All security cameras that we have installed here are 4K with night vision. The one at the frontdoor has a motion sensor and I do get push notifications when someone walks up to the door. No subscription required. Uploads to a VPN server with end-to-end encryption. The fun part. It’s even cheaper than the give me a break “Rob”in doorbell. Thanks but no thanks for low quality hardware, because that 720 is a joke.
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Robin ProLine Becomes First Doorbell to Support HomeKit Secure Video
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according to the first reviews, the image quality is absolutely terrible - allegedly looks like a late 1980s VGA screen. And at night you can't see anything. So yeah - def worth almost 600 bucks 
At that price, the thief may as well just steal the doorbell instead of breaking into your house.
The Problem I have with my 4K video is it consumes _a lot_ of memory storage. Actually, I don’t think 720P is as bad as you’re exaggerating here, 720P is still sufficient for a large majority, the problem is with 720P, the clarity somewhat suffers with lighting changes, but if you want the best definition, 4K is it, I just question that 4K is necessary when 720P is still relevant for doorbell video use cases. Now, Surveillance of my house altogether? 1080P as a minimum, but that’s a totally different discussion.
With the upcoming smart home open standard, investing on another HomeKit exclusive accessories is a big gamble. The premium price is one obvious obstacle, then there is longevity problem.
Just how long Apple would support its own HomeKit protocol? With open standard, cheaper options are going to be available, and compatible with many ecosystems (Google's, Apple's, Amazon's). Don't get me wrong, I love HomeKit, I just hate how they are overpriced by large margin and often won't work with nothing but Siri.
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With that price, the thief would just break into the house and steal the doorbell instead your $10 Ikea table lamp. That's incredibly helpful, mister.
Just how long Apple would support its own HomeKit protocol? With open standard, cheaper options are going to be available, and compatible with many ecosystems (Google's, Apple's, Amazon's). Don't get me wrong, I love HomeKit, I just hate how they are overpriced by large margin and often won't work with nothing but Siri.
[automerge]1579406459[/automerge]
With that price, the thief would just break into the house and steal the doorbell instead your $10 Ikea table lamp. That's incredibly helpful, mister.
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I love how this announcement video actually shows how HomeKit Secure Video works !
Yet ... I've always had an issue with all of these 'Door-bell' type cameras.
1. Placement: many are an eye-sore design and just sort of a puck on the wall that SCREAMS 'punt me off the wall'.
- example in this video, the dog chases a ball. That ball could've easily hit the camera if airborne, which leads me to my next issue:
2. Angle of optimal view. Side view is ridiculous. The best view I've seen, and still not optimal was a overhead view (over the garage/house) that an executive from Nevada had running via an app on his iPhone 5 over 6yrs (?) ago.
3. These cameras are completely useless for those of us living in apartments/condos. I'm still awaiting a door peek-hole type camera with a full see-through mode and a small 4-6" screen to view normally on the inside of the door. The person coming to the door or passerby's would never know.
Further I'd love for condo's to have a kind-of shared / network security camera system in the lobby and hallway that would allow people in units to sync to.
- someone or group of people coming into the condo/apartment building don't think to cover themselves in a stealthy way until they are up on your floor. They'll break in, steal, then bolt off to the nearest staircase and usually then either a) pull off their masks, so they appear to be normal people when leaving the building drawing no attention to themselves, or b) keep their masks on and jump into a car right by the exit .. yet the license plate is exposed.
Yet ... I've always had an issue with all of these 'Door-bell' type cameras.
1. Placement: many are an eye-sore design and just sort of a puck on the wall that SCREAMS 'punt me off the wall'.
- example in this video, the dog chases a ball. That ball could've easily hit the camera if airborne, which leads me to my next issue:
2. Angle of optimal view. Side view is ridiculous. The best view I've seen, and still not optimal was a overhead view (over the garage/house) that an executive from Nevada had running via an app on his iPhone 5 over 6yrs (?) ago.
3. These cameras are completely useless for those of us living in apartments/condos. I'm still awaiting a door peek-hole type camera with a full see-through mode and a small 4-6" screen to view normally on the inside of the door. The person coming to the door or passerby's would never know.
Further I'd love for condo's to have a kind-of shared / network security camera system in the lobby and hallway that would allow people in units to sync to.
- someone or group of people coming into the condo/apartment building don't think to cover themselves in a stealthy way until they are up on your floor. They'll break in, steal, then bolt off to the nearest staircase and usually then either a) pull off their masks, so they appear to be normal people when leaving the building drawing no attention to themselves, or b) keep their masks on and jump into a car right by the exit .. yet the license plate is exposed.
No, it's not a bell for your door. It's an entry access system meant to go on electric gates or other entry points onto your property. It is overkill for a doorbell.
100% of the population needs encryption. Not to hide from the government or hackers. But because it's no one's business if it's the pizza man, or your mistress.
People need to stop seeing encryption as something the bad guys use to hide, but something that everyone needs, because you have nothing to show.
Said the man paying for an iCloud storage subscription to make sure the camera works as expected.... 🙄