The IP Camera and IP CCTV Blog

It’s official; the invasion of the iPads has begun.

Actually, who are we kidding? The invasion is already over and Apple have moved on to their well deserved victory lap, their latest innovation having taken the world by storm in what seems like the blink of an eye.

But what impact will it have on the IP Camera industry? How well do products from the likes of Axis, Panasonic and Y-cam interact with the world’s latest ‘must-have’ gadget?

To find out, we looked at cameras from these companies using our own shiny new iPad (any excuse!) Here is what we found:

We began with the Axis M3011 and found that we immediately lost our snapshot and full screen options, the latter of which could have been particularly useful on a screen as small as the iPad’s, though admittedly, turning the iPad to landscape provided a perfectly adequate viewing window.

This exodus of functions wasn’t entirely surprising as the iPad doesn’t support the camera’s ActiveX, or Java requirement for its advanced features, leaving it without the software necessary to perform most of them, but knowing this was scant consolation, as we were left with only the live image itself and had to open a separate window and make adjustments without being able to see the image, which made things a little trickier.

The Y-cam Knight we tested next was no improvement; once again all features were lost and, once again, we found ourselves having to make adjustments in a separate window. The camera’s specialised ‘mobile’ site didn’t fare much better, offering only a static image updated every few seconds.

Eventually however, we found a user interface which did translate well onto the iPad; the Panasonic BB-HCM511CE (and, it follows, all other BB- and BL- range cameras) allowed for extensive control of the camera, allowing us to toggle backlighting, resolution, compression rate, and image quality. Of course some features were still lost, such as the digital zoom, but overall the camera was far easier to interact with and offered far more comprehensive control.

Admittedly some of the controls, particularly the ‘scan’ controls, having been designed for a mouse, can be a bit fiddly on the iPad’s small touch-screen but in most cases there are drop down menus available to get you around this problem, though the iPad’s MultiTouch pinch-to-zoom capability makes zooming in to areas on the screen easy.

Unfortunately, this generally user-friendly interface was let down slightly by the display itself. The image was penned into one corner at the top of the screen and we had to adjust the resolution manually to 640×480 pixels and turn the iPad landscape again before we could really make out detail. Hardly a burden but it’s still work that the other cameras don’t ask you to do. It’s also worth noting that, while the full screen option is retained, it doesn’t really add a great deal. This ‘feature’ behaves in the same way on the iPad as it does on any desktop browser, so no loss there.

On the whole though the signs here are encouraging; the iPad’s barely been with us ten minutes and already Axis and Panasonic have shown that it is possible to transfer both image quality and a user-friendly interface over to it. All we need now is someone to put it all together, and that, surely, is only a matter of time.

In fact, we’re aiming to be that someone. Our Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) product already works on the iPhone and iPad and we’re building an iPad-specific interface as well.

Milestone have just replaced their popular XProtect Basis+ surveillance software with XProtect Essential. Essential is an entry level application aimed at the small business market with the option of monitoring and recording of up to 26 cameras.

Similarly to Basis+, Essential is compatible with over 800 IP camera and video server models and is a powerful surveillance tool for any security network. The new software has been streamlined and is easier to configure and use than its predecessor.

XProtect Essential has some very interesting improvements over the older application, making it much more enticing to security installers and end users.
Read more

The Football Association has recently purchased Axis P5534 IP cameras to monitor crowd flow at Wembley Stadium.

With HDTV quality footage, a 18x zoom and a 360° rotation, the Axis P5534 will deliver detailed images ensuring crowd flow on match days is clearly captured and people and objects are easily identifiable.

View our earlier blog post on the Axis P5534 and demo footage from the Axis P5534 IP camera.

Axis P5534 HDTV PTZ Dome IP Camera, full specification >>

This is a new, useful product from Mobotix: the Motobix M24M-SEC-D11 with 180 degree panoramic view.

The camera captures a 180 degree fisheye view and processes the image within the camera to send out a perfectly straight 180 degree panoramic view.

Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use the camera is great for security monitoring of large spaces such as warehouses, yard space, external storage areas and car parks.

This impressive camera offers a frame rate of 30 images per second at VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels) and 4 images per second in full megapixel, panoramic view mode. The digital pan-tilt-zoom is a useful feature of this camera, allowing you to scan through the live as well as recorded images in detail.

Producing video images of the highest quality, this is a very exciting new product, providing something different and truly useful.

See the 180 degree view and read more about the Mobotix M24M-SEC-D11 features

Realshot Manager Advanced (IMZ-NS100 series) is the latest Video Management Software (VMS) from Sony which turns a Windows-based PC/Server into a professional video surveillance application giving live image monitoring, recording and playback.

The software starts with a 1-channel license for small business use but can be extended up to 512 cameras with multiple recording servers for large-scale enterprise solutions.

This latest version offers a number of updates over the previous version (Realshot Manager V4.0). These include:

• Client/Server setup: The software can be used as a single server solution for up to 32 cameras for small-medium sized applications or for multi-site, enterprise solutions it can be extended up to 32 recording servers serving a total of 512 cameras.
• Open platform: The software is not tied to Sony IP video devices allowing integration of Axis and IQeye products as well as Sony’s full IP video range.
• High resolution recording: Sony Realshot Manager Advanced supports recording in HD/megapixel resolutions.
• Easy to use: The interface has been redesigned for ease of use with wizard-based setup tools for camera configuration/recording and drag and drop features.
• Reliability: With improved reliability the IMZ-100 series is a robust platform for small businesses up to large multi-site applications.
• Light funnel support: New, the light funnel feature found on some of Sony’s new megapixel cameras can be controlled directly through the control panel in the software.

The software is also DEPA complaint which offers intelligence allowing the user to analyse recordings using filters such as direction of motion, virtual boundaries, people counting etc.

For more information on the full range of licenses please see:

Sony IMZ-NS100 Realshot Manager Advanced

New from Axis Communications, the world’s leading IP camera manufacturer, is the M1054 HDTV IP security camera. Even with HDTV resolution, full alarm capabilities and dual h.264 streaming, the camera remains an affordable solution for security surveillance of homes or business properties.

Its H.264 video streaming delivers the latest in video compression technology without reducing picture quality and the camera comes with Power over Ethernet (PoE) connectivity for quick, easy and cost-effective installation.

The built-in microphone and speaker allow two-way audio and the camera’s white light LED can be triggered to illuminate when heat is detected by the integrated PIR sensor for low-light monitoring. Combined with the on-board speaker this makes the camera an effective deterrent.

The camera’s practical and smart design wouldn’t look out of place in an office or any modern interior.

Read more or buy the Axis M1054 HD IP camera >>

We are delighted to announce that with immediate effect we have changed our company name from Network Webcams to NW Systems Group Ltd.

The name change follows our continued growth and better identifies our business activities and scope.

With the name change we also introduce to you our new divisional structure; NW Systems Group has five divisions: NW Systems, Network Webcams, SecurityStation, RemoteManager and Streamdays.

The ownership and management of the company, our products and services remain unchanged.

Read the article >>

Didn’t we say that HD was going to be big this year? (yes we did! > Network Webcams tips HD IP cameras in 2010).

We think if you take a look at the kind of results you get from the new Axis P5534 HD dome camera you will begin to see why. Astounding detail.

Daylight

Low Light

For best results try watching in HD directly from our YouTube channel Network Webcams on YouTube):

More information:

Axis P5534 PTZ HD Dome Network Camera
HDTV network cameras - Why are they different from megapixel cameras?

Network Webcams has further strengthened its UK sales team with the appointment of two additional specialists, Richard Lewis and Rob Corlett.

Read more >>

Today, Network Webcams announces the launch of SecurityStation, its own Alerts & Recording Platform (ARP). Designed with the user in mind, SecurityStation makes viewing and recording from IP cameras as easy as using a website.

The new service can be accessed using all common browsers and does away with the need for recording devices or software of any kind. All a user need is a camera and an Internet connection, SecurityStation does the rest.

Secure, offsite remote servers managed by Network Webcams store the data captured from users’ cameras. Via www.MySecurityStation.com users have instant access to their event recordings, live camera feeds and system control settings.

Frank Crouwel, Managing Director at Network Webcams said, “We expect that SecurityStation will become a great success and a market leader amongst other Alerts & Recording Platforms (ARPs). The fact that the service is fully web-based and is accessible from anywhere on demand makes it easy to use for anybody, and this makes it such a powerful product. It will open up the use of IP video to a much wider market.”

Read more

Y-cam have been very successful with their IP cameras for the entry-level market. They have provided a small range of daylight viewing (Y-cam White) and night vision cameras (Y-cam Black/Knight) aimed for home and small business users but now they are launching something with the business user in mind.

The Y-cam Bullet

Enter the Y-cam Bullet, Y-cam’s first true day/night camera which is fully weatherproof and features wireless connectivity and 2-way audio.

The Y-cam Bullet is the next natural progression of the Y-cam Black or Y-cam Knight. It is a bullet-style camera which is self-contained in a weatherproof housing (no Y-cam Shell required!) and is the first camera from Y-cam to feature true infrared automatic day/night switching, Power over Ethernet connectivity and 2-way audio and comes with a new MJPEG optimised viewer for the iPhone.

Exclusive price until end of March 2010

From today we are selling the new Y-cam Bullet at a reduced price until the end of March. Buy from Network Webcams today and save £50 off the manufacturer’s RRP. See below link for details.

More information:

Y-cam Bullet true day/night wireless outdoor security camera
Y-cam Bullet product evaluation by Network Webcams

Pelco have launched a free 4-channel video recording software solution, DS4U, which will now be bundled with every Pelco IP camera product for Windows and Mac users.

What DS4U offers is entry to their high-end Digital Sentry platform which allows users to manage data for multiple locations from a single client workstation.

DS4U is a free software-only video management solution, suitable for recording video from up to 4 Pelco IP cameras including HD support for Pelco’s Sarix range of megapixel IP cameras.

Read more

These cameras are already out in the US and are the direct replacements of probably our best selling cameras, the Panasonic BL-C111 and BL-C131.

Due out very soon in the UK the BL-C210 and BL-C230 (wireless model) are both targeted to the home security market. If you look at their appearance you can see they are moving away from the silver finish of the previous models now come in that white finish which Apple have made very fashionable over the last few years. This of course makes them blend in a little better with modern interiors (home or business).

Read more

Axis are the first to introduce a fully featured thermal network camera for surveillance, the Q1910 (outdoor variant Q1910-E). Before now thermal imaging cameras have been analogue-based and restricted to high-end installations with a heavy price tag but with the new cameras launched this week Axis are offering thermal network camera surveillance at an affordable price.

Read more

Something which caught our eye recently is the new 2 megapixel outdoor camera from VIVOTEK, the IP7361.

From the spec the IP7361 it’s definintely not shy of features:

• Outdoor-ready IP67 rated protection
• 2 Megapixel sensor (1600×1200 pixels) with digital PTZ
• True day/night functionality with built in IR illumination
• Power over Ethernet compliant to IEEE802.3af
• 2-way audio with SIP protocol
• On-camera recording using SD/SDHC memory cards

Read more

We have been lucky enough to get our hands on a Panasonic BB-HCM701 before they are released and we thought we’d share our first impressions.

Read more

Press release October 7th 2009.

Following the release of the World’s first ONVIF conformant Network Video Products, LILIN have announced its partnership with Network Webcams, a leading specialist in Network Video and IP solutions.

Established in 2004, Network Webcams are one of the largest specialist companies in the area of IP Video. Providing networked CCTV systems and remote monitoring solutions for security and surveillance applications, they offer tailored web camera systems and webcam hosting and video streaming services.

Read more

Network Webcams is due to release a beta version of their new web-based CCTV Service in November this year. The service has been branded ‘SecurityStation’ and allows customers to manage their IP cameras fully via the web. It does away with the need for recording software or video recorders of any kind. The recording and storage is done offsite on remote servers managed by Network Webcams. Users simply log in to the system via the web and have full control over their cameras, all via the Internet.

Kevin Bowyer, Technical Director at Network Webcams, and the driving force behind the development of SecurityStation:

“We think we have made it so easy to use, it offers customers all the benefits of modern-day CCTV but we deliver it via the web in a way that many of us have become used to in our everyday life.

“We are releasing a Beta version of the service in November and are looking for users with a critical mind to provide feedback to us before we fully launch. This is the most important stage to us”.

The beta version will be free and available by invitation only. Beta users will be rewarded with a free lifetime SecurityStation account (Terms and conditions apply). You can register to receive an invitation at www.securitystation.com.

Feel free to call us if you want to find out more. Speak to Frank on 0151 633 2111.

Sony has unveiled their latest HD network video cameras at ASIS 2009, the SNC-CH140 a fixed network camera and the SNC-DH140 a fixed mini-dome network camera. The new cameras include Sony’s new high-speed Exmore CMOS sensors which are designed to offer high image quality along with high sensitivity which is required for security applications in difficult low lighting and high contrast conditions.

With new View-DR Dynamic Range technology the camera takes multiple images at different exposure settings for each required frame and uses these to create a single image. With previous technologies nearly half of the information (light) captured was discarded to make the required frame. View-DR uses all the information captured to recreate a single frame which makes the camera nearly twice as sensitive, this allows high quality megapixel images to be captured in low and difficult lighting conditions.

The new cameras have a 720p resolution and are capable of 30fps in MJPEG, MPEG4 and H.264. XDNR (eXcellent Dynamic Noise Reduction) is used to enhance the low light performance further with selective 2D and 3D noise reduction, and DEPA advanced video and audio analytics provides motion detection, anti-tampering alarms and advanced audio detection. Both cameras conform to ONVIF specification and should be available winter 2010.

For more information see: Sony SNC-CH/DH series datasheet

Network Webcams Limited is a specialist company in the area of IP video and Security, offering networked CCTV solutions to a wide range of sectors across the UK. We are widely recognised as one of the leading companies in this field and are certified partners with Axis, Sony, Panasonic, Mobotix, Milestone and other IP vendors.

Due to ongoing growth we are looking for an enthusiastic, forward-thinking individual with a proven track-record in sales to further develop our system installation business.

Your key tasks and responsibilities

• Identifying and exploring sales opportunities with support from an office-based opportunity researcher / lead generator
• On site customer meetings, presentations and product demonstrations
• Site surveys
• System design, quotation and follow up
• Customer account management

Key requirements

• Good customer-facing skills
• IT / Networking or CCTV / Security background, or both
• IT and web literate
• Honest, no-nonsense person with high professional standards

Location: flexible
Remuneration: negotiable

For further information about our company please see www.networkwebcams.info.

If you are interested or wish to discuss further details about the position, please contact Frank Crouwel at 0151 633 2141 or email jobs@networkwebcams.com.