How an iOS app and IFTTT channel could help secure your home

Manything, a cloud-based video monitoring service that allows you to use old iOS devices as security cameras around your home, has released a new version of its app today which brings new functionality and support for its freshly-launched IFTTT channel.

Announced today, the new app allows users to set motion sensitivity, define motion detection zones and directly view a live stream or recorded footage from an iPhone. And if your power or WiFi connection fails you, there’s a continuous recording fallback mode that can be activated.

You can either watch live streams in real-time or replay a recording by jumping to key moments (where motion was detected) indicated on the timeline. You can also choose to receive immediate alerts if motion is detected, so you know whether you need to call the police because you can see someone breaking into your house, or whether your cat is just strolling by again. Previously, the app was for the capture devices only – footage had to be viewed via a browser. Not content, there’s more in store for the app in future updates too.

“We’ve spent the last two years – and £1m – developing the best video monitoring app. Future planned upgrades on the drawing board will include remote control and sharing functions to allow control of cameras remotely from the Manything app and to share video directly from the app via Facebook, Twitter or email,” said Manything’s CEO and founder James West.

While it’s always nice to get new features in an app, it’s really the IFTTT channel that provides the most versatility for Manything in this instance. By combining it with IFTTT ‘recipes’ you can set up all sorts of automated rules for interaction between devices in your house. So, for example, you could set it so that if motion is detected, it turns on the lights (by linking it to a separate app via IFTTT) or if your smoke alarm detects smoke, you could set your camera to switch on automatically and send you an alert along with a live feed. Or you could just “Ferris Buellerize your room”, as the company says below.

This doesn’t all come for free, although there is a free option that supports just one monitoring device. There’s also a free 30-day trial of Manything’s continuous cloud recording service. At the end of this trial, the free plan provides 12 hours of continuous recording, the £4.99 per month plan provides seven days of cloud storage for your footage from two active devices and the top tier (£14.99 per month) offers the full 30 days of cloud recording and support for up to five recording devices.

Still, it’s a cheaper option for people taking a more DIY approach to home security and automation, rather than using something like Dropcam’s $199 camera, as long as you’ve got some old iOS devices lying around at home.