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Comment by ok_dad | Hacker News Reader

Yet another reason why closed ecosystems aren't great. If I had control over my phone and software, I could set my Apple devices to connect to this device anyways via whatever integration, and just not record 30FPS video from my front door, since I don't fucking care about that. I don't use this product, but it sounds like the team at this company does a good job of keeping costs down to the minimum while squeezing everything they can from their product, and now Apple is preventing an integration that would be useful to both Apple and Netatmo users because of stupid-ass reasons (really? you need 30fps from your doorbell even when no one is there yet?).

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> really? you need 30fps from your doorbell even when no one is there yet?

I think the reasoning may be that with Apple you pay extra to know that something will work well out the box without any issues (yeah yeah, I mean the theory). People don't know what FPS is or anything about internals. They connect the device and the video is not smooth. Looks like something is wrong. It is a good approach not to explain to your users that what they see is actually right, but instead find a solution which doesn't make them feel that way.

You don't need to integrate with Apple, there are plenty of solutions. If you do, then there's a reason you use Apple. I think it's mostly that they make choices for users so users don't have to (and it's actually valuable when done right).

Every instance is specific and has its constraints, but there are plenty of high resolution and fps IP cameras sitting in the sun and doing just fine. Most seem to have at least 2-3x power usage. 2W seems really great. Gopros work somehow. So maybe they thermal design could use some improvements.

Using doorbell as a quick check what's happening out there is also a fair use case which shouldn't require somebody standing next to the camera.

Yea, a good point that perhaps this device isn't what Apple is targeting or intended to take part in this API, but as a user I don't care: I should be able to do what the heck I want with my hardware/software. I know that isn't the case at all, and it makes me sad. I could go to Android and have a bit more freedom, but then Google will be a monkey on my back looking at all my content.

You can, Apple isn’t stopping them from releasing an app in iOS.

From looking at the HomeKit accessory protocol documentation under stream management, 30fps is only the minimum "recommended" frame rate for streaming. The minimum supported is actually 24fps.

I don't know if this lower supported minimum would make much difference in heat though. Maybe Netatmo should be using a chipset that has a lower thermal draw.

Here's what a teardown of their doorbell looks like https://fccid.io/N3A-NDB01/Internal-Photos/Internal-Photo-pd...

If only there was a way that they could release an app for the iPhone and other Apple devices without HomeKit integration.

And one of the benefits of HomeKit integration is that Apple gives you a certain amount of video storage. The “closed ecosystem” has nothing to do with your ability to use the app. You just can’t integrate with HomeKit. If you are concerned with automation, if their app supports it, you can still use the automation.

They can release an app, no problem.

I know. It’s others who are overblowing the situation. They can also provide hooks to work with iOS automation framework.

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