A Solid Proposal For a City on a Budget
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 17, 2013 for Case Studies
"It is far too common to find RFPs and proposals with missing details, inadequate equipment, and out of date specs. Indeed, it is a top industry complaint. While we find a lot of examples of what not to do, recentl"
Posted on May 17, 2013 for Case Studies
"It is far too common to find RFPs and proposals with missing details, inadequate equipment, and out of date specs. Indeed, it is a top industry complaint. While we find a lot of examples of what not to do, recentl"
Vicon Steep Revenue Decline
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 16, 2013 for Vicon
"We have been following Vicon's slow, downward spiral since 2009 and the company's struggles continue. The company's revenue fell steeply in the second quarter of FY 2013, and the company is even selling its New Yo"
Posted on May 16, 2013 for Vicon
"We have been following Vicon's slow, downward spiral since 2009 and the company's struggles continue. The company's revenue fell steeply in the second quarter of FY 2013, and the company is even selling its New Yo"
Deadly Pushbuttons
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 16, 2013 for Access Control
"A simple and common misunderstanding in specifying pushbuttons can kill people trying to escape burning buildings. Furthermore, determining buttons that are 'safe' versus 'deadly' can be difficult to detect unless"
Posted on May 16, 2013 for Access Control
"A simple and common misunderstanding in specifying pushbuttons can kill people trying to escape burning buildings. Furthermore, determining buttons that are 'safe' versus 'deadly' can be difficult to detect unless"
Crappy Cameras Trigger City Surveillance Shutdown
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 15, 2013 for General
"An Australian city has shut off its surveillance system after being ordered to determine how to operate its cameras without violating privacy laws. The order was passed down months after a case brought by one of i"
Posted on May 15, 2013 for General
"An Australian city has shut off its surveillance system after being ordered to determine how to operate its cameras without violating privacy laws. The order was passed down months after a case brought by one of i"
Testing VSaaS / Dropcam HD
Posted on May 15, 2013 for Other Companies
"Dropcam is pretty clearly the strongest upstart in the VSaaS market. While Axis has pushed their hosted service offering for years, it is beset by poor ROI and <a href="/updates/1851" ta"
Posted on May 15, 2013 for Other Companies
"Dropcam is pretty clearly the strongest upstart in the VSaaS market. While Axis has pushed their hosted service offering for years, it is beset by poor ROI and <a href="/updates/1851" ta"
Bug Eye Camera Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 14, 2013 for General
"In the past month, the so called 'bug eye' camera has captured popular attention around the world, from Nature Magazine, to CNN, to the BBC, and dozens more. A research team at the University of Illinois-Urbana Ch"
Posted on May 14, 2013 for General
"In the past month, the so called 'bug eye' camera has captured popular attention around the world, from Nature Magazine, to CNN, to the BBC, and dozens more. A research team at the University of Illinois-Urbana Ch"
MicroPower 2.0 Solar Wireless Surveillance
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 14, 2013 for Other Companies
"When we first looked at MicroPower's solar surveillance system in 2010, key limitations existed, making widespread use challenging. However, late last year, a second generation was released to overcome limitations"
Posted on May 14, 2013 for Other Companies
"When we first looked at MicroPower's solar surveillance system in 2010, key limitations existed, making widespread use challenging. However, late last year, a second generation was released to overcome limitations"
Axis New Direct Drive P5414-E PTZ
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 13, 2013 for Axis
"There's not a lot of innovation in PTZs these days but Axis's new P5414 offers a number of novel incremental features. While it does not break ground in resolution or zoom, it has the potential to improve aestheti"
Posted on May 13, 2013 for Axis
"There's not a lot of innovation in PTZs these days but Axis's new P5414 offers a number of novel incremental features. While it does not break ground in resolution or zoom, it has the potential to improve aestheti"
Testing Panoramic Cameras Outdoors
Posted on May 13, 2013 for IP Cameras
"Outdoors, PTZs tend to be a favorite for covering large open areas but they only see whatever they are currently pointed at. Panoramics are an emerging alternative but how well do they perform and what type of vid"
Posted on May 13, 2013 for IP Cameras
"Outdoors, PTZs tend to be a favorite for covering large open areas but they only see whatever they are currently pointed at. Panoramics are an emerging alternative but how well do they perform and what type of vid"
240 MP DHS Panoramic Camera (ISIS)
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 09, 2013 for General
"The US Department of Homeland Security is developing a 240MP 8fps 'super' camera. We spoke with them in depth and prepared the following report on key technical, operational and pricing details: One of the main p"
Posted on May 09, 2013 for General
"The US Department of Homeland Security is developing a 240MP 8fps 'super' camera. We spoke with them in depth and prepared the following report on key technical, operational and pricing details: One of the main p"
Avigilon Accelerates Growth
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 09, 2013 for Avigilon
"Avigilon grew revenues a massive 80% year over year for Q1 2013. That's an incredible pace, faster even than what they did last year. Equally important, both gross margin and net margins raised substantially, clos"
Posted on May 09, 2013 for Avigilon
"Avigilon grew revenues a massive 80% year over year for Q1 2013. That's an incredible pace, faster even than what they did last year. Equally important, both gross margin and net margins raised substantially, clos"
17,000 Cameras in Korea Wasted?
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 09, 2013 for Case Studies
"A Korean newspaper bemoans the waste of money spent on 17,000 surveillance cameras. The cause? "97 percent [of cameras] are unable to distinguish the faces of people or license plates of cars entering the grounds."
Posted on May 09, 2013 for Case Studies
"A Korean newspaper bemoans the waste of money spent on 17,000 surveillance cameras. The cause? "97 percent [of cameras] are unable to distinguish the faces of people or license plates of cars entering the grounds."
New Low Voltage Installation Tool
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 08, 2013 for General
"Cable testers are typically the most expensive tools an installer uses. Many offerings cost tens of thousands of dollars, yet a surveillance technician may use just a few features. Byte Brothers' Low Voltage Pro, "
Posted on May 08, 2013 for General
"Cable testers are typically the most expensive tools an installer uses. Many offerings cost tens of thousands of dollars, yet a surveillance technician may use just a few features. Byte Brothers' Low Voltage Pro, "
Testing CarCam
Posted on May 08, 2013 for Video Surveillance
"Dash cams are getting a lot of attention for the amazing video they inadvertently capture, like a crashing 747 in Afghanistan, a meteor explosion, Russian crazy fights and accidents, etc. <img src="http://"
Posted on May 08, 2013 for Video Surveillance
"Dash cams are getting a lot of attention for the amazing video they inadvertently capture, like a crashing 747 in Afghanistan, a meteor explosion, Russian crazy fights and accidents, etc. <img src="http://"
Milestone Interconnect Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 08, 2013 for Milestone Systems
"Milestone has so many VMS versions it is hard to keep track. Indeed, recently, they announced 'Interconnect', which is actually not another version but a software interface that connects different Milestone VMS ve"
Posted on May 08, 2013 for Milestone Systems
"Milestone has so many VMS versions it is hard to keep track. Indeed, recently, they announced 'Interconnect', which is actually not another version but a software interface that connects different Milestone VMS ve"
End User Sues ADT/Tyco For $42 Million
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 07, 2013 for Access Control
"It was the biggest drug heist in American history. Burglars drove an 18-wheeler up to the Eli Lilly distribution center in Enfield, Connecticut, disabled its security system, rappelled through the roof and made of"
Posted on May 07, 2013 for Access Control
"It was the biggest drug heist in American history. Burglars drove an 18-wheeler up to the Eli Lilly distribution center in Enfield, Connecticut, disabled its security system, rappelled through the roof and made of"
Dedicated Micros Further Freefall
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 07, 2013 for Dedicated Micros
"Dedicated Micros most recent 2012 financials continue the tough trend the company showed in 2011 and for the past few years. Now, the former DVR leader has discontinued multiple operations and recorded a significa"
Posted on May 07, 2013 for Dedicated Micros
"Dedicated Micros most recent 2012 financials continue the tough trend the company showed in 2011 and for the past few years. Now, the former DVR leader has discontinued multiple operations and recorded a significa"
Hardening Mass Gatherings
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 07, 2013 for General
"Hardening mass gatherings is inherently challenging yet increasingly important. As the Boston bombing demonstrated, doing so is hard over the large areas and crowds. In this note, we share recommendations from Jim"
Posted on May 07, 2013 for General
"Hardening mass gatherings is inherently challenging yet increasingly important. As the Boston bombing demonstrated, doing so is hard over the large areas and crowds. In this note, we share recommendations from Jim"
Elevator Access Control Examined
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 07, 2013 for Access Control
"Doors are certainly the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about electronic access control. However, EAC can also be very valuable for controlling elevators. Keeping unauthorized riders out of elevator c"
Posted on May 07, 2013 for Access Control
"Doors are certainly the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about electronic access control. However, EAC can also be very valuable for controlling elevators. Keeping unauthorized riders out of elevator c"
New RFP: 10 Years Out of Date
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 06, 2013 for General
"Bad RFPs are an unfortunate fact of life in video surveillance - hurting end users and frustrating quality integrators. A new RFP from Oklahoma is a great example - incredibly out of date and hard specified to a m"
Posted on May 06, 2013 for General
"Bad RFPs are an unfortunate fact of life in video surveillance - hurting end users and frustrating quality integrators. A new RFP from Oklahoma is a great example - incredibly out of date and hard specified to a m"
Focusing Panoramic Cameras
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 06, 2013 for IP Cameras
"Focusing panoramic cameras is really important. Indeed, after testing 9 different panoramic cameras across many manufacturers, we believe this must be done manually for each camera. This might seem unnecessary as "
Posted on May 06, 2013 for IP Cameras
"Focusing panoramic cameras is really important. Indeed, after testing 9 different panoramic cameras across many manufacturers, we believe this must be done manually for each camera. This might seem unnecessary as "
Kastle / Cernium CheckVideo Acquisition
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 05, 2013 for Cernium
"Another video analytics manufacturer is gone, though no one should be surprised. Kastle Systems, a DC based managed services provider, traditionally focused on access control, has acquired CheckVideo (aka Cer"
Posted on May 05, 2013 for Cernium
"Another video analytics manufacturer is gone, though no one should be surprised. Kastle Systems, a DC based managed services provider, traditionally focused on access control, has acquired CheckVideo (aka Cer"
Future of Facial Recognition
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 05, 2013 for Video Analytics
"The Boston Bombings reaffirmed how far facial recognition needs to develop to be an effective surveillance tool. Despite the PR spin jobs, facial recognition failed to make any difference. Proponents, of course, a"
Posted on May 05, 2013 for Video Analytics
"The Boston Bombings reaffirmed how far facial recognition needs to develop to be an effective surveillance tool. Despite the PR spin jobs, facial recognition failed to make any difference. Proponents, of course, a"
This City Pays You To Install Cameras
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 03, 2013 for Video Surveillance
"In a time of declining government funding, one U.S. city is bucking the trend. Believe it or not, they are going to pay up to half the cost of installing new cameras. What's the catch and what's in it for them? We"
Posted on May 03, 2013 for Video Surveillance
"In a time of declining government funding, one U.S. city is bucking the trend. Believe it or not, they are going to pay up to half the cost of installing new cameras. What's the catch and what's in it for them? We"
Smoke and CO Detector Combo
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 02, 2013 for General
"A new detector claims to do twice the work of its competitors. In response to growing legislation requiring carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in new construction, manufacturer System Sensor has developed a detector t"
Posted on May 02, 2013 for General
"A new detector claims to do twice the work of its competitors. In response to growing legislation requiring carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in new construction, manufacturer System Sensor has developed a detector t"
Testing Covert Cameras
Posted on May 02, 2013 for Access Control
"Covert cameras are regularly referenced in TV shows and undercover reporting. We ordered two of the most frequently sold covert cameras on Amazon - a Car Key cam and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swann-DVR-421-"
Posted on May 02, 2013 for Access Control
"Covert cameras are regularly referenced in TV shows and undercover reporting. We ordered two of the most frequently sold covert cameras on Amazon - a Car Key cam and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swann-DVR-421-"
Dallas Airport: The Massive Cost of JPEG2000
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 02, 2013 for Megapixel Cameras
"The Love Field Modernization Program (LFMP) is an ongoing $519 million dollar project to upgrade Dallas Love Field Airport that has received significant mass media attention. Renovations include security upgrades "
Posted on May 02, 2013 for Megapixel Cameras
"The Love Field Modernization Program (LFMP) is an ongoing $519 million dollar project to upgrade Dallas Love Field Airport that has received significant mass media attention. Renovations include security upgrades "
Interview With Law Enforcement On Surveillance
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 01, 2013 for General
"We recently interviewed International Association of Chiefs of Police experts about various issues, uses and best practices for police agencies regarding video surveillance. We touched on topics ranging from "
Posted on May 01, 2013 for General
"We recently interviewed International Association of Chiefs of Police experts about various issues, uses and best practices for police agencies regarding video surveillance. We touched on topics ranging from "
Pivot3 CEO Gone
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 01, 2013 for Pivot3
"When Pivot3 previewed their company plans for 2013, it did not include major changes in leadership. However, the company has confirmed today that Pivot3 CEO Rich Bravman, has stepped down and Chief Technology Offi"
Posted on May 01, 2013 for Pivot3
"When Pivot3 previewed their company plans for 2013, it did not include major changes in leadership. However, the company has confirmed today that Pivot3 CEO Rich Bravman, has stepped down and Chief Technology Offi"
VideoIQ Rialto R Series
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 for VideoIQ
"After years of pushing their own analytics enabled cameras, VideoIQ has opened their platform up to third party IP cameras with the Rialto R series. In this note, we look at this new line, its features and integra"
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 for VideoIQ
"After years of pushing their own analytics enabled cameras, VideoIQ has opened their platform up to third party IP cameras with the Rialto R series. In this note, we look at this new line, its features and integra"
Stand Alone Access Control (Sargent)
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 for Access Control
"Classroom safety is a key concern, especially with fears of school shooting. Door hardware plays a key role in keeping doors locked at critical times. One of the oldest names in locks, Sargent, has introduced an o"
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 for Access Control
"Classroom safety is a key concern, especially with fears of school shooting. Door hardware plays a key role in keeping doors locked at critical times. One of the oldest names in locks, Sargent, has introduced an o"
Police Top Surveillance Pain Point
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 29, 2013 for General
"We recently interviewed surveillance experts from the International Association of Chiefs of Police about various issues, uses, and best practices for police agencies regarding video surveillance. Interestingly, o"
Posted on Apr 29, 2013 for General
"We recently interviewed surveillance experts from the International Association of Chiefs of Police about various issues, uses, and best practices for police agencies regarding video surveillance. Interestingly, o"
BRS Big Fund Raising: $27 Million + More To Come
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 29, 2013 for BRS Labs
"Last year we obtained an email BRS Labs sent to investors asking for one last drive. The company said if investors increased their positions by two or three percent, it would be able to stop raising money and &ldq"
Posted on Apr 29, 2013 for BRS Labs
"Last year we obtained an email BRS Labs sent to investors asking for one last drive. The company said if investors increased their positions by two or three percent, it would be able to stop raising money and &ldq"
ASMAG Security Top 50 Rankings
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 28, 2013 for General
"Recently, we have received questions about using the ASMAG Security Top 50 Rankings. These rankings order security manufacturers based on total annual revenue, listing the 'top' manufacturers. While they can be he"
Posted on Apr 28, 2013 for General
"Recently, we have received questions about using the ASMAG Security Top 50 Rankings. These rankings order security manufacturers based on total annual revenue, listing the 'top' manufacturers. While they can be he"
The Worst Security Twitter Feed
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 26, 2013 for NLSS
"Security manufacturers are often clueless using social media but no one does it worse than NLSS, whose twitter feed is a case study of things not to do. The NLSS response to the Boston Bombings? Well, to market t"
Posted on Apr 26, 2013 for NLSS
"Security manufacturers are often clueless using social media but no one does it worse than NLSS, whose twitter feed is a case study of things not to do. The NLSS response to the Boston Bombings? Well, to market t"
Veracity Coldstore Arcus
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 25, 2013 for Veracity
"What if Milestone's new VMS platform, Arcus, could target large scale applications? Not just the 4 or 8 camera deployments typical considered analog 'holdouts' but hundreds of camera deployment that are the histor"
Posted on Apr 25, 2013 for Veracity
"What if Milestone's new VMS platform, Arcus, could target large scale applications? Not just the 4 or 8 camera deployments typical considered analog 'holdouts' but hundreds of camera deployment that are the histor"
Automatic Location Based Camera Control
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 25, 2013 for IP Cameras
"This is a very neat idea; One that we have not seen any IP camera / VMS provider offer before. Having a network / surveillance camera at home raises two common issues: Nuisance notifications: When using alerts"
Posted on Apr 25, 2013 for IP Cameras
"This is a very neat idea; One that we have not seen any IP camera / VMS provider offer before. Having a network / surveillance camera at home raises two common issues: Nuisance notifications: When using alerts"
Pelco's Abandoned Access Control Line (Infinias)
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 24, 2013 for Access Control
"Once upon a time, Pelco had its own access control offering that claimed to be the 'smallest, most powerful', and 'highly scalable' platform available, and everything appeared set for a fairy-tale ending. However,"
Posted on Apr 24, 2013 for Access Control
"Once upon a time, Pelco had its own access control offering that claimed to be the 'smallest, most powerful', and 'highly scalable' platform available, and everything appeared set for a fairy-tale ending. However,"
Intransa Wind Down Investigated
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 24, 2013 for Intransa
"While we have been reporting for more than a month about the failure of Intransa, there is still no official public announcement. Indeed, visitors to their website who did not know better, would simply assume that"
Posted on Apr 24, 2013 for Intransa
"While we have been reporting for more than a month about the failure of Intransa, there is still no official public announcement. Indeed, visitors to their website who did not know better, would simply assume that"
First ImmerVision Powered Minidome (Brickcom)
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 for Immervision
"Nearly a year after ImmerVision announced the world's smallest panomorph lens, Brickcom has designed it into a new line of compact minidomes, the MD-300/500 series. Historically, ImmerVision has been respected but"
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 for Immervision
"Nearly a year after ImmerVision announced the world's smallest panomorph lens, Brickcom has designed it into a new line of compact minidomes, the MD-300/500 series. Historically, ImmerVision has been respected but"
Google Search for Surveillance?
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 for ipConfigure
"One of the most interesting ads at ISC West featured a search for 'computer stolen from d' with autocompletion choices of 'stolen from desk', 'data center', etc. While this is common for computer search engines, l"
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 for ipConfigure
"One of the most interesting ads at ISC West featured a search for 'computer stolen from d' with autocompletion choices of 'stolen from desk', 'data center', etc. While this is common for computer search engines, l"
Philly's Cameras Cost 20x More Than Planned
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 for General
"Last year, the City of Philadelphia commissioned a review of its multi-million dollar surveillance system. In the planning stages, the system's cost was estimated at around $3,000 per camera, but the actual cost s"
Posted on Apr 23, 2013 for General
"Last year, the City of Philadelphia commissioned a review of its multi-million dollar surveillance system. In the planning stages, the system's cost was estimated at around $3,000 per camera, but the actual cost s"
Hirsch / Identive Gets Cost Competitive
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 22, 2013 for Access Control
"One of the biggest legacy brands in high end access control was Hirsch, who merged and was absorbed within Identive in the past few years. The company was best known for its 'Scramble' line of products, and enjoye"
Posted on Apr 22, 2013 for Access Control
"One of the biggest legacy brands in high end access control was Hirsch, who merged and was absorbed within Identive in the past few years. The company was best known for its 'Scramble' line of products, and enjoye"
Sony's 6th Gen Low Light Demo
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 22, 2013 for Access Control
"Sony's ISC West demo of their 6th generation network camera's low light performance drew a lot of attention. Normally, we ignore show demos as they cannot be compared nor validated to properly assess actual perfor"
Posted on Apr 22, 2013 for Access Control
"Sony's ISC West demo of their 6th generation network camera's low light performance drew a lot of attention. Normally, we ignore show demos as they cannot be compared nor validated to properly assess actual perfor"
Panoramic Camera Shootout
Posted on Apr 22, 2013 for IP Cameras
"Panoramic cameras are one of the hottest growing markets within surveillance. The combination of multi-megapixel resolution and super wide FoVs claims to deliver greater coverage than conventional cameras. But how"
Posted on Apr 22, 2013 for IP Cameras
"Panoramic cameras are one of the hottest growing markets within surveillance. The combination of multi-megapixel resolution and super wide FoVs claims to deliver greater coverage than conventional cameras. But how"
SIA NPS New Product Showcase Judging
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 19, 2013 for Access Control
""It's like a cute baby contest. If only 12 ugly babies enter, then only ugly babies are going to win," explained the SIA New Product Showcase (NPS) chair, Jennifer Martin, of their awards program. Many industry p"
Posted on Apr 19, 2013 for Access Control
""It's like a cute baby contest. If only 12 ugly babies enter, then only ugly babies are going to win," explained the SIA New Product Showcase (NPS) chair, Jennifer Martin, of their awards program. Many industry p"
Avigilon Employee Claims ‘Pissing Contest’ With IPVM
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 17, 2013 for Avigilon
"I saw the same ad that most ISC West attendees probably saw at McCarran International Airport. Baggage claim was draped in Avigilon banners with bold letters proclaiming “Analyze, Prevent, Stop.” At th"
Posted on Apr 17, 2013 for Avigilon
"I saw the same ad that most ISC West attendees probably saw at McCarran International Airport. Baggage claim was draped in Avigilon banners with bold letters proclaiming “Analyze, Prevent, Stop.” At th"
Top Trends in Access Control
Posted on Apr 17, 2013 for Access Control
"All of a sudden, Access Control has momentum? After a long period of apparent stagnation and staleness, new technologies and devoted marketing campaigns have breathed life into the segment. Indeed, while the recen"
Posted on Apr 17, 2013 for Access Control
"All of a sudden, Access Control has momentum? After a long period of apparent stagnation and staleness, new technologies and devoted marketing campaigns have breathed life into the segment. Indeed, while the recen"
Intransa From the Ashes, Viakoo
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 16, 2013 for Intransa
"If not from the ashes, at least from the same building. We broke news a few weeks ago that Intransa's employees were laid off. While the company never publicly acknowledged the situation, there's no doubt that Int"
Posted on Apr 16, 2013 for Intransa
"If not from the ashes, at least from the same building. We broke news a few weeks ago that Intransa's employees were laid off. While the company never publicly acknowledged the situation, there's no doubt that Int"
Reading Irises from Cars?
(PRO Only)
Posted on Apr 15, 2013 for Access Control
"What happens when you want to use biometrics at vehicle gates? In the past, this has meant staffing entry points with guards, and bringing readers to drivers inside their vehicles. However, SRI/Sarnoff demonstrate"
Posted on Apr 15, 2013 for Access Control
"What happens when you want to use biometrics at vehicle gates? In the past, this has meant staffing entry points with guards, and bringing readers to drivers inside their vehicles. However, SRI/Sarnoff demonstrate"