HomeKit Coming to Routers and Gets New 'Secure Video' Feature

[puggsly]

This would then be fair, honest and competitive compared to other brands whilst still providing I believe a similar level of revenue to Apple.

Let me get this right? A less expensive solution for 5 cameras that also gives you essentially 2TB of then free cloud storage is not competitive? I mean I understand that it might not work for you but a door bell cam and 4 other cameras is more than most will need. And if that is not the case, I'm sure Apple will figure a way increase the number of cameras supported.

BTW! That is not even what was so cool about this solution. No matter what Amazon gives you they also get your video and Apple is doing local processing here. Far more secure!

 

[scottlitch]

This feature was released yesterday. Where's the hardware that supports it?

 

[puggsly]

As a comparison Amazon's Ring offers plans for £2.50 for a single camera or £8.00 for unlimited cameras both with 30 days of storage. (Three times as long as Apple's offering.)
...
Apple's charging for iCloud has always been 'irrational' in that even if you have paid the Apple tax for multiple Apple devices you do not qualify for more storage which makes trying to backup multiple iPhones and iPads difficult unless you pay yet more.

Now I am not saying Apple should simply make this feature completely and really free although that would obviously be welcome but I do feel they need to revise it to be a lot more honest. I would propose that they first stop trying to con people by saying it is free - clearly it is not and claiming it is free as mentioned could be breaking the law. Secondly they should revise the offerings, they should have say a basic level supporting one camera - presumably at the 50GB iCloud fee level, a middle level supporting between two and five cameras at the 200GB level, and an unlimited number of cameras at the 2TB level.

This would then be fair, honest and competitive compared to other brands whilst still providing I believe a similar level of revenue to Apple.

To be clear, Amazon Ring offers camera only storage for 1 camera for the same price Apple charges for 1 camera and 200GB of general use storage. For $10 you get support for between 2-unlimited cameras and with apple you get 2-5 cameras and 2TB of general use storage. And you see this as uncompetitive even though for those with between 1-5 cameras (which currently is you and most users) the prices are the same but Apple also gives you between 200GB and 2TB of cloud storage. Note: Amazon charges $12/month for 100GB of storage.

Again to be clear, for Apple to be competitive you think they should undercut Amazon for a single camera to only $1 and offer 5 cameras for less than they charge for 1 and match their unlimited offer. Which to be fair would mean charging you 1/4 what Amazon would charge. Just to be competitive.

You also think that somehow this will garner apple similar revenue, even though Amazon will get about 4 times the money and still use this data to build it's info about you for marketing.

I think my security is worth something and I think cloud storage is worth something and I think that 5 cameras is probably completely reasonable starting point for most people. I already saw the value in paying for 2TB of storage for my family to share so for me the 5 camera support is being added for FREE.

 

[jelockwood]

...
I think my security is worth something and I think cloud storage is worth something and I think that 5 cameras is probably completely reasonable starting point for most people. I already saw the value in paying for 2TB of storage for my family to share so for me the 5 camera support is being added for FREE.

I don't have a problem with Apple's price.

My main problem is that the five camera limit is not a starting point it is an absolute limit that cannot be exceeded. With this being easily reachable even for a single small house and HomeKit supposedly supporting multiple homes it is a silly unnecessary limit that renders it useless I feel to many customers.

You can't even pay more for more cameras.

 

[Itinj24]

I don't have a problem with Apple's price.

My main problem is that the five camera limit is not a starting point it is an absolute limit that cannot be exceeded. With this being easily reachable even for a single small house and HomeKit supposedly supporting multiple homes it is a silly unnecessary limit that renders it useless I feel to many customers.

You can't even pay more for more cameras.

I agree with this. I currently have 19 Logitech Circle 2’s and even looking to expand. Doesn’t help me much if only a 1/4 of my cameras support this.

Speaking of which, what happened to all this hoopla? I have an Eero Pro also and still waiting for the firmware updates for that and the Logitechs. Apple announced this at the WWDC months ago and even released support last week. What’s going on with the third parties? Not much information on the internet either.