Ring, the Amazon-owned home security brand, is branching into the auto market. As it turns out, a dashcam-type device is one of the most common requests received by Ring CEO and founder Jamie Siminoff, who apparently really does read customers’ emails.
Ring answered popular demand with the Ring Car Cam device that features dual wide-angle 1080p HD night vision cameras. Motion triggers a real-time alert to the car’s owners, who can peek inside their whip and smack-talk thieves or tear into oh-so-busted teens. The catch? The vehicle must be within range of the user’s home WiFi for any of that stuff to happen.
Fortunately, the Car Cam stores up to 7 hours of footage locally until a known WiFi network is available for upload. Users can ask Alexa to start a dashcam recording, an excellent hands-free just-in-case option for heavy traffic or during traffic stops. A $6-per-month Ring Protect Go is also available to keep cars connected on the road via LTE.
The Car Cam includes some thoughtful privacy features: closing the physical shutter disables the interior-facing camera and microphone, and an LED light makes it clear when those components are actively recording. Is it still harvesting some kind of data? Almost without question – but then again, so does your toilet these days. For a limited time, dashcam devotees can preorder their Ring Car Cam for $200. Once preorders end, the price jumps to $250.
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