Those of us of a certain age will be able to uncomfortably think back in retro-terror to a time when life was so wildly dangerous that we would have to answer the phone without knowing who was on the other end of the line.
I know, I know, I can feel the anxiety rising up the spines of the post-landline generation as I type. And the same can be largely said of answering the door – unless you had a handy window to check through or even a peephole built into that very door itself, you could be opening yourself up to absolutely anyone, from a whey-faced goon intent on robbery, a Jehovah’s Witness intent on conversion, or, worse even still zombie apocalypse politicians begging both your approval and brains.
Fortunately, however, this problem started to cease back in 2013 when an entrepreneur by the name of Jamie Siminoff invented the original Ring smart doorbell, utilising Wi-Fi and your smartphone to let you see and, if you wanted, interact with whoever darkened your doorstep without having to budge a single buttock. The concept instantly chimed with an increasingly paranoid public and Ring revolution was born.
Of course, that was only the beginning and once Ring had got its future-facing foot firmly in the door, it expanded into all manner of smart security stuff, including some very clever video cameras and full-on advanced home alarm options.
Which brings us smartly to today and the latest additions to Ring’s range of home protecting high-tech. Featuring four new products available late October/early November, if you’ve yet to get serious about security, Ring’s new quartet of burglar-beating brilliance should absolutely a-peal…
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Ring Spotlight Cam Pro
Most smart video cameras come with motion detection of some sort. However, even if you can define the parameters of the detection field to your own desires, depending on where and how your properly looks out, you may find yourself often alerted to phantom flashes.
However, Ring’s new Spotlight Cam Pro utilises a form of radar in the sexy shape of ‘3D Motion Detection’ which allows the camera to measure the distance and angle of an object once it crossed the detection threshold, alerting you to the presence of your visitor via the smartphone app so you can view on-screen. But not only that, no, thanks to Bird’s Eye View, you can then also pinpoint and view your guest (invited or otherwise) using an aerial map, so that you always know where they are.
All very clever indeed. So, add to that 1080p video with HDR and Audio+ for perfect clear and crisp sound and video, twin LED spotlights to illuminate night callers, two-way talk and even a security siren just in case that two-way conversation doesn’t end well, and the Ring Cam Pro completely has your home’s back.
Available in battery powered format for £199.99 from October 26 and in Solar or Wired iterations at £219.99.
Buy now £199.99, Amazon
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus
If you’re happy to risk not having radar because, I don’t know, you live in a particular secure area or, indeed, just don’t have the quality of enemies capable of beating a smart cam to warrant the extra expense, then the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus may be right up your security street.
Featuring a whoppingly wide-angled 1080p HD video camera with colour night vision capability, the Spotlight Cam Plus comes with plug-in or rechargeable battery power options, allowing users to switch between the two depending on needs, but with Wired and Solar versions also on the way, soon the cam choice will be even more expansive.
Naturally, your motion detection field is fully customisable, to keep the area as tight or as broad as required, while dual LED lights flood the field when triggered to allow for clear colour video capture, and of course send that live feed and accompanying audio straight to your smartphone in case you wish to engage in any two-way chat with whoever woke your smart sentient.
The Ring Cam Plus Battery and Plug-In option will be available on October 26, priced at £179.99, whilst the Spotlight Cam Plus Solar and Wired will be available soon at £209.99 and £199.99 respectively.
Buy now £180.00, Amazon
Ring Alarm Panic Button
Not due to drop until November 2, smart cameras could well be considered the only line of defence against unsavoury types you require, but for those that want that extra comfort blanket of security cover, Ring is releasing its Alarm Panic Button.
Mostly summed up by its name, the Ring Alarm Panic Button is a portable fob that you can keep on your person or by the bedside and customise to trigger events such as ‘Fire’, ‘Medical’ or just ‘Panic’, after which your alarm siren will shriek and auto alerts will be sent out to your pre-programmed shared users to let them know you’re in distress.
Also, should you invest in a Ring Protect Plus subscription (more on that in a moment), you can opt-in to Assisted Monitoring that places automated calls to three emergency contacts whenever your Alarm Panic Button is pressed.
A great extra level of personal security for more elderly members of the family or perhaps those prone to medical issues, the Ring Alarm Panic Button is priced at a more than reasonable £24.99.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
Ring Intercom
Bringing a lovely little bit of smart to those who live in the likes of an apartment/flat in a block shared with other tenants with a communal communications device (button-buzz external intercom), the new Intercom from Ring takes your existing audio intercom handset and transforms it into an all-action, access-from-anywhere, complete comms kits for your flat and you… regardless of where you happen to be.
Connected to your indoor intercom and synched up with the Ring app on your smartphone, from that point onwards you’ll be able to answer said intercom from anywhere in the world thanks to real-time alerts and two-way talk, plus if you’ve been delayed while out and about and a friend or relative calls, you can even remotely buzz them in.
Also, as Ring is very much in bed with Amazon, if you happen to be an obsessive online shopper, a special Auto-Verify for Amazon Deliveries can be activated, after which drivers must pass a verification check through the Amazon delivery app before being granted (time-limited access) to the building in order to make deliveries.
A clever bit of kit that simply wires to what your already have (compatibility allowing, of course) so now it’s simple to turn you big, dumb apartment into an awesome asmartment. Yes, I know that’s not a recognised word. Yet.
Buy now £89.99, Amazon
Ring Protect Plus
You are absolutely free, should it suit you, to simply buy and install your varying Ring kit and rely on nothing but the app to alert you and let you interact in the moment.
But, for those who may want to go a bit more than basic, for a mere £8 a month you can upgrade to a Ring Protection Plan which adds extra elements of security. Without this, you cannot review your missed alerts or past videos, whereas Protect allows you to scroll through your daily timeline unencumbered, going back 180-days.
You can also opt into Assisted Monitoring as we looked at with the Alarm Panic Button, so that your selected contacts are immediately alerted during an alarm. Both of which seem like excellent value for money for a tad under a tenner a month. But the benefits don’t stop there. With Extended Warranties for all devices and 10 per cent off other, select, products at Ring.com, it’s a bona fide bargain.
From £3.49/month or £34.99/year.
Buy now, Ring
Verdict
So, there we have it. Building on nine years of smart success, Ring bring four new products into the fold that take home security and caller convenience to the very next level. Designed to protect your property and save you from the horror of ever having to answer the door without first knowing who’s hanging there, the latest additions to Ring’s every growing raft will soon become 21st century home essentials.
