Specialist IP Camera Store since 2004
Public Sector & Education • Business & Enterprise • Home Security
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Axis announces new 5-year warranty at no extra cost
We are pleased to share the news that IP video leaders, Axis Communications, today have announced an increased 5-year product warranty at no extra cost.
For Axis users, this means any eligible Axis products purchased from 1st April 2020 will automatically be covered under this new warranty regime. It provides additional cost-efficient ownership of Axis IP cameras. Read more >>
CamStreamer – Turn your Axis IP camera into a live streaming tool
As the world heads towards a new normal and we see a growing need for live streaming and remote monitoring, we welcome CamStreamer – the brand offering a range of quite impressive applications that help you produce effective live streams directly from your Axis IP camera.
Of particular note is their CamStreamer App for live streaming to a range of social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Wowza. This application not only provides the ability to reach a wide audience through well-established platforms; but includes a whole host of handy features to keep your audience interested and your streams running smoothly. Read more >>
How to configure the new Axis C1410 mini network speaker for social distancing messaging
The Axis C1410 network mini speaker is an affordable, highly versatile little PoE-powered amplified speaker with built-in PIR for audio announcements programmed and on-demand, safety warnings, background music and much more. It opens up a lot of possibilities for practical applications, its most pertinent one at present is its use for automated social distancing and hygiene messaging at entrances of shops, workplaces, and in leisure parks, helping you get back to work. Spoken social distancing reminders are more effective than just signage with people responding better to gentle reminders played at the right moments. It is an effective tool in your wider measures of minimising the risk of coronavirus spread.
Here is how to set up the Axis C1410 IP speaker to automatically play an audio clip when visitors or staff arrive at your place. We also provide a number of scenario-specific audio files for you to download and use for free.
Read more >>
Government announces thermal cameras are unsuitable for coronavirus screening
In a blog post in April we raised a concern about the risks of the emerging perception that thermal cameras are a necessary, effective method for coronavirus screening, whilst when used as the main tool, they are not. We were and are concerned that a false sense of security may be created in the places where this type of equipment is being deployed.
Why do you need Care Plus for Milestone XProtect?
You don’t have to have Care Plus to be able to run your Milestone XProtect video management system. However, as with all other pieces of software, you leave yourself vulnerable to weakened cybersecurity if you don’t keep it up to date. You miss out on constantly evolving features and technologies that improve the use of your system on an ongoing basis.
If you have Care Plus in place you have access to three version updates from Milestone each year, known as Release 1, 2, and 3 (or R1, R2, and R3 as Milestone likes to call them). Each of these releases includes security updates, new functionality, and improved performance, overall giving you a better, safer, and more powerful CCTV system as time progresses.
Axiscam.net – a DDNS service for Axis IP cameras – being phased-out
We learned recently of the phase-out of the highly reliable DDNS service for Axis IP cameras called axiscam.net (or Axis Internet Dynamic DNS Service). New registrations to the service were turned off in early April 2020 and all existing usage will be closed by the end of 2020.
As the announcement of the free service closure came somewhat out of the blue, our Technical Director, Kevin Bowyer, spoke with one of Axis’s technical managers to understand the motivations for ending the service.
How can IP camera technology help businesses manage in a much-changed world?
Businesses are looking for solutions to adapt to the new requirements of social distancing, improved hygiene and screening people for COVID-19 symptoms. Health and Safety protocols and standard operating procedures (SOP) are being reviewed and rewritten in response to the new rules. The increased use of digital technologies is playing a critical role to businesses running their operations in new ways, home working and video conferencing being the obvious examples. We also see increased interest for IP camera technology as a key tool for adapting to the new situation.
Coming soon: Milestone XProtect on AWS
Milestone will soon have a cloud capability to make deployment and scalability issues a thing of the past, via Milestone XProtect on AWS. The launch date is set for 9th June 2020.
Milestone XProtect is one the world’s leading video management suite of products for business, of this we have no doubt. Our earlier blog on why XProtect is our go-to VMS explains why. We have been deploying Milestone in virtualised environments for many years and the move to Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an extension of this. Read more >>
Thermal cameras for Coronavirus screening – a note of caution
We have noticed some recent reports in mainstream media, including this one from the BBC, regarding the use of thermal imaging cameras for the purpose of detecting people with fever. This in the light of the possible measures organisations are investigating in preparation for controlling coronavirus spread when businesses reopen and lockdowns ease. Airports, hospitals, train stations and restaurants have been quoted as the type of environments where thermal cameras may be of use.
We are concerned that media reporting is not detailed enough and may create an impression that thermal cameras are an effective tool to fight the spread of coronavirus. They are not. At least, not in their own right.
Monitor your buildings remotely using your Milestone Web or Mobile Clients – its free
During these unprecedented times many businesses and organisations have been forced to close their doors or have a minimal number of staff on site.
Of course, this leaves buildings vulnerable to illegal occupation, theft or criminal damage.
However, if you are using Milestone XProtect CCTV management software you will be able to monitor your buildings and property remotely using the Milestone XProtect Web Client or Mobile Client. The majority of Milestone users normally use the Smart Client and therefore may not be aware of the existence of the Web or Mobile Client. With many people now working away from their normal place of work these have now become very useful tools. They are included with your existing Milestone CCTV system, so there is no cost.
