Smart doorbell and camera maker Ring today announced a slew of new features for the Ring app, including more accurate motion detection, live footage preview and 24/7 continuous recording.
Camera Previews, which is available now, allow users to view recent images from all of their devices in one consolidated view. When users see any activity of interest in the Previews, they can tap the preview to go to the device dashboard where they can view the action.
Timeline, which will begin rolling out in November, makes reviewing Ring recordings easier by allowing users to scroll through the event history on a color-coded timeline, so they know what happened and when.
Ring also released a suite of smart alert features, which will be available in early 2019, for its Ring Protect Plan subscribers. Ring claims the cloud-based video analysis enables better motion detection to reduce false alerts, and can extend battery life by as many as three-folds.
Ring’s detection technology will be able to distinguish between objects like a person, an animal and a tree branch. Ring devices will stop recording if the motion is deemed unimportant. This is how the battery life is extended. Furthermore, users can set up custom motion detection zones which Ring devices will focus on watching.
More features later
Also coming up in 2019 is the Live Camera Previews feature. When a Ring device detects motion, the Camera Preview within the Ring app will begin to live stream right in the app’s dashboard to show activities in real time.
There is also the audible announcement capability. Wired devices will deliver audible announcements through the device’s speakers when motion is detected to let visitors know they are being monitored.
In addition, Ring plans to introduce the Timestamp feature, so a timestamp can be placed on a recorded video to show the date and time the video was recorded. There is also the bulk download feature, allowing users to download all of their recordings at once from Ring.com.
Last but not least, Ring will make available 24/7 recording. For an additional fee, Ring Protect Plan subscribers will have the option to set their wired devices to continuously record what is going on at all times.
For neighborhood security
All of the improvement is part of Ring’s effort to enhance neighborhood security, the company says. “Protecting your home with Ring will be easier than ever with these new features that give Ring neighbors the ability to keep an eye on their whole home at a glance, receive only the alerts that matter to them.”
Ring, which was acquired by Amazon in April, became famous initially for its video doorbell that allows homeowners to see who is outside without having to open the door. The company has since developed smart cameras, security systems, sensors, etc. Users may subscribe to the Ring Alarm plan at US$10 per month, much lower than the near US$30 charged by big brands.
Debuted in June, Ring Alarm does not require professional installation and includes door/window sensor and motion sensor, and when movements are detected, push notifications will be sent to homeowners’ mobile phones.
If one of the sensors reports that something is not right while the system is “armed,” the Base Station siren will sound, and a signal will be sent to the central monitoring station. Battery and LTE cellular backup enable professional monitoring even if the power goes out or broadband is unavailable.