Tuesday, September 18, 2007
iPhone Security Camera Viewer
So I finally broke down and bought an iPhone. I’ve been a loyal Window Mobile user because of the developement tools MSFT has created… but what good are they if the devices suck?
Here are the top 3 things that really got me down on WM5/6 devices:
1. Too Slow/under powered — I owned the Cingular 8125 and T-Mobile Wing… from powering up to using the camera or even loading the calculator, it took too long.
2. Interface was designed for stylus — I found it difficult to use with a finger touch. Especially to schedule a meeting because the drop down menus for the time required a stylus (or really pointy nail) to scroll… you couldn’t use the down arrow on the d-pad. Also, the touchscreens weren’t sensitive enough, especially when dialing… I would need to tap many times to get a digit to register.
3. Wi-Fi not seamless — I had this vision that I could access my home automation server from outside my home… problem was, that connecting to Wi-Fi on my Window Mobile device took over 15 seconds to register with the Wi-Fi access point, DHCP, and connect… making it easier to just press the garage door opener button manually.
I’m still a believer in MSFT and their strategic plans to get all their devices to seamlessly communicate with each other. I know the next version of Windows Mobile phones will be better that what we are seeing today, but for now, I’ll be developing less powerful Web 2.0 applications for my iPhone. My first one took about 10 minutes… it’s a security camera viewer app that pulls JPG images from my AXIS 241Q video server. Pretty simple… if you rotate the screen landscape you can zoom into the higher resolution image. I currently have it set to refresh every 15 seconds… on WI-FI I can “stream” them in every second.
Next project, tie into my HAI OmniPro II via the iPhone! More to come…
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COMMENTS
Nice work Danny…
Any chance you’ll be posting the source for your video cam web 2.0 app. I have been considering installing some security cams for some time and as an iPhone owner this might just be the final thing that pushes me into getting some. Also what type of cameras do you use with your AXIS server?
Will,
I know, I know… shame on me… :)
Victor,
I use an AXIS 241Q as the video server and four KPC-N600H Sony HR CCD cameras. I have been really happy with the results!
I will be posting the source soon…
Danny
Hi just found this on google. I have already written a iPhone web app for an omnipro system. You can download it at www.digitaldan.com. I’m in the process right now of writing a new native version in objective-c…. plan on seeing this release around the late November, early December time frame. The web version was more of a proof of concept for me. Take a look and tell me what you think!
Dan-
very cool. i have 6 cameras on my house and would love to have that on a phone. but i will wait for 2nd gen phone. this one is too slow. and the network is slow also.
I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more. It’s really good written and I fully agree with You on main issue, btw. I must say that I really enjoyed reading all of Your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view…
Dear Danny ,
Thanks for this great app , I am using my iphone since the launch date and trying to figure out a solution to watch my ip cameras for my stores . When are u planning to post this app ? Is it gonna be a freeware ? Thanks again for making this possible . I am planning to buy axis 207mv for my fast food stores . Do you suggest this model ?
Now that you are doing YouTube videos it would be great to see one on this.
BTW: How is the WiFi connection speed of the iPhone compared to a WM6/5 device. I also suffer from having to wait forever for my WM6 device to connect to my home network. You are right, it is faster to just throw the WM6 device a the light and break it to shut it off sometimes :)
Any chance that the iphone can be used as a garage door opener?
Did you get a chance to post the code yet? Would love to get to use this with my iPod Touch and the several Axis camera’s I have installed.
Found it! For others looking for it, it’s in his next post. Thanks for putting it out there :-)
Can anyone help me with this please. I have downloaded the source code but not sure how to add my cameras into it. I have 4 Axis network cameras. Please help. Thanks.
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