U.S. Finally Lands Y-cam Security Cameras

Y-cam solutions out of the U.K. is now offering its user-friendly products in the United States. Y-cam's security cameras are designed to provide both residential and small business customers with an extremely simple way to maintain control of everything that happens on their property, whenever and wherever they want, regardless of whether they are at home or in another country.

According to Co-Founder of Y-cam Devin Chawda, "With the developments in mobile technology and the increase of internet speeds, it is now possible to safeguard your home and business with security cameras at an affordable price. Designed from the start with non-technical users in mind, Y-cam internet cameras allow you to watch your house, car, pets or businesses whenever you want and from wherever you are."

Y-cam cameras are your standard IP cameras that connect to the internet and allow you to view and hear whatever your camera is recording from anywhere in the world in real time. Each individual camera is capable of operating without the need of a computer and of producing vivid images as well as precise control and advanced options like motion detection. Y-cam cameras can detect motion, trigger alarms and even alert you directly when motion occurs.

The design of Y-cam cameras also make them easier to install and use. The installation process is very user-friendly and requires absolutely no technical background to complete correctly. The web-based interface is also very intuitive and easy to use and the internet/computer software allows you to view your cameras remotely via the internet.

In addition to that, Y-cam offers apps for mobile platforms like the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android and Y-cam MultiLive gives you a fast and easy way to view your Y-cam video stream directly from your mobile device. MultiLive applications are supported by all current Y-cam products and allow up to eight camera feeds to be saved to the phone for instant viewing.

Source: PR Newswire - Y-cam Security Cameras Arrive in the U.S.

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What to Expect from the Future of Security Cameras

According to the President and CEO of Axis Communications Ray Mauritsson, "The next few years will see a continuing switch from analog to digital surveillance cameras, and to the increased use of processing power built into individual cameras."

Mauritsson, speaking at the official opening of Axis' Melbourne office, stated that Axis would continue to take advantage of the processing power of its custom-designed ASICs in order to deliver features as opposed to just image resolution. One example that Mauritsson brought up was that parts of new algorithms for video analytics will be put into security cameras in order to improve scalability, with other parts remaining centralized.

Axis' recently released Q1602 features the company's Lightfinder technology, which allows algorithms built into the ASIC to compensate for the characteristics of the camera's lens and image sensor. This allows you to receive improved image quality, even in low light situations, and performs better than the human eye in near darkness.

Approximately 2/3 of the of the surveillance camera market is still analog according to Mauritsson. However, the shift to digital/IP cameras is moving along quickly. Year-over-year growth is roughly 10% overall though it is around 30% for digital cameras. Mauritsson predicts that the market penetration of IP cameras will be around 90% to 95% by the year 2020.

In addition to that, Mauritsson also believes that the deployment of the NBN will probably see the emergence of video surveillance as a service as well as the outsourcing of video monitoring and storage to cloud providers. This, according to Mauritsson, will be especially useful to small sites with only 5 to 10 cameras.

Image quality is one of the main factors that is helping drive the transition to digital security cameras. Analog cameras are limited to PAL/NTSC standards but digital cameras are capable of displaying images in full 1080p HD. In addition to that, another factor is the seemingly low cost of installation.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) allows you to use a single cable to connect an IP camera. An analog camera needs at least one cable to power it and another cable to run the video signal. Other things, like PTZ functionality, audio and control functions add to the cabling as well as the complexity of the installation.

However, Mauritsson believes that the transition to digital cameras is being delayed by systems integrators that prefer to stay in their old analog ways due to comfort and familiarity. Mauritsson expects big things from the future of security cameras, even though the process of getting there is slow going.

Source: IT Wire - What's ahead for the surveillance camera market?

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D-Link Shows Off New Products

D-Link just recently showcased IP camera security solutions for businesses at the ISC West conference that took place from April 1st through the 3rd. This included a live demonstration of a fully functional IP surveillance solution that featured D-Link's network cameras with PTZ, SAN storage, smart managed switches, Gigabit network interface controllers and a camera management application. In addition to that, D-Link exhibited the newest in internet security cameras and enclosures.

The latest innovation in IP camera technology from D-Link includes the award-winning SecuriCam Network Camera line. This camera line features a wide range of visual and auditory security cameras designed to fit multiple applications including static wall-mounted cameras, audio capabilities, wired and wireless deployment, two-way communication and power over Ethernet.

One of these new cameras, the D-Link network indoor dome PoE camera with Wide Dynamic Range and IR illuminator, features a state of the art WDR that compensates for extreme lighting contrast to give you perfect video capturing every time. In addition to that, it also features a built-in IR cut filter to capture video footage in complete darkness. New all-weather camera enclosures were also highlighted by D-Link.

A list of all the D-Link products that were on display at ISC West include:

IP Cameras:

• DCS-6620 10/100 Internet camera, Pan/Tilt/Zoom, 10x Optical Zoom, Dual Codec, 0.05Lux


• DCS-6110 Fixed Dome PoE Network Camera


• DCS-3415 Fixed Network Camera, Day & Night, 18x Optical Zoom, PoE


• DCS3410 Fixed NEtwork Camera, Day & Night , PoE


• DCS-6111 Fixed Dome PoE Network Camera with Wide Dynamic Range

Camera Management Applications included:

• D-ViewCam 2.x software

Switch included:

• DXS-3227P with PoE (DXS-3227P xStack Managed 24-Port Gigabit Stackable L2+ PoE Switch, 4 Combo SFP, 1 Fixed XFP Slot, 2 10-Gigabit Slots)

Storage included:

• DSN-3200-10 (xStack Storage 8x1GbE iSCSI SAN Array, 15 Bays, 3U, w/o Drives, with Trays)

And NIC Adapter included:

• DGE-560T Gigabit PCI Express Network Adapter

Source: Security Camera News - D-Link Exhibits Newest In Internet Security Cameras At ISC West

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Potential Value of Security Cameras Highlighted in Florida Investigation

The use of security cameras in public areas by the government, whether it be local or national, is a hot button topic for a lot of people and a great debate in our country. A lot of people think that these types of cameras will deter crime and even catch criminals after they have committed a crime. Others still fear the whole "Big Brother is always watching" privacy issue. What do you think?

Well, despite your feelings on the issue, police that are investigating the murder of two British tourists at a public housing complex in Florida are utilizing evidence found on a single government surveillance camera that was installed on a nearby roof a month prior.

However, the detective's ability to piece together the moments leading up to the shootings is not as good as it could have been due to the fact that the installation of nine other security cameras was delayed by government bureaucracy. The Sarasota Housing Authority planned on stationing several dozen cameras around the The Courts as well as the other housing developments at the end of 2010.

However, instead of cameras there are empty poles where the cameras would have been positioned throughout The Court, including several between the site of the killings and the home where the 16-year-old charged with the killings lives with his mother.

Police have stated that even if the cameras did not catch the actual shootings of James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, they might have offered clues to how the two arrived at The Courts or could have helped identify anybody walking nearby at the time of the shooting.

According to Sarasota Police Captain Paul Sutton, "Even if it's not the suspect, even if it's not the victim, that may give you people who need to talk, who are potential witnesses to the crime."

Source: Security Info Watch - Florida killings highlight cameras' potential worth

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1,500 Cameras Watch Over the San Francisco International Airport

You know those paranoid people who are always spouting about how "big brother is always watching us?" Well, some of them may be right, at least if they live near the San Francisco International Airport. You see, from the moment you leave the freeway until the moment you board your plane you are being closely monitored by 1,500 video surveillance cameras which are a part of the SFO's new one-of-a-kind surveillance system.

The system is definitely interesting and leaves nothing unwatched. With the SFO's system, two groups of security analysts watch a wall of security monitors, the TSA (in-between pat-downs) watches the checkpoints and SFO security workers watch everything else. According to Kim Dickie, Assistant Deputy Airport Director at SFO, "We are focused overall so if we have an incident anywhere in the airport we really want to be able to have a view of that."

The interesting part is that there are only a handful of airports in the entire world that have a security setup like this. $20 million worth of security cameras are already in use and an additional $1.5 million more is being spent on the new SFO terminal opening in a few months. "We keep adding cameras every month and every day," said SFO security analyst Liam O'Byrne.

That is a lot of money on a security setup and it begs the perennial question of how closely are travelers being being watched? Let's just say that your process of driving into the airport, parking at the curb, going through security and walking to the gate is all monitored. The cameras pick up your every move. Believe it or not, even with 1,500 cameras there are still a few holes in the system. The TSA definitely wants you to know they are watching, but they do not want you to know where they are not.

There are at least 20 visible cameras on your drive through the airport, your walk through security and your trip through the terminal. However, it is also very clear that there are cameras along that route that are not visible since the SFO stated that there are more than 30 cameras that monitor that particular trek through the airport.

The cameras cannot watch every single person at every single moment they are in the airport, but what they can do is go through footage to see if a person who started a fight in the terminal got drunk at one of the airport bars earlier. If somebody accuses a security agent, or anybody for that matter, of stealing or of "inappropriate conduct", then reviewing the footage from the cameras can back up or refute that claim. Even the SFO employees know they are being watched. According to O'Byrne, "Thefts have gone drastically down because we can watch them and employees all know." One thing is for certain, the cameras are expected and security officials believe that they work.

Source: KTVU.com - New Camera System Keeps Watchful Eye Over SFO

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Security Camera Catches Man Stealing Security Camera

I think one of the biggest things that makes being alive so great is irony. Irony, for me, not only makes you think but it also makes for some pretty hilarious stories. Especially in the case of a crime that took place in Bakersfield, California not too long ago.

Now there are some pretty dumb criminals out there, I mean really dumb. Just watch an episode of Cops or one of those World's Dumbest Criminals Caught on Tape and you will see exactly what I am talking about. You will see criminals walk in to rob a place with a mustache drawn on with a Sharpie or who will rob a place in the winter then walk home in the snow leaving footprints right to their doorstep.

But what is probably one of the dumbest and most ironic stories I have read recently comes from Bakersfield, California where a man was caught on a video surveillance camera stealing, surprisingly enough, a security camera. According to local authorities, a man removed the video surveillance camera from a medical office in the 500 block of West Columbus Street.

I guess he didn't think about taking the other cameras as well. Or maybe he didn't see them? Whatever the reason this man deserves a spot on one of those shows. However, this does bring up some very interesting questions. Like why did he only take the one camera? Why was that camera so important? And why in the hell didn't he disguise himself? Even if there was only the one camera the owners of the system would still have the footage recorded from the camera before it was removed. Some people are just really really dumb.

Police say that the man appears to be in his 20s with a dark complexion and a slight beard. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the man is urged to call Detective Scott Miller at 326-3552.

Source: Kero 23 ABC News

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Decoy Security Cameras

When it comes to a high quality security cameras, some people cannot afford them. It is no surprise that some security camera systems out there can be expensive, and with the economy like it is, a security camera system is not in everybody's budget. But does that mean you should just leave your family and home completely unprotected? Absolutely not!

Just because you cannot afford a security camera does not mean you cannot have a security camera on your house. Confused? I'm talking about a dummy camera. A dummy camera is exactly what it sounds like, a camera that looks real but doesn't work. It doesn't record anything or see anything, it's just there.

By using a dummy camera it actually looks like you have a fully working security system. That is because dummy cameras look identical to real ones. With a dummy camera you may not be able to catch any criminals but you may be able to deter them from vandalizing your home.

Like I said before, dummy cameras don't work. They are not connected to anything but that doesn't matter because you are the only one that knows they are not connected. One of the very first things a criminal looks for is security equipment like a camera. Just the presence of a camera alone is, in most cases, enough to make any burglar think twice.

There are certain qualities you want to look for in a good dummy camera. The most important is that it needs to look real. Don't just have a camera mounted on a surface where a real one would have wires and things coming out of it. This is a simple solution but there are definitely more sophisticated cameras out there.

You can get dummy cameras that have flickering LED lights on them or even a motion sensor. These are great because they offer the most real scenario of a security camera. Dummy cameras with a motion sensor will move around just like a real one but they won't capture any images. If you go for a system like this, then you will have the peace of mind that goes with a real system.

Source: Security World News

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