Honeywell HRDP DVR gets the iPhone treatment.

The Honeywell HRDP DVR has joined the iPhone gang. The iPhone app to allow remote access for the HRDP H.264 is now available from the Apple store and is free to download.

http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/remote-view/id403753495?mt=8

Honeywell HRDP
Honeywell HRDP

We have seen an increasing trend for remote access features and as reported before iPhone is helping to sell CCTV in way that we have not seen before. One manufacturer reported that sales of there particular DVR has increased by 25% since making the iPhone app available for his particular DVR.

Designed for customers who……

(A) love gadgets and ( B) are constantly away from their premises it gives them the opportunity to keep a close eye on the business with quality images being downloaded with excellent image rates as well. With connectivity from the iPhone iPad or iTouch the images can be displayed either as a single camera view or even a quad split screen view Best of all its free. The Honeywell HRDP is a great piece of kit already recording at up to 200 FPS and you can read here some previous comments that have been made about it. The minimum requirement to enable connection are as follows

Minimum Requirements.

The Remote-View iPhone app minimum requirements are:

Apple iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4

Apple iPod touch 3GS, 4

Apple iPad 1

Supported HRDP DVRs: HRDP H.264 (v1.0.1.6 and later)

Internet connection to the Honeywell HRDP DVR.

Honeywell HRDP iPhone

So well done Honeywell. The HRDP now with iPhone connectivity…now we are moving forward.!

March Networks raise the bar – Apple compatibility!

Command is March networks newest idea, but why I’am so excited about it? Ok, so I know I have bleated on about my love for all things Apple, but I am not the only one I am sure!

Many Security End Users are wanting to access their CCTV Surveillance Systems from their iDevices……….particularly Mac’s and MacBook’s…..

Now, I don’t want to get into the Apple OSX vs Microsoft Windows debate……there are enough forums and websites where die-hard Apple fans wage war on anything Mr Gates touches and others where Mr Jobs is public enemy number 1…….and that’s without Google and it’s Chrome OS coming around the corner!

No, this is about a company that has decided to take a different approach to software compatibility……..Command from March Networks

I got to see an ‘Advanced’ specification document and I have to be honest, if it releases in any way near as good as the spec, this is a winner!

Instead of a bespoke and installed software platform, it looks like March have decided to go a web-based platform…….this makes sense….less overhead on the PC, able to be run on systems where perhaps IT restrictions do not allow certain software……and most importantly……not Microsoft dependant!!! AT LAST!


Offering compatibility with Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX and I would guess, Linux/Unix and Chrome (when it launches) this means that the end user has the ability to view their system, irrespective of PC OS.

Another interesting feature, which I hope is as it states, ‘Video Analytics’……..hopefully, this means Analytic capability on their HD/Megapixel cameras which so far have probably hampered March camera sales…….interesting idea to take the technology to the PC instead as this allows greater flexibility in camera selection…… Autotracking is not mentioned, I guess that means their XDome IP range are still the main driver for that Analytic?

Shadow Archiving is listed, one of the innovative features of March Networks where gaps in recordings are auto-filled upon network resumption – truly a great feature for all the ‘network down’ concerned brigade!

Until I get my excited hands on this new software, there is little else to really say, other than well done to March Networks for taking the bold step to move into cross platform compatibility

Of course, once I do get the chance to have a good play with Command, watch out on Integrated CCTV for the review!

iPhone is STILL selling CCTV – Part 2 !

CCTV integrated with iPhone, as we reported back in December 2010 was starting to be extremely instrumental in the close of a CCTV order.

It seems that momentum has not let up!

CCTV iphone

Talking to a leading Manufacturer, sales of their DVR systems have leapt up by 25% – JUST BECAUSE OF THE THEIR IPHONE APP !!!!

Discussing further, it appears that installer/integrator sales guys, armed with their iPhones/iPods/iPads, are visiting customers and just at the point of discussing the recording solution, whipping out their iDevice (!!) and showing the end user cameras being viewed live and even moving PTZ Dome cameras using the iDevice’s touchscreen capabilities……..of course, the end user, probably armed with his/her own iDevice, can instantly see the benefit of being able to view live footage on what is ostensibly a consumer product range that pretty much everyone owns these days!!!

But 25% increase??!! that’s crazy yet quite exciting……it means that CCTV is starting to be viewed with more interest by the consumer…….rather than just a business tool that sadly is often considered a necessary evil, customers can now sit in the comfort of their home, make a connection to site, analyse what they are viewing and make informed decisions on their application…..

And it doesn’t stop at iDevices…….BlackBerries have apps too to do the same thing……..

As Apple continues their World Take Over Dominance (!) then it looks like forward thinking manufacturers are using this widely used and available consumer product to push themselves in front of more and more customers!

And….we like that!

What do you think?

Videcon VXH264 DVR

VXH 264 videconVidecon VXH264

The Videcon concept pro DVR series comes in 4,8, and 16 way versions. A
quick glance shows that it includes the following features as standard.

1) H.264 compression is a powerful compression engine that allows
anything up to 30% more footage to be stored on the DVR compared to
MPEG4.

2) As you would expect the VXH264 comes in 3 versions. 4,8,16 ways and Videcon
have made sure the new DVR will integrate seamlessly with other products
in Concept Pro range.

3) For enhanced on- screen operation and ease of use , the CCTV software
interface has a colour coded GUI. In addition to this the operator is able to use
a 24 hour single channel overview in the form of a panoramic search. This helps drill down an event into 3 hour periods and makes finding information very much easier.

4) To ensure a rapid response to events as they happen Videcon have
included an instant playback feature.Very handy if the operator has just witnessed an event and wishes to review it immediately.

5) 2 forms of remote connection are also available either through your
PC using an on screen web browser or alternatively from your smart
phone or iPhone. Apps are simple to download and very easy to use. This is something that we believe is always going to help sales.

6) Remote monitoring is possible using the VXH264-4 VX264-8 and the
VX264-16 .Each unit can connect to any professional monitoring station
that employees IMMIX software as its front end alarm handling software.
By using broadband as your primary path to the central station it is
quick cheap. The line can be monitored securely using Emizon giving you an
excellent overall package. With remote monitoring giving an on going
annual revenue stream it makes sense to push this option to end users.

videcon VXH DVR

In addition to the above the DVRs run a watchdog that will monitor the
health of the hard drive and log any faults that may be occurring. This
enables action to be taken before any footage is lost. We find the major
gripe customers have is when they need footage only to find that the
hard drive has failed. The Smart system check functions within the
VXH264 come in very handy in terms of preventing this.

Active audit trails; multiple archiving facilities and reserve data
management all help to sell this product on
merit. Add to this a smart search facility and a 3 year warranty and you
have a very tidy package here from a forward thinking company.

For more information on the concept pro VXH264 range.

Telephone: +44(0)1924 528000

iPhone sells CCTV

40K CCTV system.

I Recently spoke to sales guy who had a fantastic result in selling a £40 k CCTV system to one of his existing clients based up in London. He retold me the storey of how he had managed to upgrade a customer who’s system was actually less than 3 years old! Quite an achievement in this day of austerity and generally making do when it comes to CCTV and security.

A unique selling point.

His main objective of course was to offer the customer something new, something he had not seen before and try to convince him to part with his money. He had two major aces up his sleeve. He knew his customer was a gadget man. He also knew that his customer was extremely intelligent and was nobody’s fool when he was purchasing any kind of product. He started by talking about the benefits of IR dome cameras specifically Black hawk domes. If you have ever done a dem with this unit at night you will know that the product sells itself. This is down to the picture quality and the stunning difference between a grainy integrated colour picture and the clarity of a mono picture enhanced with IR. To say he was impressed was an understatement. He wanted them and was now only interested in how much this was going to cost him. Well this is where my acquaintance found himself up against it.

Benefits.

Although the benefits were obvious , justifying ripping out cameras that were less than 3 years old was difficult. It was now he played his trump card. He offered the customer the ability to connect to these new cameras using just his iPhone and App he would let him have if he agreed to the upgrade. He knew the DVR was capable of this and the app had just become available. Well the guy could not sign up quick enough, this was the clincher, the deal sealer and my friend could not have been happier.

iPhone sells CCTV.

So what does this tell us about the iPhone  and the remote connection app. It would seem to us that if you buy a DVR you would be well advised to ensure it is iPhone compatible but more than this, it tells us that gadgets sell CCTV and we see this happening more and more. Searches on this site are often looking for CCTV iPhone apps as this form of remote connection goes from a popular feature to what some may now consider essential. We love the iPhone!