Simplicam Basic Feature Missing

I have the same complaint. I want the camera to record only in the case of an actual alarm condition. The only way to do this is by pulling the plug and tossing the camera in the trash. I'm very close to doing this.

It's not basic and not important.  There is no REAL difference to you whether it records arm/disarm or not.  Doesn't cost you any more, doesn't fill up your available memory.  I understand your frustration that SS thinks their design is perfect and your opinion isn't worth the bits used to send it. but there are more basic and more important features to be mad at them for not implementing.

Its not about cost or space. It's about not giving the customer control over what an INDOOR camera records. Virtually every other camera device/service gives you this control, so yes it's basic.

Customer control means less SECURITY for a SECURITY camera.  I don't think anyone really thinks the SS cameras are much use for casual viewing.  They are designed to monitor SECURITY events.

All those other cameras?  They are just cameras so you can see what is going on (or in some cases, what went on).  Perhaps an ADJUNCT to a security system, but not security themselves.

Right, an alarm is a security event. Me walking into my house with the right code should be my choice if it records that. Some people may want that some don't. Im not saying it should be removed just be able to be toggled. Not hard to program that at all.

I never argued that I wanted it for casual viewing, I know what a security camera is, so not sure where that came from. Other SECURITY cameras DO let you customize when they record. Being that the camera is INSIDE your private home, you'd think that would be important....

I can see your point, and maybe it should be optional, but lets play devils advocate for a minute.  What if a bad guy got lucky and guessed your code on the first try?  Would be nice to have some video of that no?  I know it's a stretch, but a guy was born on leap year 40 years ago and just had a baby who was also born on leap year, so strange things can and do happen.

Of course there is no reason to record a VALID disarm.  But how is the system going to tell between the person who is supposed to have a particular PIN, and someone who is not supposed to be able to disarm your system?

@dp, you know better than most the lengths a nefarious programmer will go to trick a target to clicking on an email link etc.  Reports of specific social engineering designs are on the rise and going through someone's facebook and other social media accounts to make an "educated guess" for someone's pin is not beyond reason.  Video of all system events is not a bad thing.

If all these cyber criminals would put their skills to use in a positive way just imagine how amazing life could be.  But alas, it doesn't seem to work that way very often.

And to add to the conversation, recording arms and disarms can be advantageous.  Our alarm went off in the middle of the night one time and woke us all up in a panic.  Our son was leaving the house and claimed it malfunctioned when he shut the door.  So I checked the cameras and they showed that opened the door, pressed home and then closed the door, but he didn't quite shut the door all the way so you could see him re-open it slightly and close it again which set the alarm off.  

Without that recorded event, I would still think to this day that we had a malfunction and probably wouldn't trust the system.