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It’s always great news when a new contender blazes a trail into a product space with minimal competition – where big companies already reign supreme at the tippy top, with few alternatives – and that’s what happened yesterday when ecobee introduced its new Smart Doorbell Camera. The company already competes with Google Nest with its own eco-friendly smart thermostats, and now it’s taking on the Amazon Ring doorbell cam with its own Smart Doorbell Camera designed to tie into the growing ecobee IoT.

The newly announced ecobee doorbell camera records in 1080p with “enhanced low light vision” and uses a 175-degree vertical field of view, meaning it can see everything clearly from the floor to the sky directly in front of the camera at all times of day and night. This lets the viewer on the opposite side of the doorbell camera (looking through it via the Smart Thermostat Premium or any device connected to the ecobee app, like a smartphone or an Apple Watch) see packages dropped on the porch, or in more extreme cases, detect potential threats hiding on the opposite side of the door.

Designer: Jonathan Hayes (via ecobee)

The Smart Doorbell Camera has a slick outward appearance featuring a machined-glass front panel surrounded by aluminum alloy, and according to ecobee it is even rated for IP65 waterproofing and dust protection. Its battery-free design means it’s meant to last for a long time without any need for regular maintenance, even in extreme environments where the elements can pose a problem. It’s protected both from extreme heat up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit and extreme cold down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit.

Activity Zone customization lets you manage your security notifications better than other smart security cams, so you only get notified when a certain event is triggered. This is thanks to “multiple layers of intelligence, including advanced radar verification and computer vision” that can allegedly pinpoint very specific motions, or when people are at a certain distance from the Smart Doorbell Camera.

If you don’t already have a subscription to ecobee Smart Security, which connects all ecobee security devices together and offers access to the ecobee app, don’t fret: the ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera comes with a trial that lasts for two months, after which you can subscribe for $50 a year. The ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera is already available on the ecobee website for $159.99.

Tiny homes gained popularity a couple of years ago, and since then they’ve cemented their place in the world of architecture. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And if you love exploring tiny homes, as much as I do, then you’ve reached the right spot. Podform’s newly launched Pod Studio might just be the tiny home you’ve been looking for!

Designer: Podform

California-based Podform just created the world’s smartest tiny home called Pod Studio. The unique tiny home can expand up to 3 times its original size! The Pod Studio’s original size is 161 square feet, however, it can transform to 454 square feet within 15 minutes! The tiny home is portable and easily transportable and requires no foundation owing to its built-in hydraulic legs. This enables effortless and efficient loading and unloading. It features solar panels and smart technology, which can be controlled via an app, and battery storage systems, and a built-in water and septic tank as well.

The Pod Studio is extremely durable! It is built using steel and aluminum and features a solar awning energy system, which provides protection against 100 mph winds and fire for up to 90 minutes. Security was also given priority for the Pod Studio since tiny homes can be moved around quite easily. The home is equipped with four built-in lens cameras and doors that are locked with Touch-ID technology. AI was utilized to analyze water, electricity, and weather data, providing residents with inputs such as “open the shades” and “turn on the heater”. A projection glass is also incorporated in the house which transforms the cozy home into a scenic haven.

If you want to experience the Pod Studio,  you can book a stay in the Pod Studio prototype situated near the Joshua Tree National Park in California. Guests can book their spot with a $50 deposit, for one night at a rate of $250, instead of the original price of $350.