In a surprising turn of events, Ring has announced that it will no longer be selling its highly anticipated Ring Car Cam.
The device, which was marketed as a hybrid dashcam and security camera, promised to record both the road and the driver’s actions while in motion and double up as a surveillance tool when the vehicle was parked.
However, despite its promising features and CES 2023 debut, the product seems to have fallen short of expectations, leaving customers disappointed and orders unfulfilled.
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The Decision to Halt Sales
Ring spokesperson Andrea McDonald cited “ongoing delays” as the primary reason behind the company’s decision to cease sales of the Car Cam.
“We’ve experienced ongoing delays with Car Cam and have decided to stop the sale of the device,”
It’s worth noting that the device has faced availability issues since its launch in January 2023, with many customers reporting canceled orders and extended delivery times.
Despite assurances of continued software updates and support for existing customers, McDonald remained tight-lipped on the nature of these delays or whether Ring plans to revisit the product in the future.
Challenges and Criticisms
While the Ring Car Cam boasted a unique proposition, aiming to bridge the gap between dashcams and security cameras for vehicles, it struggled to find its footing in the market.
One major criticism was its positioning, and it neither excelled as a dedicated dashcam due to perceived low video quality and high subscription fees nor fully delivered as a comprehensive car security solution.
Additionally, its integration with Ring and Alexa ecosystems felt underutilized, lacking extensive integrations and voice-enabled functionalities.
Furthermore, customer feedback highlighted numerous challenges with obtaining the device, with many reporting significant delays and eventual cancellations of their orders.
Despite initial shipments to some early customers, the product’s availability quickly dwindled, leading to frustration among potential buyers and labeling it as “vaporware.”
Ring’s Car Cam’s Introduction
Ring’s Car Cam offers a compact yet powerful solution for recording both the exterior and interior of your vehicle, ensuring peace of mind and security on the road.
With its sleek design and advanced features, the Car Cam aims to redefine the concept of a dashcam, providing comprehensive monitoring capabilities without obstructing the driver’s view.
Design and Installation
The Car Cam features a discreet 1.6-inch square camera box that attaches to an 8.4-inch-long arm, easily mounted to your windshield using an adhesive patch.
This design ensures minimal obstruction to your driving view while offering flexibility in finding the optimal camera angle.
The arm includes a USB power port connected to your vehicle’s OBD-II port, ensuring a continuous power supply for uninterrupted recording.
Dual-Camera Imaging
Equipped with two 1080p cameras, the Car Cam captures both the road ahead and the interior of your vehicle.
The outward-facing camera provides a wide 111-degree horizontal and 56-degree vertical field of view, complemented by ambient light for clear night vision.
The cabin-facing camera offers a broader 148-degree horizontal and 82-degree vertical field of view, supplemented by two white LEDs for enhanced recording in low-light conditions.
Both cameras operate continuously, entering a low-power state when the vehicle is parked to conserve battery.
Remote Monitoring and Communication
The Car Cam’s inward-facing camera, microphone, and speaker enable real-time monitoring and communication through the Ring app.
With LTE connectivity, users can remotely interact with passengers, mirroring the experience of a Ring Video Doorbell.
The LED ring and status indicators facilitate easy setup and operation, while a privacy shield ensures in-cabin confidentiality by disabling audio recording when desired.
Connectivity and Subscription Options
Featuring both cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, the Car Cam offers remote access to live feeds, notifications, and vehicle location tracking via GPS.
Subscribers to the Ring Protect Go LTE plan gain additional benefits, including cloud video storage, richer notifications, and cellular connectivity for uninterrupted functionality.
Without a subscription, the device stores videos locally, with new recordings overwriting old ones as storage space fills up.
Additional Features and Integration
While the Car Cam lacks driver assistance features, it offers a convenient voice-activated “Traffic Stop” function, allowing users to record encounters with law enforcement effortlessly.
Integration with Ring lights allows for seamless control from the Car Cam section of the app, enhancing home security and automation capabilities.
Evaluating the Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Dual-camera Imaging: The inclusion of dual-camera functionality allowed for comprehensive monitoring of both the road and the vehicle’s interior.
- Good 1080p Video: The Car Cam delivered satisfactory video quality, capturing clear footage of its surroundings.
- Includes GPS Locator: Integrated GPS functionality provided additional context to recorded footage, enhancing its utility.
- Supports In-Cabin Two-Way Talk: This feature enabled communication between the driver and passengers, adding to the device’s versatility.
Cons:
- Pricey: With a retail price of $249.99, the Ring Car Cam positioned itself at the higher end of the market, potentially deterring budget-conscious consumers.
- Subscription Requirements: Several key features, including cloud storage and advanced functionalities, were locked behind subscription plans, adding to the overall cost of ownership.
- Limited Integration Options: Despite its potential for synergy with Ring and Alexa ecosystems, the Car Cam offered few integration options, failing to leverage its connectivity fully.
FAQs
How does the Ring Car Cam install and operate?
The Ring Car Cam features a compact design that attaches to your windshield with an adhesive patch and wedge, ensuring it won’t obstruct your view while driving. Its dual 1080p cameras record continuously, switching to a low-power mode when the vehicle is parked to conserve battery. The device connects to your vehicle’s OBD-II port for power and offers easy setup through the Ring app.
What features does the Ring Car Cam offer for remote monitoring and communication?
The Ring Car Cam includes an inward-facing camera, microphone, and speaker, enabling users to monitor and communicate with passengers remotely via the Ring app. With LTE connectivity, subscribers can access live feeds, receive notifications, and track their vehicle’s location in real time. Additionally, a voice-activated “Traffic Stop” feature allows for easy recording of encounters with law enforcement.
What are the subscription options and benefits of the Ring Car Cam?
The Ring Car Cam offers a subscription plan called Ring Protect Go, which provides additional features such as cloud video storage, richer notifications, and cellular connectivity for uninterrupted functionality. Without a subscription, the device stores videos locally, with new recordings overwriting old ones as storage space fills up.
Conclusion
- Despite the setback with the Car Cam, Ring remains optimistic about its prospects in the automotive space, expressing continued enthusiasm for innovation.
- Whether this entails a reimagined iteration of the Car Cam or entirely new offerings remains to be seen.
- However, the challenges encountered with this product serve as valuable lessons for Ring and underscore the complexities of delivering seamless solutions in the rapidly evolving automotive technology landscape.
- The discontinuation of the Ring Car Cam marks a notable development in the automotive accessories sector.
- As technology advances, companies like Ring are constantly exploring new ways to improve safety, security, and convenience on the road.
- This involves understanding the complexities of product development, market positioning, and meeting customer expectations. With technology playing an ever-increasing role in our driving experiences, it’s vital that companies stay up-to-date and continue to innovate.