Milestone as a VSaaS
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 23, 2012 for Milestone Systems
"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. While Milestone"
Posted on May 23, 2012 for Milestone Systems
"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. While Milestone"
Should Integrators Go to PSA-Tec?
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 23, 2012 for General
"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 differe"
Posted on May 23, 2012 for General
"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 differe"
IP Camera PC Training
Posted on May 23, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 th"
Posted on May 23, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 th"
Top 5 Integrator Concerns
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 22, 2012 for General
"What concerns keep integrators awake at night? During our recent visit to PSA-TEC, we informally surveyed integrator attendees and asked them 'What are your biggest business concerns?" In this note, we compile tha"
Posted on May 22, 2012 for General
"What concerns keep integrators awake at night? During our recent visit to PSA-TEC, we informally surveyed integrator attendees and asked them 'What are your biggest business concerns?" In this note, we compile tha"
Worst Parent Ever Caught on Surveillance?
Posted on May 22, 2012 for Case Studies
"Some things are almost beyond comprehension - like this surveillance video. Take a look: What possessed this father to put his child in a washing machine is unclear. Needless to say, it's terrible.Thankfull"
Posted on May 22, 2012 for Case Studies
"Some things are almost beyond comprehension - like this surveillance video. Take a look: What possessed this father to put his child in a washing machine is unclear. Needless to say, it's terrible.Thankfull"
Vivotek's 5 MP Camera Line Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 22, 2012 for VIVOTEK
"Vivotek is the latest 'big name' to jump into the 5MP product market. While the true value of multi-megapixel cameras are debatable, the market mantra in IP Video has been "more pixels, more cheaply" for several y"
Posted on May 22, 2012 for VIVOTEK
"Vivotek is the latest 'big name' to jump into the 5MP product market. While the true value of multi-megapixel cameras are debatable, the market mantra in IP Video has been "more pixels, more cheaply" for several y"
VLANs for Surveillance
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 21, 2012 for General
"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 "
Posted on May 21, 2012 for General
"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 "
NUUO Titan NVR Examined
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 21, 2012 for NUUO
"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 th"
Posted on May 21, 2012 for NUUO
"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 th"
IP Camera Standards Use Revealed
Posted on May 21, 2012 for Standards
"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 most basic connections. This added to the cost of using IP and b"
Posted on May 21, 2012 for Standards
"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 most basic connections. This added to the cost of using IP and b"
Axis Ad: Throw Away Your Analog Equipment
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 21, 2012 for Axis
"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 "
Posted on May 21, 2012 for Axis
"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 "
IPVM New Features May 2012
Posted on May 20, 2012 for General
"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 GenerationEvery week, many members ask for custo"
Posted on May 20, 2012 for General
"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 GenerationEvery week, many members ask for custo"
Netgear Surveillance Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 18, 2012 for Other Companies
"Netgear is one of the biggest IT brands in the world, with over a billion in annual revenue. Now, they are finally moving into the surveillance industry, with the ReadyNAS Surveillance Suite, what they call ""
Posted on May 18, 2012 for Other Companies
"Netgear is one of the biggest IT brands in the world, with over a billion in annual revenue. Now, they are finally moving into the surveillance industry, with the ReadyNAS Surveillance Suite, what they call ""
Free Tool to Capture Surveillance Problems
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 18, 2012 for General
"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 ima"
Posted on May 18, 2012 for General
"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 ima"
Testing Ethernet Cables
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 17, 2012 for General
"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"
Posted on May 17, 2012 for General
"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"
Recommended Switches for Small IP Surveillance Systems
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 16, 2012 for General
"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"
Posted on May 16, 2012 for General
"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"
Honeywell MAXPRO Cloud Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 16, 2012 for Honeywell Video
"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 c"
Posted on May 16, 2012 for Honeywell Video
"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 c"
Axis vs Hikvision IP Camera Test Results
Posted on May 16, 2012 for Hikvision
"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 total revenue, Hi"
Posted on May 16, 2012 for Hikvision
"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 total revenue, Hi"
Pelco vs Integrators
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 15, 2012 for Pelco
"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."
Posted on May 15, 2012 for Pelco
"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."
Pelco Sued by ObjectVideo
Posted on May 14, 2012 for ObjectVideo
"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 two paragraph release announcing the attack.ObjectV"
Posted on May 14, 2012 for ObjectVideo
"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 two paragraph release announcing the attack.ObjectV"
VMS Annual License Fees - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 14, 2012 for Statistics
"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 "
Posted on May 14, 2012 for Statistics
"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 "
Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 14, 2012 for General
"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 over"
Posted on May 14, 2012 for General
"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 over"
Axis One-Click Review
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 14, 2012 for Axis
"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 expe"
Posted on May 14, 2012 for Axis
"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 expe"
Alerting Against Unlocked Doors
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 13, 2012 for Access Control
"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 statu"
Posted on May 13, 2012 for Access Control
"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 statu"
IMS Moves Up Their Tipping Point to IP
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 11, 2012 for Statistics
"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 market had already tipped to IP video for new"
Posted on May 11, 2012 for Statistics
"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 market had already tipped to IP video for new"
Pan/Tilt Camera Selection Guide
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 11, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 th"
Posted on May 11, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 th"
Sony CH240 WDR Test
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 11, 2012 for Sony
"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 manufacture"
Posted on May 11, 2012 for Sony
"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 manufacture"
Brivo Access Control Examined
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 11, 2012 for Access Control
"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 advocate of a different a"
Posted on May 11, 2012 for Access Control
"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 advocate of a different a"
Disrupting Residential Access Control? Lockitron
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 10, 2012 for Access Control
"Can the traditional access control market be disrupted by new entrants leveraging consumer technologies and mobile phones? One startup, Lockitron, is backed by a powerful Silicon Valley investment firm&n"
Posted on May 10, 2012 for Access Control
"Can the traditional access control market be disrupted by new entrants leveraging consumer technologies and mobile phones? One startup, Lockitron, is backed by a powerful Silicon Valley investment firm&n"
Dealing with Low Light Problems
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 10, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 a"
Posted on May 10, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 a"
Avigilon Q1 2012 Financials
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 10, 2012 for Avigilon
"While many surveillance manufacturer's revenue growth has slowed significantly, Avigilon's Q1 2012 financials show that the company is nearly matching the skyrocketing growth rate they achieved in 2011. "
Posted on May 10, 2012 for Avigilon
"While many surveillance manufacturer's revenue growth has slowed significantly, Avigilon's Q1 2012 financials show that the company is nearly matching the skyrocketing growth rate they achieved in 2011. "
Ocularis 3.0 reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 10, 2012 for ONSSI
"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 Ocularis platform. How much of an impro"
Posted on May 10, 2012 for ONSSI
"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 Ocularis platform. How much of an impro"
Avigilon PTZs Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 09, 2012 for Avigilon
"While Avigilon has touted how their multi-megapixel cameras can replace up to 95 conventional one as well as replace PTZs, they have now announced their own line of HD PTZ cameras. As such, this is an interesting "
Posted on May 09, 2012 for Avigilon
"While Avigilon has touted how their multi-megapixel cameras can replace up to 95 conventional one as well as replace PTZs, they have now announced their own line of HD PTZ cameras. As such, this is an interesting "
Should Manufacturers Write A&E Specs?
Posted on May 09, 2012 for Access Control
"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 '"
Posted on May 09, 2012 for Access Control
"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 '"
Milestone Unannounced Funding and Profitability
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 09, 2012 for Milestone Systems
"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 report, analyzed it"
Posted on May 09, 2012 for Milestone Systems
"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 report, analyzed it"
NLSS Facial Recognition
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 09, 2012 for NLSS
"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,"
Posted on May 09, 2012 for NLSS
"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,"
Hotel Access Control Explained
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 08, 2012 for Access Control
"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? Ho"
Posted on May 08, 2012 for Access Control
"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? Ho"
World's Smallest Panomorph Lens Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 08, 2012 for Immervision
"ImmerVision has been promoting the 'world's smallest panomorph lens', a lens that will be more than 80% smaller than its existing surveillance line. With interest growing in panoramic surveillance, what impact wil"
Posted on May 08, 2012 for Immervision
"ImmerVision has been promoting the 'world's smallest panomorph lens', a lens that will be more than 80% smaller than its existing surveillance line. With interest growing in panoramic surveillance, what impact wil"
Axis vs. RMR
Posted on May 08, 2012 for Axis
"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 a"
Posted on May 08, 2012 for Axis
"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 a"
Quiet Door Hardware Examined
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 07, 2012 for Access Control
"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"
Posted on May 07, 2012 for Access Control
"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"
Ubiquiti AirFiber Gigabit Wireless
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 07, 2012 for Ubiquiti
"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 disruptive, "
Posted on May 07, 2012 for Ubiquiti
"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 disruptive, "
Video Surveillance Buyer's Guide 2012
Posted on May 06, 2012 for General
"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 Video Surveillance Buyer's Guide - a hug"
Posted on May 06, 2012 for General
"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 Video Surveillance Buyer's Guide - a hug"
ONVIF Deployment Statistics
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 06, 2012 for Standards
"This note has been replaced by the IP Camera Standards Use Revealed report."
Posted on May 06, 2012 for Standards
"This note has been replaced by the IP Camera Standards Use Revealed report."
The Crazy ObjectVideo CEO Interview
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 06, 2012 for ObjectVideo
"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, OV's CEO has released an intervi"
Posted on May 06, 2012 for ObjectVideo
"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, OV's CEO has released an intervi"
Camera Pre-Installation Checklist
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 05, 2012 for General
"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' con"
Posted on May 05, 2012 for General
"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' con"
Security Management Digital Edition Reviewed
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 04, 2012 for General
"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 version. However, ASIS has now released a digit"
Posted on May 04, 2012 for General
"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 version. However, ASIS has now released a digit"
The Right Aspect Ratio for Surveillance
Posted on May 04, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 "
Posted on May 04, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 "
Panasonic WV-SP509 Camera Test
Posted on May 03, 2012 for Panasonic
"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 Panasonic WV-SV509, testing it aga"
Posted on May 03, 2012 for Panasonic
"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 Panasonic WV-SV509, testing it aga"
Locking Down Network Connections
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 03, 2012 for General
"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, ph"
Posted on May 03, 2012 for General
"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, ph"
How Nighttime Video May Crash Your Network
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 03, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 lo"
Posted on May 03, 2012 for IP Cameras
"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 lo"
Surveillance Monitor Preferences
(PRO Only)
Posted on May 03, 2012 for General
"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 "
Posted on May 03, 2012 for General
"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 "