Canon Introduces a Mountable Smart Camera
Last month, Canon unveiled the PowerShot PX, a mountable, stationery smart camera. Like any other indoor camera, the PX can be used to spy on the dog, but Canon says the PX’s high end optical capabilities combined with its state of the art object and facial recognition will also allow it to take great photographs. Place the PX in a central spot in the house, like a table; the camera will scan the room’s lighting conditions, recognize known faces, and take photographs at the best possible moments...or document the kids misbehaving in the basement. The camera features a 11.7 megapixel camera and is capable of full HD video recording.
The NPD Take:
- While the PX is meant to capture family memories rather than monitor security events, Canon’s entry into connected cameras in this way is notable as sales in many traditional digital imaging segments decline.
- Though we have seen smart cameras before (remember Google Clips?) there is a more recent trend of security devices using smart features inside the home like the Nest Indoor IQ camera and Amazon’s Astro home robot.
Savings a Key Driver for New Amazon, Honeywell Thermostat
Amazon unveiled a new smart thermostat during its Fall Hardware Event in September. Designed in partnership with Honeywell’s Resideo, the new device has several features common to other premium smart thermostats including presence detection and deep integration with the Alexa digital assistant. Users can adjust their home’s temperature remotely, set schedules, and monitor their energy efficiency all using the Alexa app. The thermostat has a white, minimalist design and at $60 (perhaps its best feature of all) it competes with other popular devices more than twice the price. Available on Nov. 4.
The NPD Take:
- This is the latest effort to drive adoption of smart thermostats by communicating the cost benefits. Retail sales of smart thermostats increased 12% over the last 12 months according to NPD’s Retail Tracking Service- establishing a new price point in the market will hopefully drive increased interest and new users to the category.
- The addition of Energy Star certification is welcome as well to those looking for an economic incentive to buy (adding the Energy Star laurel means the thermostat is guaranteed to save the user at least $50 a year on electric bills).
Nanoleaf Expands Lighting Portfolio
After recently launching Elements, a line of connected lighting panels featuring a wood veneer look, Nanoleaf introduced Lines last month – its first entrance into backlit lighting bars. Lines is capable of 16 million color combinations and can be programmed for preset scenes like a relaxing sunset or a throbbing nightclub. Nanoleaf also offers screen mirroring capablilties- connect Lines to a big screen TV or gaming monitor and the lights will change in sync with the content on the screen. Lines is Thread and Matter enabled, so it will work with nearly any smart home ecosystem or digital voice assistant it is connected to.
The NPD Take:
- The smart lighting market continues to grow and users are increasingly looking to add ambiance and design to their homes- in addition to lighting rooms.
- Nanoleaf’s entrance into lighting bars from panels indicates the company is looking to engage more design and experience minded lighting buyers.