Ecobee SmartCamera Firmware Update Adds HomeKit Secure Video Support

[MacRumors]

Ecobee has updated its SmartCamera to support Apple's HomeKit Secure Video, which allows the cameras to capture and store recordings securely in iCloud.

The firmware update means SmartCamera owners have another option aside from Ecobee's $5-a-month subscription for video recording and movement notifications.

With ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌, video footage is encrypted and stored in iCloud rather than on servers handled by Ecobee. Footage can be viewed in the Home app, and all motion and people detection is done on-device for privacy purposes.

Using ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ requires an upgraded ‌iCloud‌ storage plan. Apple's 200GB plan supports one ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ camera, while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras.

Users with the 200GB plan can store 10 days of recordings from one camera in ‌iCloud‌ at no extra cost, while those with a 2TB plan can store 10 days of recordings from up to five cameras. ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ recordings do not count towards a user's ‌iCloud‌ storage usage.

HomeKit Secure Video requires an iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV in the house to serve as a home hub for connecting the cameras to the Internet.

As The Verge points out, if you're thinking of switching from Ecobee's $5-a-month video recording subscription to HomeKit Secure Video, it's worth noting that, like other HomeKit-compatible cameras, Apple's Home app doesn't support the camera's ability to pan and tilt.

Article Link: Ecobee SmartCamera Firmware Update Adds HomeKit Secure Video Support

 

[PsykX]

Excellent news. Let's hope Arlo will end up having to follow their competitors.

And let's hope Apple will eventually add Pan & Tilt, as well as better resolutions, more days of storage and more cameras.

 

[gsmornot]

Ecobee has updated its SmartCamera to support Apple's HomeKit Secure Video, which allows the cameras to capture and store recordings securely in iCloud.

The firmware update means SmartCamera owners have another option aside from Ecobee's $5-a-month subscription for video recording and movement notifications.

With ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌, video footage is encrypted and stored in iCloud rather than on servers handled by Ecobee. Footage can be viewed in the Home app, and all motion and people detection is done on-device for privacy purposes.

Using ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ requires an upgraded ‌iCloud‌ storage plan. Apple's 200GB plan supports one ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ camera, while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras.

Users with the 200GB plan can store 10 days of recordings from one camera in ‌iCloud‌ at no extra cost, while those with a 2TB plan can store 10 days of recordings from up to five cameras. ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ recordings do not count towards a user's ‌iCloud‌ storage usage.

HomeKit Secure Video requires an iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV in the house to serve as a home hub for connecting the cameras to the Internet.

As The Verge points out, if you're thinking of switching from Ecobee's $5-a-month video recording subscription to HomeKit Secure Video, it's worth noting that, like other HomeKit-compatible cameras, Apple's Home app doesn't support the camera's ability to pan and tilt.

Article Link: Ecobee SmartCamera Firmware Update Adds HomeKit Secure Video Support

“while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras” should read 2TB as you have it in the following paragraph. I do wish there were a 1TB option though or even a 500GB but you know.

 

[profets]

Random, didn’t realize the limitations on recording and number of cameras.

I’ve been using a single camera so far with HomeKit secure video. Honestly it’s so nice how it’s built in and the scrubbing through video history works so well.

next I just need to find a decent doorbell that works with HomeKit.

 

[Dwalls90]

Great news. I wish more devices supported HomeKit, as that's how I'm limiting my smart home purchases going forward.

 

[currocj]

When will get a poe continuous record camera that supports HSV? (Continuous to my NAS, motion clips to iCloud)

ditto on the doorbell...we’ve waiting six years for a doorbell for crying out loud!

 

[Ortiz83]

There’s already a HomeKit doorbell that’s been out for awhile already. This is assuming you’re just looking for a HomeKit compatible doorbell since you said “a doorbell”.

 

[scottlitch]

Great news! I went to check the firmware version and saw that this feature had already been added to my camera.

 

[centauratlas]

"the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras." - didn't they make it a 2TB plan now?

Apple needs to let the 2TB plan support 20 or so cameras. At minimum 10-15, 5 is not enough if you want to use many cameras.

 

[munpip214]

Although ecobee maybe only announced it this week, they started pushing the firmware at least a couple weeks ago. I have been using HSV on my ecobee cam since before Thanksgiving when I started noticing extra status lights that were on without explanation. I had to contact support and they informed that the feature was live but they hadn’t updated any support documents.

It had been working surprising well so far and although you can’t pan and tilt, this camera does it automatically pretty well. Biggest downside is the quality. This camera suffers from significant compression compared to my eufy cams that I have. Also something very important to note is that the IR lights for night are super bright and cannot be used in a bedroom. I use mine at the front door as a doorbell cam.

Best quality vs other HomeKit cams is that this camera will record before a notification so you don’t miss anything.

 

[hybrid_x]

“while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras” should read 2TB as you have it in the following paragraph. I do wish there were a 1TB option though or even a 500GB but you know.

Yep, that's the Apple way. 10× the storage for 4× the price, but no 2× option.

I'm currently paying for the mid-tier iCloud plan, and I'm pretty happy with it. It's a small enough cost that I don't even think about it, and so far it's working well for my storage needs.

 

[neliason]

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As The Verge points out, if you're thinking of switching from Ecobee's $5-a-month video recording subscription to HomeKit Secure Video, it's worth noting that, like other HomeKit-compatible cameras, Apple's Home app doesn't support the camera's ability to pan and tilt.

What? Home App can’t pan or tilt? That seems like a pretty useful camera option.

I love my Ecobee thermostat, but I’ve found HomeKit to be useless. If I use HomeKit to control the thermostat then it switches the heating mode to heat and cool, which I never want. All I use HomeKit for is to have Siri tell me what temperature it is in the whole home or a specific room.

 

[Dekema2]

I wish I could convince my dad to stop using Ring products around the house.

 

[munpip214]

​

What? Home App can’t pan or tilt? That seems like a pretty useful camera option.

I love my Ecobee thermostat, but I’ve found HomeKit to be useless. If I use HomeKit to control the thermostat then it switches the heating mode to heat and cool, which I never want. All I use HomeKit for is to have Siri tell me what temperature it is in the whole home or a specific room.

At least for ecobee it has auto pan so its not needed completely in HomeKit, although would be nice to have.

btw I have no problem adjusting temperature of my ecobee via HomeKit. It doesn’t switch the mode at all. Are you sure it’s not on auto