Dropcam's $199 Pro: Clearer, Richer, Faster, Wider

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By Emily Price2013-10-10 13:21:00 UTC

Wi-Fi video camera creator Dropcam launched Dropcam Pro on Thursday, the next generation of its popular internet-connected camera.

The company's previous model, the Dropcam HD, debuted last year and became one of the best-selling video monitoring cameras on Amazon. The cameras are easy to set up, and once connected to Wi-Fi can broadcast a signal to a computer, smartphone or tablet. The low-cost camera can be used as a home security solution and baby monitor — or even in animal shelters to help increase adoptions.

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You can record video feeds and store them in the cloud, then keep them private or share them with the world. The device can also send push notifications when it senses movement in your home.

The newest version of the camera offers improved video performance and a faster setup; it also incorporates Bluetooth low energy (BLE) so you can connect the camera to other devices in your home.

New and Improved

For existing Dropcam users, the Pro will be familiar.

“We wanted to make it at the core a better Dropcam, but at the same time do something new,” Dropcam CEO and co-founder Greg Duffy told Mashable during a demo of the new camera earlier this week.

Dropcam Pro adds a six-element all-glass lens. It’s the first company in the home monitoring category to use this particular type of lens, which provides a much clearer and richer picture than what you are able to get from a comparable plastic-lens camera.

Dropcam also added a new larger 1/3-inch image sensor, which dramatically improves the image quality captured with the camera. Dropcam estimates that video will be twice as sharp in the daytime and an astounding 7 times better in low-light situations.

The camera also supports a 130-degree field of view — 20% wider than the previous version.

Duffy said that 40% of Dropcam’s users use the speaker and microphone on the camera to hold conversations. The Pro's speaker is louder and clearer, and the microphone has double the sampling rate of the older version.

Software Steps Up

While the hardware in the Pro is certainly an improvement over the previous version, the update really shines on the software end.

A new pinch-to-zoom enables zooming in on a particular area of video, just as though you were looking at a still photo on your iPhone. An enhance feature transforms blurry zoomed-in video into a shot you night see on a primetime crime show, bringing more of the picture into focus.

Dropcam is also unveiling a new Activity Recognition feature on Thursday for Pro and Dropcam HD users. The feature pays attention to the activity in your shot, lets you label it and sets up notifications based on that action.

For instance, if you have a camera positioned in your living room with a shot that includes your front door, you can opt for push notifications when your front door opens (but skip the notifications for shots including your dog).

Mobile Setup

The Dropcam Pro also comes with a mobile setup option that allows you to set up the camera directly from an iOS device rather than using your computer.

Duffy says that customers often remark about the Dropcam's easy setup — and the Pro setup is much faster. Setup can be completed from start to finish in 60 seconds; just connect your Dropcam to your wireless network using your phone or computer.

Dropcam Pro is available on Thursday on Amazon, BestBuy.com and Dropcam.com for $199. The camera will also be available on Oct. 22 at the company’s first retail storefront: Apple. The Dropcam HD, its current camera, will remain on the market priced at $149.

Image: Mashable

Topics: camera, dropcam, Gadgets, Mobile, Tech, Video