****** *** **** *** * ******** interface *** *** ****** ************ ****.
*** *** **** ** **** *** worst?
** ****** * ************* - ********, Dahua, *****, *******, *********, *** ********* to **** ***:

** ****** **** ****** ** ********** rating **** ******, ******* ** ****, as *** ******* ***** *****:

******, ** ****** *** **** ******* including *** *** *** **** *** how *** ******* ********* ****** **** of *** ** **********, ********* * video ***********, *** *** **** ************ in *** ********:
Performance ********
*** **** ********, *********** ******** **** divided **** * **** ** ********: Basic *** ******** ********.
***** ******** *** ******* ** *** common ***** ********* *** *** ******** of ************ *****. ***** ********* ** ease ** ******* **** *** ******** video, *****-****** *******, **** ********* ****** and *** **** ** ********* *********.

***** ** *** *****, ****** *** Basic ******* *********** ***** **** ***** groups:
- **** **********:***** *** **** ********* **** **** the *** ********** *******, ******* ******** in * *** ** *** * categories. *******'* ******** ****** ****** * was ****** ** * *** ** 5 *** ****'* ***** ****** ** any ********.
- ******* ***********:***** **** ****** **** ** * out ** * *****, *** ****** in **** ** ******/******** ***** ******* it ** *******. ******** *** **** strong ** * **********, *** **** in **** ********* ******.
- ***** ***********:*******'* ****** ******** ****** ****** * scored ******** ** **** ** ******* Live *****, *** ******* ** **** in * *** ** *** *. Milestone ****** *** ******* ** *** 5 ********** *** *** *** ******* strongly ** *** ***** ******* ****.
******** ******** *** ******* ** **** common ***** **** ****** ******** ** Enterprise ************, *** ******** ** ************ security ********* ** * ***** *****. These ********* ** **** *************, ******/******** event *********, *********/*********** *******, *****, ****** quality ********, *** ****** ******* *******.

***** ** *** *****, ****** *** Advanced ******* *********** ***** **** ***** groups:
- **** **********:***** *** * *** ********* ** Advanced ******** ** ****, ******* ******** in * *** ** * **********. Dahua **** ****** ******** ** * of *** * **********, *** ****** in *** ********* *. ***** ********* Mobile *** *** ** *** ***** ranked ** ***** ********, **** ********* strongly ** **** ** *** ********** and **** ****** ** ***** *******.
- ******* ***********:**** ********* **** ********* *********** ** the ******** ******** *****, * ******, 2 ******* *** * **** *******. Genetec's ****** ******** ****** ****** * only ****** ******** ** * ******** and ********* ****** ** ***** ******* and ****** / ********* ***** *******.
- ***** ***********:******** ********* ****** ** **** *** categories, ******* **** ******** ******** ** the ***** ****. *******'* ******** ****** Mobile * **** ****** ****** ** 2 **********, *** ******* ** *** remaining *.
**********, ******* **** ****** ** **** add **** ******** ******** **** *** upcoming **.* ******** ****** *******.
Summary ** *******
**** ***** ***** *** **** ******* for **** ****** *** ******* ********. Some ** *** ******** **** "******** Capture" *** "**** ** ******* **** Video" ****** ******** **** **** ****, while "****** ******* *******" *** "******/******** Events" *** ******* ** **** ******* from **** ** *** **** ** the ****.
*** *** ***** ** *** ***** to ****** * ****** ****:

Key ***************
*** ********* * ****** **** ***** that ****** *** **** ******** ******* manufacturers:
- **** ********* ******: ***** *** ********** ******* ******* hidden ***** *** ***-******** ****** ******** allow ********** *** ******** ******** ***** to ******** ***** ******* *** *********.
- ****** / ********* ***** *******: ***** ****** *** ******** ***** searches *** ****** ** *** ******* and *** ************* ****** ************* *****, they *** *** ****** ** ****** Apps. **** **** ** *** **** tested ******** *** ****** ** ***** searching.
- ********* / *********** *****: ***** **** ** ******** ***** directly ** *** ****** ******, ** bookmark *** ***** ************* *** *********** at * ***** **** ** ** important ******* *** * ****** ***. Only ******** *** ***** ** *** offer ********* ** ***********.
- ***** *******: ***** ******* ** * ***** feature, *** ***** ******* *** ********* support ***-*** ***** ** ***** **** VMS *******, **** ** *** ******* any ***** ** ***** ****** ****.
- ****** ******* *******:**** **** ** *** **** ******* access ******* **** *******, *** **** manufacturers **** ******* ** ** ***** VMS *******.
Criteria *** ******* ********
** *** ********* ******, ** ****** each ************'* **** ******* ** **** criterion, ****** ******** ******** ** **** app ***** ** ********* ******** ** poorly:
********

*****

*****

*******

*********

*********

Many **** ********* **********
**** **** ******** ** *** **** results *** ****** ** ** ********* for ********** ***** *** *** ******** users, ** *** *** ******, ********* on *** **** ** ******.
****** ***** *** *** * ******* for ***** ******** *****, ******* **** learn ***** ********* *** ******* **********. Daily ******** ***** **** ** ******** more ** ******** *** *******, ****** menu *******, *** ******* ********* ******/****.
Unlabeled / ********* *******
* ****** ******** ** ******* ******** buttons, **** ** **-*** **** *** user ******* **** ** **** ******. While **** *******, **** ** ********, layout, ** ***** **/*** *** ***** and *********, ****** *** ****** *** obvious ** ************* *****. ************, ******* some ******* **** ** *********, ***, etc., ******** ** ******** **** ***** features *** *** *********. *******, **** simply ** *******.

**** *** *** ******** ** ***** action *******, ********* ********* *** ******** with * *****-***-***** ****** ****. *******'* Legacy ******** ****** * **** ****** the ******** *** ******** ******* **** text, ** ********* *** ******** *********:

Hidden **** ******
*** ***** ******* ** **** **** interface ****** ***** ** ******** *** Exacq ****** **** ** ****** ***** requiring * *****-***-**** ****** ** *** video ****. ********'* *****-***-**** ****** **** was **** *** **********, *** ***** required *-* ******** ** ***** ** the **** / **** ***** ****:

Motion / ******** ****** *******
*** ****** *** ****** / ********* Events *** ***** ** *** ***'* ability ** ****** *** ****** ** video ******** ******, *** **** ******** the **** ** ********* *** ***** based ** **** *** ****. ********, Dahua, *****, *** ********* ********* ******, providing ****** ***** ***** ** ****** from. *******'* ******** ****** ****** * app ******** ** ******* ***** *** providing ****** *********** ** *** ********, but *** ********* * **** ** results. *******'* ****** ******** ****** * and **** ********* **** ****** ****** because **** ** *** ******* *** motion ** ******** **** ** ******.
*** ******** ** ****** ********** **** Exacq *** *****, *** ***** ********* for ****** ** ***** ******:

Exporting ******* *******
*** ****** *** ********* / *********** was ***** ** ** **** ******* to ****** ******** * ***** **** locally ** *** ***** ** ******** the ***** *** ***** *********** ** the **** *** ******. ****** **********, Dahua *** ********* ***** *** ** record * ***** **** ******** ** the ****** ****** *** ******* ******* and *******. **** ** *******'* **** also ******** * ****** ***** ******* bookmarks *** ** ******* **** ** while ******* ********, **** *** *********** back ** *** ******* ********* ******. Milestone's ************* ******** ****** ******* ******* while **** *** ** ******* *** reviewed ** *** ****** *** *** clients, **** *** *** ********* ** the **** ********* ***** ******. ******** and ***** ****** ****** ******* **** do *** ***** ********* ** *********** functionality.
** ******* ** * ****** ********* was *******'* *********** ********:

***** *********'* ************* ******** ********* ****, they ****** ******* ******* *** ************* are **** ******** ** *** ********* Web ****** *** *** *** **** Smart ******.

Snapshots ****** *********
***** ***** *** *** * ******** for ********* *********, *****, *****, *** both ********* **** *** * ******* of *** *** *** ******** (*******, deleting, *******) ********** ******** ******. *** 3 **** ******** ******* ****** *** capable ** ********* *********, *** *** need ** ***** *** *** ** view *** ***** ** *** *****'* default ***** *******.
** ******* ** * ****** **** result ** *********'* ****-**** "******* & Video" ****:

Cloud ******** ************
******* ******** ***** ***** *** *********** differentiation *** ***** *******. ***** ********** and ********* ******** ******* *** ***** the ******* ** **** ***** ******* without ****** ** *** ** ****-********** or ******* * *** ******.
********* ****** *** ***-******* ***** ********** service **** **** *** ***-******* *** iVMS-4500 ****, ***************** ******** ********* ****** ** **************** ************ **** **********. ***** ***** also ****** * *** ***** ********** function, *******, ** ** ******* *** mobile ******. ****** ***-*******, ** ** not ********** **** * ******* ******* login, ***** ****** *********** *** *******.
**** ******* ***** ** *** ******** only ***** ***** ******** **** ***** offerings ************ ******* ******* ******** ****** ***** *** Stratocast, *** *** **** ***** ******* VMS *********. ************* ***** ***** ** ******* ****** ****** ** ***** *******. Milestone *** ** ****** ***** ********* for ***** ****** ***.
Only ***-******* ******** *********** **************
* ******** ******* **** *** **** supported ** ***-******* *** *********** **************. This ** * ****** ******** ******* offered ** **** ******* *** ******* apps. *** ****** *** ******* ** Account ********** *****, **** ** ******* you *** **** *********** ** **** in:

Simultaneous **** *** ******** *** ******
* ******** ***** ** **** *****, viewing **** *** ******** ***** ** the **** **** *** **** ***** in ********* ****** *** *******'* ******** Center ****** *. *******, ** **** apps, *** *** ******* ** ******* live *** ******** **** *** **** camera, *** **** ******* ****** ****** playback.
**** ** ** ******* ** *********'* App:

App ******** ******
- ******** *** ****** * (*.*.*)
- ***** **** **** (*.**.***)
- *********** ***** ****** (*.*.*.******)
- ******* ******** ****** ****** (*.*.***.*)
- ******* *** ****** ****** (*.*.***.*)
- ********* ***-******* (*.*.*)
- ********* ****-**** (*.*.*)
- ********* ****** **** ** (**.*)
Comments (44)
John Honovich
Sean, good work on this. It's a complex topic but one that IPVM can add value by analyzing and comparing.
Next up for VMS shootout is camera management, i.e., how easy to use, how much functionality is available for managing cameras (adding, editing, deleting, configuring, etc.).
And since the topic of other companies to include is popular (see VMS Export Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone), let me address up front, we will be adding in Network Optix going forward. We did not originally since they are not anywhere near as big as these 6. However, given Hanwha's OEMing of Network Optix (as Wave) and Hanwha's continued growth, it is important to see how well or not Hanwha's VMS contrasts to these others.
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Bryan Buenaventura
10/01/18 03:54pm
Spectacular work guys...
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Undisclosed Integrator #2
What security controls are in place? Which apps support 2FA / face ID and the such. It's pretty poor that some allow access without these measures when the target markets are GDPR / ISO 27001 implementing businesses and corporates..
Customers keep asking me what 2FA does milestone have for example. I have to tell them to implement a VPN as a work around.
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Corey Nelson
Just curious what mobile platform you used to test Android or iOS i have found that there are often differences between the two for the same manufactures app. Also from an integrators perspective possibly a comparison of continuity between the apps on the different platforms. Explaining functionality over the phone, especially while on the run, to customers sometimes gets complicated when updates happen and their primary device isn't the same one you use on a daily basis. I have an iPad mini just for this situation but can often walk through every function blindfolded on an android device.
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Undisclosed #3
Great test.
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Scott Sheldrake
I violently disagree with the high rating given to the Exacq Mobile App.
You should really have a "new user" category in which you walk a typical customer (use your Mom?) through the setup over the phone. I think you would find radically different results doing this.
The Exacq mobile app is almost impossible to configure on the first try and almost always requires a phone call to set up. HIK iVMS-4500 on the other hand requires almost zero hand-holding. And the "Generate QR code" feature is worth giving them a bonus star.
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Austin Leaming
Are these apps proprietary or can I use them all on the same NVR?
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Thanks! Very interesting to read.
Though for the sake of the argument: very arguable basic/advanced features breakdown, accordingly, the marks are subjective.
IMHO, "basic" should not about be something traditional, it should be about majority users convenience(what most people expect/want to have).
For example: stream quality control and push notifications should fall under "basic".
If you do not have a quality control you cannot optimize quality for your low bandwidth channel playback(3g/4g), which really makes it difficult to use( you may end up having 0.2fps ).
Any player (youtube, twitch, porn sites etc ) have quality controls.
Push notifications - it's very expectable features for most users, also. I try to be objective(our mobile app does not have it yet).
I would put the multichannel view to the "Advanced". Really, what's the user stories for mobile users? do they have to use multichannel more than quality control?
My basics are:
Ease of live/playback
Quality control
UX/UI
Cloud
Audio
PTZ (not covered )
Advanced:
Search ( motion, events)
2way audio (not covered )
Access control( your terminology)
2fa
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Richard Lince
Good report Sean.
Do any of these apps support the use of the mobile devices inbuilt camera as an IP camera? Allowing footage to be streamed back to the VMS?
Cheers.
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Murat Altu
Anyone supports maps ? I think it is important for any installation.
AxxonSoft has in both iOS and Android apps.
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Danny Myers
Thank you for doing the App shootout. Great job!
However, I did notice an error that I hope you will correct with the Avigilon App.
Some other things that I find noteworthy about the app are:
BTW, I totally agree that they need to improve the app (especially adding audio). I am pretty sure the new version of the app will have 2-way audio.
Thanks again for your service to our industry.
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Murat Altu
Anyone supports dewarping ?
AxxonSoft supports for Android only.
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Undisclosed Integrator #7
I remember taking my milestone training a few years ago and thinking “we will never sell this” regarding milestone’s mobile app. I’m disappointed to see it still has not improved in a significant way. I like their VMS but the end users we deal with would not like the mobile. Hoping for some improvement on that in the not too distant future.
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Michael Kassal
DARN!! , when I saw the link to this article.....was really hoping for the review to include the NVR control app's from LILIN, ICREALTIME and SnapAV's LUMA and even ELAN's new updated NVR system. These are the residential systems compatible companies....who are active in the CEDIA tradeshow market.....
The reason for the above four companies.....is that we are a Resi Systems Integrator for Control4 and Savant Systems........and those are the only companies that have software drivers for whole home system integration control. None of the companies listed in the current article advertise in the resi market.......
Hikvision did slowly enter/ creep into the resi market due to its low cost...and a few drivers did pop up..for some cameras.......but most integrators I know avoided them.....
Mike
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Michael Murphy
No Wisenet Mobile? (Hanwha)
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Michael Kassal
Sean,
In the Resi market a camera subsystem is only considered if it is providing drivers that hook in to a home control system.....
All the vendors in the article.....are almost non existent in the resi space.
The major camera companies in the space are:
ICRealtime
Luma/Wirepath/VisualInt by SnapAV
LILIN which works closely with Control4
Axis is also part of the space...but with cameras only.....not their DVR. Many control systems have drivers that work directly with their high end cameras.....and PTZs.
Many vendors are announcing Control4 integration drivers.....but in the residental world, its business smart to choose vendors that will be around for the long hall.....as residential system integrators have clients for a very long period of time......cheapest cost is rare the deciding factor....and integration is.
The major control systems in the home market are:
Control4
Savant Systems
Crestron
Elan
Resi guys want both the ip stream to the home control system app and control of the DVR functionality. In the resi space ICRealtime is about the premier vendor that does really good integration with most control system is the most popular vendor. Elan just announced two months ago, deep integration of the control system app with their DVR. Most home control system drivers only control the Interface of the DVR and can only see the results via the video output of the DVR. Elan went further and incorporated analytics and control and viewing of the recorded video into the home control app....so you don't need a dedicated app to remote access the DVR. This upcoming year I expect many other vendors to do such for the top control systems.....
All the above vendors market and have a large presence in the CEDIA trade show environment......
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Sean Patton
The Summary Chart and report has been updated to show Exacq offering cloud access with Cloud Relay.
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James Sheltra
Genetec has a newer Mobile App called Genetec Mobile. Just curious why that was not used for a shootout?
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