Arlo|Smart Home Security|Wireless HD Security Cameras

Video Doorbell Wired - Date/Time stamp on download

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IntheBerkshires
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I saw some posts from several years ago and am wondering if they've added this "feature" (seems more like a simple necessity) - When downloading a video, is there any way to have a date & time stamp on the video, other than playing it back and taking a screen shot? If not, it's an absurd thing to leave out.  Thanks. 

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StephenB
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@IntheBerkshires wrote:

 When downloading a video, is there any way to have a date & time stamp on the video, other than playing it back and taking a screen shot? If not, it's an absurd thing to leave out.  Thanks. 


The file name is the date and time (in epoch time)  https://www.epochconverter.com/ can be used to convert the file name into a human-readable format.

 

In addition, the mp4 metadata has the encoding date and time in UTC.  You can see this in a freeware tool called MediaInfoXP.  It's converted to local time by Windows - if you right click on the MP4, you'll see this in the "media created" field on the "Details" tab.

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StephenB
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@IntheBerkshires wrote:

 When downloading a video, is there any way to have a date & time stamp on the video, other than playing it back and taking a screen shot? If not, it's an absurd thing to leave out.  Thanks. 


The file name is the date and time (in epoch time)  https://www.epochconverter.com/ can be used to convert the file name into a human-readable format.

 

In addition, the mp4 metadata has the encoding date and time in UTC.  You can see this in a freeware tool called MediaInfoXP.  It's converted to local time by Windows - if you right click on the MP4, you'll see this in the "media created" field on the "Details" tab.

IntheBerkshires
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Thanks Stephen - extremely helpful. 

fruitcat32
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@IntheBerkshires, the workaround suggested by StephenB is the the only one that there is. And it's not for everyday users, it's for people who don't mind spending all their free hours going over individual videos to use this method. You can't apply it to a bunch of videos at once. It's also for people who are comfortable with technology, which doesn't include a large part of their customer base. Imagine elderly customers, or people who aren't tech-savvy trying to figure out the Epoch "solution." It's unrealistic and completely ridiculous to expect even tech-savvy customers to have to jump through those hoops, especially for the inflated prices of the system. 

 

Arlo customer support is utterly useless, and after six years of having their system and spending thousands on it, I'm cutting my losses, selling it off, and buying another product. I have asked several times over the years in the community for the time/date stamp feature, and some of my reviews were deleted, or if they aren't, they don't show up in a search. I have also seen many other requests for the same in this "support" forum-- if you search date and time stamp questions, you'll see they've been ignoring customers since 2015. They simply can't be bothered to address customer concerns at all. My advice-- cut your losses now unless you can live with the Epoch workaround, which is a preposterous thing to suggest to the average customer when they ask for a very basic and necessary feature for a security camera. 

 

I just went to Trustpilot and left a scathing review. I'm going to do the same on every other site where people can air their frustrations with predatory and greedy companies who just blow off their customers. On Trustpilot, Arlo has a 90% Bad rating, and a lot of reviews start out with "If I could give zero/negative stars I would." 

 

I am incredibly busy and don't often have time to leave reviews, but with the arrogance and downright contempt that they show their customers, I've been inspired to tell everyone I know who owns a house or business not to buy Arlo. So far I'd say I've warned about 30+ people off of it, and I won't stop warning people until this shady company either improves their practices and actually decides to answer customer concerns, or they go under. I'd be fine with either outcome. 

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