Winners Losers Fall 2014

Published Oct 13, 2014 04:00 AM

We are all losers, IPVM included.

The historically poor new releases for ASIS / Essen make 2014 the worst year for surveillance innovation in, at least, a decade. (See our in depth manufacturer review for tech details).

And that is bad news for all. Broad innovation spurs overall demand. Much like a rising tide lifts all boats, this situation makes navigation tougher for all and many more likely to sink.

Overall market growth has already been declining and this year's releases ensures further downward pressure in 2015.

In this report, we review who is winning and losing among a number of notable manufacturers, including:

  • Avigilon
  • Axis
  • Bosch
  • Dahua
  • Exacq
  • FLIR
  • Genetec
  • Hikvision
  • Milestone
  • Pelco
  • Pivot3
  • Samsung
  • Sony
  • Tyco
  • Vicon / IQinVision

Also, we review how well recent new products that garnered the most initial interest are doing now, including:

  • Axis access control
  • Axis Camera Companion
  • FLIR super low cost thermal
  • Genetec Stratocast
  • Milestone Arcus
  • The Security Robot
  • 4K
  • H.265

******** ***, ********** ********, *** ** the **** **** ******* *********. *** most ******* *** *** *********** ******** *******, ***** ****** * **** ******* portfolio ** ************* ***** ****** **** VideoIQ, *** **** **** *** ***********, was ***'********' ********. ***** ***** ************ **** **** with ********** ***, ** *** ** Dynacolor, **** ********* ** *********** **** Milestone, ***** *** *****, ******* *******. However, ** ******* ** ******, **** can **** ************ **** ** *** **** directly ******* **.

*** *** ******** ** ******** ** its******* ***** *****, **** ********** ******** ********** ****** and ****** ******* ****, ** **** cannot ***** ***** ********.

****

**** *** ******* *** **** ************* manufacturer.

**** **** ~$*** ******* *&* ******, **** than *** ******* ** **** ** their ***********. *** **** **** **** released ***** ******, ****** ****, ***** ***** ******* (*****) *** *********. ****** ********* ****** **** ***** average **********, ** ** *** ************* to ***** ******* ****** ******** *** spend.

** **********, **** ******** ** *** low *** ** *** ****** ********* to *********** ***** ** **** **** of *** ******** ** **** ***** and *** ********** ********* ** ***** key ******* *********** (*.*., ***** *** Hikvision).

*****

***** * *** ***** ***** ***** went from *********** ******* ** ** ******* to ****** * ****** **********, ***** major *** ******** **** **** ******* (**** ********** ***** *** ***** *** ** tested ******* **** ****).

***** ******(*) ***** ***** ********* ** months *** *** ********* ******* *** ****** to ****** ***** * **** ******** long *****.

*****

*****' **-****** **** *** **** ********* *** product ******* ** *** **** ****. Its ***** *** ****, ********** *** true ** ******* ***** ** *** most ********** ********* '**** *******' ** the ******.

*****'* ******** ******* ** *** ********* side, ***** *** ** * ******** failure. ***** **** **** ** ** low *** *** ******* **** ************ market **** (*.*., ** ******** *** Q-See). ***** ******* ***** *********** ** with **** *** *** ****** ***** but *** *** ******** **** ************ surveillance.

*****'* **** ******* ********** ***** ********* concerns. **** *** ********* ***** ******** spoke ****** ******* *** ** **** very ****** ***** *** *******. *** others, *** *** **** ****, **** hard ** ********** ** *******. *****'* lack ** * **** ************* ******** will ** * *** ******* ** expanding ** **** *******.

*****

**** **** * **** ********* ******** ****, ***** ********* ** **** *** their ******* *********** ************ ** * similar **** / ****. ********* ****** ******* ** *.*, ***** ********* ** *** **** enterprise ******** **** ***** **** *** multi ******** *********. ***** *** *** novel ** ****** *** **** **** to ******** ** ***** *** *** against ******* *** *********.

*******

*******'* '***' ************ ***** ********* ***********, ***** ** ******* * ****** feature *** ****** ******* *** ** limited ******* ******. *******, **** **** help ******* ************* ** *** ******* evolution ** ***** *****'*******' ******.

*********

*********'* ******* *** ******* ** **-***, which ** ***** ****** ** ******** and ********** ** ***** **-***. ***** *** strength ** * **** *********** ************* sales *** ******* **** (******** ** Dahua). IPVM ** ******* **-*** ********* *** will **** ******** / ******* ***** this *****.

*********

** *** **** * ******, ********* got******** ** * **** ******* / lagging ** ****** **********, ******** **** **** *** * ******* ******* *****, *** then******** * ***** ***** ***** ******** *** *** fall.

* ******** ********* ** *** *** the ********. **** ****** **** ****** to ** **** ******* ** ******* releases, *********'* ******** ************** ** ******** Genetec ******** **** ****** ********* *** ***** ******, helped **** *** **** ** *** market ** ******.

*****

*****'* *** ******** **** **** **** PTZ *** ********, ********** ***** *****. However, ******* ** ****, ***** *** release ** **** ** *******.

*** *** **** ****** *** *** of ***** ******* ** ********** *******, ***** ** **** *** ******* successfully, ***** ** ***** ******, ********** in ** *** ** ************ ******* 'un-differentiation'.

******

****** ********* ********* ** *** *******, with ******* ~$** ******* ******* **** year, ******* ***** ******* ******* ********. This ****, **** ******** ******** ***** ************ ******* ************* ** * *********** ** ***** VDI ******** *** *** ** ****** that *** ******* *********** ** ********.

** *** **** ****, **** *** still ** ********, ***** ** **** than *** ** **** *** ***** direct ********** ********, *********** **** *********** *** ********** **** * ***** ********** ******* ********.

*******

***** * **** ** *********** *** releases (************* ***), ******* *** **** ********** *****, most ******* ********* ****** **** *** 1280H. **** **** ****** **** ******* success, ** ** *** ****** **** from *******'* ********. ***** ** ** embarrassment *** **** *** ** ******** (*** **** *******).

****

** ****, **** *** *** *** manufacturer ***** ********** **** **** *********, following *******'* ********* ***** ***** *****. 

** *** *** ******* ****, **** remains *******, **** ***** **** ******* new ******* ******* ****** **** **** ********** ** and ***** *****, ***** ** *********, ****** *****.

*** *** ********* **: ***** **** Sony ** ***? **** ** *** have *** ******* ** ****. **** are ***** *********. **** ******** ******** ******** ******* *******.

**** ** **** ** **** *** not ***** ** ********* *** **** are ** * ******** *****.

****

****'* **** ****** **** *** **** allowing *** ********* ******* *********** ** Exacq****** *** **** **************, ** *** ** *****, ****** * ********* ********** ** Exacq.

Vicon / **********

** *** **** ****,***** *************** ** *** ** ********* ************** **** * **** ******. ** the ******** ****, ****** ***'* ********* ** ***** *** ********* / Canon ***** ** * *** **** for ********* *** * *** ***** one *** ***** / ********** *** are **** ******* ******.

********** ********, ** *** **** * good **** *** *** *** ********* who **** **** ************ ******* ****** death. ***, **** **** * **** if *** *** *** *** *** right **** ********.

Axis ****** *******

**** ****** ********* ******* ** ** ** * channel **** *** **** ******* *********** competitive ** ************* ***************. *******, ***** Axis ***** **** **** **** ** impact *** *** ****** * ***** one *******.

Axis ****** *********

****** ************ ********* **** **** ******** ** a *** ** ********* **** / recorders. **** ** *** *** ** a****** ** *********** ************ ***** *** **** ****** ** emerged, ******* ****** *********'* ********. *** now, ** ******* ** ** * niche.

FLIR *** **** *******

**** **** *** ******* ********,****'* *** **** ********** **** ** ******. *** *** constrain ** *** **** *** ** x ** ********** ** *** ******* sensor *** ******* **** ** ****** to ********* *** ***** ** ** impact ** **** ****.

******* **********

**** *** ***** ****** ** * whole, ******* ********** ******* ** ** going *******. ****** *** **** **** to *** ** ** ******* **** fundamental ********** ***********, *** ********* ******.

Milestone *****

*****, **** **** ****** *********, *** been * *** ** ***. ** major ****** ************ *** ******** **.

*** **** ********* *** ***** ******* on *** ******** ******* **** (**** running ** ** *** **********, ***.) but ** *** *** ****** / hearing **** ****** *** **** ***.

The ******** *****

*** ******* ***** *** *** ** *** **** ********* new ******** ** *** **** *** years. *** ******* ** ***** ******* it *** ******* * ****** **** sophisticated **** ***** ******* *** **** yet ** **** * **** ********* *** ***** *** '******* ********.' ** ***** *** **** **** ****** but ** ******* ** *** * decade, ** ****, **** * ******* purpose ******** *****.

**

** ******* **** ******** *** **** visible *** ******* ***** ** *** show, ********** ***** *** ****** **** there *** ***** *****.

*******, ***** **** *** *** *** trade **** ****** **** **** ********** and ***** **** ******* ************, ** appears *** ******** *** ****** **********. Of ******, **** *****, ****** ********** 10MP ******* **** **** ********* *** years ******* ***** ********. ****** ***** is ******** ** ** *** *** breakthrough.

**** ****, **** ** ******* *** broadly *********, ** ****, **** **** be *** **** ** *** ******* adoption, ****** **** ******* *******.

*.***

****** *.*** ****** / ***** ** reduce ********* *********** ** '** **' 50%, ** ****** ** ** *** away **** ********** ************ ******* *** it. ***************** **** ********, ** ** *** *** / hear ************* ******* ** **** ** out. *** ******* ***** ****** **** of ******** ******* ******* **** *******, high ******** ********** ***** *** '****' / **** *.*** *** **** *** VMSes ** *** *******.

Video *********

*** * ******, ***** ********* *** remained ******* *** ***** *** *************** ** *** ********* ** ********** during **** ****.

** *** **** ****, **** ****** manufacturers *** ****** ** ***** ********* for **** **** ************************ ********* *** ******** ** ***** enterprise *********.

*******, ***** ** ****** ***** ** the ********* *** ********* *******. ********, Axis *** **** * **** **** job ** ********** *********. ***** **** supports ****** ** *** ** *********, they **** ****** ** **** ********* effort ** ********* ** ******** ****** those *********. **** ** ******** ******* their ********* (*** ******* ************) ***** build ***** **** **.

*** *** *** ***** ******* ************* need ********* ** **** ** **** price ********** *** ********** ** ******* manufacturers *** *** ************ ******** ***** quality *********** ** *** ***** ******.

Analog **

****** ** ** * ********* *** ********* ********** for *** ********. ** *** *** hand, ** ****** *** **** *********** HD ***** ** **** ***** ****** and **********. **** ** ******* ********** to *** *****. ** *** *****, it **** ****** *** ****** *** marketing ******* **** *** ***** ************* have **** ******* *** * ***** now. ******* ** ****, ** *** little ********** *** ******** **** ********* Western ****** ** **** ****.

****** ** ******** **** ****** *** well *** ******* ************* *** ****** it *** ** *** ** *** major ********** '******' ** ********* **.

**** ********* ** ******** **** ****** HD ** *** **** ********* *** useful ********** ** *** ****** ***** as ** ********* *** *** ******** to ****** ******* ***** -*****************.

What's **** *** *** ********?

** *** *** *** *** ********* growth drivers ***** ***** ********* *** ****** HD, *** **** **** ***** *** challenges.

*** *********, *** *******(*) *** ***** overall ************ *** *** ******** **** is ***** (**** ****** ******** *** a *******).

*** ****** **, *** *******(*) *** straightforward *** *** ******** **** ** questionable (****** ******* ********* ************* *** not ********* ** **** ******** *** less *****).

*** ***** **** ****** ** *********** but **** ******* ****** **** **** be ******* ********** ** *** **** video ********* *** ****** ** *****.

Comments (16)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Oct 13, 2014

Has there been any write ups on Axis Forensic Capture as of yet? I'm not sure if that was actually debuted at ASIS but I believe is one of their newer "inovations".

JH
John Honovich
Oct 13, 2014
IPVM

Forensic Capture is their newest version of WDR. We tested it in the Q1615 test report. Check the WDR section of that report. It's better than Axis previous gen WDR and similar to Panasonic's new gen.

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Avatar
John Bazyk
Oct 13, 2014
Command Corporation • IPVMU Certified

Do you think HD Analog Solutions are here for the long haul or just a great upgrade for existing systems?

JH
John Honovich
Oct 13, 2014
IPVM

I think long haul but the questions are:

  • How broadly will they be supported by manufacturers? If Axis and the other big IP manufacturers don't offer analog HD this will hold it back significantly.
  • How far up market will HD analog go? This is certainly impacted by the question above but also based on the range of products introduced. How many analog HD encoders will there be? How many analog HD true WDR cameras will there be? How many integrated IR / smart IR analog HD cameras? etc.
U
Undisclosed #2
Oct 13, 2014

Why are you against open platform? Axis is doing the right thing being a platform for analytic providers.

JH
John Honovich
Oct 13, 2014
IPVM

It would be great if analytics worked super wall and you could easily load them on to Axis cameras. The problems is they (mostly) don't.

Right now, Axis lists 70 applications from over 25 third party developers.

Which ones work? Who knows? Does Axis even know?

Will Axis stand behind their partners analytics? I doubt it.

It's too much risk, too much time and too much cost figuring out what works for Axis analytic partner offerings to go mainstream.

Axis is not a lens manufacturer but they sure do include lenses for their cameras. That's because Axis has determined that the quality and operational benefits of including it are more important than letting people choose whatever lens they want. And lensing is far more mature than video analytics....

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Oct 16, 2014

As one of the 25 third party developers, I can confirm that Axis really stands behind their ACAP partners.

Their business model supports the partners at all levels, going from technical support, marketing support via attendance to roadshows and joint marketing at exhibitions, and internal sales training that leads to sales support and referrals to customers via the Axis sales forces. For all possible questions, you have a single point of contact. And on top of it, it often surprises me that for such a large company, their people interact on all levels, and information spreads worldwide from technical people to salespeople and vice versa.

The whole eco-system that is built around this ACAP-development stimulates interaction between analytic developers, VMS-providers, customers which often leads to new partnerships.

Axis also puts effort in knowing their partner analytics developers and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the products to present a perfect match to interested customers worldwide.

All this makes it a perfect partner for a start-up company to bring your analytics to the market.

JH
John Honovich
Oct 16, 2014
IPVM

E, thanks for the feedback from the Axis partner side.

From my side, I've never seen Axis promote an analytics partner, not in their marketing, public communication, etc. I do recognize the sharing / subletting of booth space but that's relatively minor in the greater scope of things.

We rarely hear about them being used. We don't hear integrators considering them, etc.

I am glad to hear that the internal / direct relationship is strong but if Axis really wants analytic partners to be a major force, they need to do a lot more.

Avatar
Harald Lutz
Oct 14, 2014
Kronfelder Videoloesungen • IPVMU Certified

I just wanna underline the very first sentence in this post.

"The historically poor new releases for Essen / ASIS..."

In Essen, it was just fun to see how everyone was trying to show something "different", most failing. What I have seen: 4K cameras crashing on at least three booths. Analytics working the same way as years before, Software manufacturers releasing Hardware and no booth from Samsung. Congrats to Samsung: Nothing new to show: Save the money, spend it for new developments. Maybe 2016 we see really new innovations?

If somebody had told me back in 2010 that 2014 the big hit is Analogue HD, I'm sure I would have laughed at him...

Welcome Industry into Losers Club.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Oct 14, 2014

Hi John, about this comment:

"For analog HD, the product(s) are straightforward but the business case is questionable (simply because incumbent manufacturers are not motivated to sell products for less money)"

In theory, building a camera + adding special "compression" hardware on the DVR side should cost about the same as building an IP camera with a switch.

For me, HD CVI is positionned differently, potentially a good solution for Retrofit, or those who like to avoid IP networks and their complexity. Price is currently low, which is typical from these manufacturers.

Agree, Disagree?

JH
John Honovich
Oct 14, 2014
IPVM

"In theory, building a camera + adding special "compression" hardware on the DVR side should cost about the same as building an IP camera with a switch."

You tell me, manufacturer ;)

My understanding is that is fundamentally less expensive to build CVI / TVI cameras because it shifts the encoder chip from the camera (IP) to the recorder (DVR). Instead of having, for example, 16 encoder chips on 16 different cameras, you have 1 (or a few) on the recorder side to encode.

Anyone particularly disagree or agree on this?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Oct 14, 2014
Hi John, I never thought I'd say this, but why no mention of Arecont Vision? Although it pains me to so much as type their name, they are notably absent from this topic. ????
JH
John Honovich
Oct 14, 2014
IPVM

There two big announcements / demonstrations were remote focus of fixed focal lens imagers and 4K cameras. Both are fine, especially with the overall low bar industry wide, but do not really move the needle that much.

Btw, we are in the middle of testing Arecont's Omni camera and will release results later this month.

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jb
john benson
Oct 14, 2014

Hikvision; 2000 series DVR's, analog 960H with HDMI output. Anyone have a major problem with their DDNS and DVR crashing lately? Customer support for residential customers is non existent, the FIX given is temporary, the DVR's crash again... Beware!

BG
Bob Germain
Oct 23, 2014

John- I am from Hikvision. I am not familiar with the 2000 series. We support all customers who purchase thru our authorized distribution channels.

Avatar
Sagy Amit
Oct 14, 2014
Too many manufacturers doing exactly the same thing. Too many integrators doing exactly the same things. Everyone wanted to get in on the action and now we have a bubble. Like the real estate bubble, it will hopefully get things back into realistic proportions, the fluff companies will run out of investment money. Innovation will be back when manufacturers spend more R&D money and less marketing money.
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