Skip to main content

Door’s open! WiFi video doorbell also opens or locks up your abode from anywhere

blueguard wifi video doorbell with lock features
Image used with permission by copyright holder
There are smart locks. There are smart doorbells. Now there’s a device that combines both, Lark-wi‘s Blueguard.

At your doorstep, choose one of two ways to gain entry. Touch to input a preset code on the Blueguard deadbolt, and then press the unlock button to open. Or, as you near your door and are within range, the gadget unlocks it hands-free, using your smartphone or Bluetooth fob.

Lark-Wi -Blueguard: World's First Smart lock + Wi-Fi Video Doorbell

If visitors come a-ringing, the device can welcome them into your home… or not. A motion-sensor feature alerts you to the arrival of callers, and two-way communication lets you to see, talk with, and video people through your iOS or Android device thanks to a color video camera, high-sensitivity microphone, and speaker. At night, a Bluetooth smart bulb ignites to light your way.

Recommended Videos

While away from home, review photos of those who enter or leave using a record log, accessible through your smartphone. For homes with more than one Blueguard, the devices will automatically sync together.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Lark-wi says it’s easy to install: Standard batteries are required, as is a screwdriver for set-up.

With over $11,500 raised on indiegogo (far surpassing its $6,000 goal), most of the early-bird options are gone. Right now, you can get two Blueguard packages for $278, which includes LED light bulbs.

Blueguard Smart Doorbell and Lock BackWe’ll offer a word of caution on this one: This Indiegogo campaign isn’t the slickest we’ve seen. Blueguard is written as “Blue guard” at least once, the video is pretty low production value, and the lock in the accompanying photo looks pretty beaten up. All that obviously hasn’t dissuaded a lot of backers, though.

Erika Prafder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Erika Prafder is Digital Trends’ Home contributor. She is a veteran writer, with over fifteen years of experience covering…
How to set up a geofence for your Ring cameras and doorbells
A man uses the Ring app.

Ring security cameras and Ring Video Doorbells are some of the simplest and best-functioning DIY home security devices on the market, if you’ll take one writer’s opinion. The biggest problem with them is the sheer number of alerts you might get if you have multiple devices.

While there are a variety of ways to minimize these alerts, from turning them right off to snoozing them, one of the most clever and useful has to be the option of using a geofence to squash alerts while you’re close to home. This is a feature Ring rolled out early in 2021 so it’s still fairly new, and some users may not even realize it’s an option. Here’s how to do it.
What is a geofence?
Before we get too far, some Ring users might be wondering what exactly a geofence setting can do and why you’d want to enable it.

Read more
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 uses radar for bird’s-eye view of front door activity
ring video doorbell pro 2 uses radar technology installation 1000x1000

Ring's latest addition to its lineup of smart home security devices demonstrates exactly where the company is headed. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is a new, premium video doorbell with a host of next-generation technology to help keep your home safer than ever. The camera features 3D motion detection, 1,536p video, a Bird's Eye View feature, and customizable privacy.

Through the use of a radar sensor, the 3D motion detection technology provides more accurate and precise identification of when a motion event begins. The sensors measure an object's distance from the camera, which makes it easier to exclude certain high-traffic areas. For example, if your doorbell faces a sidewalk, you can set it so that only motion closer to your home triggers an alert.

Read more
This video doorbell can tell if the person on your doorstep has a fever
ettie video doorbell measures guests temperature ces 2021

In a time where health has become the primary focus for many people, it's easy to keep track of your own temperature and well-being. It's not so easy to ascertain the temperature of others. When you have someone coming to your door, whether a delivery driver or a visitor, it's important to know if they may have a fever. The Ettie Smart Video Doorbell has made waves at CES 2021 for its ability to obtain this information.

This CES 2021 Innovation Award Honoree uses an infrared temperature sensor to measure a visitor's body temperature and sends a warning if they are running a fever. It also has a capacity log to measure how many people are within a space. The Ettie Smart Video Doorbell can be used for residential purposes, but it's also a great way to manage the comings and goings at small businesses.

Read more