Logitech's HomeKit-Enabled Circle 2 Cameras Gain Notification Snapshots and Subscription Discounts

[MacRumors]

Logitech today announced the launch of new features for its HomeKit-compatible Circle 2 security cameras via an update to the Logi Circle app.

Notification Snapshots, a new in-app feature, are designed to provide a visual "snapshot" notification of an event whenever motion is detected by the Circle 2 camera.

With this option, you'll get a visual representation of exactly what triggered the motion detection feature rather than a simple text-based notification that lets you know motion was detected. Snapshots will be sent via push notification and should let you react more quickly to incoming motion detection alerts.

For customers who also subscribe to Logitech's Circle Safe premium service, Notification Snapshots offer up a zoomed-in view of the object or person that triggered the motion detection based on the Circle's Person Detection feature.

Enabling Notification Snapshots on existing Circle 2 cameras will require you to download the updated Logi Circle app from the App Store and install a new firmware update from within the app.

Along with new notification features, Logitech is also introducing new Circle Safe Home subscription plans designed for customers with multiple cameras.

Circle Safe pricing starts at $3.99 per month for the basic subscription for a single camera and goes up to $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year) for the premium subscription, but customers with multiple cameras can now get discounted prices.

For up to five cameras, Circle Safe Basic starts at $6.99 per month or $69 per year, while Circle Safe Premium starts at $17.99 per month or $179 per year.

Circle Safe Basic and Circle Safe Premium allow you to store video in the cloud for a longer period of time and access premium features. Logitech's cameras, available from Logitech and Amazon for $180, can be used sans subscription, but only 24 hours of video footage is stored in the cloud.

Article Link: Logitech's HomeKit-Enabled Circle 2 Cameras Gain Notification Snapshots and Subscription Discounts

 

[anticipate]

It’s funny how they announced this without releasing the app uodate to make it happen. Or any iPhone X support. Even Nest finally did that ...

 

[Corrode]

These rich notifications were already possible via the Home app but I guess it's good the native app is catching up. Yikes, those subscription costs are expensive. Much happier with my Omna after returning the Circle 2.

 

[oneMadRssn]

How is motion zones a premium feature? Netgear Arlo offers it for free (not to mention 7 days of storing motion clips for free too). I get that cloud storage costs money, but motion zones is purely an in-device processing feature and totally unrelated to cloud costs.

 

[b0nd18t]

Stay away from this product. $10/month is ridiculous. You can’t set motion zones without paying that so enjoy “snapshots” of every car that passes without it. Wish I would have bought a Ring or something.

 

[Craiger]

Stay away from this product. $10/month is ridiculous. You can’t set motion zones without paying that so enjoy “snapshots” of every car that passes without it. Wish I would have bought a Ring or something.

It's been great for me as a living room security camera. I paired it with an iHome switch so that the power is cut to it when I'm home. I also have a few things happen when it senses motion to hopefully scare off intruders.

Homekit only sends me notifications if a person is in the room. My dog triggers recordings but no notification.

This is with the free plan.

 

[Elijen]

Proprietary ********. I'd only buy a device that is open and does not need a subscription.

 

[tzm41]

Bought Omna at full $200 when it came out. I have had no issue with it or its HomeKit integration. Sounds like a better choice than this.

 

[beanbaguk]

There's a lot of criticism about the Circle cameras, but I have three in my home (include one circle 2), and they are brilliant. Apart from being very reliable, they are super easy to set-up and I love the fact I don't need app to view the cameras and I can log in from anywhere.

As a baby monitor they also work brilliantly and have served us very well.

I appreciate many don't like the subscription costs, but how often do you need to go back more than 24 hours? Also, how else do you think these companies stay in business? They have to generate money somehow but everyone expects a free ride all the time. One-time purchases don't generate much profit for companies like Logitech so what do you expect them to do?

However, I do feel the multi-camera subscription is long overdue and this should stem the number of moaners somewhat. In fact, it's what stopped me subscribing, but once they offer this service, I'll go with the premium subscription and I plan to buy a further two cameras for my property.

 

[ersan191]

These rich notifications were already possible via the Home app but I guess it's good the native app is catching up. Yikes, those subscription costs are expensive. Much happier with my Omna after returning the Circle 2.

Yeah I’ve been using the Home app and assumed everyone else was too, I read this article on 9to5mac first and was confused because this isn’t a new feature if you use HomeKit which is better than the Circle app anyway.

The one thing it does have going for it is you don’t need a hub (Apple TV or iPad and soon to be HomePod) for it to work while you’re not home.

 

[Rick Smith]

I have four of these and they work great. I don’t use them with home kit and I use the free subscription. Native app works fine. Ignore those cry babies who just want to complain.

 

[anticipate]

Yeah I’ve been using the Home app and assumed everyone else was too, I read this article on 9to5mac first and was confused because this isn’t a new feature if you use HomeKit which is better than the Circle app anyway.

The one thing it does have going for it is you don’t need a hub (Apple TV or iPad and soon to be HomePod) for it to work while you’re not home.

I can't get the feature to work, on the app or via homekit.