The Dropcam home security company is offering owners of its older cameras a free upgrade as it phases out the first iterations.
The company, which is owned by Nest (which in turn is owned by Google), says customers currently rocking a Dropcam Original or a Dropcam Echo are entitled to a free Dropcam HD as a replacement.
The reason? Well, in April 2015 the older models will cease to work as the company continues to roll out new features.
“Original Dropcam and Dropcam Echo models will work until April 15th. After that, they will stop recording and connecting to the Dropcam service,” the company wrote on its support website (via The Verge).
“We’re always trying to improve Dropcam and the software behind it. But that means some features won’t work with our older Dropcam models.
Customers filling in a replacement form should receive a Dropbox HD camera in around three weeks.
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The model Dropcam is sending out isn’t the latest in the series. They Dropcam HD was launched in 2012, but the firm released the Dropcam Pro which features a wider lens, Bluetooth LE connectivity and improved optics.
The decision to replace the hardware is likely centred around Dropcam/Nest’s desire for customers to sign up for one of its cloud recording packages which run from $9.95 a month, right up to $25.95 a month for those super security conscious homemakers.
Of course, they can’t do that with a Dropcam that doesn’t work anymore!
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
