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

[Mac Fly (film)]

My doorbell cost $25, is wireless and has no battery: yep, you read that right. It has an internal dynamo type switch. The future is already here. The future is not being afraid to answer my door and paying $250 every few years for the privilege.

 

[mtngoatjoe]

My doorbell cost $25, is wireless and has no battery: yep, you read that right. It has an internal dynamo type switch. The future is already here. The future is not being afraid to answer my door and paying $250 every few years for the privilege.

Good for you. My mother is absolutely terrified to answer the door (and I don't think she's the only person afraid of strangers at the door at night). I'd love to hook her up with the kind of video doorbell I described in a previous post. It would really help with her anxiety.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

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?

I think it's pretty easy to get half a dozen manufacturers. Just off the top of my head in my own homes: locks/doorbells/keypads are one, lightbulbs and some switches a second, outlets a third, accent lights a forth, thermostats a fifth, ceiling fans a sixth, more switches and shades a seventh, garage door an eighth, and misc sensors at least a ninth (can't remember if I have multiple manufacturers of sensors). I'm sure I'm forgetting some things too.

I'd like a single vendor for most of my products but there isn't a single option for best in class of each. I considered going Crestron but they didn't (at the time, maybe they do now) have HomeKit support (although they were talking about coming out with it it sounded like a pretty minor bridge that wouldn't give the depth of control the individual devices with native control do).

 

[steve knight]

Good for you. My mother is absolutely terrified to answer the door (and I don't think she's the only person afraid of strangers at the door at night). I'd love to hook her up with the kind of video doorbell I described in a previous post. It would really help with her anxiety.

not too expensive to do. you can use an alexa for that or her phone if she has a smart phone.

 

[Icaras]

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.

I love the wireless with batteries.

But with HomeKit, I don’t have to use any Mac or iOS device, let alone an app. I can simply tell tell Siri, anywhere in my home mind you, devoid of any device on me, to control my lights. It’s a godsend to actually be liberated from your devices.

This product looks awesome, but no HomeKit support means no buy for me. I have August Smartlocks and will wait to see if a HomeKit version comes...