In order to deter potential burglars, Philips Hue is entering the smart home security market with the release of Philips Hue Secure, a DIY security system that makes use of new cameras and sensors in addition to Philips Hue’s smart lighting system. You can activate any Hue lights that are compatible to flash red or white and/or sound an alarm when the system is triggered by a sensor.
This fall, Philips Hue Secure will introduce new contact sensors ($39.99) to secure windows and doors, along with a wired indoor/outdoor camera ($199.99), a battery-powered indoor/outdoor camera ($249.99), a full-color floodlight camera ($349.99), and other products.
The Verge got an in-person preview of the new devices at Berlin this week for IFA 2023. Although the sleek design and straightforward magnetic mounting system impressed me, the only real standout technical features are end-to-end encryption and the close compatibility with Hue’s lighting system. Naturally, they cost a lot of money. These are some of the most expensive smart security cameras available.
The cameras have a built-in siren, end-to-end encryption, two-way talk, 1080p video, smart alerts for people, pets, and vehicles, and Wi-Fi connectivity. When not on guard duty, they serve as motion sensors for the security system and Hue lights, respectively.
Although Philips Hue’s head of technology George Yianni said they are working on an integration to view live footage on those companies’ smart displays, Amazon Alexa and Google Home are not currently compatible with Philips Hue products.
He said that until cameras are supported in Matter, the cameras will not function with Apple Home. Support for HomeKit Secure Video is not intended. To view recorded footage, you must instead purchase a subscription starting at $3.99 per month / $39.99 per year, per camera.
The new contact sensors will function with Matter, and it’s possible that the motion sensors in the cameras will appear in any Matter-compatible platform, according to Philips Hue’s announcement that it will finally add Matter support to its bridge next month.
Read More: Do Security Cameras Have Audio?
Source: theverge
