2018]

This device makes no sense to me. Batteries? Not hooked up to my existing chime? No homekit?

It works directly with the app on your phone. Whats the problem?

And running off batteries is a huge benefit imo. Means you dont have to drill through walls to get a power line to it, etc.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Contrary to what some in this forum will probably say, the smart home world does not have to revolve around homekit.
I’ve got Hue lights and a couple of Ring cameras and I’m getting along just fine without using homekit, thank you very much.

Then you're clearly doing it wrong. The only time I touch the Hue app is for troubleshooting.

Same. I have some alexa speakers throughout my home. And mix that in with my homepods. Love all the stuff i can control with Alexa.

I enjoy not having Amazon record every single thing that goes on in my house. I also enjoy good sound.

 

[BigBoy2018]

Then you're clearly doing it wrong. The only time I touch the Hue app is for troubleshooting.



I enjoy not having Amazon record every single thing that goes on in my house. I also enjoy good sound.

How do you adjust your hue lights? I use the app because I often want to change the color, or dim the lights and using the app is no problem at all imo.

I don't use any 'voice assistant'. I really don't find adjusting volume using a slider on my phone to be a horrible inconvenience. It's actually better than interrupting a conversation to call out 'hey siri ... lower the volume'.
If people want to walk around their home sounding like a dork all day long saying 'hey siri', or 'hey alexa' that's fine. I'm will never get how that improves my life in any worthwhile way.

 

[jmh600cbr]

It works directly with the app on your phone. Whats the problem?

And running off batteries is a huge benefit imo. Means you dont have to drill through walls to get a power line to it, etc.

Most houses already have an existing line that connects to a chime and power. The phone app is great if you live alone, but i don't and not everyone loves tech or is capable. Most people like having both a traditional chime and the phone. And for batteries? Ugh, its always going to die at the worst time, just like my august lock did.

 

[MarkH24]

What is the viewing angle on the camera?
I see that it slides on to a bracket from the outside - how secure is that? Can someone walk up and just take it off?!
Are they rechargeable or regular batteries?
Does it use 5GHz?

Smart home company August today revealed the August View, a new wire-free doorbell camera that streams video of your doorstep directly to an iPhone or Android smartphone. The August View is the next in line of the company's smart video doorbells, following the Doorbell Cam Pro, but like its predecessor, the new device does not support HomeKit.

August View streams 1440p resolution video to a smartphone and supports two-way audio so you can have real-time conversations with guests who arrive at your door. The device has a rectangular shape with a camera on the top and doorbell button on the bottom, and there are eight different interchangeable faceplate designs to choose from. These include $29.99 metal faceplates (satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, satin brass, midnight gray) and $14.99 plastic faceplates (black, red, blue, and white)

The new doorbell camera can connect to August smart locks -- and any smart lock under the Connected by August umbrella -- so that you can also unlock your door when people arrive. August View supports motion alerts, minimal fisheye distortion for a more realistic view, zoomable video, and access to video for up to 15 or 30 days with Gold or Platinum subscription plans.

Despite the lack of HomeKit, August confirmed the August View does support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. According to August, the company is "continuing to explore opportunities with Apple," but when the August View launches later in March you won't be able to connect the camera with Apple's Home app or interact with it through Siri. August does sell other products that support HomeKit, including the August Smart Lock Pro.

August View will be available to purchase March 28 for $229.00.

Article Link: August Debuts New 'View' Video Doorbell for $230 Without HomeKit Support

 

[oneMadRssn]

Does anyone know of a good doorbell that has some smart features, but that works with your existing wired button? Like a smart chime, or something. I don't want a fancy button and camera, but I do want a notification anytime someone presses the button or lets me schedule times for having the doorbell chime muted.

 

[acblue94]

Contrary to what some in this forum will probably say, the smart home world does not have to revolve around homekit.
I’ve got Hue lights and a couple of Ring cameras and I’m getting along just fine without using homekit, thank you very much.

Good luck switching from app to app to access each device.

 

[BigBoy2018]

Good luck switching from app to app to access each device.

No really, it’s not that hard. And its not like im constantly adjusting the lights. Even so, how would yelling out ‘hey siri’ make it any more convenient?

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

How do you adjust your hue lights? I use the app because I often want to change the color, or dim the lights and using the app is no problem at all imo.

I don't use any 'voice assistant'. I really don't find adjusting volume using a slider on my phone to be a horrible inconvenience. It's actually better than interrupting a conversation to call out 'hey siri ... lower the volume'.
If people want to walk around their home sounding like a dork all day long saying 'hey siri', or 'hey alexa' that's fine. I'm will never get how that improves my life in any worthwhile way.

I tap another scene button in the Home app. Pretty simple. Or, "Hey Siri, Bright." It's pretty handy when you walk in with your arms full of groceries and you're trying to keep the cats from running out.

I also don't have her controlling the volume, that's what the Apple TV remote is for.

 

[7thson]

Clearly Apples privacy specs for HomeKit are too much trouble for manufacturers to bother with. The vast majority don’t support it and the vast majority of people buying in don’t feel uncomfortable with the potential breach of privacy that Alexa and Google Home bring with them.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

It works directly with the app on your phone. Whats the problem?

And running off batteries is a huge benefit imo. Means you dont have to drill through walls to get a power line to it, etc.

Given how bad their previous generation was at dealing with minor voltage fluxuation from doorbell transformers they likely threw in the towel and just went to pure batteries (if I'm reading this correctly and you and others aren't referring to the batteries charged by the doorbell).

I have August locks and doorbells and keypads on my homes, I wanted them to work out well but I've not been impressed. I'll likely switch to a competitor soon.
[doublepost=1551802862][/doublepost]

How do you adjust your hue lights?

With my wall switches.

 

[genovelle]

No really, it’s not that hard. And its not like im constantly adjusting the lights. Even so, how would yelling out ‘hey siri’ make it any more convenient?

Try controlling all of your devices from one app. Once you have devices by 6 or more companies that do not support HomeKit the pain will be noticeable.

 

[BigBoy2018]

Given how bad their previous generation was at dealing with minor voltage fluxuation from doorbell transformers they likely threw in the towel and just went to pure batteries (if I'm reading this correctly and you and others aren't referring to the batteries charged by the doorbell).

I have August locks and doorbells and keypads on my homes, I wanted them to work out well but I've not been impressed. I'll likely switch to a competitor soon.
[doublepost=1551802862][/doublepost]

With my wall switches.

I use a Ring doorbell cam that runs on battery and its been flawless.

I use those Hue wall switches as well.

[doublepost=1551803122][/doublepost]

Try controlling all of your devices from one app. Once you have devices by 6 or more companies that do not support HomeKit the pain will be noticeable.

I dont see having devices from 6 different developers so its not a concern. If you have that many, then I suppose homekit starts to make sense?

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I like the looks of this. It is probably the second best looking smart doorbell behind the Nest one. I like that it provides 24 free video review, unlike the Nest. No Homekit is no problem for me. I have smart devices from several companies and I hardly touch any app at all.

 

[nt5672]

What I am looking for is a doorbell that does not connect to the manufacturers servers and their intrusive unnecessary monitoring.

Now I get it, most users would rather give up their privacy so they don't have to learn how to follow a few steps in an instruction manual to set up a local service. I get that, but there are still a few intelligent people out there.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

What I am looking for is a doorbell that does not connect to the manufacturers servers and their intrusive unnecessary monitoring.

Now I get it, most users would rather give up their privacy so they don't have to learn how to follow a few steps in an instruction manual to set up a local service. I get that, but there are still a few intelligent people out there.

And everyone else is stupid? Got it.

 

[ateslik]

I’m annoyed that Ring and Nest don’t support Homekit. I certainly wouldn’t add more non-Homekit devices at this point.

 

[Anarchy99]

Meh
"real" smart home users use something like homeassistant or openhab to bridge everything so native homekit support means little because those all-encompassing platforms support homebridge.

i'd be more interested if there ends up being a API so i can access the video stream and store the video on my own server in lieu of the subscriptionn they mention

 

[rdowty]

At this point HomeKit support for camera's doesn't really add a lot of value. I've got some Logitech Circle 2's and about all you can do is view the live video in the Home app IF you lower the quality to 720p. I've got the Nest Hello and the person recognition is really nice. Not having person recognition meant I get alerts for leaves, headlights, and anything else in the zone so I turned it off. With the Hello I only get notifications when there's a person on my doorstep which is all I care about. Its surprising how often the mail carrier leaves a package and doesn't ring the bell so without I'd never know when I've got something on my doorstep. Also having 24/7 recording and not just clips is nice for things like a few months ago when UPS said they delivered a package even though the UPS truck never drove past my house.

 

[steve knight]

Try controlling all of your devices from one app. Once you have devices by 6 or more companies that do not support HomeKit the pain will be noticeable.

got smartthings I do it every day. Plus I have a web app to access everything from any device.

my arlo cameras and ecobe thermostat and my hue lights and other brands of parts all work together.

 

[mtngoatjoe]

What I'd really like is to have the video pop up on my TV, iPhone, and iPad when someone approaches my door. I don't know if that requires HomeKit, but I'd also like the security that HomeKit requires.