Doorbot rebrands as Ring, unveils redesigned video doorbell

By Drew Prindle September 29, 2014

Ring video doorbell — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Roughly two years after it originally launched, DoorBot is dead. But not to worry — it’s not completely gone. Both the network connected video doorbell and the company behind it have been reborn as Ring. Along with its new name, the new and improved doorbell comes with a sharper focus on home security, as well as a more aesthetically pleasing look that should blend better with your home’s exterior.

Just like DoorBot, the new Ring bell can transmit HD audio and video over the owner’s home Wi-Fi network. When somebody rings the bell, an alert will pop up on the homeowner’s smartphone or tablet and allow them to see and communicate with the person in the doorway — no matter where they might be in the world.

Recommended Videos

Related: Chui is a smart doorbell that can recognize faces and play custom greetings for your guests

In addition to this core functionality, the new and improved Ring doorbell also boasts a number of new tricks. Unlike the original, Ring can be connected to your existing doorbell wiring, or run entirely off the built-in lithium ion battery if that’s what you prefer. It’s also completely weatherproof, outfitted with infrared sensors that give it night vision, and even sports new motion detection software that can alert you to activity happening outside your door when the bell hasn’t been touched.

Ring is available for pre-order now for $199 until November 1st, at which time it goes back to the full price of $249. It comes in four different finishes, and free cloud-based video recording until January 1, 2015, at which time subscription options will be available. Orders start shipping on November 3rd to early pre-order customers.

Topics

Home Security

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Smart Home

Protect your home for less: Chamberlain MyQ smart garage security camera is $10 off

Chamberlain MyQ smart garage security camera installed and used

Isn't it funny how when you think about protecting your home, particularly with surveillance gear, your first instinct is to cover your front door? Usually, you do that with a standard security camera or perhaps a video doorbell. But there's another entry point that you should be covering, too, and it's just as important, if not more so than your front door. Your garage. Think about it. Whether you open your garage door with a remote, a keypad, or a smart app, it's an entire, much larger entry point that deserves to be monitored. Chamberlain agrees, and thanks to a Best Buy deal, you can grab the MyQ smart garage security camera for $10 off during Labor Day. Normally $50, it's yours for $40, and it's one of the best ways to keep an eye on your garage and the front of your home.

Why shop this Labor Day deal on the Chamberlain MyQ smart garage security camera

Smart Home

Chamberlain’s MyQ smart garage video keypad is only $70 at Best Buy

Chamberlain MyQ smart garage video keypad deal at Best Buy featured image

When it comes to outfitting your home with smart devices, to truly make it a smart home, the three best things to buy are smart lights, a smart lock, and a smart garage door opener. The smart garage door opener, specifically, will allow you to open and close your garage in various ways. You can use the traditional proprietary remotes, your phone via an app, or a code -- usually achieved by installing a remote keypad nearby. If you're going with a Chamberlain MyQ smart garage door opener, which you should, we have a line on an excellent deal for a unique keypad to pair with it.

The Chamberlain MyQ smart garage video keypad is a numerical access keypad, first and foremost, to open your garage door, but it also has an integrated 1080P HD camera with a 160-degree wide-angle view. With the smart app, you can keep track of when the door is being opened, but you can also use that camera to see who is entering, or exiting your home. Normally $100, it's on sale for $70 today at Best Buy, saving you $30.

Smart Home

The new Ring Battery Doorbell streamlines installation, enhances viewing angle

The Ring Battery Doorbell installed near a front door.

The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) is one of the most popular video doorbells on the market, and its newly announced successor -- the Ring Battery Doorbell -- is looking to carry on that legacy. Available for just $100, the Battery Doorbell brings a bundle of premium features to your front door without putting much of a dent in your wallet.

With the Ring Battery Doorbell, Ring is bringing its head-to-toe viewing angle to an entry-level video doorbell for the very first time. Its 150-degree viewing angle lets you see both packages at your doorstep and the smiling faces of tall visitors. All told, you're getting a viewing angle that's 66% taller than the old Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen). Considering it also retailed for $100, that's a noticeable improvement.