Arlo Ultra security camera gains HomeKit support
Arlo is continuing to roll out its support for HomeKit in its devices, with compatibility with Apple's smart home platform now included in its Ultra security camera systems that pair with the Arlo SmartHub.
The Arlo Ultra security camera was previously able to be controlled by Arlo's companion app, but the addition of HomeKit support enables it to be controlled from within Apple's Home app on iPhone and iPad. The change is being made through an automatic firmware update that is free of charge and rolling out to all Ultra users.
Under HomeKit, users can receive movement notifications from the camera through the Home app. Along with being able to summon the live feed from the app, it is also possible to ask Siri to show the feed, allowing it to be viewed in a hands-free way.
HomeKit automations can also take advantage of the camera's capabilities, such as by triggering lights to switch on at certain times if motion is detected.
The addition of HomeKit support to the Arlo Ultra follows similar integration with other hardware from the manufacturer, including the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 systems in August. The recently-launched Arlo Video Doorbell does not have HomeKit support, and the company has yet to advise on when it will arrive, if at all.
The Arlo Ultra offers a 4K-resolution video with color night vision, wire-free setup, a 180-degree field of view, spotlight, and two-way audio with noise cancellation.
The system starts from $399 for a one-camera setup, including a one-year subscription to Arlo Smart Premier, which provides 30-day rolling storage of cloud recordings and personalized detection of people, vehicles, and packages.
The Arlo Ultra security camera was previously able to be controlled by Arlo's companion app, but the addition of HomeKit support enables it to be controlled from within Apple's Home app on iPhone and iPad. The change is being made through an automatic firmware update that is free of charge and rolling out to all Ultra users.
Under HomeKit, users can receive movement notifications from the camera through the Home app. Along with being able to summon the live feed from the app, it is also possible to ask Siri to show the feed, allowing it to be viewed in a hands-free way.
HomeKit automations can also take advantage of the camera's capabilities, such as by triggering lights to switch on at certain times if motion is detected.
The addition of HomeKit support to the Arlo Ultra follows similar integration with other hardware from the manufacturer, including the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 systems in August. The recently-launched Arlo Video Doorbell does not have HomeKit support, and the company has yet to advise on when it will arrive, if at all.
The Arlo Ultra offers a 4K-resolution video with color night vision, wire-free setup, a 180-degree field of view, spotlight, and two-way audio with noise cancellation.
The system starts from $399 for a one-camera setup, including a one-year subscription to Arlo Smart Premier, which provides 30-day rolling storage of cloud recordings and personalized detection of people, vehicles, and packages.
Comments
I'm looking to replace a couple of EZVIZ 1080p Minis. For cheap cameras, they've worked surprisingly well, but I'd like something with a bit more placement flexibility (which the Arlo's battery power offers) and HomeKit integration.
One of these days I’m going to pull the trigger on a Synology NAS and purchase their security camera software component.
Did I mention the batteries last forever? :-) And an 8 camera indoor/outdoor setup set me back less than $500?
The whole point of using HomeKit over other platforms, is privacy. I fail to see how privacy is guarded when data is uploaded to a third party platform, which, to add insult to injury, requires a paid subscription.
An AppleTV has ample CPU power, and a future iteration could add a USB port again for external video storage.
1. Simply install the app on your phone/device & make an account. 2. Connect your base station to your modem or gateway. 3. Turn on the camera and let it "sync" to the base station. 4. Pin the camera somewhere and customize its preferences from the menu.
It's superior to bullet and dome cameras in the respect that you have more flexibility. Bullet/bubble usually feed to a DVR. The Arlos can also feed to a "DVR"-paradigm setup by simply connecting external storage to your base station (a jump drive or M.2 external works well enough). The Arlos also store your photos on your online account so you can view them online. This redundancy is excellent. Because the Arlos are battery powered, you don't have to worry about the power going out. The base station itself has a backup power source for up to 30 min. to 1 hour. The batteries in the camera have been excellent and I get about a month of use between charges. It takes about 2-4 hours to charge a battery. They charge through microUSB. The cameras are small and relatively form-unobtrusive. Sure, they're white and eye catching (my house trim is white so it actually works), but you can hide them with silicone cases found on Amazon. The cases come in a variety of colors and some are even ghillied or camouflaged.
The cameras have good color/recording quality and average night vision. Motion detection is also acceptable. It also has sound/noise detection, as well as two way talk which works surprisingly well. The cameras are tough enough, with one of mine falling and hitting concrete from an 8 foot drop and surviving. They're light so you can either choose to bolt them on a drilled base or simply using their magnetic base with external command strips (15 lb strips are enough). The app software is great. It lets you customize the camera name, its range, sensitivity and the like. You can view past recorded videos or check in real time. The live streaming is toggled and that's a good thing because otherwise, you'd kill your phone battery and data in a heartbeat. The software allows you to customize certain zones of activity within a camera's field of view (for subscribers...I'm not one). The software is quick, stable and easy to use. Homekit support is an unnecessary bonus.
With its backup power and its wireless capabilities, the Arlos are more resistant to interference than a wired bullet/bubble system for a fraction of the price. The Arlos have far better battery than my Ring and the software is more user-friendly (even if it has less capabilities). The video quality is comparable but the Ring requires a subscription fee. The Ring didn't need a base station set up but the setup on the Arlos literally only took an additional 2 minutes. I don't have any Nest since Google has been caught mining Nest user data without approval or consent. I've had other camera systems in the past but so far Arlos have been tops.
I hope I feel this way about them for another 2 years. Thus far however, they've been great. Highly recommended.
Does the job fine.
(edited counting all the lengths of my house rooms to determine the total distance transmission)
As an aside, It's also worth noting that the "Ultra" models have a fundamentally different approach to nighttime video. If the camera takes color video at night (which is what Arlo Ultra does), then it is activating bright visible-light LEDs to light up the view. If the camera takes black-and-white video at night, it's using infra-red LEDs to light up the view, recording video from the infra-red spectrum and shifting that to the visible spectrum for your black-and-white videos. Why does that matter? Whether it's your front porch or inside your house, the Ultra models (if they're set to record on motion or sound detection) will blast you with a bright spotlight in the dark, which is very noticeable, and would be very disturbing in many circumstances. The infra-red-capable cameras' spotlights aren't visible to you or your neighbor. That could be important if you don't want to wake everybody up every time a cat walks by. Of course, if the bright spotlight isn't a problem, then the color videos will of course provide a more detailed view of what's going on.
I can add to it by stating that you can actually customize each camera to trigger with only objects of a certain size, based on sensitivity settings. Cats aren't a normal problem for me, for instance. Smaller objects (like birds or moths), would have to be *on top of the camera lens* to trigger it. Also, keep in mind that the Arlo Ultra's night vision isn't affected by covers as much. If you do get an Arlo Pro or Pro 2, keep in mind that your covers should have short bumpers around the camera edge and, they should be black if possible. Otherwise, it will distort the camera's ability to capture a clear picture.