LAUNCH OF ADT’S DIY SMART HOME SECURITY SYSTEM MEDIA COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS FLIP BOOK Client: Blue by ADT
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
C|Net: ADT just Formed its Own DIY Home Security Brand, Blue by ADT
PC Mag: ADT Launches Blue, Its First DIY Home Security Platform
Engadget: ADT’s DIY Smart Home Cameras Won’t Require a Hub or Long-term Contract
TechHive: ADT takes on Nest and Ring with New Home Security Cameras and a Video Doorbell
SIW Security Infowatch: Retooled DIY Offering Highlights ADT’s CES Announcements
Digital Trends: The Best Smart Security Cameras of CES 2020: Arlo, ADT and a Bee drone
Insider: The 10 Best New Smart Home Gadgets We Saw at CES 2020
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ADT just Formed its Own DIY Home Security Brand, Blue by ADT Its first products include the Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera, Indoor Camera and Outdoor Camera. By: Megan Wollerton | January 6, 2020 6:00 a.m. PT Home security company ADT is expanding its offerings today with the announcement of its own DIY brand — Blue by ADT. Its inaugural devices, the Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera, Indoor Camera and Outdoor Camera (all $199), are designed to work as stand-alone cameras or together with additional DIY Blue by ADT security accessories launching later this year.
The new Blue by ADT cameras don’t require a hub, but an optional Z-Wave- and Thread-enabled base station (a prototype of which is pictured above) is slated for this spring.
ADT was founded in 1874 and the brand has long focused on its lineup of professionally installed and monitored home security and smart home devices. You pay ADT a monthly fee, the company installs the devices (ranging from door/window sensors to motion sensors and smart locks) and monitors your home’s security for you. If you have to move or decide to cancel your plan early for another reason, you have to pay an early termination fee.
ADT has held to that structure for a long time, but today’s decision shows the significance of the DIY home security market to the broader home security industry. Companies like SimpliSafe, Nest, Abode, Ring and others are offering similar devices without locking customers into a long-term contract.
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Here’s a closer look at the three security cameras Blue by ADT just announced.
Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera The Doorbell Camera ($199) has 1080p HD livestreaming, a 180-degree field of view, motion and person detection and two-way talk. The doorbell is hardwired and works with the Blue by ADT app for view streaming, reviewing saved clips and making changes to your device settings.
Blue by ADT Indoor Camera and Outdoor Camera The $199 Blue by ADT Indoor and Outdoor Cameras have similar designs, features and specs.
The Blue by ADT Outdoor Camera has an adjustable mount. Blue by ADT
Both products have 1080p HD livestreaming, two-way audio and a built-in microSD card slot for local storage. The local storage compartment supports up to a 128GB microSD card, but a card is not included with either purchase. The indoor camera is supposed to listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and send a custom alert to you if it thinks there’s a problem. The indoor camera also has a short-term battery backup to help if there’s a power outage. We’re excited to test out the new Doorbell Camera, Indoor Camera and Outdoor Camera — and any future devices — to see how Blue by ADT compares with other DIY security companies. The three Blue by ADT devices, along with a Wi-Fi extender and chime accessory will be available for preorder starting January 6. The devices will ship before the end of the month. Follow along with all of our CES 2020 coverage.
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ADT Launches Blue, Its First DIY Home Security Platform The home security firm’s first do-it-yourself system features extensive voice assistant support and three IP cameras, with more devices on the way. By Will Greenwald | January 6, 2020
LAS VEGAS — Home security and automation firm ADT has unveiled its first do-it-yourself (DIY) home security platform, providing an alternative to its professionally installed security systems. Blue by ADT is the company’s newest product line, a series of individual home security components that users can install themselves and configure with options for professional monitoring and storage. Blue by ADT is the result of ADT’s 2019 acquisition of LifeShield, which specializes in DIY home security products, including cameras, sensors, and hubs. Blue is LifeShield’s first fully integrated ADT product line.
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Blue launches with three home security cameras available for $199 each: the Blue by ADT Indoor Camera, Outdoor Camera, and Doorbell Camera. All three cameras record 1080p video and incorporate motion sensors in addition to video recording. The Indoor and Doorbell cameras both feature speakers for twoway communication, and the Outdoor camera includes IP65 weather-resistance. The cameras feature facial recognition, letting users create lists of known people the platform can identify. Custom motion-detection zones are also available on Blue, along with smart alerts. These features do not require a subscription to enable. The cameras also have SD card slots and include 24 hours of cloud video storage; 60-day cloud video storage is available for $2.99 per month per camera, or $12.99 for unlimited cameras at a location. Besides the cameras, Blue by ADT also launches with a $49 Extender + Chime device. It’s a Wi-Fi extender designed to give the Outdoor Camera greater range, and enables a wireless chime in conjunction with the Doorbell Camera. All Blue devices integrate with multiple voice assistants and home automation systems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. They’re also compatible with Z-Wave devices, and support IFTTT. The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera even functions as an Alexa device on its own, providing access to the voice assistant with all of its home automation functions. ADT is launching Blue with just the three cameras and the Wi-Fi extender, but more products are planned for Q2 2020 to round out the platform as a full DIY security suite. The company is working on both a standalone home security hub and a wall panel, along with additional sensors and other devices.
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ADT’s DIY Smart Home Cameras Won’t Require a Hub or Long-term Contract The cameras are available for pre-order and will begin shipping later this month. By: C. Fisher | January 6, 2020
Home security company ADT is creating a new smart home security brand called Blue by ADT. Today, the company is unveiling the brand’s first three products: smart indoor, outdoor and doorbell cameras. Each of the new DIY devices can be used on its own or configured with others as you wish, and you won’t need a smart home hub to operate them. Blue by ADT is based on work by smart home company LifeShield, which ADT acquired in 2019. Like those introduced today, future devices will be DIY, so you can setup a smart home unique to your needs, and customers can choose from self-monitoring, a month-tomonth subscription service of continuous monitoring. 8
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The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera films 1080-pixel HD, and you can view the live and recorded footage through the free Blue by ADT mobile app. The camera will soon gain Alexa voice controls, and it will detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to let you know if there’s an issue. In the future, it will pair with Blue by ADT sensors and keypad, meaning you’ll be able to use it as a security hub if you choose. The Blue by ADT Outdoor Camera is similar but rated at IP-65, making it weather resistant. It also has night vision capabilities. In addition, you can opt for the Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera, which lets you talk with visitors, as well as monitor the video feed. The doorbell sends push notifications and a voice announcement from an Alexa-enabled device when someone is at the door. All of the cameras include a facial recognition feature that alerts you when a familiar face appears. You’ll get up to 24 hours of free video storage, or you can purchase additional cloud storage plans. The cameras, which cost $199 each, are available for pre-order now, and ADT says they’ll ship by the end of the month. Update 1/6/2020 10:20AM ET: This story was corrected to reflect that the Blue by ADT cameras are now available for pre-order and will ship by the end of January 2020.
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ADT takes on Nest and Ring with New Home Security Cameras and a Video Doorbell No longer just a service provider, ADT now offers stand-alone home security products. By: Ben Patterson | Senior Writer, TechHive | January 6, 2020 6:00 AM PST
Given its acquisition of LifeShield nearly a year ago, ADT is no stranger to DIY security cameras, sensors and doorbells. But the home security stalwart has yet to dabble in standalone security gadgets—until now, anyway. Debuting here at CES are three new ADT security cameras under the company’s new Blue by ADT brand: an indoor camera, a battery-powered outdoor camera, and a doorbell camera, each of which can work independently, without a hub. 10
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On sale now, the new Wi-Fi-enabled cameras (which each retail for $199) mark something of a departure for ADT, which offers a series of multi-piece security kits through its LifeShield brand but is only now wading into the standalone security camera market, which is currently dominated by such smart security giants as Amazon-owned Ring and Google’s Nest brand. First up is the Blue HD Smart Camera, which boasts a familiar litany of security camera features, including 1080p resolution, a 130-degree field of view, facial recognition, customizable motion zones, night vision, a motion sensor, and two-way audio with dual microphones and noise cancellation. You also get onboard Alexa, the ability to detect smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm sirens, and up to 70 minutes of battery backup, while DECT Ultra Low Energy (ULE) support will allow the camera to pair with upcoming keypad and sensor accessories. Next comes the rechargeable Blue Outdoor Battery Camera, which comes with many of the same features as the Blue indoor camera, including 1080p resolution, a 130-degree field of view, facial recognition, two-way audio, and customizable motion controls. The outdoor Blue camera has an IP65 certification for resistance to water sprayed from a nozzle, while an optional $49 low-power Wi-Fi extender/chime combo is designed to boost the outdoor camera’s range and battery life. Finally, there’s the wired Blue HD Video Doorbell, which offers 1080p video resolution, a 180-degree field of view, night vision, two-way audio for chatting with visitors, person detection, and (again) customizable motion zones.
The new Blue by ADT cameras don’t require a hub, but an optional Z-Waveand Thread-enabled base station (a prototype of which is pictured above) is slated for this spring.
The three new Blue by ADT cameras will arrive with Alexa integration at launch, with Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit support slated to arrive later. HomeKit Secure Video support is also in the works but not yet finalized, ADT reps said.
Both the indoor and outdoor Blue camera will offer local SD video storage, while all three cameras will support cloud storage starting at $2.99 for 60 days of single-camera storage or $12.99 per month for unlimited cameras.
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Additional features for the Blue cameras include IFTTT integration, plus smart alerts with animated previews of captured events. The new Blue by ADT cameras will be joined this spring by a Z-Wave- and Thread-enabled Blue base station, along with accessories such as a keypad, door and window sensors, and a water leak detector. You can also use the new Blue cameras with an existing LifeShield installation. Execs at ADT believe the company’s reputation for reliability and privacy sets them apart, not to mention its ability to offer tight integration with its own professional monitoring service. Still, it’ll be interesting to see if ADT can catch up given the huge head start that both Nest and Ring enjoy when it comes to plug-and-play security products.
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Retooled DIY Offering Highlights ADT’s CES Announcements Company also unveils enhancements to ADT Command and Control system From: ADT Security Services Inc | January 7, 2020
AT CES 2020, ADT announced a retooled DIY smart home security portfolio with the launch of a new brand, Blue by ADT, which will initially include three standalone smart cameras and a WiFi extender plus doorbell chime. Based on LifeShield products, which were acquired by ADT in 2019, “Blue by ADT provides lifestyle-driven security solutions for customers who prefer the flexibility of highly portable equipment and no-contract, month-to-month professional monitoring options,” a press release says. Take a closer look at these new products and features, along with an exclusive interview with ADT executives LIVE from their CES booth later this week on SecurityInfoWatch.com The company adds that LifeShield will become Blue by ADT going forward, and existing LifeShield systems will continue to be supported by the Blue by ADT team and are interop-
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erable with Blue by ADT cameras. The systems work with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT so customers have more options to integrate their smart home devices for a seamless, fully integrated DIY smart home and smart security solution. Three Blue by ADT smart cameras and a WiFi Extender + Chime were made available for pre-order on Jan. 6 and will begin shipping before the end of January. Additional Blue by ADT security system components, including a base, keypad and sensors will launch in Spring 2020. Additionally at CES, the company unveiled new add-ons, features and enhancements for its Command and Control professionally installed security and smart home system as well, including: · Connected Car Integration: In January, ADT will offer a new DIY installable device that integrates with ADT Control, allowing customers to track their vehicles. In addition, customers can create home automations that respond to GPS positioning of their vehicle so their smart home can prepare for their arrival or departure based on their location. E.g. turn on or off lights, open the garage door, unlock locks, adjust the temperature. · Streaming Video Recorder: In Spring 2020, ADT will introduce a new 720p streaming video recorder to keep customers’ security video footage accessible and private in their home. It allows for continuous recording of up to eight devices with up to 1TB of storage. · Pro Series Cameras: Launching in March 2020, ADT will roll out new Pro Series indoor, outdoor and mini dome cameras with 1080p HD video capabilities. · Enhanced Analytics: In the first half of 2020, ADT Command and Control will incorporate new, enhanced analytics to improve video detection and filtering of subjects. In addition to noting the difference between people, vehicles, and pets, the system can also detect if a visitor is loitering too long.
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The Best Smart Security Cameras of CES 2020: Arlo, ADT and a Bee Drone By Alina Bradford | January 8, 2020 This story is part of our continuing coverage of CES 2020, including tech and gadgets from the showroom floor. If you’re in the market for a new smart security camera, CES 2020 has some great new options that are being unveiled this week. We’ve seen three new cameras from ADT, a cool new floodlight from Arlo, and even a security camera drone that mimics a bee. Here are all the best smart security cameras and gadgets we’ve seen so far.
New Blue by ADT Cameras The Blue by ADT lineup got three new members at CES this year: the Blue by ADT Indoor Camera, Blue by ADT Outdoor Camera, and the Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera. All of the cameras capture video at 1080p resolution, have facial recognition technology, and are compatible with existing LifeShield systems and Blue by ADT systems. You can also control other Alexa compatible devices using voice commands through the devices. The new Blue by ADT cameras are $199 each and are available for pre-order now.
Ring Access Controller Pro While the Ring Access Controller Pro isn’t a camera, we felt it deserved a mention. When combined with your Ring security cameras it can let you see who is at your gate, then you can open the gate remotely. It can also be paired with Key by Amazon so your boxes get delivered inside your gate, safe from package bandits. The system is available now for $299.
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Sunflower Labs’ Bee Mark this smart security camera as our pick for strangest entry of the year. The Sunflower Labs’ Bee security drone detects movement, then sweeps into video the source of the movement without the need for a human to control it. The Bee, of course, comes with a hive, which is where it charges. The Hive is also the Bee’s brain and boy, is this bee smart. It has ultrasonic collision-avoidance sensors to keep it from crashing into things, and it also has GPS. The Bee is available for pre-order now with a deposit of $999. The base price of the system starts at $9,995.
Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera Arlo has been one of Digital Trends’ favorite security camera companies for a while now, so we were more than a bit excited when the brand announced its new Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera. This camera is jam-packed with goodies. It has a bright spotlight, a 160-degree field of view, a built-in siren, 2K video with HDR, color night vision and two-way audio. Even better? It’s battery-powered so there’s no need for a professional installation. The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera will be available this spring for $250.
Abode Smart Camera The Abode Smart Camera wowed us at CES because it can be either a doorbell or a security camera. It’s made for indoor and outdoor use and can be mounted just about anywhere, making it super versatile. It also has a lot of great features, like it can learn to recognize faces over time and store all the faces it sees in a database that you can view to see just who has been creeping around your property. If that weirds you out, don’t worry. The function can be turned on and off. When the Smart Camera is released (no word on a date yet) it is expected to retail for $199. 16
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The 10 Best New Smart Home Gadgets We Saw at CES 2020 By Monica Chin | January 10, 2020 10:44am This week, thousands of tech companies descended upon Las Vegas for CES 2020. The Insider Picks staff searched the show floor far and wide for the most exciting smart gadgets, from tech giants like Samsung and LG, up-andcoming startups, and every company in between. We got our hands on dozens of products, including smart speakers, smart locks, smart bulbs, smart plugs, and even a smart toothbrush. Whether you’re a smart home enthusiast or just starting out in the space, you’re bound to find a product or two that you like. Without further ado, here are the 10 best smart home devices of CES 2020. We’ll update this article when these products become available for purchase.
Best Smart Home Security System Blue by ADT Indoor Camera ($199 — available for pre-order now, shipping by the end of January) ADT is one of the best-known security brands, but hasn’t been a big player in the DIY space — until now.
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ADT Blue is a lineup of small smart-home devices compatible with ADT’s LifeShield systems. ADT plans to make a number of different security devices, which customers can mix and match based on their needs. ADT unveiled its first three Blue devices at CES: an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and a video doorbell, all for $199. That’s certainly pricey, but these are advanced cameras, and they’ll also function as security hubs for the rest of the Blue by ADT system once it’s launched. All three include facial recognition (with the ability to distinguish familiar faces), Alexa integration (with Google and HomeKit to follow), two-way audio with noise cancellation, custom motion zones and the option to add up to 128GB extra storage with an SD card. In other words, this looks like a top-notch DIY system, and it’s backed by a security company that knows exactly what it’s doing.
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