iPhone-enabled home monitoring solution Canary has just hit $1.25 million in funding on startup campaign site Indiegogo, raising well over its intended goal of $100,000. The project is on track to become the most successful crowd-funded home product ever, and has received pre-orders from 67 countries in the world.
The $1.25 million commitment marks a stretch goal for project that will enable to Canary team to add additional features to the product such as an Ethernet port and adaptive video quality.
Canary is a single device that contains an HD video camera and multiple sensors that track everything from motion, temperature and air quality to vibration, sound, and activity to help keep you, your family and your home safe.
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The accompanying app and service with Canary are set to be free of charge, although the company plans to offer optional service packages that include features such as increased data storage and call center options.
Canary is currently available via preorder/crowdfunding on Indiegogo, starting at $199. The estimated delivery for preorders is May 2014.
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Also, what is to stop a burglar from just picking it up and walking away with it? Or unplug it?
I kind of wonder how this product raised so much money. Makes me wonder if the product team didn't themselves infuse a bunch of money they had already committed anyways in order to inflate the committed amount so that it would attract more attention.
I'm amused by the fact it's a single device. Meaning, you have to buy multiple for multiple rooms in the house. Suddenly, the inexpensive $200 device becomes a costly investment to "secure" your home.
1a: How many Canary devices do I need in my home?Also, what is to stop a burglar from just picking it up and walking away with it? Or unplug it?
Depends on your type of home. Here is a basic guide: 1/2/3 Bedroom(s) Apt/House with 1 main entrance: 1 device 3/4 Bedroom(s) Apt/House with 2 main entrances: 2–3 devices Mansion/Estate: 3–4 devices
6b: What if someone steals or smashes my Canary?
Canary packs an accelerometer in the event that if your Canary is moved you can be immediately notified. If the device breaks and cannot connect with our servers, our system will send an alert to your mobile phone to notify you of the break in connection. You will be able to then see footage leading up to that incident.
Interesting product. Although even with the "air quality" and other features I still think that iSmartAlarm has an upper hand with expandability, being able to rotate the camera, etc. Plus it's available now instead of waiting until May. .02
The Canary device has streaming video in HD as far I can tell the iSmartAlarm only takes five picture if someone enters your house. With Canary you can check your space whenever you like and get live video feedback. You can also talk to a person in the room or to you cats ;) using the device when you're in some hotel on the other side of the world and you can also listen what's been said back. I think those aspects appeal a lot to a lot of persons.
The makers also made it clear that if they would get more money, and there is no debate if they are going to get more money, that they will invest this money in better quality products. They only got the shelve as a demo product, so what's been promised might just be a part of what buyers now will get at the end.
The SmartAlarm also doesn't give you the temperature and and the air quality within your room all tough I'm not interested in these facts myself.
I ordered one as well and I'm looking forward to test this product next year. Open source as well, so more apps will be brought out for this device.