This camera can be installed outdoors without worrying about bad weather affecting it, since it has IPX65 protection (meaning it's protected against rain, dust, and temperatures between -4ºF and 122º F).
This system will need a table or stand to sit on - there isn't an included wall or ceiling mount. You perhaps could fashion your own, however remember to mount it upright as the camera doesn't rotate.
The free plan is limited - your history will only go back 12 hours, with 5 available bookbarks and you can download 3 videos.
The $5/month ($49 annually) plan increases this to a 2 day history, 25 bookmarks, and unlimited downloads.
For $10/month ($99 annually) you get 7 day history, 100 bookmarks and still get unlimited downloads.
The most expensive plan at $30/month ($299 annually) gives you a 30 day timeline with unlimited bookmarks and downloads.
The motion detection is very sensitive - so sensitive that it only takes shadows moving or branches swaying in the wind to trick it into sending a false alarm. In the future Canary is going to add a sensitivity slider, however this hasn't been implemented yet.
While there is a microphone to listen to sounds, there is no speaker and thus this system lacks the ability to hold a conversation with the person on the other side.
There are sensors which help determine the quality of the air, including: temperature, humidity, and particles in the air. While it can't do anything about these itself, it is a useful tool for monitoring.
The microphone is great, and captures crystal clear audio. This is extremely beneficial if there is motion detected, but then the subject moves out of the vision of the camera, as you can still somewhat tell whats going on.
The Canary has a viewing angle of 147 degrees, letting it see more than competing products. The 1080p resolution is crisp, and allows for digital zooming up to 3X. There are 12 infra-red LEDs that work as part of the night vision to keep recording even after the lights have gone out.
The Canary Security System is equipped with a siren which is rated at 90dB (similar to that of city traffic or a subway at 200ft). While not ridiculously loud, it should do the job to scare the heebie jeebies out of anybody not expecting it.
The Canary can utilize your phone's GPS to turn on and off automatically depending on where you are (when you're at home it will enter private mode, but when you leave it will activate). If you live with others, all they need to do is install the app and it won't activate when they're home either.
This camera is equipped with Smart-Sight, an algorithm that works in real-time to check if the camera is seeing specific things, such as people, animals, or cars. When the algorithm detects these presences, the camera notifies the user.
By default, footage is stored locally, on a microSD card, which might pose a security risk. Other cameras store it in the cloud, which means automatic remote storage.
The camera will stop functioning after updating the firmware through the Omnia app. Even after a successful update, if you ever unplug it and try to start it up again, it will do nothing and stay on a red LED. Trying to restore it using the button at the bottom does nothing.
The 1080p resolution allows plenty of detail to be captured, and because it's a wide-angle lens you'll get a wide 130 degree picture. If you need to, you can zoom up to 8X to investigate small details.
The night vision feature works surprisingly well in low light, or even pitch black. There are 8 LEDs surrounding the lens which can illuminate the scene.
If you own a Nest thermostat, the Nest Cam will automatically turn on when you set the thermostat to 'away'. If your Nest Protect (the smoke detector) goes off, your Nest Cam will activate to show you what's happening although the placement of the cam may or may not be useful.
Nest Cam also integrates with other third party smart home products such as Philips Hue smart bulbs (if the Cam detects motion it can turn these bulbs on). Other products that can work together are: SkyBell (smart doorbell), Mimo (baby monitor), August (smart lock), and Petnet (smart pet feeder).
The Nest Cam can act as more than just a connected security camera. You can take time-lapse videos with it, or use it to capture images or video for social media as well.
While not exceptional quality, you can hear the audio picked up through the Nest Cam play through your iPhone. You can also speak into your iPhone, and have the Nest Cam replay your voice through its speaker and have a conversation with whoever is on the other side of the camera.
The camera looks sleek and compact, yet includes all the useful features you would expect from a high end security camera. The base is magnetic, helping to keep it stable (it also has a wall/ceiling mount), and the hinge allows enough movement to make sure you can place it virtually anywhere you'd want to.
While not frequently occurring, some false alarms will happen. On a particular windy day, trees blowing in the wind may cause an alarm, and sometimes the sun lighting up sections of a room can also cause false alarms.
Previous recordings will be kept in the cloud for up to 10 days (30 days with the subscription), however when viewing these recordings there is no option to scrub through the video, leaving you no option but to view the entire clip.
The Nest Aware App has a subscription ($10/month) which unlocks additional features. The subscription promises less false alarms, allowing for more advanced algorithms. It also allows for a history of notifications and alarms as well as continuous recording for up to 30 days.
We've reached out to Withings, and they have said that HomeKit support will be coming with iOS 10, expected around September 2016. You can find more information here.
While rated for full HD (1080p) video recording, this camera looks noticeably grainier than most 1080p cameras. It still provides sufficient resolution to see what's happening, although the clarity is a bit disappointing.
This security camera has built in features that make monitoring a baby easier. It can provide a nightlight, and also has a lullaby setting where it will play soothing music to help the baby fall asleep.
These sensors include: ambient light, sound, temperature, and humidity. Average temperature and humidity can help you realize how to reduce your heating bills.
There's also a VoC (volatile organic compounds) sensor which reads the amount of particles in the air - a measure of air quality. If this reading is high, and you have an air filter, it's probably time to change or clean the filter.
IFTTT (IF This Then That) is an app that allows for custom automation. It combines triggers and actions to create recipes that are easy enough for just about anybody to create. IFTTT allows you to automate things like when you receive a specific text message from a specified number to start/stop recording, or start/stop speak & listen mode.
With both microphones and a speaker, you can have a conversation with somebody through the Withings Home even while you're out and about. Your voice will be carried from the iPhone and played through the Withings Home speaker, and their voice will similarly make its way to your iPhone's speaker.
You can adjust the angle of the camera without needing a mount, thanks to its magnetic base. The base is curved, and you can off-set the curved camera's bottom to a preferred angle and it will stay there.
The motion sensor is too sensitive, picking up many false alarms. While other security cameras allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor, there are no such option available here.