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Consumer Home Networked Media Gallery
Networked digital media around the home
by Douglas Dixon
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These galleries provide notes on some interesting technology and trends in digital home media.
They include some sample products illustrating these trends.
Information and pricing are summarized from public sources as of when they were added,
and may be incorrect or out of date. Corrections and updates are welcome.
|
Home Networked Media
Home Networked Media Technology - UPnP, DLNA
Home Media Sharing Products - Apple TV, VUDU, Sling
Internet Radio and Music Services
PC / TV Media: Capture and Transfer
PC TV and Video Capture - ATI, Pinnacle
Portable TV Recording: PC to TV
See
Game Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360
Home Video Monitoring and Webcams
Consumer Web Cams: USB - Logitech
Consumer Internet Cameras: IP - WiLife
Home Media Servers - Backup / Archiving
Share, Archive -- NAS - Network Storage, Media Servers
Backup -- External Hard Drive
See also:
Consumer HDTV Gallery
High-Def DVD Gallery
- Share stored
content around the house over home network
- Connections among PCs and consumer electronics devices
- Don't need to go to a specific room
and use a specific player device to access home media library
- Play music stored on PC (or streamed directly over the Internet) on stereo
system
- Watch movies downloaded to your PC on living room TV
- Watch TV shows from set-top digital video recorder on bedroom TV
Home Networked Media Trends - Holiday 2009
See also:
Trends - 2008
Purchased content is becoming less encumbered, with DRM-free MP3 downloads
and managed transfers within the connected home. But do you want TV on your PC,
and/or PC features on your TV -- with RSS feeds in pop-up windows? And who will
control the box that bridges the two worlds, the cable company or Apple TV?
- Local devices: Bluetooth, Wireless USB
WirelessHD, multi-gigabit uncompressed, lossless audio,
video and data
- Whole-home: Wi-Fi (802.11n), Powerline HomePlug (Zytel) vs. HD-PLC
(Panasonic)
Z-Wave Alliance - Connected Home wireless home control
and automation
- Neighborhood: WiMAX (Xohm / Sprint, Intel)
Infrastructure
- Set-top networking
TV displays and set-top players include network connectors
- Networked media gateways / servers
Digital cable boxes: DVRs
Game players: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox
360
- Set-top networked players: Bridge TV, PC, Internet
Apple TV, Slingbox, VUDU
- Software media players act as networked UPnP players and even servers
InterVideo WinDVD,
CyberLink PowerDVD
- Microsoft Windows Vista has built-in networked media support
Windows XP
Media Center computers
Windows Media Connect option for Windows XP acts as an UPnP server,
Access from remote Media Center Extender devices
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter
Next: Home Media
Sharing Products
See Home
Networked Media Resources: Digital Media Networking Formats
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
- Simple and robust connectivity between stand-alone devices and PCs from
different vendors
Consumer electronics, intelligent appliances, mobile
devices
- Members: Computing, printing and networking; Consumer
electronics;
Home appliances, automation, control and security; Mobile
products.
- www.upnp.org
Digital Living
Network Alliance (DLNA),
- Open standards and widely available industry specifications
- Enable wired and wireless interoperable network of Personal Computers
(PC),
Consumer Electronics (CE) and mobile devices in the home
enabling a
seamless environment for sharing and growing new digital media and content
services
- Consumers are acquiring, viewing and managing an increasing variety of
digital content
on their PCs, consumer electronics products and mobile
devices.
They want to be able to easily and conveniently enjoy this content
using any electronic device,
and from any location in their home, and
beyond.
- www.dlna.org
Home Networking Technology
WiFi - see Wireless Media Resources: Wireless Broadband Networking Technology
Home Networking - see Home
Digital Media Resources: Digital Media Transmission Formats
Home Networking Technology
|
|
Theoretical
|
Actual
Rate
|
Latency
|
|
Ethernet
|
100
Mbps
|
96
Mbps
|
<1
ms
|
|
802.11g
|
54
Mbps
|
20-25
Mbps
|
20-30
ms
|
|
MoCA
|
270
Mbps
|
135
Mbps
|
5
ms
|
|
HomePlug
AV
|
200
Mbps
|
100
Mbps over coax
50-55
Mbps over powerline
|
20-30
ms
|
|
HPNA
|
240
Mbps
|
80-100
Mbps
|
20-30
ms
|
|
802.11n/e
|
200+
Mbps
|
100
Mbps
|
??
|
Wi-Fi
- 802.11b - 2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps
- 802.11a - 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps
- 802.11g - 2.4 GHz frequency but with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps.
- 802.11n - at least 100 Mbps, up to 540 Mbps
WiMAX
- Range 50 km, data rates of 70 Mbps
MoCA (Multimedia over Cable Alliance)
- Fastest: theoretical 270 Mbps, actual 135 Mbps
- Low latency rate: 5 milliseconds actual usage, 20 to 30 for HomePlug AV and
HPNA
- Minimal interference from other TV signals and no interference from
household appliances or devices
- www.mocalliance.org
HomePlug Powerline Alliance - Electrical Wiring
- Electrical is most pervasive wiring in the home
- HomePlug AV - 2005 - maximum theoretical data rate of up to 200 Mbps
- HomePlug Turbo - 2004 - 85 Mbps
- Noise, interference possibly incompatible
- www.homeplug.org
ZyXEL DMA1100Pdigital media adapter
- HomePlug AV Powerline technology, DLNA server
- 1080i high definition (HD) streaming, HDMI connection to HDTV and USB 2.0
support
- Streams digital music and HD video to the home entertainment system with
ease over power lines
- 2/08 - $269
- us.zyxel.com
HD-PLC - High Definition Power Line Communication
- 190 Mbps, nearly four times current wireless home networks
- CEPCA, CE (Consumer Electronics) Power Line Communication Alliance,
established May 2005
www.cepca.org
- HD-PLC Alliance, established September 2007
www.hd-plc.org
- Panasonic
Home Phoneline Networking Alliance - HomePNA - HPNA
- Existing copper phone lines for in-home networking
- Recently added ability to network over coax as well
- International Telecommunications Union, HomePNA 3.0 (G.9954)
- Data rates of up to 240 Mbps, average data rate of 107 Mbps
- www.homepna.org
Home A/V Networking Technology - Wireless Displays
See Home
Digital Media Resources - Home A/V Networking Technology
High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA)
- Members from IT, content provider, service provider , consumer electronics
industry segments.
- Mission to utilize existing standards and technologies to create a design
guideline for secure High Definition AV networks that will advance
commercial deployment of products and services and will enhance the consumer
HD entertainment experience
- Focus initially on IEEE 1394/FireWire
- www.hanaalliance.org
WirelessHD (WiHD)
- Formed in 2006, 40 companies
Intel, LG, Panasonic, NEC, SAMSUNG, SiBEAM, Sony, Toshiba
- Next generation wireless digital network interface specification for
consumer electronics products.
- Wireless streaming high-definition content between source devices and
high-definition displays
- Combine uncompressed high-definition video, multi-channel audio,
intelligent format and control data, and Hollywood approved content
protection
- Uncompressed HD video, audio and data transmission, scalable to future
high-definition A/V formats
- First generation high-speed rates up to 4 Gbps at ten meters for
CE, PC, and portable devices
- Core technology theoretical data rates as high as 25 Gbps
- www.wirelesshd.org
Pulse~LINK - Ultra Wideband (UWB)
- CWave Whole-Home Interactive HD solution
- Whole-home distribution of interactive HD multimedia content over a hybrid
wired/wireless network
- Room-to-room distribution of multiple HDTV streams and multimedia
content
over both coax and wireless connections simultaneously
from the same chipset
- Data rates more than 400 Mbps
- MAC/Baseband/RF chipset exceeds 1Gbps in UWB communications
- www.pulselink.net
DisplayLink - Networked Displays
- Extended display to multiple monitors -- Real-time video playback across a
USB link
- High-performance Hardware Rendering Engine (HRE) network display chips and
Virtual Graphics Card (VGC) software that power high-quality, fully
interactive 32-bit true-color graphics
- Adaptive compression algorithm and graphics protocol can also transmit
graphics over other standard network interfaces, including wireless USB,
Ethernet or Wi-Fi
- www.displaylink.com
See also - Local Device Networking Technology:
Wireless USB, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication
Top
- Media sharing over home network
- Media content downloading
- DVR sharing across home network
- See Game Consoles:
PS3, Xbox 360
Apple TV
10/09 - Apple TV 3.0 software: Redesigned main menu, easier access to on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes Store. Fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, Genius Mixes and Internet radio
|
 |
- Watch iTunes library, iTunes Store rentals:
Movies, TV shows, music videos
- Free internet content: YouTube videos, podcasts, HD video podcasts
Photos from Flickr or .Mac Web Galleries
- Standard Definition rentals: 720 x 480 anamorphic, stereo,
New releases
$3.99, Library titles $2.99
- High Definition: 1280 x 720, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound,
New
releases $4.99, Library titles $3.99
- 30 days to start watching, once started have 24 hours to finish watching
- 9/09 - 160 GB lowered to $299
- 1/08 - 40 GB $229, 160 GB $329
- 3/07 - introduced - 40 GB $299
 Find the Apple
TV
on Amazon.com |
Specs
- Intel processor, 40 or 160 GB hard drive
- Up to 50 / 200 hours of video, 9,000 / 36,000 songs, 25,000 pictures
- A/V: HDMI, Component video, Optical audio, Analog RCA stereo audio
- Network: 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 802.11n wireless
- Ports: USB 2.0, IR receiver (works with included Apple Remote)
- Footprint: 7.7 by 7.7 inches (197 by 197 mm), Height: 1.1 inches (28 mm)
- Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.09 kg)
Formats
- Video: H.264 / protected H.264 (iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive
Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio
up to 160 Kbps (max 1280 x 720 at 24 fps, 960 x 540 at 30
fps) in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- iTunes Store purchased video: 320 x 240, 640 x 480, 720 x 480
(anamorphic), or high-def 720p
- MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (max
720 x 432 at 30 fps)
in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- Audio: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320
Kbps); MP3 VBR;
Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
sound pass-through
- Photo: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG
Sling
Media Slingbox: Networked Video / Place-Shifting
Slingbox - Watch set-top video on PC or mobile devices
- Transmit set-top TV signal to
PCs and mobile devices
- Run SlingPlayer on PC, Mac or Mobile device to watch TV remotely
- Access home devices over the Internet -- to
catch a favorite show or to watch local news
Digital cable, satellite receiver, DVR, DVD player
- Use the virtual remote control to set up digital video recorder to record a show.
- Works over Ethernet network, or use SlingLink Powerline Ethernet Adapters
to pass network connection through home electrical wiring
($99)
- Slingbox TUNER - connects to cable modem or basic coaxial connection,
9/06 $179 (OLD)
- Slingbox AV - SD - 2/08 $129, 9/06 $179
- Slingbox SOLO - HD - 2/08, 11/09 - $179
- Slingbox PRO - up to 4 A/V devices, HD - 11/09 PRO-HD $299; 2/08 $299, 9/06 $249
- HD Connect accessory for HD $49.99
- SlingLink TURBO Powerline Ethernet Adapters - 2/08 $79, 9/06 $99
- SlingPlayer Mobile - for Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian - 2/08 $99
- www.slingmedia.com
SlingCatcher - Watch PC / Internet content on TV (Q2 08)
- Digital video player for TV
- Watch video from Slingbox, PC / laptop, or virtually any video site on the
Internet
- SlingPlayer for TV - watch video from any device connected to a
Slingbox
- SlingSync - copy digital media files to USB hard drive attached to
SlingCatcher
- SlingProjector - project anything playing on computer screen
directly onto a television
- 11/09 $199; Q2 08, $249
- www.slingmedia.com/go/slingcatcher
- press release - www.slingmedia.com/get/pr-slingcatcher.html
Find the Slingbox
PRO on Amazon.com
VUDU - Internet Movies on Demand
(9/07)
|
 |
- Instant access to HD films, TV shows, approximately 5,000 movies
- Pay as you go - no activation fees and no subscription fees
- Rental movies 99¢ to $3.99,
purchased movies $4.99 to $19.99, TV episodes
$1.99
- Displays HD content up to 1080i/1080p24
- Two USB ports for future storage options (available within six months)
- Height: 2.4 in, Width: 8.9 in, Depth: 7.3 in, Weight: 4.2 lbs
- Storage: Unlimited rentals, 100 hours of owned movies'
- Requires High-speed broadband Internet connection
3 Mbps advertised (2.0 actual) for instant viewing
1.5 Mbps advertised (1.2 actual) for delayed viewing
- Audio Outputs: HDMI v 1.1, Digital Optical, Digital Coax, RCA (Dolby 5.1)
- Video Outputs: HDMI v 1.1, Component, S-Video, Composite
- Video Resolution: 1080p/24, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i -- HD
recommended
- VUDU XL - high-end version designed for integration into high-end
home theaters, ship end February
- 2009 - LG, Mitsubishi, VUDU Box 1080p $149, XL $499 Home Theatre
- 1/08 - price lowered to $295
- 9/07 - Introduced - $399
- www.vudu.com
Find the VUDU
box
on Amazon.com |
Next: PC /
TV Media: Capture and Transfer
Sonos multi-room digital music system
Logitech Squeezebox
Radio / Boom (9/08)
|
|
- 99 - Squeezebox Radio, $199
- All-in-one network music player, with integrated amplifier,
high-performance speakers, simplified setup
- 9/08 - $299
-
All-in-one design: Plug in to power outlet, connect to network
Includes remote control
- All-digital 30-watt amplifier
- Two 3/4-inch, high-def, soft-dome tweeters,
two 3-inch, high-power, long-throw woofers
- Bi-amplified design with high performance signal processor,
class D amplifiers and digital crossovers
- Stereo XL technology widens sound stage
- Wired Ethernet 10/100 or Wi-Fi wireless 802.11g networking
- 7-day alarm clock, six preset buttons
- Play local music library with SqueezeCenter music serve
Access personal music collection, create playlists
Connect to music services and Internet radio
- Connect to Internet radio via SqueezeNetwork.com online service
Access thousands of Internet radio stations, millions
of songs
Free music (with ads): Pandora, Slacker
Subscription: Last.fm, Live365, MP3tunes,
Radio IO, RadioTime, Rhapsody,
SIRIUS
- Supports MP3, FLAC, WMA, WMA Lossless,
AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF
- Line-in via 3.5 mm stereo jack
- Headphone/Subwoofer out via 3.5 mm connector
- PR - 8/08 - www.logitech.com/index.cfm/172/5015&cl=us,en
- www.logitech.com
Find the
Logitech
Squeezebox Boom
on Amazon.com |
Top
Live365
- Listings to explore thousands of available stations, search by genre and location.
Last.fm
- Customize your own listening experience.
Develop profile of interests - specific stations, genres, or artists, preview
individual tracks
Explore with personal recommendations, similar, shared music from other users
and groups
Slacker Personal Radio -
Choose genre and style, listen for free (with ads)
Explore new music, customize personal stations with favorite styles and artists
Over 100 expert-programmed stations, 10,000 artist stations
- Licensing
agreements with major record labels, thousands of
independent labels
- Radio-like experience - customize music, skip ahead in playlist over individual
songs
Can't skip backwards to replay a specific song, can pause playback
- Slacker G2 portable player
- Refreshes your favorite stations over USB or Wi-Fi
$199 for 4 GB / 25 stations / 2500 songs, $249 for
8 GB / 40 stations / 4000 songs (with space for personal storage)
- Slacker Premium Radio service - $7.50 to $9.99 a month
Avoid ads, request specific songs (like
calling in a request to the DJ), save favorite songs on computer or Slacker player
 Pandora Radio
- Personalized radio stations
Music with similar music styles related to favorite artist, song, or composer
Based on the Music Genome Project
-
Register for free to save stations, share stations with other listeners
Subscribe for ad-free ($36 a year)
- Available on cell phones from Sprint and AT&T, including the iPhone.
- Available on home players including Sonos and Logitech Squeezebox
Top
- Desktop and set-top, CE and PC
Diamond / ATI TV Wonder HD 600 USB - HDTV Stick (08)
|
 |
- Compact, hi-speed USB HD digital video recorder for notebook or desktop PC
- Watch, pause or schedule recordings of TV programs - Analog &
digital / HDTV
- Find favorite programs with Electronic Programming Guide
- Convert video for portable media player or stream to media center extender
device
- AMD LIVE! On Demand
- Access DVR from a broadband-connected computer
- Hybrid TV Tuner Stick
Over-the-air / Cable Analog TV (NTSC) & Over-the-air Digital TV / HDTV
(ATSC)
- Capture from VCRs, camcorders with included audio/video input cable
- Telescopic antenna to receive free-to-air TV channels
- Remote control - control TV from a distance
- ATI Catalyst Media Center software - Full PVR and time shifting
DVD Playback, DVD Authoring, ATI Theater Video Converter
- F-Type coax connector for Analog TV (NTSC) or HDTV (ATSC)
Adapter for composite video, S-video, Stereo audio
input
- http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonder600/usb
- Distributed by Diamond Multimedia
www.diamondmm.com/TVW600USB.php
- 4/08, 11/09 - $99 - Also PCI $99, PCI Express $99 versions
Find the ATI
TV Wonder HD 600 USB Stick
on Amazon.com |
Diamond / ATI TV Wonder HD 650 USB - HDTV (08)
|
|
- Watch, pause or schedule recordings of TV programs - Analog &
digital / HDTV
- Digital cable reception of Clear-QAM channels (unencrypted Digital
Cable TV)
requires Windows Vista
- Combo tuners - Watch analog TV while recording digital TV at the
same time
- Find favorite programs with Electronic Programming Guide
- Convert video for portable media player or stream to media center extender
device
- AMD LIVE! On Demand
- Access DVR from a broadband-connected computer
- Combo tuning with two built-in tuners:
Over-the-air / Cable Analog TV (NTSC) & Over-the-air Digital TV / HDTV
(ATSC)
Clear-QAM (unscrambled) Digital HD Cable + FM Radio
- ATI Theater Video Processing Technology
Hardware MPEG-2 compression, Automatic Color, Gain
Control
Motion Adaptive 3D Comb Filter, Noise Reduction,
Edge Enhancement
- ATI Catalyst Media Center software - Full PVR and time shifting
DVD Playback, DVD Authoring, ATI Theater Video Converter
- F-Type coax connector for Analog TV (NTSC) / FM radio
F-Type coax connector for HDTV (ATSC or ClearQAM)
Adapter for composite video, S-video, Stereo audio
input
- http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonder650/usb
- Distributed by Diamond Multimedia
www.diamondmm.com/TVW650USB.php
- 4/08, 11/09 - $139 - Also PCI $129, PCI Express $129 versions, Combo
USB for Mac $149
Find the ATI
TV Wonder HD 650 USB
on Amazon.com |
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR / Pinnacle PCTV HD mini Stick - Ultra-Compact Digital TV Tuner (9/08)
|
|
- Ultra-compact digital HDTV tuner, for PC and Mac
- View live television, Broadcast and cable, Standard-def and HDTV
- Personal video recorder (PVR): Save to hard drive or direct to DVD
- Digital over-the-air TV (ATSC) and unencrypted digital
cable TV (ClearQAM)
for SDTV and HDTV up to 1080i (not analog / NTSC)
- Case with built-in protective slide cap, does not block other USB ports
- Includes mini remote control, high-gain telescopic TV antenna,
travel bag
- Plug in to computer's USB port
- Connect to video signal (coax)
from cable jack, existing TV antenna, or included
telescopic antenna
- Software (on CD, not in Flash like Pro / Ultimate Stick)
- Pinnacle TVCenter Pro 5 - PVR software for Windows
Timeshift and record live TV, pause, rewind
- View full-screen or scalable window
- Record TV in MPEG-1, MPEG-2 or DivX formats
Includes trial MPEG-4 support to output to Sony PSP or
Apple iPod
- Schedule recordings using TitanTV.com,
free Internet-based Electronic Programming Guide (EPG)
- Includes Pinnacle VideoSpin video editing software to trim recordings
- Compatible with Windows Media Center (Vista Home Premium or Ultimate)
- Pinnacle TV for Mac HD mini Stick - Mac OS X v10.4 or higher
Elgato EyeTV Lite software for a recording and playback,
timeshift, EPG
- ~ 2 in. long
- Pinnacle PCTV HD mini Stick $119.99, for Mac $129.99
- www.pinnaclesys.com
- PR - 9/08 - Pinnacle
System Unveils Ultra-Compact Digital TV Tuners
- www.hauppauge.com/site/products/prods_hvr_external.html
Find the
Pinnacle
PCTV HD Mini Stick
on Amazon.com
|
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR / Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro / Ultimate Stick (10/07)
|
 |
- Ultra-portable USB 2.0 HDTV tuner stick with integrated Flash PVR
no
installation required
- Supports both analog (NTSC) and digital (ATSC) TV signals
Hardware ready for ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable)
reception
- Includes mini remote control and high-gain telescopic antenna
- On-stick memory with preinstalled TV tuner and PVR application,
plus available
storage, Record up to 2 hours of TV directly to stick
- A/V adaptor cable, capture from composite video (RCA),
S-Video, stereo
audio (3.5mm headphone)
- Includes Pinnacle Studio QuickStart to edit and trim videos
- TV tuner fully compatible with Windows Media Center
- PCTV HD Ultimate Stick - $129 - software on device
- PCTV HD Pro Stick - $99 - A/V input, remote control
- PCTV HD Stick - $79 - HD
- www.pinnaclesys.com
- www.hauppauge.com/site/products/prods_hvr_external.html
Find the Pinnacle
PCTV HD Ultimate Stick
on Amazon.com |
Pinnacle Video Transfer (2/08)
|
|
-
Copy analog video directly to any USB 2.0 mass storage device
No PC
required
Record to USB hard drive or flash memory stick
Transfer to Apple iPod or Sony PSP
- Multiple analog inputs for S-Video, composite video and stereo audio
- Record TV shows, digitize home movies, back up vacation videos
- Directly record gaming sessions from game console
- One-touch start/stop recording from any video source
including TV, DVD player, PVR, camcorder, set-top
box, gaming console
- Encode to H.264 video (MPEG-4), up to 720x480/576 (NTSC/PAL)
Good: 320x240, 512 kbps video, 96 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
Better: 320x240, 768 kbps video, 128 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
Best: 640x480, 1.5 Mbps video, 128 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
PC: 720x480/576, 1.5 Mbps video, 192 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
- Capture for mobile devices, full-screen PC, video editing, DVD burning
- Recharges iPod battery during video transfer
- Small and portable: 4.8 x 2.6 x 0.9 in.
- www.pinnaclesys.com/pvt - Press
release 2/08
- 9/09 - $99; 2/08 - Introduced - $129.99
Find the Pinnacle
Video Transfer
on Amazon.com |
Next: Home
Video Monitoring and Webcams
Top
Top
- Watch sleeping baby in the nursery
- Monitor out the front window for delivery trucks
- Watch from other PCs on the home network
- Access over the Internet
Open connection
through firewall, register with Web service to make the connection
- Direct connect to PC: Deliver the video over USB connection to computer
- Grab clips, run video conferencing software to
communicate over the Internet
- Run monitoring software on attached PC to act as a video server
- Server can run video surveillance software to alert on motion, changes in
scene
- Connect to the server PC over your home network to watch video from other
computers
- Connectix introduced original QuickCam with eyeball design in 1994 (now
Logitech)
- Creative
WebCams -- www.creative.com/products/webcams
- Logitech QuickCams -- www.logitech.com
- Logitech Video Effects software - www.logitech.com/videoeffects
- Start at around $30
Microsoft LifeCam Cinema Webcam - 720p HD (9/09)
|
|
- Consumer webcam shoots HD widescreen video with native 720p sensor
- 73 degree diagonal field of view
- Video: 1280 x 720, 16:9 widescreen, up to 30 fps
- Photos: Up to 5 megapixel (2880 x 1620, interpolated)
- Auto focus, Automatic image adjustment with manual overwrite, Digital pan, tilt
- Integrated uni-directional digital microphone, 200Hz to 8000Hz, +/- 4dB
- High-precision glass element lens - more accurate colors and sharper video.
- ClearFrame - image-processing technology for detailed video even in low light
- Digital microphone - noise cancelling technology improves speech quality
- Aluminum body - reduces weight and improves durability
- Flexible universal attachment base - Sit on flat surface or clip to display --
- Flex, bend to mount on laptop screen, LCD flat panel, traditional CRT monitors
- Windows Live Call Button on back - See who's online, start video call
- Microsoft LifeCam software: View, capture, post to Windows Live Spaces, e-mail, video calls
- Use Windows Live Movie Maker to edit in HD,
upload to social networking sites (Win 7 and Vista only)
- Use Windows Live Photo Gallery to upload photos, edit, tag, share
- Works with Windows software as standard-def camera: Windows Live Messenger,
Microsoft Office Communicator, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Skype
- Optimized for Windows Live Messenger
- Use LifeCam Dashboard to add video special effects and control webcam
- 2.2 x 1.8 x 1.6 in. (56 x 46 x 40 mm), 3.36 oz. (95.3 g)
- 9/09 - Available - $79, street $59
- PR 8/09 - Announce - www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/aug09/08-20CinemaPR.mspx
- www.microsoft.com/hardware/digitalcommunication/productdetails.aspx?pid=008
Find the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema on Amazon.com |
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 (6/07) - HD Video
|
|
- Universal monitor clip: Display or notebook
- 2 megapixel
sensor, Carl Zeiss optics, glass lens, wide-angle lens
- Autofocus, built-in mic
- Video capture: Up to 1600 x 1200 pixels (HD Video 960 x 720)
- 8 MP photo (enhanced)
- Rightlight 2 (dimly light / poor backlight), Rightsound (echo, background
noise)
- Logitech Video Effects, Fun Filters, Intelligent Face Tracking, Snapshot
button
- HP Photosmart Essential software: capture, edit, customize, print images
- Video conferencing software
Windows Live Messenger,
Skype, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger
- 6/07, 11/09 - $99 (street $71)
- PR 6/07 - www.logitech.com/index.cfm/172/3490&cl=us,en
- www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/&cl=us,en
Find the
Logitech
QuickCam Pro 9000 on Amazon.com |
Logitech Webcam C906 [QuickCam Pro for Notebooks] (6/07) - HD Video
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- Clips to top of display, 12-inch desktop stand
- [same specs as QuickCam Pro]
- 2 megapixel
sensor, Carl Zeiss optics, glass lens, wide-angle lens
- Autofocus, built-in mic
- Video capture: Up to 1600 x 1200 pixels (HD Video 960 x 720)
- 8 MP photo (enhanced)
- Rightlight 2 (dimly light / poor backlight), Rightsound (echo, background
noise)
- Logitech Video Effects, Fun Filters, Intelligent Face Tracking, Snapshot
button
- HP Photosmart Essential software: capture, edit, customize, print images
- Video conferencing software
Windows Live Messenger,
Skype, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger
- 6/07, 11/09 - $99 (street $72, $57)
- www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/&cl=us,en
Find the
Logitech
QuickCam Pro for Notebooks on Amazon.com |
Logitech Vid - Simple Video Conferencing Software (6/09)
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- Simple webcam video conferencing software for PC or Mac
- Straightforward interface dedicated to video calling
- Streamlined setup, register using your e-mail address
Practice Call option to verify set-up
- Add friends by sending e-mail invitation
- Displays thumbnail picture for your contacts, click to start video call
- Minimal controls, picture-in-picture option
- Built on Logitech SightSpeed Network, www.sightspeed.com
(with video e-mail, 4- and 9-way video conferencing)
Compatible with SightSpeed and Dell Video Chat
- Good quality: VGA 640 x 480, 30 fps
- Doesn't currently connect with Windows Live Messenger, AIM,
Yahoo! Messenger, Skype (but can use on same computer)
- Use webcam with built-in mic, headset, or external microphone
- Recommend 768 Kbps connection (bi-directional), minimum 256 Kbps
- Free for Logitech webcam users, or if invited to join (with any camera)
Otherwise download free 30-day trial version
- PR 6/09 - www.logitech.com/index.cfm/press/press_releases/6057&cl=us,en
- www.logitech.com/Vid
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- Camera plugs directly into home network (or wireless): IP server
- Better solution for continuous remote monitoring
Astak Mole Wireless Internet Camera
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- Stand-alone Wireless IP camera with built-in software
- Capture, view and share unattended video over the Internet
- View with Web browser, iPhone and IP-enabled mobile devices
- Easy set-up with no network configuration required
- Remote control of pan (270 degrees) / tilt (125 degrees)
- Stand-alone DVR: Save images / video locally to SD card
- Two-way audio: Built-in microphone, plus mic and headphone jacks
- Night vision: Ring of IR lights surrounding lens
- Connect directly over local network using IP address (CamSearch tool)
- Connect remotely via Yoics.com, Yoics software built in
- Record video clips, save frame grabs
- Access using web browser (video sent through firewalls via Yoics server)
- Access using Yoics desktop application (PC or Mac)
- Direct connection, faster performance, less latency, more reliable
- Image setup: Brightness, saturation, contrast, hue
- Flip/mirror, White balance indoor/outdoor, Night vision (IR lights) on/off/auto
- Video: H.264, ASF file: 320 x 240 (QVGA), 640 x 480 (VGA), 160 x 120
- 1 - 30 fps, Bit rate 128 - 2048 kbps, Quality vs. frame rate priority, mobile res
- Tag frames with time stamp, camera name
- Network: Ethernet or Wi-Fi, manual or dynamic
- Simultaneous browsing by up to five users
- Automated fault recovery and reconnection after network interruption
- Motion detection: Up to four rectangular regions, independent sensitivity
- Schedule times during week
- Save frame grab image or video to SD card, Save video to FTP server
- Send alerts via email with image attachment
- Upload to FTP server, YouTube, Tweet YouTube
- Auto capture: Interval every N minutes, send by e-mail, save to SD card
- Software upgradeable
- 5.1 x 4 x 5 in., 12 oz.
- 10/09 - $299 (see also IP-700 - wireless and wired)
- PR 10/09 - http://astak.com/2009_10_28.asp
- www.molecamera.com - http://astak.com/
Find the Astak Mole Wireless Internet Camera on Amazon.com |
Yoics - Access your networked devices from anywhere
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- Access and manage your computers and network devices from anywhere
- Free software, PC and Mac
- Remotely access computer desktop, files and folders,
web cameras, network storage devices
- Make any service or device on your local network Internet accessible
Remote desktop, manage computer remotely (Real VNC)
Access and share folders, devices, printers
TVersity media server to share and access media and playlists
- Make any web cam into a surveillance system
Auto upload video clips to YouTube, auto Tweet when uploaded
View webcam live from any browser, iPhone
- Auto network configuration
- Yoics.com
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Logitech WiLife Surveillance Products
- Sophisticated monitoring software for home and
small business
Indoor and outdoor cameras, lenses,
lighting kits
- Formerly LükWerks, launched 12/05, acquired by Logitech 11/07
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- Cameras encode video in real time to Windows Media Video 9 (wmv)
compressed
Full-color video - VGA (640x480) or QVGA (320x240), 15,
10, or 5 frames/second
(does not record audio)
- No wiring -- Connect cameras to PC with over electrical power line
Mount cameras anywhere -- plug into standard electrical wall outlet
- Up to 6 cameras -- Display and process live, streaming digital
video
- Cameras communicate with USB Receiver connected to PC
- Uses HomePlug power line networking, UPnP peer-to-peer networking
Best in buildings under 8-10,000 sq ft., or on single
electrical run 1,000 linear ft.
- Cameras transmit video to WiLife Command Center Software on Windows
PC
Control each camera's resolution, recording schedules,
alerts
- Cameras perform motion detection - monitor up to 16 zones within
the frame
Perform image processing, auto brightness
- Motion alerts - Detect motion in up to 16 zones
within each camera view
- Video recording -- Monitors and records video from up to six
cameras
Review video by month, day, hour, and camera
Can record only frames with motion
Continuous recording - QVGA - 2.2 MB per minute, 3.2 GB
per day
Motion detection - typically 10-20%, 3 to 6 GB per month
- Active Alerts -- Send motion alerts via cell phone, e-mail
- Remote Monitoring -- View from home PC over broadband - free
Internet browser or Windows Mobile phone, Via account at online.wilife.com
- 400 MHz processor, high-performance digital image
sensor
- Lens: 80 degree viewing angle (diagonal), 50 degree pan (manual),
manual focus
- Objects visible up to 100 feet in optimal lighting
Low-light capabilities - down to 2 Lux (about twice the light of a full
moon)
- Indoor Camera - 10 ft Ethernet cable to power supply
Outdoor Camera - 12 ft standard electric cord, Spy Camera
- 8 ft electric cord
- Indoor camera: 5.0 x 3.2 x 1.8 in. (12.7 x 8.1 x 4.6 cm), 6.7 oz (190 g)
- Indoor Starter Kit - $299
Outdoor Starter Kit - $299 (weatherproof &
waterproof, +0 to +110 degrees F)
Spy Camera Starter Kit - $329 (fully
functioning digital clock)
- Add-On - Indoor Camera $229, refurb $185; Outdoor Cam $229; Spy Cam
$249
Wide Angle lens (120 degrees), Close Up lens, NightVision
Illuminator Kit
- NightVision 50 Illuminator Kit (for Indoor & Spy Cameras only)
$59.95
IR 80° lens, infrared illumination pass filter
Illuminator, 28 LEDs, 70°illum angle
NightVision 20 illuminates up to 10 ft (3 m) NightVision
50 up to 30 ft (10 m)
- www.wilife.com
- www.logitech.com
Find the WiLife
Indoor Starter Kit
on Amazon.com |
- WiLife Platinum software features ($80/year)
Scheduled Alerts: Email and cell motion, by days
and times
No Show Alerts: Alert if kids not home on time
Desktop Notifications: Alert tone and popup
message
Digital Pan, Tilt, Zoom: Scan and zoom within
frame
Password System Lock: Entire Command Center or
individual features
Online Video Storage: Review, organize, share
protected clips
Connection Monitoring: Email or cell phone message
if system goes offline
Remote Search and Playback: Access video by date,
time, site
Online Video Sharing: Distribution via email
addresses
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- Share, organize, archive digital media collection -- photos, music, video
- At prices under $1 per
gigabyte, can get a half-terabyte or more of storage
500 GB
-- stores some 400,000 photos, 5,000 hours of music, or 40 hours of DV video
- Network drive plugs directly in to home network
- Central home server with no computer required
- Network Attached Storage (NAS)
- Share media files, Back up across the network
- Add built-in support for media streaming to set-top devices
- Add enterprise
features like support for 10X faster Gigabit Ethernet
- Backup the server: USB ports to back up to external drives (or share)
- RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)
Spreads files across multiple physical drives, still recover if one drive
fails
Netgear ReadyNAS
- Networked file sharing, archive / backup, media streaming, Web / FTP
RAID, Gigabit Ethernet, Continuous System Monitoring and
Backup
- RAID 0, 1, 5, plus hardware ReadyNAS X-RAID single volume auto
expansion
- Hot swappable hard disks, even with additional capacity
- 3 USB 2.0 ports: Shared external hard drives and printers
- Network backup: EMC Retrospect backup and recovery software
- Web browser interface and setup wizard, automatic alerts (e-mail,
text)
- Network File Services: Windows CIFS/SMB, Mac AFP, UNIX NFS, Web
HTTP/S & FTP/S
- Media Streaming: UPnP AV, SlimServer, Network DVD player
compatible, Windows MCE compatible
- Network Security: Selectable Share, User Domain/ADS modes, Windows
ACL , Encrypted network logins, Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
- Network Options: DHCP or static IP, WINS, NTP
- 5-Year hardware warranty
- 9/08 - 1 TB $999 - 4 TB $2499; 06 - Up to 3 TB ~ $2870 (was Infrant)
- Community - www.readynas.com
- www.netgear.com/Products/Storage.aspx
Find the Netgear
ReadyNAS on Amazon.com
Buffalo
TeraStation
Find the Buffalo
TeraStation on Amazon.com
- Connect to computer with USB or FireWire
- Set up folders to share
media files
- Run backup software -- Manual, scheduled, continuous
Save new and changed files from local computer, plus
other systems across home network
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