Philips Hue, renowned for its smart home lighting solutions, is redirecting its focus towards a new security technology suite, which includes smart home cameras, sensors, and enhanced privacy features.
Philips Hue Expands to Security Tech
Despite this expansion into security tech, Gizmodo reported that the company emphasizes that its core remains lighting technology. The new Secure line introduces a range of interconnected cameras and door/window sensors, offering typical smart home security functions.
Signify, the parent company of Philips Hue, states that end-to-end encryption will be the default setting for user video clips, snapshots, and live video, ensuring the utmost privacy.
Moreover, the system's AI-driven identification of figures captured by the cameras, distinguishing between humans, pets, and package deliveries, occurs directly on the camera itself, eliminating the need for cloud processing.
The Secure cameras constitute the flagship offerings, with options including a $200 wired version, a $250 battery-powered version, and a $350 version equipped with a floodlight.
These cameras will provide 1080p HD video feeds with night vision capabilities, supporting light and sound alarms, and two-way communication features.
The Secure contact sensor employs a simple magnetic switch mechanism to alert users when a door or window is opened, and it can be mounted using adhesive or screws. These sensors can separately send alerts to your mobile phone via the Philips Hue app.
New Smart Lighting Products of Philips Hue
In addition to the security devices, Signify is unveiling new smart lighting products, such as the Perifo track lighting setup, Hue Centris indoor colored spotlight, a 12V smart bulb, and a new iteration of the Philips Hue Festavia string lights.
These new offerings come with novel light effects labeled "Prism," "Glisten," and "Opal." The security suite is seamlessly integrated into the existing Philips Hue app, forming a dedicated "Security Center."
Within the app, users can effortlessly access live camera feeds, activate lights or alarms, and promptly receive notifications based on camera events or activations of the magnetic contact sensors.
Signify presents subscription options: the Secure Basic plan affords 30 days of video storage priced at $4 per camera per month, while the Secure Plus plan extends this to 60 days of storage at $10 per camera per month.
In response to user apprehensions concerning privacy and security, the capability to establish "blackout zones" within the camera feed has been introduced.
This functionality restricts other users from viewing specific areas. In contrast, the feature "activity zones" allows for the designation of particular locations where camera notifications are limited.
Gizmodo reported that the emphasis on encryption aligns with a growing concern for data security in the smart home technology sector. Past instances of unencrypted data transmission by other camera brands, including Eufy and Amazon's Ring, underscore the importance of privacy safeguards.
As Philips Hue ventures into security tech, its commitment to robust encryption and user privacy appears central to its strategy.
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