August has done for the front door what Nest did for the living room wall. A year after the company shipped its Connect Smart Lock, a deadbolt-and-key-set replacement that connects to smartphones via Bluetooth and wi-fi, it’s rolling out the Doorbell Cam for an even wiser entryway. It’s a one-way HD camera that can detect motion and record visitors; if you’re away, you’ll be instantly notified on your phone that someone is a-knockin’.
Installation is made simple by relying on the same wiring that runs to your existing doorbell. Once you see a friendly face, you can remotely unlock your August Smart Lock to grant the visitor access. If you need to have a quick conversation, you can use the microphone on your smartphone to speak back to whoever is on your porch — ideal for authorizing package drops that would otherwise head back to a master sorting facility. That it’s sharp-looking is just icing on the Big-Brother cake. august.com
$199
Dimensions: 2.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches (H x W x L)
Weight: 14.1 ounces (400 grams)
Power Requirement: 16-24VAC ~ 50-60Hz 0.2A
Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0, 2.4GHz / 5GHz (802.11b/g/n) wi-fi
Colors: Silver, dark gray
