Arlo Hopes Indoor Cameras Are Essential
Arlo has added a new camera to its less expensive Essential line, this time an indoor one. Its defining feature is an automated privacy shield (controlled in the app), which disables recording, and motion and audio detection when in the disarm mode. The camera also has 1080p HD video, a 130 degree field of view, 2-way audio, and built-in siren. It is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. The Essential Indoor Camera is available now for pre-order online at Arlo.com, BestBuy.com, Amazon.com and others for $99 and is expected to ship at the end of March.
The NPD Take:
- The steps to ensure privacy are noted, but let’s be honest – given that the privacy shield relies on humans to disarm and arm it, it is highly likely that that could become an inconvenience, or altogether forgotten about in error. Meanwhile, the $99 price tag is more affordable than Arlo devices of yore, but still pricier than indoor cameras from much of the competition, like Ring’s $59 Indoor Cam or Blinks $35 Indoor Cam Mini.
Alarm.com Is Integrating Cars into the Smart Home
Alarm.com has announced Connected Car, a device which plugs into a car’s OBD-II port and connects your car and home through the Alarm.com app to enable home automation capabilities and check vehicle status. Connected Car can be added to a user’s Alarm.com home security system to trigger rules such as turning lights on and adjusting the thermostat upon arrival home or sending alerts if the garage door wasn’t closed on the way out. Vehicle status alerts include diagnostics such as illuminated engine lights, driving behavior such as excessive speed or hard breaking, and unexpected movement, such as the vehicle being moved (stolen? towed?) when the engine is off. It uses a dedicated cellular connection and has battery backup to able to communicate even when the car is turned off.
The NPD Take:
- This integration of the smart home to the car in the driveway (or wherever the car may be) is a great example of how smart home best resonates with consumers today: helping to improve the safety and security of their family, home, and belongings.