Hive View’s detachable head makes it the Captain Versatile of security cams

Most indoor security cams have to stay leashed to their power cable, like ill-disciplined dogs. But not the Hue View (£189, hivehome.com), whose HD video recording head can be plucked from its stand and plonked anywhere for up to 90 minutes, should you wish to keep an eye on your pet hamster while you pop to the shops. Unlike Hive’s previous Cam, the View has ‘person detection’ to help distinguish genuine intruders from moving shadows, so you don’t end up getting a torrent of alerts. And it also gives you video captures from the last 24 hours for free, or a 30-day rolling history for £4.99 per month, which is about standard for cloud-based cams. Just don’t leave it pointing at the garden all day while Feathers McGraw makes off with your telly.

Mark Wilson Features editor

About

Mark's first review for Stuff was the Nokia N-Gage in 2004. Luckily, his career lasted a little longer than the taco phone, and he's been trying to figure out how gadgets fit back into their boxes ever since. While his 'Extreme Mark Wilson' persona was retired following a Microsoft skydiving incident, this means he can often be spotted in the wilds of South West London testing action cams, drones and smartwatches, and occasionally cursing at them.

Areas of expertise

Smart home tech, cameras, wearables and obscure gadgets from the early 2000s.