Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Roundup: Security Cameras<br />
or I’d get a message saying the camera wasn’t connected, even though<br />
it was. Each time the issue resolved itself within several seconds, but it<br />
could be disconcerting if you get notified of a real-life event and just<br />
want to see what’s going on at home as quickly as possible.<br />
More potentially troubling is the 30-minute<br />
delay between notifications. Nest says this is by<br />
design, to prevent customers from being<br />
overwhelmed. While I certainly appreciated not<br />
being bombarded with alerts every time my dog<br />
or cat walked in front of the camera, it did raise the question of what<br />
would happen if, say, pet movement triggered a notification, and then<br />
moments later someone broke in to the house. Admittedly, this is a<br />
pretty unlikely scenario, but still it seems like notification intervals of<br />
every 10 to 15 minutes would be more prudent, if only for peace of mind.<br />
The Nest app provides<br />
everything you need to<br />
manage the camera.<br />
Bottom line<br />
If you’re already using the Dropcam Pro, the Nest Cam’s improvements<br />
probably aren’t significant enough to warrant an upgrade. Viewed on a<br />
smartphone screen or on the web, the difference between 720p and<br />
1080p is barely noticeable, particularly on surveillance footage. If<br />
you’re looking to buy your first Wi-Fi security camera, however, Nest<br />
Cam’s sleek, sturdy design; impressive video quality; and easy-to-use<br />
app place it near the top of the heap.<br />
If you also own a Nest Learning Thermostat and a Nest Protect<br />
smoke and carbon-monoxide detector, deploying a Nest Cam lets you<br />
integrate all three devices. The Nest Cam can relay a message to the<br />
thermostat that you’ve arrived home before you walk past the<br />
thermostat’s motion detector, for instance. And if the smoke alarm<br />
goes off, it can trigger the camera to snap a picture that might<br />
identify the source of the flames.<br />
Just bear in mind that without the features a Nest Aware<br />
subscription brings, the Nest Cam is little more than a webcam.<br />
The subscription adds substantially to the cost of ownership, but<br />
it’s a worthy investment if you’re serious about home security.<br />
118
Change language