[German]Does anyone use security cameras from the vendor Arlo? The manufacturer will discontinue support for older models in April 2023. This is the next unsightly development in the smart home space, where people are running around with devices that no longer get support. This affects the delivery of firmware updates, but also the storage of data for 7 days in the cloud.
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Who is Arlo?
Arlo was a brand of the Californian network specialist Netgear. However, at the beginning of 2018, Arlo was spun off into its own publicly traded company. While Arlo is based in Switzerland as a security cameras for the enterprise, it is part of the Swedish group Securitas Direct. The company advertises smart home security cameras for indoor and outdoor use. Wireless, weatherproof and available with 4K quality. Easy to install yourself. Protects your home 24/7.
Advanced security monitoring for the devices can be purchased from Arlo as a subscription for €3/month. With an Arlo Secure membership, buyers of Arlo security cameras and doorbells get access to more market-leading detection features and secure EU cloud storage.
New EOL policy from 2023
On Jan. 1, 2023, Arlo will introduce a new end-of-life (EOL) policy for its products and services that limits the lifespan of certain devices. The whole thing comes from a post on reddit.com that links to a three-page PDF document.
I came across the topic via the above tweet and this Engadget article. According to this, Arlo will announce an end of support date for each product. For owners of such products then applies:
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- No more support
- No more firmware upgrades
- No more security updates
- No more bug fixes
- No more maintenance releases
- No more workarounds or patches
- No more spare parts
- No more replacement devices
Further, the manufacturer may reduce or discontinue bundled services or features. Services and cloud features may be limited or unavailable (including, but not limited to, uploading, downloading, and storing cloud recordings). In addition, the following possible limitations apply:
- Future services or features may become unavailable
- Automatic email notifications and push notifications may be reduced or eliminated
- Offers, discounts, and coupons for purchasing newer Arlo products may be provided
For an Arlo product that is a service, Arlo customers may be migrated to the closest equivalent service or offered an offer to change their service plan.
Specifically, this EOL now affects the Generation 3 (VMC3030) and Pro (VMC4030) Arlo cameras, which will drop out of support on April 1, 2023. These cameras were launched in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The EOL of the Generation 3 (VMC3030) and Pro (VMC4030) cameras means that certain features and support for these cameras will no longer be available, including 7-day cloud storage, firmware updates, and email notifications.
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