The effectiveness of Ring security cameras and video doorbells is determined by more than their image quality; it's also about how well they detect and respond to motion. Properly configured motion settings can make the difference between a system that enhances your peace of mind and one that overwhelms you with alerts; or worse, fails to notify you of critical events. Ring's motion settings are at the heart of this process, determining when, how, and how often you're notified about activities around your home. Used strategically, they enable you to tailor your security system to your specific needs so that you get the most relevant alerts while minimizing unnecessary disruptions. While the Ring app makes it easy to enable and disable motion detection and alerts on your Ring device, most other motion settings require a little digging to uncover.

Amazon is rolling out a feature that will allow Alexa to tell you when a supported security camera or video doorbell detects a person or a package. If you activate the announcements, you can receive an alert from the Alexa mobile app, hear a notification from an Echo speaker and/or view a live video feed on Echo Show, Fire TV or a Fire tablet. The feature is compatible with Alexa routines. So, when your camera or doorbell spots a package or a person, you can automatically turn on a floodlight, activate a smart lock or trigger a custom Alexa greeting. It's worth noting that person and package detection are only available on Ring devices if you have a Ring Protect subscription, which starts at $3 per month.

Amazon's Echo Show devices are among those that will automatically be added to its shared Wi-Fi network scheme, called Amazon Sidewalk. Amazon's Echo Show devices are among those that will automatically be added to its shared Wi-Fi network scheme, called Amazon Sidewalk. Amazon is building a Wi-Fi network – using your Wi-Fi. It's called Amazon Sidewalk, and the company touts it as a way to help its devices work better, by extending the range of low-bandwidth devices to help them stay online. It does that by pooling neighbors' Wi-Fi to help connectivity for devices that are out of range.

Amazon's property-surveillance company Ring has "recalled" hundreds of thousands of its namesake doorbell video cameras after some caught fire and people were burned. The company said there's only a risk if the wrong screws were used for installation. "Ring has received 85 incident reports of incorrect doorbell screws installed, with 23 of those doorbells igniting, resulting in minor property damage," the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission said in an advisory. "The firm has received eight reports of minor burns." Ring said in its own advisory that if the doorbell is installed correctly, "there is no risk to consumers or potential hazard." Though classified by Ring and the commission as a "recall," the problem with the 2nd Generation devices, model number 5UM5E5, should be addressed via re-installation, the company and commission said.

Amazon's naked ambition to become part of everyone's daily lives was on full display this week at its annual hardware event. It announced a slew of new Alexa-powered devices, including a home surveillance drone, a suite of Ring-branded car alarm systems, and miscellany like an adorable little kids' Echo device. But it's clear Amazon's strategy has shifted, even if only for a product cycle, from going wide to going deep. Last year, Amazon baked its virtual assistant into any household device that could accommodate a chip. Its list of new widgets with Alexa seemed a mile long and included a menagerie of home goods, like lamps and microwaves.

Question: How can I tell if my Ring doorbell has the update that protects me from the latest vulnerability? Answer: The Ring doorbell is an extremely popular device that millions of households around the world have installed for security purposes and because it's so popular, it's also the constant focus of security researchers. In the most recent vulnerability, it was discovered to be possible for your Ring doorbell to broadcast the password for your Wi-Fi network in plain text (http:// instead of https://) which could technically allow anyone nearby to capture it and access your home network. Once a malicious user has access to your home network, they can potentially access sensitive information or other devices connected to your network. This vulnerability was only possible during the initial setup process, but researchers pointed out that fake messages to the user could trick them into thinking that they needed to reconfigure their Ring device and it's not hard to figure out which homes have the doorbell.

Do you want to see who's at your door without getting up, keep an eye out for criminals and hooligans, or simply make sure the delivery guy actually leaves your package while you're at work? With a video camera that lets you see who's at your door, two-way audio, and alerts that stream right to your smartphone, even when you're not home, a smart doorbell might be the perfect device to add to your home. To find out which will really ring your bell, I tested seven of the most popular models. Truth be told, none of them were perfect--but the Ring Video Doorbell 2 (available at Amazon for $199.00) With the most reliable connection and the fastest response time, the Ring 2 is the best bet for any house, especially because it's one of the only models that can run on batteries or be hard-wired.