IP Cameras and IP CCTV » Tech News

ACTi KCM-5311 MegaPixel IP Box Camera Captures

Rob — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:00:05 +0000

The ACTi KCM-5311 which we blogged about last week boasts 35x optical zoom and MegaPixel resolution, but even more impressive than these features on paper are the short captures, which ACTi have posted on their website, of the new model in action:

Unfortunately for us, the ACTi KCM-5311 IP Box Camera will not be available in the UK until mid-August, but be sure to keep an eye on our blog and product pages for availability.

ACTi MobileGo iPhone/iPad/iPod App

Rob — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:00:56 +0000

Taiwanese IP Camera manufacturer ACTi have recently announced the release of an app for iPhone, iPad and iPod which allows for remote viewing of live feed from ACTi cameras which are being run through the free ACTi NVR software. The app is free to download from the app store and has several interesting and useful features including:

Real-time viewing.
PTZ control: Pan, Tilt and Zoom control available for ACTi PTZ cameras, including preset points.
Search and Playback video with both time based and event based search functions.
Auto screen rotation.

For ACTi product pages, datasheets and product images please use the links below:

QNAP VS-2004L and VS-2008L Network Video Recorders

Rob — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:26 +0000

QNAP Security have just announced the availability of their two new Network Video Recorders the QNAP VS-2004L and the QNAP VS-2008L. The two models share the same list of features some of which are mentioned below with a full list available at our product pages. The only difference between the two models is the number of channels; 4 channels for the 2004L and 8 channels for the 2008L.

Some of the features provided include:

Real-time monitoring and recording (video/audio) from multiple IP cameras (up to 4/8 channels)
High quality H.264, MPEG-4, and M-JPEG recording
Dual display mode
Video search by date and time, timeline, and event
Multi-view playback from multiple NVR servers
Trouble-free installation
Linux-embedded, highly reliable standalone NVR
Advanced RAID management
Online RAID capacity expansion and online RAID level migration
UPS Support for 24/7 service
Intelligent auto power on after power recovery
Energy-saving design (only 13W in operation)
Continuous/manual/scheduled recording
Alarm recording (by multiple events), alarm recording schedule
Pre-alarm and post-alarm recording
Audio recording

For full specifications, product pages and our entire QNAP range please use the links below:

QNAP Security NVR Firmware Update V3.5.0

Rob — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:00:10 +0000

Taiwanese Network Video Recorder specialists QNAP Security have released their latest Firmware update V3.5.0 for their VioStor NVR series for free. Their press release describes the key improvements of this version and new features such as:

Dynamic E-map: allows users to pinpoint the position of each IP camera on a multi-layered digital map.
Video Segment Backup to External USB Device: users can now back up specific video segments of the camera channels from the VioStor NVR to an external USB storage device.
Real-time Digital Watermarking: real-time digital watermarks are embedded to the videos of the IP cameras as soon as they are recorded to the VioStor NVR.
16-channel Simultaneous Video Playback: the new V3.5.0 firmware has largely increased the maximum number of channels for simultaneous remote playback from 4 to 16 to enhance the efficiency of video investigation.
New IP Cameras Support: in addition to more than 1,000 models of IP camera and video server, QNAP Security has added the support for Samsung, Yokogawa, and ONVIF-compliant Bosch, EverFocus and Hunt IP cameras to its compatibility list for the VioStor NVR series.

For more information, the QNAP press release, the firmware download and our product pages for QNAP VioStor NVRs please use the links below:

Axis M5013 and M5014 Compact PTZ Dome Network Cameras

Rob — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:00:41 +0000

Network camera manufacturer Axis have recently released the Axis M50 series which comprises of two models the Axis M5013 and the Axis M5014. The most notable feature of the new Axis M50 series is the size of the camera unit itself. At 13cm in diameter and 5.6cm in depth these IP cameras provide a discreet surveillance solution. What’s more, the casing of both models is rated at IP51 ensuring protection against ingress of dust and dripping water, providing an extra level of reliability in indoor applications.

Axis M5013	Axis M5014
SVGA Resolution up to 800×600 Horizontal viewing angle of 45° Coverage of 300 sq. M.	HDTV 720p resolution up to 1280×720 Horizontal viewing angle of 60° Coverage of 400 sq. M.

The features above are the only differences between the two models, but both share a list of features including:

1/4″ Progressive scan CMOS image sensor
3.6mm lens
Minimum illumination of 1.4lux
H.264 and Motion JPEG compression
Frame rate of 30fps in all resolutions
Built-in microphone for one-way audio
Video motion detection and audio detection
MicroSD/SDHC Card slot

For full specifications and manufacturer’s datasheets, use the links below to visit our product pages:

Mobotix D14 Series Release

Rob — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:18 +0000

Network camera manufacturer Mobotix have recently announced a new series of dual-camera network domes which will replace the current D12 DualDome series. There is a full release document concerning the Mobotix D14 series and going into detail on all the improvements made from the D12 series, which can be accessed at our Mobotix D14 series product pages or by using the links at the end of this post.

However, as a brief summary, Mobotix describe the key features of the new series as thus:

New processor platform
Higher maximum frame rates in all resolutions
4GByte micro SD card is part of standard delivery of SEC and IT models
Support of micro SD cards up to 64 Gigabytes
Adjustable PoE classes, 1 to 3
Improved audio
Improved sensor cabling
MxBus, Mini USB

Apart from the increase in processing power, the most notable change between the two series comes at the interface level. For a full comparison of the changes see chapter 2.2 of the release document.

Use the links below to access the Mobotix product announcement document as well as our Mobotix product pages:

Panasonic Network Cameras

Phil Stewkesbury — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:30:48 +0000

This new video from Panasonic outlines their advances in image technology over the past five years and the capabilities of their new range for 2010 including new features in sensitivity, image compression, facial recognition etc.

For our full range of Panasonic I-Pro Cameras use link below.

Panasonic IP cameras

1080p HD Video coming to YouTube

Phil Stewkesbury — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:11:01 +0000

From next week YouTube will offer 1080p high definition video playback:

(Watch this in full screen to see the full hairy resolution potential!)

Virgin Broadband; Faster and Cheaper Future

Phil Stewkesbury — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:00:20 +0000

Virgin Media are reducing the price of their 50Mbps service to just £28 per month from September 1st (if you also take a Virgin phone line).

This price/performance milestone is a significant step along the road to one big happy high performance inter-network.

As IP camera specialists we can see – “Any picture, from any place, and any time …” – and these performance boosts continue to make it an improving experience!

Virgin have also announced trials of 10Mbps uplinks – bearing in mind that it is the uplink speed of your camera (out there somewhere on the internet) that is often the performance limiting factor, then this too bodes well for future performance.

They have also begun trials of 200Mbps internet download speeds!

Not so long ago, in a land consisting of many peer-to-peer networks, 10Mbps was the fastest that you could connect to a machine six feet away …

Virgin claims that at 50Mbps you’ll be able to download a music track in just one second!

PC Pro announce Virgin 50Mbps price drop.

Think Broadband announce Virgin 50Mbps price drop.

Virgin’s 50Meg offer.

PC Pro on Virgin’s 200Mbps trials.

You need to wait just two more weeks …

Unless anybody can tell us all where to sign up sooner?

CMOS CCTV Sensors

Phil Stewkesbury — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:25:52 +0000

Traditionally CCTV cameras used CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensors.

Lately, CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensors have become common place, especially in the latest megapixel network cameras.

It has long been said that, as a smaller worldwide market, CCTV development follows the technology lead of digital cameras and camcorders.

Sony are probably the World’s biggest manufacturer of imaging chips.

In June 2008 Sony announced a new back-illuminated CMOS sensor technology which delivered greatly improved low-light performance. They branded this technology as ‘EXMOR’ ™.

These EXMOR™ image sensors are now appearing in new Sony digital camera products – check this early review at this site specialising in Sony Digital Camera Technology. Take note of the sample images at the end of the review indicating the much improved low light level photographs.

[By the way, amazing little cameras; 16mm thick, 10.2MP sensors, 10 images per second shooting, records up to 29 minutes HD 720p video, and much, much, more ...]

Check the comments in an earlier article at that same site when Sony first announced their back-illuminated CMOS sensor to see that they registered the patent in 2006 in USA, and probably earlier in Japan. That gives you an indication of the development timeline of these new technologies.

A brief abstract of the patent:
A solid state imaging device having a back-illuminated type structure in which a lens is formed on the back side of a silicon layer with a light-receiving sensor portion being formed thereon. Insulating layers are buried into the silicon layer around an image pickup region, with the insulating layer being buried around a contact layer that connects an electrode layer of a pad portion and an interconnection layer of the surface side. A method of manufacturing such a solid-state imaging device is also provided.

As I said above, CCTV technology has always followed the camcorder and digital camera technology lead. Well, there’s no prizes for guessing the lead technology sector now – in November 2008 Sony announced plans to launch a 12 megapixel EXMOR™ sensor for mobile phones!

Surely, eventually, this low-light, high megapixel CMOS sensor technology will find its way into future IP CCTV Network cameras, but I wouldn’t like to guess when …