Logitech Circle 2 Camera Gains Support for HomeKit Secure Video

[MacRumors]

Logitech today announced that existing Circle 2 Home Security Cameras are being updated with HomeKit Secure Video support.

HomeKit Secure Video is designed to offer up a more secure way to manage the footage captured by in-home security cameras.

The Logitech Circle 2 camera will leverage the iPad, Apple TV, or HomePod (whichever is set up as a Home Hub) to analyze video on your devices. Video feeds are encrypted end-to-end and uploaded to iCloud where you and you alone can see the footage.

HomeKit Secure Video will send notifications if activity is detected so recordings can be reviewed, and Apple is providing 10 days of iCloud storage for video content that does not count against data plan limits.

Using Apple's HomeKit Secure Video does, however, require a higher-end iCloud storage plan with either 200GB or 2TB of storage. A single camera can be connected with the 200GB plan, while up to five cameras can use HomeKit Secure Video with the 2TB plan.

In the United States, 200GB of storage is priced at $2.99 per month, while 2TB of storage is priced at $9.99 per month.

When HomeKit Secure Video was announced, Apple said that Logitech, Eufy, and Netatmo would be among the first companies to support it. Official support for HomeKit Secure Video came in iOS 13.2, which means companies can now begin rolling out the feature.

HomeKit Secure Video for the Logitech Circle 2 camera requires a beta firmware update that Logitech is rolling out today.

Article Link: Logitech Circle 2 Camera Gains Support for HomeKit Secure Video

 

[brianrmurray]

Yes! I got 3 cameras ready to go!

 

[bonokoot]

Need a Beta firmware update. However you get that.

 

[adamjackson]

We have 2 Circle 2 cameras and I have never paid Logitech for their storage tier. With a 2 terabyte plan at home, this'll be a nice use of it.

My cameras are running 5.6.49 software/ What version will have the beta integration? It says I have the latest firmware. Instructions are here: https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023265434#beta

 

[MacFan23]

Went Logitech for my home cameras for this feature alone, glad they’re finally delivering on it and it’d be happy to purchase some more from them.

 

[Grimace]

Hopefully we will get some decent 4K PoE camera options for HomeKit too!

 

[dan9700]

Not seeing it yet

 

[retrospek]

Would be useful if the article explained how to install the Beta ? Anyone know ?

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Can’t see a beta install -UK

 

[ChromeAce]

Why does Apple feel my security videos warrant end-to-end encryptions but my iCloud backups do not?

 

[FoxMcCloud]

How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit?

How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit? Which Circle 2 camera mounts support the Apple HomeKit integration? Set up Circle 2 in the Apple Home app Set up Circle 2 in the Home app after ...

support.logi.com

the instructions.
Need to wait for an app update before a “convert to HomeKit secure” button appears in the integration section.
Also I’ve learnt from Reddit that once you go through with this, it’s completely disconnected from the Logitech cloud, which is what Alexa and Google Home skills rely on. So if you use a hub or echo show, you will no longer be able to view it. It’s all in with HomeKit.

 

[JWD]

Excellent! Although it has poor night vision, especially for outdoor use, this is my preferred camera to date. I have a couple of them.

 

[munpip214]

Seems like a lot of reviews complain about Wi-Fi connectivity. Anybody experience this problem? Wondering if going all through HomeKit secure video if reliability is improved because it stopped using the circle app.

also it would be great if somebody did a review showing off the new features.

 

[jocamero]

There's a section:

• (Beta) Convert your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video

How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit?

How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit? Which Circle 2 camera mounts support the Apple HomeKit integration? Set up Circle 2 in the Apple Home app Set up Circle 2 in the Home app after ...

support.logi.com

Would be useful if the article explained how to install the Beta ? Anyone know ?

 

[Xano]

I hope Eufy security cam also have and update in the way ...

 

[BF1M]

Yes! I got 3 cameras ready to go!

ditto.

 

[stylinexpat]

The best and safest is for people to run their own cloud server from home and store everything themselves for better privacy. No need today to pay others and store with others when one can store by themselves

 

[SqB]

The best and safest is for people to run their own cloud server from home and store everything themselves for better privacy. No need today to pay others and store with others when one can store by themselves

Secure, offsite storage is it’s own feature. Theft from, damage to, or destruct of my house could potentially reduce the viability of that home based solution you mention.

 

[ersan191]

Seems like a lot of reviews complain about Wi-Fi connectivity. Anybody experience this problem? Wondering if going all through HomeKit secure video if reliability is improved because it stopped using the circle app.

also it would be great if somebody did a review showing off the new features.

I have it on 5ghz and have never had an issue. I’d imagine the people complaining are on 2.4 and there’s not enough bandwidth.
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How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit?

How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit? Which Circle 2 camera mounts support the Apple HomeKit integration? Set up Circle 2 in the Apple Home app Set up Circle 2 in the Home app after ...

support.logi.com

the instructions.
Need to wait for an app update before a “convert to HomeKit secure” button appears in the integration section.
Also I’ve learnt from Reddit that once you go through with this, it’s completely disconnected from the Logitech cloud, which is what Alexa and Google Home skills rely on. So if you use a hub or echo show, you will no longer be able to view it. It’s all in with HomeKit.

I’m actually glad it disconnects from Logitech - I was worried they would still upload everything to them in addition to HomeKit. Good on them.

Still waiting on the App Store update tho.

 

[Stewie]

The best and safest is for people to run their own cloud server from home and store everything themselves for better privacy. No need today to pay others and store with others when one can store by themselves

Until the thief that breaks into your house and steals your cloud server and you have no video of it. I would give up a little privacy for on off-site solution.
[automerge]1573769903[/automerge]

I hope Eufy security cam also have and update in the way ...

One should never buy something on the hopes that they will release what they say they will. Only give companies money when they are actually selling what they promised to. This

Also, don't hold your breath waiting.

 

[robinp]

App update is showing for me. Just installing now

 

[Keane16]

Just appeared for me in the UK.

App update is showing for me. Just installing now

Be interesting to hear how you get on. I imagine you lose the ability to set ‘Motion Zones’ once you enable HomeKit Secure Video? Any updates appreciated.

 

[robinp]

So once I’ve installed, it makes it very clear you have to choose either Circle online services or iCloud / homekit.

I opted for homekit (what the hell) and I’m now wondering how the hell homekit secure video actually works.

- there seems to be no way to view older recordings
- there appears to be no way to adjust camera settings (such as field of view)
- it is all very opaque and there seems to be precious little in the way of instructions or guides

The interface shown on a few screen shots online seems to show a much more sophisticated interface than that which I’m getting.

I’m kind of feeling / wondering whether this initial implementation is very basic indeed or if I need to do something like remove and re-add to my home app?

 

[Keane16]

So once I’ve installed

Thanks for the update.

You definitely lose your history, I got the attached warning.

It certainly feels very Beta.

Also saw this on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1195107687350112256

 

[robinp]

Thanks for the update.

You definitely lose your history, I got the attached warning.

It certainly feels very Beta.

Also saw this on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1195107687350112256

It seemed clear at the start but later on there was a message about whether I wanted to remove the camera from the circle app or not. It then said that if I did that it would cancel the subscription and I’d lose any saved video.

At this point, there seems to be no way to access historic video stored on iCloud so I guess I have lost my history and no current hope of gaining anything new of use.

EDIT: having dug around in the settings (thanks for the screen shot above) it is possible to set it to record but you have to be very explicit about it. Thanks for the heads up.