Ecobee SmartCamera Firmware Update Adds HomeKit Secure Video Support

Ecobee has updated its SmartCamera to support Apple's HomeKit Secure Video, which allows the cameras to capture and store recordings securely in iCloud.

ecobee SmartCamera
The firmware update means SmartCamera owners have another option aside from Ecobee's $5-a-month subscription for video recording and movement notifications.

With ‌‌HomeKit Secure Video‌‌, video footage is encrypted and stored in ‌iCloud‌ rather than on servers handled by Ecobee. Footage can be viewed in the Home app, and all motion and people detection is done on-device for privacy purposes.

Using ‌‌HomeKit Secure Video‌‌ requires an upgraded ‌‌iCloud‌‌ storage plan. Apple's 200GB plan supports one ‌‌HomeKit Secure Video‌‌ camera, while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras.

Users with the 200GB plan can store 10 days of recordings from one camera in ‌‌iCloud‌‌ at no extra cost, while those with a 2TB plan can store 10 days of recordings from up to five cameras. ‌‌HomeKit Secure Video‌‌ recordings do not count towards a user's ‌‌iCloud‌‌ storage usage.

‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ requires an iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV in the house to serve as a home hub for connecting the cameras to the Internet.

As The Verge points out, if you're thinking of switching from Ecobee's $5-a-month video recording subscription to ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌, it's worth noting that, like other HomeKit-compatible cameras, Apple's Home app doesn't support the camera's ability to pan and tilt.

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Top Rated Comments

profets Avatar
60 months ago
Random, didn’t realize the limitations on recording and number of cameras.

I’ve been using a single camera so far with HomeKit secure video. Honestly it’s so nice how it’s built in and the scrubbing through video history works so well.

next I just need to find a decent doorbell that works with HomeKit.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
currocj Avatar
60 months ago
When will get a poe continuous record camera that supports HSV? (Continuous to my NAS, motion clips to iCloud)

ditto on the doorbell...we’ve waiting six years for a doorbell for crying out loud!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
centauratlas Avatar
60 months ago
"the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras." - didn't they make it a 2TB plan now?

Apple needs to let the 2TB plan support 20 or so cameras. At minimum 10-15, 5 is not enough if you want to use many cameras.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PsykX Avatar
60 months ago
Excellent news. Let's hope Arlo will end up having to follow their competitors.

And let's hope Apple will eventually add Pan & Tilt, as well as better resolutions, more days of storage and more cameras.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
60 months ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/03/ecobee-smartcamera-homekit-secure-video/')

Ecobee has updated its SmartCamera ('https://www.ecobee.com/en-us/cameras/smart-camera-with-voice-control/') to support Apple's HomeKit Secure Video, which allows the cameras to capture and store recordings securely in iCloud.



The firmware update ('https://www.ecobee.com/en-us/newsroom/press-releases/ecobee-reaffirms-commitment-to-open-ecosystem-with-homekit-secure-video/') means SmartCamera owners have another option aside from Ecobee's $5-a-month subscription for video recording and movement notifications.

With ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌, video footage is encrypted and stored in iCloud rather than on servers handled by Ecobee. Footage can be viewed in the Home app, and all motion and people detection is done on-device for privacy purposes.

Using ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ requires an upgraded ‌iCloud‌ storage plan. Apple's 200GB plan supports one ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ camera, while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras.

Users with the 200GB plan can store 10 days of recordings from one camera in ‌iCloud‌ at no extra cost, while those with a 2TB plan can store 10 days of recordings from up to five cameras. ‌HomeKit Secure Video‌ recordings do not count towards a user's ‌iCloud‌ storage usage.

HomeKit Secure Video requires an iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV in the house to serve as a home hub for connecting the cameras to the Internet.

As The Verge ('https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2020/12/2/22149216/ecobee-smart-camera-apple-homekit-support-firmware-update-subscription') points out, if you're thinking of switching from Ecobee's $5-a-month video recording subscription to HomeKit Secure Video, it's worth noting that, like other HomeKit-compatible cameras, Apple's Home app doesn't support the camera's ability to pan and tilt.

Article Link: Ecobee SmartCamera Firmware Update Adds HomeKit Secure Video Support ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/03/ecobee-smartcamera-homekit-secure-video/')
“while the 1TB plan supports up to five cameras” should read 2TB as you have it in the following paragraph. I do wish there were a 1TB option though or even a 500GB but you know.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scottlitch Avatar
60 months ago
Great news! I went to check the firmware version and saw that this feature had already been added to my camera.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)