Review: D-Link's Omna 180 Cam HD Offers HomeKit, But Could Use Improvement

[MacRumors]

Connected home security cameras have been on the market for quite some time, but D-Link recently began selling the first HomeKit-compatible security camera.

Priced competitively at $199, the D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD camera has several perks over competing cameras that don't offer HomeKit integration -- it's guaranteed to have Apple's required level of encryption, it works with Siri, and it can be viewed right in the Apple-created Home app.

Design

The Omna is made from brushed aluminum and is palm-sized, so it can be placed just about anywhere, but it needs to go on a flat surface and can't be wall mounted like some other options. Size wise, it's a bit taller than a standard soda can, but skinnier.

The camera portion is mounted on the front, a microSD card slot is at the bottom along with a reset button, and there's a small grated area at the bottom, presumably for heat dissipation, since the Omna does get somewhat warm. A green LED on the front lights up when it's powered on, and a power cord is attached to the back.


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Article Link: Review: D-Link's Omna 180 Cam HD Offers HomeKit, But Could Use Improvement

 

[Eggy123]

This article is missing the point. This camera is pointless. Thief sees the camera turns it over and takes the SD card. No back up... worthless camera.

 

[pat500000]

I need a hidden cam for thief and car scratchers!!!!

 

[now i see it]

It would be a good dog cam to check up on the dog locked in the house all day chewing up the furniture

 

[jclo]

This article is missing the point. This camera is pointless. Thief sees the camera turns it over and takes the SD card. No back up... worthless camera.

Review most definitely mentions that negative. I would not use this for home security, but it's okay if you want to check in on a dog or a kid throughout the day.

 

[Juicy Box]

I need a hidden cam for thief and car scratchers!!!!

There was a camera that looked like an exterior wall/porch light that was posted on MR like a year ago. I wouldn't say it was completely hidden, but it looked like a pretty good deal.

 

[LiveM]

Manything for the win, then.

 

[pat500000]

There was a camera that looked like an exterior wall/porch light that was posted on MR like a year ago. I wouldn't say it was completely hidden, but it looked like a pretty good deal.

Do you remember what the name of the product was?

 

[Juicy Box]

I can't remember if this is it or not, but it might be similar to what you are looking for.

Netatmo Presence

If I remember correctly, the thing I liked about this camera was the subscription-less operation, and the ability to do long-term storage separately from the unit, such as a network drive or a cloud.

 

[pat500000]

I can't remember if this is it or not, but it might be similar to what you are looking for.

Netatmo Presence

If I remember correctly, the thing I liked about this camera was the subscription-less operation, and the ability to do long-term storage separately from the unit, such as a network drive or a cloud.

Thabks alot!

 

[travisjaymoore]

This article is missing the point. This camera is pointless. Thief sees the camera turns it over and takes the SD card. No back up... worthless camera.

Like the part of the article which reads "If someone broke into a home and was captured on the Omna camera, the footage could be erased and made inaccessible simply by taking the camera or the SD card." ?

 

[craigmak]

I have one of these and use it as a baby monitor while my kid is sleeping. When we go out of town I hide it close to a window for an additional exterior camera. I have one a camera with my alarm system and this adds more coverage when we are gone.

 

[cerote]

Seen cheaper cameras but it's about the HomeKit.

Been searching for a decent priced IP camera some ok ones for 89$.

 

[BigCLC]

This article is missing the point. This camera is pointless. Thief sees the camera turns it over and takes the SD card. No back up... worthless camera.

The camera takes a snapshot when motion is detected and sends it your phone, so you will have a picture of whoever sets it off regardless if they take the camera.

 

[sudo1996]

As someone who has set up extensive security camera systems at both my parents' and grandmother's houses, this market is a mess. Sure you can get good hardware like high-quality cameras, but there's no easy-setup, easy to monitor, distributed, fault-tolerant, and inexpensive DVR solution despite all the hardware and software being there. And this thing in the article is useless. If I had more time, I'd build a Linux machine or two as a DVR for our cameras instead of these PoS things from China we have that are a pain to use and would probably be part of several botnets by now had I not firewalled them off.

 

[peroddmund]

I own this camera and a Nest (dropcam) and I really love it. First of all, the setup is dead simple, you dont even have to download any app as you can set the thing up and start using it directly in the iOS10 Home App. That way you dont have to worry about "who's watching" as this thing is not connected to any web service other than iCloud. My Nest camera has worse image quality, less viewing angle, harder to setup, and I dont like that the camera is available through a browser.

The Omni camera works as a motion sensor and camera with bidirectional microphone. If you activate the motion sensor you will get a notification with a snapshot on your phone whenever there is motion detected. So in the case where the thief disconnects the camera (or similar) you at least get to see a snapshot and you can then alert authorities. And dont forget that a camera like the Omni is something between a security camera and a pet/nanny cam.

And one of the advantages with home kit is that as long as the hardware is working, the "service" is available and potentially upgradable by apple. Meaning if D-link were to go bankrupt tomorrow, my camera won't stop working because Im not relying on any D-link service or app. This camera is full home kit and apple can (and will) update the functionality of home kit, which will add value and functionality to the camera without D-link needed to do anything. For example: Apple could add iCloud storage for the video without D-link needed to do anything. They could also add other automation features and triggers not present today.

Although I do hope manufacturers create some rugged outdoor cameras with home kit support, which would be much more crucial for security purposes.

 

[rdogg125]

I do wonder if there would be a way to rig this up to a "Eye-Fi" SD card Adapter. I know it uses MicroSD.. But that would be a way to get the files to your own storage solution away from the camera/home itself...

 

[RightMACatU]

For a few seconds there I thought it was a new Mac Pro

 

[steve123]

As someone who has set up extensive security camera systems at both my parents' and grandmother's houses, this market is a mess. Sure you can get good hardware like high-quality cameras, but there's no easy-setup, easy to monitor, distributed, fault-tolerant, and inexpensive DVR solution despite all the hardware and software being there. And this thing in the article is useless. If I had more time, I'd build a Linux machine or two as a DVR for our cameras instead of these PoS things from China we have that are a pain to use and would probably be part of several botnets by now had I not firewalled them off.

Have you looked at the Ubiquiti equipment? I purchased a few of their cams for home and office and set up an NVR using their software. They also sell an NVR. Their equipment works quite well and is priced well compared to others. Some bugs still in the software but they are working them out. I am hoping they will integrate with Homekit soon.
[doublepost=1490924301][/doublepost]

For a few seconds there I thought it was a new Mac Pro

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!! Thank you for that! Made my day!

 

[jclo]

I own this camera and a Nest (dropcam) and I really love it. First of all, the setup is dead simple, you dont even have to download any app as you can set the thing up and start using it directly in the iOS10 Home App. That way you dont have to worry about "who's watching" as this thing is not connected to any web service other than iCloud. My Nest camera has worse image quality, less viewing angle, harder to setup, and I dont like that the camera is available through a browser.

The Omni camera works as a motion sensor and camera with bidirectional microphone. If you activate the motion sensor you will get a notification with a snapshot on your phone whenever there is motion detected. So in the case where the thief disconnects the camera (or similar) you at least get to see a snapshot and you can then alert authorities. And dont forget that a camera like the Omni is something between a security camera and a pet/nanny cam.

And one of the advantages with home kit is that as long as the hardware is working, the "service" is available and potentially upgradable by apple. Meaning if D-link were to go bankrupt tomorrow, my camera won't stop working because Im not relying on any D-link service or app. This camera is full home kit and apple can (and will) update the functionality of home kit, which will add value and functionality to the camera without D-link needed to do anything. For example: Apple could add iCloud storage for the video without D-link needed to do anything. They could also add other automation features and triggers not present today.

Although I do hope manufacturers create some rugged outdoor cameras with home kit support, which would be much more crucial for security purposes.

Except there doesn't appear to be a way to save that image that's sent to you in the notification. It doesn't go to your camera roll and tapping it takes you directly to the live view, deleting the image forever if you didn't think to screenshot it.