Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 204 posts

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#141

Post by drdaeman »

lloydatkinson wrote: post #5

This is a very disturbing trend for sure. Given that these new cameras that need accounts sure aren’t showing ads on the feeds either, meanwhile an account being required must be important to the manufacturers in some way. I can only conclude that they must be selling access to feeds, because even the most incompetent agile product delivery manager type person isn’t going to simply suggest every camera needs an accou…

> Given that these new cameras that need accounts sure aren’t showing ads on the feeds either

You haven't noticed many of the companion apps for IoT(of Shit) have those "store"/"discover'/"savvy user center" sections where they try their best to get you to buy more of their devices? Plus a barrage of notifications, in-app banners or emails how you're eligible for a "discount" or "promo"?

This - plus online services (re-broadcasting outside of home network, recording storage, face/object/sound recognition and notifications, etc - any software features that can be pay-gated, especially those that can't be done on-device because the device is ultra-cheap) is how they make money.

> I can only conclude that they must be selling access to feeds

I'm skeptical. Who's the buyer and what are they going to do with those feeds to make them useful? And if it's for something remotely legal - how they're going to untaint this data?

This works in cyberpunk novels - cameras sweeping data, AIs detecting that a neighborhood is $brand turf, classifying all the individuals, ..., massive profit! But reality is messier and way less logical than any fiction (and we don't have any AIs yet, while fiction has them abundant and dirt-cheap). Out of curiosity, I've just had a long session with GPT-4 (which is a really uneconomical way to do advertising, but maybe in 5-10 years?), telling it all I see in my room in extreme detail, down to all the scuff marks and pet hairs. It wasn't exactly bad - it managed to realize the obvious (which is much cheaper to deduce from my search and purchase history, huh), but let's say I haven't made any new records on my purchase list.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#143

Post by anfractuosity »

cyphertruck wrote: post #22

I have similar needs, but aldo need them to be outdoor/waterproof and PoE capable. I looked at DIY with Raspberry Pi high quality cameras, but the outdoor requirements mean I really need a manufactured housing. (Camera will be in an area very hard to reach for servicing.) I wonder if there is any project to hack the generic chinese camera makes and install custom firmware?

I use a Raspberry Pi with PoE+ hat which I've just placed in a waterproof CCTV enclosure. I used a waterproof ethernet cable gland.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#144

Post by red-iron-pine »

Pr0ject217 wrote: post #120
kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

I did a fairly generic search for Geovision and landed on this: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/blog/posts/backdoor-wide-open-... (not to fear-monger, just something to note)

> Acronis’ security team found four critical vulnerabilities in GeoVision's devices, including a backdoor password with admin privileges, the reuse of cryptographic keys, and the disclosure of private keys to everyone. All of these vulnerabilities could allow state-sponsored attackers to intercept potential traffic.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#146

Post by chaostheory »

kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

Same background. I don’t have experience with Geovision, but Axis is rock solid with a great API. (Axis also led the ONVIF standard, but it’s no where near as nice as their own API which makes sense. Cisco’s dead standard was much better but DOA due to mismanagement)

I think they’re still the industry leader too. The catch is that they are expensive and they’re mainly enterprise solutions

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#147

Post by red-iron-pine »

drdaeman wrote: post #141
lloydatkinson wrote: post #5

This is a very disturbing trend for sure. Given that these new cameras that need accounts sure aren’t showing ads on the feeds either, meanwhile an account being required must be important to the manufacturers in some way. I can only conclude that they must be selling access to feeds, because even the most incompetent agile product delivery manager type person isn’t going to simply suggest every camera needs an accou…

> Given that these new cameras that need accounts sure aren’t showing ads on the feeds either You haven't noticed many of the companion apps for IoT(of Shit) have those "store"/"discover'/"savvy user center" sections where they try their best to get you to buy more of their devices? Plus a barrage of notifications, in-app banners or emails how you're eligible for a "discount" or "promo"? This - plus online services (…

> You haven't noticed many of the companion apps for IoT(of Shit)

coulda just gone with Internet of Turds (IoT)

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#148

Post by red-iron-pine »

sliken wrote: post #81
leesalminen wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not anymore with their latest models. You are required to have a Protect NVR and account before they’ll let you use standalone mode, and, apparently some new models disable it entirely. Check out the UniFi subreddit for details. Very disappointed, as that was my go to brand for standalone IP cameras.

Sadly ubiquiti seems to be going downhill on multiple fronts.

been like that for a while now

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#149

Post by dheera »

kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

RTSP streams never work, they always have several seconds of latency, and web browsers don't support them well if at all. Someone should invent a webcam that directly speaks WebRTC. Open a HTTPS connection and POST a SDP to get it started.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#150

Post by thewebcount »

kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

Christ on a cracker, Axis' website is horrible! I saw one model that looked interesting, but can't find a price. You have to click on "How to Buy" to get redirected to another page where you then have to click on "Find a Reseller Near Me" which takes you to a form you have to fill out with a bunch of personal information and then send to them, and maybe someone will get back to you. How do these companies stay in business?
Post reply on HN