Ring finally debuts its in-car security camera

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Back in 2020, Ring announced a security camera for your car that connects to the company’s broader home security system. Now, shortly after its planned 2021 release date, Ring is opening pre-orders for the Car Cam, the newest member of its security family. The unit is quite small, but it juts up and out on a dash-mounted cantilever arm to give it the desired height.

There are two cameras, one to monitor the interior, and the other facing the front window to catch any insurance-worthy accidents. If you startle the system’s sensors, it will play a recording, alerting you via the Ring app to show you what’s going on. Like almost every other Ring device, there’s a microphone and speaker, allowing you to see (and communicate) any unwanted visitors lurking in your car.

In addition, the Car Cam will automatically start recording if you say “Alexa, record,” and it’s designed to take snapshots of traffic stops. (Which, when you think about it, speaks volumes about how little a company with very close ties to law enforcement thinks about the safety of what happens when traffic stops.) The device is powered by the car’s battery, connected via an OBD-II port, and will use WiFi to communicate. Unless you choose LTE by paying for a Ring Protect Go subscription.

Ring added that, like its other products, you’ll have the option to activate end-to-end encryption, and it won’t activate recording unless it’s turned on. She added that the privacy shutter will enable you to block the internal camera and microphone when closed. It’ll be available for pre-order starting today, and shipping is expected to start in February, but there’s a great incentive to get your money’s worth on a keg now and not wait for the retail launch. The Car Cam will retail for $250, but pre-order customers can get theirs for $200 — while a Protect Go subscription will set you back $60 annually or $6 monthly.

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