Omna-present.
If you've yet to buy a
WiFi security camera for your home, now is definitely the time. As
well as being able to better keep an eye on your home and belongings
while away, it seems like every tech company worth their salt has
brought one out, so there is now a huge choice. Today we check out
the latest efforts from a company that has had their connectivity
devices featured on these pages many times before; D-Link. We review
the Omna.
The Omna is a
cylindrical metal HD camera which connects to your home network
wirelessly, then allows you to view the live stream via a smartphone
app. And that is where we hit our first stumbling block. The D-Link
Omna is only compatible with iOS devices. Yep, you read that right.
Its mid 2017 and this thing only works with iPhones. You know, that
smartphone that waaaay less than half of all smartphone users own.
That's a real pain in
the arse if you ask us, and although we still review things targeted
specifically at iPhone users (and iPhones, for that matter), we're
big Android champions here at The Test Pit. The reason why the Omna
is iOS only is because D-Link are pushing the fact that it is Apple
HomeKit compatible, so you can use it with other smarthome products
that also work with Apple's control app. However, even so we can't
see much of a benefit of being in the Apple club, as HomeKit is still
very much in the early stages of development, and there isn't much
else you get out there to add to the app. Still, if you're an Applite
who is fully dedicated to everything they release, here's why the
Omna might be your next purchase.
The other big selling
point of this camera is the 180 degree field of view offered by the
lens. The camera itself records video in 1080p Full HD, which
although is now becoming standard at this price point, there are
still many tech firms out there releasing cameras at only 720p, so
kudos to D-Link. The stretched view in the app looks great, and
thanks to de-warping software built in to the camera, it looks flat
and well proportioned, despite representing what could be the whole
of a room.
And that is truly the
point of getting this over other Apple-friendly WiFi cameras: you can
see far more in one shot. As well as seeing the live feed on the
HomeKit (or iOS-only D-Link) app, you can insert a Micro SD Card into
the base to keep a physical copy of the footage. Set motion control
zones in the field of view and recording will start (as well as a
notification will be sent to your phone) as soon as movement is
detected.
There are IR sensors in
the D-Link Omna, so night vision is possible to an effective range of
about 10-15 feet, and there is also two way audio. The microphone
seems sharp and sensitive, and certainly you can clearly hear
anything happening in the same room, while the speaker is loud enough
to be heard throughout the house (if you really shout on the other
end). So it's great for scaring your house-mates when they least
expect it, and watching as they jump out of their skin. Always good.
Apart from that, this
is a pretty simple bit of kit which – despite the great video and
wide angle – is a bit low on thrills. It looks quite utilitarian
and it works quite utilitarian; quite like most Apple hardware does.
Still, that isn't a negative, and if you love stuff that simply works
without many bells and whistles, this could be for you. If you have
an iPhone. And you give a crap about HomeKit.
Around £199.95
Visit
hwww.dlink.com
