Blink, brand owned by Amazon, unveils in this period of confinement a brand new model: the Blink Mini indoor camera. After the very convincing test of the Blink XT camera and the upcoming one of the new iteration XT2, let's see what this new compatible device can bring us. Alexa...
Blink Mini: a wired but very compact indoor camera
The Blink Mini camera offers a field of view of 110 degrés and a picture HD 1080p. With a night vision and a system of motion detection, it seems ideal for our connected interiors, especially since it is obviously compatible Alexa.
In addition to the possibility of viewing images via the Blink application or on a web browser, the Blink mini also allows you to display your feed via our devices Echo Show 2, Echo Show 5, the new Echo Show 8 or on our "old" Echo Spot. Thanks to his two-way audio system, it also offers the possibility of communicating remotely with the people who face it. But that's not the only novelty ...
Blink Sync Module 2: a new module allowing the local storage of videos
Very similar to the Blink XT2 synchronization module, this new element will dispense with the cloud subscription (free the first year and always included in the other models) by recording video clips from the camera via USB stick up to 64 GB (sold separately).
Blink Sync Module 2 can also connect up to 10 Blink indoor cameras, Blink XT cameras, Blink XT2 and Blink Mini so that you can control them from the app. A module however not required for the Blink Mini which, unlike its predecessors, this time works in Wi-Fi.
That's it. Amazon took advantage of the kindness of users of early Blink camera models with free cloud storage, which allowed it to gain market share. Now, we make the thing profitable by charging the cloud on all the new models. Easy….
Amazon is a predatory company, capable of sinking competitors by selling at a loss for many years, and then imposing margins that will only grow. A multinational that imposes its new tax on us.
It's a more accessible camera that offers a local storage solution, so it's up to you. The new, more expensive XT2s continue to benefit from a free cloud. But which company offers 100% free cloud? They are not numerous to my knowledge, and much more expensive to buy.
But suddenly if we already have the sync module of the XT2 we have to pay something for the Mini?
I don't really get it ..
No, the Blink Mini connects directly to Wi-Fi without a sync module, but the new module will allow it to store locally on a USB key.
Does the local storage necessarily have to go through this usb key or can we redirect the storage to a synology type NAS for example?
No idea, we haven't been able to test this product yet. Sorry.
Hello, does the camera send live on an echo show when it detects movement or noise? To be used in a baby's room without therefore constantly requesting the connection with the room, but only if the camera detects something.
Only Ring cameras are capable of this a priori. We are currently testing the Ring Indoor Cam: https://amzn.to/2EDAMFI) and it should allow it. To be continued ! 🙂