It’s time to confess that I am a total gadget addict. Some might contend that if a new one goes on the market today, I will buy it tomorrow. Never is this truer than when it is something involving new technology. So obviously when the news of the “Ring” doorbell with built-in video camera hit the internet, I jumped on the Amazon.com site and ordered it to be over-nighted.
I mean, what could be more incredible than a doorbell that sends a message to any of your “smart” products like an iPhone and iPad whenever there is motion on your front porch, and begins recording immediately, even before the visitor rings the bell? Forget all those fancy camera systems because this has instant access to the video as it is happening no matter where you are.
An added bonus is for only $3 a month, the videos are saved in the “cloud” and can even be downloaded if you need them for some important reason such as your grandsons looks so cute standing on the porch.
In fact, this product is so cool that you can answer the door remotely from any place where your smartphone/pad goes and talk to the person ringing the bell . The new hasn’t worn off yet in watching people curiously searching for the hidden microphone when I am talking to them without answering the door.
I’m not going to bore you with my installation woes because it really should of/could have been easier than I made it. This was definitely not the time for me to try to show off my “think I can do anything” attitude without involving my “really can do it” beloved.
But here is an important funny fact: the device I ordered from Amazon was defective and I had to send it back. That’s when I discovered they were actually $20 cheaper right here at a big box store by my house, so we just bought one locally that same night. The significance of this will be apparent in a bit.
Having a “Ring” is fun. It’s a great safety feature when I’m home alone, and my techie gadget craving has been satisfied for less than $200. It’s entertaining to listen to what people talk about standing at your door when they think they are merely waiting for you to come answer. Thank goodness so far I’ve got nice friends who seem to like me.
Not so lucky was a neighbor whose video doorbell caught a delivery man come hide behind a huge, bigger than a human sized box he had just placed on the porch and then relieve himself in an empty bottle that he ran back to the truck and brought up the porch with him since no one answered the door. He really had all the bases covered with his plan.
This brings a whole new meaning to the “Smile, You’re on Candid Camera” t.v. show of my youth. But it also makes it obvious that some people are too young to get that concept.
Bless his heart, I know that he thought he had found the perfect hiding place and probably doesn’t even know that a doorbell could be equipped with the hidden eye. The ultimate irony in all of this is that the delivery man was actually an employee of the same store where we bought our “Ring.” Apparently he doesn’t shop there.
However, this neighbor isn’t at all pleased with his video replay. In fact, he has even put it on YouTube for all the world to witness, sent a copy to the big box store that was making the delivery, and even sent a copy to the local news. There is no question of the delivery man’s identity. I mean, these cameras are wicked good.
Most of the neighbors who have been treated to this movie on our HOA Facebook page have been totally repulsed and very vocal about wanting that delivery man to be strung up by his privates. Sadly, In this case, they aren’t private anymore.
I feel sorry for the guy. Truly I do. I know I can’t count the number of times we had to pull over and find a tree for some child who shall remain nameless. Sometimes when a guy has got to go, he just has got to go. You can Google it if you want to see an instant replay. Once was enough for me.
It makes the cliché to “keep your eye on the ball” have a whole new meaning.
Writes of Passage 