Netgear jumps on the smart home bandwagon with a weatherproof connected camera

By Drew Prindle November 5, 2014

netgear arlo smart home security camera in house — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Netgear, a company best known for its wireless routers and other networking equipment, has apparently decided to dip its toes into the connected home pool. Earlier today, the company announced the launch of a new IP security camera — the first of many products it plans to release under its newly-minted Arlo smart home brand.

In terms of specs, the Arlo camrea is pretty stacked. Netgear has equipped the camera with a 120-degree lens, infrared night vision, 720p video recording, and a completely weatherproof exterior. It’s also outfitted with internal batteries that reportedly last for about four to six months, allowing you to place the camera practically anywhere in your house without fiddling with any wires. All footage the device records is sent to Netgear’s cloud storage service, where users get 200MB of space for free– roughly enough to store about two to three weeks of footage for the average user. If you need more room, you can upgrade with a paid monthly plan to get more capacity.

Related: Netgear’s new tri-band, six-antenna router is designed for homes with 9 or more Wi-Fi devices

Netgear has also built an accompanying smartphone app for Arlo that works on both iOS and Android. With the app, users can adjust the camera’s settings, tap into live video feeds from up to four different cameras simultaneously, and get real-time alerts when activity is detected. To expand functionality further, Netgear has also established partnerships with other smart home manufacturers, and even joined the AllSeen alliance, so devices in the Arlo ecosystem will presumably work with a broad range of connected fixtures and appliances in the future.

A package of two cameras and a base station will cost $350, while additional cameras will cost $170 apiece.

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Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

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