I mentioned a few months ago that I was planning to use the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight in my new home because it provides 24/7 recording. For my outdoor cameras, this is what I really wanted in the future. We've been in the house for a few weeks, so I wanted to share what I've learned about the devices, how they compare to HomeKit cameras, and how they work with the Starling Home Hub to pair them with HomeKit.
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TL:DR? That's why I chose the Google Nest Cam with spotlights for my outdoor cameras because of the 24/7 recording on a Nest Aware subscription that also serves as my outdoor spotlight. Since this is a HomeKit weekly, you might be wondering why I'm looking at a Google product. Let me talk about the key product HomeKit Secure Video today.
Lack of 24/7 recording holding back HomeKit Secure Video
HomeKit Secure Video offers many benefits. It's tied to your iCloud+ account, and people on the $10.99/month plan can have unlimited cameras. HomeKit Secure Video lets you view recorded footage from home security cameras in the Home app. All recorded footage is fully encrypted and no video is credited to your iCloud storage. You can access protected HomeKit videos on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV.
Your home hub analyzes the video to determine if people, pets, or vehicles are present. device intelligence. You can view the last 10 days of activity in the Home app. iCloud+ plans allow you to add HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
- 50GB plan: add one camera.
- 200GB plan: add up to five cameras.
- 2TB plan: add unlimited cameras.
As you can see, this is a great deal. However, 24-hour recording is not enough. While I understand the lack of 24/7 mode for cameras that use battery, I think Apple is long overdue for adding it to wired cameras. Knowing that I have full access to all footage is very comforting to me and my family. Despite advances in motion detection, I like to know that I always have a complete timeline of my footage.
Setting Google Nest Cam with Floodlight
I got lucky when my electricians installed my Google Nest Cam with Floodlight (I have three in total), but from what they told me, it&# 8217 ;s is extremely simple and very similar to any spotlight. The camera is connected to a spotlight to stay charged/battery powered. If the spotlight switch is off, the camera can run on battery power. Since it works over a Wi-Fi network, no additional wiring is required for data transfer.
After installing the camera, you turn on the power, open the Google Home app, add a new device, and then you will be prompted to scan the QR code that is in the box. In total, the installation of the three cameras took about 10 minutes. You can easily adjust settings related to night vision, angle, etc.
Overall everyday experience
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These cameras are the first Nest cameras I've ever had, so I've been following their features by reading our friends' posts at 9to5Google. Overall, it was a great experience. Is it end-to-end encrypted? No, but other than that, the Nest camera is great. As we started to come and go, I could tell who was who and he learned to tell me that my wife was in the backyard, etc. When the camera detects motion, the light turns on for five minutes (adjustable period) and then turns off it.
Here are the main features of the Google Nest Cam with spotlights:
- 1080p HD video recording with night vision
- Two-way audio for talking and listening
- Built-in spotlight for additional security
- Real time notifications with Nest Aware subscription (one subscription for all cameras).
- Live video to your phone or tablet using the Google Home app
- Easily share access with family and friends
- Weatherproof for outdoor use
- 1Works with other Nest cameras for a complete solution.
< li>Advanced motion detection with customizable activity zones
< li>Free cloud storage for the last three hours of video
The overall experience of using the Google Home app so far has been great, but by far the best feature is the 24/7 recording capability and built-in power. I have been very pleased with every aspect of it so far. I get alerts instantly, it loads quickly, and I can easily view my entire history on the Google Home app. Someone at Apple should pay attention to what Google has done with their first-party smart home products.
Starling Home Hub bridges the gap with Nest and HomeKit
HomeKit fans looking to add Google Nest cameras to their system can use the Starling Home Hub. This device connects directly to a HomeKit Hub and bridges the gap between Nest and Apple, allowing Nest devices to be used alongside other HomeKit accessories.
Ideal for use with Nest HomeKit cameras, the Starling Home Hub provides an easy and secure way to connect Nest cameras to Apple HomeKit. When the cameras are in HomeKit, you can view and record footage, and use them in HomeKit automations and scenes. This integration also allows you to show the Nest doorbell on your Apple TV. I connected all 3 of my spotlights, as well as my Nest doorbell, and they are now fully available as cameras in HomeKit.
Wrapping up
How a person who loves HomeKit, I can also recognize great products on other platforms. The original Google Nest cameras are fantastic and I'm glad I have them at home. I use NestCam with Floodlight along with Nest's new wired doorbell and I'm quite happy with it for my outdoor cameras. Thanks to the Starling Home Hub, I can enjoy all the benefits of smart home platforms from Apple and Google. I hope Apple has a 24/7 recording for HomeKit Secure Video in the planning stages. This would be ideal for products like the Eve Outdoor Cam.
