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:

• D14 Product Announcement
• Mobotix D14 Series IP Cameras
• Full Mobotix Range

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

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

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

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?

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 …