PC World – December 2015

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
elderly parents, but it should also help cut down on false alarms when
a “known” person passes in front of the camera.
Unlike most other home-security cameras at this price point, the
Netatmo Welcome doesn’t support any cloud recording plans. Instead,
all video is recorded locally to an included 8GB SD card that slots into
the back of the camera. The benefits of this setup are obvious: It
eliminates the cost of monthly storage fees, and keeps the security of
your video in your hands. But it also means that if an intruder takes
your camera, you lose all forensic evidence of the break-in.
Setup and usage
The Netatmo Welcome had one of the
easiest setups of any camera I tested. Other
than the peculiar requirement to turn the
camera upside down for the duration of the
setup process, there was nothing
remarkable about adding the camera to my
Netatmo account and home Wi-Fi network.
The Netatmo Welcome mobile app (there’s
no web option) walked me through the
steps and the whole operation was
completed in less than two minutes.
Netatmo doesn’t include any wall-mounting or magnetic
accessories, so you’re limited to placing it on flat surfaces. I positioned
it on our living room entertainment center one bustling school
morning, and within minutes it was sending regular motion alerts.
It also immediately started trying to recognize faces. When I first
opened the app, the home screen presented me with a series of
snapshots of myself and each of my family members, each with a
question mark next to it identifying them as unknown faces. Each
of these snapshots represented an event where the camera picked
up human features. Tapping on a face takes you to the video clip of
the triggering event. Long-pressing a face allows you to identify
that person.
The Netatmo
Welcome’s
unique design
makes it less
conspicuous on
your shelf or
mantel.
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