IP Video Market Info News

Pelco's 3D Design Tool Reviewed : General Update

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Despite living in the age of computer aided design, many designers and engineers take to 'paper and pencil' during video system design because the software based alternatives are simply too expensive or too awkward to use. A few surveillance design tools do exist but are of... More

Testing Smartphones as Surveillance Cameras : IP Cameras Review

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Using smartphones as surveillance cameras is one of the biggest trends in 2012, with multiple manufacturers announcing apps. These apps allow live video to be streamed from the phone's camera directl... More

ADI: Porn for Security Dealers : General Update

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

For every step forward, sometimes you take three or four steps back. That thought may come to mind of those championing gender equity in the security industry or at least trying to pull the market out of the stone ages.

In this video advertisement published to More

Lowe's Selling Alarms Direct : Intrusion Detection Update

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Should RMR junkies start worrying? Home improvement giant More

PoE Power Problems : General Update

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

One of the nastiest and most difficult to identify problems is insufficient PoE power. One minutes, things may be working fine. The next, the system seems to be going haywire, with little indication why. In this update, we overview the potential causes for these issues, and... More

Useful Online CPTED Tool : General Update

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While CPTED is often ignored in designing security systems, it offers significant value. CPTED, that is, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, can reduce the opportunity for crime and the installation and maintenance costs required by extensive security systems. Br... More

Should Integrators Go to PSA-Tec? : General Update

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Trade shows typically are run by manufacturers, for manufacturers (except for ASIS which is simply controlled by manufacturers). By contrast, PSA, a co-op of integrators, offers an event that they claim is different, run by integrators for integrators. We paid our own way a... More

Ubiquiti Crisis - Plunging Stock, Lawsuit and Accusations : Ubiquiti Update

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Things are getting worse for Ubiquiti. What started as a shocking and seemingly fabricated story about the Chinese mafia has evolved into a lawsuit, more serious allegations and a plunging stock price. Ins... More

Milestone as a VSaaS : Milestone Systems Update

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While Milestone seeks global VMS domination, many view the VSaaS market as a potential new rival that could undercut the growth and future of traditional VMS applications like Milestone's XProtect. W... More

IP Camera PC Training : IP Cameras Review

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Over and over, we are told that this is the most common and fundamental problem techs have getting started with IP cameras. They come to a job site, or even to training, and they need to connect their laptop to the camera's network ... and they can't.

Here's a recent ... More

Worst Parent Ever Caught on Surveillance? : Case Studies Update

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Some things are almost beyond comprehension - like this surveillance video. Take a look:

Top 5 Integrator Concerns : General Update

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

What concerns keep integrators awake at night? During our recent visit to More

Vivotek's 5 MP Camera Line Reviewed : VIVOTEK Update

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Vivotek is the latest 'big name' to jump into the 5MP product market. While the true value of multi-megapixel cameras are debatable, ... More

Axis Ad: Throw Away Your Analog Equipment : Axis Update

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

In a surprising and, sure to be controversial ad campaign, Axis advocates throwing analog equipment away. If the reader is in any way confused about the intent, analog cameras and a DVR are stuffed inside a trash can with a confirmation request, "Are your sure you want to p... More

VLANs for Surveillance : General Update

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

If you want to pretend to be a surveillance networking expert, just sternly tell people that they need to use VLANs. However, little practical guidance is available to decide why or when users should use them. In this note, we outline the basics of VLANs, equipment requirem... More

IP Camera Standards Use Revealed : Standards Review

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Just four years ago, IP camera standards were no more than a dream. All IP cameras were integrated with proprietary interfaces or using the simplest ... More

NUUO Titan NVR Examined : NUUO Update

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While the VMS software market is dominated by aggressive European and American providers, NUUO is the best known Asian alternative. In the past few years, NUUO has been relatively quiet. Recently, they released the Titan NVR, first in a new series featuring redesigned serve... More

IPVM New Features May 2012 : General Review

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We have added in 4 new features to IPVM and have another half-dozen lined up for the second half of the year. In this post, we explain the new features.

Invoice Auto Generation

Every week, many members ask for customized invoices to submit to their accoun... More

Netgear Surveillance Reviewed : Other Companies Update

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Netgear is one of the biggest IT brands in the world, with More

Free Tool to Capture Surveillance Problems : General Update

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Getting a good image can help solve surveillance problems and quickly show people what video really looks like. While print screen is built in, this requires a number of cumbersome steps to produce a shareable image. We recently surveyed a number of screen grab applications... More

Testing Ethernet Cables : General Update

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Proper cable installation is key to trouble-free IP surveillance systems. However, testing is often an afterthought, with problems only discovered when cameras have problems, resulting in increased troubleshooting, or even worse, reinstallation. Simple, inexpensive testers ... More

Axis vs Hikvision IP Camera Test Results : Hikvision Review

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Hikvision is the most valuable video surveillance company in the world, going public in 2010 at $6 Billion USD and now trading at over $7 Billion USD, far higher than Axis Communications. Even in More

Honeywell MAXPRO Cloud Reviewed : Honeywell Video Update

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Until now, the surveillance cloud has been the province of IP upstarts and small companies pushing a new approach. The old guard incumbents have sit on the sideline. No more. Honeywell has made its move into the cloud with a new hybrid appliance and cloud service, MAXP... More

Recommended Switches for Small IP Surveillance Systems : General Update

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

With so many options available, selecting network switches for surveillance can be especially daunting for inexperienced users, with little guidance available from independent sources. To that end, in this note we recommend switch models from the top 3 manufacturers More

Pelco vs Integrators : Pelco Update

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Once an integrator favorite, Pelco is increasingly viewed with distrust and concern by many. As the former US leader becomes assimilated into a French multinational conglomerate, Schneider Electric, concerns rise. In particular, Schneider Electric has its own large system i... More

VMS Annual License Fees - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em? : Statistics Update

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Extortion or Essential? It is common to hear integrators use both term when describing VMS software maintenance licenses / recurring software upgrade fees. While these types of fees, often 15%-20% or the purchase price each year, are well established in mainstream IT, they ... More

Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses : General Update

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While many cameras default to DHCP out of the box, that does not mean you should use it. This may seem basic for some, but those new to the industry may not know there are other options. In this note, we overview dynamic and static addressing, the advantages, disadvant... More

Axis One-Click Review : Axis Update

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Connecting to remote cameras remains one of the most painful tasks in surveillance. Automatic setup features have proven unreliable in many cases, leaving users frustrated. Manual setup can be tricky for even experienced users, as networks and connectivity vary widely. More

Pelco Sued by ObjectVideo : ObjectVideo Update

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The lawsuits keep coming. Now ObjectVideo is suing former, long time partner Pelco. Done quietly after business hours on a Friday afternoon, ObjectVideo issued a More

Alerting Against Unlocked Doors : Access Control Update

Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Unlocked doors are a key vulnerability of many access control systems. While a door may be closed, it can easily be kept unlocked, allowing an adversary to later enter without any authentication. Adding lock status monitoring can prevent this. In this note, we explain the r... More

Brivo Access Control Examined : Access Control Update

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Does hosted access offer advantages over traditional panel based door access control systems? Brivo Systems, a US provider of 'hosted access' solutions, is the most prominent provider and advoc... More

IMS Moves Up Their Tipping Point to IP : Statistics Update

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The most polarizing debate of the last few years is when the video surveillance market will 'tip' to IP video (i.e., be more than 50%). Last year, we declared that the More

Sony CH240 WDR Test : Sony Update

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

With Wide Dynamic Range becoming an increasingly prominent feature for manufacturers, understanding the actual field performance of cameras is critical. Adding to this is the recent move of a number of manufacturers adding 1080p/3MP WDR cameras (like the More

Pan/Tilt Camera Selection Guide : IP Cameras Update

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Multiple styles of PTZ are available, though little clear-cut guidance on which is best for a given application is available, making camera selection difficult for inexperienced users. In this note, we overview the three main types of PTZ cameras:

Miniature PTZ c... More

Disrupting Residential Access Control? Lockitron : Access Control Update

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Can the traditional access control market be disrupted by new entrants leveraging consumer technologies and mobile phones? One startup, Lockitron, is backed by a More

Dealing with Low Light Problems : IP Cameras Update

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Getting high quality images in low light is a common challenge. With the problem being so widespread, we were curious to understand how integrators normally address the issue. In our latest integrator survey, we asked "How do you know if a camera location will have problems... More

Avigilon Q1 2012 Financials : Avigilon Update

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While many surveillance manufacturer's revenue growth has slowed significantly, Avigilon's Q1 2012 financials show that the company i... More

Ocularis 3.0 reviewed : ONSSI Update

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Hot on the heels of making a splash at this year's ISC West with an 'award' winning new product announcement, OnSSI surprised many this week by announcing version 3.0 of its Ocula... More

NLSS Facial Recognition : NLSS Update

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Many have tried and many have failed at facial recognition. In the last few years, interest in and promotion of this technology has waned, as seemingly little development has taken place in surveillance. Now, recent entrant More

Avigilon PTZs Reviewed : Avigilon Update

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While Avigilon has touted how their multi-megapixel cameras can replace up to 95 conventional one as well as replace PTZs, they have now More

Milestone Unannounced Funding and Profitability : Milestone Systems Update

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Last year, Milestone boldly proclaimed plans to dominate the global VMS market. To better understand how well they are executing this plan, we obtained a copy of their original Danish Financial repor... More

Should Manufacturers Write A&E Specs? : Access Control Review

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Users depend on architects and engineers (A&Es) to design buildings that best meet their needs. However, many A&Es use specifications from door hardware manufacturers that give away specification writing 'services' for free, raising concerns about unfair influence b... More

Hotel Access Control Explained : Access Control Update

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Hotel access control seems to work magically. Unlike electronic access control systems used in security, doors in hotels are not typically connected to a central server to confirm access. How does it work then? How can the hotel assure that cards are used properly? In this ... More

World's Smallest Panomorph Lens Reviewed : Immervision Update

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

ImmerVision has been promoting the 'world's smalle... More

Axis vs. RMR : Axis Update

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We worship RMR. At least, we are supposed to. Security companies strive for new recurring monthly revenue streams. And while video is a big opportunity, squeezing RMR out of it has not been easy. As the American alarm show, More

Quiet Door Hardware Examined : Access Control Update

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The incessant buzzing of electrified door hardware can drive people crazy. Is noisy door hardware the norm? In this note, we examine the causes of 'noisy' door hardware, examine the business case for buying 'quiet' hardware, and compare the cost of 'quiet' technologies to c... More

Ubiquiti AirFiber Gigabit Wireless : Ubiquiti Update

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Can Ubiquiti translate their success in the wireless market to high-capacity carrier class backhaul? This is what they are aiming for with AirFiber, their latest product, promising "a new era in price disrup... More

ONVIF Deployment Statistics : Standards Update

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This note has been replaced by the IP Camera Standards Use Revealed report.

The Crazy ObjectVideo CEO Interview : ObjectVideo Update

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The last we heard from ObjectVideo, they boldly proclaimed manufacturers had only '60 days or else' to ~~kneel before~~ sign long-term patent license agreements. With time running out, O... More

Video Surveillance Buyer's Guide 2012 : General Review

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

With so many manufacturers and so many new products, deciding what products to buy can be overwhelming. Last year, to make this easier, we released our first ever More

Camera Pre-Installation Checklist : General Update

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

There is a fine line between profit and loss on many surveillance projects. If just a few unexpected problems arise, the integrator may as well be paying to perform the work. Checking against 'Dead on Arrival' conditions and pre-installation configuration of cameras are way... More

Security Management Digital Edition Reviewed : General Update

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Most security trade magazines have boring web editions that simply copy the printed version. Indeed, ASIS's magazine Security Management did not even have a full web v... More

The Right Aspect Ratio for Surveillance : IP Cameras Review

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

You are wrong about the best aspect ratio for surveillance, at least statistically speaking. In the past few years, as HD swept into living rooms, people have moved from watching video on 4:3 aspect ratios to the wider 16:9 format. This has carried over into surveillan... More

Surveillance Monitor Preferences : General Update

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

All surveillance system use monitors but why is one monitor chosen over another? Are integrators selective in what types they specify? We recently surveyed integrators on how particular they are when recommending monitors used for video surveillance. In the note, we examine... More

Panasonic WV-SP509 Camera Test : Panasonic Review

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The world's best all around HD camera - that's what the new Panasonic WV-SP509 was declared at the Milestone shootout.

But is it really? That's the goal of this test. We took the Pan... More

How Nighttime Video May Crash Your Network : IP Cameras Update

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Nighttime video may crash your network. During the day, under ideal conditions, bandwidth remains relatively stable. However, when the lights go down, bandwidth changes can become severe, creating problems like lost video, degraded quality and network instability. In this n... More

Locking Down Network Connections : General Update

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Cameras and access control panels are gateways for hackers. Locating these devices throughout a building gives attackers multiple points of entry, many without any form of physical or network security. However, physical connections to the network may be secured with RJ45 lo... More

Chinese Counterfeiter Or Victim? : Ubiquiti Update

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Explosive allegations are rocking the international wireless and surveillance markets. Chinese authorities allege that fast-growing American manufacturer, Ubiquiti, hired gangsters to terrorize and destroy a Chinese competitor's office. However, Ubiquiti denies these charge... More

Outdoor Camera Temperature Impact Examined : IP Cameras Update

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

How often do integrators fight temperature extremes to keep cameras operating? In our latest Integrator Insights Survey, we asked a group of integrators located in various climates around the world to describe how commonly they battle this problem. In this note, we examine ... More

Honeywell's LYNX Touch 5100 Reviewed : Intrusion Detection Update

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While intrusion alarms are often considered dumb, many manufacturers are striving to deliver cutting edge technology. As part of this trend, Honeywell has announced the More

Real World Camera Markups Revealed : Financials Update

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

How much money do integrators make on equipment? In our most recent survey of integrator members, we asked just that: "On average, what percent do you mark up cameras?" Not only does this answer provide guidance on pricing projects, it provides an uncommonly clear picture o... More

Genetec As a VSaaS? : Genetec Update

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

For all of the hype surrounding VSaaS, adoption remains sluggish. This is especially true among larger customers with more stringent demands, who have been hesitant to move their video to the public cloud. Capitalizing on this, More

Beware of Fake Access Control Panels? : Other Companies Update

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Do you need to worry about fake access control panels? A recent advertisement by Mercrury Security, one of the largest access control panel manufacturers, raises this concern. This follows the ongoing legal battle between them and access control heavyweight Lenel Systems.&n... More

Aiphone Overview : Other Companies Update

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Aiphone is one of the biggest names in the intercom industry, used often by integrators on projects of all sizes. However, due to the breadth of their line, not much clear guidance ... More

IP Camera Networking Basics : IP Cameras Review

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Getting started with IP cameras can be daunting for those without experience in computer networks. Fortunately, it is not that hard. In this report, we train networking novices on how get started using IP cameras, featuring a 9 minute video screencast and a series of screen... More

Closing Out Surveillance Projects : General Update

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Closing out projects can be surprisingly difficult. For what seems to be simple process, gracefully concluding work and leaving a jobsite can prove challenging. Despite devoted efforts to bring work to an end, loose ends and lagging issues can stretch the end of a job for w... More

Mobotix Q1 2012 Financials Reviewed : Mobotix Update

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

In the past few quarters, Mobotix growth stalled, raising concerns about the future of the megapixel surveillance veteran. Now, first quarter 2012 results, show a modest increase ... More

Neat Tool To Document Surveillance Problems : General Update

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Surveillance problems are often difficult to explain. Fuzzy language like 'grainy, nosiy, blurry' are common but those subjective terms are hard for others to pin down. Perhaps the best way to overcome this is to take a video screencast that shows the problem in action. How... More

You Can Be Whoever You Are ... : General Update

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

You can be whoever you are ... as long as you are a man; So says security provider Monitronics in a recent industry wide marketing campaign that makes no pretense that women exist.More

Encoder Tutorial : Video Surveillance Update

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

As more users look to upgrade aging analog camera systems, encoders play an increasingly vital role. Though not as frequently discussed as IP cameras, knowing how to properly apply encoders is key for use in these upgrades, as well as specialized applications. In this ... More

Motion Detection: Camera vs. Server-Side : Video Surveillance Update

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The question of whether to run motion detection at the camera or on the server is fundamental to IP surveillance systems, and occasionally hotly debated, as in this recent More

HD Barcode Examined : General Update

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Is storing data within an ID image a leap forward for picture ID badges? A unique new barcode technology combines the data encryption of barcodes with the usefulness of a picture. The product, developed by More

Effective End User Training : General Update