Specialist IP Camera Store since 2004
Public Sector & Education • Business & Enterprise • Home Security
Not only do the new Axis Q35 cameras offer 60 fps video capture, wide dynamic range and edge recording amongst plenty of other features, the particularly interesting thing about these recently launched cameras is that they are the first Axis network cameras to offer both HD 1080p / 2 megapixel and Lightfinder technology. In the past we have only seen HD 720p /1 megapixel cameras with Axis Lightfinder. However advances in technology are enabling even higher quality low light image capture.
You may be aware of the ‘Shellshock’ bug or ‘Bashbug’ which was recently discovered in Linux operating systems. Many of the web servers on the Internet use Linux to host websites or web applications. By the same token, most IP cameras use the same technologies as part of their on-board operating systems and therefore may pose a hacking risk to your organisation.
With quick and easy access to IP video systems from mobile devices being ever more important, Axis has launched its own mobile app for Axis Camera Companion (ACC). Mobile surveillance apps allow access to an IP video system using the internet, and provide handy remote live viewing and management of recorded video whilst away from a site. Until now, only third party mobile apps were available to access Axis cameras, but this is no longer the case…
We mentioned in our recent Ifsec 2014 review that the first 4K IP cameras were on display at this year’s security exhibition. Following up on this we just wanted to share with you what 4K actually looks like. At 3840 x 2160 4K cameras offer four times the resolution of a full HD 1080p camera, and at full frame rate. This will mean even greater detail from even larger areas.
We’ve just spent three days at the annual security exhibition IFSEC, taking place at the Excel in London this week. It’s a huge show and impossible to look at everything but overall the sense is that the evolution of IP-based security technologies is continuing to gather pace and analogue-based solutions have now been marginalised. I did not see one analogue camera on the show at any of the main stands, but then I was not looking for one.
Axis has launched the T83 series of compact microphones providing high-performance audio in most scenarios. The new microphones are compatible with Axis network cameras with audio input support, offering high quality audio data that can add valuable information to CCTV monitoring operations.
The market for IP bullet cameras with integrated infrared LEDs has been a crowded place for years, mainly dominated by lower-end manufacturers. Premium brand manufacturers have been cautious with building infrared LEDs into their cameras for a long time but in recent years we have seen some mid-range and higher-end products appearing from the likes of Axis, Sony and Panasonic. The reason for this is that LED technology has improved a lot and LEDs have become much more durable, now matching the longevity of other components used in cameras. We anticipate a trend that premium manufacturers will increasingly expand in the lower-cost market for infrared IP cameras, since there is a high demand for this type of product worldwide.
The recent changes to the rules surrounding the Milestone Software Upgrade Plan (SUP) can be somewhat confusing so we thought to clarify it in a succinct post.
First off the SUP is essentially an agreement with Milestone that will give you access to software updates for the duration of the SUP. The software updates tend to be frequent (3 to 4 times a year) and provide you with bug fixes, additional features, ongoing platform compatibility (e.g. Windows updates) and ever widening camera and device support. SUPs are available for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 year periods and can be renewed on expiry.
So far so good. However, the way SUPs are sold is different for the different Milestone software products and that’s what makes it confusing and what we are trying to clarify here.
Close to the tipping point
During 2014, the global value of IP camera sales is set to reach the tipping point when compared with analogue CCTV cameras, according to the leading analyst covering the global surveillance and analytics market IHS (formerly IMS Research). Jon Cropley, IHS’ lead analyst covering the surveillance market explains:
“The video surveillance equipment markets in EMEA and the Americas have already reached a ‘tipping point’ where revenues from network video surveillance equipment exceed those from analogue equipment. At a global level this is not forecast to occur until 2014 due to the continued growth of the market for analogue equipment in Asia.”
IHS’ global report on the video surveillance market based on 2013 sales (which should be out by June 2014) may even reveal that the global ‘value tipping point’ has already arrived – spurred on by rapid migration to IP video in China and the rest of the Far East.
With the latest release of the MOBOTIX camera firmware comes MxLEO, their further advancements to improve low light performance within the MOBOTIX multi-megapixel camera range. MxLEO was demonstrated to us at the Mobotix International Partner Conference that took place in Germany earlier this week.