Finding a Customizable Webcam (and Other Devices)? 36
MankyD asks: "I'm in the market for a webcam. Wireless is preferred, but Internet connectivity is a must. I've found some OK-looking products, but nothing fantastic. The best-looking cam I've found we already have at work and it's not that great. The cam we have at work would be awesome if I could open up the code — customize the built-in web pages and/or write my own Java viewer — but that doesn't look like its going to happen any time soon. Has anyone ever found an IP camera that will allow you to customize it? Whats the best way to go about finding one? What about hackable devices in general — how do you find gadgets that let you tinker with their software?"
Axis Cameras (Score:5, Informative)
Linksys (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Linksys (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:Linksys (Score:3, Informative)
Linksys routers (Score:4, Informative)
A Firewire Camera and Spook (Score:4, Informative)
Not a camera, but... (Score:2)
linuxdevices.com ? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:linuxdevices.com ? (Score:2)
http://www.leenooks.com/ [leenooks.com]
WRTSL54GS (Score:3, Informative)
Asus also makes some OpenWRT compatible routers, the WL-500g series, which also have USB ports, but you can serve up webcam images using the default Asus firmware.
If you really want to hack hardware... (Score:3, Informative)
-Adam
check out digitalxtractions.net (Score:1)
Webcam solution with authentication? (Score:1)
Re:Webcam solution with authentication? (Score:1)
Depending on your application you may be interested in flexTPS [berlios.de], a GPL "flexible TelePresence System" intended for streaming telemetry data from various devices, primarily IP-enabled webcams, to web-based clients with various levels of authentication. Although the software is only packaged in RH Linux RPM form, I
Re:Webcam solution with authentication? (Score:1)
Canon webcam, or USB DIY (Score:4, Informative)
If it was for me, I would simply attach a $150 USB Logitech Quickcam Orbit (there are Linux drivers for rudimentary PTZ) to a $250 USB-over-IP dongle, and have it run to a configured server. This would only give you USB1.0 framerates, though, so you might consider running a long USB2.0 extension cord (if you're within, say 10m) or a USB2.0-over-CAT5 extender (though these might be hard to come by too).
Anyway, have fun... I'm still pining for my wifi-controlled webcam robot with manipulator arm.
Re:Canon webcam, or USB DIY (Score:2)
Looking for the same thing plus rebroasting video (Score:2)
Also, the D-Link's (as do many webcams) have a built-in web server ... but also allow FTP'ing of jpeg snapshots. For any
Wait for the new Linksys wireless, remote Webcam (Score:1)
Check out the description here on camcorderinfo:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Linksys-Does
MOBOTIX IP Network Cameras... (Score:2)
iSight? (Score:2)
Avoid Hawking (Score:3, Interesting)
In an unusual turn for them, the networking part of it actually works great... Setting it up goes exactly as they describe it in the manual, and (unlike every other Hawking product I've used), it doesn't shit the bed and require a manual reset after even a momentary loss of connectivity.
The image quality and convenience of getting snaps from it - Ugh. Without some work, you have no choice but to use either a browser and their built-in Java app, or their very custom (and all but useless) software.
With a bit of work (read: You need NetCat and something like dd that can extract byte ranges from the raw crap it send to nc), you can convince it to send you snapshots, but you get very low quality images (as in, under 20k for a 640x480 still).
And for something in the $100 range, you might think it would include at least basic autofocus or even a cheap 18"-to-infinity lens - Nope. Turn the stupid little ring on the lens, and pray your subject doesn't move outside a certain magic box.
AXIS webcam (Score:1)
They also do have wireless models.
Re: my webcam (Score:1)
Stroller.
Re: my webcam (Score:1)
!Internet enabled (Score:3, Funny)
Now, see, I have the opposite problem. I'm looking for a webcam that can't connect to the internet. Can anyone help me with that?
article on msdn (Score:2, Informative)
This is, by now means, a linux solution (flame away), but there is a great article on MSDN [microsoft.com] about a webcam project. Includes motion detection, wired/wireless, and a few other hacks.
Enjoy!
Panasonic BL-C10A (Score:1)
Panasonic BL-C10A [amazon.com] (Amazon note: they like to tinker with the price of this camera; I bought mine when they were $165)
I've got four of these setup at home to monitor the dogs while we're out of the house. They're not wireless (I have them mounted in fixed locations so I just ran Cat5e through the attic to the cameras) but I believe Panasonic makes a wireless version. Things I like about these cameras:
CVS Cam (Score:1)
D-link DCS-9xx (Score:2)
I've played with hawking, panasonic, and D-link. I found hawking useless. The panasonic cameras have a GREAT API that works via http requests and is well documented; however I found the cameras
Check out IQinVision cameras (Score:1)