Dropcam, Inc., makers of the leading Wi-Fi video monitoring camera and cloud service, launched the Dropcam Pro and the Dropcam in Canada this week, offering consumers the industry’s best home video monitoring and do-it-yourself security solution.
Dropcam Pro and Dropcam (formerly Dropcam HD) are the only Wi-Fi video monitoring solutions that offer simple and fast setup with intelligent monitoring features to drop in on the places and people you care about from anywhere in the world. The latest offering, Dropcam Pro, sets a new benchmark in home video monitoring with the following key features:
Stunning video quality. Dropcam Pro incorporates a six-element, all-glass lens (a first in the home monitoring category), and a larger image sensor to provide 2x sharper video during the day and 7x better performance in low-light conditions and at night.
Wider field of view. Dropcam Pro supports an amazing 130-degree field of view – 20% wider than the prior-generation Dropcam.
Zoom. Dropcam now offers pinch-to-zoom with an enhance feature that supports up to 8x zoom for Dropcam Pro and 4x zoom for Dropcam.
Better audio. Dropcam Pro has a new microphone with double the sampling rate and a new speaker for sound that’s louder and clearer.
Mobile setup. Get up and running without a computer. You can now set up Dropcam Pro directly from your iOS device (iPhone 4S or later, iPad 3rd generation or later, and iPad mini).
Dual band Wi-Fi. Dropcam Pro supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks for improved wireless connectivity.
Activity Recognition (beta). Using advanced computer vision and machine learning technology, Dropcam Cloud Recording can now recognize motion patterns in your video stream and group together like activities. Customers can name these activities and customize alerts for them.
Bluetooth LE. Dropcam Pro integrates a low power Bluetooth LE radio that is used for mobile setup and allows Dropcam to integrate with additional devices.
“Our newest camera, the Dropcam Pro, is truly the most advanced on the market, offering Canadians unmatched video performance, premium audio quality, anytime access, and easy mobile setup,” said Greg Duffy, CEO and co-founder of Dropcam. “With features like zoom and enhance, Dropcam Pro is an amazing camera today, and it will be even better tomorrow as we shape it into the ideal hub for consumers to see, sense, and control other devices in their home.”
Dropcam utilizes bank-level security to encrypt all video streams so customers can rest assured that no one but them can access their video. Dropcam Pro and Dropcam include full 720p streaming, motion and sound activity alerts, night vision, two-way talk, and pinch-to-zoom. With the optional Cloud Video Recording service customers can access stored footage for the past seven or thirty days.
Sounds impressive, right? When I was offered the opportunity to be one of the first in Canada to check out Dropcam, I was intrigued. Having this little buddy to use as an in-home security system posed a few interesting ideas to me! I don’t have a nanny, though I know many people would find it’s use as a nanny-cam (or babysitter cam for date-nights!) beneficial, though personally I’d suggest not using it to spy but rather as a reminder of watchful eyes always. People with elderly parents may find this useful for in-home or in-care monitoring as well. I also thought about my friend who is a dog breeder – she could use a Dropcam in her puppy nursery to keep an eye on things. The possibilities are endless, really.
For me, the best spot to place this was in my front window, keeping a watchful eye on our just-purchased Halloween decorations (the story goes that I went out on the weekend and bought one, my husband went out on Monday and bought three more!) I fully realize that yes, the cat’s behind is what I get to stare at for the next few weeks when I look out my window! But I’m happy to keep a watchful eye on them regardless.
Set up was extremely easy – this from the woman who hates setting up anything “techy” and usually gets her husband to do it – and both my husband and I can keep a watchful eye on our Dropcam using our iPhones by signing into our Dropcam account (a simple App download). I quite love it and have been showing it to friends and family via screenshots on my phone and in person when they stop by!
Dropcam Pro retails for $219.99 while Dropcam (formerly Dropcam HD) is available for $159.99. Both cameras are available today at amazon.ca
Live video monitoring is always free. Optional Cloud Video Recording (CVR) plans are $9.95/month for seven days of continuous recording, $29.95/month for thirty days. Discounts are available for annual subscriptions and multiple cameras.
Outside my home. This would be GREAT!
This would give me peace of mind :),
Hey Lorie, please ensure you answer the mandatory question to be entered!
my front doorway!! would make me feel so much more relaxed when going out
This would be great pointed to the driveway so you can see when someone may pulled in the driveway. This will give me a few seconds to tidy a little and also for security reasons;
I would watch the kids in the backyard.
front of my house for security
I would drop in on my front door to see who’s coming.
I would also do the front of my house, seems to be the best spot.
My neighbours! lol
I would love this for the back yard at night but also for the kids in the day time!
I would use this to see what wildlife is coming through our yard – yikes!
I would like to drop in on my own home to ensure its safe and secure when I am away – esp with travel
I think I would put it by my front door!
I would drop in on my front door to see who’s knocking at the door.
My front door area. So I can see who’s coming.
On my dog!! The other day we left him with a sweater on and somehow he took it off!! I want to see how! Thanks for the giveaway!
my cats
I would drop in on my backyard to keep on eye on the kids!
We are getting a puppy, so I would drop cam on our new puppy and our cat to see if they get along when we are not home
I think I’d like this at my front door or my sliding door! Thanks !
I would drop in on our front door as well. We never know who is there until we open it and sometimes with all the marketers we would rather not answer. This would be perfect.
In front of my house for security
At our front door, as a security measure!
The front yard – so sick of unexpected visitors…
I would like to watch the wildlife!
I’d love to watch my kitty during the day and know she’s ok.
Actually I’d give to my mom for her to use to watch over her backyard area
I’d use it to watch my husband and son playing on Saturday mornings, when I’m still in bed with tea and a book.
I’d use it to drop in on my son while I’m travelling for work and watch him play or sleep. 🙂
I’d drop in on my kids!!!
I’d use the Dropcam to drop in on the front door of my home
My front porch pointed at my mailbox. Stuff has been stolen from there before.
I would put this outside to see what furry little critter keeps digging in my flower beds! 🙂
Very important in todays world
My apartment, I’ve come home wayy too many times and stepped in and felt like someone had been in here.. nothing missing, & I can never tell if anything has been moved.. but, very strange.
My daughter a quiet toddler is all the reason I need to drop in lol
I’d definitely also drop in on my front door.
I’d use the Dropcam to drop in on the front door of my house
I would drop it in the loft of my garage to overlook my driveway
I would put at my gate to see who keeps going in my backyard by my bedroom window. Creeeeepy.
I’d like to have one outside to keep an eye out for any unwanted visitors, and probably get another to watch my puppy while I’m at work 🙂
Outside in my yard to keep an eye on the dog and house.
In my back alley where I park my truck, or in my front and side yard
The front door, I could avoid the nosy neighbor but answer the mail delivery.
we live at the end of a dead street that goes right into a park and people are always wandering around out there and we have had things taken or damaged on our property…..:-( Never been able to catch them in the act….sure would like too….
My parking lot! Last year vehicles that were parked on the street were slashed…creepy. Would love to catch someone actually doing something wrong…gee…what does that say about me??!!
I would drop in on our detached garage door. It was broken into once before and a lot of my husband’s expensive tools were stolen. Luckily, the police caught the culprit but now I’m always nervous of it getting broken into again.
I would drop in on our front door so I could see who was there before answering. My husband works nights and I don’t always feel comfortable answering the door after dark, when I’m home alone with the babies.
i would ask hubs to keep it in the front yard by the door, we have froisted glass and i would love to see whos behind my door
I would definitely ‘drop in’ on our Son who is away attending university. Thanks for the great giveaway opportunity. Keep up the exceptional blogging!
My kids
I would use it out the front window for security
My backyard at night. To see what animals visit and who is eating my flowers
i would drop in on my son when he’s sleeping
I would drop in on my dogs
I would drop in on who’s at the front door.
Our front driveway and yard, had a lot of vehicle break ins
I’d drop in on my partner in the kitchen!
Considering my house and van were broke into in a months time I would love this! Creepy waking up to your house door open!
keep an eye on our house while we are away camping
I would check in on my paraplegic husband when he’s home alone.
my house while im on vacation
I would set it on the front door.
it would point to my driveway
I would use this for the door for security reasons.
I would like to Drop In on the main entrance! Let it be almost like a door bell.
Since I am a catsitter and have cat clients in the house, I would “drop in” on them while I am out grocery shopping from my phone 🙂
I would drop into my home and see exactly how those little dogs manage to drag all those shoes and boots to the living room.
My driveway watching the vehicles. We’ve had our gas stolen twice in a year!
In the window. Two of our vehicles have been keyed this year.
My hubby would love this! He has been looking into cams like this.
I am entering your giveaway.
It would be great to win The Dropcam.
In response to your question of “What would you drop in on?”
I would use it in my front window to keep an eye out on my front yard.
Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!!
i would love to drop in on the garage to see the status of the vehicle repairs.
Love to spy on people breaking into the yard!
I’d like just to see what the dog does while we are gone…I have some suspicions but would like to see for myself!
My family to see what they are up to at home when I’m not around.
Just to keep an eye on my house when I am not at home I guess…..oooh or to film the bear when he comes for his nightly visit
i would just want to keep an eye on the house while away, put my mind at ease
my dogs would love to see what they do whiling we are out
Watch over the home when all is out
Long story short, find out who is the guy that uses our backyard as an escape not to pay his taxi fares…
My kids playing in the yard
I would drop in on the front door, I have to open to see who is there and I live alone with my daughter so I usually don’t even open it!
it would be great to keep an eye on the house when we are on vacation
…Sounds great…I would use it to ‘Drop’ in on my front hall.
my front door! we spend most of the time upstairs in the loft
on my girls!!!
I live in a pretty rough neighbourhood, so I would to drop in on what’s happening outside! 🙂
I’ve always wondered what our dog gets up to during the day when we are at work/school/play? He’d be my first “case study” with the drop cam!
I would drop in on my cats.
I would drop in on my 1 year old puppy!!!!
Looks like a great tool with many uses.
I would use this at home, to make sure the house is safe.
my cat when I’m not home
the babysitter
the family when I’m away
I would love to be able to see who is at the front door!
My girls when they are sleeping!
I’d like to drop in my home while I’m away on vacation or drop in on my pet while we are out.
My 2 Teen Boys…Sigh
my children
I would Dropcam my neighbors letting there dog use my back yard as toiler. We don’t have any pets at all and some how we have dog dodo all over our back yard. We have called the cops, They say if we didn’t see them letting there dog dodo all over our back yard them there is nothing they can do to help us. So we need video and if we have this I think that we will check them.
I think I would give it to my bro cause he has two babies to watch on
our garage which gets broken in to
My pets when we are out!
the front yard as we have a problem with vandalism
My baby girl at naptime
I would use this to try and catch the thief that has been stealing fuel from my husbands equipment every time we leave and go somewhere!
I’d leave it pointed at the back yard, some one is always opening our gate, why?
I would monitor the outside doors.
I would be dropping in to see what my dog is up to when I am not at home. I believe it would be very interesting to see what he does do when I am not home
I would drop in to see if the people at the door are deliveries or solicitation.
ohhhh id drop in on lots of stuff 😉
I would love to see what’s wandering around our neighborhood in the wee hours. Neighbors spotted a deer sleeping on our front lawn last spring…and we’ve had coyotes too…wonder what else is out there.
We have had our car broken into a few times recently so this would be great for keeping an eye on it.
It’d make a great baby monitor!
Wow, this looks awesome! At first I was wondering, what on earth is a Dropcam? This is great! i definitely would love gift this for my parents because their backdoor doesn’t have any windows for them to check who is there.
I would check in on my dog at home by herself during the day.
I would drop in on my balcony, which is alley adjacent. My beautiful barbeque is vulnerable and i would love to get it a babysitter.
Hubby would be super happy, someone try to still his poor yaris rims.
Our puppy when we’re both at work!
I would use it for my little ones 🙂
I would “drop in” on my children
This would be great for the basement where my dogs always like to hang out!
Would be a nice thing to have
Would love one of these to give to my daughter for her baby, we just found out he will be born with a couple of health issues and this would help to ease her mind.
Our car since they have been broken into.
I’m really hoping now that I will win this. I came home last Saturday from a girls night out and I saw some one in my back yard just standing there looking at me. I call the cops I just love our cops in my town. The cop told me that because he didn’t see any one in my back yard that there is nothing they can do. All I want was for a cop to drive around and just keep an eye out on my house for a couple of day so I can sleep a little easier that night. I live in the city and my back yard leads to a steam so there is no reason for some to be back there. Please let me the lucky one to win.
My kid that is suppose to be doing homework and is reading a book not related to school in any way LOL
I’d drop it on the window ledge by my door.
To monitor our little guy .
We live on the corner of a major through-street across from a park and between 2 schools, so it would be good to monitor the general goings-on outside.
I would use it for my front door at home. Someone tried to break into our house twice and our door was crowbared but they didnt get in. This would be great to have so we could have proof if it happened again.
LOL I want to find the people responsible for not cleaning up after their dogs. I clean up after mine EVERY TIME…I’ve even cleaned up other dogs poop just so I don’t have to step in it…AND I STILL END UP STEPPING IN IT. I would love to capture them on camera and show it to the landlord. People who don’t clean up after their dogs shouldn’t even own them! You need to look at their poo to make sure they are not sick. I see all kinds of black tar like poo and diarhrea around here all the time. It’s sad and sick 🙁 I would so love to win this camera, just so I can catch the dummies. muahahaha
I would love to have this to monitor what is going on outside our house. Our car has been broken into and recently there have been a lot of thefts in the area.
My garage!! My dog is out there and we have found signs of people in and out.
I would drop in on my backyard to watch the animals that pass through when I’m not around. Deer, Rabbits, Owls, Coyotes, Muskrats …. it’s a regular zoo out there !!
i could definitely put this to good use in my home
I would you drop in on my pets
Sounds silly. I would probably use this in my upstairs front window to monitor garbage bins on garbage and recycling day. Our collectors come at all hours and in order to check to see if they have been, it is either shoes on, walking out to the driveway or opening the garage door several times daily. It is a pain and on windy days the bins are sure to be found down the street, if at all.
i would use it for the front door/yard.
my backyard.. we have 4 kids and have had sumone try to break in before, so this would be ideal, and make me feel more safe
My children
I would use it at my front entrance – always concerned someone will try to break in while we are sleeping!
I would use this at my front door/yard
I would drop in on my house if I am away for a day or more to make sure all is ok.
My office
My front entrance way to many people on my street and I worry about missing mail or deliveries. I would also like to know when someone has come by and to see if its someone I know at the door before I bother answering it.
I would use it to monitor our street.. we have a problem neighbour doing things to cars!
I would use it for surveillance of my yard.
of our back porch!!!!!!! so we can see the cars and our back door.
i would drop in on my kids playing in the yard behind my garage I just can’t see what they’r doin from the house
Definitely my front porch. Thanks so much for the chance
My kitchen – this would be great to check up on my older cat that refuses to eat when you walk into the room. When I get asked questions by the vet about his eating habits I haven’t been able to answer. This is a perfect solution for that!
I’d drop in and watch my cat sleep.
Id be dropping in on my pups when we arent home… 2 huskies in a house all alone get into a lot of mischief.
I would drop in on my baby.
My kids
I would drop in on my two kids.
The front of my house for sure especially when hubby is on shift. Would be peace of mind!!!
I’d drop in on my kids. They’re too young to be left on their own, but it would be neat to see them from a different room even to see what they’re doing.
The cats and dog, though I’m pretty sure they just laze about in the sun all day!
I’d drop in on my kids and/or my yard!