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Dropcam to Differentiate Between People and Pets

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Wi-Fi-enabled surveillance camera Dropcam can give you peace of mind, letting you know that your house is safe and sound while you're out. But if your feisty cat is constantly causing false alarms, how can you ever breathe easy?

Luckily, you won't have to worry about this issue in the future. Dropcam announced an update, expected in August, that will enable your camera to tell the difference between pets and potential intruders.

"Dropcam's people detection capabilities will be able to determine and notify you when an actual person enters your camera's view," according to a Tuesday post on the Dropcam blog. "You can imagine how powerful this can be, especially when it comes to making alerts more relevant and useful for your specific environment."

Dropcam Tabs

Meanwhile, the company also this week introduced a new wireless movement sensor for Dropcam Pro cameras that aims to help you "keep tabs on what's open or closed and what comes and goes." The Bluetooth-enabled device, aptly dubbed Dropcam Tabs, can be placed on doors, windows, or valuables, letting you know when the front door opens or whether your jewelry box is still where it should be, for instance.

It's even rated for outdoor use, so it'll also work on gates and fences. The $29 device is available for pre-order now, and is slated to ship later this summer.

For more on Dropcam Tabs, check out the video below. Also see PCMag's full review of Dropcam Pro.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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