SimpliSafe Adds An Outdoor Camera
The SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera is a new addition to the company’s portfolio of security products. The camera has a 140 degree field of view and 1080p video with infrared color night vision and a spotlight. It features an adjustable magnetic mount and is battery-powered, for easy installation. The company says the battery charge will last for 3-6 months, depending on usage. Coming later this year, SimpiSafe will also introduce a solar panel to charge the camera. For now, the camera is currently available for $169.99 at SimpliSafe.com.
The NPD Take:
- An outdoor security camera is a vital component of the home security solution and frankly, was a big miss, for SimpliSafe – particularly as it tries to compete with Ring that has both a security system and a variety of outdoor camera options.
Resideo Invests in Brilliant
Smart home system provider Brilliant just secured $40M in Series B funding, led by Next47 and Celesta Capital with participation from Resideo. The funding will allow the company to expand its product offerings and invest in its sales strategy for single-family homebuilders, multifamily developers, property managers, and professional integrators. Brilliant is Resideo’s first strategic investment, and the company says a key component of its long-term strategy is to partner with residential companies.
The NPD Take:
- This new investment should enable Brilliant to better participate in the growth in smart home that comes from new construction, as opposed to through consumer retail sales. Meanwhile, the investment from Resideo builds on a distribution partnership that already existed between the two companies.
Home Depot Gets Into the Smart Home App Business
Home Depot has launched its own smart home app, Hubspace, which aims to fill the gaps for those smart home devices it sells that do not have their apps or integration with voice assistants. The app is currently compatible with Hampton Bay, Defiant, Commercial Electric and EcoSmart products sold at the retailer.
The NPD Take:
- This is certainly an interesting move for Home Depot, but it isn’t likely to have big uptake or longevity considering all of the alternative smart home control solutions (like Google Assistant and Alexa apps, if you already have a smart speaker – which many consumers do) and the pending matter of Matter. Consumers are looking for simplicity – not additional apps.