New Arlo Secure app (4.11.2_28633) no SmartHub local recording access - forced subscription?!?!

[AverageJoe76]

I recently purchased a new Arlo Essentials 2nd generation indoor camera, and it forced me over to the newest version of the Arlo Secure app, 4.11.2_28633 released on 23JAN2024.

The first concern is the app will not allow me to connect this new device to one of my two VMB4540 SmartHubs, so I returned the camera.  But now I can no longer go back to the previous Arlo Secure UI and there is a HUGE loss in functionality.  The main loss is the ability to access local recordings from the SmartHubs.  I several Arlo cameras to include Pro 3 floodlight cameras, a Pro 4, a doorbell camera.

Is Arlo forcing us into a paid subscription plan with this new update?  If so, this is a jerk move, Arlo, and one by one, I will be selling off my cameras.  Not everyone wants to be a slave to the paid subscription plans.

[Edinburgh_lad1]

Yep, this is it. I believe it's a way to 'encourage' you to a paid subscription, but what it's going to 'encourage' me as a user is to re-consider my choices, especially given the cost of living (at least here in Europe and the UK). In other words, I'm certainly seriously thinking of getting rid of this system, as I feel that this company isn't user focussed anymore. Yes, every company needs to make money and by buying Arlo's (expensive) products, we choose to support it, but this is taking things to a completely new level.

The new user interface makes it difficult to access local recordings. In the previous UI, it was possible to access them in the Library; in the new UI, you have to go to Devices > Base station > Local storage. Considering that 'Feed' in the new UI is another word (synonym) for Library, and that there is no difference what you find in the Feed that you found in the Library, this move to make local recordings so difficult to access left a very bad taste in my mouth, I'm afraid, especially after I spent all that money on the hardware (it was following my decision, that I now wholeheartedly regret, to get a video doorbell). 

From what I know, there isn't a way of going back to the old user interface. Which is very disappointing, as there was no choice between going new or old at all. It looks like adding any new device now switches the user over to the new user interface, whereas previously, it was certain products only.  

[jguerdat]

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@AverageJoe76 wrote:

Is Arlo forcing us into a paid subscription plan with this new update?  If so, this is a jerk move, Arlo, and one by one, I will be selling off my cameras.  Not everyone wants to be a slave to the paid subscription plans.

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No, it isn't. There have been other cases in the past where new hardware connected only to WiFi with an update later that allowed connection to a hub. Arlo has committed publicly to do the same thing with the Gen. 2 cameras but there's no known date for that to happen.

There's plenty of folks here that like to view all of this as a conspiracy without proof. I agree that "forcing" you to the new user interface (UI) is startling and confusing. We can help with the confusion to get you to where you need to be (there's always going to be some cases where custom modes are just absolutely needed but aren't supported) but we can't work around the current firmware - we just have to wait. I also want all my cameras connected to my hubs.

[belandbroc]

total crap, I had Pro 2's with no issues for years, bought essential cameras and then they STopped recording after trial ran out..  I called arlo and they told me that there was a programming issue with that camera and they were working on it, he told me it was like for the last 6 months or something.  So, I returned those cameras and got the pro 4's and now the same thing has happened, but with an additional challenge, you can no longer reach out to arlo for assistance unless you are a paying customer.  they offer like 3 ways to reach out to them and none of them work for. me.  all of their old CS phone numbers no longer work.  This is worse than the PTL club.  

[StephenB]

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@belandbroc wrote:

I had Pro 2's with no issues for years, bought essential cameras and then they STopped recording after trial ran out..  .  So, I returned those cameras and got the pro 4's and now the same thing has happened, 

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The Pro 2 cameras were sold with 7 days free cloud recordings.  But cloud recording for all currently sold cameras requires a subscription.

1. What base station do you have?  Look for a VMBxxxx label on the base.
2. Are you using direct access to local storage?